The Scrantonian is a personal project born from the particular kind of curiosity that comes from growing up somewhere and then leaving. I spent my first twenty-some years in Scranton before moving away, and this site is my way of looking back at a place that shaped me and understanding what made it what it was.

Scranton’s story runs through anthracite coal and iron rails, through waves of immigrant families who built neighborhoods and churches and unions, through booms and busts that left their mark on the landscape. The people, places, organizations, and events collected here are an attempt to map that history in a way that feels accessible and alive.

This is not meant to be comprehensive or academic. It is one person’s effort to learn about a city by writing about it, entry by entry. If you have a connection to Scranton, I hope you find something here that surprises you or fills in a gap. If you are just curious, welcome to the Electric City.