Community Profile: Scranton-Wilkes-Barre, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)

Introduction

The Scranton-Wilkes-Barre, PA MSA consists of Lackawanna, Luzerne, and Wyoming counties and includes the principal cities of Scranton and Wilkes-Barre.

The MSA is located in northeastern Pennsylvania. The city of Scranton, located in Lackawanna County along the Lackawanna River, a tributary of the Susquehanna River, is approximately 132 miles north of Philadelphia. Wilkes-Barre, located in Luzerne County along the Susquehanna River, is approximately 100 miles northwest of Philadelphia.

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) modified MSA boundaries effective January 1, 2004, at which time the boundary for the Scranton-Wilkes-Barre, PA MSA changed. Before 2004, the MSA was called the Scranton-Wilkes-Barre-Hazleton, PA, MSA and included Columbia County. With the OMB's boundary modifications, Columbia County became part of a micropolitan statistical area that also includes Montour County.*

For the remainder of this report, we will refer to Lackawanna, Luzerne, and Wyoming counties as the Scranton-Wilkes-Barre, PA MSA.

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Maps

The maps provided below illustrate the location of the Scranton-Wilkes-Barre, PA MSA and city of Scranton. In addition, there are maps that indicate income levels by census tract and areas of concentrated poverty.

^*For additional information on metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) and micropolitan statistical areas, refer to the OMB's website
Last updated: Monday, August 17, 2009