Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania

Tunkhannock is a borough in Wyoming County, Pennsylvania, 31 miles (50 km) northwest of Wilkes-Barre. In the past, lumbering was carried on extensively. Today, many residents are employed by the Procter & Gamble plant in nearby Washington Township. As of the 2010 census, the borough population was 1,836. It is the county seat of Wyoming County.[3] Tunkhannock is in the Scranton–Wilkes-Barre–Hazleton, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Borough of Tunkhannock
Borough
Downtown Tunkhannock, looking east along Tioga Street (U.S. Route 6 Business).
Location of Tunkhannock in Wyoming County, Pennsylvania.
Tunkhannock
Location of Tunkhannock in Pennsylvania
Tunkhannock
Tunkhannock (the United States)
Coordinates: 41°32′27″N 75°56′52″W
CountryUnited States
StatePennsylvania
CountyWyoming
Founded1841
Government
 • MayorStacy Huber
Area
 • Total0.94 sq mi (2.45 km2)
 • Land0.89 sq mi (2.30 km2)
 • Water0.06 sq mi (0.14 km2)
Elevation
692 ft (211 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total1,836
 • Estimate 
(2018)[2]
1,714
 • Density1,959.51/sq mi (756.82/km2)
Demonym(s)Tunkhaknuckle (Tunk-uh-nuckle)
Time zoneUTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
18657
Area code(s)570 Exchanges: 836,996
FIPS code42-77784
Websitewww.tunkhannock.com
A Keystone Marker for Tunkhannock Creek in Tunkhannock.

The name Tunkhannock comes from the Minsi-Len'api term Ptuk'hanna'unk, which means "Bend-in-river-place," especially to the town's west, upstream at the radical bend called "The Neck."[4] Modern Tunkhannock, Wyoming County, The Tunkhannock Historic District, bounded by Tioga, Pine, and Harrison Sts and Wyoming Ave, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in August 2005.[5]

General information
  • Area Code: 570 Exchanges: 836 and 996
  • ZIP code: 18657
  • Main streets/roads: Route 29 (Bridge Street), Business Route 6 (Tioga Street), Route 6 (Tunkhannock Bypass / Grand Army of the Republic Hwy), Route 92
  • Voting Information: four wards (numbered 1,2,3,4); elected Borough Council
  • Pronunciation: correct is tunk-han'-nock; incorrect is tongue-kann'-uck

Geography

Tunkhannock is located at 41°32′27″N 75°56′52″W (41.540836, -75.947703).[6]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 0.9 square mile (2.3 km²), all of it is land.

Transportation

Skyhaven Airport is a public use airport located one nautical mile (1.85 km) south of the central business district of Tunkhannock, in neighboring Eaton Township.[7]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1850561—
186063813.7%
187095349.4%
18801,11617.1%
18901,25312.3%
19001,3054.2%
19101,59822.5%
19201,7368.6%
19301,97313.7%
19402,1619.5%
19502,1700.4%
19602,2975.9%
19702,251−2.0%
19802,144−4.8%
19902,2515.0%
20001,911−15.1%
20101,836−3.9%
Est. 20181,714[2]−6.6%
Sources:[8][9][10]

As of the census[11] of 2010, there were 1,836 people, 817 households, and 447 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,040 people per square mile (787.6/km²). There were 871 housing units at an average density of 967.8 per square mile (378/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 95.9% White, 0.9% African American, 0.2% Native American, 1.1% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.35% from other races, and 1.45% from two or more races. 1.3% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 817 households out of which 25.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.7% were married couples living together, 12% had a female householder with no husband present, and 45.3% were non-families. 40.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.15 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the borough the population was spread out with 22.3% under the age of 18, 57% from 18 to 64, and 20.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.5 years.

The median income for a household in the borough was $37,071, and the median income for a family was $56,250. Males had a median income of $43,098 versus $31,313 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $23,110. 2.4% of the population and 6.9% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, none of those under the age of 18 and 8.6% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Government
Wyoming County Courthouse

The borough is represented by a council-manager government.

Executive
MayorStacy HuberRepublican

Council
Council MemberPartyBorough Ward
Ben BarzilowskiDemocratic2
Ron CoolbaughRepublican4
Dan GayRepublican1
David WigginsRepublican3
Robert K. RobinsonRepublican1
Lisa TeslukRepublican2
Ruth VincentiRepublican3
Mr. MeadeDemocratic4

Culture

The Wyoming County Historical Society and Genealogical Library offers a major source of research material. The collection includes numerous books on New England ancestry, newspapers dating back to 1797 and census records for Wyoming and surrounding counties from 1790 to 1930. Also on file are records for over 90 area cemeteries and other local history information.

In 1941 artist Ethel Ashton painted on oil on canvas mural, Defenders of the Wyoming Country-1778, for the local post office. It depicted a battle by American settlers and local Native American tribes during the year leading up to Sullivan's March. In 1998, the mural was restored and a documentary was made about it in 2009.[12]

Tunkhannock is the home of the Northern Tier Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Conductor Robert Helmacy.[13] Tunkhannock is listed as one of the top 10 places to "get away from it all" [14]

In the center of town, the Dietrich Theater serves as a cultural attraction, with 4 screens showing popular new releases as well as hosting film festivals and miscellaneous community activities.

Notable people

References
  1. "2017 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved Mar 24, 2019.
  2. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved December 31, 2019.
  3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  4. Zeisberger, David. Indian Dictionary: English, German, Iroquois—The Onondaga and Algonquin—The Delaware. Harvard University Press, 1887. ISBN 1104253518, p. 22. “The Delaware” that Zeisberger translated was Minsi-Len’api.
  5. "National Register of Historic Places Listings". www.nps.gov.
  6. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  7. FAA Airport Master Record for 76N (Form 5010 PDF). Federal Aviation Administration. Effective 11 February 2010.
  8. "Census of Population and Housing". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  9. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  10. "Incorporated Places and Minor Civil Divisions Datasets: Subcounty Resident Population Estimates: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012". Population Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 17 June 2013. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  11. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  12. Rudolf, Michael. "Post office mural to be in documentary". archives.wcexaminer.com. Wyoming County Press Examiner. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
  13. "Symphony debut concert on April 9," Archived 2012-07-17 at Archive.today Wyoming County Press Examiner, March 30, 2011. Retrieved May 27, 2012.
  14. "Move To These 10 Towns In Pennsylvania If You Wanna Get Away From It All".
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.