Scott Township, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Scott Township is a township
in the north central area of Lackawanna County
, Pennsylvania
, United States
. It is one of the five municipalities
comprised by the Lakeland School District
. Township government
consists of three elected supervisors with headquarters at the Joe Terry Civic Center, PA Route 438
. Two roughly defined communities
within the township are more commonly known to the broader region: "Justus" refers to the southern portion centered on the intersection
of Rt. 347
and Layton Road and is anchored by two heavy equipment
dealers and a large greenhouse
and garden shop; "Montdale" refers to the central/northern area surrounding the Rts. 247
and 438 crossroads and has three general store
s and a gas station.
, the township has a total area of 70.7 km² (27.6 sq mi). Land occupies 27.2 square miles (69.6 km²). The majority of its use is distributed among small farm
s, dense wooded areas
, and residential development
. This particular region makes up part of the extreme eastern edge of the Endless Mountains
dissected plateau
. The township is generally hill
y with minor valley
s cut by stream
s. These creeks—Rush Brook, Kennedy, South Branch Tunkhannock
, and Hull—and larger bodies of water like Chapman Lake, Heart Lake, Griffin Reservoir, Peaceful Valley Pond, and Graves Pond account for the remaining 0.4 square miles (1 km²), or 1.45%, of the township's area. Approximately the southern quarter of the township and a very small northeast corner drain into the Lackawanna River
, with the rest of the watershed trending west eventually into the Susquehanna River
many miles upstream from the confluence of the two.
Many roads connect Scott Township to Greenfield in the north and to Clarks Summit
and "the Abingtons" in the west. Rts. 347, 247, and 107
are major traffic routes beyond Bell Mountain to all Lackawanna Valley points north of Scranton
, such as Olyphant
, Peckville
, Eynon
, and Jermyn
. An approximately five-mile portion of Interstate 81
passes just inside the township's western border. It is accessible by Rts. 632
(Waverly
Exit
#197), 524
(Scott Exit #199), and 438 (East Benton Exit #201). This major thoroughfare places Scott Township at an approximate two-hour drive from important markets like New York City
, Philadelphia, state capital Harrisburg
, and Syracuse
, NY.
Scott Township shares borders with the following municipalities (clockwise
from north):
of 2010, there were 4,905 people, 1,978 households, and 1,465 families residing in the township. The population density
was 180.3 people per square mile (69.6/km²). There were 2,260 housing units at an average density of 83.1/sq mi (32.5/km²).
The racial makeup of the township was 97.5% White, 0.65% African American, 0.1% American Indian, 0.5% Asian, 0.4% from other races, and 1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1% of the population. The vast majority of Scott Township's ancestral composition is Polish
at 25.5%, followed by Irish
(17.1%), English
(15.6%), and German
(14.4%). Russian
and Welsh
are the only others exceeding 5% (each at 6.9%).
There were 1,978 households out of which 24.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63% were married couples
living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.9% were non-families. 21.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the township the population was spread out with 18.7% under the age of 18, 64% from 18 to 64, and 17.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46.5 years.
The median income for a household in the township was $42,130, and the median income for a family was $49,067. Males had a median income of $32,377 versus $23,640 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $20,242. About 5.3% of families and 7.7% of the population were below the poverty line
, including 10.7% of those under age 18 and 1.4% of those age 65 or over.
The township is one of the more rural
suburb
s of Scranton, Pennsylvania's sixth largest city. Scranton and its numerous satellite borough
s provide most of the employment, commerce, and recreation opportunities for Scott Township's residents. Manufacturing
is the predominant industry
among township workers, though most factories
are located elsewhere. The average travel time to work is 20.2 minutes.
Township (Pennsylvania)
A township in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, a state of the United States of America, is one of four types of municipalities in the state . Townships were established based on convenient geographical boundaries and vary in size from six to forty square miles...
in the north central area of Lackawanna County
Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania
As of the census of 2000, there were 213,295 people, 86,218 households, and 55,783 families residing in the county. The population density was 465 people per square mile . There were 95,362 housing units at an average density of 208 per square mile...
, 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...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is one of the five municipalities
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
comprised by the Lakeland School District
Lakeland School District, Pennsylvania
The Lakeland School District is a small, rural, public school district located in northern Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania. It comprises the boroughs of Jermyn and Mayfield and the townships of Carbondale , Greenfield, and Scott...
. Township government
Local government in the United States
Local government in the United States is generally structured in accordance with the laws of the various individual states. Typically each state has at least two separate tiers: counties and municipalities. Some states have their counties divided into townships...
consists of three elected supervisors with headquarters at the Joe Terry Civic Center, PA Route 438
Pennsylvania Route 438
Pennsylvania Route 438 is an long state highway located in Lackawanna county in Pennsylvania. The western terminus is at US 6/US 11 near Dalton. The eastern terminus is at PA 247 in Scott Township....
