Hazleton, Pennsylvania

Hazleton is a city and also a census-designated place (CDP) in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 23,329 at the 2000 census.

History

During the height of the American Revolution in the summer of 1780, British sympathizers, also known as Tories, concentrated from New York's Mohawk Valley, began attacking patriot outposts located along the Susquehanna River Valley in Northeast Pennsylvania. Because of the reports of Tory activity in the region, Captain Daniel Klader and a platoon of 41 men from Northampton County, Pennsylvania were sent to investigate. They traveled north from the Lehigh Valley along a path known as "Warrior's Trail", which is present-day State Route 93, since this route connects the Lehigh River in Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania (formerly known as Mauch Chunk) to the Susquehanna River in Berwick, Pennsylvania.

Heading north, Captain Klader's men made it as far north as present-day Conyngham, Pennsylvania when they were ambushed by members of the Seneca tribe and Tory militiamen. In all, 15 men were killed on September 11, 1780 in what was to become the Sugarloaf Massacre.

The Moravians, a Christian denomination, had been using "Warrior's Trail" since the early 1700s after the Moravian missionary Nicolaus Ludwig Zinzendorf first used it to reach the Wyoming Valley. Some historians believe that Moravian missionaries were sent from their settlements near Bethlehem, Pennsylvania to the site of the Sugarloaf Massacre to bury the dead soldiers. Because of the aesthetic natural beauty of the Conyngham Valley, some Moravians decided to stay and built a settlement along the Nescopeck Creek, which is present-day St. Johns, near the intersection of Interstates 80 and 81

This particular stretch of "Warrior Trail" had many hazel trees growing and the Moravian missionaries are credited with giving the area its first name, "Hazel Swamp".

In the late 1700s and early 1800s, the "Warrior Trail" was widened and became the Berwick Turnpike. Later, a road was built to connect Wilkes-Barre from McKeansburg, Pennsylvania. The road headed north to Wilkes-Barre intersected with the Berwick Turnpike at what is present-day Broad and Vine Streets, in downtown Hazleton. An entrepreneur named Jacob Drumheller decided that this intersection was the perfect location for a rest-stop, so in 1809, he built the first building in what would be later known as Hazleton. Though a few buildings and houses began to be built nearby, the area remained a dense wilderness for about 20 more years. Aside from small-scale logging, the area offered little else.

Though it is rumored that coal had been discovered by prospectors earlier, Nathaniel Beach and Tench Coxe discovered anthracite in the region of present-day Beaver Meadows. When word spread that there was coal in the region, railroad developers from Philadelphia became interested.

A young engineer from New York named Ario Pardee was hired to inspect the topography of Beaver Meadows and report the practicality of extending a railroad from the Lehigh River Canal in Jim Thorpe to Beaver Meadows. Ario Pardee, knowing that the area of Beaver Meadows was already controlled by Coxe and Beach, bought many acres of the land of present-day Hazleton. The investment proved to be extraordinarily valuable for Pardee. The land that he had bought contained a massive anthricite coal field, and now the link to the Philadelphia market was about to be completed via railroad. Ario Pardee began the railroad from Philadelphia to Hazleton in 1836, and also incorporated the Hazleton Coal Company that same year.

The Hazleton Coal Company built the first school on Church Street, where Hazleton City Hall is now located. Ario Pardee also built the first church in Hazleton located at Church and Broad Streets. Ario Parde's mansion was built on the northern block of Broad Street, between present-day Church and Laurel Streets.

Hazleton was incorporated as a borough on January 5, 1857. The borough's first fire company, the Pioneer Fire Company, was organized in 1866 by soldiers returning from the American Civil War. Eastern European immigrants contributed to the massive growth Hazleton experienced near the end of the century. Hazleton was incorporated as a city on December 4, 1891. The population then was estimated to be around 14,000 people.

The coal found in Hazleton helped to shape the United States because coal was shipped by railroad to Bethlehem Steel Corporation to power the massive blast furnaces. Bethlehem Steel was the second largest steel manufacturer in American history.

On September 10, 1897, the Lattimer Massacre occurred near Hazleton. Some scholars agree that the Lattimer Massacre is perhaps one of the single most important events in American labor history.

The use of coal began to drastically decline after World War II and Hazleton's economy began to slump which caused thousands of people to seek work elsewhere. New endeavors began to replace the coal industry. The Duplan Silk Corporation opened and became the world's largest silk mill. CANDO (Community Area New Development Organization) began as a company committed to encouraging new businesses to move into the area.

Hazleton is nicknamed "The Mountain City" because of its elevation around 1700 feet above sea level, much higher than other cities in the area (for example, the city of Wilkes-Barre, about 25 miles away, is about 1000 feet lower in elevation). The campus of Penn State Hazleton is also in Hazleton.

Hazleton's economy is now based largely on manufacturing and shipping, due to the relative closeness to Interstates 80 and 81.

Other notable commercial interests include one of the largest offices of Primerica, a MLM/network marketing organization formerly known as A.L. Williams. Just north of the city at the CANDO complex at the intersection of PA-309 and Interstate 80 is the US customer service call center of Network Solutions, a major Internet domain name registrar. One of the largest Wal-Mart Supercenters in the US is found along Airport Road.

Geography

Hazleton is located at (40.958834, -75.974546).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 15.5 km² (6.0 mi²), all land.

Hazleton is located 12 miles north of Tamaqua and 25 miles south of Wilkes-Barre. Located on a plateau of Spring Mtn., Hazleton's elevation is around 1700 feet above sea level, one of the highest incorporated cities east of Denver.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 23,329 people, 10,281 households, and 6,004 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,508.8/km² (3,904.6/mi²). There were 11,556 housing units at an average density of 747.4/km² (1,934.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.70% White, 0.82% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.65% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 2.76% from other races, and 0.89% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.85% of the population (however, some estimates show that this has grown to as high as 30% since the 2000 Census ^*).

There were 10,281 households out of which 24.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.1% were married couples living together, 13.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.6% were non-families. 37.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the city the population was spread out with 21.0% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 22.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 87.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $28,082, and the median income for a family was $37,093. Males had a median income of $31,144 versus $20,926 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,270. About 10.4% of families and 14.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.4% of those under age 18 and 11.6% of those age 65 or over.

A low cost of living (particularly housing) and jobs in nearby plants, factories and farms have led to a major growth in population since the 2000 Census. It is believed that the population has grown to 31,000, with most of the growth coming from Hispanic immigrants, many of whom have entered the country illegally. It has led to the city proposing a controversial anti-illegal immigrant law that is among the toughest in the nation.^* A significant district of Hispanic-oriented businesses now exists along Wyoming Street.

Hazleton In Popular Culture

In 1997, the Pennsylvania rock band Fuel released an EP titled "Hazelton", with a slight spelling deviation from the Pennsylvania town. The EP was so named because it was recorded at C and C Recording Works in Hazleton.

Hazleton In The News

In 2006, Hazleton gained national attention as mayor Lou Barletta and council members passed the controversial Illegal Immigration Relief Act. This act was instituted to punish those who hire or rent to illegal immigrants. Initially, a fine of $1000 per illegal immigrant rented to and a loss of permits for hiring illegal immigrants has been passed. The act also made the English Language the official language of Hazleton meaning that any legal document, sign, et cetera, may only be printed in English. Leaders from other communities across the United States have requested information on this proposal for use in their own municipalities.

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