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Mountain Top, Pennsylvania
Blue Giant Meadow Lake in Mountain Top
Blue Giant Meadow Lake in Mountain Top
Mountain Top, Pennsylvania is located in Pennsylvania
Mountain Top, Pennsylvania
Mountain Top, Pennsylvania
Location in Pennsylvania
Mountain Top, Pennsylvania is located in the United States
Mountain Top, Pennsylvania
Mountain Top, Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
Country United States
State Pennsylvania
County Luzerne
Townships Fairview, Wright, Rice
Area
 • Total 15.1 sq mi (39.0 km2)
 • Land 15.1 sq mi (39.0 km2)
 • Water 0 sq mi (0 km2)
Elevation
1,580 ft (480 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total 11,489
 • Density 730/sq mi (281.9/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
18707
Area code(s) 570 and 272
FIPS code 42-51384
GNIS feature ID 2389520

Mountain Top is an unincorporated area and census-designated place (CDP) in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States. As of the 2010 census, the CDP population was 10,982.

The Mountain Top CDP is located along Pennsylvania Route 309 (south of Wilkes-Barre) in Fairview, Wright, and Rice townships. The "Mountain Top" ZIP code extends west into Dorrance Township.

Name

Though it is generally accepted that the area's proper name is "Mountain Top", there has been some debate about whether it should actually be "Mountaintop". The local historical society uses the spelling "Mountain Top". The United States Postal Service uses the spelling "Mountain Top" for ZIP Code 18707, and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation spells it Mountain Top on a Pennsylvania driver's license. The local newspaper, however, the Mountaintop Eagle, uses the Mountaintop spelling in both its title as well as any reference to its location.

Geography

The Ice Ponds 3
View of The Ice Ponds, Mountaintop, PA

Mountain Top, once named Penobscot, PA is located at 41°8′7″N 75°54′16″W / 41.13528°N 75.90444°W / 41.13528; -75.90444 (41.1353022, -75.9044749) in the shadow of Mount Penobscot (or Penobscot Knob). According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 15.1 square miles (39.0 km2), all of it land.

Mountain Top is located in the saddle pass atop the drainage divide between the Susquehanna River basin to the north and west and the Lehigh River basin to the east and south, so sits astride an important land communications corridor bridging the two watersheds below. It is just 8 miles (13 km) northwest of White Haven at the head end of the Lehigh River gorge and in the heights above Hazleton, Pennsylvania only 10 miles (16 km) south of Wilkes-Barre on Pennsylvania Route 309. Consequently, even though regional railroads are much diminished in scope and influence, Mountain Top yard, once used as a marshaling yard at the top of the Ashley Planes funicular (cable driven) railway, is still an important regional element of the transportation infrastructure connecting Allentown and Philadelphia with points north and west via trackage to several yards in New York State.

Mountain Top is elevated at 1,558 feet (475 m) above sea level.

Demographics

As of the census of 2019, there were 11,489 people, which is a slight increase from 10,701 people in 2011. 5,556 households, and 4,394 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 224.0 people per square mile (86.5/km2). There were 5,774 housing units at an average density of 84.7/sq mi (32.7/km2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 97.02% White, 0.54% African American, 0.03% Native American, 1.62% Asian, 0.24% from other races, and 0.56% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.08% of the population.

There were 5,556 households, out of which 36.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.2% were married couples living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.9% were non-families. 18.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.10.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 26.0% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 25.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.9 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $51,655, and the median income for a family was $58,588. Males had a median income of $41,271 versus $26,346 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $22,480. About 2.9% of families and 3.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.7% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Mountain Top is located in the Crestwood Area School District, which covers over 110 square miles (280 km2). This area includes Dennison Township, Dorrance Township, Fairview Township, Nuangola Borough, Rice Township, Slocum Township, White Haven Borough, Wright Township, and Penn Lake Borough.

The Crestwood School District consists of four schools:

  • Rice Elementary School - Rice Township (Grades K-6).
  • Fairview Elementary School - Fairview Township (Grades K-6)
  • Crestwood Middle School - Wright Township (Grades 7 and 8)
  • Crestwood High School - Wright Township (Grades 9-12).

St. Jude's Catholic School, in Wright Township, serves grades K-8, after which students can continue Catholic education by attending Holy Redeemer High School in Wilkes-Barre.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Mountain Top para niños

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