Breinigsville, Pennsylvania

Breinigsville is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, United States. The town is part of Upper Macungie Township, approximately 11 miles (18 km) southwest of downtown Allentown and 8 miles (13 km) east of Kutztown. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 4,138,[2] up from 1,660 at the 2000 census.

Breinigsville, Pennsylvania
Census-designated place
Center of old town, Breinigsville Rd & Brookdale Rd
Location in Lehigh County
Breinigsville
Location in Pennsylvania
Breinigsville
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 40°32′12″N 75°37′53″W
CountryUnited States
StatePennsylvania
CountyLehigh
TownshipUpper Macungie
Area
 • Total3.29 sq mi (8.5 km2)
 • Land3.29 sq mi (8.5 km2)
 • Water0.0 sq mi (0 km2)
Elevation
406 ft (124 m)
Population
 • Total4,138
 • Density1,259/sq mi (486.2/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
18031
Area code(s)610 & 484
FIPS code42-08392
GNIS feature ID1170194

History
U.S. Post Office, Breinigsville branch, ZIP Code 18031

Breinigsville was named for George Ludwig Breinig (January 31, 1733 – May 12, 1812), a German immigrant who came to America on board the ship Lydia, arriving in Philadelphia on October 13, 1749. He originally settled in Weisenberg Township (tax records show he was assessed 9 pounds in 1762). On May 10, 1771, Breinig purchased around 100 acres (40 ha) of land and a stone dwelling for 700 pounds from Peter and Catherine Trexler (of Trexlertown) along "the great road leading to Philadelphia".[3] He resided on that land until his death.[4]

Breinig was one of the judges of the election at Allentown, on July 8, 1776, when delegates to the first constitutional convention of the state were elected. During the Revolutionary War, Breinig became the colonel of the Second Battalion of Northampton County militia.[3][5] In 1786, he was commissioned a justice of the district of Macungie and Weisenberg townships.[6] Breinig is buried at Zion Lehigh Lutheran Church, Alburtis.

Among his seven children was Peter Breinig, the youngest son, and the founder of Breinigsville, who owned a 123-acre (50 ha) farm. He built a tavern in the village and operated it for some years. As in most early towns, the tavern served as the center of the community. Today, the tavern is in the location of the Breinigsville Hotel.[3]

In the early 1800s, the village was a center for the mining of iron ore, furnishing employment to many men. Around 1855, the Allentown Railroad was graded through Breinigsville, but the tracks were never laid. In the 1860s, the Catasauqua and Fogelsville Railroad used the grade to build from Trexlertown, on its main line, into Breinigsville, as part of a branch to serve local limonite (iron ore) mines.[3] The largest deposit of pyrite ore in the region was located 2 miles (3 km) northwest of Breinigsville.[4] Later, the village was served by the Allentown-Reading Traction Company. These mines had shut down by the end of World War I, and the rails through Breinigsville were consequently abandoned.[3] They were finally removed in the 1940s.

On the western edge of Breinigsville, a United Brethren Church was built in 1880 whose membership at one time peaked at around 40. Regular services discontinued in 1912.[3]

Summer in Breinigsville

At one time, the village had a lumber, grain, and coal depot, a carriage works, and a general store, which are no longer in existence.[3] In the mid-1800s, a two-room school house was built in the town, with the upper grades taught by Miss Edith Walbert and the lower grades taught by Mr. John Shoemaker.[3][4] While the school has long ceased operations, the building still stands.[3] Around 1860, an independent school district was formed in the township by an act of the legislature. The single school replaced the dozens of smaller schools, including the one in Breinigsville.[3] The school district served until the early 1900s, when the Parkland School District was formed.[3]

In 1987, AT&T acquired around 137 acres (55 ha) in Breinigsville which became known as TEK Park Campus. The facility became Bell Labs' world headquarters for optoelectronics research. In the late '90s, the center was spun off as Lucent Technologies.[7] In 2002, it was spun off again as Agere Systems. In 2003, the park was sold to TriQuint Semiconductor. In 2012, TEK Park was sold to MRA Group for $50 million.[8]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
20001,660—
20104,138149.3%

As of the 2010 census, Breinigsville consists of 51.11% females and 48.89% male. The population is made of 79.92% White Non-Hispanic, 5.24% Black or African American, 0.48% Native American or Alaskan Native, 11.07% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian, 1.55% were two or more races, and 1.74% were some other race. Of the population 7.08% were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry.[9]

The town has a population of 4,138 with a median age of 34.6. The largest age groups are 19.21% (5–17), 17.97% (25–34), 16.24% (35–44), and 12.87% (45–54). Breinigsville has 1,550 households made of 1,112 families and 438 non-family households. The average is 2.67 individuals per household and 3.16 individuals per family.[9] Additionally, with 1,677 total housing units, 1,550 are occupied and 127 are vacant.[9] 91.2% of households are owner-occupied and 2.34% rent.

