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| Wilkes-Barre Township | |
|---|---|
| Name | Wilkes-Barre Township |
| Settlement type | Township |
| Subdivision type | Country |
| Subdivision name | United States |
| Subdivision type1 | State |
| Subdivision name1 | Pennsylvania |
| Subdivision type2 | County |
| Subdivision name2 | Luzerne County |
| Established title | Settled |
| Established date | 1769 |
| Leader title | Board of Supervisors |
| Unit pref | Imperial |
| Area total sq mi | 8.5 |
| Population total | 2914 |
| Population as of | 2020 |
| Timezone | Eastern (EST) |
| Utc offset | −5 |
| Timezone dst | EDT |
| Utc offset dst | −4 |
Wilkes-Barre Township
Wilkes-Barre Township is a township in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States, located along the Susquehanna River near the city of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. The township forms part of the Greater Scranton–Wilkes-Barre metropolitan area and is adjacent to boroughs and townships such as Kingston, Pennsylvania, other Luzerne County communities, and Hanover Township. Its development has been shaped by regional industries, transportation corridors like Interstate 81 and U.S. Route 11, and historical events tied to colonial settlement and coal mining.
The territory was inhabited by indigenous peoples including the Susquehannock people before colonial contact and later became part of land disputes involving the Pennsylvania Colony and the Wyoming Valley. Early settlement occurred during the era of figures such as John Durkee and land claims associated with the Connecticut Colony and the Pennsylvania Colony leading to the Pennamite–Yankee War. During the 19th century the growth of the county coincided with the rise of the Anthracite coal mining industry, with nearby mines and railroads such as the Lehigh Valley Railroad and the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad influencing local patterns. The township experienced industrial and transportation developments connected to entrepreneurs and civic leaders from the region, which linked it to statewide events involving the Pennsylvania Railroad and the expansion of Canal Age infrastructure. Twentieth-century transformations were influenced by the decline of coal, New Deal projects from the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration, and regional shifts toward service and retail economies during the administrations of governors like Gifford Pinchot and Ed Rendell.
The township lies on the western bank of the Susquehanna River and occupies terrain characteristic of the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians with riparian zones, low hills, and mixed-use parcels. It shares borders with municipalities including Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, Kingston, Pennsylvania, and Pittston, Pennsylvania. Waterways and floodplains in the area connect to regional watersheds managed by agencies such as the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and federal entities like the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Major transportation corridors include Interstate 81, U.S. Route 11, and nearby Pennsylvania Route 309, with rail freight activity historically provided by carriers such as Norfolk Southern Railway and passenger services formerly by the Erie Lackawanna Railway.
Census figures reflect a population tied to the broader Scranton–Wilkes-Barre–Hazleton metropolitan statistical area, with demographic trends paralleling those of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania and neighboring municipalities like Nanticoke, Pennsylvania. Population changes over decades correspond with regional industrial decline, suburbanization influenced by highway construction such as Interstate 81, and migration patterns connected to employment centers including Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania and Scranton, Pennsylvania. Household composition, income levels, and age distribution are monitored by entities like the United States Census Bureau and inform planning by the Luzerne County Planning Commission. Ethnic and cultural communities mirror immigration waves that shaped northeastern Pennsylvania, including Irish, Italian, Polish, and Eastern European ancestries tied historically to industries in the region.
Local governance is administered by a Board of Supervisors with municipal functions interacting with county institutions such as the Luzerne County Council and state agencies including the Pennsylvania General Assembly and the Governor of Pennsylvania. Law enforcement overlaps with the Luzerne County Sheriff and regional coordination with the Pennsylvania State Police barracks serving the area. Political dynamics reflect broader northeastern Pennsylvania trends featured in contests involving figures such as Bob Casey Sr., Arlen Specter, and contemporary state legislators from districts encompassing the township. Regional planning and inter-municipal cooperation involve entities like the Northeast Pennsylvania Alliance and federal programs administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
The township's economy has transitioned from ties to the Anthracite Coal Region and industrial rail freight to a mix of retail, services, light manufacturing, and logistics aligned with the Interstate Highway System. Commercial corridors near junctions of Interstate 81 and U.S. Route 11 attract businesses alongside regional shopping centers serving the Scranton–Wilkes-Barre metropolitan area. Employers draw from labor pools commuting to nearby hubs such as Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, Kingston, Pennsylvania, Hazleton, Pennsylvania, and Scranton, Pennsylvania. Economic development initiatives have interfaced with agencies like the Luzerne County Redevelopment Authority, state economic development offices overseen by the Department of Community and Economic Development (Pennsylvania), and federal programs from the Small Business Administration.
Public education for township residents is provided by the Wilkes-Barre Area School District, with nearby higher education institutions including Wilkes University, King's College (Pennsylvania), and the University of Scranton serving regional students. Vocational and technical training is available through entities like the Luzerne County Community College and regional career and technical centers affiliated with the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Library services and lifelong learning resources are available via the Luzerne County Library System and nearby campus libraries at institutions such as Wilkes University.
Infrastructure includes multi-modal connections: highways Interstate 81, U.S. Route 11, and Pennsylvania Route 309; freight rail corridors used by carriers including Norfolk Southern Railway; and proximity to regional airports such as the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport (AVP). Utilities and public works coordinate with the Pennsylvania American Water Company, regional electric providers like PPL Corporation and FirstEnergy, and cable and telecommunications firms including Verizon Communications and Comcast. Flood mitigation and stormwater management have involved projects with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and state floodplain regulations administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
Notable individuals associated with the township or nearby communities include political leaders and public figures from Luzerne County such as John F. Kennedy supporters active in regional politics, judges and attorneys who served in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, athletes from local high schools who advanced to professional leagues like the National Football League and the National Basketball Association, and cultural figures connected to northeastern Pennsylvania arts institutions including the F. M. Kirby Center and regional newspapers such as the Times Leader (Wilkes-Barre).
Category:Townships in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania