Lehighton, Pennsylvania

Lehighton (/li'hɑitən/) is a borough in Carbon County, Pennsylvania, United States, 77 miles (124 km) north of Philadelphia, and 54 miles (87 km) south of Scranton. In the past, it developed early industries because of water power from the Lehigh River. With the location of a repair facility here and its regional operations, the Lehigh Valley Railroad became for years a major employer of thousands of people from the area. Post-World War II railroad and industry restructuring led to job and population losses.

Lehighton, Pennsylvania
Borough
Lehighton, Pennsylvania
Location of Lehighton in Carbon County, Pennsylvania.
Lehighton
Location of Lehighton in Pennsylvania
Lehighton
Lehighton (the United States)
Coordinates: 40°49′55″N 75°42′53″W
CountryUnited States
StatePennsylvania
CountyCarbon
Government
 • MayorClark Ritter
Area
 • Total1.65 sq mi (4.28 km2)
 • Land1.62 sq mi (4.20 km2)
 • Water0.03 sq mi (0.07 km2)
Elevation570 ft (170 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total5,500
 • Estimate 
(2019)[3]
5,313
 • Density3,273.57/sq mi (1,263.87/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
18235
Area code(s)610 Exchanges: 377,379
FIPS code42-42472
Websitewww.lehightonborough.com

From a peak of nearly 7,000 in 1940, the population was 5,500 at the 2010 census.[4] Lehighton is the most populous borough in Carbon County and still the business hub of the county.

History

At the time of the first European's encounters with historic American Indian tribes, this area was part of the shared hunting territory of the Iroquoian Susquehannock and the Algonquian Lenape (also called the Delaware, after their language and territory along the Delaware River) peoples, who were often at odds.[5] Relatives of the peoples of New England and along the St. Lawrence valley of Canada, the Delaware bands occupied much of the coastal mid-Atlantic area in Delaware, New Jersey, Eastern Pennsylvania and lower eastern New York, including Long Island.[5] The Susquehannock confederacy's homelands were mainly along the Susquehanna River, from the Mohawk Valley in lower New York southerly to the Chesapeake and Virginia's Shenandoah Valley, but may have ranged into the 'empty lands'[6] of West Virginia, Eastern Ohio, and Western Pennsylvania.[5] The Dutch and Swedes first settled the Delaware Valley, and found the area north of the Lehigh Gap to be lightly occupied, probably by transients, but traveled regularly by the Susquehannock. This tribe traveled quite a bit according to the American Heritage Book of Indians,[5] including being described in lofty terms by John Smith when a band visited the new Jamestown, Virginia colony.[5] In the decades of the Beaver Wars in the mid-1600s, the Susquehannocks conquered and made the Lenape a tributary tribe — and also nearly inflicted an overwhelming defeat on the powerful Iroquois Confederacy,.[5] Shortly thereafter, the Susquehannocks suffered a reversal, falling first to epidemic disease that raged for three years which killed off perhaps 90% of their population,[5] and a series of battles on most of their frontiers as various enemies took advantage.[5] This vacated the southeastern and central Pennsylvania regions for the Delaware peoples. However, all tribes were thereafter displaced westwards by continued colonial growth. Delaware dominance at the time of European colonization is why William Penn's settlers adopted Lenape Lenki (Delaware) names for landscape features, and less than a handful of Susquehannock names.

Lehighton was built on the site of the German Moravian Brethren's mission station "Gnadenhütten" (cabins of grace) founded in 1746. It was established as a mission to the Lenape by Moravians from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, lower on the Lehigh River.[7] The German name was transcribed as "Canatanheat" by missionary John Brainerd.[8]

During the French and Indian Wars (Seven Years' War), Native allies of the French killed 11 missionaries and Lenape (Delaware) converted Christians at Gnadenhutten on 24 November 1755. They destroyed the mission village,[9] and only four of the fifteen residents escaped.[10] (During the American Revolutionary War in 1782, Pennsylvania militia raided another Moravian mission village, also called Gnadenhutten, in present-day Ohio. Suspecting the Lenape of being allied with the British, the militia killed 96 unarmed men, women, and children in what became better known as the Gnadenhutten Massacre.)

The Lehigh River was a source of water power for developing industries in the 19th century. Lehighton had silk and lace mills, a meat-packing house, shirt factory, automatic-press works, car shops, stoneworks, and foundries. In 1900, the population was 4,629 people. By 1940, it had reached 6,615.

The coming of the railroad made it easier for residents to get their products to major markets. For many years, the Lehigh Valley Railroad had a major repair facility in Lehighton. The coming of the railroad was a major economic boost for the town. It was the area's largest company, employing several thousand workers at the repair facilities or operating and maintaining the railroad. Restructuring in the railroad industry led to the repair facilities being moved to another location. Lost jobs meant that some people had to relocate for work.

The Lehighton downtown declined after the Carbon Plaza Mall was built in nearby Mahoning Township. Suburban housing developed, pulling more businesses from downtown. After struggling for three decades, the downtown is experiencing a rebirth as people appreciate the qualities of a compact central location, royalty and historic architecture.

