Shickshinny, Pennsylvania

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Pagename
other_name =
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settlement_type = Borough
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pushpin_label_position = left
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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Pennsylvania
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Luzerne
government_footnotes =
government_type = Borough Council
leader_title = Mayor
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established_title = Settled
established_date = 1782
established_title1 = Incorporated
established_date1 = 1861
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unit_pref = Imperial
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area_total_sq_mi = 0.4
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population_as_of = 2000
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population_total = 959
population_density_km2 =
population_density_sq_mi = 2591.2
timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
latd = 41
latm = 09
lats = 15
latNS = N
longd = 76
longm = 09
longs = 04
longEW = W
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postal_code_type = Zip code
postal_code =
area_code = 570
website =
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Shickshinny is a borough in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 959 at the 2000 census.

Lore has it that the name Shickshinny is an Indian word that roughly translates as "Land of the Five Mountains." In this case, Shickshinny is situated within five Appalachian mountains.

However, in "Indian Villages and Place Names in Pennsylvania," published in 1995 by Gateway Press Inc., Baltimore, (and originally published in 1928 in Harrisburg, PA) Dr. George P. Donehoo (p. 202) says the name probably meant "fine stream."

According to "The founding of the Shickshinny Borough," an undated Suburban News article posted on the website of the Historical and Preservation Society of the Greater Shickshinny Area, "the first permanent settler in what became Shickshinny was Ralph Austin of Connecticut. This was the period of Connecticut jurisdiction of 1782."

Geography

Shickshinny is located at coor dms|41|9|15|N|76|9|4|W|city (41.154044, -76.151182)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 0.4 square miles (1.0 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 959 people, 415 households, and 241 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,591.2 people per square mile (1,000.7/km²). There were 478 housing units at an average density of 1,291.6/sq mi (498.8/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 98.96% White, 0.21% from other races, and 0.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.10% of the population.

There were 415 households out of which 25.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.2% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.7% were non-families. 36.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 24.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the borough the population was spread out with 21.7% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 22.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 88.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.2 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $28,594, and the median income for a family was $36,333. Males had a median income of $27,273 versus $21,250 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $14,880. About 8.5% of families and 10.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.8% of those under age 18 and 14.1% of those age 65 or over.

Trivia

Shickshinny was the international headquarters of the Sovereign Order of St John of Jerusalem or Shickshinny Knights of Malta. [http://web.archive.org/web/20010310024744/http://www.sedevacantism.org/misc/osj.html]

Shickshinny is the home of Northwest Area School District whose mascot is the Ranger and their athletic teams are called the Rangers. The basketball team used to be led by longtime coach Edward Gayeski, who at the time of his death in 1985 had the most wins among all coaches in Pennsylvania. He compiled 744 wins, 195 losses; .792 pct.; 20 wins in 24 of 34 seasons coached; two state championships, 13 league titles;14 District Championships at Northwest High School. The team won back to back state championships in 1982-83 and 1983-84. Going 32-0 and 33-1 respectively. They defeated Karns City in the final in 1983 and Cornell in 1984. The only blemish was a 41-40 loss to Milton in the Keystone Big Nine Conference.

References

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