How Slocum Township began, and where its name came from
When was Slocum Township founded?
1873
The Slocum Township post office opened in 1873, the earliest record of the town by name. Another post office, Slocum (1873), opened inside today’s town and later closed.
First census: 1,112 in 20002020 census: 1,054153 years
How did Slocum Township get its name?
Slocum Township was named in honor of Joseph Slocum of Wilkes-Barre.
How historic is Slocum Township?
B−
More historic than 46% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Slocum Township is more historic than 46% of U.S. towns. Its share of homes from before 1940 holds the grade up; its National Register listings pull it down.
B−
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Slocum Township’s overall grade.
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 Slocum Township’s 0.0 sits below most of its state (25% of Pennsylvania towns have fewer) while its 0 listings outnumber those of 23% of U.S. towns.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from C− to B. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±8.6 points). The founding year is the first post office, not a stated founding date.
Founding year: the first post office (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 Slocum Township’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Slocum Township. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.
1894Shickshinny sheet · 1:62,500
U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Slocum Township.
Places that used to be
Lost post offices, old corners and burying grounds
Another post office, Slocum, opened and closed inside today’s town.
Hamlets and corners on the map
FolstownSlocumSlocum Corners
1cemetery inside Slocum Township
Slocum
US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock, CC0). Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
The Lutsey family settled in what is now Slocum Township in 1785. They established the first settlement (known as the “Lutsey Settlement”). Others followed in their footsteps and colonized the territory. A sawmill was erected by John Rosencrans in 1836. The following year, in 1837, William Lutsey built the first frame house. Slocum Township was formed from a segment of Newport Township in 1854. It was named in honor of Joseph Slocum of Wilkes-Barre.
The Slocum Township post office opened in 1873, the earliest record of the town by name (U.S. post office records).
How does Slocum Township rank for history?
Slocum Township is more historic than 46% of U.S. towns. 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.
How old are the homes in Slocum Township?
27% of Slocum Township’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±8.6 points), against a typical 18% for a Pennsylvania town; the median home was built in 1976.
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 Wikipedia, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock) and the USGS Geographic Names Information System. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
