Forty Fort, PA

Forty Fort is a quiet, close-knit borough set along the western bank of the Susquehanna River, just a few minutes north of Wilkes-Barre. Home to roughly 4,200 residents, the community features walkable, tree-lined residential streets filled with classic Craftsman bungalows and Victorian houses. Its unusual name comes from the forty Connecticut settlers who established a riverfront outpost here in the 1770s, and historic landmarks like the Forty Fort Meetinghouse and Nathan Denison House still give the area a distinct colonial charm.

ATTRSmallbones / CC0

For newcomers, the borough offers a peaceful suburban setting with quick access to regional employers, healthcare, and shopping across the Wyoming Valley. Local kids attend the Wyoming Valley West School District, while Wyoming Seminary’s Lower School campus sits right in town. On nice afternoons, neighbors frequently walk or bike along the top of the river levee trail, stop by the small local airport to watch planes take off, or head down Wyoming Avenue to visit neighborhood diners and family-owned shops.