Scranton PA Moving Companies

Scranton, Pennsylvania

Scranton is located in beautiful Northeastern Pennsylvania, and is the county seat of Lackawanna County. After Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Erie, Allentown and Reading, Scranton is Pennsylvania's most populated city and one of its most exciting moving destinations. Nestled in the Lackawanna River valley, the city sits directly between the Pocono Mountains to the east and the Endless Mountains to the west. It is the largest city located in an adjacent quilt-work of former anthracite coal mining towns including Wilkes-Barre and Carbondale. The city’s caring atmosphere and friendly, engaging community make Scranton the perfect place to call home.

History:
When the Scranton brothers arrived in the city in 1840, they built the iron furnace that would later grow into the Lackawanna Iron and Steel Company. The wealth of coal in the region attracted numerous other industries. In the 1880s, the Scranton Steel Company was founded. It later merged with the Lackawanna Iron and Coal Company to become Lackawanna Iron and Steel Company. This company's move to Buffalo in the early 1900s devastated Scranton's economy, but the growing magnitude of anthracite coal ultimately earned the city the nickname "Anthracite Capital of the World." In the early 1900s, most of the hard coal mined in the US came from the Scranton area. The declining need for coal after World War II forced Scranton to attempt to find ways to diversify its economy. Scranton Plan, a revitalization plan devised in 1945, is now been used as a model for other cities experiencing downturn. However, the plan had restrictions. By late 1991, after running a deficit for more than three years, Scranton was voted a distressed city by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. A financial plan produced by the state and proposed to prevent Scranton's looming collapse called for state technical assistance in return for Scranton allowing the state to restructure municipal government, raise temporary taxes and lay out terms of labor contracts while the plan was in effect. After implementing these measures, the situation brightened in the 1990s. As of today, Scranton had more projects, more revitalization and more economic progress than almost any other city of its size.

Economy:
Once a single-industry town, today Scranton continues to be dominated by manufacturing enterprises, primarily in the nondurable goods sector for companies such as Proctor & Gamble. However, between 1995 and 2000, major financial and professional services corporations such as AT&T, Fleet Financial Group, Cigna Health Care and Alliance Fund Services opened large offices in the city. Since that time, there has also been a noticeable increase in the number of residents employed in the education, health and social services industry—close to 25 percent of Scranton's workforce. Defense contractors also play an important role in the city’s diversified economy, and construction, retail trade and government make up a large part of the economic base. Tourism is also a growing industry.

Tourism:
Located at the center of the Lackawanna River Valley and nestled between the Pocono and Endless Mountains, visitors and residents will find themselves surrounded by nature. Just ten miles from the city is Lackawanna State Park, where visitors are welcome to sail across the 198-acre Lackawanna Lake. However, you do not need to leave this attractive city to enjoy the great outdoors. Nay Aug Park includes a wonderful zoo, a museum, two Olympic sized swimming pools and a vast gorge topped with a tree house. This is the perfect place for some family fun. Once you are done there, explore the city’s cozy nightlife at one of the city’s dive-bars or “open-late” local eateries.

Colleges/Universities:

• University of Scranton
• Lackawanna College
• Johnson College

Interesting Facts:

• In 1887, Scranton was Pennsylvania’s first city with a successful pioneer trolley line and became known as “The Electric City.”
• The Scranton-area Steamtown Marathon is an official qualifier for the famous Boston Marathon.
• In 1899, Dr. Matthew J. Shields of Scranton, PA invented what is today known as First-Aid.