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'''Pittston''' (properly pronounced ''pits-ton'') is a third class [[city]] located in [[Luzerne County, Pennsylvania]]between [[Scranton]] and [[Wilkes-Barre]]. It gained prominence in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries as an active [[coal mining]] [[city]], but has struggled economically since the [[1960s]]. As of the [[2000]] census, the city had a total population of 8,104. According to a [[2004]] estimate, the population decreased to 7,753. The Pittston Company, the owner of Brinks, was founded in Pittston in 1838. The area has a high concentration of Italian-Americans.
== History ==
Pittston is the the midpoint city between [[Wilkes-Barre]] and [[Scranton, PA|Scranton]]. Named after the famous statesman [[William Pitt]], the city was founded in [[1838]] and was originally named Pittstown.
Coal was king in Pittston until the [[Knox Mine Disaster]] in nearby [[Port Griffith|Port Griffith, PA]] in [[Jenkins Township, PA]] essentially shutdown the mining industry in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Twelve miners were killed immediately, their bodies washed away in the flood, never to be seen again. There were 74 workers in the mine at the time of the calamity, 62 of them were able to escape by various means, some involving the highest heroism on the part of their co-workers.
==Geography==
Line 15 ⟶ 19:
The median income for a household in the city is $27,103, and the median income for a family is $33,861. Males have a median income of $28,351 versus $21,417 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city is $14,686. 15.5% of the population and 11.8% of families are below the [[poverty line]]. 24.0% of those under the age of 18 and 17.0% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
== Government ==
=== Executive ===
The city is headed by an elected [[mayor]]. The current [[mayor]] is Michael Lombardo, a child psychologist and former assistant principal of the Pittston Area Senior High School. He was elected in [[1997]].
=== Legislative ===
The legislative branch of Pittston is the City Council. It is comprised of 5 members and elect a chairman.
== Education ==
Pittston City is located within the Pittston Area School District which covers [[Pittston Township, PA|Pittston Township]], [[Dupont, PA|Dupont]], [[Duryea, PA|Duryea]], [[Hughestown, PA|Hughestown]], [[Dupont, PA|Dupont]], [[Yatesville, PA|Yatesville]], [[Avoca, PA|Avoca]], [[Laflin, PA|Laflin]] and [[Jenkins Township, PA|Jenkins Township]]
The Pittston Area School District consists of 5 schools:
* Ben Franklin Kindergarden Center - [[Dupont, PA|Dupont]] (Grades: K)
* Pittston Area Primary Center - [[Hughestown, PA|Hughestown]] (Grades: 1-3)
* Pittston Area Intermediate Center - [[Pittston, PA|Pittston]] (Grades: 4, 5)
* Martin L. Mattei Middle School - [[Pittston, PA|Pittston]] (Grades: 6-8)
* Pittston Area Senior High School - [[Yatesville, PA|Yatesville]] (Grades: 9-12)
== The Staircase ==
Arguably the biggest attraction today in Pittston is its concert venue called "The Staircase." It is where now-famous [[Breaking Benjamin]] played often in the early stages of the band. They recently came back to play another show there for hurricane-relief causes. The Staircase arguably rivals the nearby [[Wachovia Arena]] in [[Wilkes-Barre]] for bragging rights in bands, as in recent years they have hosted [[Cannibal Corpse]], [[Slayer]], [[The Starting Line]] and other major events.
== Language ==
Pittston, like most of Northeastern Pennsylvania, arguably has its own [[dialect]] of the English language called [[Hayna Valley English]]. Some of the most common deviations from standard English include an omission of the "th" sound from many words, greater overpronunciation of words, and use of the word "Hayna" (variant "Heyna") to signify "Isn't it so?"
== Pittston Tomato Festival ==
The Pittston Tomato Festival, in it's 22nd year on 2005, is held annually on South Main Street in downtown Pittston. The event celebrates the city's proud tradtion, which is also it's motto of the "Tomato Quality Capital of the World".
The event consists of many food vendors from the Greater Pittston Area, a beauty pageant, a tomato tasing contest, a best looking and ugliest tomato contest, a 5k run through the city, a parade, and the very popular tomato fights
== Transportation ==
===Roads===
[[Interstate 81]] passes through Pittston Township, providing service to [[Gananoque, Ontario|Gananoque, Ontario Canada]], [[New York City]], and [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|Philadelphia]]. The [[city]] is also located near the Northeast Extension of the [[Pennsylvania Turnpike]].
===Public Transportation===
Pittston is served by the Luzerne County Transportation Authority and COLTS, which provides [[bus]] service to the city and other communities within [[Luzerne County, Pennsylvania|Luzerne County]] & [[Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania|Lackawanna County]].
The [[Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport]] is located in nearby [[Avoca, Pennsylvania|Avoca]]. The [[airport]] is serviced by eight international airlines and hosted Air Force One on regional presidential visits several times in the past. In the spring of [[2002]], the airport began offering an increased number of non-stop flights acrosss the nation
== Professional Sports Teams ==
* [[Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons]] ([[International League]]) (plays its home games in nearby [[Moosic, Pennsylvania|Moosic]])
* [[Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins]] ([[American Hockey League]])
* [[Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers]] ([[af2]])
== Sites of Interest In The Pittston Area ==
* Public Square ([[Wilkes-Barre]])
* F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts ([[Wilkes-Barre]])
* Pocono Downs ([[Wilkes-Barre]])
* Pocono Raceway ([[Long Pond]])
* Kirby Park ([[Wilkes-Barre]])
* Montage Mountain ([[Scranton, Pennsylvania|Scranton]])
* Wachovia Arena ([[Wilkes-Barre]])
==External links==
*[http://www.swangames.com/pittston/ Pittston Photos]
{{Mapit-US-cityscale|41.323865|-75.788894}}
{{Pennsylvania}}
[[Category:Cities in Pennsylvania]]
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