New residents heading to the mountaintop borough of Freeland
Freeland, Pennsylvania, is the type of community where most residents know each other, but these days, locals are learning some new names. That’s because people are moving to the borough to work in the factories in nearby Hazleton, says Freeland Secretary and Treasurer Heather Donish. “We’re getting new people coming in, and we’re trying to help them assimilate.” There are several opportunities for new arrivals to get assimilated into the compact community of 3,500 people that’s perched on a mountaintop, from free concerts to Little League games. Residents can also drive down the mountain and reach the county seat of Wilkes-Barre in 20 miles, accessing a selection of big-box retailers and employers ranging from hospitals to government offices.
Compact layout of small homes
Freeland consists of a grid of streets, and dense rows of Dutch Colonials, American Foursquares and townhouses border the city blocks. Front porches often extend up to the sidewalks, though homes may have small backyards or side yards. Lots become slightly larger on the north end of the borough, where yard space is more plentiful. Townhouses sell for a median price of $140,000, while single-family homes range from $90,000 to $155,000.
Freeland’s heavy snowfall stands out in the region
Snowfall can be heavy across the Scranton and Wilkes-Barre area, but Donish says even residents of nearby communities are sometimes shocked at how much snow blankets Freeland. “We’re on top of a big mountain, and it’s always surprising to people how much snow we get here. You can watch the weather change when you hit the welcome sign coming up the Freeland Mountain.” Still, Donish says locals aren’t fazed by the snow and that the Streets Department keeps the borough roads clear.
Kids zoned to Hazleton Area School District
Kindergartners through eighth graders can take classes in the borough at Freeland Elementary/Middle School, which is scored a C by Niche. The district’s only high school, Hazleton Area High School, is about 8 miles away. The B-minus-rated school runs an Arts and Humanities Academy for students interested in topics such as philosophy, communications and dance, while teens in the Academy of Sciences attend a monthly program at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine in Scranton.
Dining along Centre Street, with retail on the east end
Several restaurants line Centre Street, including Woodie’s Luncheonette. Freeland residents patronized the restaurant from 1950 to 1990, when it closed. It reopened in 2019, and the new version pays homage to the old, with a lunch counter near the entrance and retro memorabilia and faded newspaper clippings on the wall. Locals run errands at the shops between South Street and Front Street, which include Dollar General and Carone’s Market, the borough’s grocery store.
Public parks host playgrounds, baseball and concerts
The borough oversees two parks; the first is Public Park, a series of benches and playgrounds among a tree grove. Singers, bands and orchestras take to the park’s stage in the summer for weekly Friday night concerts. Fourth Ward Park consists of a soccer field, basketball court and swing sets on the north side of Freeland. Meanwhile, Freeland Little League teams play at a baseball field immediately south of Freeland. People can work out on weekdays at YMCA Freeland.
Bus and highway connections to Hazleton, Wilkes-Barre
Freeland’s dense layout makes it fairly walkable, and it’s possible to bike from one end of the community to the other in less than 10 minutes. Hazleton Public Transit operates a bus route that takes riders from Freeland to Hazleton in about 25 minutes. People can also drive from Freeland to Hazleton using Pennsylvania Route 940, while nearby Interstate 81 routes to Wilkes-Barre.
Written By
Alex Soderstrom
