Wilkes-Barre

About Wilkes-Barre

Wilkes-Barre ( WILKS-bair(-ee) or WILKS-bar) is a city in Pennsylvania, which functions as both the administrative hub and the primary population center of Luzerne County. Located along the Susquehanna River in Northeastern Pennsylvania, it had an estimated population of 44,523 in 2025. It is part of the Wyoming Valley metropolitan area, which includes five cities and more than 40 boroughs forming a contiguous urban corridor with an estimated 574,000 residents.

Wilkes-Barre is surrounded by the Pocono Mountains to the east, the Endless Mountains to the north and west, and the Lehigh Valley to the south. The city was founded in 1769, incorporated as a borough in 1806, and re-incorporated as a city in 1869. It experienced significant growth in the 19th century due to the development of nearby anthracite coal mines and a large influx of immigrant labor. As its industry continued to expand into the 20th century, the population peaked at over 86,000 in 1930.

Following World War II, the city's economy declined due to the collapse of industry and the 1959 Knox Mine disaster, which rendered much of the region's coal mining infrastructure unusable. In the 21st century, the city's population is approximately half its 1930 peak, but it remains the largest city in Luzerne County and the 11th-largest city in Pennsylvania. Wilkes-Barre is located 49 miles (79 km) north-northwest of Allentown, 97 miles (156 km) north-northwest of Philadelphia, and 106 miles (171 km) west-northwest of New York City.

Text: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Wilkes-Barre weather: 7-day forecast

Source: National Weather Service (NOAA).

Live webcams in Wilkes-Barre

Webcams: Windy.com

Living in Wilkes-Barre

Median household income

$48,515

Median home value

$117,200

Median rent

$946/mo

Median age

34.7

Map of Wilkes-Barre

Tap any street on the map to see it in Street View below. Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Wilkes-Barre Street View

Drag the image to look around and tap the arrows on the ground to move. If it says there is no imagery, tap a nearby street on the map above.

Wilkes-Barre, PA population

Wilkes-Barre had 44,328 residents in the 2020 Census.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Decennial Census.

Wilkes-Barre at a glance

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Gazetteer, ZCTA), USGS GNIS, Wikidata.

Towns near Wilkes-Barre

• Georgetown1.4 mi S
• Kingston1.4 mi NW
• Edwardsville2.0 mi NW
• Forty Fort2.3 mi N
• Laurel Run2.5 mi SE
• Pringle2.5 mi NW
• Ashley2.6 mi SW
• Luzerne3.0 mi N
• Larksville3.1 mi W
• Hudson3.1 mi NE
• Courtdale3.3 mi NW
• Plains3.4 mi E

Straight-line distance between town centers.

Frequently asked questions about Wilkes-Barre