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66-634: The Times Leader is a privately owned newspaper in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania . Founded in 1879, it was locally owned until being purchased by Capital Cities in 1978. On November 27, 1907, the Wilkes-Barre Times printed a notice that it and the Wilkes-Barre Leader , both afternoon dailies, would merge, creating The Times Leader with the first newspaper to be dated Monday December 2, 1907. The Times Leader , in

132-520: A crowd of miners used to gather nightly on the steps of Mackin Brothers' Store, a scene described by Con Carbon in a popular ballad of the 1890s: And once thy peaceful tide The Far Downs and Connaught men Fight, and then make up again, Dutch and Scotch and English men— All like chickens in a pen. The powder smoke does be so thick, You could not cut it with a pick, The smell of gas would make you sick In front of Mackin's store. Throughout

198-580: A fishing pier, and two grand gateways connecting the city to the river. The city's population was in constant decline from the 1930s through 2010, but losses stopped that decade, and it saw growth as of 2020. As of the 2020 census , there were 44,328 people and 15,581 households residing in the city. The population density was 5,945 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 69.80% White , 14.90% African American , 0.40% Native American , 2.4% Asian , 0.20% Pacific Islander , and 4.60% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 21.0% of

264-412: A labor force for the city's mines. The mining of high-quality anthracite coal fueled industrialization in the city, which reached the height of its prosperity in the first half of the 20th century. Its population peaked at more than 86,000 in 1930. Following World War II , the city's economy declined due to the collapse of industry. The Knox Mine disaster accelerated this trend after large portions of

330-522: A market need for verifiable, authenticated circulation figures from print publishers. As a result, in 1914, advertisers, ad agencies and publishers in the U.S. and Canada united to form the first Audit Bureau of Circulations to bring trust and accountability to the print media market. On November 15, 2012, ABC in North America rebranded its organization as the Alliance for Audited Media to reflect

396-474: A settlement near Mill Creek . They planted wheat and constructed log cabins. The Yankees returned to New England for the winter. The Connecticut settlers returned in the spring of 1763 with their families and additional supplies. A party of Iroquois also visited the area with the dual purpose of turning the Lenape tribe against the colonists and killing Teedyuscung , a local Lenape chief. On April 19, 1763,

462-583: Is 6b except in downtown and other areas near the river which are 7a. The city is significantly warmer than the W-B/Scranton Airport due to the airport's higher latitude and elevation. Wilkes-Barre has a Downtown Riverfront Park system that contains 91 acres of open space. Kirby Park is a public park located along the western bank of the Susquehanna River. Kirby Park is one of the region's most valued recreational resources. Given to

528-618: Is a city in and the county seat of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania , United States. Located at the center of the Wyoming Valley in Northeastern Pennsylvania , it had a population of 44,328 in the 2020 census. It is the second-largest city, after Scranton , in the Scranton–Wilkes-Barre–Hazleton, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area , which had a population of 567,559 as of the 2020 census , making it

594-549: Is also located on the west side of the Susquehanna River. It is located across from Kirby Park. Nesbitt is open to the public. It has walking paths and areas for picnicking. The River Common is located along the eastern bank of the Susquehanna River. The Market Street Bridge bisects the park. The River Common joins with the Luzerne County Courthouse grounds. Its features include a 750-person amphitheater, paved walk-ways, gardens, ornamental trees, seating areas,

660-548: Is relatively evenly distributed throughout the year (though the summer months receive more precipitation). Extreme temperatures range from −21 °F (−29.4 °C) on January 21, 1994, to 103 °F (39.4 °C) on July 9, 1936. Wilkes-Barre averages 2,303 hours of sunshine per year, ranging from a low of 96 hours in December (or 33% of possible sunshine) to 286 hours in July (or 62% of possible sunshine). The hardiness zone

726-548: Is used or a humid subtropical climate ( Cfa ) if the −3 °C (27 °F) isotherm is used. Summers are hot and winters are moderately cold with wide variations in temperature. Winters are cold with a January average of 28.0 °F (−2.2 °C). The surrounding mountains have an influence on the climate (including both precipitation and temperatures), leading to wide variations within a short distance. On average, temperatures below 0 °F (−17.8 °C) are infrequent, occurring 2.5 days per year, and there are 34.9 days where

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792-474: The French Asylum settlement. Wilkes-Barre's population skyrocketed due to the discovery of anthracite coal in the 19th century. In 1808, Judge Jesse Fell of Wilkes-Barre discovered a solution to ignite anthracite with the usage of an iron grate; it allowed for the coal to light and burn more easily. This invention increased the popularity of anthracite as a fuel source. This led to the expansion of

858-573: The Times Leader engaged in a circulation-building initiative in which it agreed to donate some proceeds to local charities. The newspaper staff was recognized for its editorial quality with numerous awards this year both in the state Associated Press competition and at the Keystone Press Awards . Behind its dynamic writers and photographers the Times Leader has gone on to win more Keystone Press Awards than any daily newspaper in

924-557: The Times Leader to Knight Ridder in 1997. The newspaper continued to prosper under Knight Ridder ownership. It started publishing a half-dozen zoned weekly sections for different parts of metro Wilkes-Barre, affectionately called the "Baby Leaders." It also actively battled the Hazleton Standard-Speaker in southern Luzerne County with a heavily staffed bureau and daily zoned metro section. The McClatchy Company acquired 32 Knight Ridder newspapers, including

990-537: The Times Leader , but remained an investor. In 2012, Impressions Media was acquired by the private equity firm Versa Capital Management . Versa later merged its newspaper holdings into Civitas Media . In 2019, Civitas Media sold the Times Leader to Avant Publications, a joint venture of Champion Media and MIDTC. In 2021, long time employee Kerry Miscavage was named Times Leader Media Group Publisher. Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania Wilkes-Barre ( / ˈ w ɪ l k s b ɛər i / WILKS -bair-ee )

1056-735: The Times-Leader , in March 2006. However, McClatchy quickly announced that it would resell a number of papers, including the Times Leader . On June 26, 2006, McClatchy announced its sale of the Times Leader to Connor and investors including Frank Henry, Charles Parente, and HM Capital Partners , a Texas equity fund that seeks "investment opportunities in middle-market, cash generative businesses that have strong competitive positions with significant value creation opportunities." A handful of unidentified local business owners also acquired ownership stakes. In 2007, to celebrate its 100-year anniversary,

1122-566: The Wyoming Valley area. The Wilkes-Barre Publishing Company—parent to the Times Leader — purchased a Spanish-language newspaper, El Mensajero , in late 2007. It was the dominant Spanish-language newspaper in Northeastern Pennsylvania. El Mesajero folded in August 2011. The Times Leader grew its paid circulation by 1,500 daily subscribers and 1,300 Sunday subscribers for the first four months of 2008, again outpacing

1188-415: The 1800s, canals and railroads were constructed to aid in the mining and transportation of coal. Hundreds of thousands of immigrants flocked to the city; they were seeking jobs in the numerous mines and collieries that sprang up throughout the region . In 1806, Wilkes-Barre Borough was formed from a segment of Wilkes-Barre Township; it was later incorporated as a city in 1871. This was the direct result of

1254-808: The 18th century, the Wyoming Valley was inhabited by the Shawnee and Lenape , also known as Delaware Indian tribes. In 1753, the Susquehanna Company was founded in Connecticut for settling the Wyoming Valley in present-day Pennsylvania . Connecticut succeeded in purchasing the land from the Native Americans ; however, Pennsylvania already claimed the very same territory through a purchase they made in 1736. In 1762, roughly two hundred Connecticut settlers ( Yankees ) established

1320-613: The Connecticut (Yankee) settlers. The Yankee settlers would become citizens of Pennsylvania and their property claims would be restored prior to the Decree of Trenton. As part of the compromise, Pennsylvania would establish a new county in Northeastern Pennsylvania . The Yankees agreed to the terms. On September 25, 1786, the Pennsylvania General Assembly passed a resolution which created Luzerne County. It

1386-532: The Connecticut settlers away from the valley. By November, the Yankees returned with a greater force. They captured and destroyed Fort Dickinson in Wilkes-Barre. With that victory, a new state (which was separate from both Connecticut and Pennsylvania) was proposed. The new state was to be named Westmoreland . To ensure that they didn't lose the land, Pennsylvania's state government negotiated a compromise with

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1452-554: The Decree of Trenton, on December 30, 1782, the confederation government officially decided that the region belonged to Pennsylvania, and the Wyoming Valley became part of Northumberland County . During the Revolutionary War two forts were built at Wilkes-Barre. Fort Wilkes-Barre was completed in 1778 but was abandoned and burned later that year following the Battle of Wyoming . Fort Wyoming (later renamed Fort Dickinson )

