Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania

Wilkes-Barre (/ˈwɪlksbɛər(i)/ WILKS-bair(-ee) or /ˈwɪlksbɑːr/WILKS-bar) is a city in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States, and its county seat. Located along the Susquehanna River in Northeastern Pennsylvania, it had a population of 44,328 in the 2020 census. It is part of the Wyoming Valley metropolitan area, which includes five cities and more than 40 boroughs forming a contiguous urban corridor with an estimated 574,000 residents.

Wilkes-Barre is surrounded by the Pocono Mountains to the east, the Endless Mountains to the north and west, and the Lehigh Valley to the south. The city was founded in 1769, incorporated as a borough in 1806, and re-incorporated as a city in 1869. It experienced significant growth in the 19th century due to the development of nearby anthracite coal mines and a large influx of immigrant labor. As its industry continued to expand into the 20th century, the population peaked at over 86,000 in 1930.

Following World War II, the city's economy declined due to the collapse of industry and the 1959 Knox Mine disaster, which rendered much of the region's coal mining infrastructure unusable. In the 21st century, the city's population is approximately half its 1930 peak, but it remains the largest city in Luzerne County and the 11th-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.