A humble, established Pennsylvania community
In Plymouth, sweeping views of the Shawnee Mountain Range and Susquehanna River extend a tranquil welcome, but the Pennsylvania borough, once known as a sleepy coal-mining town, also boasts a bustling main street patronized by a population of residents with deep roots in the area. “Plymouth is an established neighborhood with a small hometown residential feel,” says local Realtor Gerald Busch Jr. of Gerald L. Busch Real Estate Inc., whose father grew up in the borough. “It has a great main street that goes down the center with small businesses and splits into nice residential streets.” Plymouth’s collection of locally owned stores and eateries along Main Street showcases a slice of life here, but the community’s crowning jewel is the Plymouth Kielbasa Festival, an annual celebration of Polish heritage. Busch says the festival is a huge deal for the borough, drawing people from all over the Wyoming Valley to get a taste not only of countless types of kielbasa sausages but also of the humble Plymouth community.
Polish heritage shines during Plymouth Kielbasa Festival
Every second weekend in August, the contests at the Kielbasa Fest keep the competitive energy as sizzling as the sausages served throughout the weekend along Main Street. A stacked itinerary of live entertainment and local music — topped with a Sunday parade — supplies a lively backdrop to the 80 food and crafts vendors that line the street. The big event, hosted by local nonprofit Plymouth Alive, promotes the community while raising funds for public projects such as educational programs at the Plymouth Public Library.
Local houses of worship in Plymouth, spanning denominations from Catholic to Baptist, host additional community events. The Good Shepherd Polish National Catholic Church celebrates the area’s heritage through Polish bake sales, while nearby Cherry Street Bible Church offers ongoing programs for children and teens. Additionally, two masjids and two synagogues are located across the river in Wilkes-Barre.
Casual eateries and local stores on Main Street
A slew of eateries, drugstores and local businesses straddle US Route 11 — or Main Street — Plymouth’s primary commercial artery that runs east-west through the borough. Locally owned specialty stores sit among salons and auto body shops on this busy strip, sandwiched by unassuming brew pubs and casual restaurants. Longstanding staple Raub’s is a neighborhood mainstay that has been a part of the community since 1924. Set in a small diner, the family-style restaurant serves American classics alongside a welcoming atmosphere and friendly staff. Closer to the neighborhood’s western edge, Polish Connection’s sky-blue storefront attracts customers with the mouthwatering scents of traditional Polish cuisine, including potato and cheese pierogis, stuffed cabbage, and potato pancakes. Groceries can be picked up at the Plymouth Hometown Market, or Target and Walmart are available in neighboring Lynwood or Wilkes-Barre for additional necessities.
Mining homes turned into multigenerational residences
Due to its history, Plymouth's real estate inventory comprises established miner homes from the 19th century. Worker’s cottages and modest foursquare and folk-box-style homes are common, ranging in price from a fixer-upper for $49,000 to $195,000 for a recently remodeled house. A few French-inspired residences are peppered between newer Colonial Revival homes, making up the larger houses found in Plymouth. These can list between $100,000 and $315,000. Twin homes are also available, typically from $200,000 to $250,000. Busch says the borough's well-loved homes often stay in the family regardless of style. “A lot of people who grew up here stay a long time,” he notes. “Multiple generations live here, lots of them still in the same homes.”
Wyoming Valley West Senior High's SPARTIVAL
Strong academics also pull residents to Plymouth. “The county’s main high school is located here, which is a good asset for Plymouth,” Busch says, adding that it creates more local traffic. Wyoming Valley West Senior High School ranks as the second-best public high school in the Scranton Area, according to Niche, and it earns a B-plus overall score. Home of the Spartans, the high school hosts the annual SPARTIVAL, or Spartan Carnival, an event organized by the senior class that features games, food and live music from the Marching Spartans. Other schools within the Wyoming Valley West School District include the C-rated State Street Elementary Center and Wyoming Valley West Middle School, which receives a C-plus.
Walks along the Susquehanna on the popular Levee Trail
The Luzerne County Levee Trail is a network of interconnecting paved pathways above the flood protection levees, snaking along 12 miles of the grassy Susquehanna riverbank from Wyoming to Plymouth. Historic information plaques and mile markers dot the trail, interrupted only by benches where the rushing river and sweeping mountain views can be taken in. The river offers its own recreation, as folks kayak its turbulent waters and anglers perch on its riverside to catch fish. On Barnes Street, kids play baseball at the Plymouth Little League field or join pickup basketball games at the adjacent paved courts. Just outside of the city, the Mohegan Sun Arena attracts sports fanatics to Scranton Penguins hockey games, WWE matches and other events such as comedy nights and concerts.
Getting in and around Plymouth
Route 11 connects to major thoroughfares like Interstate 81 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike, which takes drivers to Philadelphia in roughly two hours. Commuters may also hop on a bus at the many stops along Main Street to connect around town or ride into Philadelphia.
Susquehanna flood risk
Homes closer to the Susquehanna River are at higher risk of flooding, with some areas experiencing over 3 feet of water. Flooding occurs when the river overflows due to severe rainfall, submerging nearby land regions. Plymouth has integrated a floodwall and levee, as well as dikes and dams, to help prevent flooding, but homeowners may still be subject to purchasing flood insurance.
Written By
Christina von Claparede-Crola
Photography Contributed By
Jay Ratchford
