SCRANTON, a city and county-seat of Lackawanna co., Pa.; on the Lackawanna river, and on the Lackawanna, the New York, Ontario, and Western, the Erie, the Delaware and Hudson, and the Cen tral of New Jersey railroads; 18 miles N. E. of Wilkes-Barre. The city is the third largest in the state in population, and is the heart of the extensive anthra cite coal section. It is built on a plateau in the Lackawanna valley amid beautiful scenery.
Business Interests.—Scranton has a large general trade, and is one of the chief points for the shipment of anthra cite coal. The manufacture of iron and steel forms the principal industry. in 1920 there were 4 National banks in operation, and many daily, weekly, and monthly periodicals.
Public Interests.—The city has an area of over 20 square miles; over 150 miles of streets, and an excellent sewer system. The streets are lighted by electricity.
There is a public school entailment of over 20,000 pupils, and annual expenditures for public education of about $500,000. The city is laid out with wide streets; and has many driveways, squares, and parks. Among the public buildings are a court house, United States Government building, Museum of Natural History, Moses Taylor Hospital, State Hospital, Y. M. C. A. building, International Cor respondence Schools, Masonic Temple, public library, etc. There are several colleges and academies. Besides the coal industry there are manufactures of knit goods, lace, locomotives, silk, nuts and bolts, etc.
History.—The city was established in 1840 by George W. and Joseph H. Scran ton. It was made a borough in 1854, and was chartered as a city in 1866. Pop. (1910) 129,867; (1920) 137,783.