Luzerne county , was taken from Northumberland, by act 25th Sept 1786, and was thus named in compliment to the Chevalier de la Luzerne, then French minister near the United States, and is bounded N. by Susquehannah and part of Bradford counties, E. by Wayne and Pike counties, S.E. by Northampton, and S. by Schuylkill counties, and W. by Columbia, Lycoming, and Bradford counties. Its greatest length N. and S. is 52 and breadth E. and W., 42 miles; area, 1430 sq. ms. or 917,200 acres. Central lat. 41º 15' N. Long. 1º E. from W.C.
The county pertains wholly to the great central formation of the state. The soil is so various in its quality, as to be not easily reducible to any general character. The valleys are commonly rich arable land, yet differing much in their fertility, and the mountains invaribly sterile, and unsusceptible of cultivation. The surface is very mountainous, and the ridges run parallel to each other, and from S.W. to N.E. like all the Atlantic chains of the continent. The intervening valleys, which vary much in width, are finely improved.
The principal mountains are the Wyoming, on each side of the Susquehannah river, forming the valley of Wyoming; that on the E. is called Bullocks, that on the W. Shawney range; the first is 1000 feet, and the second 850 feet high, and the distance between their summits, by the road opposite to Wilkesbarre is six, and by an air line 5½ miles. At Wilkesbarre the level plain extends on the W. side about a mile and a quarter from the river, and on the E. a half mile. Here the town is built. The Nescopeck mountain, on the N. side of Nescopeck creek, is parallel to nearly as high as the Wyoming. Its range is regular and unbroken, and its summit nearly destitute of lumber. It extends from the Susquehannah to the Lehigh river. The Buck mountain, running parallel to the Nescopeck about 5 ms. S.E. of the latter, is a broken ridge which loses its name at both ends of the Nescopeck valley. Hell Kitchen mountain commences at the head of Nescopeck valley, and extending northeastwardly, terminates near the Lehigh. This is a very high, rocky and barren ridge, having no timber on its top, where fern and small bushes only find support. Down the N. side of the mountain, falls Hell Kitchen creek, a small branch of the Nescopeck. Lackawannock mountain is a continuation of the Shawnese range of Wyoming mountains. This, near the Susquehannah, is very high and steep, but becomes lower as it extends northeasterly. It terminates in Susquehannah county, where it is called the Moosic mountain, and a part of it Mount Ararat. Bowman's mountain, called the Bald mountain, near the western limits of the county, is a high, regular barren range, whose average height may be 800 feet, extending from the E. to the W. branch of the Susquehannah, between which, it appears to have no other name than those mentioned, except, that in a small territory on the head of Fishing creek, the inhabitants call it the North mountain. Westward of the waters of the W. branch of the Susquehannah, it forms the main ridge of the Allegheny mountains. It crosses the E. branch of the Susquehannah, at the mouths of Tunhannock and Bowman's creeks, and extending north eastwardly, is called Tunkhannock mountain, and terminates in Susquehannah co. where it is called the Elk mountain. Mahoopeny mountain is a spur only of Bowman's mountain and terminates at the mouth of Mahoopeny cr. Sugarloaf mountain is a high conical pyramid rising from the centre of Nescopeck valley. It is not connected with any other mountain, and forms a very singular appearance. Its name is derived from its form, and the mountian has given name to a t-ship. The character of these last mentioned hills is much the same; they are thinly covered with timber, generally steep, and in many places very rocky. The Wyoming, the Lackawannock, and the Buck mountains, produce anthracite coal of an excellent quality. It forms an important article of export from Luzerne county, and was taken down the Susquehannah in arks, and now in boats. This coal was first burnt here in grates, in the year 1808, and is now in very general use.
The valleys of Luzerne are: the valley of Wyoming, lying on both sides of the Susquehannah river, about 20 miles long and 5 broad. The Susquehannah enters it as its N.E. extremity, through a precipitous gap in the Shawnese mountain, which appears to have been made by the river itself, and flows in a serpentine course through the plains of Wyoming, leaving the valley by a gap similar to that at which it enters, forming what is called Nanticoke falls. In this valley stand the towns of Wilkesbarre and Kingston, opposite to each other, on different sides of the river. This is the most populous valley in the county. (See Wyoming Valley)
Lackawannock valley extends from the mouth of the Lackawannock cr. up the stream about 30 miles. The soil is of second quality, and the land uneven. It ranks in population next to the valley of Wyoming.
Nescopeck valley lies on both sides of Nescopeck creek, and between Nescopeck and Buck mountains. It is about 20 miles long and 5 wide, and does not extend to the river. In population it is next to the Lackawannock valley, and the soil is somewhat better. Bowman's valley, lying on Bowman's creek, between Bowman's and Mahoopeny mountains, is not very populous, and the land is generally poor. It is about 2 miles wide, and 15 long. The principal population is near the river. Tunkhannock valley is very crooked and irregular, about a mile wide, lessening in some places to half a mile, and about 35 miles long. It is most of it cultivated, and is populous considering its small width. Mahoopenny valley, on Mahoopenny creek, is very narrow, and thinly populated. It extends irregularly about 20 miles from the river.
The Susquehannah river and its tributory streams, the chief of which are the Mahoopenny, Tunkhannock, Bowman's, Lackawannock, Wapwallopen and Nescopeck creeks, water nine tenths of Luzerne county. This river is navigable for boats carrying about 20 tons, at all seasons of the year, when not obstructed by ice, which is generally the case, from about Christmas until the middle of March. The N.E. branch of the Susquehannah is much less obstructed by rocks and shoals, than the main river below Northumberland. The boatmen are getting into the use of sails, and in a number of instances, boats loaded with 20 tons, ascend the Wyoming falls, by force of wind only. The only rapids in the Susquehannah within the limits of Luzerne, which are considered of sufficient importance to be called falls, are the Wyoming falls and the Nanticoke falls. The former is about a mile and a half above Wilkesbarre, is never considered dangerous, and has at all times sufficient water in the channel for the purpose of boat navigation. The latter as at the gap where the river passes out of the valley, and as the water runs here very swiftly into the side of an eddy, rafts of lumber were sometimes broken by the sudden whirl.
All the streams of Luzerne are rapid, and furnish excellent sites for all kinds of machinery. (See the articles relating to the several t-ships, for a particular description of the streams.)
It is estimated that about one twelfth of the county is cultivated, and that not more than one third is adapted to cultivation, unless the conversion to sheep pastures be so considered. The rough and rocky mountains would feed large flocks. About one third of the arable land is best suited for grazing, the remainder for grain.
The only minerals which have hitherto been discovered in the county, in sufficent quantities to merit notice, are iron and anthracite coal. Two forges have been erected for the manufacture of iron; one on the Lachawannock, the other on the Nanticoke creek.
The chief natural curiosities of the county are the water falls, or cascades, of which Solomon's, Wapwallopen, Buttermilk, Hell Kitchen, and Falling Spring are the most notable. (See these titles.) In the valley of Wyoming are the remains of ancient fortifications, which may be called artificial curiosities. Of these, 3 are said to be discernable; one situated in Kingston t-ship, on the W. bank of Toby's creek, upon the flat, about half a mile from the river, is an oval form, having its longest diameter from the N.E. to the S.W. measuring 272 feet, and from the S.E. to the N.W. measuring 237 feet. There appeared to have been a gateway at the S.W. (see Wyoming Valley .)
The timber has long been cut away, and the ground cultivated, but the trees lately felled from the rampart or parapet, were as large as any of the adjoining forest, and one large oak in particular, counted 700 years. There were also old logs found upon these mounds, indicating, that a growth of timber had preceeded that which was then standing. The Indians have no tradition concerning the origen of these fortifications, and their history is altogether conjectural.
