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Chinchilla, Pennsylvania
Map of Pennsylvania, with county borders indicated. A red dot in the upper right-hand corner is labeled "Chinchilla, Pennsylvania."
Map of Pennsylvania, with county borders indicated. A red dot in the upper right-hand corner is labeled "Chinchilla, Pennsylvania."
Chinchilla, Pennsylvania
Location in Pennsylvania
Map of Pennsylvania, with county borders indicated. A red dot in the upper right-hand corner is labeled "Chinchilla, Pennsylvania."
Map of Pennsylvania, with county borders indicated. A red dot in the upper right-hand corner is labeled "Chinchilla, Pennsylvania."
Chinchilla, Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
Country United States
State Pennsylvania
U.S. Congressional District PA-10
School Districts Lakeland (Region III)
Abington Heights (Region III)
County Lackawanna
Magisterial Districts 45-3-03
45-3-01
Townships Scott
South Abington
Area
 • Total 2.58 sq mi (6.70 km2)
 • Land 2.50 sq mi (6.49 km2)
 • Water 0.08 sq mi (0.21 km2)
Elevation
1,165 ft (355 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 1,959
 • Density 782.04/sq mi (301.90/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (Eastern Daylight (EDT))
ZIP code
Area code(s) 570
GNIS feature IDs 1198566 (village)
2628808 (CDP)
FIPS codes 42-13480

Chinchilla is a small community in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is known as a census-designated place (CDP). This means it's an area identified by the U.S. Census Bureau for statistical purposes. It's not an officially incorporated town.

Chinchilla is located within two different areas called townships: Scott and South Abington. In 2020, about 1,959 people lived there.

This place used to be called "Leach's Flats." The story goes that a female postmaster in the 1880s renamed it. She supposedly named it after her soft chinchilla-fur shawl.

Geography and Location

Chinchilla is nestled in a valley. This valley is formed by Leggetts Creek. The creek flows south and eventually joins the Lackawanna River. This river is located just north of the city of Scranton.

Major Transportation Routes

Important roads and railways pass through this area. Interstate 81 is a major highway. U.S. Route 6 and U.S. Route 11 also run nearby. The Norfolk Southern Railway (which used to be the Lackawanna Railroad) also uses this valley. These routes connect Scranton to another town called Clarks Summit.

Postal Services

Chinchilla has its own post office. The ZIP Code for Chinchilla is 18410.

Population Information

The population of Chinchilla is counted every ten years. This count is part of the United States Census.

Recent Population Numbers

  • In 2020, the population was 1,959 people.
  • In 2010, the population was 2,098 people.

This information helps us understand how the community is growing or changing.

See also

In Spanish: Chinchilla (Pensilvania) para niños

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