Hazleton, Pennsylvania facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Hazleton
City
Downtown Hazleton in 2004
Nickname(s):  The Mountain City, Mob City, The Power City
Location of Hazleton in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania
Hazleton, Pennsylvania Location in Pennsylvania Show map of Pennsylvania Hazleton, Pennsylvania Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
County	Luzerne
Settled	1780
Area
• Total	5.97 sq mi (15.47 km2)
• Land	5.97 sq mi (15.47 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	1,689 ft (515 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	29,963
• Density	5,017.25/sq mi (1,937.17/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Codes	18201, 18202
Area code(s)	570 and 272
FIPS code	42-33408

Hazleton is a city in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States. It's known as "The Mountain City" because of its high location. In 2020, about 29,963 people lived there. Hazleton is the second-largest city in Luzerne County. It became a borough in 1857 and a city in 1891.

Hazleton is in Northeastern Pennsylvania. It is about 35 miles (56 km) northwest of Allentown. It is also about 82 miles (132 km) north-northwest of Philadelphia. New York City is about 106 miles (171 km) to the west.

History of Hazleton

An 1884 illustration of Hazleton

Long ago, the area where Hazleton is today was a meeting point for two important Native American trails. These trails were used for travel and trade.

Early Settlers and the Sugarloaf Massacre

During the American Revolution, in 1780, there was a conflict called the Sugarloaf massacre. British supporters attacked American outposts. Captain Daniel Klader and his men were sent to investigate. They were ambushed by British loyalists and Seneca people. Fifteen men were killed.

The Moravians, a Christian group, used a trail through this area. They noticed many hazel trees, so they called the region "Hazel Swamp." Some Moravians stayed and built a settlement nearby in 1782.

How Coal Changed Hazleton

Israel Platt Pardee Mansion in Hazleton

In 1818, anthracite coal was found nearby. This discovery attracted people like Ariovistus "Ario" Pardee. He bought land in what is now Hazleton. His land had a huge coal field. Pardee is often called the founding father of Hazleton. He helped plan the town and built the first school and church.

The Hazleton Coal Company was started in 1836. This company helped build the town. Many immigrants came to Hazleton to work in the coal mines. First, people from Germany and Ireland arrived. Later, people from Italy, Poland, Russia, and other countries came. The coal from Hazleton helped the United States become a strong industrial country.

Becoming a Borough and City

Eckley Miners' Village

Hazleton became a borough on January 5, 1857. The name was supposed to be "Hazelton," but a clerk misspelled it. So, it became "Hazleton." The first fire company was formed in 1867.

Many small towns, called "patch towns," grew up around Hazleton. Coal companies built these towns for miners and their families. Some of these towns include:

• Beaver Meadows
• Stockton
• Jeansville
• Milnesville
• Tresckow
• Junedale
• Freeland
• McAdoo
• West Hazleton
• Eckley
• Jeddo
• Hollywood
• Weatherly
• Humboldt Village

Challenges and Growth

A picture taken before the September 1897 Lattimer massacre

Coal miners near Hazleton

As industries grew, workers started to form unions. In 1897, a sad event called the Lattimer Massacre happened. Striking miners were shot by a sheriff's group. This event was a turning point for the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) union.

Hazleton also faced mining disasters, like cave-ins. In 1888, a terrible train crash near Mud Run killed 66 people.

In 1891, Hazleton became one of the first cities in the U.S. to have citywide electricity. The population was about 14,000 people. Local leaders worked to bring new types of businesses to Hazleton. They wanted to create jobs for women, too. The Duplan Silk Corporation opened in 1899.

Hazleton in the 20th and 21st Centuries

An early 20th century postcard of Hazleton

Altamont Hotel in Hazleton

Markle Banking & Trust Company Building in Hazleton

Hazleton's population grew a lot between 1885 and 1920. By 1920, there were 32,000 people. The Duplan Silk Mill became very large, employing up to 2,000 people. In 1913, many silk workers went on strike for better conditions.

The first public library opened in 1907. A new library building, donated by John Markle, opened in 1912. It is still used today for the children's department.

After World War II, the demand for coal went down. Natural gas and electricity became more popular. Hurricanes in 1954 and 1955 flooded the mines, ending deep mining in Hazleton. Many people lost their jobs, and the population decreased.

Local leaders worked hard to bring new businesses to Hazleton. Dr. Edgar L. Dessen started CAN DO (Community Area New Development Organization) in 1956. This group raised money to build industrial parks. Because of these efforts, Hazleton received the All-America City Award in 1964. Today, Hazleton's economy focuses on manufacturing and shipping. This is helped by its location near major highways.

A New Wave of Immigration

Hazleton City Hall

In the early 2000s, many new immigrants, mostly from the Dominican Republic, moved to Hazleton. This changed the city's population.

In 2006, Hazleton gained national attention. The mayor, Lou Barletta, and city council passed a law to discourage hiring or renting to undocumented immigrants. This law was later found to be against federal law.

By 2015, almost 40% of Hazleton's population was Hispanic or Latino. Many of these residents came from New York City and North Jersey. In 2016, the Hispanic and Latino population became the majority in Hazleton. Many new businesses opened on Wyoming Street, helping to revive the area.

Geography of Hazleton

A topographic map showing the terrain in and around Hazleton

Hazleton is located at 40.958834 degrees north latitude and -75.974546 degrees west longitude. The city covers about 6.0 square miles (15.5 km2) of land. It is about 12 miles (19 km) north of Tamaqua. It is also 30 miles (48 km) south of Scranton and Wilkes-Barre.

Hazleton is on a high plateau called Spring Mountain. Its highest point is 1,886 feet (575 m) above sea level. This makes it one of the highest cities east of the Mississippi River in Pennsylvania.

