Wilkes-Barre

Wilkes-Barre (pop. 51,551), city in northeastern Pennsylvania in the Wyoming valley along the Susquehanna River. The area was founded by colonists from Connecticut (1769), suffered near extinction twice because of war in the 19th century, then grew because of the coal industry. The importance of the coal industry lessened in the 1930s and since then other industries have developed an economic base, including publishing, electronics, data processing, and aircraft and military missile parts production. In addition to rebuilding after two fires (1769), the city again suffered severe damage during a storm and subsequent flood (1972).

See also: Pennsylvania.