Freeland, originally called Birbeckville after founder Joseph Birkbeck, then South Heberton, is a borough in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located 18 miles (29 km) south of Wilkes-Barre and 10 miles (16 km) northeast of Hazleton in an agricultural region. Freeland was officially incorporated as a borough on September 11, 1876. Coal-mining was a chief industry in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. At the 2010 census, the population was 3,531. As of April 2014, the current Mayor of Freeland is Mr. Ed Appleman, who beat out the former Mayor of Freeland, Ms. Tami Martin.