Greater Hazleton Area

Hazleton and the towns around it are known as Greater Hazleton. This area includes parts of three counties: Luzerne, Schuylkill, and Carbon. In 2010, the population of Greater Hazleton was 77,187.

Panoramic view of Hazleton overlooking Downtown and the southern section of the city

Climate in Hazleton

Hazleton has a climate with warm summers. The average snowfall is about 47 inches (119 cm) each year. The city also gets about 50 inches (127 cm) of rain annually.

People of Hazleton

Population Changes Over Time

The 2010 census showed that 69.4% of the city's population was White. About 37.3% of the population was Hispanic or Latino. Most of Hazleton's population growth from 2000 to 2010 came from Hispanic and Latino residents.

In 2010, there were 9,798 households in Hazleton. About 22.8% of these households had children under 18. The average household size was 2.54 people. The median age in the city was 35 years old.

Hazleton's Economy

Hazleton's main industries, like coal mining and clothing manufacturing, have changed over the years. Now, the Humboldt Industrial Park in Hazle Township is home to many businesses.

Big companies like Coca-Cola, American Eagle Outfitters, and Hershey have operations here. Other companies like Office Max, Amazon.com, and General Mills also have facilities. These businesses help with distribution, manufacturing, and logistics.

In 2010, only 6.7% of Hazleton residents had an income below the poverty level. This was lower than the statewide average of 12.5%.

Arts and Culture in Hazleton

Historic postcard of Memorial Park in Hazleton

St. Gabriel's Convent

St. Gabriel's Church

Places to Visit and Explore

• Altmiller Playground
• Eagle Rock Resort (private)
• Edgewood In The Pines Golf Course
• Greater Hazleton Rails To Trails
• Hazle Township Community Park & Soccer Fields
• Hickory Run State Park
• Lehigh Gorge State Park
• Memorial Park

Important Buildings and Groups

• Altamont Hotel
• Duplan Silk Building
• Eckley Miners' Village
• St. Gabriel's Catholic Parish Complex
• Hazleton Cemetery (the Vine Street Cemetery)
• Hazleton National Bank
• Israel Platt Pardee Mansion
• Markle Banking & Trust Company Building
• Lattimer Massacre site
• MPB Community Players
• Nuremberg Community Players
• Pennsylvania Theatre of Performing Arts (PTPA)
• Saint Joseph Slovak Roman Catholic Church
• Traders Bank Building

Annual Festivals and Events

Hazleton has an annual street festival called Funfest. It usually happens in early September. The festival includes a craft show, a car show, and live music. There is also a Funfest parade. Valley Day is celebrated in Conyngham in August. Many church festivals also take place, celebrating the Italian heritage of Hazleton. One example is the Festival of the Madonna del Monte.

Sports in Hazleton

Hazleton has a history with minor league baseball. The Philadelphia Phillies had their first minor league team here in 1934. The last minor league team, the Hazleton Dodgers, played in 1950.

Hazleton also had basketball teams in the Eastern Basketball League. These included the Hazleton Mountaineers and Hazleton Hawks.

Penn State Hazleton has 8 sports teams. They compete in college sports like baseball, basketball, soccer, and volleyball. Their games are played at the Athletic Center on campus.

Media in Hazleton

Local Newspapers

• Standard-Speaker
• Latino News
• El Mensajero (a Spanish-language newspaper)

Radio Station

• WGMA 1490 AM

Television Station

• Sam-Son Productions (public-access TV)
• WYLN-35

Education in Hazleton

A map of Luzerne County with Hazleton Area School District highlighted in pink

Hazleton Area High School

Hazleton Area Public Library

The first school in Hazleton was built in the 1830s by the Hazleton Coal Company. It was a private elementary school. The first high school was built in 1875. Bishop Hafey High School was a Catholic high school that closed in 2007.

Hazleton Area School District

The Hazleton Area School District (HASD) runs the public schools in the city. The district covers about 250 square miles (647 km2). In 2015, there were 10,871 students in the district.

The schools in Hazleton run by HASD are:

• Hazleton Elementary/Middle School
• Heights-Terrace Elementary/Middle School
• Arthur Street Elementary School

All high school students in the district attend Hazleton Area High School in Hazle Township.

Private Schools

• Holy Family Academy
• Immanuel Christian School
• MMI Preparatory School

Colleges and Universities

• Lackawanna College
• Luzerne County Community College
• Penn State Hazleton

Other Educational Places

• The Greater Hazleton Historical Society and Museum
• Hazleton Area Public Library

Transportation in Hazleton

Hazleton Public Transit in Hazleton

PA 309 just outside the city

Getting Around Town

• Hazleton Public Transit provides bus services. It has nine routes in the city and nearby areas.
• Several companies offer jitney services from Hazleton to New York City.

Major Roads and Highways

• Three major Interstates are nearby:
  • I-80
  • I-81
  • I-476 / Penna Turnpike NE Extension
• Five main roads go into Hazleton:
  • PA 93 (Broad Street)
  • PA 309 (Church Street)
  • PA 424 (Arthur Gardner Parkway)
  • PA 924 (CAN-DO Expressway, Broad Street, 15th Street)
  • PA 940 (Fisher's Avenue)

Train Services

• Norfolk Southern Railway and Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad are used for commercial train traffic.

Airports Near Hazleton

• Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport (in Pittston Township)
• Hazleton Municipal Airport (just two miles northwest of Hazleton)

Famous People from Hazleton

Sister Cities

Hazleton has several sister cities around the world:

• Donegal, Limerick, Letterkenny - Ireland
• Corleone, Cilento, Bellagio, Positano, Capri, Campania - Italy
• Ayn al-Tamr - Iraq

See also

In Spanish: Hazleton (Pensilvania) para niños