Want to live and work in Wilkes-Barre?

The surnames of Wilkes-Barre residents carry the history of immigration waves to the coal mines: Poles, Irish, Italians, Lithuanians, Slovaks, and Ukrainians arrived from the late 19th century through the mid-20th, and their churches and social clubs are still active.

Over the past two decades, the city has gained significant Dominican, Puerto Rican, and Mexican communities, as well as residents who moved from New York and New Jersey in search of lower rents. There are also Indian, Bangladeshi, Vietnamese, and Nepali communities connected to the hospitals and universities.

English is the predominant language, but Spanish is heard frequently in South Wilkes-Barre and along the commercial areas of Hazle Street. Roman Catholicism remains strong, alongside Eastern Orthodox parishes, Hispanic evangelical churches, and a small Hindu temple in the metropolitan area.

Downtown Wilkes-Barre has apartment buildings above storefronts, many converted from former commercial buildings. For those working at the universities or hospitals, living within walking distance is feasible and eliminates the need for a car.

Neighborhoods such as North End, Parsons, and the area known as The Heights offer affordable rowhouses and duplexes. The southern zone, around Hazle Street, is home to much of the Hispanic population and has an active neighborhood commercial strip.

Across the river, Kingston, Forty Fort, Edwardsville, and Plains function as direct suburbs, with detached homes, well-rated schools, and large grocery stores. Families seeking more space often gravitate toward Mountain Top, on top of the ridge, where lots are larger and snowfall is heavier.

Wilkes University and King's College are two blocks apart in downtown and together enroll thousands of students. Wilkes is independent with strong programs in pharmacy, engineering, and health sciences. King's is Jesuit, with traditions in business, nursing, and political science.

Luzerne County Community College, in Nanticoke, offers technical programs and the first two years of a bachelor's degree at significantly lower tuition, with slots for area residents. Penn State Wilkes-Barre and Misericordia University, in Dallas, round out the options within a short drive.

Public schools are divided by district. Wyoming Valley West and Dallas tend to receive higher ratings than Wilkes-Barre Area, but Catholic schools such as Holy Redeemer High and charter options serve as alternatives for many families.

The overall picture is that of a mid-sized city with distinct layers: downtown functions well during the day and at events, with police presence and campus security from the universities. At night, outside of restaurants and bars, activity drops off quickly.

South Wilkes-Barre, parts of The Heights, and some streets east of the river have higher rates of theft, robbery, and drug-related incidents, a legacy of the economic collapse of the mines. Neighborhoods across the Susquehanna, such as Kingston and Forty Fort, and the suburbs of Mountain Top and Dallas, have a quiet reputation.

Basic precautions address most situations: do not leave anything visible in the car, avoid walking alone late at night in poorly lit areas, and be aware when parking near bars on weekends. Emergencies dial 911, with service in English and Spanish.

Local culture was shaped by the Polish, Italian, Lithuanian, and Ukrainian parishes that served miners' families. These congregations still organize annual festivals with homemade food, folk dances, and auctions. Pierogi, halušky, Old Forge-style white pizza, and Christmas cookies are part of the regional food identity.

Downtown is home to the Kirby Center for the Performing Arts, a concert and musical venue in an art deco building, and F.M. Kirby Park, across the river, hosts outdoor events. Mohegan Sun Arena, in Wilkes-Barre Township, draws larger tours and hockey games featuring the Penguins.

Irish bars, old Italian restaurants, Polish bakeries, and newer Dominican and Mexican spots make up the food circuit. The Cherry Blossom Festival in spring and the Fine Arts Fiesta at Public Square help mark the year for local residents.

The immigrant heritage is visible in churches, social clubs, and cemeteries. Polish, Italian, Lithuanian, and Slovak parishes remain active, and parish festivals bring third- and fourth-generation descendants together on the same grounds, with traditional food and live music.

More recent arrivals come from the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Colombia, India, Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Nepal. There are Latin markets on South Main Street, Dominican salons, family-owned Mexican restaurants, and a Hindu temple in the metropolitan area serving the growing South Asian community, which expands with openings at hospitals, universities, and warehouses.

Organizations such as United Way of Wyoming Valley, Catholic Social Services, and Volunteers of America help newcomers with housing, schooling, and documentation. For more formal consular services, most consulates general are in Philadelphia or New York, a few hours away.