LACKAWANNA COUNTY
County Offices
200 Adams Avenue
Scranton 570-963-6800
www.lackawannacounty.org
Chamber of Commerce
222 Mulberry Street
Scranton 570-342-7711
www.scrantonchamber.com
White picket fences and sweeping lawns around traditional homes, tree-lined neighborhoods are common sites in Lackawanna County and the leading city of Scranton. The urban center of Northeastern Pennsylvania offers images of a “Norman Rockwell” painting around every corner, creating a family-friendly atmosphere of welcoming communities.
Greater Scranton serves as the hub of economic activity, drawing new ventures to a healthy business climate and a superior quality of life. Five major interstate highways converge in Scranton, which is also convenient to the Wilkes-Barre Scranton International Airport. Philadelphia and Harrisburg in Pennsylvania, New York City, and major urban centers in New Jersey are all located within a two-hour drive from Scranton.
Services
Newcomers to Lackawanna County can look forward to quality educational institutions on every academic level. Millions of dollars have been invested in new schools and advanced technology in a public school system that offers an average pupil-teacher ratio of 16 to 1. Most districts are able to offer advanced placement and programs for the gifted. Complementing the respected public schools, the county is home to a parochial school system under the Diocese of Scranton, the acclaimed Scranton Preparatory School, and a number of other parochial and independent private schools. The Career Technology Center serves high school students and adults with outstanding programs in the trades, technical, and allied health areas. Luzerne County Community College also provides excellent opportunities for career-oriented degrees, training, and certification as well as college-track programs.
Students of all ages will find a good selection of institutions of higher education close to home, including Baptist Bible College & Seminary in Clarks Summit, College Misericordia in Dallas, Johnson and Lackawanna colleges and Marywood University in Scranton, Keystone College in LaPlume, and King’s College in Wilkes-Barre. The renowned University of Scranton is a private Jesuit institution, and Wilkes-Barre is home to Wilkes University. Bloomsburg University in Columbia County and East Stroudsburg University are state-supported institutions that serve the region. Pennsylvania State’s University Park campus in State College is available within a reasonable distance but the more immediate area provides the Scranton Campus in Lackawanna County and the Wilkes-Barre and Hazleton campuses in Luzerne County. Many students enroll in local campuses as a convenient way to begin their four-year degree program.
Five major hospitals anchor the state-of-the-art healthcare services and facilities in Lackawanna County. The three largest—Community Medical Center, Mercy Hospital, and Moses Taylor Hospital—are all clustered in Scranton’s Hill Section. Other regional hospitals and surgery centers include Marian Community Hospital in Carbondale and Mid Valley Hospital in Peckville. The sprawling campus of Allied Services perches on a Scranton hillside to offer one of the largest rehabilitation complexes in the nation. The Northeast Regional Cancer Institute is headquartered on the campus of the University of Scranton, a cooperative network of six hospitals. Saint Joseph’s Center of Scranton excels in high specialized therapies for children. The regional medical community is prepared to meet nearly every need close to home with a supportive network of skilled professionals, comprehensive medical centers, primary care clinics, specialty clinics, long-term care, home health, skilled nursing, and emergency walk-in centers.
Lifestyle
Picturesque Lackawanna County is brimming over with attractions from the performing arts and celebrated historic sites to wonderful parks and premier recreational sites. In some cases, the three can be found in one convenient location: McDade Park is home to the Lackawanna Coal Mine tour, the Anthracite Heritage Museum, and the Scranton Public Theater. The Lackawanna coal Mine Tour allows visitors to explore 300 feet below the surface through an anthracite coal mine originally opened in 1860. The Electric City Trolley Museum and Station preserves another slice of history, nestled in a restored 19th-century mill building to offer interactive exhibits and displays. The Steamtown National Historic Site is distinguished as the only national park dedicated to the history of steam locomotion.
Welcoming more than 200,000 visitors each year, McDade Park contrasts with the tranquil outdoor paradise of Merli-Sarnoski Park. Sprawling over 840 acres of unspoiled natural beauty in Fells Township, Merli-Sarnoski is ideal for fishing, hiking, picnicking, and nature study. Aylesworth Creek Lake is another favorite outdoor destination, with its four-acre lake, beach, picnic area, and hiking trails near East Jermyn. Aylesworth Park public recreational park is located in Archbald Borough but is accessible from East Jermyn. Throughout Lackawanna County, the four seasons bring a wealth of opportunity to enjoy outdoor activities against a scenic backdrop. Golfing, tennis, swimming, ice skating, winter sports, canoeing, hiking, biking, horseback riding, and camping are all popular pastimes.
