Wyoming, Pennsylvania facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Wyoming, Pennsylvania
Borough
Wyoming Monument, burial site for Battle of Wyoming casualties
Location of Wyoming in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania
Wyoming, Pennsylvania Location in Pennsylvania Show map of Pennsylvania Wyoming, Pennsylvania Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
County	Luzerne
Region	Greater Pittston
Settled	18th century
Incorporated	1885
Government
• Body	Borough Council
Area
• Total	1.56 sq mi (4.03 km2)
• Land	1.43 sq mi (3.69 km2)
• Water	0.13 sq mi (0.34 km2)
Population  (2020)
• Total	3,097
• Estimate  (2021)	3,103
• Density	2,111.50/sq mi (815.36/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
Zip code	18644
Area code(s)	570
FIPS code	42-86856

Wyoming is a small town, called a borough, in the Greater Pittston area of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located about 5 miles (8 km) north of Wilkes-Barre. The town sits along the Susquehanna River. In 2020, about 3,097 people lived there.

What's in a Name? The Meaning of Wyoming

The name "Wyoming" comes from an old Native American language called Munsee. The word xwé:wamənk means "at the big river flat." This name makes sense because Wyoming is located right next to the wide Susquehanna River. The state of Wyoming is also named after this borough or the valley it sits in.

A Look Back: Wyoming's History

Village of Wyoming in the 1700s.

Early Days and First Settlers

Hundreds of years ago, the Wyoming Valley was home to several Native American tribes. These included the Susquehannock and the Delaware people. In the mid-1700s, settlers from Connecticut came to the valley. They were the first Europeans to explore this area.

In 1768, a group called the Susquehanna Company planned to divide the Wyoming Valley. They wanted to create five townships, with 40 settlers in each. Wyoming was first part of Kingston Township.

The Battle of Wyoming: A Key Moment

The Revolutionary War brought conflict to Wyoming. On June 30, 1778, British Loyalist forces arrived. They were led by Major John Butler. Their goal was to attack American settlements in the valley.

• On July 1, Fort Wintermoot, a local fort, gave up without a fight.
• The next day, Fort Jenkins also surrendered. Both forts were then burned down.

Meanwhile, American soldiers, called Patriots, gathered at Forty Fort. On July 3, about 375 Patriot soldiers marched out. They were led by Lieutenant Colonel Zebulon Butler and Colonel Nathan Denison. Major Butler's Rangers, along with about 500 Native American allies, surprised the Americans. Nearly 300 Patriot soldiers from the Wyoming Valley were killed in this fight. This event is known as the Battle of Wyoming, or the Wyoming Massacre.

The day after the battle, Colonel Denison surrendered Forty Fort and other posts. Many buildings in the Wyoming Valley were looted and burned. Most people living there fled across the Pocono Mountains to towns like Stroudsburg and Easton. Others went down the Susquehanna River to Sunbury.

Wyoming Monument: Remembering the Past

Today, a special monument stands in the Borough of Wyoming. It was built in the early 1830s. This monument marks the burial site of those who died in the battle. Every year, the Wyoming Commemorative Association holds an event at the monument. They honor the heroes who fought in this important Revolutionary War battle. The monument is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it is a historically important site.

Two other important places in Wyoming are also on the National Register of Historic Places: the Luzerne Presbyterial Institute and the Swetland Homestead.

Wyoming Becomes a Borough

Wyoming officially became a borough in 1885. In the early 1900s, the Eighth Street Bridge was built. It crossed the Susquehanna River and connected Wyoming to Jenkins Township. This bridge was replaced with a new one in 2011.

In 2011, a big flood happened during Tropical Storm Lee. The Wilkes-Barre Wyoming Valley Airport in southern Wyoming had to be evacuated. Planes were moved to higher ground, including the Wyoming Monument, to protect them from the floodwaters.

Where is Wyoming? Geography and Surroundings

An aerial view of the Wyoming Monument, Susquehanna River, and U.S. Route 11.

Wyoming is located at 41.309346 degrees North latitude and -75.836849 degrees West longitude. The borough covers about 1.56 square miles (4.03 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 1.43 square miles (3.69 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 0.13 square miles (0.34 square kilometers), is water.

Wyoming is a narrow strip of land on the western side of the Susquehanna River. The area closest to the river has many trees and rich farmland. Homes and businesses are found further inland. Two main roads, Eighth Street and Wyoming Avenue (U.S. Route 11), run through the town. Many businesses are located along US 11. The Eighth Street Bridge connects Wyoming to Jenkins Township, which is on the other side of the river.

Part of the Wilkes-Barre Wyoming Valley Airport is in southern Wyoming. The airport is about 135 acres (55 hectares) in size. It sits at an elevation of 543 feet (166 meters) above sea level.

Wyoming is surrounded by several other communities:

• West Wyoming Borough (to the northwest)
• Exeter Borough (to the northeast)
• Jenkins Township (to the east and southeast)
• Plains Township (to the south)
• Forty Fort Borough (to the southwest)

Who Lives in Wyoming? Population Facts

According to the census in 2000, there were 3,221 people living in Wyoming. These people lived in 1,487 households. About 21.5% of these households had children under 18. The average household had 2.13 people.

The population was spread out by age:

• 19.2% were under 18 years old.
• 5.7% were between 18 and 24.
• 27.9% were between 25 and 44.
• 21.5% were between 45 and 64.
• 25.6% were 65 years or older.

The average age in Wyoming was 43 years.

Learning in Wyoming: Education

Children in Wyoming attend schools within the Wyoming Area School District.

Images for kids

• 

  Luzerne Presbyterial Institute

• 

  Swetland Homestead

See also

In Spanish: Wyoming (Pensilvania) para niños