Pittston Township, Pennsylvania | ||
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Township | ||
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Map of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania Highlighting Pittston Township |
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Map of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania |
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Country | United States | |
State | Pennsylvania | |
County | Luzerne | |
Region | Greater Pittston | |
Settled | 18th century | |
Established | 1790 | |
Government | ||
• Type | Board of supervisors | |
• Supervisor | Frank Sciabacucchi | |
• Supervisor | Stephen Rinaldi | |
• Supervisor | Barbara Attardo | |
Area | ||
• Total | 13.79 sq mi (35.71 km2) | |
• Land | 13.77 sq mi (35.66 km2) | |
• Water | 0.02 sq mi (0.05 km2) | |
Population (2010) | ||
• Total | 3,368 | |
• Estimate (2016) | 3,385 | |
• Density | 245.88/sq mi (94.94/km2) | |
Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) | |
• Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) | |
FIPS code | 42-079-61056 |
Pittston Township Board of Supervisors | |
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Leadership | |
Steven Rinaldi
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Barbara Attardo
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Seats | 3 |
Meeting place | |
Pittston Township Municipal Building | |
Website | |
pittstontownship |
Pittston Township is a township in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 3,368 as of the 2010 census. The township is located within the Greater Pittston region. As of 2010, the total population of Greater Pittston was 48,020. The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport is located in Pittston Township.
Pittston Township is one of the five original townships formed under Connecticut. Its existence dates back to 1768. Originally spelled Pittstown, it was named for Sir William Pitt, an English statesman. It is situated in the northeast portion of Luzerne County. Each township was only five square miles and was divided amongst forty settlers.
Pittston Township was one of five townships of the Susquehanna Land Company. The township was surveyed in 1768. But in 1784, flood waters destroyed the surveyor's marks and an act was passed for a new survey to take place. After being resurveyed, the township grew to nearly thirty-six square miles. The leading families who were in the township prior and during the American Revolution were Blanchards, Browns, Careys, Bennetts, Silsbeys, Marceys, Benedicts, St. Johns, Sawyers, the gallant Cooper, and Rev. Benedict, the first preacher in the locality. Captain Jeremiah Blanchard, Sr., was commander of the Pittston Company. Zebulon Marcy was the first white man that ever built a brush or log cabin in the township. Some may refer to him as the first settler.
On the morning of July 4, 1778, after the surrender of Forty Fort to the British, British Officer Butler sent a detachment across the river to Pittston and demanded the surrender of Fort Brown, which was commanded by Capt. Blanchard. The fort was capitulated on fair terms.
Dr. Nathaniel Giddings was the first physician in the settlement. He came from Connecticut in 1787, and practiced medicine here until his death in 1851. He set one of the first orchards in the township on his farm.