Plymouth is a

borough A borough is an administrative division in various English language, English-speaking countries. In principle, the term ''borough'' designates a self-governing walled town, although in practice, official use of the term varies widely. History ...

Luzerne County, Pennsylvania Luzerne County is a County (United States), county in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and is water. It is Northeaste ...

, United States, located west of

Wilkes-Barre Wilkes-Barre ( , alternatively or ) is a city in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States, and its county seat. Located at the center of the Wyoming Valley in Northeastern Pennsylvania, it had a population of 44,328 in the 2020 census. ...

, along the

Susquehanna River The Susquehanna River ( ; Unami language, Lenape: ) is a major river located in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, crossing three lower Northeastern United States, Northeast states (New York, Pennsylvani ...

. The population was 5,763 as of the 2020 census.

History

Plymouth was first settled in 1769 by the Susquehanna Company of

Connecticut Connecticut ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, New York (state), New York to the west, and Long Island Sound to the south. ...

, and until its incorporation as a borough in 1866, was part of Plymouth Township. The Pennamite-Yankee Wars were fought in the surrounding area. The town is situated in the once rich

anthracite Anthracite, also known as hard coal and black coal, is a hard, compact variety of coal that has a lustre (mineralogy)#Submetallic lustre, submetallic lustre. It has the highest carbon content, the fewest impurities, and the highest energy densit ...

coal fields of eastern Pennsylvania. Coal was first shipped in 1807. In the past, the products of its manufacturing establishments included miners’ drilling machines and squibs, silk hosiery, and lumber products. Its population peaked in 1910 at 16,996.

Architecture

At the beginning of the 19th century, Plymouth's primary industry was agriculture, and many of its residents were the descendants of the Connecticut Yankees who first settled the town. Its early architecture resembled that of a small

New England New England is a region consisting of six states in the Northeastern United States: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. It is bordered by the state of New York (state), New York to the west and by the ...

village. Large quantities of anthracite coal lay below the surface at various depths, and by the 1850s, coal mining had become the town's primary occupation, attracting a more diverse population. After the arrival of the railroad in 1857, the town's architecture became more typical of a growing industrial center. File: SOLDIERS SAILORS PLYMOUTH MONUMENT.jpg, Soldiers and Sailors Monument (dedicated 1920)

Geography

According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...

, the borough has a total area of , of which is land and , or 7.31%, is water.

Demographics

2020 demographics

At the 2020 census, Plymouth had a population of 5,763.

2010 demographics

At the 2010 census, Plymouth had a population of 5,951. The reported racial and ethnic origin of the population was 90.6% White, 4.3% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.1% from other races, 2.0% reporting two or more races, and 3.3% Hispanic or Latino.

2000 demographics

As of the census of 2000, Plymouth had a population of 6,507. The reported racial and ethnic origin of the population was 98.4%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...

, 0.8%

African American African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...

, 0.2%

Native American Native Americans or Native American usually refers to Native Americans in the United States. Related terms and peoples include: Ethnic groups * Indigenous peoples of the Americas, the pre-Columbian peoples of North, South, and Central America ...

, 0.1% Asian, 0.2% from

other races Other often refers to: * Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy Other or The Other may also refer to: Film and television * ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack * ''The Other'' (1930 film), ...

, and 0.3% from two or more races.

Hispanic The term Hispanic () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...

or Latino of any race were 0.8% of the population. The median income for a household in the borough was $27,379.

Education

It is in the

Wyoming Valley West School District Wyoming Valley West School District is a large, suburban public school district in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. Students from nine boroughs attend Wyoming Valley West: Courtdale, Edwardsville, Forty Fort, Larksville, Luzerne, Plymouth, P ...

Notable people

* Ike Borsavage (1924–2014), born in Plymouth; professional basketball player. * Abe Cohen (1933–2001), born in Plymouth; professional football player. * Stanley Woodward Davenport (1861–1921), born and lived in Plymouth; lawyer and Democratic congressman. *

Mark Duda Mark D. Duda (born February 4, 1961) is a former professional American football defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL). He played his entire NFL career with the St. Louis Cardinals from 1983 until 1987. From 1979 to 1982, Duda p ...

(born 1961), born in Plymouth; professional football player. * Harry Livingston French (1871–1928), born in Plymouth; grew up there; the architect of Plymouth’s Central School. *

Gwilym Gwent Gwilym Gwent (born William Aubrey Williams on November 28, 1834) was a Welsh-born composer who immigrated in mid-life to the United States. He died on July 3, 1891. Early life William Aubrey Williams was born at Tredegar in 1834, where as a boy h ...