1518-480: The Lehigh Valley to the south. The Susquehanna River flows through the center of the valley and defines the northwestern border of the city. Wilkes-Barre was founded in 1769, incorporated as a borough in 1806, and formally re-incorporated as a city in 1869. The city grew rapidly in the 19th century after the discovery of nearby coal reserves and the arrival of hundreds of thousands of immigrants, who provided

1584-552: The United States switched to other energy sources, and most coal operations had left Wilkes-Barre by the end of World War II . The 1959 Knox Mine Disaster , resulting in the flooding of numerous mines, marked the end of large-scale coal mining in the area. Industrial restructuring also caused the city to lose jobs and begin a decades-long decline. In 1926, Planters Peanuts Company was founded in Wilkes-Barre by two Italian immigrants. The company maintained its headquarters in

1650-590: The area's coal mines were flooded and could not be reopened. In the 21st century, the city's population is roughly half that of its peak population of the 1930s, though it remains the largest city in Luzerne County and the 13th-largest city in Pennsylvania. Wilkes-Barre is located 49 miles (79 km) north-northwest of Allentown , 97 miles (156 km) north-northwest of Philadelphia , and 106 miles (171 km) west-northwest of New York City . By

1716-524: The canopy and matching street lights in Public Square and across downtown were removed; they were replaced by new green lampposts. Wilkes-Barre celebrated its 200th anniversary in 2006. Several events, including a Beach Boys concert, were planned but canceled due to extremely heavy rains. Most of the city's population was ordered to evacuate on June 28, 2006, and the Bicentennial celebration

1782-479: The city of Wilkes-Barre by the Kirby Family, the park welcomes hundreds of thousands each year. The park is the setting for the city's annual Cherry Blossom Festival (held during the last weekend of April) and the city's July 4 Celebration. Its amenities include tennis courts, a fitness trail, pond, walking paths, running track, softball fields, parking area, volleyball courts, pavilions, and more. Nesbitt Park

1848-472: The city of Wilkes-Barre itself is a smaller town, the larger unofficial city of Scranton/Wilkes-Barre contains nearly half a million residents in roughly 200 square miles. Wilkes-Barre is located approximately 63 miles (101 km) northwest of Allentown , and 113 miles (182 km) northwest of Philadelphia . Wilkes-Barre and the surrounding Wyoming Valley are framed by the Pocono Mountains to

1914-412: The city until 1961. In 1929, baseball player Babe Ruth hit one of the longest home runs in history at Artillery Park in Wilkes-Barre. On November 8, 1972, Wilkes-Barre became the birthplace of modern cable television programming when Home Box Office (HBO) launched over the city's Teleservice Cable system (now Service Electric Cable ). Around 365 Teleservice subscribers were the first to receive

1980-575: The city's economy took a major blow from Tropical Storm Agnes in 1972. The storm pushed the Susquehanna River to a height of nearly 41 feet (12 m), four feet above the city's levees , flooding downtown with nine feet of water. A total of 128 deaths were attributed to the storm. Most drowning deaths were caused by people trapped in their cars. Almost 400,000 homes and businesses were destroyed and 220,000 Pennsylvanians were left homeless (as were hundreds of thousands in other states). Damage

2046-403: The city's mayor, unveiled his "I believe..." campaign for Wilkes-Barre, which was intended to boost the city's spirits. Construction began on a planned downtown theatre complex, which had a grand opening on June 30, 2006. Renovation of the landmark Hotel Sterling was being pursued by CityVest, a nonprofit developer. The expansion of Wilkes University and King's College took place. Also,

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2112-422: The city. The elevation of the downtown area is about 550 feet (170 m) above sea level. As you travel inland, away from the river, the elevation rises. Wilkes-Barre Mountain is a physical barrier southeast of the city. The contiguous network of 5 cities and more than 40 boroughs all built in a straight line in Northeastern Pennsylvania's urban area act culturally and logistically as one continuous city, so while

2178-434: The city. The population density was 6,296.3 inhabitants per square mile (2,431.0/km ). There were 20,294 housing units at an average density of 2,963.1 per square mile (1,144.1/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 92.30% White , 5.09% African American , 0.11% Native American , 0.79% Asian , 0.03% Pacific Islander , 0.53% from other races , and 1.15% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.58% of