Geography
Schaefer Run

Breinigsville is located southwest of the center of Lehigh County at 40°32'12" North, 75°37'53" West (40.5367627, -75.6312997).[10] It is in the south corner of Upper Macungie Township. The elevation is 406 feet (124 m) at the center of town.

Breinigsville is located along U.S. Route 222, between its intersection with the southern terminus of Pennsylvania Route 863 and Route 222's Trexlertown Bypass (Fred Jaindl Memorial Highway). Breinigsville is bordered to the northeast by Trexlertown, and Maxatawny 3 miles (5 km) to the west along US 222.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Breinigsville CDP has a total area of 3.3 square miles (8.5 km2), of which 0.004 square miles (0.01 km2), or 0.14%, are water.[1] Schaefer Run flows east through the village toward Little Lehigh Creek, a tributary of the Lehigh River and part of the Delaware River watershed.

Climate
See also: Climate of Allentown, Pennsylvania

Breinigsville lies within the hot-summer humid continental climate zone (Köppen: Dfa), and experiences four distinct seasons. Summers are hot and humid, with a July daily average of 83 °F (28.3 °C). In a normal summer, temperatures exceed 85 °F (29 °C) on 15 days. Winters are cold and snowy with few sunny days, and with a January daytime average high of 34 °F (1.1 °C). Spring and autumn are mild seasons with low humidity. The hardiness zone is 6b.

Public education
Fred J. Jaindl Elementary School

Breinigsville is served educationally by Parkland School District. The district has one high school, Parkland High School (for grades nine through 12), two middle schools Springhouse Middle School and Orefield Middle School (for grades six through eight), and eight elementary schools (for kindergarten through fifth grade), Cetronia Elementary School, Fogelsville Elementary School, Ironton Elementary School, Fred J. Jaindl Elementary School, Kernsville Elementary School, Kratzer Elementary School, Parkway Manor Elementary School, and Schnecksville Elementary School. Elementary students from the Breinigsville area attend Fogelsville or Jaindl while its middle-school students attend Springhouse.[14]

The Fred J. Jaindl Elementary School, which opened fall of 2010, is located in Breinigsville.

Economy

Throughout the 19th century, the economy of Breinigsville was primarily agriculture and mining. A number of large mines existed; the mines and later the train tracks were abandoned. In the early 1900s the town was transformed into a mainly agriculture-based economy. Toward the late 1970s and 80s due to relatively cheaper land prices and close proximity to New York, a number of major distributors and warehouses have relocated to the area. Large facilities and distribution centers in Breinigsville include ShopRite, Olympus, Home Depot, Uline, Niagara Bottling and Nestle/Deer Park Water Bottling Plant. In 2009, Nestlé Waters renovated their facility to become LEED Gold certified.[15] Some warehouses, particularly Amazon's, have been criticized in the local press for dangerous working conditions.[16] In March 2014, the Supreme Court agreed to hear the case that involves Amazon's warehouse in Breinigsville.[17]

A number of large book publishing companies also operate from Breinigsville. Amazon's distribution warehouse is situated in Breinigsville. RR Donnelley is also located in the town. In 2007, Lightning Source opened a new 130,000sq feet printing and distributing facility in Breinigsville.[18] Cyclocross Magazine also operates from Breinigsville.

The corporate headquarters of Buckeye Partners is in Breinigsville.

Agriculturally, the town is still the home to a number of nurseries and greenhouses operated by small business. Grim's Greenhouse is located in Breinigsville.[19] The town has a number of large vineyards. Clover Hill Vineyards & Winery[20] as well as Vynecrest Vineyard & Winery[21] are located in Breinigsville; the town is also the home to a major Samuel Adams brewery.[22]

Police and fire
The new Upper Macungie Township Police Department is located in Breinigsville.

Before 2013 Breinigsville was served by the Berks-Lehigh Regional Police, which was a multi-jurisdictional police department. The department is now defunct.

Effective December 31, 2012, Upper Macungie Township Police Department serves the town.[23] The department is located at 37 Grim Road in Breinigsville.

Breinigsville is primarily served by Good Will Fire Co. #1 of Trexlertown,[24][25] with automatic aid provided by Fogelsville Volunteer Fire Co.[26] and Upper Macungie Township Emergency Services Lehigh County Station 56.[27]

Recreation

Terry Hill Waterpark and Campgrounds, a 43-acre (0.17 km2; 0.067 sq mi) water park, was located in Breinigsville. As of January 2010, the waterpark was shut down and available for purchase, while the adjacent trailer park remained in operation. In the fall of 2017, the water park was purchased by the owners of Clover Hill Vineyards.

Breinigsville has a number of neighborhood parks and playgrounds. Breinigsville Park is in the center of Breinigsville. Th3 park, 24.3 acres (9.8 ha), has ​2⁄3 mile of paved walking/cycling paths. Additionally, it offers baseball and softball fields, a basketball court, and a sand volleyball court.[28] The park hosts a large fireworks show every year on Independence Day.[29]

The Valley Preferred Cycling Center is located between Breinigsville and Trexlertown, with a Breinigsville mailing address but within the Trexlertown census-designated place. It is one of the most well-known cycling stadiums in the country and attracts cyclists from all over the world.

