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Carbondale City Hall and CourthouseCarbondale City Hall and Courthouse · Photo: Smallbones · CC0
AHistory
History · Carbondale

Carbondale dates to 1824, and 38% of its homes were built before 1940

More historic than 86% of U.S. towns · #240 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. What drives it

Its Register listing is the Carbondale City Hall and Courthouse. Below: 16 old photos and papers, maps from 1885 on, and the census since 1840.

1824founded
1on the National Register
38%homes built before 1940
16old photos & papers
22famous people
Add an old photoShare a memory
From Carbondale’s archive · credits on each photo
Quick answers

How Carbondale began

When was Carbondale founded?

1824

Carbondale dates its founding to 1824 (Wikidata). The census first counted it in 1840.

First census: 2,398 in 18402020 census: 8,828202 years

How historic is Carbondale?

A

More historic than 86% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.

What drives the grade ↓
Founding year: Wikidata. First post office: 1829.The full story ↓
History grade

What drives Carbondale’s History grade

On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Carbondale is more historic than 86% of U.S. towns, #240 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. All 3 inputs are above most U.S. towns; its share of homes from before 1940 ranks highest and its National Register listings lowest.

A
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Carbondale’s overall grade.
Founding era1824, from Wikidata: founded 1776–1849, an older era than 75% of U.S. townsA−Homes built before 194037.5% of homes (±6.4) · typical PA town 17.7% · U.S. 8.4%ANational Register1 listing, 1.1 per 10,000 residents · typical PA town 2.1 · U.S. 2.4B−
All U.S. towns we grade (21,289)Ahead of 86%
NewerOlder
Pennsylvania towns of 2,500+ (1,035)Ahead of 77%

Pennsylvania towns list about as much on the Register as the country (a typical Pennsylvania town has 2.1 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Carbondale’s 1.1 sits near the middle of its state (54% of Pennsylvania towns have fewer) while its 1 listings outnumber those of 51% of U.S. towns.

How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from B+ to A. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±6.4 points). Two sources give 1824.

Founding year: Wikidata (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →

What stands out about Carbondale’s past

Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.

Mapped building by building6 fire insurance maps, 1885 to 1923, drew every building in Carbondale.Boom and bustPeaked at 20,061 in 1930; 8,828 people lived here in 2020.A town in old photos16 old photos, postcards and papers, 1890–1933.Famous sons and daughtersJoseph Bambera, Terry Pegula and 20 more were born here.
★ What stands out · Every building

Carbondale, building by building, 1885–1923

Fire insurance maps drew every building, what it was made of and what it was used for, so insurers could price the risk of fire. Pick a year, then a sheet.

Carbondale fire insurance map, 1885, sheet 11885Sheet 1 of 3
Edition
BrickWoodStone

Sanborn Map Company, via the Library of Congress. Editions published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.

People over time

Carbondale, census by census

05,00010,00015,00020,0001850190019502000Peak: 20,061

Peaked at 20,061 in 1930; 8,828 people lived here in 2020.

19 censuses, 1840–2020.

U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Carbondale’s Wikipedia page.

By decade

Carbondale, decade by decade

3 decades in the archive, from the 1890s to the 1930s. Scroll each row; tap a photo for its story.