2244-565: The coal industry in Northeastern Pennsylvania; Wilkes-Barre was nicknamed "The Diamond City" due to its high productivity of mining coal. The growing demand for coal as a domestic heat source resulted in changes to patterns of immigration to Wilkes-Barre in the 19th century. The Pennsylvania guide , compiled by the Writers' Program of the Works Progress Administration in 1940, noted that: Until 1870 all immigration

2310-643: The early 20th century, was one of the industries targeted by the National Child Labor Committee and its hired photographer, Lewis Hine . Many of Hine's subjects were photographed in the mines and coal fields near Wilkes-Barre. The impact of the Hine photographs led to the enactment of child labor laws across the country. The coal industry continued despite several disasters, including an explosion at Wilkes-Barre's Baltimore Colliery in 1919, which killed 92 miners. The industry declined when

2376-605: The east, the Endless Mountains to the north and west, and the Lehigh Valley to the south. The Susquehanna River flows through the center of the valley and defines the northwestern border of the city. Wilkes-Barre houses over one dozen neighborhoods: Under the Köppen climate classification , Wilkes-Barre falls within either a hot-summer humid continental climate ( Dfa ) if the 0 °C (32 °F) isotherm

2442-474: The fifth-largest metropolitan area in Pennsylvania after the Delaware Valley , Greater Pittsburgh , the Lehigh Valley , and Greater Harrisburg . The contiguous network of five cities and more than 40 boroughs all built in a straight line in Northeastern Pennsylvania's urban core act culturally and logistically as one continuous city, so while the city of Wilkes-Barre itself is a mid-sized city,

2508-402: The former hotel. According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 7.2 square miles (19 km ), of which 6.8 square miles (18 km ) is land and 0.3 square miles (0.78 km ), or 4.60%, is water. The city is bordered by the Susquehanna River to the west. Most of Downtown is located on a wide floodplain . Floodwalls were constructed to protect a large percentage of

2574-532: The heart of coal country, was subject to a very bitter strike that began October 6, 1978. Over 200 union employees walked off the job in defiance of what they viewed as union busting tactics by the Times Leader' s new corporate owner, Capital Cities . The four striking newspaper unions began to publish the Citizens' Voice as a strike paper. Eventually the four unions were decertified. The Voice continued publication. This in turn prompted competition and created

2640-661: The industry. For the six months ending September 30, 2011, the Audit Bureau of Circulations put the TimesLeader' s average daily paid circulation at 38,059 (M-S) and 59,273 (Sunday). In 2011, the Wilkes-Barre Publishing Company reorganized into Impressions Media, with a strong focus on digital media. The company soon won a W3 Award for efforts in mobile media technology. Later that year, publisher Richard L. Connor stepped down as publisher of

2706-419: The larger Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Urban Area contains half a million residents in roughly 300 square miles (780 km ). Scranton/Wilkes-Barre is the cultural and economic center of a region called Northeastern Pennsylvania, which is home to over 1.3 million residents. Wilkes-Barre and the surrounding Wyoming Valley are framed by the Pocono Mountains to the east, the Endless Mountains to the north and west, and

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2772-535: The largest not-for-profit media auditing organization dedicated to increasing trust, transparency and assurance across the media industry. It is one of more than three dozen such organizations operating worldwide, affiliated with the International Federation of Audit Bureaux of Circulations (IFABC). At the turn of the 20th century, the Association of National Advertisers (ANA) observed

2838-687: The maximum temperature remains below 32 °F (0.0 °C). The average annual snowfall is 45.1 inches (115 cm) during the winter (in which severe snowstorms are rare). However, when snowstorms do occur, they can disrupt normal routines for several days. Summers are warm with a July average of 73.7 °F (23.2 °C). In an average summer, temperatures exceeding 90 °F (32.2 °C) occur on 11.7 days and but rarely exceed 100 °F (37.8 °C). Spring and fall are unpredictable with temperatures ranging from cold to warm (although they are usually mild). On average, Wilkes-Barre receives 38.72 inches (983 mm) of precipitation each year, which

2904-567: The mid-80s. His successor as publisher, Dale A. Duncan, became publisher of the Pontiac, Michigan , Oakland Press , and then publisher of The Indianapolis Star . Duncan was followed by Mark Contreas who worked in several executive capacities with the Pulitzer Company before become head of the newspaper division for Scripps. Capital Cities and the Times Leader were purchased by The Walt Disney Company in 1996. Disney in turn sold

