Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania
Mauch Chunk
"The Switzerland of America"
"The Gateway to the Poconos" |
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View of Jim Thorpe from the Asa Packer Mansion grounds in November 2016
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Location of Jim Thorpe in Carbon County, Pennsylvania (left) and of Carbon County in Pennsylvania (right)
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 Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania
Location in Pennsylvania
Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  Pennsylvania |
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| County | Carbon | |
| Founded | 1818 | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 14.92 sq mi (38.64 km2) | |
| • Land | 14.60 sq mi (37.81 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.32 sq mi (0.83 km2) | |
| Elevation | 730 ft (220 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 4,507 | |
| • Density | 308.74/sq mi (119.20/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) | |
| ZIP Code |
18229
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| Area code(s) | 570 | |
| FIPS code | 42-025-38200 | |
| FIPS code | 42-38200 | |
| GNIS ID | 1178082, 1215045 | |
| Website | ||
Jim Thorpe is a small town, also called a borough, in Carbon County, Pennsylvania. It's known for being the burial place of the famous Native American athlete, Jim Thorpe. Before 1954, the town was called Mauch Chunk.
Jim Thorpe is located in the Pocono Mountains in northeastern Pennsylvania. It's about 29 miles (47 km) northwest of Allentown.
Contents
History of Jim Thorpe
How the Town Began
Jim Thorpe was founded in 1818. Its original name was Mauch Chunk. This name comes from the Unami word Mawsch Unk, which means "Bear Place." It might have been named after Bear Mountain, which looked like a sleeping bear.
The town was started by Josiah White and his partners. They owned the Lehigh Coal & Navigation Company (LC&N). Mauch Chunk was important because it was where coal was shipped from. Coal came down from the mountains on a special gravity railroad called the Summit Hill & Mauch Chunk Railroad. From Mauch Chunk, the coal was sent on the Lehigh Canal to big cities like Philadelphia and New York City. Later, trains took over from canals for shipping coal.
Coal Mining and Railroads
Mauch Chunk grew quickly because it was a center for shipping anthracite coal. The town is on the west side of the Lehigh River. Another community, East Mauch Chunk, grew on the river's east side. This area became more important when the Lehigh Valley Railroad built tracks there in 1855.
The Lehigh Coal & Navigation Company also built the Lehigh and Susquehanna Railroad (L&S). This railroad helped connect coal mines to cities. Mauch Chunk became a key transportation hub. The Central Railroad of New Jersey later took over the L&S.
Important Events and Renaming
In 1876, Mauch Chunk was the site of trials for the Molly Maguires. These trials led to four men being found guilty.
After the famous athlete Jim Thorpe died in 1953, his widow, Patricia, was looking for a place to bury him. She wanted a special memorial. The towns of Mauch Chunk and East Mauch Chunk were looking for ways to attract more visitors. So, they made a deal with Patricia Thorpe.
In 1954, the two towns merged and changed their name to Jim Thorpe. This was done to honor the athlete, even though he had never visited the town. The town then built a monument for him. His grave is there, along with statues and information about his life. The site even has soil from his home state of Oklahoma and from the Olympic stadium where he won medals.
Some of Jim Thorpe's family later tried to have his remains moved back to Oklahoma. They used a law that helps return Native American items to their tribes. However, after several court cases, the U.S. Supreme Court decided in 2015 that Jim Thorpe's remains would stay in the town.
The decision to rename the town had mixed reactions. Some people still call it Mauch Chunk. Some felt it was just a "Tourist Lure" and "crass commercialism" because Jim Thorpe had no connection to the town during his life.
Town Architecture and History
The buildings in Jim Thorpe show off many styles from the 1800s. You can see Federalist, Greek Revival, and Queen Anne styles. Many of these old buildings have been carefully restored.
Today, Jim Thorpe is a popular tourist spot. People come to see its historic buildings and enjoy outdoor activities.
Historic Sites and Modern Use
Many places in Jim Thorpe are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include the Carbon County Section of the Lehigh Canal, the Old Mauch Chunk Historic District, the Mauch Chunk Switchback Railway, the Asa Packer Mansion, and the Central Railroad of New Jersey Station.
The old railroad line through the Lehigh Gorge State Park is now used for tourist train rides. Another active freight railroad runs on the other side of the river.
