Coplay, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Coplay, Pennsylvania
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Coplay Cement Company Kilns in Coplay in May 2024
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Location of Coplay in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania (left) and of Lehigh County in Pennsylvania (right)
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 Coplay, Pennsylvania
Location in Pennsylvania
Coplay, Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  Pennsylvania |
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| County | Lehigh | |
| Area | ||
| • Borough | 0.63 sq mi (1.62 km2) | |
| • Land | 0.61 sq mi (1.58 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.02 sq mi (0.04 km2) | |
| Elevation | 400 ft (100 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Borough | 3,348 | |
| • Density | 5,488.52/sq mi (2,118.10/km2) | |
| • Metro | 865,310 (US: 68th) | |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) | |
| ZIP code |
18037
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| Area codes | 610 and 484 | |
| FIPS code | 42-16128 | |
| Primary airport | Lehigh Valley International Airport | |
| Major hospital | Lehigh Valley Hospital–Cedar Crest | |
| School district | Whitehall-Coplay | |
Coplay is a small town, called a borough, located in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. In 2020, about 3,348 people lived there. Coplay is about six miles (10 km) northwest of Allentown. It's part of a larger area called the Lehigh Valley metropolitan area. This area is home to over 860,000 people.
Contents
Where is Coplay Located?
Coplay is found at 40°40′14″N 75°29′43″W / 40.67056°N 75.49528°W. This means it's at a specific spot on the Earth's map. The borough covers about 0.6 square miles (1.6 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, but a small part, about 0.04 square miles (0.10 square kilometers), is water. Coplay is right along the Lehigh River, which is a major river in the area. It's about 5 miles (8 km) north of Allentown.
A Look Back at Coplay's History
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Coplay's story began in 1740. A man named John Jacob Schreiber bought a large piece of land, about 400 acres (1.6 square kilometers). This land was bought from the family of William Penn, who founded Pennsylvania.
How Coplay Got Its Name
At first, the area was known as Schreibers, named after John Jacob Schreiber. Later, it was called Lehigh Valley because of the iron factories there. The name then changed to Coplay. This name comes from "Kolapechka," who was the son of a Native American chief named Paxanosa. Chief Paxanosa lived near a creek that flows through the area.
In 1869, Coplay officially separated from Whitehall Township. It became its own borough on April 7, 1869.
From Farms to Factories
Coplay slowly changed from a farming area to a place with many factories. This started with the Thomas Iron Company. This company brought many workers to the area and even built homes for them.
After the iron company closed, other businesses came to Coplay. These included a Cement Mill, a Silk Mill, a Cigar Factory, and a Knitting Mill. Because of all these jobs, people from many different countries came to live in Coplay. It became a "melting pot" of cultures.
People Who Made Coplay Home
- The first settlers were mostly Pennsylvania Dutch and Germans. They came for the good farmland.
- Later, people from Ireland arrived to work in the growing iron industry.
- In the early 1900s, the Cement Mills attracted immigrants from countries like Austria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Poland, and Ukraine.
On April 7, 1969, Coplay celebrated its 100th birthday! There was a big celebration in town from June 15 to 21. In 1980, a special place called the Coplay Cement Company Kilns was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important historical site.
Who Lives in Coplay?
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 728 | — | |
| 1880 | 774 | 6.3% | |
| 1890 | 880 | 13.7% | |
| 1900 | 1,581 | 79.7% | |
| 1910 | 2,670 | 68.9% | |
| 1920 | 2,845 | 6.6% | |
| 1930 | 3,279 | 15.3% | |
| 1940 | 3,109 | −5.2% | |
| 1950 | 2,994 | −3.7% | |
| 1960 | 3,701 | 23.6% | |
| 1970 | 3,642 | −1.6% | |
| 1980 | 3,130 | −14.1% | |
| 1990 | 3,267 | 4.4% | |
| 2000 | 3,387 | 3.7% | |
| 2010 | 3,192 | −5.8% | |
| 2020 | 3,348 | 4.9% | |
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In 2000, there were 3,387 people living in Coplay. Most people were White (96.84%). There were also African American, Native American, and Asian residents. About 2.27% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
Coplay has one of the highest percentages of people with Austrian ancestry in the United States, at 10.6%.
Families and Age Groups
In 2000, about 28.8% of households had children under 18. Many families were married couples living together. The average household had 2.34 people. The average family had 2.90 people.
The population was spread out by age. About 23.0% were under 18 years old. About 20.9% were 65 years or older. The average age in Coplay was 40 years old.
Learning in Coplay
Coplay is part of the Whitehall-Coplay School District. Students who live in Coplay and are in grades nine through 12 attend Whitehall High School.
Getting Around Coplay
As of 2007, Coplay had about 11.18 miles (18.00 km) of public roads. The borough government takes care of all these roads. The main streets in Coplay are Second Street and Chestnut Street.
Famous People from Coplay
- Saquon Barkley: A professional football player for the Philadelphia Eagles. He was named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2018.
See also
In Spanish: Coplay para niños
