Old Forge, human settlement in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, United States of America
Old Forge is a small borough in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, with roots reaching back to the late 1700s when an iron forge gave the town its name. The community spans about three and a half square miles of residential neighborhoods and small commercial streets, with the Lackawanna River running through the area.
Old Forge was established in the late 1700s around an iron forge that gave the town its name. The arrival of Italian immigrants in the early 1900s to work in coal mines transformed the community, bringing their traditions and food culture that shaped the town's identity for generations.
Old Forge earned the nickname "Pizza Capital of the World" for its rectangular pizzas with thick, crispy crusts and unique cheese and sauce combinations passed down by Italian immigrants who arrived in the early 1900s. The tradition remains central to the town's identity today, with many family-owned restaurants serving these distinctive pies that draw visitors from surrounding areas.
Visitors find shops, restaurants, and local services clustered along the main street, where the famous pizzerias are easy to access. The town moves at a relaxed pace and is easily explored on foot, with manageable distances between attractions and pleasant residential streets for walking.
Old Forge has a distinctive pizza ordering tradition where customers ask for a cut instead of just a slice, reflecting local speech patterns. This regional phrasing and the rectangular tray format set the town's pizza culture apart from other American pizza regions.
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