Pittston (properly pronounced pits-ton) is a third class city located in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania between Scranton and Wilkes-Barre. It gained prominence in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries as an active coal mining city, but has struggled economically since the 1960s. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 8,104. According to a 2004 estimate, the population decreased to 7,753. The Pittston Company, the owner of Brinks, was founded in Pittston in 1838.
Pittston is located at 41°19'26" North, 75°47'20" West (41.323865, -75.788894). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.5 km2 (1.7 mi2). 4.1 km2 (1.6 mi2) of it is land and 0.4 km2 (0.1 mi2) of it is water. The total area is 8.09% water.
As of the census of 2000, there are 8,104 people, 3,530 households, and 2,170 families residing in the city. The population density is 1,955.6/km2 (5,072.6/mi2). There are 3,902 housing units at an average density of 941.6/km2 (2,442.4/mi2). The racial makeup of the city is 98.38% White, 0.68% African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.17% from other races, and 0.35% from two or more races. 0.68% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 3,530 households out of which 25.6% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.4% are married couples living together, 17.7% have a female householder with no husband present, and 38.5% are non-families. 34.7% of all households are made up of individuals and 18.5% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.28 and the average family size is 2.94.
In the city the population is spread out with 21.7% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 22.2% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 41 years. For every 100 females there are 84.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 80.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $27,103, and the median income for a family is $33,861. Males have a median income of $28,351 versus $21,417 for females. The per capita income for the city is $14,686. 15.5% of the population and 11.8% of families are below the poverty line. 24.0% of those under the age of 18 and 17.0% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Pittston is the midpoint city between Wilkes-Barre and Scranton. Named after the famous statesman William Pitt, the city was founded in 1838 and was originally named Pittstown.
Coal was king in Pittston until the Knox Mine Disaster in nearby Port Griffith, PA in Jenkins Township, PA essentially shutdown the mining industry in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Twelve miners were killed immediately, their bodies washed away in the flood, never to be seen again. There were 74 workers in the mine at the time of the calamity, 62 of them were able to escape by various means, some involving the highest heroism on the part of their co-workers.
Source:
PittstonPennsylvania.com
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