1890s–1930s12 items
Carbondale, Pennsylvania, 18901890Carbondale, Pennsylvania, 1890City Hall Park1904City Hall ParkFirst National Bank, Carbondale, Pa (64990)c. 1930First National Bank, Carbondale, Pa (64990)Main St., Carbondale, Pa (64991)c. 1930Main St., Carbondale, Pa (64991)U.S. Post Office, Carbondale, Pa (64989)c. 1930U.S. Post Office, Carbondale, Pa (64989)DETAIL MAIN ENTRANCE - Miners and Mechanics Bank Building, 13 North Main Street1933DETAIL MAIN ENTRANCE - Miners and Mechanics Bank Buil…DETAIL, WEST CORNER AND NORTHWEST SIDE - Miners and Mechanics Bank Building, 13 North Main Street1933DETAIL, WEST CORNER AND NORTHWEST SIDE - Miners and M…DETAIL, WEST CORNER AND SOUTHWEST SIDE - Miners and Mechanics Bank Building, 13 North Main Street1933DETAIL, WEST CORNER AND SOUTHWEST SIDE - Miners and M…HABS PA,35-CARB,1- (sheet 1 of 4) - Miners and Mechanics Bank Building, 13 North Main Street1933HABS PA,35-CARB,1- (sheet 1 of 4) - Miners and Mechan…HABS PA,35-CARB,1- (sheet 2 of 4) - Miners and Mechanics Bank Building, 13 North Main Street1933HABS PA,35-CARB,1- (sheet 2 of 4) - Miners and Mechan…HABS PA,35-CARB,1- (sheet 3 of 4) - Miners and Mechanics Bank Building, 13 North Main Street1933HABS PA,35-CARB,1- (sheet 3 of 4) - Miners and Mechan…HABS PA,35-CARB,1- (sheet 4 of 4) - Miners and Mechanics Bank Building, 13 North Main Street1933HABS PA,35-CARB,1- (sheet 4 of 4) - Miners and Mechan…
1940s–1990snothing yet
Nothing in the archives for these yearsWeddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
Add from your album
Date unknown4 to date
INTERIOR VIEW OF FIRST FLOOR VAULT DOORS - Miners and Mechanics Bank Building, 13 North Main StreetDate?INTERIOR VIEW OF FIRST FLOOR VAULT DOORS - Miners and…INTERIOR VIEW OF VAULT LOBBY, BASEMENT STAIR AREA - Miners and Mechanics Bank Building, 13 North Main Street, Carbondal…Date?INTERIOR VIEW OF VAULT LOBBY, BASEMENT STAIR AREA - M…INTERIOR, DIRECTORY AT TOP OF SECOND FLOOR STAIRWAY - Miners and Mechanics Bank Building, 13 North Main Street, Carbond…Date?INTERIOR, DIRECTORY AT TOP OF SECOND FLOOR STAIRWAY -…INTERIOR, HIGH WINDOW ON SECOND FLOOR CORRIDOR WALL - Miners and Mechanics Bank Building, 13 North Main Street, Carbond…Date?INTERIOR, HIGH WINDOW ON SECOND FLOOR CORRIDOR WALL -…
Today14 recent
Carbondale, PA Area School District sign, July 20262026Carbondale, PA Area School District sign, July 2026Carbondale, PA Area Junior-Senior High School, July 20262026Carbondale, PA Area Junior-Senior High School, July 2…Decorations on the front porch of a home in the Pennsylvania coal-mining city of Carbondale, near Scranton2019Decorations on the front porch of a home in the Penns…"Ghost" images of earlier outdoor advertising on a building in the Pennsylvania coal-mining city of Carbondale, near Sc…2019"Ghost" images of earlier outdoor advertising on a bu…The former Klots Throwing Co. mill outside the Pennsylvania coal-mining city of Carbondale, near Scranton2019The former Klots Throwing Co. mill outside the Pennsy…Large slagpile on a hillside outside the Pennsylvania coal-mining city of Carbondale, near Scranton2019Large slagpile on a hillside outside the Pennsylvania…Military statue and a memorial in the Pennsylvania coal-mining city of Carbondale, near Scranton2019Military statue and a memorial in the Pennsylvania co…Shop storefronts in the Pennsylvania coal-mining city of Carbondale, near Scranton2019Shop storefronts in the Pennsylvania coal-mining city…D&H-Gravity---1871-Jermyn2011D&H-Gravity---1871-JermynD&H-Gravity---1829-Carbondale2011D&H-Gravity---1829-CarbondaleD&H Gravity - 18992011D&H Gravity - 1899D&H Gravity - 18682011D&H Gravity - 1868D&H Gravity - 18442011D&H Gravity - 1844Birds eye view of Carbondale, Pa2008Birds eye view of Carbondale, Pa
The story

How Carbondale came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Carbondale.

Read it all →

The Carbondale Historical Society and Museum records and maintains the city's history. The Carbondale City Hall and Courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. The Delaware and Hudson Canal Gravity Railroad Shops have been demolished, but were once listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Carbondale mine fire began in Carbondale in 1946. Every census since 1940 has seen a steady decline in the population of Carbondale, mostly attributed to the end of the coal industry in the area.

1829: the Delaware and Hudson Gravity Railroad from Carbondale to Honesdale began operations on October 9, 1829.

ChaptersNotable firsts

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

From the old history books

What they wrote about Carbondale in 1928

Passages that mention Carbondale, cut from the printed page as they were published.

James H. Paul was born March 9, 1872, in Albany, N. Y., where he attended the public schools, coming to Carbondale in 1887, there to make his home for the rest of his life. ‘‘None of us saw the banker in embryo at that time,” declares one of his lifelong friends. His first business experience had b…
Jubilee history commemorative of the fiftieth anniversary of the creation of Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania ..1928 · page 842Read the page →
Read the text

James H. Paul was born March 9, 1872, in Albany, N. Y., where he attended the public schools, coming to Carbondale in 1887, there to make his home for the rest of his life. ‘‘None of us saw the banker in embryo at that time,” declares one of his lifelong friends. His first business experience had been gained in selling newspapers at the Albany railroad station, and for four months after coming to Carbondale he drove a wagon for the American Express Company. It was then that he entered the aptitude for figures, and having had promotions through the successive

Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
Krantz. ' J. Joseph Krantz received his education in the public schools of Honesdale and in early youth was associated in his father’s business. In April, 1887, he came to Carbondale, where he conducted a bottling works for two years. He then purchased the interests of the Loftus & Neclon Brewing C…
Jubilee history commemorative of the fiftieth anniversary of the creation of Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania ..1928 · page 887Read the page →
Read the text

Krantz. ' J. Joseph Krantz received his education in the public schools of Honesdale and in early youth was associated in his father’s business. In April, 1887, he came to Carbondale, where he conducted a bottling works for two years. He then purchased the interests of the Loftus & Neclon Brewing Company in Carbondale and continued as its active head until the time of sale to Pennsylvania Central Brewing Company in 1897. From 1902 until 1915 Mr. Krantz was Manager and treasurer of Fell Brewing

Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.

