1851 County seat moved from Orwigsburg to Pottsville. Railroad becomes major transportation. Ten alleged Molly Maguires hanged in Pottsville and Mauch Chunk. Shenandoah surpasses Pottsville in population. Anthracite production peaks.
Strikes accelerate anthracite s decline.
1946-1960 Mass exodus from Schuylkill as unemployment rate reaches 23 percent. Textiles surpass coal mining as top employer. 1950 Population 200,066. Co-generation marks new era in anthracite. 1990 Population 152,585.