Northampton County, Pennsylvania

Northampton County, Pennsylvania

Seal
Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Northampton County
Location in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania
Map of the United States highlighting Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania's location in the U.S.
Founded March 11, 1752
Named for Northamptonshire
Seat Easton
Largest city Bethlehem
Area
 • Total 377 sq mi (976 km2)
 • Land 370 sq mi (958 km2)
 • Water 7.7 sq mi (20 km2), 2.0%
Population (est.)
 • (2015) 300,813
 • Density 813/sq mi (314/km²)
Congressional districts 15th, 17th
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website www.northamptoncounty.org

Northampton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 297,735.[1] Its county seat is Easton.[2] The county was formed in 1752 from parts of Bucks County. Its namesake was Northamptonshire and the county seat of Easton is named for the country house Easton Neston.

Northampton County is included in the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA Combined Statistical Area. Its northern edge borders The Poconos, and its eastern section borders the Delaware River, which divides Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

The county is industrially-oriented, producing anthracite coal, cement, and other industrial products. Bethlehem Steel, once one of the world's largest manufacturers of steel, was located there prior to its closing in 2003.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 377 square miles (980 km2), of which 370 square miles (960 km2) is land and 7.7 square miles (20 km2) (2.0%) is water.[3]

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
179024,238—
180030,06224.0%
181038,14526.9%
182031,765−16.7%
183039,48224.3%
184040,9963.8%
185040,235−1.9%
186047,90419.1%
187061,43228.2%
188070,31214.5%
189084,22019.8%
190099,68718.4%
1910127,66728.1%
1920153,50620.2%
1930169,30410.3%
1940168,959−0.2%
1950185,2439.6%
1960201,4128.7%
1970214,3686.4%
1980225,4185.2%
1990247,1059.6%
2000267,0668.1%
2010297,73511.5%
Est. 2015300,813[4]1.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790-1960[6] 1900-1990[7]
1990-2000[8] 2010-2013[1]

As of the 2010 census, the county was 81.0% White Non-Hispanic, 5.0% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American or Alaskan Native, 2.4% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian, 2.2% were two or more races, and 3.8% were some other race. 10.5% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry.

As of the census[9] of 2000, there were 267,066 people, 101,541 households, and 71,078 families residing in the county. The population density was 714 people per square mile (276/km²). There were 106,710 housing units at an average density of 286 per square mile (110/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 91.23% White, 2.77% Black or African American, 0.15% Native American, 1.37% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 3.06% from other races, and 1.39% from two or more races. 6.69% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 24.0% were of German, 14.0% Italian, 8.8% Irish, 5.1% English and 5.1% American ancestry according to Census 2000. 89.3% spoke English and 5.5% Spanish as their first language.

There were 101,541 households out of which 31.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.40% were married couples living together, 9.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.00% were non-families. 24.70% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the county, the population was spread out with 23.30% under the age of 18, 9.20% from 18 to 24, 28.30% from 25 to 44, 23.40% from 45 to 64, and 15.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 94.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.70 males.

Government

Northampton is one of the six counties in Pennsylvania which has adopted a home rule charter. Instead of being run by a Board of Commissioners and several Row Officers, voters elect an Executive, a nine-person Council, a Controller, and a District Attorney. The Executive, Controller and District Attorney are elected by all voters in the County, as are five members of the Council. The other four Councilmen are elected by districts. The Row Officers are nominated by the county executive and approved by county council.

Elected Officials

  • County Executive:
    • John Brown, Republican
  • County Council:
    • Seth Vaughn, Republican
    • Hayden Phillips, Republican
    • Margaret (Peg) Ferraro, Republican
    • Mat Benol, Republican
    • Ken Kraft, Democrat
    • Lamont G. McClure Jr., Democrat
    • Scott Parsons, Democrat
    • Glenn Geissinger, Republican
    • Robert Werner, Democrat
  • Clerk of Courts:
    • Leigh Ann Fisher, Democrat
  • County Controller:
    • Stephen Barron, Jr., Democrat
  • District Attorney:
    • John Morganelli, Democrat
  • Prothonotary:
    • Holly Ruggiero, Democrat
  • Register of Wills:
    • Dorothy Cole, Democrat
  • Sheriff:
    • Randall Miller (resigned 2014)

Politics

Northampton County vote[10]
by party in presidential elections
Year Republican Democratic
2016 49.6% 71,384 45.9% 65,936
2012 46.9% 61,446 51.6% 67,606
2008 43.1% 58,551 55.4% 75,255
2004 49.0% 62,102 50.0% 63,446
2000 45.3% 47,396 50.7% 53,097
1996 39.3% 35,726 48.3% 43,959
1992 35.3% 34,429 43.3% 42,203
1988 51.5% 42,748 47.3% 39,264
1984 53.5% 44,648 45.5% 37,979
1980 47.1% 35,787 42.0% 31,920
1976 42.8% 32,926 55.2% 42,514
1972 56.3% 41,822 43.5% 32,335
1968 41.0% 32,033 54.5% 42,554
1964 26.2% 21,048 73.1% 58,818
1960 49.4% 40,683 50.5% 41,552

As of September 2016, there are 203,060 registered voters in Northampton County:[11]

In recent decades, Northampton has been identified as one of Pennsylvania's "swing counties," with statewide winners carrying it in most cases; since 1952, it has gone to the statewide winner in the presidential election.[12] All five statewide winners carried it in November 2004 and all four statewide Democratic candidates carried it in November 2008, with its District Attorney John Morganelli doing well there despite losing statewide to incumbent Attorney General Tom Corbett. The Democratic Party has been dominant most of the time in county-level politics in recent decades.

