Pittston, Pennsylvania

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Pittston is a small city in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, in the Wyoming Valley. It sits on the east side of the Susquehanna River and the south side of the Lackawanna River, roughly halfway between Wilkes-Barre and Scranton. The city covers about 1.7 square miles and had about 7,591 residents in 2020.

Pittston has three sections: Downtown Pittston in the center, the Oregon Section in the south, and the Junction in the north. It’s part of the Greater Pittston area, a larger community of towns in the region with about 48,000 people as of 2010.

History and industry
Pittston was settled around 1770 by the Susquehanna Company of Connecticut and was once called Pittstown. It grew as a coal mining town in the 19th and early 20th centuries, drawing many European immigrants. The area was tied to the larger history of the WyomingValley during the Revolutionary War, including a fort and battles nearby.

Coal mining shaped Pittston for decades, along with railroads and later clothing manufacturing. The city experienced several disasters, such as the Twin Shaft mine collapse in 1896 that killed 58 miners, and the Knox Mine disaster in 1959 that flooded the mines. A 1942 mine cave-in and other subsidence events also affected the community. Railroads helped Pittston grow as a regional center.

Decline and revival
Like many Rust Belt cities, Pittston faced economic decline in the late 20th century. Many downtown buildings were demolished or left vacant as factories closed. Since the 2000s, the city has invested in downtown renovations—brick sidewalks, new street lights, trees, and new condos, shops, and restaurants—to revitalize the area.

Tomato pride
Pittston calls itself “The Quality Tomato Capital of the World.” Tomatoes appear on street signs, buildings, and a large statue downtown. Since 1983, the Pittston Tomato Festival on South Main Street has celebrated the city’s tomato heritage with food, music, games, contests, and a parade. The festival now draws about 50,000 people each year.

Government and services
Pittston adopted a Home Rule Charter in 2013, and is governed by a five-member city council and an elected mayor, with a professional city administrator running day-to-day operations. City Hall is at 35 Broad Street, a building completed in 1939.

Education and transportation
Pittston is in the Pittston Area School District, which serves several nearby towns. Major roads include U.S. Route 11 and Interstate 81, with access to I-476 and the Northeast Extension nearby. The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport is located in nearby Pittston Township. Public transit is provided by LCTA and COLTS, and Martz Trailways offers bus service to Eastern and Southern destinations. Freight rail lines serve the area, and in 2023 a new weekend passenger rail station to Jim Thorpe opened nearby.

Population and culture
The city’s population is predominantly White, with Italian, Irish, Polish, and German heritage being common. Pittston has a strong legacy of labor unions and apparel manufacturing. Geisinger operates clinics in Pittston, providing local health care services.

Overall, Pittston blends a rich mining and railroad past with ongoing downtown revitalization, a distinct tomato-driven identity, and a sense of regional community in the Greater Pittston area.