Freeland, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Freeland, originally called Birbeckville after founder Joseph Birkbeck, then South Heberton, is a borough in Luzerne County
, Pennsylvania
, 18 miles (29 km) south of Wilkes-Barre
, and 10 miles northeast of Hazleton
in an agricultural region. Freeland was officially incorporated as a borough on September 11, 1876. Coal-mining was a chief industry in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. At the turn of the century the population numbered 5,254. By 1910 it had increased to 6,197, and in 1940 it peaked at 6,593 residents. At the 2000 census, the population was 3,643. As of 30 September 2010, the current Mayor of Freeland is Mrs. Tami Martin, the widow of Mayor of Freeland Mayor Tim Martin. Freeland is the highest elevated borough in Pennsylvania at 1,943 feet above sea level.
, in the county of Westmorland
, England on May 2, 1802. He and his wife Elizabeth came to America in 1844. After acquiring land from Edward Lynch the same year of his arrival, Birkbeck built a log cabin in the region that is the small valley between Freeland and Upper Lehigh. The next settler, Nathan Howey, purchased land from Birkbeck and built a frame house just west of Birkbecks log cabin.
Developing coal mines in the nearby region created a steep increase in population and a demand for building lots. This led Birkbeck to survey the region for the town of South Heberton. South Heberton has long since lost its identity and is now simply a cluster of houses midway between Freeland and Upper Lehigh. Birkbeck's sawmill is at the turn of the road just east of Upper Lehigh, and what was mainly South Heberton is now known as Upper Lehigh, a small mining town once owned by the Upper Lehigh company.
Between 1845 and 1846, Birkbeck cut the road now known as Buck Mountain Road through the woods from South Heberton through Eckley Miners' Village
to Buck Mountain. Eckley was then known as Shingletown, as the chief industry there was the production of shingles
.
The first child born at South Heberton was Elizabeth Birkbeck, the daughter of founder Joseph Birkbeck and his wife Elizabeth, in 1845. The first death at this place was that of William, the son of Joseph and Elizabeth Birkbeck, which occurred February 11, 1846. He was four years old at the time. The first store at South Heberton was kept by a man named Feist, which was just west of Birkbeck's cabin. Soon afterward another small store was run by a Mr. Mining. The first tavern was founded by N. Howes, the second settler of the region. Previous to the opening of Howes's tavern, Birkbeck accommodated parties who were prospecting in this region for anthracite deposits in his own home. A frame school was built in 1878, and by 1880 the population numbered 500.
Freeland was incorporated as a borough in 1876.
The population steadily grew due to the coal mining popularity and European immigration up until the mid-20th century. During the last few decades, Freeland's population has been declining while the median age has been rising and is now 42 years, four years higher than Pennsylvania's median age. This is mainly due to the decline of the coal industry which was the sole appeal to new immigrants in the early 20th century.
. Martin died on 2 September 2010. He was elected in 2001, defeating Republican
candidate and Former Mayor George Barna. The borough government consists of the mayor and city council, consisting of 7 members.
Freeland Borough recently appointed Nadine Sist as police chief.
In 2008, Freeland, which usually votes strongly Republican, as a whole voted for John McCain for President, preferring the Republican candidate by 4 votes of approximately 1,200 cast. Freeland residents also voted overwhelmingly for Hazleton mayor Lou Barletta
for Congress.
on 2 September 2010. Martin was in his third term when he unexpectedly died. He was surrounded by his family at the time of his death.
On 30 September 2010, Martin's wife Tami was unanimously appointed to serve as the new Mayor of Freeland. Tami was appointed by Borough Council and sworn in by District Judge Gerald Feissner.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the borough has a total area of 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 3,643 people, 1,611 households, and 968 families residing in the borough. The population density
was 5,230.0 people per square mile (2,009.4/km²). There were 1,847 housing units at an average density of 2,651.6 per square mile (1,018.8/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 98.55% White
, 0.11% African American
, 0.05% Native American
, 0.71% Asian American
, 0.33% from other races, and 0.25% mixed race
. Hispanic or Latino Americans
of any race were 0.96% of the population.
