Forty Fort is a Colonial-era fort turned suburb
How many American settlers does it take to name a colonial fort along the Susquehanna River? A dozen? Two dozen? In the case of Forty Fort in Luzerne County near Wilkes-Barre, the answer is in the community’s name. More than 250 years later, Forty Fort has become a suburban neighborhood borough with a regional municipal airport and a popular outdoor sports complex where youth athletes and adults play soccer, softball and other sports. Despite a terrible defeat against British forces during the Revolutionary War and the significant damage Hurricane Agnes wrought in 1972, the community has endured, swelling to a population of about 4,000 people.
Affordable housing compared to New York or New Jersey
Neighbors in Forty Fort live close to each other, as the L-shaped borough nestled along a riverbend features homes from the first half of the 20th century arranged on relatively small lots on sidewalk-lined streets. Mainly composed of Colonial-inspired homes with brick and vinyl exteriors, the average home value sits at $200,000, reflecting a 60% increase since 2019. Casey Johnston, a Realtor with RPA Real Estate, says recent demographic changes and industry trends have driven values upward. “Home prices here are a lot cheaper than in New York City and New Jersey, and our taxes are also cheaper. We’ve seen an enormous amount of people coming in from those areas,” she says. “We’ve also had some new warehouses come to the area, too, for companies such as Amazon, Adidas and True Value. So, there’s a lot of those jobs available.”
Students attend Wyoming Valley West School District
Located in the Wyoming Valley West School District, students in the community attend the centrally located Dana Street Elementary School. From there, kids typically go on to Wyoming Valley West Middle School and Wyoming Valley West High School. Niche gives the high school a B rating, with high marks for the quality of its teachers, diversity of the student body and college preparedness.
Historic and scenic outdoor spaces
At the Forty Fort Borough Sports Complex, people play games or take their dogs for a walk as planes take off and land in the distance at the Wilkes-Barre Wyoming Valley Airport. While there’s ample opportunity to participate in local leagues or pick-up games at the complex, visitors can also hop on to the Luzerne County Levee Trail that parallels the Susquehanna River. Walking south along the path, you’ll find a historical plaque commemorating the original Forty-Fort and the patriots who perished fighting to defend the area against the British in an infamous 1778 battle known as the Massacre of Wyoming.
Shopping and dining like 900 Rutter
Close to the old fort location, artists and merchants transformed an early 20th-century factory several years ago into an amply sized communal space adorned with colorful murals. At 900 Rutter, visitors can indulge in a leisurely weekend brunch or grab breakfast or lunch during the week. The venue also features space for several clothing retailers, professional offices, a martial arts gym and a yoga studio, allowing people to mix work and play seamlessly. Along Wyoming Avenue, the community’s main thoroughfare, residents patronize businesses and family restaurants like Suraci’s Italian Café, a casual eatery where you can get a hoagie, baked gnocchi or “drunken” lasagna with fried chicken cutlets.
Written By
Christopher Suarez
Photography Contributed By
TJ Engler
