Scranton, County seat in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania
Scranton sits at 227 meters elevation in northeastern Pennsylvania, surrounded by the Pocono Mountains and Endless Mountains. The city spreads across several valleys along the Lackawanna River, with neighborhoods built on hillsides above the downtown core.
The Scranton brothers founded the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad in 1849, transforming the settlement into a major transportation hub. Coal mining and steel production defined the city until the mid-20th century, when industry collapsed.
Local festivals celebrate the mining and railroad past, with public events held on former industrial grounds. Residents gather in parks along the Lackawanna River Trail, where tracks and factories once stood.
The downtown area sits in a valley with railroad buildings and industrial ruins converted into museums and public spaces. Visitors can walk between main attractions along Lackawanna Avenue and Wyoming Avenue.
The city was among the first in America to install electric streetlights in 1880, earning the nickname Electric City. Today, a large illuminated sign with that name sits on a hillside above downtown and lights up at night.
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