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Slatington, Pennsylvania
Borough
Main Street, Slatington, Pennsylvania, 2013
Main Street, Slatington, Pennsylvania, 2013
Nickname(s): 
The Slate Capital of America
Location in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania
Location in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania
Slatington, Pennsylvania is located in Pennsylvania
Slatington, Pennsylvania
Slatington, Pennsylvania
Location in Pennsylvania
Slatington, Pennsylvania is located in the United States
Slatington, Pennsylvania
Slatington, Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
Country United States
State Pennsylvania
County Lehigh
Settled 1737
Established 1864
Area
 • Total 1.38 sq mi (3.57 km2)
 • Land 1.32 sq mi (3.42 km2)
 • Water 0.06 sq mi (0.15 km2)
Elevation
490 ft (150 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total 4,232
 • Estimate 
(2019)
4,307
 • Density 3,260.41/sq mi (1,258.92/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
18080
Area code(s) 610 Exchanges: 760,767
FIPS code 42-71144

Slatington is a borough in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, United States. As of the 2010 census it had a population of 4,232.

Slatington is part of the Lehigh Valley metropolitan area of the United States, located northwest of Allentown and Bethlehem.

Geography

Slatington is located at 40°45′9″N 75°36′33″W / 40.75250°N 75.60917°W / 40.75250; -75.60917 (40.752561, -75.609229).

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) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) (4.35%) is water.

Slatington's elevation is 738 feet above sea level. 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.

Slatington is home to Victory Park, the location of the community pool and a disc golf course.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1870 1,508
1880 1,634 8.4%
1890 2,716 66.2%
1900 3,773 38.9%
1910 4,454 18.0%
1920 4,014 −9.9%
1930 4,134 3.0%
1940 4,062 −1.7%
1950 4,343 6.9%
1960 4,316 −0.6%
1970 4,687 8.6%
1980 4,277 −8.7%
1990 4,678 9.4%
2000 4,434 −5.2%
2010 4,232 −4.6%
2019 (est.) 4,307 1.8%
Sources:

As of the census of 2010, there were 4,232 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.

History

Alfred Kern House, Slatington PA
Alfred Kern House.

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 873. Kern established a sawmill shortly after arriving. In 1756, Benjamin Franklin reported to Governor Morris that he had procured boards and timber from Kern's sawmill. In the 19th century two Welshmen, 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 1864, Slatington was incorporated into a Borough of Pennsylvania; its first Mayor was Robert McDowell.

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.

The Fireman's Drinking Fountain and Slatington Historic District are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Education

The borough is served by the Northern Lehigh School District. Northern Lehigh School District has two elementary schools. Peters Elementary school educates students grades Kindergarten through second grade while Slatington Elementary educates grades 3–6. The district has only one middle school (grades 7–8) and one high school (grades 9–12). The district report card from the Pennsylvania Department of Education can be found on the following website: https://web.archive.org/web/20160304073153/http://paayp.emetric.net/Content/reportcards/RC12S121394503000006829.PDF

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Slatington para niños

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