. Two roughly defined communities
Community
The term community has two distinct meanings:*a group of interacting people, possibly living in close proximity, and often refers to a group that shares some common values, and is attributed with social cohesion within a shared geographical location, generally in social units larger than a household...
within the township are more commonly known to the broader region: "Justus" refers to the southern portion centered on the intersection
Intersection (road)
An intersection is a road junction where two or more roads either meet or cross at grade . An intersection may be 3-way - a T junction or fork, 4-way - a crossroads, or 5-way or more...
of Rt. 347
Pennsylvania Route 347
Pennsylvania Route 347 is an long state highway located in Lackawanna county in Pennsylvania. The southern terminus is at SR 2020 in Dunmore. The northern terminus is at PA 524 in North Abington Township....
and Layton Road and is anchored by two heavy equipment
Engineering vehicle
Heavy equipment refers to heavy-duty vehicles, specially designed for executing construction tasks, most frequently ones involving earthwork operations. They are also known as, construction equipment, construction plant, earth movers, engineering vehicles, or simply equipment...
dealers and a large greenhouse
Greenhouse
A greenhouse is a building in which plants are grown. These structures range in size from small sheds to very large buildings...
and garden shop; "Montdale" refers to the central/northern area surrounding the Rts. 247
Pennsylvania Route 247
Pennsylvania Route 247 is an 50 mile long state highway located in Lackawanna, Susquehanna, and Wayne counties in Pennsylvania. The southern terminus is at I 84 in Mount Cobb. The northern terminus is at PA 370 in Preston Park, Pennsylvania....
and 438 crossroads and has three general store
General store
A general store, general merchandise store, or village shop is a rural or small town store that carries a general line of merchandise. It carries a broad selection of merchandise, sometimes in a small space, where people from the town and surrounding rural areas come to purchase all their general...
s and a gas station.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited 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 township has a total area of 70.7 km² (27.6 sq mi). Land occupies 27.2 square miles (69.6 km²). The majority of its use is distributed among small farm
Farm
A farm is an area of land, or, for aquaculture, lake, river or sea, including various structures, devoted primarily to the practice of producing and managing food , fibres and, increasingly, fuel. It is the basic production facility in food production. Farms may be owned and operated by a single...
s, dense wooded areas
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
, and residential development
Subdivision (land)
Subdivision is the act of dividing land into pieces that are easier to sell or otherwise develop, usually via a plat. The former single piece as a whole is then known in the United States as a subdivision...
. This particular region makes up part of the extreme eastern edge of the Endless Mountains
Endless Mountains
The Endless Mountains are a chain of mountains in northeastern Pennsylvania. The Endless Mountains region includes Bradford, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Northern Wayne, and Wyoming Counties.-History and geography:...
dissected plateau
Dissected plateau
A dissected plateau is a plateau area that has been severely eroded so that the relief is sharp. Such an area may be referred to as mountainous, but dissected plateaus are distinguishable from orogenic mountain belts by the lack of folding, metamorphism, extensive faulting, or magmatic activity...
. The township is generally hill
Hill
A hill is a landform that extends above the surrounding terrain. Hills often have a distinct summit, although in areas with scarp/dip topography a hill may refer to a particular section of flat terrain without a massive summit A hill is a landform that extends above the surrounding terrain. Hills...
y with minor valley
Valley
In geology, a valley or dale is a depression with predominant extent in one direction. A very deep river valley may be called a canyon or gorge.The terms U-shaped and V-shaped are descriptive terms of geography to characterize the form of valleys...
s cut by stream
Stream
A stream is a body of water with a current, confined within a bed and stream banks. Depending on its locale or certain characteristics, a stream may be referred to as a branch, brook, beck, burn, creek, "crick", gill , kill, lick, rill, river, syke, bayou, rivulet, streamage, wash, run or...
s. These creeks—Rush Brook, Kennedy, South Branch Tunkhannock
Tunkhannock Creek (North Branch Susquehanna River)
Tunkhannock Creek is a tributary of the Susquehanna River in northeastern Pennsylvania, United States. The portion of the Susquehanna from Sunbury to its source at Otsego Lake near Cooperstown, New York is sometimes termed its "North Branch."...
, and Hull—and larger bodies of water like Chapman Lake, Heart Lake, Griffin Reservoir, Peaceful Valley Pond, and Graves Pond account for the remaining 0.4 square miles (1 km²), or 1.45%, of the township's area. Approximately the southern quarter of the township and a very small northeast corner drain into the Lackawanna River
Lackawanna River
The Lackawanna River is a tributary of the Susquehanna River in northeastern Pennsylvania in the United States. It flows through a region of the northern Pocono Mountains that was once a center of anthracite coal mining in the United States...
