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History of Luzerne, (Luzerne County) PennsylvaniaOur database does not include an historic photo for Luzerne, (Luzerne County) Pennsylvania, do you have one you would like to contribute? Contact Us! 15% - 35% off all Products ยป The Ready Store Local History Notes:The 1854 Gazetteer of the United States by Thomas Baldwin shows: LUZERNE, a county in the N. E. part of Pennsylvania, has an area of 1400 square miles. It is intersected by the N. branch of Susquehanna river; the Lehigh river flows along its S. E. border; and it is also drained by the Lackawanna, Nescopeck, Huntingdon, and Wapwallo'pen creeks. The surface is diversified by several parallel mountain ridges of the Alleghany chain. Wyoming mountain traverses the middle of the county, parallel with the river, and extends towards the N. E. under the name of Moosic mountain. The average height of this ridge is about 1000 feet above the valley. Another ridge, called in different parts the Nanticoke and Lackawanna mountains, rises in the N.W. part. Between these lies the beautiful and fertile valley of Wyoming, through which the Susquehanna river flows. Including the valley of the Lackawanna, this is a long elliptical basin, early 60 miles in length, and 5 miles in width, constituting a separate coal-field, the beds of which in some parts are about 30 feet thick. Large quantities of coal are mined near Carbondale and Wilkesburro. The soil of these valleys is well adapted to agriculture. Indian corn, wheat, oats, potatoes, hay, and butter are the staples. In 1850 this county produced 290,122 bushels of corn; 165,328 of wheat; 287,797 of oats; 183,047 of potatoes; 31,601 tons of hay, and 558,168 pounds of butter. There were 85 saw mills, 20 collieries, 23 flour and grist mills, 11 iron foundries, 2 manufactories of edge tools, 2 woollen factories, and 15 tanneries. It contained 39 churches, 2 newspaper offices, 6815 pupils attending public schools, and 445 attending academies or other schools. It is intersected by the north branch of the state canal, and in part by the Lackswanna and Western railroad, the Lehigh and Susquehanna railroad and the Pennsylvania Coal Company's railroad. Organized in 1786, and named in compliment to Chevalier de la Luzerne, at that time minister from France to the United States. Capital, Wilkesbarre. Pop., 56,072. |
Pennsylvania Facts: Luzerne County Facts: Seat: Wilkes-BarreEstablished: 1786 Formed from: Northumberland
Luzerne is situated 186 meters above sea level. |