Scranton, Pennsylvania
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Scranton is a city located in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 76,415 (2003 estimate: 74,320). It is the county seat of Lackawanna CountyTemplate:GR.
After Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown and Erie, Scranton is Pennsylvania's fifth most populous city.
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Geography
Scranton is located at 41°24'38" North, 75°40'3" West (41.410629, -75.667411)Template:GR. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 65.9 km² (25.4 mi²). 65.3 km² (25.2 mi²) of it is land and 0.5 km² (0.2 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.83% water.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 76,415 people, 31,303 households, and 18,124 families residing in the city. The population density is 1,169.4/km² (3,029.2/mi²). There are 35,336 housing units at an average density of 540.8/km² (1,400.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 93.54% White, 3.02% African American, 0.11% Native American, 1.08% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.16% from other races, and 1.07% from two or more races. 2.62% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 31,303 households out of which 24.4% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.8% are married couples living together, 13.8% have a female householder with no husband present, and 42.1% are non-families. 36.7% of all households are made up of individuals and 18.1% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.29 and the average family size is 3.01.
In the city the population is spread out with 20.8% under the age of 18, 12.3% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 20.1% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 39 years. For every 100 females there are 87.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 83.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $28,805, and the median income for a family is $39,233. Males have a median income of $30,829 versus $21,858 for females. The per capita income for the city is $16,174. 15.0% of the population and 10.7% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 18.9% of those under the age of 18 and 12.0% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
History/Landmarks
Scranton was once a center of the Pennsylvanian anthracite coal industry, and during the first half of the 20th century it was home to many groups of newly arrived immigrants. The remnants of this patchwork can still be seen in some of the Catholic and Orthodox churches that dot the city's south, north, and west sides.
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The city is home to the University of Scranton, a Jesuit institution with about 4,000 students. Also located in the city is Marywood University, an IHM instituion.
It's also home of the Steamtown National Historic Site, a museum that seeks to preserve the history of steam locomotives, as well as the adjacent Mall at Steamtown, a downtown shopping center developed around the same time as the National Park site.
Scranton is nicknamed "The Electric City" for having -- in 1886 -- the first street car system in the U.S. built entirely to run under electric power.
On March 26, 1965, a truck carrying bananas crashed after coming down a two-mile downhill road that leads into the downtown area. This incident would lead to the Harry Chapin song "30,000 Pounds of Bananas".
Starting with the election of Mayor James P. Connors (1990-2002) and continuing under the leadership of Mayor Christopher Doherty (2002-present), Scranton began several new revitalization campaigns in the downtown and park areas designed to return the city to its former glory.
Use in Fictional Works
- In 2005, the NBC adaptation of the hit BBC show 'The Office' premiered. The fictional company Dunder-Mifflin portrayed in the show is set in Scranton.
- In 1999, the anime series Big O showed Scranton as a city famous for an electricity-generating sea serpent residing in a nearby body of water.
- In 1996, the movie 'Kingpin' had the lead character, Roy (played by Woody Harrelson), living in Scranton.
- The Pulitzer prize winning play 'That Championship Season' was based on the fictional lives of members of a Scranton basketball team that had won the state championship in 1957. The play was ultimately made into a movie in 1982.
External links
- Scranton, Pennsylvania - Official Website (http://www.scrantonpa.gov/)
- Steamtown National Historic Site (http://www.nps.gov/stea/)
- SurfScranton (http://www.surfscranton.com) has over 1000 links to Scranton area businesses, people, churches, schools, history, etc.
- The University of Scranton (http://www.scranton.edu) is the official Web site of the University of Scranton.
