Mountain Top, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mountain Top, Pennsylvania
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Blue Giant Meadow Lake in Mountain Top in June 2015
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 Mountain Top, Pennsylvania
Location in Pennsylvania
Mountain Top, Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Luzerne |
| Townships | Nuangola, Penn Lake Park and White Haven and Dennison Township, Dorrance Township, Fairview Township, Rice Township, Slocum Township and Wright Township |
| Area | |
| • Total | 15.02 sq mi (38.90 km2) |
| • Land | 15.02 sq mi (38.90 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,580 ft (480 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 11,489 |
| • Density | 764.86/sq mi (295.31/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Code |
18707
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| Area code(s) | 570 and 272 |
| FIPS code | 42-51384 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2389520 |
Mountain Top is a community in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is known as a census-designated place (CDP). This means it's a special area that the government tracks for population numbers. As of 2020, about 11,489 people lived in Mountain Top.
Mountain Top is located along Pennsylvania Route 309. It is south of the city of Wilkes-Barre. The community is spread across several townships. These include Dorrance, Fairview, Rice, and Wright townships.
Contents
Why the Name "Mountain Top"?
The name "Mountain Top" is used by the United States Postal Service for mail. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation also uses "Mountain Top" on driver's licenses. However, some local businesses like to spell it as one word: "Mountaintop." So, you might see it written both ways!
Exploring Mountain Top's Geography
Mountain Top is in the middle of Luzerne County. It was once called "Penobscot." The community stretches north to Solomon Gap. This gap separates Penobscot Knob from Haystack Mountain. To the south, Mountain Top includes smaller areas. These are Fairview Heights, Wech Corners, Rita, Albert, Rippletown, and Lindbergh. The ridge of Nescopeck Mountain is in the southeast part of Mountain Top.
Land and Water in Mountain Top
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Mountain Top covers about 39 square kilometers (15 square miles). All of this area is land. Mountain Top is part of the Susquehanna River watershed. This means that water from this area eventually flows into the Susquehanna River.
The center of Mountain Top sits on a drainage divide. This is like a high point where water flows in different directions. Water to the north flows into Solomon Creek. This creek goes to the Susquehanna River near Wilkes-Barre. Water to the southwest flows into Big Wapwallopen Creek. This creek also goes to the Susquehanna River.
East of Mountain Top, the land rises to Arbutus Peak and Stony Cabin Ridge. These are about 2,080 feet (634 meters) high. Beyond them is the Lehigh River basin, which leads to the Delaware River.
Location and Transportation
Mountain Top is about 10 miles (16 km) northwest of White Haven. It is also 16 miles (26 km) northeast of Hazleton. It's about 8 miles (13 km) south of Wilkes-Barre on Pennsylvania Route 309.
Even though trains are not as common now, the Mountain Top Yard is still important. It was once a large train yard. It helped connect cities like Allentown and Philadelphia with places north and west.
Mountain Top's Elevation
The height of the land in Mountain Top changes quite a bit. It ranges from about 1,070 feet (326 meters) above sea level. This low point is along Big Wapwallopen Creek in the southwest. The highest points are around 1,860 feet (567 meters) on Nescopeck Mountain. The main part of Mountain Top village is about 1,580 feet (482 meters) high.
Who Lives in Mountain Top?
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2010 | 10,982 | — | |
| 2020 | 11,489 | 4.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2019, there were 11,489 people living in Mountain Top. This was a small increase from 10,701 people in 2011. There were 5,556 households, which means groups of people living together. Out of these, 4,394 were families.
Most people in Mountain Top are White (97.02%). There are also smaller groups of African American (0.54%), Native American (0.03%), and Asian (1.62%) residents. About 1.08% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
Families and Age Groups
About 36.8% of households had children under 18 living with them. Most households (68.2%) were married couples. About 8.1% of households had a female head with no husband present.
The average household had 2.72 people. The average family had 3.10 people. The population is spread out by age. About 26.0% were under 18 years old. About 13.6% were 65 years or older. The average age in Mountain Top was 39 years.
Income and Economy
The median income for a household in Mountain Top was $51,655. For families, the median income was $58,588. This means half of the households earned more than this amount, and half earned less. About 3.4% of all people in Mountain Top lived below the poverty line. This includes 3.7% of those under 18 and 5.4% of those 65 or older.
Education in Mountain Top
Mountain Top is part of the Crestwood Area School District. This district covers a large area, over 110 square miles (285 square kilometers). It includes several townships and boroughs.
Crestwood School District Schools
The Crestwood School District has four schools:
- Rice Elementary School: Located in Rice Township, for students in kindergarten through 6th grade.
- Fairview Elementary School: Located in Fairview Township, also for students in kindergarten through 6th grade.
- Crestwood Middle School: Located in Wright Township, for students in 7th and 8th grades.
- Crestwood High School: Also in Wright Township, for students in 9th through 12th grades.
Catholic Education
St. Jude's Catholic School is in Wright Township. It serves students from kindergarten through 8th grade. After St. Jude's, students can continue their Catholic education. Many go to Holy Redeemer High School in Wilkes-Barre.
See also
In Spanish: Mountain Top para niños
