Dickson City, Pennsylvania
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Dickson City is a borough located in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania. As of the 2000 census, the borough had a total population of 6,205.
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Geography
Dickson City is located at 41°27'58" North, 75°37'31" West (41.465984, -75.625401)Template:GR.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 12.2 km² (4.7 mi²). 12.2 km² (4.7 mi²) of it is land and none of the area is covered with water.
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 Viewmont Mall. Many of the nation's big-box stores and chain restaurants are represented here. The area also boasts Northeastern Pennsylvania's first Starbucks location.
The other main thoroughfare in town is Main Street, which 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 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.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 6,205 people, 2,692 households, and 1,722 families residing in the borough. The population density is 508.7/km² (1,317.4/mi²). There are 2,913 housing units at an average density of 238.8/km² (618.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the borough is 98.82% White, 0.24% African American, 0.06% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.21% from other races, and 0.40% from two or more races. 0.84% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 2,692 households out of which 25.1% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.6% are married couples living together, 11.5% have a female householder with no husband present, and 36.0% are non-families. 31.6% of all households are made up of individuals and 17.3% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.30 and the average family size is 2.91.
In the borough the population is 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 are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 41 years. For every 100 females there are 88.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 85.6 males.
The median income for a household in the borough is $31,422, and the median income for a family is $41,394. Males have a median income of $32,174 versus $23,766 for females. The per capita income for the borough is $17,370. 6.9% of the population and 3.5% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 6.6% of those under the age of 18 and 8.7% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.