Dickson City, Pennsylvania

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Dickson City is a borough in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, 4 miles (7 km) north of Scranton. Coal mining had been an important industry in the past. Some of the population totals follow: in 1900, 4,948; in 1910, 9,331; in 1920, 11,049; and in 1940, 11,548. Coal miners are much scarcer in Pennsylvania today than they had been, so populations have fallen in many places such as Dickson City; The population was 6,205 at the 2000 census.

Contents

[edit] Geography

Dickson City is located at 41°27′58″N, 75°37′31″W (41.465984, -75.625401)GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 12.2 km² (4.7 mi²), all land.

[edit] History & Notable Features

Once dominated by coal mines, this borough has in recent times become the center of a thriving retail corridor focused along Business Route 6 and around the Viewmont Mall. Many of the nation's "big-box" stores and chain restaurants are represented here.

Most of the newer retail complexes are located along busy Viewmont Drive and Commerce Boulevard, both built by developers to access the borough's vast dormant coal lands. Some of the centers that were built in the 1990s and early 2000s include Dickson City Crossings, Dickson City Commons, Park Center and Commerce Plaza. A Target center, the largest gaming shop in Northeastern Pennsylvania, a movie theater, and stores such as Dick's Sporting Goods and the only Borders book store in the area are located at these shopping centers. The borough also boasts northeastern Pennsylvania's first Starbucks location (currently, the only others are at Barnes and Noble, in Clarks Summit, and on Highland Park Boulevard near the Wachovia Arena both located in Wilkes-Barre; one will open soon in the Poconos region.)

Recently, the borough did unexpectedly enter the pop culture scene. In a 2006 episode of NBC's sitcom, The Office, entitled "Take Your Daughter to Work Day", Michael (Steve Carell) asks Ryan (B.J. Novak) to get a particular video from his mom's house "in Dickson City." The show uses Scranton as its setting.

After Route 6 (also named the Scranton/Carbondale Highway), Main Street serves as the borough's other major thoroughfare. It features a slightly older stock of stores, bars, professional offices and homes.

One recent point of major contention in the borough has been a 240-acre swath of reclaimed coal-mining land south of Commerce Boulevard that was deeded to the borough for public use after the state government cleaned it up. Plans to build a bond-financed municipal golf course on the land launched during the early 2000s were scuttled after some borough council members campaigned against that form of borrowing and won the majority of seats. The land was seized by a local bank after interim loans went unpaid, but because the state stipulated that it has to remain in the hands of a municipality, neighboring borough Dunmore, snapped it up.

The borough is known in the area for being one of the more divisive in terms of its politicians. Councilman William "Billy" Bott and Paul "Fetch" Kwieck are noted political rivals. Dickson City council meetings have many times degenerated into name calling and shouting matches. At one meeting in 2004 a disgrunteled citizen called Council President Bob Wiltshire a "Communist."

However, the town's political fights go far back in Dickson's history. In the 1920's a citizen once opened fire on a council member during a meeting.

[edit] Demographics

As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 6,205 people, 2,692 households, and 1,722 families residing in the borough. The population density was 508.7/km² (1,317.4/mi²). There were 2,913 housing units at an average density of 238.8/km² (618.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the borough was 98.82% White, 0.24% African American, 0.06% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.21% from other races, and 0.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.84% of the population.

There were 2,692 households out of which 25.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.6% were married couples living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.0% were non-families. 31.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the borough the population was spread out with 19.9% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 21.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 88.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.6 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $31,422, and the median income for a family was $41,394. Males had a median income of $32,174 versus $23,766 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $17,370. About 3.5% of families and 6.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.6% of those under age 18 and 8.7% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] External links


 v • d • e 
Municipalities and Communities of Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania
County Seat: Scranton
Cities

Carbondale | Scranton
Boroughs

Archbald | Blakely | Clarks Green | Clarks Summit | Dalton | Dickson City | Dunmore | Jermyn | Jessup | Mayfield | Moosic | Moscow | Old Forge | Olyphant | Taylor | Throop | Vandling
Townships

Abington | Benton | Carbondale | Clifton | Covington | Elmhurst | Fell | Glenburn | Greenfield | Jefferson | La Plume | Madison | Newton | North Abington | Ransom | Roaring Brook | Scott | South Abington | Spring Brook | Thornhurst | West Abington
Communities and CDPs

Glenburn | Mount Cobb
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