Northeastern Pennsylvania & the Poconos
Scranton, Pennsylvania
City and Lackawanna County seat
The Electric City of northeastern Pennsylvania
Scranton is the largest city in northeastern Pennsylvania and the seat of Lackawanna County, set in the Lackawanna Valley about 120 miles north of Philadelphia. Known as the Electric City for its early streetcar system, it has rebuilt around healthcare, education and logistics, with a walkable downtown and active historic neighborhoods.
History & Local Character
Settled in the 1840s around anthracite coal and the Lackawanna Iron and Coal Company, Scranton boomed as an industrial city. Coal mining declined in the 20th century, and the city's economy shifted toward hospitals, universities and distribution.
Housing & Real Estate
Scranton offers rowhouses, twins and older singles at some of the lowest prices in the state, with larger homes in the Hill Section and Green Ridge and newer development in surrounding townships.
Restaurants & Shopping
Downtown's Lackawanna Avenue and the 500 block of Lackawanna draw a growing restaurant and brewery scene, alongside long-established pizzerias, delis and Polish and Italian kitchens.
Schools & Education
Scranton School District serves the city, and the University of Scranton, Marywood University and Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine are within or adjacent to it.
Parks & Recreation
Nay Aug Park, McDade Park and the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail provide trails, museums and creek access.
Transportation & Accessibility
I-81, I-84 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension serve Scranton, and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport is about 10 miles south. There is no passenger rail.
Local Businesses
Restaurants, professional offices and healthcare providers cluster downtown and along the Mulberry Street corridor.
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Nearby Attractions
- Nay Aug Park
- Steamtown National Historic Site
- Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour
- University of Scranton
- Lackawanna River Heritage Trail
Advantages & Considerations
Advantages
- Very low housing costs
- Large healthcare and higher-education employment base
- Walkable downtown with historic architecture
- I-81 corridor access
Considerations
- School district faces fiscal challenges
- Legacy mine subsidence and environmental issues
- Limited passenger rail
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Scranton called the Electric City?
Scranton operated one of the first electric streetcar systems in the United States in the late 1880s, which gave the city its nickname.
Is Scranton the Lackawanna County seat?
Yes. Scranton has been the seat of Lackawanna County since 1878.