Disappearing cities and boroughs of the Keystone State: Shamokin, Pennsylvania

Philadelphia Inquirer, 10/9/2018

Top employers in Northumberland County, according to Pennsylvania's Department of Labor and Industry, include school districts, health networks, food distributors, and government. Only five of the top 50 employers in the county had a Shamokin address, a spokesman said. 

A century ago, during the height of coal's reign in the state, 330,000 miners produced 277 million tons of coal worth $705 million. Last year, an anthracite coal executive said approximately 1,000 worked in the industry now. Not coincidentally, Shamokin's population peaked around a century ago, at 21,204. 

Today, it is one of 17 municipalities under Pennsylvania Act 47, a program administered by the state Department of Community and Economic Development to keep cities "experiencing severe financial distress" afloat.

Source:  Wikipedia

Shamokin's population peaked at 21,204 in 1920.  Its 2016 estimated population is 7,098 -- a drop of 14,106 (67%).

The City of Shamokin is located in Northumberland County, on the western edge of central Pennsylvania's anthracite coal region.  it is 71 miles southwest of Willes-Barre.  The county's population peaked at 128,504 in 1930 and is currently at 92,029, a drop of 28%.

Related reading:
The surprisingly clear view of a modern coal miner.  (Philadelpahi Inquirer, 5/22/2017)

In the heart of anthracite country, in Northeast Pennsylvania towns like Minersville and Shenandoah and Shamokin, it's been a long time since teams of men and boys were ferried down deep to swing pickaxes. The coal industry here is smaller, more efficient, and according to operators and advocates, safer and cleaner than ever.  

Other disappearing cities and boroughs of the Keystone State
Aliquippa.  (1/12/2019)
Ambridge.  (1/17/2019)
Arnold.  (1/18/2019)
Braddock.  (1/19/2019)
Bradford, (1/20/2019)
Carbondale.  (1/21/2019)
Charleroi.  (1/22/2019)
Chester.  (1/23/2019)
Clairton.  (1/24/2019)
Coraopolis.  (1/25/2019)
Dickson City.  (1/26/2019)
Donora.  (1/27/2019)
Duquesne.  (1/28/2019)
Farrell.  (1/29/2019)
Homestead.  (1/30/2019)
Johnstown.  (1/6/2019)
McKees Rocks.  (1/31/2019)
McKeesport.  (2/1/2019)
Monessen.  (2/2/2019)
Nanticoke.  (2/3/2019)
New Castle.  (2/4/2019)
New Kensington.  (2/5/2019)
Oil City.  (2/6/2019)
Pittsburgh.  (1/13/2019)
Pittston. (2/7/2019)
Scranton.  (1/14/2019)

Other U.S. disappearing cities:
Baltimore, Maryland.  (12/31/2018)
Benton Harbor, Michigan.  (1/15/2019)
Buffalo, New York, (1/8/2019)
Cairo, Illinois.   (1/5/2019)
Cleveland, Ohio (1/2/2019)
Detroit, Michigan.  (1/1/2019)
East St. Louis, Illinois.  (1/11/2019)
Flint, Michigan.  (1/7/2019)
Gary, Indiana.  (1/4/2019)
St. Louis, Missouri.  (1/2/2019)
Wheeling, West Virginia.  (1/16/2019)
Youngstown, Ohio.  (1/9/2019)