The main ancestries reported by white Freeland residents on the 2000 Census were Polish with 17% of the population, German with 13%, Italian with 13% and Slovak with 13%. However Czechslovakian, Carpatho Rusyn, Eastern European and Slavic were all reported by about one percent of the population, so the Slovak population might have come in second to Polish if the census had allowed reporting of more than two ancestries.
There were 1,611 households out of which 23.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.5% were married couples
living together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.9% were non-families. 37.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the borough the population was spread out with 21.7% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 22.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 86.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.7 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $31,891, and the median income for a family was $40,863. Males had a median income of $31,631 versus $21,471 for females. The per capita income
for the borough was $15,701. About 11.3% of families and 13.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.6% of those under age 18 and 17.0% of those age 65 or over.
Luzerne County, Pennsylvania
- Demographics :As of the 2010 census, the county was 90.7% White, 3.4% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 1.0% Asian, 3.3% were of some other race, and 1.5% were two or more races. 6.7% of the population was of Hispanic or Latino ancestry...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, 18 miles (29 km) south of Wilkes-Barre
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Wilkes-Barre is a city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, the county seat of Luzerne County. It is at the center of the Wyoming Valley area and is one of the principal cities in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metropolitan area, which had a population of 563,631 as of the 2010 Census...
, and 10 miles northeast of Hazleton
Hazleton, Pennsylvania
Hazleton is a city in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 25,340 at the 2010 census, an increase of 8.6% from the 2000 census count .-Greater Hazleton:...
in an agricultural region. Freeland was officially incorporated as a borough on September 11, 1876. Coal-mining was a chief industry in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. At the turn of the century the population numbered 5,254. By 1910 it had increased to 6,197, and in 1940 it peaked at 6,593 residents. At the 2000 census, the population was 3,643. As of 30 September 2010, the current Mayor of Freeland is Mrs. Tami Martin, the widow of Mayor of Freeland Mayor Tim Martin. Freeland is the highest elevated borough in Pennsylvania at 1,943 feet above sea level.
Pre-incorporation
Joseph Birkbeck, the founder of Birbeckville, was born near Brough under StainmoreBrough, Cumbria
Brough, sometimes known as Brough under Stainmore, is a village and civil parish in the Eden district of Cumbria, England, on the western fringe of the Pennines near Stainmore. The village is on the A66 trans-Pennine road, and the Swindale Beck, and is about south east of Appleby-in-Westmorland...
, in the county of Westmorland
Westmorland
Westmorland is an area of North West England and one of the 39 historic counties of England. It formed an administrative county from 1889 to 1974, after which the entirety of the county was absorbed into the new county of Cumbria.-Early history:...
, England on May 2, 1802. He and his wife Elizabeth came to America in 1844. After acquiring land from Edward Lynch the same year of his arrival, Birkbeck built a log cabin in the region that is the small valley between Freeland and Upper Lehigh. The next settler, Nathan Howey, purchased land from Birkbeck and built a frame house just west of Birkbecks log cabin.
Developing coal mines in the nearby region created a steep increase in population and a demand for building lots. This led Birkbeck to survey the region for the town of South Heberton. South Heberton has long since lost its identity and is now simply a cluster of houses midway between Freeland and Upper Lehigh. Birkbeck's sawmill is at the turn of the road just east of Upper Lehigh, and what was mainly South Heberton is now known as Upper Lehigh, a small mining town once owned by the Upper Lehigh company.
Between 1845 and 1846, Birkbeck cut the road now known as Buck Mountain Road through the woods from South Heberton through Eckley Miners' Village
Eckley Miners' Village
Eckley Miners' Village in eastern Pennsylvania is an anthracite coal mining patch town located near Hazleton, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. Since 1970, Eckley has been owned and operated as a museum by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.-Early years:Before the...
to Buck Mountain. Eckley was then known as Shingletown, as the chief industry there was the production of shingles
Roof shingle
Roof shingles are a roof covering consisting of individual overlapping elements. These elements are typically flat rectangular shapes laid in rows from the bottom edge of the roof up, with each successive higher row overlapping the joints in the row below...
.
