Conyngham, Pennsylvania facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Conyngham, Pennsylvania
Borough
Pennsylvania Route 93 in Conyngham
Location of Conyngham in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.
Conyngham, Pennsylvania Location in Pennsylvania Show map of Pennsylvania Conyngham, Pennsylvania Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
County	Luzerne
Settled	late 1700s
Incorporated	1921
Government
• Type	Borough Council
Area
• Total	1.03 sq mi (2.66 km2)
• Land	1.03 sq mi (2.66 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	1,014 ft (309 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	1,825
• Density	1,778.75/sq mi (687.08/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
Zip code	18219
Area code(s)	570
FIPS code	42-15888

Conyngham is a small town, also called a borough. It is located in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. In 2020, about 1,820 people lived here. It is a quiet community with an interesting past.

Conyngham's Early History

Gustavus Conyngham was a hero of the American Revolution.

The first person to settle in the Conyngham area was George Drum. This was in the late 1700s. George Drum was a soldier in the American Revolution. He was also a successful businessman. He owned a hotel, a shoe shop, and a post office. His family helped develop the nearby village of Drums. This village is named after his family. Conyngham and Drums are like sister villages. George Drum's old home still stands on Main Street in Conyngham.

The Sugarloaf Massacre

A sad event called the Sugarloaf Massacre happened on September 11, 1780. This was a battle between Native American groups (who were allies of British troops) and American settlers. It was part of a series of fights in northeastern Pennsylvania during the American Revolution. Today, a special monument remembers the fifteen men who lost their lives near Conyngham. It has a bronze plaque with their names.

How Conyngham Got Its Name

In the early 1800s, Redmond Conyngham was an important person in Luzerne County. He served in the Pennsylvania government. His cousin was Captain Gustavus Conyngham. Gustavus was a brave hero of the American Revolution. He commanded a privateer ship and was the first to fly the American flag in the English Channel. People wanted to name the town after Redmond. But he suggested naming it after his cousin, Gustavus. Gustavus often traveled to England to get supplies for the American colonists fighting for independence.

In the 1800s, a major road called the Lehigh-Susquehanna Turnpike ran through what is now Main Street in Conyngham. Later, PA 93 was built as another route. Conyngham officially became a borough in 1921.

Exploring Conyngham's Geography

Conyngham is located at 40°59′24″N 76°3′42″W / 40.99000°N 76.06167°W / 40.99000; -76.06167. It covers about 2.6 square kilometers (1.03 square miles) of land. There is no water within the borough limits. Sugarloaf Township completely surrounds Conyngham. Pennsylvania Route 93 goes right through the town. Conyngham is also close to two major highways: Interstate 80 (to the north) and Interstate 81 (to the south and east).

Fun Places in Conyngham

Conyngham has a nice town park called Whispering Willows. At the park, there is a community swimming pool. It is owned by the Conyngham Valley Civic Organization. The Hazleton Area Library, Conyngham Branch, is also located nearby. It's a great place to find books and learn new things.

Conyngham's Population

In 2000, there were 1,958 people living in Conyngham. There were 793 households, which are groups of people living together. Most households (61.9%) were married couples. About 30.3% of households had children under 18. The average household had about 2.47 people. The median age in Conyngham was 43 years old.

Education in Conyngham

Students in Conyngham attend schools in the Hazleton Area School District.

See also

In Spanish: Conyngham para niños