County Executives

Northampton County Executives
Name Party Term start Term end
Glenn F. Reibman Democratic 1998 2006
John Stoffa Democratic 2006 2014
John Brown Republican 2014 Incumbent

County Council members

State Representatives

State Senators

U.S. Representatives

Education

Colleges and universities

Map of Northampton County, Pennsylvania School Districts

Public school districts

Public charter schools

The Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Performing Arts, Bethlehem

Private high schools

Transportation

Aerial photo of Lehigh Valley International Airport (IATA: ABE, ICAO: KABE), 2005

Air transportation

Air transport to and from Northampton County is available through Lehigh Valley International Airport (IATA: ABE, ICAO: KABE).

Bus transportation

Public bus service in Northampton County is available through the Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority, known as LANTA. A shuttle bus service, The Bethlehem Loop, also operates in Bethlehem.

Major highways

Telecommunications

Northampton County was once served only by the 215 area code from 1947 (when the North American Numbering Plan of the Bell System went into effect) until 1994. With the county's growing population, however, Northampton County was afforded area code 610 in 1994. Today, Northampton County is covered by 610. An overlay area code, 484, was added to the 610 service area in 1999.[13] A plan to introduce area code 835 as an additional overlay was rescinded in 2001.[14]

Recreation

There are 2 Pennsylvania state parks in Northampton County.

Communities

Map of Northampton County, Pennsylvania with Municipal Labels showing Cities and Boroughs (red), Townships (white), and Census-designated places (blue).

Under Pennsylvania law, there are four types of incorporated municipalities: cities, boroughs, townships, and two towns. The following cities, boroughs and townships are located in Northampton County:

Cities

Boroughs

Townships

Census-designated places

Census-designated places are geographical areas designated by the U.S. Census Bureau for the purposes of compiling demographic data. They are not actual jurisdictions under Pennsylvania law. Other unincorporated communities, such as villages, may be listed here as well.

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Northampton County.[15]

† county seat

Rank City/Town/Township/etc. Municipal type Population (2010 Census)

1 Bethlehem (partially in Lehigh County) City 74,982
2 † Easton City 26,800
3 Bethlehem Township Township 23,730
4 Palmer Township Township 20,691
5 Forks Township Township 14,721
6 Hanover Township Township 10,866
7 Lower Saucon Township Township 10,772
8 Lehigh Township Township 10,527
9 Northampton Borough 9,926
10 Moore Township Township 9,198
11 Bushkill Township Township 8,178
12 Wilson Borough 7,896
13 Middletown CDP 7,441
14 Upper Mount Bethel Township Township 6,706
15 Upper Nazareth Township Township 6,231
16 Plainfield Township Township 6,138
17 Hellertown Borough 5,898
18 Williams Township Township 5,884
19 Nazareth Borough 5,746
20 Lower Nazareth Township Township 5,674
21 Bangor Borough 5,273
22 Washington Township Township 5,122
23 East Allen Township Township 4,930
24 Allen Township Township 4,269
25 Palmer Heights CDP 3,762
26 Pen Argyl Borough 3,595
27 Eastlawn Gardens CDP 3,307
28 Lower Mount Bethel Township Township 3,101
29 North Catasauqua Borough 2,849
30 Wind Gap Borough 2,720
31 Bath Borough 2,693
32 Freemansburg Borough 2,636
33 Old Orchard CDP 2,434
34 Walnutport Borough 2,070
35 Cherryville CDP 1,580
36 Roseto Borough 1,567
T-37 Belfast CDP 1,257
T-37 West Easton Borough 1,257
39 Tatamy Borough 1,203
40 East Bangor Borough 1,172
41 Raubsville CDP 1,088
42 Stockertown Borough 927
43 Martins Creek CDP 631
44 Ackermanville CDP 610
45 Portland Borough 519
46 Glendon Borough 440
47 Chapman Borough 199

Notable people

See also

Footnotes

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 20, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  4. ↑ "County Totals Dataset: Population, Population Change and Estimated Components of Population Change: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  5. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  7. ↑ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 24, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  9. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  10. ↑ http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/
  11. ↑ "Running for office". Pennsylvania Department of State. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  12. ↑ "The bellwethers: What do voters in eastern PA know that the rest don't?". PennLive.com. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  13. ↑ "NANP-Overlay of 610 (Pennsylvania) Numbering Plan Area (NPA) with 484 NPA" (PDF). (359 KB)
  14. ↑ "PA 835 Implementation for 484/610 NPA Rescinded – 835 NPA Code Reclaimed" (PDF). (20.8 KB)
  15. ↑ http://www.census.gov/2010census/

Further reading

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Northampton County,PA.

Coordinates: 40°45′N 75°19′W / 40.75°N 75.31°W / 40.75; -75.31

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