PENNSYLVANIA - Scranton, Pennsylvania, located in the heart of the state's northeastern coal region, is known by one of the most distinctive and historic nicknames in the country: "The Electric City."
PENNSYLVANIA - Scranton, Pennsylvania, located in the heart of the state's northeastern coal region, is known by one of the most distinctive and historic nicknames in the country: "The Electric City."The Electric City: How Scranton, Pennsylvania, Earned Its Powerful Nickname
This name is not a modern invention but a title earned through pioneering innovation. In 1886, Scranton became home to the first successful, continuously operating electric streetcar (trolley) system in the United States. This technological achievement revolutionized public transportation and put Scranton on the map as a forward-thinking, modern industrial city. While it has also been known as "The Coal City" due to its deep roots in the anthracite coal industry, "The Electric City" is the nickname that has been officially adopted and celebrated for its connection to innovation and progress.
Sources:
- Lackawanna Historical Society
- City of Scranton official records
- Electric City Trolley Museum
