Nicholson, Pennsylvania Explained

Borough of Nicholson
Settlement Type:Borough
Motto:Population 1,000. Hospitality for 1,000,000
Pushpin Map:USA Pennsylvania#USA
Pushpin Label:Nicholson
Pushpin Map Caption:Location of Nicholson in Pennsylvania
Coordinates:41.625°N -75.7831°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Pennsylvania
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Wyoming
Established Title:Founded
Established Date:August 23, 1875
Leader Title:Mayor
Leader Name:Charles H. Litwin Jr.
Leader Title1:Council President
Leader Name1:Dawn Bell
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Footnotes:[1]
Area Total Km2:3.04
Area Total Sq Mi:1.17
Area Land Km2:3.00
Area Land Sq Mi:1.16
Area Water Km2:0.04
Area Water Sq Mi:0.02
Elevation Ft:728
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:696
Population Density Km2:231.99
Population Density Sq Mi:601.04
Timezone1:EST
Utc Offset1:-5
Timezone1 Dst:EDT
Utc Offset1 Dst:-4
Postal Code Type:ZIP Code
Postal Code:18446
Area Code:570
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:42-54400
Blank2 Name Sec2:Wikimedia Commons

Nicholson is a borough in Wyoming County, Pennsylvania. The population was 698 at the 2020 census.[2]

History

The borough of Nicholson was incorporated on August 23, 1875 and was named after John Nicholson, who had been Pennsylvania's comptroller general in the late 1700s.[3]

The town of Nicholson attracted national attention during the final week of July 1986, when an escaped Bengal tiger was hunted in the area for several days.[4] Despite air and ground searches by state police and zoo officials, the animal was never found.[5] [6]

Geography

Nicholson is located at (41.624983, -75.783054).[7] According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 1.2sqmi, of which 1.2sqmi is land and 0.01sqmi (0.83%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census[8] of 2010, there were 767 people, 302 households, and 195 families residing in the borough. The population density was 639.2sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 343 housing units at an average density of 285.8sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the borough was 97% White, 0.1% African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.1% some other race, and 2.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.4% of the population.

There were 302 households, out of which 29.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.7% were married couples living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.4% were non-families. 28.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.15.

In the borough, the population was spread out, with 25% under the age of 18, 58.3% from 18 to 64, and 16.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years.

The median income for a household in the borough was $38,650, and the median income for a family was $40,833. Males had a median income of $38,889 versus $27,813 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $21,449. About 24% of families and 24.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 41% of those under age 18 and 10.5% of those age 65 or over.

Government

The town has a weak mayor - strong council form of government.

Mayor

Charles Litwin Jr. Republican

Council

Council Member Term Expires Party
Nathan Harpster 2025 Democratic
John Kiryluk 2025 Republican
John Decker 2025 Republican
Albert Olive 2023 Republican
Joan Irion Jenkins 2025 Republican
David Noakes 2023 Republican
John Bower 2023 Republican

Tunkhannock Viaduct

A local landmark, the Tunkhannock Viaduct, Tunkhannock Creek Viaduct or "Nicholson Bridge" has been a focal point of the Nicholson community since its completion in 1915.[9] Built by the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad between 1912 and 1915, the bridge has served many owners: DL&W, Erie Lackawanna, Conrail, Delaware & Hudson [also operated by Guilford Transportation, and New York Susquehanna & Western] before the current owner, Norfolk Southern Railway. Norfolk Southern trains operate over it daily between Binghamton and several other New York state locations, along with rail yards in Pennsylvania such as Scranton, Allentown and Harrisburg. Each year the town organizes a festival in honor of the bridge called Nicholson Bridge Day. The entire main street of the town is shut down and filled with vendors, entertainment, and more.

Notable people

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ArcGIS REST Services Directory. United States Census Bureau. October 12, 2022.
  2. Web site: Bureau . US Census . City and Town Population Totals: 2020—2021 . Census.gov . US Census Bureau . August 5, 2022.
  3. Web site: Nicholson – Nicholson Heritage Association.
  4. Daily Herald (Chicago) "Bengal tiger on the loose," (July 28, 1986, p7); "Tiger loose in Pennsylvania mountains?" (July 29, 1986, p3)
  5. The Indiana (Pa.) Gazette "Tiger may be stray pet, caller says," (July 30, 1986, p29) "Calls, leads in Gibson tiger hunt die down," (July 31, 1986, p3)
  6. Tyrone (Pa.) Daily Herald (UPI) "Was The Loose Tiger A Pet Which Finally Went Home?" (August 1, 1986, p1).
  7. Web site: US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990. United States Census Bureau. 2011-04-23. 2011-02-12.
  8. Web site: U.S. Census website. United States Census Bureau. 2011-05-14.
  9. Web site: Tunkhannock Creek Viaduct – Nicholson Heritage Association.