Luzerne County, Pennsylvania
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Luzerne County, Pennsylvania | |
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| Map | |
 Location in the state of Pennsylvania |
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| Statistics | |
| Formed | September 25, 1786 |
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| Seat | Wilkes-Barre |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
2,349 km² (907 mi²) 2,307 km² (891 mi²) 42 km² (16 mi²), 1.80% |
| Population - (2000) - Density |
319,250 138/km² |
| Website: www.luzernecounty.org | |
Luzerne County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It is located in the northern Anthracite area called "The Coal Region". As of 2000, the population was 319,250. Its county seat is Wilkes-Barre6.
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[edit] History
Luzerne County was formed in 1786 from part of Northumberland County. Luzerne is infamous for being the last county whose sheriff legally formed a posse to restore order in a time of civil unrest. In 1897, Sheriff James Martin's posse fired on a group of unarmed miners in what is know the Lattimer Massacre.
[edit] Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,349 km² (907 mi²). 2,307 km² (891 mi²) of it is land and 42 km² (16 mi²) of it (1.80%) is water.
[edit] Adjacent counties
- Wyoming County (north)
- Lackawanna County (northeast)
- Monroe County (east)
- Carbon County (southeast)
- Schuylkill County (south)
- Columbia County (west)
- Sullivan County (northwest)
[edit] Demographics
As of the census² of 2000, there were 319,250 people, 130,687 households, and 84,293 families residing in the county. The population density was 138/km² (358/mi²). There were 144,686 housing units at an average density of 63/km² (162/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 96.63% White, 1.69% Black or African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.58% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.43% from other races, and 0.57% from two or more races. 1.16% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 130,687 households out of which 26.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.80% were married couples living together, 11.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.50% were non-families. 31.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the county, the population was spread out with 21.00% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 27.20% from 25 to 44, 24.00% from 45 to 64, and 19.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 93.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.50 males.
Luzerne Country is the only county in the United States with a plurality of citizens reporting Polish as their primary ancestry; the majority of Pennsylvanians report German or Pennsylvania Dutch.
[edit] Municipalities
Under Pennsylvania law, there are four types of incorporated municipalities: cities, boroughs, townships, and, in at most two cases, towns. The following cities, boroughs and townships are located in Luzerne County:
[edit] Cities
[edit] Boroughs
[edit] Townships
[edit] Census-designated Places
Census-designated places are geographical areas designated by the U.S. Census Bureau for the purposes of compiling demographic data. They are not actual jurisdictions under Pennsylvania law.
[edit] Education
[edit] Public School Districts
- Berwick Area School District (also in Columbia County)
- Crestwood School District
- Dallas School District
- Greater Nanticoke Area School District
- Hanover Area School District
- Hazleton Area School District (also in Carbon and Schuylkill Counties)
- Lake-Lehman School District (also in Wyoming County)
- Northwest Area School District
- Pittston Area School District
- Wilkes-Barre Area School District
- Wyoming Area School District (also in Wyoming County)
- Wyoming Valley West School District
