Koonsville, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Koonsville is a small place in Pennsylvania, USA. It used to be a town, but now it's part of Union Township in Luzerne County. You can find Koonsville about one mile from Shickshinny. It sits along Route 239 and McKendree Road. The area is about 616 feet (188 meters) above sea level.
Contents
The History of Koonsville
Early Days and the Arch Bridge
Koonsville was first known as Arch Bridge. It got this name from a stone bridge that crosses Shickshinny Creek. In its early days, Koonsville was a busy place for cutting down trees. People worked there as loggers.
However, in 1778, there was a big conflict called the Battle of Wyoming. Many settlers living in the area became worried for their safety. Because of this, most of them left their homes.
Returning Settlers and New Beginnings
After a few years, some farmers and loggers came back to Koonsville. They wanted to rebuild their community. One of these people was Shadrick Austin. In 1801, Shadrick Austin bought a large piece of land, about 256 acres (1.04 square kilometers). He then opened a place called the Austin Family Inn.
How Koonsville Got Its Name
In 1850, a post office was opened in the area. This was an important step for the community. At this time, the area was officially named Koonsville. It was named to honor William Koons, who was the very first postmaster for the town. William Koons had moved to the area and was living in the old Austin Family Inn.
The Koonsville post office stayed open for many years. But at the start of World War II, it was closed down. Today, people in Koonsville get their mail from the Shickshinny post office.
