Weissport, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Weissport is a borough in Carbon County
, Pennsylvania
, United States
. The town was founded in 1792 by Col. Jacob Weiss
. This particular area was located between Lehighton, Parryville and Longrun. Soon after the town itself was established, and the first wooden bridge over the river to the town was built in 1805, along with the first post office, taverns, banks, and stores all by 1812. Also, within the first twenty years this town was established as a vital part of the canal industry. Their vital link was in the restoration, building, and repairing of canal boats along the Lehigh Canal
which ran parallel to the Lehigh River
. By 1832 Lewis Weiss began building boats for the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company
and the Morris Canal & Banking Company.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the borough has a total area of 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²), of which, 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (18.75%) is water.
The town was a central hub during the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Canal era. The town served as the only boat building and repair facility along the Lehigh Canal.
Today, the Lehigh Canal Park is a gem of nature and history for residents and visitors alike.
The town is one of the cultural and historic resources along the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor.
Weissport is 2 miles northwest of Parryville and 1 mile southeast of Lehighton.
Weissport's elevation is 630 feet.
of 2000, there were 434 people, 176 households, and 107 families residing in the borough. The population density
was 3,264.5 people per square mile (1,289.0/km²). There were 196 housing units at an average density of 1,474.3 per square mile (582.1/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 95.16% White, 0.46% African American, 3.46% Asian, 0.23% from other races
, and 0.69% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.69% of the population.
There were 176 households out of which 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.0% were married couples
living together, 13.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.2% were non-families. 31.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.12.
In the borough the population was spread out with 23.5% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 35.0% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 11.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 104.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.2 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $30,139, and the median income for a family was $37,188. Males had a median income of $27,639 versus $17,083 for females. The per capita income
for the borough was $13,785. About 11.0% of families and 14.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.5% of those under age 18 and 4.4% of those age 65 or over.
Carbon County, Pennsylvania
As of the census of 2000, there were 58,802 people, 23,701 households, and 16,424 families residing in the county. The population density was 154 people per square mile . There were 30,492 housing units at an average density of 80 per square mile...
, 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...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The town was founded in 1792 by Col. Jacob Weiss
Jacob Weiss
Colonel Jacob Weiss was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in and died in Weissport, Pennsylvania on .-Early life:He was the son of native German physician John Jacob Weiss , who emigrated to Philadelphia in 1740....
. This particular area was located between Lehighton, Parryville and Longrun. Soon after the town itself was established, and the first wooden bridge over the river to the town was built in 1805, along with the first post office, taverns, banks, and stores all by 1812. Also, within the first twenty years this town was established as a vital part of the canal industry. Their vital link was in the restoration, building, and repairing of canal boats along the Lehigh Canal
Lehigh Canal
The Lehigh Canal was constructed by the Lehigh Coal & Navigation Company to carry anthracite from the upper Lehigh Valley to the urban markets of the northeast, especially Philadelphia...
which ran parallel to the Lehigh River
Lehigh River
The Lehigh River, a tributary of the Delaware River, is a river located in eastern Pennsylvania, in the United States. Part of the Lehigh, along with a number of its tributaries, is designated a Pennsylvania Scenic River by the state's Department of Conservation and Natural Resources...
. By 1832 Lewis Weiss began building boats for the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company
Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company
The Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company is an anthracite coal mining company headquartered in Pottsville, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, U.S.A., with operations in the areas of Tamaqua, Coaldale, and Lansford...
and the Morris Canal & Banking Company.
Geography
Weissport is located at 40°49′45"N 75°42′3"W (40.829105, -75.700817).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 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²), of which, 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (18.75%) is water.
The town was a central hub during the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Canal era. The town served as the only boat building and repair facility along the Lehigh Canal.
Today, the Lehigh Canal Park is a gem of nature and history for residents and visitors alike.
The town is one of the cultural and historic resources along the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor.
Weissport is 2 miles northwest of Parryville and 1 mile southeast of Lehighton.
Weissport's elevation is 630 feet.
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 434 people, 176 households, and 107 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 3,264.5 people per square mile (1,289.0/km²). There were 196 housing units at an average density of 1,474.3 per square mile (582.1/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 95.16% White, 0.46% African American, 3.46% Asian, 0.23% 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 0.69% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.69% of the population.
There were 176 households out of which 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.0% 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, 13.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.2% were non-families. 31.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.12.
In the borough the population was spread out with 23.5% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 35.0% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 11.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 104.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.2 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $30,139, and the median income for a family was $37,188. Males had a median income of $27,639 versus $17,083 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 $13,785. About 11.0% of families and 14.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.5% of those under age 18 and 4.4% of those age 65 or over.