In 2004, then-president George W. Bush made an unannounced stop at the Home Town Diner in Breinigsville.[30][31]

In 2012, an entire episode of 30 Minute Meals featuring Rachael Ray and Regis Philbin was filmed from the home of a couple from Breinigsville.[32][33]

Notes
  1. Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the highest and lowest temperature readings during an entire month or year) calculated based on data at said location from 1981 to 2010.
  2. Official records for Allentown were kept at Allentown Gas Company from March 1922 to December 1943, and at Lehigh Valley Int'l since January 1944. For more information, see ThreadEx.

References
  1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Places: Pennsylvania". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
  2. "Total Population: 2010 Census DEC Summary File 1 (P1), Breinigsville CDP, Pennsylvania". data.census.gov. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
  3. Luverne T. Hunsicker; Oliver F. Zegler; Russel L. Peters (1976). Upper Macungie Township - Bicentennial - Souvenir Book (Pamphlet). Obtained from the Upper Macungie Township municipal building: Upper Macungie Township - History Committee. pp. 8–9.
  4. Roberts, Charles Rhoads; Rev. John Baer Stoudt; Rev. Thomas H. Krick; William J. Dietrich (1914). History of Lehigh County Pennsylvania and a Genealogical and Biographical Record of its Families. 1. Lehigh Valley Publishing Company. pp. 14, 915, 920.
  5. "Revolutionary War Militia Overview". Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission. Retrieved March 8, 2014.
  6. Lehigh County Historical Society (1908). Proceedings and Papers Read Before the Lehigh County Historical Society, Volumes 1–2. University of Michigan. p. 203. Retrieved March 8, 2014.
  7. "About TEK Park". TEK Park. Retrieved March 7, 2014.
  8. Kennedy, Sam (April 10, 2012). "TEK Park in Breinigsville sells for more than $50 million". The Morning Call. Retrieved March 7, 2014.
  9. "Census of Population and Housing, 2010" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 6 March 2014.
  10. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  11. "NowData - NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 2019-10-03.
  12. "Station Name: PA ALLENTOWN LEHIGH VALLEY INTL AP". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 2019-10-03.
  13. "WMO Climate Normals for ALLENTOWN/A.-BETHLEHEM, PA 1961–1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 2014-05-28.
  14. Parkland School District School Map Retrieved on Feb 28, 2012
  15. "Nestlé Waters North America Facility Earns U.S. Green Building Council's Gold Standard for Sustainability - June 5, 2009". Nestlé Waters. Retrieved 6 March 2014.
  16. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-10-02. Retrieved 2011-09-30.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  17. Kennedy, Sam (March 5, 2014). "Supreme Court to consider Amazon case". The Morning Call. Retrieved 6 March 2014.
  18. Hunt, Keel. "Lightning Source adds printing facility in Pennsylvania". Lightning Source. Archived from the original on 7 March 2014. Retrieved 7 March 2014.
  19. "About Grim's Greenhouse". Grim's Greenhouse. Archived from the original on 9 March 2014. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
  20. "Clover Hill Vineyards & Winery". Clover Hill Vineyards & Winery. Archived from the original on 6 March 2014. Retrieved 6 March 2014.
  21. "The History of Vynecrest Vineyards Winery". Vynecrest Vineyards and Winery. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
  22. Ledoux, Kim. "Freetown's Sam Adams deal goes flat". South Coast Today. Retrieved 6 March 2014.
  23. Upper Macungie Township Police Department
  24. Good Will Fire Co. Lehigh County Station 25
  25. "Upper Macungie Township". Upper Macungie Township. Retrieved 7 March 2014.
  26. Fogelsville Fire Co. Lehigh County Station 8
  27. Upper Macungie Township Emergency Services Station 56
  28. "Earl Adams Memorial Park (Breinigsville Park)". Upper Macungie Township. Retrieved 7 March 2014.
  29. "Philadelphia area July 4th Fireworks 2013". American Broadcasting Company. July 5, 2013. Archived from the original on 7 March 2014. Retrieved 7 March 2014.
  30. "The Travels of President George W. Bush -- July 2004". Eric M. Appleman. Retrieved March 8, 2014.
  31. McDermott, Joe (July 10, 2004). "Bush drops by Breinigsville diner". The Morning Call. Retrieved March 8, 2014.
  32. Kathy Lauer-Williams (November 20, 2012). "Rachael Ray features entire episode from Breinigsville home". The Morning Call. Retrieved March 8, 2014.
  33. "Breinigsville woman plays host to Rachael Ray show". WFMZ-TV. November 20, 2012. Retrieved March 8, 2014.

Further reading
  • Roberts, Charles Rhoads; Rev. John Baer Stoudt; Rev. Thomas H. Krick; William J. Dietrich (1914). History of Lehigh County Pennsylvania and a Genealogical and Biographical Records of its Families. 1. Lehigh Valley Publishing Company.
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