, with the rest of the watershed trending west eventually into the Susquehanna River
Susquehanna River
The Susquehanna River is a river located in the northeastern United States. At long, it is the longest river on the American east coast that drains into the Atlantic Ocean, and with its watershed it is the 16th largest river in the United States, and the longest river in the continental United...
many miles upstream from the confluence of the two.
Many roads connect Scott Township to Greenfield in the north and to Clarks Summit
Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania
Clarks Summit is a borough in Lackawanna County northwest of Scranton in northeastern Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 5,116 at the 2010 census. It is also the northern terminus of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension, I-476.-History:...
and "the Abingtons" in the west. Rts. 347, 247, and 107
Pennsylvania Route 107
Pennsylvania Route 107 is a long state highway located in Wyoming and Lackawanna counties in Pennsylvania. The western terminus is at US 6/US 11 in Factoryville. The eastern terminus is at US 6 in Jermyn....
are major traffic routes beyond Bell Mountain to all Lackawanna Valley points north of Scranton
Scranton, Pennsylvania
Scranton is a city in the northeastern part of Pennsylvania, United States. It is the county seat of Lackawanna County and the largest principal city in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metropolitan area. Scranton had a population of 76,089 in 2010, according to the U.S...
, such as Olyphant
Olyphant, Pennsylvania
Olyphant is a borough in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, approximately five miles northeast of Scranton on the Lackawanna River in the heart of the anthracite region of the State. Once engaged in the shipping of coal as its main source of employment, Olyphant experienced a severe downturn in the...
, Peckville
Peckville, Pennsylvania
Peckville is a village in Pennsylvania, a few miles north of Scranton. The governing borough of Peckville is Blakely. About 93% of peckville is above the poverty line....
, Eynon
Archbald, Pennsylvania
Archbald is a borough in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is named for James Archbald, who was the first mayor of Carbondale, Pennsylvania. Before being re-named in Mr. Archbald's honor, the name of the settlement was White Oak Run. The vast majority of the settlers were Irish...
, and Jermyn
Jermyn, Pennsylvania
Jermyn, known as "The Birthplace of First Aid in America," is a borough in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, on the Lackawanna River, northeast of Scranton. A productive anthracite coal field was in the region in 1900 when 2,567 people lived here. In 1910, 3,158 residents of Jermyn were tallied...
. An approximately five-mile portion of Interstate 81
Interstate 81 in Pennsylvania
Interstate 81 is an long north–south Interstate Highway, stretching from Dandridge, Tennessee to Fisher's Landing, New York at the US/Canadian border...
passes just inside the township's western border. It is accessible by Rts. 632
Pennsylvania Route 632
Pennsylvania Route 632 is an long state highway located in Lackawanna county in Pennsylvania. The western terminus is at U.S. Route 6 and U.S. Route 11 in Dalton. The eastern terminus is at Route 247 in Scott Township.- Route description :Route 632 begins at an interchange with U.S...
(Waverly
Waverly, Pennsylvania
Waverly is a small unincorporated community in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, United States. It was founded in the late 18th century by settlers from Connecticut, along The Warriors' Path.- History :Waverly was originally called Abington Center...
Exit
Interchange (road)
In the field of road transport, an interchange is a road junction that typically uses grade separation, and one or more ramps, to permit traffic on at least one highway to pass through the junction without directly crossing any other traffic stream. It differs from a standard intersection, at which...
#197), 524
Pennsylvania Route 524
Pennsylvania Route 524 is a long state highway located in Lackawanna county in Pennsylvania. The western terminus is at Route 407 in Lackawanna State Park...
(Scott Exit #199), and 438 (East Benton Exit #201). This major thoroughfare places Scott Township at an approximate two-hour drive from important markets like New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, Philadelphia, state capital Harrisburg
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg is the capital of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 49,528, making it the ninth largest city in Pennsylvania...
, and Syracuse
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
, NY.
Scott Township shares borders with the following municipalities (clockwise
Clockwise
Circular motion can occur in two possible directions. A clockwise motion is one that proceeds in the same direction as a clock's hands: from the top to the right, then down and then to the left, and back to the top...
from north):
- Greenfield Twp.Greenfield Township, Lackawanna County, PennsylvaniaGreenfield Township is a township in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,105 at the 2010 census. It is one of the five municipalities comprised by the Lakeland School District. Township government consists of a board of Supervisors...
- Carbondale Twp.Carbondale Township, PennsylvaniaCarbondale Township is a township in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania and is respectively named for the adjoining city of Carbondale. The township is located near Scranton...
- ArchbaldArchbald, PennsylvaniaArchbald is a borough in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is named for James Archbald, who was the first mayor of Carbondale, Pennsylvania. Before being re-named in Mr. Archbald's honor, the name of the settlement was White Oak Run. The vast majority of the settlers were Irish...