Mauch Chunk Switchback Gravity Railroad
In 1827, the Lehigh Coal & Navigation Company built a special track. It was 8.7 miles (14.0 km) long and went downhill. This track, called a gravity railroad, was used to bring coal from Summit Hill to the Lehigh Canal in Mauch Chunk. This helped the area grow and provided coal for the Industrial Revolution.
By the 1850s, this "Gravity Road" also offered rides to people looking for thrills. It cost 50 cents a ride. Many people say it was the first roller coaster in the United States! There's a group working to preserve parts of this historic railway.
Geography of Jim Thorpe
Jim Thorpe is located in the middle of Carbon County. The town sits in a valley formed by the Lehigh River. Long ago, this valley was a mountain lake, which created the flat areas where the towns of Mauch Chunk and East Mauch Chunk were built.
The area around Jim Thorpe has four main mountain ridges: Broad, Nesquehoning, Pisgah, and Mauch Chunk ridges.
The borough of Jim Thorpe covers about 14.92 square miles (38.6 km2). Most of this is land, with a small amount of water. The town's elevation ranges from about 540 feet (160 m) near the river to 720 feet (220 m) in the upper streets. The nearby Mount Pisgah reaches 1,519 feet (463 m) high.
Jim Thorpe has a warm-summer humid continental climate. This means it has warm summers and cold winters.
Transportation in Jim Thorpe
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Jim Thorpe has about 30 miles (48 km) of public roads. Major roads include U.S. Route 209 and Pennsylvania Route 903.
Carbon Transit provides bus service in Jim Thorpe and nearby areas.
The town also has train service. The Reading, Blue Mountain, and Northern Railroad offers freight service all year. Its other company, the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway, provides fun passenger train rides for tourists during certain seasons.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1960 | 5,945 | — | |
| 1970 | 5,456 | −8.2% | |
| 1980 | 5,263 | −3.5% | |
| 1990 | 5,048 | −4.1% | |
| 2000 | 4,804 | −4.8% | |
| 2010 | 4,781 | −0.5% | |
| 2020 | 4,507 | −5.7% | |
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In 2010, about 4,781 people lived in Jim Thorpe. Most residents were White. About 21% of the population was under 18 years old. The average age in the town was 41 years.
Education
Students in Jim Thorpe attend schools in the Jim Thorpe Area School District.
Fun Things to Do in Jim Thorpe
Jim Thorpe is a really cool small town! In 2009, Budget Travel magazine named it one of America's top 10 coolest small towns. In 2012, it was voted the fourth most beautiful small town in America.
Many people visit Jim Thorpe for outdoor adventures like white water rafting, mountain biking, paintball, and hiking. The trails in Lehigh Gorge State Park are very popular, especially Glen Onoko Falls. Train fans also love Jim Thorpe because of its passenger train service.
The town is home to the Asa Packer and Harry Packer mansions. Asa Packer started the Lehigh Valley Railroad and Lehigh University. His son, Harry, lived next door. The Asa Packer Mansion is now a museum that you can tour. The Harry Packer Mansion is a bed and breakfast and was even a model for the Haunted Mansion ride at Walt Disney World!
Jim Thorpe also hosts the Anthracite Triathlon, a race that includes swimming in Mauch Chunk Lake, biking through nearby towns, and running along an old railroad path. Mauch Chunk Lake is also a great spot for kayaking, boating, and swimming.
The Anita Shapolsky Art Foundation is located in an old church in Jim Thorpe. It shows modern art and offers art programs for kids.
In 2022, a new professional lacrosse team, the Jim Thorpe All Americans, was announced to be based here.
Gallery
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Painting by Karl Bodmer (1839)
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Historic buildings on Broadway
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Lehigh Coal & Navigation Building, designed by architect Addison Hutton Intersection of Broadway and Lehigh Avenue
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Clock tower at the same intersection
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Former Carbon County Jail, on Broadway
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Mauch Chunk depicted in an 1880 engraving
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Notable people
- Edward Fister, pioneer of radar
- Hob Hiller, Major League Baseball player
- Denny Mack, Major League Baseball player & manager
- A. J. Petrucci, professional wrestler
See also
In Spanish: Jim Thorpe (Pensilvania) para niños
