Greater Pittston

Infobox Settlement
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settlement_type = City
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pushpin_label_position = left
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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Pennsylvania
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Luzerne
government_footnotes =
government_type = determines the city, borough, or township in Greater Pittston
leader_title = Pittston City Mayor
leader_name = Joseph Keating (D)
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established_title = Settled
established_date = around 1770
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area_magnitude =
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unit_pref = Imperial
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area_total_km2 =
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area_total_sq_mi = 65.5
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population_as_of = 2000
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population_total = around 50,000
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timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
latd = 41
latm = 19
lats = 26
latNS = N
longd = 75
longm = 47
longs = 20
longEW = W
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m =
Pittston City elevation_ft = 653
postal_code_type = Zip code
postal_code =
area_code = 570
website =
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Greater Pittston is a 65.5 square mile region in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, in reference to the area in and around Pittston. The total population of the Greater Pittston Area is around 50,000 people. This region includes Avoca, Dupont, Duryea, Exeter Boro, Exeter. Hughestown, Jenkins Township, Laflin, Pittston Township, West Pittston, West Wyoming, Wyoming and Yatesville.

History

* 3 July 1778 — A force of British and Tories led by John Butler, with the assistance of about 700 Indians, attacked and killed nearly 300 Wyoming Valley settlers in what is now known as Exeter Borough, PA. Today in Wyoming, PA a monument marks the gravesite of the victims from the Battle of Wyoming.
* 1934 — The right arm of Hughestown, Pennsylvania, resident Harry Tompkins was crushed by an Erie Ralroad train. This resulted in the U.S. Supreme Court case, "Erie Railroad Co. v. Tompkins", which laid the foundation for a large part of modern American civil procedure.
* 22 January 1959 — The Knox Mine Disaster in Port Griffith in Jenkins Township claimed the lives of 12 people and essentially shut down the mining industry in Northeastern Pennsylvania.
* June 1972 — Hurricane Agnes was responsible for massive flooding in and around the Greater Pittston Area, Pennsylvania.
* 1974 – 1989 — Alleged ghost hauntings took place in the home of Jack and Janet Smurl in West Pittston. This resulted in the 1991 film "The Haunted".
* 1992 — The opening scenes from the movie "School Ties" was filmed in West Pittston; it shows David Green, the hero of the movie (played by Brendan Fraser), hanging out with friends in the streets of the tiny town.

Geography

Greater Pittston is a 65.5 square mile region in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, encompassing the Susquehanna River. Pittston Township has the largest landsize in all of Greater Pittston with a total area of 14.4 square miles. Yatesville, PA covers the least landmass in all of Greater Pittston with a total area of only 0.6 square miles.

Population

As of the census of 2000, around 50,000 people live in and around Pittston. Pittston City is the most populated with nearly 8,000 citizens. Yatesville has the smallest population in all of Greater Pittston with only 649 citizens.

Government

The current mayor of Pittston City, PA is Joseph Keating. There, he presides in the representative city of Greater Pittston. Every individual borough and township in Greater Pittston has their own form of governance which includes mayors, supervisors, etc.

Transportation

Interstate 81 passes through Pittston Township and the surrounding Greater Pittston area. The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport is actually in Avoca, a town in the Pittston metropolitan area. There is also public transportation to and from Greater Pittston. Railways into Greater Pittston provides for other services.

References