West Wyoming, Pennsylvania Explained

Official Name:West Wyoming, Pennsylvania
Settlement Type:Borough
Pushpin Map:Pennsylvania#USA
Pushpin Label:West Wyoming
Pushpin Label Position:left
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Pennsylvania
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Luzerne
Subdivision Type3:Region
Subdivision Name3:Greater Pittston
Government Type:Borough Council
Leader Title:Mayor
Leader Name:Joseph T. Herbert
Established Title:Settled
Established Title1:Incorporated
Established Date1:1898
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Footnotes:[1]
Area Total Km2:9.31
Area Land Km2:9.31
Area Water Km2:0.00
Area Total Sq Mi:3.59
Area Land Sq Mi:3.59
Area Water Sq Mi:0.00
Population As Of:2020
Population Footnotes:[2]
Population Total:2631
Population Density Km2:287.54
Population Density Sq Mi:744.78
Timezone:Eastern (EST)
Utc Offset:-5
Timezone Dst:EDT
Utc Offset Dst:-4
Coordinates:41.3139°N -75.8517°W
Postal Code Type:Zip code
Area Code:570
Pop Est As Of:2021
Population Est:2636
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:42-84272

West Wyoming is a borough that is located in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States. The borough is part of the Greater Pittston metro area.

The population was 2,631 at the time of the 2020 census.[2]

History

Establishment

In 1768, the Susquehanna Company of Connecticut devised a plan to divide the Wyoming Valley into five townships. Each township was to be divided among forty settlers. West Wyoming was originally part of Kingston Township. The community's first forty settlers arrived in February 1769.

Benjamin Carpenter and his brother Gilbert developed several mills along the banks of Abrahams Creek around 1800. The earliest businesses included a grist mill and a saw mill.

Borough

The community eventually broke away from Kingston Township in 1885. The town was originally known as Carpentersville, Shoemaker's Mills, and New Troy. It was officially incorporated as the Borough of West Wyoming in 1898.[3]

Geography

West Wyoming is part of Greater Pittston; it is located at 41.3139°N -75.8517°W (41.313780, -75.851640).[4] According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 9.4km2, all land.

The northern and northeastern sections of the borough are mostly made up of thick forests and mountains. Frances Slocum State Park is located nearby. West Eighth Street and Abrahams Creek run through a mountain pass — which links Greater Pittston to the Back Mountain. West Eighth Street intersects with Shoemaker Avenue near the eastern portion of the borough. Most homes and businesses are located in the southern and eastern sections of West Wyoming.

The following communities neighbor West Wyoming: Exeter Township (north), Exeter Borough (northeast, east), Wyoming Borough (southeast), Swoyersville Borough (southwest), and Kingston Township (west, northwest).

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 2,833 people, 1,183 households, and 822 families residing in the borough. The population density was 780.2sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 1,240 housing units at an average density of 341.5sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the borough was 99.33% White, 0.18% African American, 0.07% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.04% from other races, and 0.35% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.25% of the population.

There were 1,183 households, out of which 26.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.6% were married couples living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.5% were non-families. 26.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 20.9% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 21.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 92.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.9 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $37,275, and the median income for a family was $44,214. Males had a median income of $38,398 versus $25,664 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $17,603. About 0.2% of families and 3.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.7% of those under age 18 and 11.6% of those age 65 or over.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files. United States Census Bureau. July 28, 2020.
  2. Web site: Bureau . US Census . City and Town Population Totals: 2020—2021 . Census.gov . US Census Bureau . August 5, 2022.
  3. Web site: West Wyoming Borough.
  4. Web site: US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990. United States Census Bureau. 2011-04-23. 2011-02-12.