Pittston is famous for a couple of things -- coal mining and... tomatoes! Yep, the city was an important coal mining center in the late-19th and 20th century and, while that particular industry has faded, the town now moved on to become the self-proclaimed Tomato Capital of the World, with the Pittston Tomato Festival held each year in the downtown area.
Aside from its mining links and current love of tomatoes, what more can you say about Pittston? Well, for a start, it's located in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, and is home to about 7,739 people
Pittston is famous for a couple of things -- coal mining and... tomatoes! Yep, the city was an important coal mining center in the late-19th and 20th century and, while that particular industry has faded, the town now moved on to become the self-proclaimed Tomato Capital of the World, with the Pittston Tomato Festival held each year in the downtown area.
Aside from its mining links and current love of tomatoes, what more can you say about Pittston? Well, for a start, it's located in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, and is home to about 7,739 people. It sits right on the Susquehanna River, which runs through it, and is about 10 miles southwest of Scranton and about 100 miles northwest of New York as the crow flies. So, probably a little too far for a daily commute!
Moving to Pittston
Pittston is on the banks of the Susquehanna River, and there are several different towns and cities in the region, with Scranton being the most populous. As such, a fair few of those living in Pittston will work in nearby towns, so this is something to bear in mind as you'll probably need a car. However, the Luzerne County Transportation Authority does provide bus links to nearby towns for those who don't drive.
OK, so, housing. Pittston doesn't have a huge vacancy rate, so finding a place to live might be tricky at certain times of the year. Rental houses in Pittston are easiest to find, with 50 percent of the housing market made up of detached homes, while there are lots of small apartment buildings with one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments. It's best to give yourself plenty of time to find somewhere suitable, as commuters from nearby towns will be hunting for a home all over the region. You never know, with a little luck you might just find an all utilities paid place if you act fast.
Neighborhoods in Pittston
The first thing you're gonna want to do is cruise round town and take a look at the different neighborhoods. There are a few to choose from in Pittston, mainly located around the center of the city.
City Center: Route 11 runs straight through up to Scranton here, so it's great for commuters. If you're Irish, you might also want to be close to Saints and Sinners Irish pub!
Upper Pittston: There are some good restaurants along Main Street here, including Vito's Bistro and Lizza's Mezzo Mezzo.
Browntown: This is a larger neighborhood south of the city. You'll find a few superstores out here like Kmart, Walmart, and Home Depot. There are lots of larger places to live outside the city so it's great for anyone wanting a bigger house with more space.
Upper Exeter: Upper Exeter is north of the river and away from the city. If you like golf, you might want to be nearby, as Applewood Golf Course is right there.
Living in Pittston
Pittston is a great spot for people who want the best of both worlds -- the hint of big city living but in a more suburban and small town atmosphere. New York isn't far for anyone who wants to dip their toes into a larger world, while there are loads of smaller cities in the region, giving you plenty of opportunity to work and play, not just in Pittston, but throughout Luzerne County.
Unsurprisingly, the Tomato Capital of the World has quite a few restaurants heavy on the sauce, notably Napoli's Pizza, Palazzo 53, and Tomato Bar & Bistro. Local farmers markets will net you still more fresh produce, of all varieties. For shopping, Pittston is home to the only US store of the UK Clothing Retailer, Boden.
