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The Allenwood Rail / Brad Bower
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Wilkes-Barre

Wilkes Barre
Wilkes Barre
The Susquehanna River has long been a defining characteristic of Wilkes-Barre in Luzerne County and now, more than ever, it's a symbol of the city's rebirth. The $23 million River Common project, which opened to the public in 2009 on either side of the Market Street Bridge, provides city residents with an amphitheater, common areas and designated parklands for entertainment, recreation and various other public uses.

In fact, aside from its well-preserved historic architecture, downtown Wilkes-Barre bears little resemblance to the city to which coal drew thousands of immigrant workers a century earlier and was ravaged by the Agnes Flood in 1972. It has rapidly become a walkable college downtown community with a burgeoning technology sector.

The redevelopment project at Northampton and Main Streets has also played a major role, drawing 500,000 movie-goers annually to its R/C Theaters, spawning 23 new businesses and selling two-thirds of its 21 condo units in a down economy. The nation's first jointly run Barnes & Noble is evidence of the city's higher education institutions-King's and Wilkes-playing an increased role in Wilkes-Barre's development. A city once yearning for a new feel has also become the home of separate business incubators that have become highly skilled in seeding and building successful technology companies.

Wilkes-Barre Features

Consolidating a Taxing Situation

Starting Jan. 1, PA's Act 32 consolidates local earned income tax payments, which should simplify the process for businesses and increase revenue for municipalities and school districts.

Gift Guide: No Place Like PA's Etsy Shops for the Holidays

Shop online and local with a host of talented creators from Gettysburg to Pittston selling art, furniture, toys, jewelry and geekery.

A New Innovation Center Blooms in Wilkes-Barre

Helping startups grow since 2004, this tech incubator is poised for growth itself, including an additional building opening in the spring.

How PA Small Presses Are Keeping Up With the Digital Revolution

Small presses in Pennsylvania don’t see e-readers as competition; instead, these publishers and booksellers are finding ways to use the shift in the literary landscape to their advantage.

The Long and Winding Road: Trails an Economic Driver in PA

Once an apparent afterthought in transportation planning, trails for bikers, walkers, and joggers are increasingly important to the cultural and economic life of PA communities.
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