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Jessup, Pennsylvania
Borough
Church Street in Jessup
Church Street in Jessup
Etymology: Judge William Jessup
Location of Jessup in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania
Location of Jessup in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania
Jessup, Pennsylvania is located in Pennsylvania
Jessup, Pennsylvania
Jessup, Pennsylvania
Location in Pennsylvania
Jessup, Pennsylvania is located in the United States
Jessup, Pennsylvania
Jessup, Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
Country United States
State Pennsylvania
County Lackawanna
Settled 1849
Incorporated December 1876
Area
 • Total 6.79 sq mi (17.57 km2)
 • Land 6.74 sq mi (17.45 km2)
 • Water 0.05 sq mi (0.13 km2)
Elevation
853 ft (260 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 4,520
 • Density 670.92/sq mi (259.04/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
Zip Code
18434
Area code(s) 570
FIPS code 42-38160

Jessup is a small town, called a borough, located in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. In 2020, about 4,532 people lived there.

Geography of Jessup

Where is Jessup Located?

Jessup is found at specific coordinates: 41°28′16″N 75°33′44″W / 41.47111°N 75.56222°W / 41.47111; -75.56222. These numbers help pinpoint its exact spot on a map.

How Big is Jessup?

The United States Census Bureau reports that Jessup covers a total area of about 6.75 square miles (17.5 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 6.7 square miles (17.4 square kilometers), is land. A small part, about 0.05 square miles (0.13 square kilometers), is water.

History of Jessup

When Was Jessup Settled?

Jessup was first settled in 1849. The town was named after a person called Judge William Jessup.

How Jessup Became a Borough

In December 1876, Jessup was officially presented to the Luzerne County Court. It was proposed to become a borough, which is a type of self-governing town. At that time, it was known as the Borough of Winton. Two years later, Lackawanna County was officially formed.

Mining and Growth in Jessup

The early 1890s were a very important time for Jessup. Many new mining operations started up. These mines dug for anthracite coal, a type of hard coal. Because of all the work available in the coal fields, many immigrants from Europe moved to the area. This helped the town grow a lot.

Population of Jessup

Historical population
Census Pop.
1880 905
1890 1,797 98.6%
1900 3,425 90.6%
1910 5,280 54.2%
1920 7,583 43.6%
1930 8,508 12.2%
1940 7,989 −6.1%
1950 6,280 −21.4%
1960 5,456 −13.1%
1970 4,948 −9.3%
1980 4,974 0.5%
1990 4,605 −7.4%
2000 4,718 2.5%
2010 4,676 −0.9%
2020 4,532 −3.1%
2021 (est.) 4,517 −3.4%
Sources:

Population Trends in Jessup

According to the 2010 census, 4,676 people lived in Jessup. There were 2,007 households, which are groups of people living together. About 1,272 of these were families.

The population density was about 697.9 people per square mile (269.5 people per square kilometer). This tells us how many people live in each area. There were also 2,134 housing units, like houses or apartments.

Diversity in Jessup

In 2010, most of the people in Jessup, about 96.9%, were White. Other groups included 0.8% African American, 0.2% American Indian, and 0.4% Asian. About 1.9% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

Age Groups in Jessup

The population in Jessup was divided by age. About 20.2% of the people were under 18 years old. The largest group, 61.6%, was between 18 and 64 years old. About 18.2% of the people were 65 years or older. The average age in Jessup was 42.5 years.

Notable People from Jessup

Some famous people have come from Jessup:

  • Dominic Cossa – He is a baritone singer who performed at the Metropolitan Opera and NYC Opera. He also made recordings.
  • Nidra Poller – She is an author, translator, and writer who lives in Paris.
  • Louis Arthur Watres – He was the fifth lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania.
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