WilkesBarre

Wilkes-Barre, commonly written with a hyphen as Wilkes-Barre, is a city in northeastern Pennsylvania and the county seat of Luzerne County. It sits on the Susquehanna River at the eastern end of the Wyoming Valley and is part of the Scranton–Wilkes-Barre metropolitan area.

Founded in the mid-18th century by the Susquehanna Company, the settlement was named for John Wilkes and Samuel Barré. It grew as a center of the anthracite coal industry in the 19th century and was incorporated as a city in 1869. The Wyoming Valley experienced disruption during the American Revolutionary War in 1778 when the area was attacked. The coal era supported rapid growth and a diverse immigrant population.

In the late 20th century the coal industry declined, and the city faced economic restructuring along with the 1972 Hurricane Agnes flood. Today Wilkes-Barre's economy centers on services, healthcare, education, and retail. It is home to Wilkes University and King's College, and hosts cultural venues such as the F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts and Mohegan Sun Arena, the home of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

Transportation links include Interstates 81 and 476, the nearby Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport, and local public transit provided by the Luzerne County Transportation Authority. The city’s demographics place it in the tens of thousands of residents, reflecting its role as a regional urban center within the greater northeastern Pennsylvania region.