Freeland, Pennsylvania

Infobox Settlement
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settlement_type = Borough
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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 = Borough Council
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Tim Martin
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established_title = Settled
established_date = 1844
established_title1 = Incorporated
established_date1 = 1876
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unit_pref = Imperial
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area_total_sq_mi = 0.7
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population_as_of = 2000
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population_total = 3643
population_density_km2 =
population_density_sq_mi = 5230.0
timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
latd = 41
latm = 01
lats = 11
latNS = N
longd = 75
longm = 53
longs = 45
longEW = W
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m =
elevation_ft = 1943
postal_code_type = Zip code
postal_code = 18224
area_code = 570
website =
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Freeland, originally called Birbeckville after founder Joseph Birkbeck, then South Heberton, is a borough in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, 18 miles (29 km) south of Wilkes-Barre, and 10 miles northeast of Hazleton in an agricultural region. Freeland was officially incorporated as a borough on September 11, 1876. Coal-mining was a chief industry in the late 1800s and early 1900s. At the turn of the century the population numbered 5,254. By 1910 it had increased to 6,197, and in 1940 it peaked at 6,593 residents. At the 2000 census, the population was 3,643. Freeland is the highest elevated borough in Pennsylvania at 1,943 feet above sea level.

Early history

Joseph Birkbeck, the founder of Birbeckville, was born near Brough, Westmoreland county, England on May 2, 1802. He and his wife Elizabeth came to America in 1844. After acquiring land from Edward Lynch the same year of his arrival, Birkbeck built a log cabin in the region that is the small valley between Freeland and Upper Lehigh. The next settler, Nathan Howes, purchased land from Birkbeck and built a frame house just west of Birkbecks log cabin.

Developing coal mines in the nearby region created a steep increase in population and a demand for building lots. This led Birkbeck to survey the region for the town of South Heberton. South Heberton has long since lost its identity and is now simply a cluster of houses midway between Freeland and Upper Lehigh. Birkbeck's sawmill is at the turn of the road just east of Upper Lehigh, and what was mainly South Heberton is now known as Upper Lehigh, a small mining town once owned by the Upper Lehigh company. [ [http://www.rootsweb.com/~paluzern/patk/foster.htm Foster Township, Luzerne Co., Pa ] ] Between 1845 and 1846, Birkbeck cut the road now known as Buck Mountain Road through the woods from South Heberton through Eckley Miners' Village to Buck Mountain. Eckley was then known as Shingletown, as the chief industry there was the production of shingles.

The first child born at South Heberton was Elizabeth Birkbeck, the daughter of founder Joseph Birkbeck and his wife Elizabeth, in 1845. The first death at this place was that of William, the son of Joseph and Elizabeth Birkbeck, which occurred February 11, 1846. He was four years old at the time. [ [http://www.pacounties.org/freeland/cwp/view.asp?a=1731&q=475625 Freeland: First Settlers ] ] The first store at South Heberton was kept by a man named Feist, which was just west of Birkbeck's cabin. Soon afterward another small store was run by a Mr. Minig. The first tavern was founded by N. Howes, the second settler of the region. Previous to the opening of Howes's tavern, Birkbeck accommodated parties who were prospecting in this region for anthracite deposits in his own home. A frame school was built in 1878, and by 1880 the population numbered 500.

Freeland was incorporated in 1876. ["Columbia Lippincott Gazeteer", p. 641]

Later History

In 1883 the first Slovak Lutheran Church in America was organized in Freeland. [ [http://www.everyculture.com/multi/Pa-Sp/Slovak-Americans.html Article on Slovaks in America, see religion subsection] ]

The population steadily grew due to the coal mining popularity and European immigration up until the mid-1900s. During the last few decades, Freeland's population has been declining while the median age has been rising and is now 42 years, four years higher than the Pennsylvania median age. [ [http://www.city-data.com/city/Freeland-Pennsylvania.html Freeland, Pennsylvania (PA) Detailed Profile - relocation, real estate, travel, jobs, hospitals, schools, crime, news, sex offenders ] ] This is mainly due to the decline of the coal industry which was the sole appeal to new immigrants in the early 20th century.

Geography

Freeland is located at coor dms|41|1|11|N|75|53|45|W|city (41.019634, -75.895830)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 3,643 people, 1,611 households, and 968 families residing in the borough. The population density was 5,230.0 people per square mile (2,009.4/km²). There were 1,847 housing units at an average density of 2,651.6/sq mi (1,018.8/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 98.55% White, 0.11% African American, 0.05% Native American, 0.71% Asian, 0.33% from other races, and 0.25% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.96% of the population.

The main ancestries reported by Freeland residents on the 2000 Census were Polish with 17% of the population, German with 13%, Italian with 13% and Slovak with 13%. However Czechslovakian, Carpatho Rusyn, Eastern European and Slavic were all reported by about one percent of the population, so the Slovak population might have come in second to Polish if the census had allowed reporting of more than two ancestries. [ [http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genealogyInfo.php?locIndex=14020 Freeland - Freeland - Ancestry & family history - ePodunk ] ]

There were 1,611 households out of which 23.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.5% were married couples living together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.9% were non-families. 37.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the borough the population was spread out with 21.7% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 22.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 86.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.7 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $31,891, and the median income for a family was $40,863. Males had a median income of $31,631 versus $21,471 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $15,701. About 11.3% of families and 13.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.6% of those under age 18 and 17.0% of those age 65 or over.

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