Wyoming County, Pennsylvania facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Wyoming County
U.S. county
The Wyoming County Courthouse in Tunkhannock
Logo
Location within the U.S. state of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
Founded	April 4, 1842
Named for	Wyoming Valley
Seat	Tunkhannock
Largest borough	Tunkhannock
Area
• Total	405 sq mi (1,050 km2)
• Land	397 sq mi (1,030 km2)
• Water	7.7 sq mi (20 km2)  1.9%
Population  (2020)
• Total	26,069
• Estimate  (2025)	25,790
• Density	64.37/sq mi (24.853/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	9th

Wyoming County is a beautiful area in the state of Pennsylvania. It's a place with a rich history and lovely natural scenery. The county was formed in 1842. It was created from a part of Luzerne County. The main town, or county seat, is Tunkhannock. In 2020, about 26,069 people called Wyoming County home. This county is part of the larger Northeast Pennsylvania region. It's also considered part of the Scranton-Wilkes-Barre-Hazleton metropolitan area.

Exploring Wyoming County's Geography

Wyoming County covers about 405 square miles. Most of this area is land, with a small part being water. The famous Susquehanna River flows through the county. Many smaller creeks, like Tunkhannock Creek, also cross the land. The county has lots of hills and mountains. Some of these include Mehoopany, Tunkhannock, Knob, and Bowman's mountains. The soil here is very good for farming. In the past, people found a lot of timber, coal, and iron in the area.

Wyoming County's Climate and Weather

Wyoming County has a type of weather called a humid continental climate. This means it has warm summers and cold winters. In Tunkhannock, the average temperature in January is about 25 degrees Fahrenheit. In July, it warms up to about 71 degrees Fahrenheit.

An idle tractor in a field near the Tunkhannock Viaduct.

Neighboring Counties of Wyoming County

Wyoming County shares its borders with several other counties:

• Susquehanna County to the north
• Lackawanna County to the east
• Luzerne County to the south
• Sullivan County to the west
• Bradford County to the northwest

Main Roads in Wyoming County

Many important roads help people travel through Wyoming County:

• US 6
• US 11
• PA 29
• PA 87
• PA 92
• PA 107
• PA 187
• PA 267
• PA 292
• PA 307
• PA 309
• PA 367

People and Population in Wyoming County

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1850	10,655		—
1860	12,540		17.7%
1870	14,585		16.3%
1880	15,598		6.9%
1890	15,891		1.9%
1900	17,152		7.9%
1910	15,509		−9.6%
1920	14,101		−9.1%
1930	15,517		10.0%
1940	16,702		7.6%
1950	16,766		0.4%
1960	16,813		0.3%
1970	19,082		13.5%
1980	26,433		38.5%
1990	28,076		6.2%
2000	28,080		0.0%
2010	28,276		0.7%
2020	26,069		−7.8%
2025 (est.)	25,790		−8.8%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2017 2010-2020

The U.S. Census Bureau collects information about people living in the county. In 2020, Wyoming County had 26,069 residents. The average age of people living here was about 45 years old. Many young people under 18 live in the county. There are also many older adults, aged 65 or more.

Most people in Wyoming County are White. A smaller number of residents are Black or African American, Asian, or Native American. Some people are from two or more racial backgrounds. About 2.2% of the population identifies as Hispanic or Latino. Most people in the county live in rural areas. Only a small part of the population lives in urban areas.

How Wyoming County is Governed

Wyoming County is run by elected officials. These officials make decisions for the community. As of May 2023, there were over 17,000 registered voters. Most voters in Wyoming County are part of the Republican Party. A smaller number are part of the Democratic Party. Some voters do not belong to any party.

County Leaders and Officials

The county is led by three County commissioners:

• Richard Wilbur, who is the Chair and a Republican.
• Thomas Henry, who is the Vice-chair and a Republican.
• Ernest King, who is a Democrat.

Law Enforcement in Wyoming County

Since 2016, the Pennsylvania State Police helps keep the peace in Wyoming County. They work in all parts of the county. Some areas might have small local police departments, but the State Police are always there to help.

Other Important County Offices

Other officials help run the county:

• Auditors: Laura Dickson (Democrat), Ashley Ritz Darby (Republican), Judy Shupp (Republican)
• District Attorney: Joe Peters (Republican)
• Prothonotary: Cindy Adams (Republican)
• Register of Wills & Recorder of Deeds: Dennis Montross (Republican)
• Sheriff: Robert Roberts (Republican)
• Treasurer: Patricia Mead (Republican)

State and National Representatives

Wyoming County is represented by officials at the state and national levels:

• State Representative: Jamie Walsh, a Republican, for the 117th district.
• State Senator: Lisa Baker, a Republican, for the 20th district.
• United States House of Representatives: Dan Meuser, a Republican, for Pennsylvania's 9th congressional district.
• United States Senators: Dave McCormick, a Republican, and John Fetterman, a Democrat.

Education in Wyoming County

Map showing the different school districts in Wyoming County, Pennsylvania.

Wyoming County offers many educational opportunities for its young people.

Public School Districts

Students in Wyoming County attend schools in several districts:

• Elk Lake School District (also serves parts of Susquehanna County)
• Lackawanna Trail School District (also serves parts of Lackawanna County)
• Lake-Lehman School District (also serves parts of Luzerne County)
• Tunkhannock Area School District
• Wyalusing Area School District (also serves parts of Bradford County)
• Wyoming Area School District (also serves parts of Luzerne County)

Higher Education Opportunities

For students looking to continue their education after high school, Keystone College is located nearby. It also serves students from Lackawanna County.

Transportation in Wyoming County

Getting around Wyoming County is made easier by various transportation options.

Air and Rail Travel

Skyhaven Airport is a local airport. It is located near Tunkhannock. In the past, the Susquehanna River banks were important for train travel. Trains carried passengers and goods between big cities like New York and Philadelphia. Today, most train tracks along the river are used for freight. These tracks connect important rail yards in Pennsylvania.

Road Network

Major roads help people travel through the county. Pennsylvania Route 29 connects to the New York state line. It provides north-south travel. Pennsylvania Route 92 and U.S. Route 6 are key roads for east-west travel.

Communities in Wyoming County

Map of Wyoming County, Pennsylvania, showing its boroughs (red) and townships (white).

Wyoming County has different types of communities. These include boroughs and townships.

Boroughs (Towns)

Boroughs are smaller, self-governing towns:

• Factoryville
• Laceyville
• Meshoppen
• Nicholson
• Tunkhannock (This is the county seat, where the county government is located.)

Townships (Rural Areas)

Townships are larger, often more rural areas:

Census-Designated Places

These are areas identified by the census for statistics:

• Lake Winola
• Noxen
• West Falls

Unincorporated Communities

These are smaller places without their own local government:

• Bellasylva
• Forkston
• Kasson Brook

Ghost Towns

• Ricketts (A town that no longer exists.)

Community Population Ranking

Here are the communities in Wyoming County, ranked by their population in 2010:

† county seat

See also

In Spanish: Condado de Wyoming (Pensilvania) para niños

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Wyoming County, Pennsylvania