- BlakelyBlakely, PennsylvaniaBlakely is a borough in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 6,564 at the 2010 census. Its only village is Peckville, PA.-Geography:Blakely is located at ....
- Dickson CityDickson City, PennsylvaniaDickson City is a borough in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, north of Scranton. Coal mining had been an important industry in the past. Some of the population totals follow: in 1900, 4,948; in 1910, 9,331; in 1920, 11,049; and in 1940, 11,548...
- South Abington Twp.South Abington Township, PennsylvaniaSouth Abington Township is a township in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 9,073 at the 2010 census. The town is sometimes referenced to as Chinchilla.-Geography:...
- North Abington Twp.North Abington Township, PennsylvaniaNorth Abington Township is a township in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located approximately 10 miles north of Scranton, Pennsylvania and is located in the growing suburban area known as the "Abingtons." North Abington is also approximately 6 miles north of Clarks Summit and...
- Benton Twp.Benton Township, Lackawanna County, PennsylvaniaBenton Township is a township in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,908 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water.-Demographics:As of the census of...
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 2010, there were 4,905 people, 1,978 households, and 1,465 families residing in the township. 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 180.3 people per square mile (69.6/km²). There were 2,260 housing units at an average density of 83.1/sq mi (32.5/km²).
The racial makeup of the township was 97.5% White, 0.65% African American, 0.1% American Indian, 0.5% Asian, 0.4% from other races, and 1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1% of the population. The vast majority of Scott Township's ancestral composition is Polish
Polish American
A Polish American , is a citizen of the United States of Polish descent. There are an estimated 10 million Polish Americans, representing about 3.2% of the population of the United States...
at 25.5%, followed by Irish
Irish American
Irish Americans are citizens of the United States who can trace their ancestry to Ireland. A total of 36,278,332 Americans—estimated at 11.9% of the total population—reported Irish ancestry in the 2008 American Community Survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau...
(17.1%), English
English American
English Americans are citizens or residents of the United States whose ancestry originates wholly or partly in England....
(15.6%), and German
German American
German Americans are citizens of the United States of German ancestry and comprise about 51 million people, or 17% of the U.S. population, the country's largest self-reported ancestral group...
(14.4%). Russian
Russian American
Russian Americans are primarily Americans who traces their ancestry to Russia. The definition can be applied to recent Russian immigrants to the United States, as well as to settlers of 19th century Russian settlements in northwestern America which includes today's California, Alaska and...
and Welsh
Welsh American
Welsh Americans are citizens of the United States whose ancestry originates wholly or partly in Wales. In the 2008 U.S. Census community survey, an estimated 1.98 million Americans had Welsh ancestry, 0.6% of the total U.S. population. This compares with a population of 3 million in Wales. However,...
are the only others exceeding 5% (each at 6.9%).
There were 1,978 households out of which 24.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63% 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, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.9% were non-families. 21.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the township the population was spread out with 18.7% under the age of 18, 64% from 18 to 64, and 17.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46.5 years.
The median income for a household in the township was $42,130, and the median income for a family was $49,067. Males had a median income of $32,377 versus $23,640 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 township was $20,242. About 5.3% of families and 7.7% of the population were below the poverty line
Poverty threshold
The poverty threshold, or poverty line, is the minimum level of income deemed necessary to achieve an adequate standard of living in a given country...
, including 10.7% of those under age 18 and 1.4% of those age 65 or over.
The township is one of the more rural
Rural
Rural areas or the country or countryside are areas that are not urbanized, though when large areas are described, country towns and smaller cities will be included. They have a low population density, and typically much of the land is devoted to agriculture...
suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
s of Scranton, Pennsylvania's sixth largest city. Scranton and its numerous satellite borough
Borough
A borough is an administrative division in various countries. In principle, the term borough designates a self-governing township although, in practice, official use of the term varies widely....
s provide most of the employment, commerce, and recreation opportunities for Scott Township's residents. Manufacturing
Manufacturing
Manufacturing is the use of machines, tools and labor to produce goods for use or sale. The term may refer to a range of human activity, from handicraft to high tech, but is most commonly applied to industrial production, in which raw materials are transformed into finished goods on a large scale...
is the predominant industry
Industry
Industry refers to the production of an economic good or service within an economy.-Industrial sectors:There are four key industrial economic sectors: the primary sector, largely raw material extraction industries such as mining and farming; the secondary sector, involving refining, construction,...
among township workers, though most factories
Factory
A factory or manufacturing plant is an industrial building where laborers manufacture goods or supervise machines processing one product into another. Most modern factories have large warehouses or warehouse-like facilities that contain heavy equipment used for assembly line production...
are located elsewhere. The average travel time to work is 20.2 minutes.