Northampton, Pennsylvania Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Northampton
Borough

Location of Northampton in Northampton County, Pennsylvania.
Northampton Location in Pennsylvania Show map of Pennsylvania Northampton Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
County	Northampton
Area
• Total	2.64 sq mi (6.83 km²)
• Land	2.47 sq mi (6.40 km²)
• Water	0.17 sq mi (0.43 km²)
Elevation	328 ft (100 m)
Population (2010)
• Total	9,926
• Estimate (2019)	9,870
• Density	3,994.33/sq mi (1,542.51/km²)
Time zone	UTC-5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP Code	18067
Area codes	610, 484
FIPS code	42-54696

Northampton is a borough in Northampton County, Pennsylvania in the Lehigh Valley metropolitan region, in the United States. Its population was 9,926 as of the 2010 census.

Northampton is approximately 8 miles (13 km) north of Allentown, 67 miles (108 km) north-northwest of Philadelphia, and 94 miles (151 km) west of New York City.

Geography
Demographics
History
Public education
Museums
Sister city
See also

Geography

Northampton is located 8 miles (13 km) north of Allentown and 15 miles (24 km) west of Easton at 40°41′2″N 75°29′29″W / 40.68389°N 75.49139°W / 40.68389; -75.49139 (40.683896, -75.491353).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough/city has a total area of 2.7 square miles (7.0 km²); 2.6 square miles (6.7 km²) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km²) (3.70%), water. Northampton's elevation is 370 feet (110 m) above sea level.

The Lehigh River, which separates Northampton County from Lehigh County, forms the city's western border.

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1800	573	—
1810	710	23.9%
1830	1,544	—
1910	8,729	—
1920	9,349	7.1%
1930	9,839	5.2%
1940	9,622	−2.2%
1950	9,332	−3.0%
1960	8,866	−5.0%
1970	8,389	−5.4%
1980	8,240	−1.8%
1990	8,717	5.8%
2000	9,405	7.9%
2010	9,926	5.5%
2019 (est.)	9,870	−0.6%
Sources:

At the 2000 census there were 9,405 people, 3,869 households, and 2,634 families residing in the borough. The population density was 3,619.1 people per square mile (1,396.7/km²). There were 4,023 housing units at an average density of 1,548.1 per square mile (597.4/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 98.21% White, 0.35% African American, 0.05% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.39% from other races, and 0.55% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.74%.

There were 3,869 households, 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.3% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.9% were non-families. 27.4% of households were made up of individuals, and 14.3% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 22.4% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 32.2% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 18.6% 65 or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 91.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.1 males.

The median household income was $40,982 and the median family income was $49,482. Males had a median income of $37,033 versus $26,422 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $19,516. About 1.3% of families and 3.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.4% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.

History

Northampton was created from the villages of Siegfried, Newport and Stemton, which together were formed into an alliance in 1902. Northampton was once a global center for the manufacturing of cement as home to the Atlas Portland Cement Company, which supplied most of the cement used in the building of the Panama Canal.. In 1909, Atlas petitioned county courts to change the alliance into a borough, reportedly because the change would make it easier for the company to send and receive mail. The Atlas Portland Cement Company plant closed in 1982, but city residents many of them former Atlas employees or their descendants — still identify strongly with the company and its history. For example, the Northampton Area School District mascot is the "Konkrete Kid."

Historical community events included the Northampton Jack Frost Parade every October right before Halloween, celebrating the onset of winter and including marching bands and floats.

Another event that occurred during the 1940s and 1950s was the Northampton County Fair, which was held every year and was spread out across the Lappawinzo Fish & Game Club property North of Northampton (off the Kreidersville Road). There were huge numbers of vendor stands, fair rides, animals, shows/performances, 4-H Club judgings, as well as Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey shows. Visitors came from all over the East Coast during the two-week event and hourly buses ran from downtown Northampton and nearby cities to the Fair.

Part of the opening sequence of the 1992 film School Ties was filmed in downtown Northampton due to the town's preservation of older buildings, which fit with the 1950s setting of the film. The Borough is mentioned in the Heavy Metal Song "Four Dead Northampton PA" Written by Heavy Metal Group Ovlo.

Public education

The borough is served by the Northampton Area School District. There are 4 elementary schools, a middle school and one high school.

The Borough is also home to Good Shepherd Catholic School in the 4th Ward. It serves grades Pre-K to 8th grade. It is part of the Diocese of Allentown. There was St. John's school but it closed in 2003.