2970-536: The new media environment and its members' evolving business models. In March 2023, the Alliance for Audited Media and BPA Worldwide completed a merger to become the largest not-for-profit media auditing organization. AAM is governed by a tripartite board of directors composed of leaders in publishing, marketing and advertising. Together with a network of committees, the AAM board sets the standards by which print and digital media are measured and reported. AAM audited data

3036-601: The newspaper, Connor and his staff dominated the state's newspapers with awards for writing, reporting, and photography. The paper also became among the most prominent corporate citizens. The Times Leader became known around the US as a growth platform for young journalists, photographers, and newspaper executives. Connor moved on to restore the Fort Worth Star Telegram to strength as the Texas economy faltered in

3102-585: The normally-open levee . The project stretches approximately four blocks from the Luzerne County Courthouse to the intersection of South River Street and West South Street. The River Common has since hosted concerts and charity events. Since completion of the River Common, additional improvements to city infrastructure have been progressing. New crosswalks have been installed downtown, including signage emphasizing that pedestrians have

3168-483: The overall economy was doing very well, the city was still prone to natural disasters. Besides frequent flooding from the Susquehanna River, Wilkes-Barre also endured a devastating F3 tornado on August 19, 1890 . The twister killed 16 people, injured 50, damaged or destroyed 260 buildings, and cost at least $ 240,000 (in 1890 money). Wilkes-Barre is located within Pennsylvania's Coal Region . The anthracite coal mining industry, and its extensive use of child labor in

3234-624: The population boom. At its peak, Wilkes-Barre had a population of over 86,000 in the 1930s and 40s. New industries were established and the Vulcan Iron Works was a well-known manufacturer of railway locomotives from 1849 to 1954. During Wilkes-Barre's reign as an industrial and economic force in America, several major companies and franchises became based in the city, such as Woolworth 's, Sterling Hotels, Miner's Bank, Bell Telephone , Luzerne National Bank, and Stegmaier . Even though

3300-417: The population. As of the 2010 census , the city was 79.2% White, 10.9% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 1.4% Asian, and 2.9% were two or more races. Of the population, 11.3% were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry. The Hispanic population was just 1.58% of the population as of the 2000 census . As of the 2000 census , there were 43,123 people, 17,961 households, and 9,878 families residing in

3366-545: The population. The average household size was 2.42. With population spread of 22.9% under the age of 18, 61.3% between the ages of 19–64, and 15.8% over the age of 65. Females made up 50.6% of the population. The median household income was $ 37,902, while 26.6% of the city were found below the poverty line . The per capita income was $ 20,197. The local accent of American English is Northeast Pennsylvania English . Audit Bureau of Circulations (North America) In early 2023, AAM merged with BPA Worldwide to create

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3432-442: The premium cable service when it commenced broadcasts. As local ordinances prohibiting direct-to-cable telecasts of theatrical feature films prevented Time-Life from launching HBO over its New York City-based Sterling Manhattan cable franchise, the company initially sought an agreement with Teleservice to launch it on the provider's Allentown system; possible television blackout conflicts for HBO-televised NBA games, as Allentown

3498-457: The quality of the levees. In 2006, the city made the front page of national newspapers when 200,000 residents were told to evacuate in the wake of flooding that was forecast to reach levels near that of 1972, though the flooding fell short of predictions. In late August 2011, Hurricane Irene , centered off the New Jersey coast, caused the Susquehanna River to rise to flood level, but there

3564-468: The residence of the chief, along with several others, was set ablaze. Chief Teedyuscung perished in the inferno. The Iroquois let the Lenape believe that this atrocity was committed by the settlers. As a result, the Lenape attacked the colonists on October 15, 1763, killing thirty settlers and taking several others as prisoners. Those who managed to escape fled back to New England . The Lenape then burned what

3630-490: The right-of-way. The completion of the James F. Conahan Intermodal Transportation Facility has added parking and relocated Luzerne County buses from their former Public Square staging sites. This has reduced traffic congestion around the square. Private carrier Martz offers coach bus service from the terminal as well. The widening and realignment of Coal Street, a major road connecting Wilkes-Barre City with Wilkes-Barre Township,

