Northeastern Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Northeast Pennsylvania
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Northeastern Pennsylvania
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| Country | United States |
| Commonwealth | Pennsylvania |
| Largest city | Scranton |
| Other cities (by population) |
List
In region:
Wilkes-Barre Hazleton Bloomsburg Pottsville Dunmore Kingston East Stroudsburg Hanover Township Mountain Top Berwick Nanticoke Sunbury Shamokin Pocono Township Carbondale Pittston (Greater Pittston) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 8,426 sq mi (21,820 km2) |
| Population
(2010 estimate)
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| • Total | 1,349,698 |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (ET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
Northeastern Pennsylvania, often called N.E.P.A. or Nepa, is a cool region in the state of Pennsylvania. It includes the beautiful Pocono Mountains and the Endless Mountains. It also has important cities like Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, and Hazleton.
This area was once known for its industries. Unlike many older industrial places, some communities here are actually growing! For example, Monroe and Pike counties are among the fastest-growing in Pennsylvania.
Northeastern Pennsylvania shares borders with the Lehigh Valley to the south. It also borders Warren County, New Jersey to the east. To its north, it meets Broome County, New York.
Contents
Counties in Northeastern Pennsylvania
Northeastern Pennsylvania includes many different counties. These counties make up the total area of the region. Below is a table showing the counties, their populations, and their sizes.
| County | 2015 Population | 2010 Population | Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bradford County | 61,281 | 62,622 | 1,161 sq mi (3,007 km2) |
| Carbon County | 63,960 | 65,249 | 387 sq mi (1,002 km2) |
| Columbia County | 66,672 | 67,295 | 490 sq mi (1,269 km2) |
| Lackawanna County | 211,917 | 214,437 | 465 sq mi (1,204 km2) |
| Luzerne County | 318,449 | 320,918 | 906 sq mi (2,350 km2) |
| Monroe County | 166,397 | 169,842 | 617 sq mi (1,598 km2) |
| Montour County | 18,557 | 18,267 | 132 sq mi (342 km2) |
| Northumberland County | 93,246 | 94,528 | 478 sq mi (1,238 km2) |
| Pike County | 55,949 | 57,369 | 567 sq mi (1,469 km2) |
| Schuylkill County | 144,590 | 148,289 | 783 sq mi (2,028 km2) |
| Sullivan County | 6,328 | 6,428 | 452 sq mi (1,171 km2) |
| Susquehanna County | 41,666 | 43,356 | 832 sq mi (2,155 km2) |
| Wayne County | 51,198 | 52,822 | 751 sq mi (1,945 km2) |
| Wyoming County | 27,800 | 28,276 | 405 sq mi (1,049 km2) |
| Total | 1,328,010 | 1,349,698 | 8,426 sq mi (21,823 km2) |
Green: This color shows the largest county by area. Yellow: This color shows the most populous county.
Fun Things to Do in NEPA
Northeastern Pennsylvania offers many exciting places to visit and fun activities. You can enjoy sports, outdoor adventures, and learn about history.
Sports and Entertainment Venues
- Baseball: PNC Field in Moosic is home to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. They are a minor league baseball team linked to the New York Yankees.
- Hockey: The Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre hosts the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. This is a professional ice hockey team.
- Car Racing: Pocono Raceway in Long Pond holds a big NASCAR race every year. It's a thrilling place for car racing fans.
Resorts and Outdoor Fun
- Casinos: Mohegan Pennsylvania in Plains was the first casino in Pennsylvania. Mount Airy Casino Resort in Mount Pocono also offers games and entertainment.
- Skiing and Water Parks:
- You can find several ski slopes in the area. These include Shawnee on Delaware and Blue Mountain Resort.
- Montage Mountain Ski Resort in Scranton is a ski resort in winter. In summer, it turns into a fun water park.
- Elk Mountain and Camelback Mountain Resort are also popular ski spots. Camelback also has a water park for summer fun.
Exploring History and Mystery
- Industrial History:
- Visit Eckley Miners' Village near Hazleton to see how coal miners lived long ago.
- The Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour in Scranton lets you go deep into a real coal mine.
- Steamtown National Historic Site and the Electric City Trolley Museum, both in Scranton, teach you about old trains and trolleys.
- Mysteries:
- The Houdini Museum in Scranton explores the amazing life of the famous magician, Houdini.
- The Scranton Ghost Walk tells spooky stories about Scranton's past. A house at 1433 N. Main Avenue is even known as one of the most haunted places in the state!
Learning and Education
Northeastern Pennsylvania has many great schools and universities. Students can find a wide range of programs here.
Universities and Colleges
- Penn State Campuses: Penn State has campuses in the Wilkes-Barre area, near Scranton, and in Hazleton.
- Scranton Area Colleges:
- Marywood University is in Dunmore.
- Lackawanna College and the University of Scranton are both in downtown Scranton.
- Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine is the region's only medical school. It helps train future doctors from this area.
- Wilkes-Barre Area Colleges:
- Other Colleges:
- Keystone College is in La Plume.
- Clarks Summit University is in Clarks Summit.
- Bloomsburg University is in Bloomsburg.
- East Stroudsburg University is in East Stroudsburg.
High Schools
- College Prep Schools:
- Wyoming Seminary is in Kingston.
- Scranton Preparatory School is in Scranton.
- MMI Preparatory School is in Freeland.
- Catholic High Schools:
- Holy Cross High School in Dunmore serves several counties.
- Holy Redeemer High School in Wilkes-Barre mainly serves Luzerne and Wyoming counties.
- Notre Dame High School in Stroudsburg serves Monroe County.
- Nativity BVM High School in Pottsville serves Schuylkill County.
- Marian Catholic High School in Tamaqua serves Schuylkill, Luzerne, and Carbon counties.
- Our Lady of Lourdes Regional School is near Shamokin.
- St. Gregory the Great Academy in Elmhurst Township is a boarding school for boys.
Gallery
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Aerial view of Pocono Raceway in Long Pond
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Aerial View of Blue Mountain Resort in Palmerton
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Eckley Miners' Village in Foster Township
