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A sensible choice for living

Freeland is a small community of about 4000 people located at the southern end of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. It is within miles of U.S. Interstate Routes 80 and 81, and within two and a half hours' drive to either New York City or Philadelphia.

Freeland sits on Green Mountain, part of the eastern Appalachian chain, and is minutes away from the Pocono resort area. It is an ideal place to locate, offering easy access to metropolitan areas combined with the security and privacy that only a small town can afford.

The town itself began in the 1850s and was formally incorporated as a Borough under Pennsylvania law in 1876. The original commercial base was the lumber industry, but the discovery of anthracite (hard) coal in the area during the late 1800s changed the future of the region. The end of the steam era saw the replacement of coal with textile industries, and the industrial picture changed again.

As heavy industry became less viable, Freeland turned to its great natural assets: its clean air and the adaptability of its work force. Service businesses, machine tools, food processing and construction are leading the area economy.

Freeland is part of the Hazleton region, and its schools are part of the Hazleton Area School District. A modern elementary school and a prestigious secondary school, MMI Preparatory, are located within the community. A regional high school system serves Freeland with both academic and vocational technical programs.

Higher education in the area can be found at the Hazleton Campus of the Pennsylvania State University, and several fine local colleges are within easy driving distance. A branch campus of the Luzerne County Community College located in nearby Hazleton offers many extension courses.

The Freeland Area boasts a number of historical and cultural attractions, including the Eckley Miners' Village Museum located three miles from Freeland itself. The Miners' Village is an historical preservation project of the Pennsylvania Museum Commission. The Eckley site attempts to preserve in detail an entire town from the 1800s, including restored churches, general store, and housing units. A modem and informative visitors' center is located at the site. Eckley was designated a special historical site in 1969, after Paramount Pictures, Inc., used the town as the location for the feature film, The Molly Maguire's.

A number of businesses serve the post career population in Freeland and several surrounding communities. Two local hospitals (one with a satellite facility in Freeland itself), several nursing care facilities, and a number of fine pharmacies serve the population. New to the area is the addition of a satellite clinic of Northeastern Pennsylvania's largest health care provider, Geisinger Medical Center.

The retail trade is well represented and we are happy to report that the tradition of the small local shopkeeper is alive in Freeland. Friendly, personal service can still be had here. Two banks have offices in the town itself, and a number of regional banking systems are represented in the area.

A variety of cultural and religious organizations round out the picture: a number of active church and civic groups, a municipal library with ties to a regional system, a YMCA, and other clubs and organizations serve the Freeland population.

All in all, a combination of location, pleasant environment, low tax rates, and low cost of real estate and development make Freeland an ideal choice for your business or residential relocation.

Click on one of the other links to the left to find out more about Freeland or buy a Freeland history book in our Merchandise section.