Carbon County, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Carbon County
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Location within the U.S. state of Pennsylvania
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 Pennsylvania's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  Pennsylvania |
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| Founded | March 13, 1843 (Divided from Northampton County) | ||
| Named for | Coal deposits | ||
| Seat | Jim Thorpe | ||
| Largest borough | Palmerton | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 387 sq mi (1,000 km2) | ||
| • Land | 381 sq mi (990 km2) | ||
| • Water | 5.9 sq mi (15 km2) 2%% | ||
| Population | |||
| • Estimate
(2020)
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64,749 | ||
| • Density | 170/sq mi (70/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | ||
| Congressional district | 7th | ||
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Pennsylvania Historical Marker
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| Designated: | June 13, 1982 | ||
Carbon County is a county in Pennsylvania. In 2020, about 64,749 people lived there. It is part of the Northeast Pennsylvania region.
The county shares borders with several other counties. To the south are Lehigh and Northampton counties. Monroe County is to the east. Luzerne County is to the north. Schuylkill County is to the west.
Carbon County is about 33 miles (53 km) northwest of Allentown. Allentown is Pennsylvania's third-largest city. It is also about 117 miles (188 km) west of New York City.
The county seat is Jim Thorpe. This town was started in 1818 as Mauch Chunk. The Lehigh River flows through Carbon County. It is a 109-mile (175 km) long river. It is a branch of the Delaware River.
Contents
History of Carbon County
Early Settlements
The first European settlement in Carbon County was in 1745. It was a Moravian mission called Gnadenhutten. This area is now Lehighton. By 1752, there was more conflict between settlers and Native Americans. In 1755, Native Americans attacked Gnadenhutten.
In the late 1780s, a settlement at Lehigh Gap failed. Settlers did not return for about ten years.
Discovery of Coal
In 1791, a homesteader named Phillip Ginter was hunting. He found a black rock that was coal. He found it on Sharp Mountain near Pisgah Mountain. He took a piece of it to Weissport. This discovery was very important for the area.
Industrial Growth
By 1800, the Lehigh Coal Mine Company (LCMC) started working near the mouth of the Nesquehoning Creek. This area became known as Lausanne. It was also called Lausanne Landing. An inn and tavern called Landing Tavern were built there.
An old Native American trail crossed the stream. It connected to the next water gap to the west. This trail became the Lehigh and Susquehanna Turnpike in 1804. Today, PA Route 93 follows much of this old route. This road made trips from Philadelphia to the Wyoming Valley much shorter. It cut off about 90 to 100 miles (140 to 160 km).
In 1827, the Lehigh Coal & Navigation Company started the Mauch Chunk Switchback Railway. This company was based in Jim Thorpe. This railway was the second one to operate in the United States.
Another company, the Beaver Meadow Railroad and Coal Company, was also in Carbon County. It was the first railway to use steam locomotives in the U.S. The Mauch Chunk Switchback Railway connected mines to the Lehigh Canal. These mines were west of Beaver Meadows and Weatherly.
County's Beginning
Carbon County was officially created on March 13, 1843. It was formed from parts of Northampton and Monroe counties. It was named "Carbon" because of the large amounts of anthracite coal found there. Coal was first discovered in the area in 1791.
Early efforts to mine coal were difficult. The Lehigh Coal Mine Company tried in 1792. They used mules to carry coal in bags to Philadelphia. This was not very successful at first.
Molly Maguires
In the 1800s, Carbon County was known for the trials of the Molly Maguires. This was a secret society from Ireland. They were accused of causing trouble in the region.
Geography of Carbon County
Carbon County covers about 387 square miles (1,002 km²). Most of it, 381 square miles (987 km²), is land. About 5.9 square miles (15 km²) is water.
Blue Mountain forms the southern border of the county. The northeast part of the county is in the Pocono Mountains. The northwest part includes parts of Broad and Spring mountains.
The Lehigh River drains most of the county. However, some small areas drain into other rivers. For example, parts of Packer Township and Lansford drain into the Little Schuylkill River. The Audenried area drains into the Susquehanna River. The Lehigh River has a deep gorge between Jim Thorpe and White Haven. This area is now Lehigh Gorge State Park.
Climate
Carbon County has a humid continental climate. This means it has warm summers and cold winters. Average monthly temperatures at Jake Arner Memorial Airport range from 27.8°F (-2.3°C) in January to 72.5°F (22.5°C) in July.
Neighboring Counties
- Luzerne County (north)
- Monroe County (east)
- Northampton County (southeast)
- Lehigh County (south)
- Schuylkill County (southwest)
Transportation in Carbon County
Main Roads
_from_the_overpass_for_Interstate_80_(Keystone_Shortway)_in_Kidder_Township,_Carbon_County,_Pennsylvania.jpg)
I-80
I-476 / Penna Turnpike NE Extension
US 209
PA 54
PA 93
PA 248
PA 309
PA 443
PA 534
PA 895
PA 902
PA 903
PA 940
Bus Services
Carbon Transit offers local bus routes. Route 701 connects Coaldale and Palmerton. Route 702 connects Nesquehoning and Palmerton. Both connect to the LANta Route 325 bus in Palmerton. Carbon Transit also has CT Flex service in Jim Thorpe, Penn Forest Township, and Kidder Township.
