Plymouth, Pennsylvania
Plymouth is a borough in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, 4 miles (6 km) west of Wilkes-Barre (along the Susquehanna River). The population was 5,951 as of the 2010 census.[3]
Plymouth, Pennsylvania | |
---|---|
Borough | |
Downtown Plymouth | |
Location of Plymouth in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania | |
Plymouth Location of Plymouth in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania Plymouth Plymouth (the United States) | |
Coordinates: 41°14′31″N 75°56′53″W | |
Country | United States |
State | Pennsylvania |
County | Luzerne |
Settled | 1769 |
Incorporated | 1866 |
Government | |
• Type | Borough Council |
• Mayor | Frank Coughlin |
Area | |
• Total | 1.17 sq mi (3.03 km2) |
• Land | 1.07 sq mi (2.78 km2) |
• Water | 0.10 sq mi (0.25 km2) |
Population (2010) | |
• Total | 5,951 |
• Estimate (2019)[2] | 5,794 |
• Density | 5,399.81/sq mi (2,084.66/km2) |
Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
Zip code | 18651 |
Area code(s) | 570 |
FIPS code | 42-61648 |
Website | www |
History
Plymouth was first settled in 1769 by the Susquehanna Company of Connecticut. It was originally part of Plymouth Township. The Pennamite-Yankee Wars were fought in the surrounding area.
Plymouth is situated in the once rich anthracite coal fields of eastern Pennsylvania. Coal was first shipped in 1807. Plymouth was incorporated as a borough in 1866. Elijah C. Wadhams was elected to be the first mayor and held office until 1869. In the past, the chief products of its manufacturing establishments included mining drilling machines, miners' squibs, silk hosiery, and lumber products. Its population peaked in 1910 at 16,996.
Architecture
At the beginning of the 19th century, Plymouth's primary industry was agriculture, and many of its residents were the descendants of the Connecticut Yankees who first settled the town. Its early architecture resembled that of a small New England village. However, vast anthracite coal beds lay below the surface at various depths, and by the 1850s, coal mining was the town's primary occupation, attracting a more diverse population. After the arrival of the railroad (in 1857), the town's architecture became more typical of a growing industrial center.
- Soldiers and Sailors Monument (dedicated 1920)
- St. Vincent's School (built 1922)
- Polish Alliance Hall (dedicated 1928)
- Plymouth Post Office (dedicated 1935)
- Municipal Building (built 1975)
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 1.2 square miles (3.1 km2), of which 1.1 square miles (2.8 km2) is land and 0.08 square miles (0.2 km2), or 7.31%, is water.[4]
Maps
- 1864 map of the village of Plymouth
- 1864 map of Plymouth Township
- 1873 map of Plymouth Borough
- 1884 aerial view of Plymouth Borough
- 1884 mine map of Plymouth
Demographics
Historical population | |||
---|---|---|---|
Census | Pop. | %± | |
1870 | 2,684 | — | |
1880 | 6,065 | 126.0% | |
1890 | 9,344 | 54.1% | |
1900 | 13,649 | 46.1% | |
1910 | 16,996 | 24.5% | |
1920 | 16,500 | −2.9% | |
1930 | 16,543 | 0.3% | |
1940 | 15,507 | −6.3% | |
1950 | 13,021 | −16.0% | |
1960 | 10,401 | −20.1% | |
1970 | 9,536 | −8.3% | |
1980 | 7,605 | −20.2% | |
1990 | 7,134 | −6.2% | |
2000 | 6,507 | −8.8% | |
2010 | 5,951 | −8.5% | |
2019 (est.) | 5,794 | [2] | −2.6% |
Sources:[5][6][7][8] |
2010 demographics
At the 2010 census, Plymouth had a population of 5,951. The reported racial and ethnic origin of the population was 90.6% White, 4.3% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.1% from other races, 2.0% reporting two or more races, and 3.3% Hispanic or Latino.[9]
2000 demographics
As of the census[7] of 2000, there were 6,507 people, 2,794 households, and 1,673 families residing in the borough. The population density was 5,924.2 people per square mile (2,284.0/km2). There were 3,260 housing units at an average density of 2,968.0 per square mile (1,144.3/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 98.43% White, 0.75% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.11% Asian, 0.22% from other races, and 0.34% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.80% of the population.
There were 2,794 households, out of which 26.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.6% were married couples living together, 14.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.1% were non-families. 35.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the borough the population was spread out, with 23.2% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 20.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.2 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $27,379, and the median income for a family was $36,060. Males had a median income of $26,111 versus $20,429 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $14,207. About 10.8% of families and 15.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.2% of those under age 18 and 13.4% of those age 65 or over.
Notable people
The noteworthy individuals who claimed Plymouth as their birthplace or former residence:
- Ike Borsavage, professional basketball player
- Abe Cohen, professional football player
- Stanley Woodward Davenport, lawyer and politician
- Mark Duda, professional football player
- Harry Livingston French, architect
- Gwilym Gwent (born William Aubrey Williams), composer
- Jimmy Harnen, singer and songwriter
- Arthur Horace James, lawyer and politician
- Benjamin James, football coach
- Col. Benjamin Washington Johnson, sprinter
- M.C. Jones, race car driver
- Joe Katchik, professional football player
- Walter J. Kozloski, politician
- David Kautter, lawyer and tax policy advisor
- Frank Martz Sr., businessman
- John E. Mazur, professional football player
- John G. Mellus, professional football player
- Thomas B. Miller, politician
- George Washington Shonk, lawyer and politician
- Herbert B. Shonk, politician
- James Francis Stanley, professional baseball player
- K.O. Sweeney (aka John Kraynak), pugilist
- Thomas W. Templeton, politician
- Frank Comerford Walker, lawyer and politician
- Thomas Joseph Walker, judge
- Hendrick Bradley Wright, lawyer, politician and author
References
- "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
- "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
- "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Plymouth borough, Pennsylvania". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 12, 2012.
- "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Plymouth borough, Pennsylvania". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 12, 2012.
- "Number of Inhabitants: Pennsylvania" (PDF). 18th Census of the United States. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 22 November 2013.
- "Pennsylvania: Population and Housing Unit Counts" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 22 November 2013.
- "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- "Incorporated Places and Minor Civil Divisions Datasets: Subcounty Population Estimates: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 17 June 2013. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
- 2010 census report on Plymouth, Pennsylvania