East Mauch Chunk, Pennsylvania facts for kids
East Mauch Chunk was once a separate town in Carbon County, Pennsylvania. It was located on the east side of the Lehigh River, right across from the main part of Mauch Chunk. Today, both areas are part of a single town called Jim Thorpe.
Contents
How East Mauch Chunk Became a Town
Originally, the area of East Mauch Chunk was part of a larger place called Mauch Chunk Township. In 1850, the land on both sides of the Lehigh River officially became a town. It was named The Borough of Mauch Chunk.
Just a few years later, in 1854, a special law was passed. This law separated the part of Mauch Chunk on the northeast side of the Lehigh River. This new area became its own town, known as The Borough of East Mauch Chunk. Governor William Bigler approved this change.
Joining Together to Form Jim Thorpe
In 1954, the towns of Mauch Chunk and East Mauch Chunk decided to vote on something big. They wanted to see if their two towns should join together. The vote happened on May 18, 1954.
Most people voted "yes" to combine the towns. In Mauch Chunk, 1026 people voted yes, and only 90 voted no. In East Mauch Chunk, 1179 people voted yes, and 109 voted no. Because so many people agreed, the two towns officially united on January 3, 1955. They became one new town called The Borough of Jim Thorpe.
Geography and Location
East Mauch Chunk is located on the eastern side of the Lehigh River. It sits on a gentle slope of Bear Mountain. The streets are laid out along PA 903. This road goes northeast, following the side of Bear Mountain. It connects to Albrightsville.
PA 903 starts across a bridge that links East Mauch Chunk with Jim Thorpe's main area. It then connects to US 209. In the 1790s, people started exploring this area. Logging companies began cutting down trees here.
East Mauch Chunk had a bridge over the Lehigh Gorge. This bridge crossed above the railroad tracks. It gave access to a resort inn near the beautiful Glen Onoko Falls. The land in East Mauch Chunk slopes gently up from the river. This gives homeowners a great view of the area.
Early History and Development
European workers first settled East Mauch Chunk in the early 1790s. They worked for the Lehigh Coal Mine Company. It was a logging camp where they built coal arks (special boats for carrying coal). Later, it became a suburb of the Lehigh Coal & Navigation Company.
It grew into a railroad town, serving the rail yards on the left bank of the river. These yards belonged to the Beaver Creek Railroad and Mining Company. Later, the Lehigh Valley Railroad took over in the 1870s.
East Mauch Chunk Today
Today, East Mauch Chunk is mostly a place where people live and commute to work. It is also a popular stop for tourists. It serves as the southern entrance to Lehigh Gorge State Park. Many companies that offer white water rafting and other water sports bring tourists through the community.
The Norfolk Southern Railroad and Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad still use the rail yard here. This yard is at the foot of Bear Mountain. From East Mauch Chunk, you can see many mountains. These include Mount Pisgah, Pisgah Ridge, Nesquehoning Mountain, and Broad Mountain. This makes for very scenic views in almost every direction.
