Luzerne County, Pennsylvania

Founding: 1786
Parent county: Northumberland

Namesake: Anne-César de la Luzerne, French diplomat
Seat: Wilkes-Barre (1786–)

Land area: 890 square miles

Population (2020): 325,594

Population (historic): 4,892 (1790); 44,006 (1840); 160,915 (1870); 257,121 (1900); 445,109 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1790–1870; 1880–1930; 1970s; 2000–2020

Subdivisions: Four cities; 36 boroughs; 27 CDPs; 36 townships

Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 53,652 (35.8%)
Pre-1940 housing survival rate: 60.1%
Pre-1860 housing survival rate (1940): 24.4%

Farm housing in disrepair (1950): 11%

Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950): 6.7%
Average farmhouse value (1930): $1,905
Average outbuilding value (1930): $1,946
Average farmhouse size (1940): 6.8 rooms
Number of farms (1920): 2,965
Average farm size (1920): 43 acres
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Wilkes-Barre

Namesake: John Wilkes and Isaac Barré, British and Irish politicians

Founding: 1769 (founding); 1795 (post office); 1806 (incorporation)

Population (2020): 44,328

Population (historic): 835 (1800); 1,718 (1840); 10,174 (1870); 51,721 (1900); 86,626 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1800–1810; 1820–1930; 2010s
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 9,720 (49.8%)
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Outstanding Buildings

1. William Harter House (1822/1870s). 968 State Route 239. Conyngham. Federal/Italianate.
2. Union Reformed Church (1833). State Route 239, south of Ruckle Hill Road. Conyngham. Federal/Italianate.
3. Abram Harvey House (c. 1850). 1411 Bethel Hill Road. Huntington. Greek Revival.
4. Hillside / William Conyngham Estate (1882). 65 Hillside Road. Kingston. Queen Anne/Tudor Revival.
5. Luke Swetland House (1797/1803/1809/1813). 885 Wyoming Avenue. Kingston. Federal.
6. Amos Brown Farm (c. 1880). 63 Idetown Road. Lehman. Italianate.
7. Benjamin Evans House (c. 1855). 463 Black Creek Road. Nescopeck. Italianate.
8. Stephen Yost House (c. 1875). 437 Rock Glen Road. Sugarloaf. Italianate.

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