Slatington, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Slatington is a borough in Lehigh County
, Pennsylvania
. It is located 15 miles northwest of Allentown
, in the Lehigh Valley
region of the state. It is five miles south of Palmerton
, one mile west of Walnutport
and five miles north of Neffs
.
Slatington's elevation varies from 330 feet at the Lehigh River on the east side of town to 750 feet by the Union Cemetery on Route 873
to the south.
Historically, structural iron, knit goods, and silk were manufactured in Slatington, and there were abundant slate quarries in the area.
In 1900, 3,773 people lived in Slatington, and, by 1910, that number had grown to 4,454. Between 1910 and the 2010 census, the population reduced slightly, to 4,232. The U.S. postal code (zip code) for Slatington, PA is 18080.
Slatington was settled in 1738 and incorporated in 1864.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the borough has a total area of 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²), of which, 1.3 square miles (3.4 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (4.35%) is water.
Slatington's elevation is 738 feet above sea level.
Slatington is home to several large parks, including Victory Park (the location of the community pool and a disc golf course) as well as the nationally renowned Canal Park which is considered one of the best trails in the country and has recently been subject to many improvements.
Slatington's historic downtown has been dramatically improving and is now considered a viable business center with new businesses opening monthly.
In a 2010 survey, Slatington was voted one of the top 10 "up and coming" small towns in the northeast.
of 2000, there were 4,434 people, 1,743 households, and 1,190 families residing in the borough. The population density
was 3,354.6 people per square mile (1,297.0/km²). There were 1,867 housing units at an average density of 1,412.5 per square mile (546.1/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 96.23% White, 1.42% African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.77% from other races
, and 0.97% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.03% of the population.
There were 1,743 households out of which 35.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.7% were married couples
living together, 13.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.7% were non-families. 26.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the borough the population was spread out with 27.1% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 32.4% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 94.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.3 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $36,531, and the median income for a family was $43,542. Males had a median income of $32,101 versus $23,796 for females. The per capita income
for the borough was $16,189. About 10.6% of families and 12.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.1% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.
. Kern established a sawmill shortly after arriving. In 1756, Benjamin Franklin
reported to Governeur Morris that he had procured boards and timber from Kern's sawmill. In the 19th century two Welshman, who recognized its properties and importance from being used in Europe
, discovered slate
. A quarry was set up in 1845, and, in 1847, a factory was erected. In 1846, Slatington was incorporated into a Borough of Pennsylvania; its first Mayor was Robert McDowell.
.
Lehigh County, Pennsylvania
-Climate:Most of the county's climate is considered to fall in the humid continental climate zone. Summers are typically hot and muggy, fall and spring are generally mild, and winter is cold. Precipitation is almost uniformly distributed throughout the year....
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. It is located 15 miles northwest of Allentown
Allentown, Pennsylvania
Allentown is a city located in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is Pennsylvania's third most populous city, after Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and the 215th largest city in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 118,032 and is currently...
, in the Lehigh Valley
Lehigh Valley
The Lehigh Valley, known officially by the United States Census Bureau as the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ metropolitan area and referred to locally as The Valley and A-B-E, is a metropolitan region consisting of Lehigh, Northampton, Berks, and Carbon counties in eastern Pennsylvania and...
region of the state. It is five miles south of Palmerton
Palmerton, Pennsylvania
Palmerton is a borough in Carbon County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located in the coal region of the state. It is a part of lower Carbon County, which is considered part of the Lehigh Valley and the greater Allentown Metropolitan Area....
, one mile west of Walnutport
Walnutport, Pennsylvania
Walnutport is a borough in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States. Incorporated in 1909, Walnutport is located in the Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania along the Lehigh River.The population of Walnutport was 2,043 at the 2000 census. The U.S...
and five miles north of Neffs
Neffs, Pennsylvania
Neffs is a small village located mainly in North Whitehall Township but also in Washington Township in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, United States. Neffs is located at the junction of Pennsylvania Routes 873 and 329, about one mile north of Schnecksville....
