Pennsylvania

Luzerne

325,594
2020 population
1790
first census record
24
census records

About Luzerne

Luzerne, Pennsylvania, first appears in the United States federal census in 1790, when it recorded a population of 4,904. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 325,594.

Its recorded population peaked at 445,109 in 1930, and has since declined by roughly 27 percent.

On the ground today, 13 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Wyoming Valley Raids PA 1763, Wyoming Valley — Fort Wyoming Skirmishes, Battle of Wyoming Valley Massacre, and 38 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020325,594
2010320,918
2000319,250
1990328,149
1980343,079
1970342,301
1960346,972
1950392,241
1940441,518
1930445,109
1920390,991
1910343,186
1900257,121
1890201,203
1880133,065
1870160,915
186090,244
185056,072
184044,006
183027,379
182020,027
181018,109
180012,839
17904,904
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Luzerne

Military engagements that took place in Luzerne, Pennsylvania.

Wyoming Valley Raids PA 1763
1763
Wyoming Valley — Fort Wyoming Skirmishes
1778
Battle of Wyoming Valley Massacre
1778
Wyoming Valley Massacre
1778
Wyoming Valley Aftermath - Battle at Wyoming
1778
Wyoming Massacre 1778
1778
Battle of Wyoming Valley
1778
Wyoming Valley Massacre (Pennsylvania)
1778
Wyoming Massacre
1778
Battle of Wyoming Valley Jul 3 1778
1778
Westmoreland Attack — Sullivan-Clinton Aftermath
1779
Lattimer Massacre, Pennsylvania 1897
1897
Lattimer Massacre
1897

Historic places in Luzerne

National Register of Historic Places listings in Luzerne, Pennsylvania.

Pardee, Israel Platt, Mansion
Hazleton
River Street Historic District
Wilkes-Barre
Kingston Armory
Wilkes-Barre
McClintock Hall
Wilkes-Barre
Market Street Bridge
Wilkes-Barre
Forty Fort Meetinghouse
Forty Fort
Catlin Hall, Wilkes College
Wilkes-Barre
Comerford Theater
Wilkes-Barre
Evans, Benjamin, House
Nescopeck
Stoddartsville Historic District
Buck Township
St. Gabriel's Catholic Parish Complex
Hazleton
Eckley Historic District
Eckley
Denison House
Forty Fort
Markle Banking & Trust Company Building
Hazleton
Ashley Planes
Ashley and vicinity
Wyoming Seminary
Kingston
Bear Creek Village Historic District
Bear Creek Village
Luzerne County Fresh Air Camp
Butler Township
Luzerne County Courthouse
Wilkes-Barre
St. Stanislaus Institute
Newport Township
Swetland Homestead
Wyoming
Guthrie, George W., School
Wilkes-Barre
Bridge in City of Wilkes-Barre
Wilkes-Barre
St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church and School Building
Wilkes-Barre
Browse all Pennsylvaniahistoric sites ›

Other counties in Pennsylvania

Explore census history and historic records for more Pennsylvania counties.

BeaverBedfordBerksBlairBradfordBucksButlerCambriaCameronCarbonCentreChesterClarionClearfieldClintonColumbiaCrawfordCumberlandDauphinDelaware
Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Luzerne County, Pennsylvania

This page charts the census history of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Luzerne County, Pennsylvania report
Or see a real report first

Explore Pennsylvania records

Pennsylvaniahistory ›NRHP historic sites ›Notable people from Pennsylvania›

Frequently asked about Luzerne

When does Luzerne first appear in the US census?
Luzerne, Pennsylvania first appears in the federal census in 1790, with a recorded population of 4,904.
What is the population of Luzerne?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Luzerne had a recorded population of 325,594.
When did Luzerne's population peak?
Luzerne's recorded population peaked at 445,109 in 1930.
Were any battles fought in Luzerne?
13 documented military engagements took place in Luzerne, including Wyoming Valley Raids PA 1763, Wyoming Valley — Fort Wyoming Skirmishes, Battle of Wyoming Valley Massacre.
How many historic places are in Luzerne?
38 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Luzerne, Pennsylvania.
Aubrey Research

Research the history of any US location

Aubrey searches federal archives, archaeological records, historic registers, and primary sources to build a full historical report for any address or place in the United States.

Research your locationView a free sample report