Dunmore, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dunmore, Pennsylvania
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Borough
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Dunmore municipal building
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Location of Dunmore in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania
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 Dunmore, Pennsylvania
Location in Pennsylvania
Dunmore, Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Lackawanna |
| Area | |
| • Total | 8.99 sq mi (23.30 km2) |
| • Land | 8.92 sq mi (23.10 km2) |
| • Water | 0.08 sq mi (0.20 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,001 ft (305 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 14,042 |
| • Density | 1,574.57/sq mi (607.94/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| Zip Code |
18512
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| Area code(s) | 570 |
Dunmore is a town, called a borough, in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is right next to Scranton. Dunmore is part of Northeastern Pennsylvania. It was first settled in 1835 and became an official borough in 1862.
In the past, Dunmore grew quickly because of its large coal mines, brick factories, stone quarries, and silk businesses. The population grew from 8,315 people in 1890 to 23,086 in 1940. In the 2020 census, about 14,042 people lived there.
Contents
History of Dunmore
Dunmore was settled in 1835 and officially became a borough in 1862.
Early Settlers and Growth
The first European to visit the Dunmore area was Count Zinzendorf in 1742. He was a missionary from Saxony who came to work with the native Munsee-speaking Delaware people.
In 1754, the land that is now Dunmore was bought from the native people by the Susquehanna Company of Connecticut. It became part of Providence Township. The first permanent settlers arrived in 1771. They were from Connecticut.
In 1783, William Allsworth opened an inn here. In 1795, Charles Dolph, John Carey, and John West started clearing land in an area known as "Bucktown" or "Corners." More people bought land here between 1799 and 1805.
Developing Businesses
Stephen Tripp started the first business in the area in 1820. He built a saw and grist mill on the Roaring Brook. That same year, the Drinker Turnpike Company opened a store. Soon after, Joseph Tanner opened the first blacksmith shop. C.W. Potter opened the first general store in 1845.
The village was very small, with only four houses, until the Pennsylvania Coal Company arrived in 1847–1848. This company helped the town grow into a busy and diverse place.
By 1875, Providence Township was divided into smaller towns and boroughs, and Dunmore became one of them. Today, Dunmore is a borough that borders the city of Scranton.
The name Dunmore comes from Dunmore Park in Scotland.
Geography and Nature
Dunmore is located at 41°25′3″N 75°37′28″W / 41.41750°N 75.62444°W.
Land and Water
The borough covers about 9 square miles (23.3 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 8.9 square miles (23.1 square kilometers), is land. A small part, about 0.1 square miles (0.2 square kilometers), is water.
Roaring Brook flows from the southeast through the Nay Aug Gorge in Dunmore. It then turns west and flows into the Lackawanna River in Scranton. Most of Dunmore's water drains into Roaring Brook. A small western part drains into Meadow Brook, which also flows into the Lackawanna River.
The southeastern side of Dunmore is on the slopes of the Moosic Mountains. The Nay Aug Gorge cuts through these mountains.
Nearby Towns
Dunmore is surrounded by several other towns:
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Scranton | Scranton/Throop | Throop | |
| Scranton |  |
Throop/Roaring Brook Township | ||
 Dunmore  |
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| Scranton | Roaring Brook Township | Roaring Brook Township |
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 4,311 | — | |
| 1880 | 5,151 | 19.5% | |
| 1890 | 8,315 | 61.4% | |
| 1900 | 12,583 | 51.3% | |
| 1910 | 17,615 | 40.0% | |
| 1920 | 20,250 | 15.0% | |
| 1930 | 22,627 | 11.7% | |
| 1940 | 23,086 | 2.0% | |
| 1950 | 20,305 | −12.0% | |
| 1960 | 18,917 | −6.8% | |
| 1970 | 18,168 | −4.0% | |
| 1980 | 16,781 | −7.6% | |
| 1990 | 15,403 | −8.2% | |
| 2000 | 14,018 | −9.0% | |
| 2010 | 14,057 | 0.3% | |
| 2020 | 14,042 | −0.1% | |
| Sources: | |||
According to the 2010 United States Census, Dunmore had 14,057 people living there. There were about 5,999 households and 3,388 families. The population density was about 1,579 people per square mile.
Most of the people in Dunmore (95.2%) were White. Other groups included 1.1% African American, 1.8% Asian, and 2.3% Hispanic or Latino.
About 22% of households had children under 18. The average household had 2.18 people, and the average family had 2.93 people. The median age in Dunmore was 42.1 years old.
Economy and Businesses
Dunmore is home to Gertrude Hawk Chocolates, a well-known chocolate company founded in 1936.
The Keystone Industrial Park is also located in Dunmore. This park provides space for many different businesses and industries.
Environmental Concerns
The Keystone Sanitary Landfill, which is the largest landfill in Pennsylvania, has been in Dunmore since 1973. It is located near the Dunmore Reservoir #1, which is a backup source for drinking water.
The landfill also extends into Throop, Pennsylvania. It was built over old mines, which are known for ground subsidence (when the ground sinks).
The landfill takes in over 7,200 tons of trash every day. A significant amount of this waste comes from fracking activities. This includes drill cuttings, mud, and fluids, which can contain small amounts of naturally occurring radioactive elements.
The landfill has had issues with leaking into groundwater. Run-off from the landfill is released into Eddy's Creek and the Lackawanna River.
In 2014, the Dunmore borough council approved an agreement for the landfill's extension. In 2018, the Pennsylvania DEP (Department of Environmental Protection) noted that the landfill was storing too much liquid waste.
Education and Schools
Dunmore has several schools for students of all ages.
Public Schools
The Dunmore School District serves the public school students. It has three main schools:
- Dunmore Elementary Center (for younger students)
- Dunmore Middle School
- Dunmore High School (for older students)
Private Schools
Dunmore also has two Roman Catholic schools, which are part of the Diocese of Scranton:
- Saint Mary's of Mount Carmel Elementary School (for grades PK-8)
- Holy Cross High School
Colleges and Universities
For students who want to continue their education after high school, Dunmore has two colleges:
- Marywood University
- Penn State Scranton
Transportation
Dunmore is an important hub for transportation. The western end of Interstate 84 is in Dunmore. I-84 and I-380 travel through the Nay Aug Gorge. They connect to Interstate 81 and U.S. Route 6 at a large interchange. Interstate 81 also has an exit for Route 347 in Dunmore.
Notable People from Dunmore
Many interesting people have connections to Dunmore:
- Mehmood Ali (1932–2004), a famous actor from India.
- Sister Mary Adrian Barrett, I.H.M. (1929–2015), a Catholic social worker and educator.
- Christopher F. Burne, a U.S. Air Force brigadier general.
- Nestor Chylak (1922–1982), a Major League Baseball umpire.
- Vic Delmore (1917–1960), another Major League Baseball umpire.
- Carol Ann Drazba (1943–1966), the first American nurse to die in the Vietnam War.
- Vic Fangio, a defensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles in the National Football League.
- Paul W. Richards, an astronaut who flew on the Space Shuttle Discovery.
- Tim Ruddy, a center for the NFL's Miami Dolphins.
Images for kids
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Drinker Street in Dunmore
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Dunmore fire station
See also
In Spanish: Dunmore (Pensilvania) para niños
- Jefferson Center Dunmore