.
Slatington's elevation varies from 330 feet at the Lehigh River on the east side of town to 750 feet by the Union Cemetery on Route 873
Pennsylvania Route 873
Pennsylvania Route 873 is a north-south, two-lane road mainly located in northern Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. Its northern terminus is at PA 248 in the Lehigh Township hamlet of Weiders Crossing. It passes through Slatington as Main Street. Its southern terminus is at PA 309 in Schnecksville....
to the south.
Historically, structural iron, knit goods, and silk were manufactured in Slatington, and there were abundant slate quarries in the area.
In 1900, 3,773 people lived in Slatington, and, by 1910, that number had grown to 4,454. Between 1910 and the 2010 census, the population reduced slightly, to 4,232. The U.S. postal code (zip code) for Slatington, PA is 18080.
Slatington was settled in 1738 and incorporated in 1864.
Geography
Slatington is located at 40°45′9"N 75°36′33"W (40.752561, -75.609229).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the borough has a total area of 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²), of which, 1.3 square miles (3.4 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (4.35%) is water.
Slatington's elevation is 738 feet above sea level.
Slatington is home to several large parks, including Victory Park (the location of the community pool and a disc golf course) as well as the nationally renowned Canal Park which is considered one of the best trails in the country and has recently been subject to many improvements.
Slatington's historic downtown has been dramatically improving and is now considered a viable business center with new businesses opening monthly.
In a 2010 survey, Slatington was voted one of the top 10 "up and coming" small towns in the northeast.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 4,434 people, 1,743 households, and 1,190 families residing in the borough. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 3,354.6 people per square mile (1,297.0/km²). There were 1,867 housing units at an average density of 1,412.5 per square mile (546.1/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 96.23% White, 1.42% African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.77% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.97% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.03% of the population.
There were 1,743 households out of which 35.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.7% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 13.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.7% were non-families. 26.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the borough the population was spread out with 27.1% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 32.4% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 94.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.3 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $36,531, and the median income for a family was $43,542. Males had a median income of $32,101 versus $23,796 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the borough was $16,189. About 10.6% of families and 12.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.1% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.
History
In 1737, Nicholas Kern was the first white settler in what would become Slatington. The Lenni-Lenape Native Americans were already living along "Warriors Path," which would become Route 873Pennsylvania Route 873
Pennsylvania Route 873 is a north-south, two-lane road mainly located in northern Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. Its northern terminus is at PA 248 in the Lehigh Township hamlet of Weiders Crossing. It passes through Slatington as Main Street. Its southern terminus is at PA 309 in Schnecksville....
. Kern established a sawmill shortly after arriving. In 1756, Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin
Dr. Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. A noted polymath, Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, musician, inventor, satirist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat...
reported to Governeur Morris that he had procured boards and timber from Kern's sawmill. In the 19th century two Welshman, who recognized its properties and importance from being used in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, discovered slate
Slate
Slate is a fine-grained, foliated, homogeneous metamorphic rock derived from an original shale-type sedimentary rock composed of clay or volcanic ash through low-grade regional metamorphism. The result is a foliated rock in which the foliation may not correspond to the original sedimentary layering...
. A quarry was set up in 1845, and, in 1847, a factory was erected. In 1846, Slatington was incorporated into a Borough of Pennsylvania; its first Mayor was Robert McDowell.
Public education
The Borough is served by the Northern Lehigh School DistrictNorthern Lehigh School District
Northern Lehigh School District is a school district primarily in Lehigh County, with a small portion in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It serves the boroughs of Slatington and Walnutport; as well as Washington Township...
.
Notable People
- Renee Orin, Broadway singer and wife of Albert HagueAlbert HagueAlbert Hague was a German-born songwriter, composer, and actor.-Early life:Hague was born as Albert Marcuse to a Jewish family in Berlin, Germany. His father, Harry Marcuse, was a psychiatrist and a musical prodigy, and his mother, Mimi , a chess champion...