Luzerne County

Luzerne County is an administrative region in northeastern Pennsylvania that follows the course of the Susquehanna River through a mix of towns and forested countryside. The area connects 76 municipalities spread across river valleys and wooded ridges where old mining settlements sit alongside newer residential zones.

This administrative unit was created in September 1786 by separating it from Northumberland County and naming it after French diplomat Chevalier de la Luzerne. Coal deposits in the region drew workers and settlers from Europe over the following decades, shaping the economic and social fabric of the area for generations.

The Luzerne County Historical Society maintains records and artifacts documenting the area's coal mining heritage and European immigrant settlements.

The administrative center is located in Wilkes-Barre, where visitors can find information about individual communities and offerings across the region. Public roads connect the different municipalities, with rural areas often having less infrastructure than the larger town centers.

Four state parks lie within the borders of this region and offer opportunities for hiking, camping and observing waterfalls. Ricketts Glen is particularly known for its cascades, which tumble down rocky slopes through forested ravines.

Location: Pennsylvania

Inception: September 25, 1786

Capital city: Wilkes-Barre

Shares border with: Wyoming County, Lackawanna County, Monroe County, Carbon County, Schuylkill County, Columbia County, Sullivan County

Website: http://luzernecounty.org

GPS coordinates: 41.18000,-75.99000

Latest update: December 13, 2025 15:57