Susquehanna Company

Susquehanna Company, land company formed (1753) in Connecticut for the purpose of developing the Wyoming Valley in Pennsylvania. A tract of land was purchased from the Native Americans in 1754, and preparations were made for development. Aid was sought in England and Eliphalet Dyer was sent in an unsuccessful attempt to secure confirmation of the land grant. Colonization from Connecticut was first attempted in 1762-63, but it was 1769 before any definite settlement was made. Soon the settlers were embroiled in troubles with the rival settlers from Pennsylvania, leading to the Pennamite Wars, in which Zebulon Butler led the Connecticut forces.

Plymouth is a borough in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, 4 miles (6 km) west of Wilkes Barre, on the Susquehanna River. It was settled in 1766 by the Susquehanna Company and was claimed by Connecticut based on the charter of that colony. The Pennamite-Yankee War was fought in the environs. It is situated in the rich hard coal fields of the State. Coal was first shipped in 1807. In the past, the chief products of its industrial establishments included mining drilling machines, miners' squibs, hosiery, silk, lumber products, etc. In 1900, 13,649 people lived in Plymouth, in 1910, 16,996 stayed here; in 1920, 16,500; and 15,507 people lived here in 1940. The population was 6,507 at the 2000 census.

Geography

Plymouth is located at (41.241859, -75.947997).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 1.2 square miles (3.1 km²), of which, 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²) of it (8.40%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 6,507 people, 2,794 households, and 1,673 families residing in the borough. The population density was 5,924.2 people per square mile (2,284.0/km²). There were 3,260 housing units at an average density of 2,968.0/sq mi (1,144.3/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 98.43% White, 0.75% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.11% Asian, 0.22% from other races, and 0.34% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.80% of the population.

There were 2,794 households out of which 26.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.6% were married couples living together, 14.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.1% were non-families. 35.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the borough the population was spread out with 23.2% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 20.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 86.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.2 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $27,379, and the median income for a family was $36,060. Males had a median income of $26,111 versus $20,429 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $14,207. About 10.8% of families and 15.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.2% of those under age 18 and 13.4% of those age 65 or over.

References

• Wright, Hendrick B., "Historical Sketches of Plymouth, Luzerne Co., Penna.," (Philadelphia, 1873)
• French, Samuel Livingston, "Reminiscences of Plymouth, Luzerne County, Penna.," (Plymouth, Penna., 1914)

External links