Hazleton Public Transit (HPT) bus route 30 serves northwestern Carbon County. It goes through Beaver Meadows and Junedale to Weatherly. HPT route 20 serves Audenried.
Fullington Trailways provides bus service between cities. It stops in Lehighton and Jim Thorpe. Martz Trailways stops in Kidder Township. This stop is near the Pocono interchange of Interstate 476. It offers service to cities like Scranton and Philadelphia. This route connects to Amtrak trains in Philadelphia. Martz also runs buses to Atlantic City casinos from this stop.
Airports
Jake Arner Memorial Airport in Lehighton is for small planes. For bigger planes and commercial flights, you can go to Lehigh Valley International Airport or Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport.
People of Carbon County
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 15,686 | — | |
| 1860 | 21,033 | 34.1% | |
| 1870 | 28,144 | 33.8% | |
| 1880 | 31,923 | 13.4% | |
| 1890 | 38,624 | 21.0% | |
| 1900 | 44,510 | 15.2% | |
| 1910 | 52,846 | 18.7% | |
| 1920 | 62,565 | 18.4% | |
| 1930 | 63,380 | 1.3% | |
| 1940 | 61,735 | −2.6% | |
| 1950 | 57,558 | −6.8% | |
| 1960 | 52,889 | −8.1% | |
| 1970 | 50,573 | −4.4% | |
| 1980 | 53,285 | 5.4% | |
| 1990 | 56,846 | 6.7% | |
| 2000 | 58,802 | 3.4% | |
| 2010 | 65,249 | 11.0% | |
| 2020 | 64,749 | −0.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2017 |
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In 2000, there were 58,802 people living in Carbon County. There were 23,701 households and 16,424 families. The population density was about 154 people per square mile (59/km²).
About 28.7% of households had children under 18. About 54.8% were married couples. The average household had 2.44 people. The average family had 2.93 people.
The population was spread out by age. About 22.2% were under 18. About 18.5% were 65 or older. The average age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were about 94.9 males.
2020 Census Information
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 57,439 | 88.71% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 1,070 | 1.65% |
| Native American (NH) | 95 | 0.15% |
| Asian (NH) | 327 | 0.51% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 14 | 0.02% |
| Other/Mixed (NH) | 2,162 | 3.33% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 3,642 | 5.6% |
Education in Carbon County
Colleges and Technical Schools
- Lehigh Carbon Community College has a campus in Carbon County.
Public School Districts
Here are the public school districts in Carbon County:
- Hazleton Area School District (also in Luzerne and Schuylkill counties)
- Jim Thorpe Area School District
- Lehighton Area School District
- Palmerton Area School District
- Panther Valley School District (also in Schuylkill County)
- Weatherly Area School District
Career Technical School
Carbon Career and Technical Institute is a public school. It is located in Jim Thorpe. It helps students learn job skills.
Intermediate Unit
Carbon-Lehigh Intermediate Unit 21 helps public and private K-12 schools in Carbon County.
Fun Things to Do in Carbon County
Mauch Chunk Lake is a county park. You can go swimming, camping, and hiking there. In winter, you can go cross-country skiing.
There are three Pennsylvania state parks in Carbon County:
- Beltzville State Park
- Hickory Run State Park
- Lehigh Gorge State Park This park stretches along the Lehigh River. It goes through Luzerne County and into Carbon County.
Towns and Townships
In Pennsylvania, there are different types of towns. These include cities, boroughs, and townships. Here are the boroughs and townships in Carbon County:
Boroughs
Townships
Census-Designated Places
These are special areas the U.S. Census Bureau uses for data. They are not official towns.
- Albrightsville
- Holiday Pocono
- Indian Mountain Lake
- Towamensing Trails
- Tresckow
- Weissport East
Former Communities
- East Mauch Chunk, now part of Jim Thorpe
- Lausanne Landing, an early settlement near the Nesquehoning Creek
Population Ranking of Towns (2010 Census)
† county seat
| Rank | City/Town/etc. | Municipal type | Population (2010 Census) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lehighton | Borough | 5,500 |
| 2 | Palmerton | Borough | 5,414 |
| 3 | † Jim Thorpe | Borough | 4,781 |
| 4 | Indian Mountain Lake (partially in Monroe County) | CDP | 4,372 |
| 5 | Lansford | Borough | 3,941 |
| 6 | Nesquehoning | Borough | 3,349 |
| 7 | Summit Hill | Borough | 3,034 |
| 8 | Weatherly | Borough | 2,525 |
| 9 | Towamensing Trails | CDP | 2,292 |
| 10 | Weissport East | CDP | 1,624 |
| 11 | Bowmanstown | Borough | 937 |
| 12 | Tresckow | CDP | 880 |
| 13 | Beaver Meadows | Borough | 869 |
| 14 | Parryville | Borough | 525 |
| 15 | Holiday Pocono | CDP | 476 |
| 16 | Weissport | Borough | 412 |
| 17 | East Side | Borough | 317 |
| 18 | Albrightsville | CDP | 202 |
Images for kids
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A friendly robot.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Carbon (Pensilvania) para niños
