Hazleton, Pennsylvania
Hazleton, Pennsylvania, located in Luzerne County, was incorporated as a borough on January 5, 1857. The city is located at the foothills of the Pocono Mountains, a very popular vacation and honeymoon destination. The name was supposed to be spelled Hazelton, but a clerk's error changed the name to Hazleton, and the name stuck. The City of Hazleton and the surrounding communities are collectively known as Greater Hazleton.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Hazleton City had an estimated population of 21,980 residents in 2007. There were 9,500 households in Hazleton City. The average household size was 2.3 people and families made up 58 percent of the households in Hazleton City. The median income of all households in the city was $30,678.
Hazleton is often called The Mountain City, or The Power City. The "Mountain City" name refers to location. Hazleton PA is located on a plateau of Spring Mountain. It's elevation is nearly 1,700 feet above sea level, making the city the highest city in the commonwealth. The nickname "Power City" refers to Hazleton's one-time reputation as a coal mining city whose coal fueled the massive blast furnaces at the Bethlehem Steel Corporation.
Once the demand for coal began to decline, the Community Area New Development Organization (CANDO) stepped in. Fueled by a company's failure to relocate in Hazleton in the late 1940's, CANDO set out to rectify the problems that kept the company from relocating to Hazleton. Hazleton at that time had no railroad, airport or highways suitable for truck traffic.
Today, Hazleton's economy is now based largely on manufacturing, thanks to CANDO and nearby Interstate 80 and Interstate 81. Commercial railway transportation is offered by Norfolk Southern Railway. Air transportation for Hazleton is provided by the nearby Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport in Avoca, Pa. and the Hazleton Municipal Airport. The Hershey Company, Office Max, Simmons Bedding Company, Network Solutions, AutoZone, General Mills and Amazon are just some of the major retailers with manufacturing or shipping facilities in the many industrial parks located in Hazleton.
Hazleton, Pennsylvania residents and visitors also get to enjoy some of the best skiing in the country. Eagle Rock Resort is located just eight miles from downtown Hazleton; Sno Mountain and at least 10 other ski venues are located within a short drive. Just south of Hazleton, the scenic Appalachian Trail offers hikers an exhilarating climb.
The Hazleton Area School District provides the public educational system for the city. There is no shortage of colleges and universities convenient to Hazleton, PA. Penn State Hazleton is only a few short miles from downtown Hazleton on University Drive. Both Luzerne County Community College and Lackawanna College have satellite branches in downtown Hazleton. Surrounding Hazleton, only a short drive away, are Bloomsburg University, Misericordia University, King's College, Marywood University, University of Scranton and Wilkes University.
The Northeastern PA Funfest tradition is alive and well in Hazleton. Funfest Weekend is two days of free family fun in Downtown Hazleton. Funfest was established in 1979 by the Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce. The must-see event attracts up to 100,000 people to Downtown Hazleton each year.
Munley, Munley, & Cartwright is proud to serve Hazleton and Luzerne County with a team of knowledgeable personal injury lawyers. If you have been hurt in an automobile accident, by a defective product, or from any cause such as dog-bite or homeowner's negligence, contact us today to discuss your case.