The town holds an annual civic event, "Bike Night", featuring more than 28,000 motorcyclists. "Bike Night" first started in the borough of Lehighton. In 2013, Lehighton moved its "Bike Night" out of the downtown park across from the borough office to a park called "The Grove" located on Iron Street between South 7th and 8th Street. In 2015, "Bike Night" was moved again. However, this time "Bike Night" moved out of the Lehighton Borough. "Bike Night" of 2015 was located in Franklin Township, which is located a few miles outside of the borough. This is the first time since the first annual event that it was not held within the Lehighton borough itself.

In late September through October, the Country Junction store sponsors "The Great Pocono Pumpkin Festival". It features hayrides, walks in haunted woods, and cornfield mazes.

Geography

Lehighton is located in southern Carbon County at 40°49′55″N 75°42′53″W (40.831932, -75.714701).[11] It is in northeast Pennsylvania 117 miles (188 km) west of New York City and 37 miles (60 km) south of Wilkes-Barre. The borough is situated on the west bank of the Lehigh River at an elevation ranging from 470 feet (140 m) above sea level at the river up to 725 feet (221 m) near the northwest part of town by Mahoning Township border.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 1.65 square miles (4.28 km2), of which 1.62 square miles (4.20 km2) is land and 0.03 square miles (0.07 km2), or 1.69%, is water.[4] Lehighton is located 3 miles (5 km) south of Jim Thorpe, the Carbon County seat, and 7 miles (11 km) northwest of Palmerton. Lehighton is bordered on the north, west, and south by Mahoning Township and across the Lehigh River on the east by Weissport and Franklin Township.

Lehighton is primarily very green and hilly. The town and its outlying communities are in the Ridge-and-Valley region of the Appalachian Mountains. The Appalachian Trail, a long-distance hiking trail extending from Maine to Georgia, is located south of town near Palmerton.

Climate

The region has large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. The Köppen Climate Classification subtype for this climate is "Dfb" (Warm Summer Continental Climate).[12]

Snowfall is variable, with some winters bringing moderate snow and others bringing numerous significant snowstorms. Average snowfall is 50.4 inches (128 cm) per year,[13] with the months of January and February receiving the highest at just over 15 and 13 inches (38 and 33 cm) respectively. Rainfall is generally spread throughout the year, with eight to twelve wet days per month,[14] at an average annual rate of 43.52 inches (110.54 cm).[15]

Typically, summer lasts from late May until mid September. The humidity is high only for one to two days at a time. Winter lasts from November through March and varies greatly in length and severity. Snowfall can occur anytime from mid-October to as late as April. Spring and autumn are both short and highly variable. The autumn foliage season is only two to three weeks long and is at its peak anytime from early to mid-October.

Winter daytime highs average 27.8 °F (−2.3 °C) in January and the lows are 13.9 °F (−10.1 °C) Summer daytime highs average 81.2 °F (27.3 °C) in July and the lows are 55.6 °F (13.1 °C)

Climate data for Lehighton, Pennsylvania
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 61
(16)		 68
(20)		 80
(27)		 90
(32)		 100
(38)		 103
(39)		 100
(38)		 96
(36)		 88
(31)		 79
(26)		 71
(22)		 65
(18)		 103
(39)
Average high °F (°C) 30.2
(−1.0)		 33.7
(0.9)		 43.7
(6.5)		 55.1
(12.8)		 65.9
(18.8)		 76.3
(24.6)		 82.1
(27.8)		 80.7
(27.1)		 69.0
(20.6)		 57.9
(14.4)		 46.2
(7.9)		 35.0
(1.7)		 60.5
(15.8)
Average low °F (°C) 1.0
(−17.2)		 14.0
(−10.0)		 23.9
(−4.5)		 34.8
(1.6)		 44.3
(6.8)		 50.7
(10.4)		 58.6
(14.8)		 57.7
(14.3)		 49.7
(9.8)		 41.1
(5.1)		 29.7
(−1.3)		 21.0
(−6.1)		 40.6
(4.8)
Record low °F (°C) −21
(−29)		 −17
(−27)		 −10
(−23)		 7
(−14)		 23
(−5)		 34
(1)		 36
(2)		 41
(5)		 29
(−2)		 17
(−8)		 0
(−18)		 −12
(−24)		 −21
(−29)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 3.50
(89)		 2.75
(70)		 3.56
(90)		 3.49
(89)		 4.47
(114)		 3.99
(101)		 4.27
(108)		 4.35
(110)		 4.37
(111)		 3.33
(85)		 3.70
(94)		 3.39
(86)		 45.17
(1,147)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 14.1
(36)		 12.4
(31)		 8.5
(22)		 3.8
(9.7)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 2.1
(5.3)		 6.4
(16)		 10.8
(27)		 58.1
(147)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 11.2 10.2 11.1 11.3 12.4 11.2 10.5 9.4 9.9 8.7 10.0 11.0 126.9
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 8.7 7.9 4.8 1.4 0 0 0 0 0 1.1 3.8 5.3 32.0