First-rate shopping, an impressive cultural community, elegant venues, and casual or fine restaurants ensure a convenient lifestyle. The Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple offers a magnificent atmosphere for everything from family programming to Broadway hits. The housing in Lackawanna County is attractive and affordable, offering a wide selection of settings, architectural styles, and price ranges. The area itself encompasses bustling urban neighborhoods like those of Scranton but also wooded townships and suburban communities. A number of lake-oriented resort areas dot the county that blend permanent and seasonal homes in a vacation atmosphere. Whether you enjoy metropolitan, borough, or township living, Lackawanna County provides the best of all worlds.
Archbald Borough
Municipal Offices
570-876-1800
www.archbaldborough.org
Chamber of Commerce
570-342-7711
www.scrantonchamber.com
Cradled in the breathtakingly beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of Pennsylvania, the community of Archbald stretches over nearly 18 square miles to distinguish the borough as the largest in the state. Two major highways—US Route Six (also known as the Casey Highway) and Business Route Six—link the borough directly to Interstate 81, Interstate 380, and an extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Both Philadelphia and New York City are approximately 100 miles from Archbald. Among the unique features in Archbald, the Lackawanna river flows through the borough and even runs along part of the Main Street to offer a trophy trout fishing area. Lackawanna County also operates a railroad that traverses the borough, ultimately connecting the National Steamtown Railroad Museum with the Carbondale Railroad Yard.
Carbondale
Municipal Offices
570-282-4110
www.ci.carbondale.pa.us
Chamber of Commerce
570-282-1690
www.carbondale-pa-coc.com
The first city in Northeast Pennsylvania and one of the oldest in the state, historic Carbondale was home to the highly successful Delaware & Hudson Canal Company. Once a major coal mining area, Carbondale blends light manufacturing with commerce, agriculture, recreation, and tourism. The city offers several private schools and a major hospital, and the Lackawanna Valley Industrial Highway provides direct links to Interstates 81, 84, 380, and 476. The community enjoys vistas of the scenic Endless Mountains; nearby Susquehanna County adds landscapes of rolling mountains, lush woodlands, state game lands, picturesque farms, and pristine natural resources. Historical attractions, social and cultural events, performing arts, and four-season outdoor recreation are available in or near Carbondale.
Clarks Green, Clarks Summit, Abington Township, Glenburn Township, South Abington Township
Clarks Green Offices
570-586-4446
www.clarksgreen.org
Clarks Summit Offices
570-586-9316
www.clarkssummitboro.org
Abington Township
570-586-0111
Glenburn Offices
570-563-1177
South Abington
570-586-2111
www.southabington.com
Chamber of Commerce
570-342-7711
www.scrantonchamber.com
Several boroughs and townships are located beyond West Mountain near US Route 6 & 11, Interstate 81, and the northeastern extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-476). The advantageous transportation facilities in this area make these communities ideal for commuters to Scranton or other regional employment centers. The “Abingtons” area, as it is sometimes called, lies at the entrance to the Endless Mountains to offer picturesque landscapes and scenic backdrops for residential development and outdoor recreation. Newcomers will find diverse home styles and settings, from quiet borough neighborhoods to rural acreage. Scranton’s highly developed urban amenities are close to home to ensure quick and easy access to expanded shopping, cultural attractions, famous museums and historic sites, institutions of higher education, and major healthcare centers.
Dickson City Borough
Municipal Offices
570-489-0022
www.dicksoncityborough.org
Chamber of Commerce
570-342-7711
www.scrantonchamber.com
Dickson City Borough is the envy of many small communities with a rich tax base generated by a bustling commercial corridor. Once dominated by coal mines like many Northeastern Pennsylvania communities, Dickson City enjoys a thriving retail corridor focused along Business Route 6 and the Viewmont Mall. Many of the retail complexes built in the 1990s into the new millennium have sprung up along Viewmont Drive and Commerce Boulevard. Families in the borough appreciate the well-developed parks and recreation department that caters to the needs of every age group. Facilities include the Dickson City Civic Center, several lush parks with playgrounds and sports facilities, and a senior activity center. The borough also features a quaint Main Street district that blends long-established stores and shops with offices and older homes.
Dunmore Borough
Municipal Offices
570-343-7611
www.dunmoreborough.com
Chamber of Commerce
570-342-7711
www.scrantonchamber.com
Dunmore Borough offers a warm and friendly hometown atmosphere to approximately 15,000 residents, making it the largest community in the county behind the city of Scranton. The popularity of this “college town” is enhanced by the presence of Penn State Worthington-Scranton. Residents enjoy a tranquil setting near the bustling metropolis of Scranton with its institutions of higher education, major hospitals, and expanded shopping. Several private schools operate within the borough, contributing to the family-friendly spirit. One of the latest feathers in the cap of Dunmore is the new community center, evolving over 15 years from the seed of an idea introduced by a high school senior to borough government officials. Today’s $4 million, multi-purpose facility covers 23,000 square feet of space to include a 12,500-square-foot gymnasium and a large community room as well as many other amenities.