The first child born at South Heberton was Elizabeth Birkbeck, the daughter of founder Joseph Birkbeck and his wife Elizabeth, in 1845. The first death at this place was that of William, the son of Joseph and Elizabeth Birkbeck, which occurred February 11, 1846. He was four years old at the time. The first store at South Heberton was kept by a man named Feist, which was just west of Birkbeck's cabin. Soon afterward another small store was run by a Mr. Mining. The first tavern was founded by N. Howes, the second settler of the region. Previous to the opening of Howes's tavern, Birkbeck accommodated parties who were prospecting in this region for anthracite deposits in his own home. A frame school was built in 1878, and by 1880 the population numbered 500.
Freeland was incorporated as a borough in 1876.
Post-incorporation
In 1883, the first Slovak Lutheran Church in America was organized in Freeland.The population steadily grew due to the coal mining popularity and European immigration up until the mid-20th century. During the last few decades, Freeland's population has been declining while the median age has been rising and is now 42 years, four years higher than Pennsylvania's median age. This is mainly due to the decline of the coal industry which was the sole appeal to new immigrants in the early 20th century.
Government and politics
The former mayor of Freeland was the late Tim Martin, a DemocratDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
. Martin died on 2 September 2010. He was elected in 2001, defeating Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
candidate and Former Mayor George Barna. The borough government consists of the mayor and city council, consisting of 7 members.
Freeland Borough recently appointed Nadine Sist as police chief.
In 2008, Freeland, which usually votes strongly Republican, as a whole voted for John McCain for President, preferring the Republican candidate by 4 votes of approximately 1,200 cast. Freeland residents also voted overwhelmingly for Hazleton mayor Lou Barletta
Lou Barletta
Louis J. Barletta is the U.S. Representative for . He is a member of the Republican Party. He is the former Mayor of Hazleton, known for his vocal opposition to illegal immigration and his efforts to keep illegal immigrants out of the city.-Early life, education, and business career:Barletta was...
for Congress.
Death of Mayor Tim Martin
The most recent mayor, Mayor Tim Martin, died from esophageal cancerEsophageal cancer
Esophageal cancer is malignancy of the esophagus. There are various subtypes, primarily squamous cell cancer and adenocarcinoma . Squamous cell cancer arises from the cells that line the upper part of the esophagus...
on 2 September 2010. Martin was in his third term when he unexpectedly died. He was surrounded by his family at the time of his death.
On 30 September 2010, Martin's wife Tami was unanimously appointed to serve as the new Mayor of Freeland. Tami was appointed by Borough Council and sworn in by District Judge Gerald Feissner.
Geography
Freeland is located at 41°1′11"N 75°53′45"W (41.019634, -75.895830).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the borough has a total area of 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 3,643 people, 1,611 households, and 968 families residing in the borough. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 5,230.0 people per square mile (2,009.4/km²). There were 1,847 housing units at an average density of 2,651.6 per square mile (1,018.8/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 98.55% White
White American
White Americans are people of the United States who are considered or consider themselves White. The United States Census Bureau defines White people as those "having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa...
, 0.11% African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
, 0.05% Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
, 0.71% Asian American
Asian American
Asian Americans are Americans of Asian descent. The U.S. Census Bureau definition of Asians as "Asian” refers to a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan,...
, 0.33% from other races, and 0.25% mixed race
Multiracial
The terms multiracial and mixed-race describe people whose ancestries come from multiple races. Unlike the term biracial, which often is only used to refer to having parents or grandparents of two different races, the term multiracial may encompass biracial people but can also include people with...
. Hispanic or Latino Americans
Hispanic and Latino Americans
Hispanic or Latino Americans are Americans with origins in the Hispanic countries of Latin America or in Spain, and in general all persons in the United States who self-identify as Hispanic or Latino.1990 Census of Population and Housing: A self-designated classification for people whose origins...
of any race were 0.96% of the population.
The main ancestries reported by white Freeland residents on the 2000 Census were Polish with 17% of the population, German with 13%, Italian with 13% and Slovak with 13%. However Czechslovakian, Carpatho Rusyn, Eastern European and Slavic were all reported by about one percent of the population, so the Slovak population might have come in second to Polish if the census had allowed reporting of more than two ancestries.
There were 1,611 households out of which 23.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.5% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.9% were non-families. 37.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the borough the population was spread out with 21.7% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 22.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 86.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.7 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $31,891, and the median income for a family was $40,863. Males had a median income of $31,631 versus $21,471 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the borough was $15,701. About 11.3% of families and 13.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.6% of those under age 18 and 17.0% of those age 65 or over.