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1850267—
18701,485—
18801,93730.4%
18902,95952.8%
19004,62956.4%
19105,31614.8%
19206,10214.8%
19306,4906.4%
19406,6151.9%
19506,565−0.8%
19606,318−3.8%
19706,095−3.5%
19805,826−4.4%
19905,9141.5%
20005,537−6.4%
20105,500−0.7%
2019 (est.)5,313[3]−3.4%
Sources:[16][17][18]

As of the census[17] of 2000, there were 5,537 people, 2,362 households, and 1,506 families residing in the borough. The population density was 3,230.8 people per square mile (1,250.2/km²). There were 2,546 housing units at an average density of 1,485.6 per square mile (574.9/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 98.32% White, 1.34% African American, 1.05% Native American, 1.45% Asian, 1.09% Pacific Islander, 1.04% from other races, and 1.70% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.67% of the population. The plurality of Lehighton residents are of German descent. There are also substantial populations of Italian, Polish, and Slovak heritage.

There were 2,362 households, out of which 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.8% were married couples living together, 13.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.2% were non-families. 31.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.87.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 22.6% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 21.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.5 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $28,566, and the median income for a family was $35,673. Males had a median income of $30,590 versus $22,466 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $14,861. About 10.8% of families and 14.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.9% of those under age 18 and 6.0% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

Lehighton is served by I-476, US 209, PA 248, PA 443, and PA 902.

Carbon County Community Transit provides bus service to Lehighton along Lynx 1, which runs between Nesquehoning and the Lehigh Valley Mall on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and Lynx 2, which runs between Nesquehoning and Walnutport on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.[19] Fullington Trailways provides daily bus service to destinations in New York and Pennsylvania.[20] Passenger rail service ended in 1961 when the Lehigh Valley Railroad, once a major employer in the area, discontinued all passenger service over its route.[21]

Jake Arner Memorial Airport (22N) is located 3 miles (5 km) west-southwest of town, with a 3,000-foot (910 m) asphalt runway and two RNAV instrument approaches.

Media

Lehighton is home to the Times News, published six-days-a-week serving five counties.

In 1962, 1160 AM signed on as WYNS. In 2005, call letters were changed under new ownership to WBYN. Beginning September 2019, the station has simulcast WEEU in Reading.

Notable people

References
  1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
  2. "Borough of Lehighton". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. 2 August 1979. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
  3. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  4. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Lehighton borough, Pennsylvania". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on April 23, 2015. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
  5. Editor: Alvin M. Josephy, Jr., by The editors of American Heritage Magazine (1961). pages 180-211 (ed.). The American Heritage Book of Indians. American Heritage Publishing Co., Inc. LCCN 61-14871.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  6. re: The term 'empty lands': Swedish, Dutch, and French explorers all reported the lands west of the Allegheny Ridge and south of the shores of Eastern Lake Erie (the Erie people's territory west of the Ohio and Allegheny River valleys [i.e. Central and Eastern and lower Ohio; including parts of left bank Kentucky.]) to be empty of population; hunting grounds which may have been shared by tribes as diverse as the Iroquois, Creek, Shawnee, Miami, Erie, Susquehannock, Delaware peoples, and possibly some of the tribes around the Potomac. By the time the English trappers and traders pushed West into the Ohio Country, the territories had been claimed by the Iroquois—who'd defeated and broken their relatives — the Erie and Susquehannocks, while adopting survivors (including remnant bands of Susquehannocks) and asserting their own control over the Leni Lenape tributary tribe.
  7. "History" Archived 2008-05-09 at the Wayback Machine, Lehighton Borough official website
  8. Thomas Brainerd, John Brainerd: The Life of John Brainerd: The Brother of David Brainerd, and His Successor as Missionary to the Indians of New Jersey ..., Presbyterian Publication Committee, 1865, p. 197. Footnote: "This was, doubtless, Gnadenhütten, founded by the Moravians in 1746. It was situated on the Mahoning Creek, near the Lehigh River,..."
  9. "Lehighton", Encyclopædia Britannica
  10. Clarence Marsh Case: The Social Psychology of Passive Resistance, PhD Dissertation, Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin, 1915, p. 120
  11. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  12. Climate Summary for Lehigton, Pennsylvania
  13. "Snowfall – Average Total In Inches". Archived from the original on 19 June 2011. Retrieved 4 November 2006.
  14. "Average Days of Precipitation, .01 cm or more". Archived from the original on November 3, 2006. Retrieved 4 November 2006.
  15. "Average Monthly Precipitation". Archived from the original on September 19, 2006. Retrieved 4 November 2006.
  16. "Census of Population and Housing". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  17. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  18. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places - Pennsylvania: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2013 (PEPANNRES)". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on March 10, 2015. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
  19. "The Lynx". Carbon County Community Transit. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
  20. "Daily Bus Departures". Fullington Tours. Retrieved October 21, 2017.
  21. "New York Loses More Famed Trains". Ottawa Citizen. 3 February 1961. Retrieved 3 March 2013.
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