Hughestown, Pennsylvania
Hughestown is a borough of 1,506 people in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, founded in 1879.
Why visit Hughestown
Townapedia lists 8 parks and trails, 18 places to eat, 2 places to stay and 1 attraction in and around town.
Highlights include Firefighters' Memorial Bridge.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 85°F; January lows average 20°F, and about 45 inches of snow fall in a normal year.
Weather in Hughestown
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Hughestown
Hughestown is a borough in the Greater Pittston area of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,326 at the 2020 census.
From the Wikipedia article Hughestown, Pennsylvania (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do1
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Firefighters' Memorial Bridge
Bridge · 1.2 mi
Bridge in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania
Parks, trails and playgrounds8
Restaurants and cafes18
6 more on the map.
Where to stay2
Knights Inn
Motel and hotel · 1.5 mi
310 Chestnut Street, Pittston
History
The area was originally a small settlement within Pittston Township. However, as the regional population swelled due to industrial growth, the community sought independence. On April 7, 1879, Hughestown was officially incorporated as a borough.
Anthracite coal mining was a major industry in the region. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Hughestown was a bustling hub centered around the massive Number 9 Breaker, operated by the Pennsylvania Coal Company. This industrial giant processed the raw coal extracted from local mines, which was then shipped across the country via the nearby railroads. The economy was further supported by a prominent local brick factory and various mercantile stores that served the growing population of European immigrants.
However, this industrial prosperity came with a high human cost. Hughestown became a focal point for social reform when photographer Lewis Hine visited the borough in 1911. Hine’s powerful images of the town’s "breaker boys"—young children working in dangerous conditions to sort slate from coal—became national symbols of the struggle for workers' rights. These photographs were instrumental in the eventual passage of federal child labor laws, securing Hughestown’s place in American social history.
From the History section of Hughestown, Pennsylvania on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Churches and places of worship4
Shopping6
Gas and EV charging8
Schools, colleges and libraries18
Martin F Quinn Pittston Area Primary Ctr
School · 0.4 mi
210 Rock Street, Pittston
Northeast Secure Treatment Unit
School · 2.6 mi
701 Sathers Dr, Pittston Township
Healthcare1
Map of Hughestown
66 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 36°F | 20°F | 2.6 in | 11.7 in |
| Feb | 39°F | 22°F | 2.1 in | 10.9 in |
| Mar | 48°F | 29°F | 2.8 in | 10.1 in |
| Apr | 61°F | 39°F | 3.3 in | 0.8 in |
| May | 72°F | 50°F | 3.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 80°F | 58°F | 3.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 85°F | 63°F | 3.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 82°F | 61°F | 3.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 75°F | 54°F | 4.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 63°F | 43°F | 3.7 in | 0.7 in |
| Nov | 51°F | 34°F | 2.9 in | 3.2 in |
| Dec | 40°F | 26°F | 2.8 in | 7.7 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Wilkes-Barre Intl Ap 72513 (2 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Luzerne County has had 14 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for hurricanes.
- 2021-09-10: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida (Hurricane)
- 2020-03-30: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2012-10-29: Hurricane Sandy (Hurricane)
- 2011-09-12: Tropical Storm Lee (Flood)
- 2011-09-08: Remnants Of Tropical Storm Lee (Flood)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport (AVP) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 2 miles away.
- Browntown 1 mi southwest, about 2 min by car
- Hilldale 4 mi southwest, about 7 min by car
- Hudson 5 mi southwest, about 8 min by car
- Scranton 7 mi northeast, about 12 min by car
- Wilkes-Barre 8 mi southwest, about 13 min by car
- Kingston 8 mi southwest, about 12 min by car
- Dunmore 10 mi northeast, about 17 min by car
- Chase 11 mi west, about 17 min by car
- Clarks Green 12 mi north, about 20 min by car
- Nanticoke 15 mi southwest, about 24 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
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Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Pittston City, Vasiliy Meshko, CC BY 3.0
- Pittston, Pennsylvania (4111301389), Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0
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