The population of Luzerne consists of a mixed people from various countries. Northward from Wilkesbarre, the inhabitants are principally from the eastern states, and the descendants of New England men. Southward of that town they are chiefly Germans and the descendants of Germans, with a mixture of Irish and Scotch descendants. It is, however, not common to find amongst them any who cannot speak the English language. In 1790, the number of inhabitants was 4904; in 1800, 12,839; in 1810, 18,109; in 1820, 20,027; and in 1830, 27,304.
No portion of the state recalls more interesting historical recollections than Luzerne county. Its beautiful and rich valleys have been the favorite resort of the aborigines, for which they have contended among themselves, and with the white man. It was early and duly appreciated by the Connecticut settlers, who moistened the soil with their blood in maintenance of their possessions, though founded on a mistaken title. It has been the seat of the only civil war, which stains the annals of our colonial history, and has displayed as much heroism as any portion of the commonwealth, and suffered more than any other, in support of the revolution. Such brief notices of these subjects as the nature of our work permits, will be found in the introductory chapter, and under the title Wyoming Valley .
The principal towns are Wilkesbarre, Kingston, Tunkhannock, Pittston, Carbondale and Conyngham, &c. for a particular description of which, see those titles.
Beside the country roads, which the conveniences of vicinages have required, there are several important turnpike roads through the county. The Berwick and Lausanne road crosses the S.W. angle. The Wilkesbarre and Northamption penetrates on the S.E. and the Great Bend and the Montrose roads run northerly through it.
The Milford and Owego road crosses the N.E. angle through Blakely and Greenfield t-ships; affording the shortest and most expeditious stage route from the city of New York to the western part of that state. The Wilkesbarre and Clifford road is completed from the Coshocton and Great Bend turnpike, in Susquehannah co., to Blakely upon the Lackawannock; from which there is a good road to Wilkesbarre. This road runs thro' Dundaff, in Susquehannah, and Greenfield and Blakely in Luzerne counties. A tri-weekly stage is established upon it.
The Luzerne and Wayne turnpike passes through Providence and Blakely t-ships, intersecting the Phila. and Great Bend, the Easton and Belmont, and the Milford and Owego turnpikes. The Carbondale road, formed by the Delaware and Hudson company, extends from Carbondale to the last mentioned road, at Rix's gap. The Abington and Waterford road commences in Abington t-ship and runs through Nicholson and Tunkhannock t-ships. The Wilkesbarre and Bridgewater road traverses Kingston, Exeter, North Moreland, Eaton, and Tunkhannock t-ships. On this road a tri-weekly stage runs from Phila. to Buffalo, and a daily stage from from W.C. to Sackett's Harbor. Travellers for health or pleasure could not select a more favorable route for a summer's excursion, and, though delighted with the wildly romantic and picturesque prospects which every where present themselves, they would not fail to linger in the yet more delightful valley of Wyoming, viewing its natural beauties and surveying its mineral treasures. The Berwick and Newport road passes through Huntington t-ship; upon this and on the Berwick and Easton road, tri-weekly stages are also established.
