Nanticoke, city, Luzerne county, northeast-central Pennsylvania, U.S., on the Susquehanna River, about 5 miles (8 km) southwest of Wilkes-Barre. In the early 18th century white settlers were attracted to the site of a village of the Nanticoke Indians and set up a gristmill, iron forge, and sawmill at the Susquehanna Rapids. The Nanticoke migrated to New York state in 1793. In 1825 the first anthracite coal mine was opened in the locality and by 1878 Nanticoke was a major coal-mining centre. Coal mining declined with the widespread use of fuel oil, natural gas, and electricity; the population decreased and all the mines were closed by 1973. Nanticoke is now basically residential with some light manufacturing development. Luzerne County Community College is located there. Inc. borough, 1874; city, 1926. Pop. (2000) 10,955; (2010) 10,465.