3696-430: The unusual environment where Wilkes-Barre , with its population of a little more than 43,000, now has two competing dailies. The Times Leader was steadily returned to its position of prominence as the leading daily in Luzerne County, both in editorial quality and paid circulation. After the strike began, Capital Cities persuaded a young, dynamic editor, Richard L. Connor, to become publisher. During his eight years running

3762-537: The valley that same year. The Connecticut settlers established Fort Durkee, which was named in honor of their leader, Colonel Durkee. This was immediately followed by the Pennamite-Yankee War —a series of skirmishes between Pennsylvanian and Connecticut settlers. The land changed hands several times between the two groups. The Congress of the Confederation was asked to resolve the matter. With

3828-400: Was completed in 2012. The new Coal Street provides four lanes over the original two lanes, making travel between the highly commercial Wilkes-Barre Township and the city much easier. In 2013, Hotel Sterling was demolished due to flood damage in the hotel's basement (which compromised the building's integrity). As of today, several buildings are in the process of being constructed on the site of

3894-663: Was constructed when the Continental Army reoccupied the Wyoming Valley and served as a staging area for the Sullivan Expedition in 1779. After the Revolutionary War the State of Pennsylvania ruled that the Connecticut settlers were not citizens of Pennsylvania. They were not permitted to vote and were ordered to give up their property claims. In May 1784, armed men from Pennsylvania force-marched

3960-623: Was estimated to be $ 2.1 billion in Pennsylvania alone. President Richard Nixon sent aid to the area, after flying over in his helicopter on his way to his Camp David retreat (on June 24, 1972). Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Wilkes-Barre attempted to prevent the damage from storms as intense as Agnes by building a levee system that rises 41 feet (12 m); completed in January 2003, the network of levees cost roughly $ 250 million. It has successfully resisted other threatening floods in 1996, 2004, and 2006. The Army Corps of Engineers has praised

4026-493: Was formed from a section of Northumberland County and named after Chevalier de la Luzerne , a French soldier and diplomat during the 18th century. Wilkes-Barre became the seat of government for the new territory. This resolution ended the idea of creating a new state. In 1797, several decades after the community's founding, Louis Philippe , later the King of France from 1830 to 1840, stayed in Wilkes-Barre while traveling to

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4092-552: Was from the north of Europe, with the Irish predominating. Then mine operators sent representatives to central and southern Europe to induce peasants to come to the American coal fields. Many of the older workers consequently were supplanted by newcomers willing to work for low wages, and bitter conflicts followed. The cleavage along national lines, however, gave to Wilkes-Barre such picturesque sections as Five Points, now East End, where

4158-428: Was left of the settlement. In 1769, the Yankees returned to the Wyoming Valley. Five townships were established by Connecticut. Each one was five square miles and divided amongst forty settlers. Wilkes-Barre Township was one of the original townships; it was named in honor of John Wilkes and Isaac Barré —two British members of Parliament who supported colonial America . Pennsylvanians (Pennamites) also arrived in

4224-572: Was located within the Philadelphia 76ers 's 75-mile [121 km] blackout radius, resulted in Teleservice electing to offer it on its Wilkes-Barre system instead. Wilkes-Barre became the site of a mass shooting on September 25, 1982. George Emil Banks killed 13 people and wounded one. Banks was deemed incompetent to be executed yet currently resides on death row. Manufacturing and retail remained Wilkes-Barre's strongest industries, but

4290-684: Was no cause for alarm. Then, from September 6 to 8, heavy rains from the inland remnants of Tropical Storm Lee and Hurricane Katia offshore funneled heavy rain over the Wyoming Valley and into the Susquehanna River watershed. The Susquehanna swelled to record levels across the state. In Wilkes-Barre, it crested on September 9 at an all-time record of 42.66 feet (13 m), nearly 2 feet (0.6 m) higher than water levels reached during Hurricane Agnes in 1972. The levees protected Wilkes-Barre, but nearby boroughs did not escape, as West Pittston , Plymouth , and parts of Plains Township were affected by extreme flooding. On June 9, 2005, Thomas M. Leighton ,

4356-419: Was postponed to Labor Day weekend. The Riverfront revitalization project (River Common), broke ground in 2007 and was completed in early 2010. It has made the riverfront accessible to the public. The area also has a new amphitheater for live performances and improved access through ramps and sidewalks. Fountains and color-changing lights have been added underneath two bridges which carry pedestrian traffic across

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