Legislative acts have been passed for the incorporation of other companies to make artificial roads in the county; the most important of which are, from Wilkesbarre through Solomon's gap, to Lowrytown, on the Lehigh, a distance of a little more than 20 miles; and from Carbondale down the Lackawannock, about 10 miles; and from Carbondale to Tunkhannock bridge. Like authority has also been given for excavating a canal, from the Susquehannah river, at the mouth of the Nescopeck, up the valley of that stream, thence across the summit of the mountain, down Wright's creek to the Lehigh, a distance of 37 ms. The distance by this route and the North Branch canal, from Wilkesbarre to the mouth of Wright's creek, is about 65 miles; and also for the incorporation of a company to make a canal or rail-road from the Water gap of the Delaware to the mouth of the Lackawannock creek, at the head of the Wyoming valley. The distance is about 50 ms. It is proposed by this chain of communication to connect the Delaware and North branch divisions of the Pennsylvania canal, and the line between the Hudson and Susquehannah, by means of the Orange and Sussex canal. The design of these projects is to penetrate the Wyoming coal region; but it can scarce be expected that they will be completed whilst a full supply of anthracite can be obtained from sources nearer to market and yielding it at a cheaper rate. Authority has also been given for improving the communication by Lackawannock valley, either by damming the Lackawannock river, by making a canal, or by a rail-road; thus to open a way for the Lackawannock coal, to market by the Susquehannah, and to give the mines in the S.W. part of the valley the advantage of the improvements of the Hudson and Delaware navigation and coal company. The distance from Carbondale to the Susquehannah at the mouth of the Lackawannock is about 23 ms. An act of assembly has authorized the incorporation of a company to make a rail-road from the Carbondale mines to the mouth of the CHenango river on the Susquehannah.
The improvement for transportation of coal, &c. of the Hudson and Delaware company, is by canal from the Hudson to the Delaware near Carpenter's point; thence up the eastern bank of the Delaware, to the mouth of the Lackawaxen, where it passes the Delaware by a pool, formed by a dam in the river; thence up the Lackawaxen to Honesdale, at the forks of the Dyberry; where it terminates in an artificial basin, having completed a distance of a little more than 100 miles; thence a rail-road surmounts the Lackawannock mountain to Carbondale, distant 16 miles. Most of the foregoing canal and rail-road improvements have been projected by capitalists of New York, and their completion is more to be desired than expected. But no work is so interesting to the county as the state canal, on the north branch of the Susquehannah. This has been successfully made to the Nanticoke falls, where a dam has been erected; but its extension seems necessary, at least 16 miles further, that by reaching the centre of the coal region, at the head of the Wyoming Valley, its full benefit may be obtained by the inhabitants for transportation, and by the state in receipt of tolls. The distance from the Nanticoke dam by the river to the state line, is 106 ms. The Chemung canal, from Senecca lake to Newtown. Newtown is within 14 miles of the boundary, and the interval is an alluvial level. When the north branch canal shall be connected with the Seneca lake, the richest and fairest portion of the stae of New York will pour its agricultural and mineral products into the lap of Pennsylvania, which the latter will repay with her iron and coal.
Luzerne, with Union, Northumberland, Columbia, Susquehanna, Bradford, Lycoming, Potter, and McKean, form the 9th congressional district, sending three members to congress. United with Columbis county, it constitutes the 10th senatorial district, sending one member to the senate; and alone it sens two members to the house of representatives; conected with Pike and Wayne it makes the 11th judicial district, over which David Scott, Esq. presides. The courts are holden at Wilkesbarre, on the first Mondays of January, April, August, and November.
The public buildings of the county consist of a court house, county offices, and prison, an academy, and a bank, all in Wilkesbarre (the academy has a large class, and enjoys a high reputation), and several, but not many churches throughout the county. Considerable attention is given by the inhabitants to education, and in some of the t-ships provision has been made in lands, to obtain a fund for the use of the schools.
The taxable property of the county, by the assessment of 1829, was valued viz. real estate, exclusive of unseated lands, $1, 119670; unseated lands, valued at $1 the acre, $351,380; unseated lands, purchased at treasury sales, for taxes, valued at $189,935, at $1 per acre. Personal estate, $268,632. The rate of levy is now, and has been for years, one half cent in the dollar.
The county paid into the public treasury, in the year 1831, for
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Dividend on bridge stock, at Wilkesbarre,
Do. on turnpike stock, Tax on bank dividends, Tax on writs, Tavern licenses, Duties on dealers in foreign merchandise, Tin and clock pedlars' licenses, Hawkers' and pedlars' licenses, |
$350 00
312 50 73 25 423 89 596 31 581 63 137 60 38 95 $2515 13 |