Scans and text from the Internet Archive. Books published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.

Timeline

Carbondale, 1824 to 1956

Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.

  1. 19th century
  2. 1824
    FoundingCarbondale is established
  3. 1829Post officeThe Carbondale post office opens
  4. 1849Born hereTerence V. Powderly is born here
  5. 1879Post officeThe Maplewood post office opens
  6. 1879Post officeThe Maplewood post office closes
  7. 1890In the archiveCarbondale, Pennsylvania, 1890
  8. 20th century
  9. 1904In the archiveCity Hall Park
  10. 1930In the archiveFirst National Bank, Carbondale, Pa (64990)
  11. 1930CensusPopulation peaks at 20,061
  12. 1940Born hereDenis J. Madden is born here
  13. 1946On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
  14. 1951Born hereTerry Pegula is born here
  15. 1956Born hereJoseph Bambera is born here
On the map

Carbondale on the map, 1946 to 1994

Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Carbondale. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.

Carbondale on the 1946 USGS mapCarbondale on the 1969 USGS mapCarbondale on the 1994 USGS map1946Carbondale sheet · 1:24,000

U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Carbondale.

Then & now

Stand where they stood

No then-and-now pairs yet. Take a photo from the same spot as an old one and they appear here side by side.

Carbondale, Pennsylvania, 1890
Retake this viewCarbondale, Pennsylvania, 1890, 1890

Find the spot, match the angle, and add your photo. It becomes the first then-and-now pair on Carbondale’s page.

Retake this view · +15
On the National Register

1 historic place in Carbondale

The country’s official list of buildings and places worth saving.

place listed
1
National Historic Landmarks
0
none yet
historic buildings protected
1
each building in a district counts
first listed
1983
Carbondale City Hall and Courthouse
Carbondale City Hall and Courthouse
Buildings

Architectural styles listings

Romanesque Revival1
Carbondale City Hall and CourthouseRomanesque Revival

National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited on each place’s page.

Famous people

22 famous people were born in Carbondale

Writers, athletes, leaders and more, ranked by how widely they’re known.

See all →
J
Joseph BamberaCatholic bishop · b. 1956
Terry PegulaAmerican businessman · b. 1951
Terence V. PowderlyAmerican labor union leader, politician and att… · b. 1849
D
Denis J. MaddenAmerican bishop · b. 1940
Robert Wood Johnson IAmerican businessman · b. 1845
Jerome F. O'MalleyUnited States Air Force general · b. 1932
Places that used to be

Lost post offices, places now gone and burying grounds

Carbondale’s post office has been open since 1829. Another post office, Maplewood, opened and closed inside today’s town.

Carbondale
1829–today
Maplewood
1879–1879
18201920today
Gone or out of use
Fall Brook MinesmineJones and Voyles MinemineMarian Community Hospitalhospital
2cemeteries and burying grounds inside Carbondale
MaplewoodSaint Rose of Lima

US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock, CC0). Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).

Help out

Finish Carbondale’s story

Most archives stop around 1920. The photos from after that are in family albums, not libraries.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
2 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
Date a photo4 archive items have no date. Guess the decade.+2Retake an old viewCarbondale, Pennsylvania, 1890: stand where they stood+15Share a family photoSign in to add one+10
Stories next door

History across the town line

Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.

Carbondale TownshipIts storyB+Fell TownshipIts storyB

Questions about Carbondale’s history

What year was Carbondale founded?

In 1824, according to Wikidata. Carbondale’s post office opened in 1829, and the census of 1840 counted 2,398 people here.

How does Carbondale rank for history?

Carbondale is more historic than 86% of U.S. towns, #240 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.

What is on the National Register in Carbondale?

One place: the Carbondale City Hall and Courthouse (listed 1983).

How old are the homes in Carbondale?

38% of Carbondale’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±6.4 points), against a typical 18% for a Pennsylvania town; the median home was built in 1955.

Memory lane

What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.

Town Square →
Start a conversation
Sources

Where this page comes from

Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).

From Wikimedia Commons (23), the Library of Congress (7), the National Register of Historic Places (1), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock), the USGS Geographic Names Information System, Sanborn fire insurance maps (Library of Congress) and old county and town histories (Internet Archive). Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.