$227,734Average Value$143Average Price per Sq Ft3Homes For Sale
Traditional Pennsylvania suburb with an industrial history
Rooted on US Route 11, Minooka’s small slice of suburbia sits where old railroad tracks meet the flowing Lackawanna River on the edge of Scranton, blending its rich industrial history with humble homes and quaint local shops. In the 1930s, when coal was king, the community attracted families and workers who wanted to be close to work but a little farther away from the smokestacks and thundering trains that put Scranton’s name on the map generations ago. Almost a century later, the community’s appeal remains the same. “Minooka is just a traditional American town,” says Minooka Pastry Shop co-owner Bob Zakreski, who was born and raised in the borough. “It’s a family-oriented, quiet section of Scranton that sits right on Route 11, so we’re a connecting point for all the surrounding boroughs.” Minooka residents working in downtown Scranton benefit from a 10-minute commute.
Longstanding locales along US Route 11
The shops, pharmacies and local businesses along Route 11 anchor the small, otherwise residential neighborhood. Casual, down-to-earth eateries such as Diskin’s Saloon and Joyce’s Café offer a laidback atmosphere, and Minooka Pub buzzes with patrons for regular trivia nights and happy hours. Established in 1979, the Minooka Pastry Shop has been a longstanding community staple. The dessert store specializes in party-centric cakes and pastries and sees a diverse customer base pass through its doors. “We draw from a wide range,” says Zakreski, who has been co-owner of the store for over 30 years. “We get a lot of people in the area because they work close to Scranton and the interstate, but they live up to 25 miles away.” Zakreski says there has been an increase in commercial construction on Minooka’s two main routes, Route 11 and Davis Street. Most of the town’s chain restaurants and franchises, such as Dunkin’ and Wendy’s, are located along Davis Street. “Minooka still has an enclave feel, but it’s slowly diminishing as more commercial infrastructure is built along the major arteries,” he says. “In the future, Minooka will become more incorporated as a bustling center of Scranton.” Minooka residents head to the South Side Shopping Center off South Washington Avenue for groceries and more dining options or the Marketplace at Steamtown in downtown Scranton for additional shopping. The mall houses specialty shops and department stores like Boscov’s.
Minooka’s modest homes and quiet, orderly streets
Residential streets fan away from Route 11, leading to clustered homes on orderly properties. “Minooka is very appealing to the eye,” Zakreski says. “Homes are very well kept, and streets are clean and neat.” Architecture styles reflect the area’s coal mining history, with workers' cottages and humble foursquare styles most common. A few have modest backyards and private pools. Colonial Revival influences mingle among smaller contemporary split-level houses. Prices may range from small ranch homes for $107,000 to $289,000 for larger bi-level and stately foursquare examples. “Immediately off Route 11, there isn’t a lot of traffic, so it’s pretty quiet,” Zakreski says. “Crime is fairly low, kids play in the street, and there is a general sense of security in this town.” Minooka earns a CAP Index Crime Score of 4 out of 10, comparable to the US national average.
Top-rated academics at Scranton High School
The Scranton School District serves Minooka, with schools including John F. Kennedy Elementary School, which earns a C overall Niche score. Sixth through eighth graders attend C-minus-rated South Scranton Intermediate before advancing to Scranton High School. Home of the Knights, the B-rated high school offers a wide variety of top-performing extracurricular and athletic programs. Post-secondary institutions, including The University of Scranton and Lackawanna College, are located nearby in Scranton. Beginning in 2016, inspectors found dangerous levels of asbestos across 11 buildings in the Scranton School District. As a result, the school district has created an environmental task force for students and teachers and performs regular asbestos testing and cleanup initiatives to maintain healthy levels within school buildings.
Recreation at Cornell Park and historic railroad sites
With plenty of playgrounds and fields, Cornell Park offers ample space for folks to bring their pets. Junior sluggers and their parents congregate here for little league baseball on the weekends, and the park’s public pool becomes a popular destination in the summer. At Billy Barrett Park, kids enjoy the playground and swing set while tennis players take to the adjacent courts for a game. The park also features a grand gazebo perfect for picnics. Hikers and bikers take the riverside Minooka and Lackawanna River Heritage Trail. In downtown Scranton, the area’s history is displayed at the Steamtown National Historic Site and The Electric City Trolley Museum. Located across from the mall, the rail museum features extensive exhibits about steam locomotives and their importance to the region’s historical coal mining industry.
History burns bright at the Bonfire Fall Festival
The historic roots of the Scranton area are also showcased during community events like the Bonfire Fall Festival, held annually in October at the historic Scranton Iron Furnaces. Live music strikes up as a colossal bonfire flickers to life, shedding warmth and light on the food and drink vendors of the festival. The event typically attracts over a thousand festivalgoers and serves as a significant fundraiser for the Anthracite Heritage Museum and Scranton Iron Furnaces.
From Route 11 to the Pennsylvania Turnpike and beyond
Though US Route 11 is Minooka’s main thoroughfare and connects residents to downtown Scranton, the borough also boasts proximity to major highways such as Interstate 81 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Commuters can also take the bus to downtown from one of the many stops dotted along Route 11. The Wilkes-Barre Scranton International Airport is only 5 miles south.
GreatSchools:
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On average, homes in Minooka, Scranton sell after 34 days on the market compared to the national average of 52 days. The median sale price for homes in Minooka, Scranton over the last 12 months is $200,000, down 2% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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