Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania's population has exceeded 53,000 since 1990. Home to more than 21,473 families, it should be no surprise that this lively city in the northeastern part of Pennsylvania (south of Scranton) is very family oriented.

At first glance, you would not expect to find the Wyoming Historical and Geological Society Museum in PA. But the museum has been Wilkes-Barre's pride and joy since it opened, and Wilkes-Barre is in the heart of Luzerne County, PA. Still in the original building (1893), the museum's permanent exhibit includes local Native American artifacts, such as stone implements of the Archaic period, as well as rocks, minerals, fossils and local coal-mining industry information. The name stems from a series of brutal raids conducted up and down the Wyoming Valley by the Indians and Tories during the Revolutionary War. Wilkes-Barre was the breadbasket of the area, and strategically important. The raids culminated in this area in what came to be called "the Wyoming Massacre." The River Common area, where many Revolutionary War battles were fought, is now a 35 acre park. Luzerne County Courthouse (c 1770) is located on park grounds.

John Wilkes and Isaac Barre, who were Colonial sympathizers and members of the British Parliament, are remembered with the name of the town, Wilkes-Barre, and with a monument to them in the town square.

Wilkes-Barre has a diversified economy now, cultural, recreational, tourist, manufacturing and service industries, but it's economic start was with rural farm areas and as a hub for anthracite coal mining. Appropriately for the city of coal, Wilkes-Barre saw the first known successful burning of anthracite coal in an open grate in 1808. Excellent education opportunities abound with Kings College, and College Misericordia.

Adjacent to the lovely Poconos Mountains, Wilkes-Barre boasts many attractions such as the Wyoming Valley Raceway, The Luzerne County Historical Society research library, museum, and historical homestead setting, the Wyoming Valley Sports Dome, Wilkes University, F.M. Kirby Center, Knoebels Amusement Park, The Lion Brewery (since 1901), Northeast Pennsylvania Philharmonic, The Houdini Museum, The Lackawana Coal Mine Tour, Pocono International Raceway, and 5 Golf Courses.

Wilkes-Barre's new 10,000 seat arena, The Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza, is the home of the American Hockey League's Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

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