(1834–1891), Welsh-born composer; lived and worked in Plymouth after immigrating. * Jimmy Harnen (born 1963), grew up in Plymouth; singer and songwriter. *Gov.

Arthur Horace James Arthur Horace James (July 14, 1883April 27, 1973) was an American lawyer, politician, and judge. A Republican, he served as the 14th lieutenant governor (1927–1931) and the 31st governor (1939–1943) of Pennsylvania. Early life and career Th ...

(1883–1973), Plymouth native son; lawyer, judge, governor of Pennsylvania. * Benjamin James (1912–2015), born in Plymouth; college football coach. * Col. Benjamin Washington Johnson (1924–1992), Plymouth high school class of 1933; record-breaking collegiate sprinter. *

Milton Jones Milton Hywel Jones (born 16 May 1964) is an English comedian. His style of humour is based on one-liners involving puns delivered in a deadpan and slightly neurotic style. Career Jones has had various shows on BBC Radio 4 and was a recurrin ...

(1894–1932), born in Plymouth; race car driver. *

Joe Katchik Joseph Katchik Jr. (January 9, 1931 – February 9, 2014) was an American professional football defensive tackle who played one season with the New York Titans of the American Football League (AFL). He was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams of the ...

(1931–2014), born in Plymouth; Plymouth high school class of 1949; professional football player. * David Kautter (born ca 1948), Plymouth high school class of 1966; lawyer and tax policy advisor. * John Kraynak (1894–1961), born in Plymouth; one of many pugilists who adopted the alias “K.O. Sweeney.” * Walter J. Kozloski (1935–1979), born in Plymouth; New Jersey politician. * Frank Martz Sr. (1885–1936), born in Plymouth; businessman. * John E. Mazur (1930–2013), born in Plymouth; Plymouth high school class of 1948; professional football player. * John G. Mellus (1917–2005), born in Plymouth; professional football player. * Thomas Byron Miller (1896–1976), born in Plymouth; lawyer, Republican congressman. *

David P. Reese Jr. David P. Reese Jr. (November 17, 1905 – July 19, 1962) was an American politician and lawyer from Pennsylvania. He served in Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1939 to 1948. Early life David P. Reese Jr. was born on November 17, 1905, ...

(1905–1962), born in Plymouth, state representative. *

George Washington Shonk George Washington Shonk (April 26, 1850 – August 14, 1900) was a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania. Formative years and family Born in Plymouth, Pennsylvania, on April 26, 1850, the son of John Jenks S ...

(1850–1900), born in Plymouth; lawyer and Republican congressman. * Herbert B. Shonk (1881–1930), born in Plymouth; New York politician. * James Francis Stanley (1887–1947), born in Plymouth; professional baseball player. * Thomas W. Templeton (1867–1935), born in Plymouth; florist, Republican congressman. *

Frank Comerford Walker Frank Comerford Walker (May 30, 1886 – September 13, 1959) was an American lawyer and politician. He was the United States Postmaster General from 1940 until 1945, and the chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 1943 until 1944. Biog ...

(1886–1959), born in Plymouth; lawyer,

United States Postmaster General The United States postmaster general (PMG) is the chief executive officer of the United States Postal Service (USPS). The PMG is responsible for managing and directing the day-to-day operations of the agency. The PMG is selected and appointed by ...

. * Thomas Joseph Walker (1877–1945), born in Plymouth; lawyer, and

United States Customs Court The United States Court of International Trade (case citations: Ct. Int'l Trade), or CIT, is a U.S. federal court that adjudicates civil actions arising out of U.S. customs and international trade laws. Seated in Lower Manhattan, New York City, ...

judge. *

Hendrick Bradley Wright Hendrick Bradley Wright (April 24, 1808 – September 2, 1881) was a Democratic and Greenback member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania. Early life Hendrick B. Wright was born in Plymouth, Pennsylvania on April 24, 1808 ...

(1808–1881), born in Plymouth; lawyer, Democratic congressman and author; his history of Plymouth was published in 1873.

References

External links

* {{authority control Pennsylvania populated places on the Susquehanna River Populated places established in 1769 Boroughs in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania Lithuanian-American culture in Pennsylvania 1769 establishments in Pennsylvania