Wyoming Valley

The Wyoming Valley is a historic and important region in Northeastern Pennsylvania. It played a big role in the early days of the American Industrial Revolution because of its many anthracite coal mines. Today, the area is known as the Scranton–Wilkes-Barre metropolitan area, named after its two biggest cities, Scranton and Wilkes-Barre. As of the 2020 United States census, about 567,559 people live there, making it the fifth-largest metropolitan area in Pennsylvania.

The valley is shaped like a crescent and is part of the ridge-and-valley Appalachians. The Susquehanna River runs through the southern part of the valley, where lots of anthracite coal used to be mined. Over time, many coal mines closed, especially after a big problem in 1959 when the roof of a mine under the river collapsed. From higher spots, you can sometimes see the Pocono Mountains in the distance.

History

See also: History of Pennsylvania

The name Wyoming comes from the Lenape Munsee word xwéːwamənk, which means "at the big river flat." Long ago, the Wyoming Valley was home to the Scahentoarrhonon people. Later, groups like the Lenape, Mohican, and Shawnee lived there. During the French and Indian War, known in other places as the Seven Years' War, settlers left the area because of conflicts.

During the American Revolutionary War, a big battle called the Battle of Wyoming happened on July 3, 1778. Many people lost their lives in that fight. A famous poem about this event was written by the poet Thomas Campbell.

Eventually, the land became part of Pennsylvania. In 1786, a new county called Luzerne County was created. It was named after a French soldier and diplomat. Over time, Luzerne County was split into several smaller counties.

Metropolitan statistical area

The Scranton–Wilkes-Barre–Hazleton, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area, also called the Wyoming Valley, includes Lackawanna County, Luzerne County, and Wyoming County. In 2015, about 558,166 people lived there. Nearby counties include Monroe County, Susquehanna County, Wayne County, Columbia County, Bradford County, Carbon County, Sullivan County, and Schuylkill County.

Long ago, in 1950, Scranton and Wilkes-Barre were separate areas. Later, they were joined together. Scranton is the biggest city in the whole area, with almost twice as many people as the next largest city, Wilkes Barre.

Physical valley

The Wyoming Valley is a special area shaped like a canoe, stretching about 25 miles (40 km) from the north in Susquehanna and Wayne counties to the south in Columbia County. Major cities in this valley include Carbondale, Scranton, Pittston, Wilkes-Barre, and Nanticoke. While Wyoming County is part of the larger area known as the Wyoming Valley metropolitan statistical area, it does not lie within the physical valley itself.

Culture

Scranton is the largest city in the Wyoming Valley and is known as its cultural center.

The area has many favorite sports teams, such as the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders in Minor League Baseball, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the American Hockey League, and the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Steamers in the Premier Basketball League. There were also other teams in the past, like the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers in arena football.

Visitors can enjoy many fun places, including the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza, the Pocono Raceway, PNC Field, Mohegan Pennsylvania, the Toyota Pavilion, the Wyoming Valley Mall, the Shoppes at Montage, the Steamtown Mall, the Viewmont Mall, and the Montage Mountain Waterpark/Ski Resort. Historic spots like Eckley Miners' Village and the Steamtown National Historic Site are also popular.

Literature

This area is celebrated in Lydia Sigourney's poem Vale of Wyoming from 1845.

In a science-fiction story called Armageddon 2419 A.D. by Philip Francis Nowlan, a man named Anthony "Buck" Rogers gets trapped in an old coal mine in the Wyoming Valley. He stays asleep for nearly 500 years and wakes up to find that much has changed in the world. He then helps people who are hiding to fight back against new rulers.

Transportation

The main airports for the Wyoming Valley are Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport and the Wilkes-Barre Wyoming Valley Airport. These airports help people travel in and out of the area.