Carbondale, Pennsylvania
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Carbondale is a city in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, United States. Carbondale is located approximately 15 miles due NE of the city of Scranton in Northeastern Pennsylvania. The population was 9,804 at the 2000 census.
The land area that became Carbondale was developed by William and Maurice Wurts, the founders of the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company, during the rise of the anthracite coal mining industry in the early 1800s.
Like many other cities and towns in the region, Carbondale has struggled with the demise of the once-prominent coal mining industry that propelled the region into a haven for European immigrants seeking work during the late 1800s and early 1900s.
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[edit] Geography
Carbondale is located at (41.572082, -75.500820)GR1.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.4 km² (3.2 mi²), all land.
[edit] Demographics
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 9,804 people, 4,084 households, and 2,564 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,168.3/km² (3,027.5/mi²). There were 4,527 housing units at an average density of 539.5/km² (1,398.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.55% White, 0.23% African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.25% from other races, and 0.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.24% of the population.
There were 4,084 households out of which 27.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.4% were married couples living together, 15.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.2% were non-families. 34.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.1% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 22.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 83.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $27,574, and the median income for a family was $35,351. Males had a median income of $30,362 versus $21,922 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,914. About 9.2% of families and 14.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.6% of those under age 18 and 11.0% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Recent history
Over the past few decades, Carbondale has seen its population plummet, due to several factors including urban sprawl with the advent of newer housing developments in neighboring Greenfield Township and Archbald, as well as a lower-than-average birth rate, higher-than-average population of senior citizens, and a flight of young, unemployed professionals to "greener pastures" in more urban areas of the country. The community is still considered to be the "hub" city of the Upper Wyoming Valley, although its population is only about half of what it was in its peak.
[edit] Transportation
[edit] Highway
U.S. Route 6 runs down Main Street, Carbondale, as the main highway through the city. Recently-completed after years of anticipation, the four-lane Robert P. Casey Memorial Highway runs from Interstate 81 near Scranton north past Carbondale with interchanges outside, but close to, the city limits.
[edit] Rail
As the city responsible for the importation of America's first steam locomotive, the Stourbridge Lion in 1829, Carbondale was once a main terminus of the Delaware and Hudson Railway. It was also served by the Erie Railroad and the New York, Ontario and Western Railway.
Today Carbondale is served by the Pennsylvania Northeast Regional Rail Authority and its designated-operator Delaware-Lackawanna Railroad on a single remaining D&H mainline track running to Scranton.
[edit] Carbondale in popular culture
- Carbondale was mentioned in an episode of NBC's hit television series The Office (US TV series),entitled The Injury. "No, the gas station in Carbondale did not have fresh yams", sarcasticly quipped the character Ryan Howard, played by actor B.J. Novak.
On March 31, 2005, James Farrence Jr. mysteriously disappeared from Carbondale, Pennsylvania. Mr. Farrence had less than $60 on him the night he disappeared, did not drive, and suffered from Myotonic muscular dystrophy. He was extremely trusting and friendly.
For nearly a year, family and friends searched desperately to find Jimmy-organizing search and rescue efforts, addressing state legislatures and municipality representatives, networking with missing person organizations, and pressing authorities to continue with an investigation.
On September 20, 2005 and again on March 11, 2006, his remains were recovered near the Lackawanna River in Scranton, Pennsylvania--just 15 miles from where he was last seen. His suspicious death sparked an online network movement dubbed by family, friends, and residents of Carbondale as "Justice for James". Justice for James was established with hope that networking would gain community support and awareness of Mr. Farrence's story, lead to insight regarding the circumstances of his disappearance, and encourage officials to proceed with a thorough investigation.
[edit] External links
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
- Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
| Image:Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Lackawanna County.svg | Municipalities and Communities of Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania (County Seat: Scranton) |
|---|---|
| Cities | Carbondale | Scranton |
| Boroughs | Archbald | Blakely | Clarks Green | Clarks Summit | Dalton | Dickson City | Dunmore | Jermyn | Jessup | Mayfield | Moosic | Moscow | Old Forge | Olyphant | Taylor | Throop | Vandling |
| Townships | Abington | Benton | Carbondale | Clifton | Covington | Elmhurst | Fell | Glenburn | Greenfield | Jefferson | La Plume | Madison | Newton | North Abington | Ransom | Roaring Brook | Scott | South Abington | Spring Brook | Thornhurst | West Abington |
| Communities and CDPs | Glenburn | Mount Cobb |