Moosic Borough
Municipal Offices
570-457-5480
www.moosic.boroughs.org
Chamber of Commerce
570-342-7711
www.scrantonchamber.com
Offering easy access to the urban amenities of Scranton, Moosic Borough is home to the beautiful Montage Mountain area. One of the fastest-growing areas of the valley, this lovely borough is welcoming new residents and new businesses to an exceptional quality of life. Montage Mountain is home to lively entertainment centers, handsome homes, bustling commercial establishments, and a vibrant new shopping district in its alpine setting. Until 1988, visitors from across the East Coast would flock to the borough’s popular amusement park with its rides, lakeside activities, and big-name entertainment. Today’s attractions are notable as well, including a minor league baseball team and its grand stadium, the Glenmaura National Golf Course, the Sno Mountain and Sno Cove four-season ski area and waterpark, headquarters for the Boy Scouts of America, and the new Lackawanna County Visitors Center.
Moscow Borough
Municipal Offices
570-842-1699
www.moscowboro.com
Chamber of Commerce
570-342-7711
www.scrantonchamber.com
The friendly small town of Moscow Borough is located east of Lackawanna Valley near several other communities including Elmhurst, Daleville, Mount Cobb, Madisonville, Springbrook, and Thornhurst. The North Pocono Cultural Society enriches the area with a number of special events, including the Moscow Country Fair music and arts festival. This region offers local parks that offer open green space and recreational environments that include soccer, basketball, baseball, and football opportunities. Newcomers will discover a family-oriented lifestyle where social and civic groups are exceptionally active. Community gatherings, seasonal and special events, and school activities dot the calendar with dates that bring friends and neighbors together frequently. The housing selection ranges from older homes along tree-lined streets in the heart of the borough to generous acreage in surrounding townships.
Old Forge Borough, Taylor Borough
Old Forge Offices
570-457-8852
Taylor Offices
570-562-1400
www.taylorborough.com
Chamber of Commerce
570-342-7711
www.scrantonchamber.com
Nestled in a mountainous terrain, the long-established boroughs of Old Forge and Taylor are conveniently located near the major cities of Scranton and Wilkes-Barre. Old Forge is best known as the “pizza capital of the world.” The unique rectangular style has not only made the borough famous but is often referred to as “Old Forge Style Pizza” in other areas of Pennsylvania and even the nation. Weekends are especially bustling with throngs of visitors arriving to dine in the borough’s wonderful restaurants. Like Old Forge, Taylor Borough provides a small-town setting and cozy, tree-lined neighborhoods that are complemented by developed recreational and social amenities. The Taylor Community Center is a focal point of activity with its sports facilities, sauna and steam rooms, and multi-purpose areas for everything from aerobics to dances. Area parks add sports facilities and lush green space to the boroughs.
Scranton
Municipal Offices
570-348-4100
www.scrantonpa.gov
Chamber of Commerce
570-342-7711
www.scrantonchamber.com
The largest metropolitan center in Northeast Pennsylvania, the city of Scranton provides a wealth of urban amenities to the surrounding area including the internationally acclaimed University of Scranton. Major malls and shopping plazas, casual and fine dining, public and private schools including colleges and universities, major healthcare centers, venues for the performing arts, sports centers, lush parks, and entertainment centers are all encompasses within this bustling city. Important attractions include the Lackawanna Coal Mine tour, the Anthracite Heritage Museum, Scranton Public Theater, and the Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple. Historic architecture, wonderful family-oriented neighborhoods, well-kept older homes shaded by large trees, affordable real estate, and a picturesque countryside add to the appeal. Commuters to other regional employment centers have the advantage of the convergence of five major interstate highways.
Throop Borough, Jessup Borough, Blakely Borough, Olyphant Borough
Throop Offices
570-489-8311
www.throopboro.com
Jessup Offices
570-489-0411
www.jessupborough.com
Blakely Offices
570-383-3352
Olyphant Offices
570-489-2135
Chamber of Commerce
570-342-7711
www.scrantonchamber.com
The communities that are situated northeast of Scranton offer a friendly, small-town spirit and a close-knit atmosphere. Activities in the boroughs tend to revolve around social, church, and school events. Community centers, parks and playgrounds, sports fields and courts, and local schools add family-friendly amenities to daily life. Expanded urban advantages are available in the nearby city of Scranton, including major universities, shopping malls, cultural venues, and regional employment centers. Each one of these boroughs claims a rich history that includes railroad and coal-mining heydays. Throop Borough evolved with a diverse population that claims strong Irish, German, English, Polish, and Magyar generational roots. Jessup is revitalizing its business district and adding The Heritage Center, housed in an historic church, to document its unusual history. Following the Alamo tragedy, Santa Anna had visions of a starting a Mexican colony in Jessup.
