North Catasauqua, Pennsylvania facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Borough of North Catasauqua
Homes in North Catasauqua in September 2012
Nickname(s):  small Town USA
Location of North Catasauqua in Northampton County, Pennsylvania (left) and of Northampton County in Pennsylvania (right)
Borough of North Catasauqua Location in Pennsylvania Show map of Pennsylvania Borough of North Catasauqua Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
County	Northampton
Founded	June 11, 1907
Area
• City	0.74 sq mi (1.92 km2)
• Land	0.72 sq mi (1.86 km2)
• Water	0.02 sq mi (0.06 km2)
Elevation	371 ft (113 m)
Population  (2020)
• City	2,971
• Density	4,137.88/sq mi (1,598.20/km2)
• Metro	865,310 (US: 68th)
Time zone	UTC-5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
Area codes	610 and 484
FIPS code	42-54872
Primary airport	Lehigh Valley International Airport
Major hospital	Lehigh Valley Hospital–Cedar Crest
School district	Catasauqua Area

North Catasauqua is a small town, also called a borough, in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States. It was officially started in 1907. In 2020, about 2,971 people lived there. North Catasauqua is part of the larger Lehigh Valley area, which is home to over 860,000 people.

In 2008, the town council officially gave North Catasauqua the nickname "small Town U.S.A." This idea came from a local group called the North Catasauqua Betterment Committee.

North Catasauqua Borough Hall

History of North Catasauqua

How the Borough Began

In 1907, people living in West Allen Township decided to form their own town. They met at the Northampton Hotel and signed a paper to create North Catasauqua. The county officially approved their request on June 11, 1907.

Soon after, the first elections were held. William H. Thomas became the first "burgess," which is like a mayor today.

Growing as a Community

North Catasauqua is located between two larger towns: Catasauqua and Northampton. Because of its location, the new borough quickly grew. More businesses and families moved in.

In 1909, a police department was started, along with the Charotin Fire Department. A new building for both the fire department and town offices was built in 1911. Before that, fire equipment was kept in stables. People also went to church at places like St. Lawrence Church, St. Andrew's Church, and Holy Trinity Church.

Schools and Education

In 1913, the North Catasauqua School District replaced an old four-room schoolhouse. They built a new school that had modern features for its time. This new building taught students from first to eighth grade.

Later, in 1953, the North Catasauqua and Catasauqua school districts joined together. The school building then taught elementary grades (1-6) until June 1972.

Parks and Recreation

On June 14, 1947, North Catasauqua celebrated the opening of its new park and playground. The town bought about 4 acres (16,000 m²) of land for it. The park included a war memorial with a flagpole, playground equipment, and a baseball diamond. There were also 95 Sycamore trees planted.

This park quickly became a popular place for fun. People enjoyed playing there, listening to band concerts, having picnics, and attending carnivals.

The Willowbrook Golf Course

The Willowbrook Golf Course was once an important part of the town's history. It started as a private five-hole course built by Colonel James Fuller. He used it to entertain his friends and business guests.

In 1932, the golf course became a private nine-hole course. It was leased to Dr. Calvin Miller. In 1934, it opened to the public to help cover its costs. The golf course grew over the years and was very popular. However, today the golf course has been closed to make room for more homes in the borough.

Town Buildings and Services

In 1975, North Catasauqua borough took over the school building. In 1976, the town offices moved into this building. Major updates were made in 1995, and a special ceremony was held in 1996.

Now, the municipal building holds the police department, town offices, council meeting rooms, and the fire department's main office.

The Charotin Fire Department moved to a new fire station and public works garage in 1980. The North Catasauqua Public Works Department moved to its current spot on Main Street in 1986. A new building for public works was built in 1983. This building had garages and an office, allowing all their equipment to be stored in one place.

Recent Developments (21st Century)

In 2004, another building was added for public works. This new facility has more storage, bigger garage bays, offices, and a break room for employees.

A paved path was also created, leading down to the Delaware and Lehigh Canal towpath and the Lehigh River. A parking lot was added for people to use the river for recreation. In 2007, North Catasauqua celebrated 100 years since it became a borough with a year-long celebration.

Geography of North Catasauqua

North Catasauqua is located at 40°39′43″N 75°28′34″W / 40.66194°N 75.47611°W / 40.66194; -75.47611. The U.S. Census Bureau says the borough is about 0.7 square miles (1.9 km²) of land. A small part, about 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²), is water.

The Lehigh River and the Lehigh Canal form the western edge of the borough.

Transportation in North Catasauqua

Howertown Road in North Catasauqua

As of 2007, North Catasauqua had about 9.92 miles (15.96 km) of public roads. The borough maintains all of these roads. The main roads in North Catasauqua include Howertown Road and Eugene Street.

Population Information

In 2010, there were 2,849 people living in North Catasauqua. There were 1,181 households, and 809 families. The population density was about 3,825 people per square mile (1,477 per km²).

Most people living in the borough were White (95.2%). About 5.2% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.

The average household had 2.41 people, and the average family had 2.9 people. The median age in the borough was 39 years old. This means half the people were younger than 39, and half were older.

Public Education

Students in North Catasauqua attend schools in the Catasauqua Area School District.

• Catasauqua High School serves students in grades 9–12.
• Catasauqua Middle School serves students in grades 5–8.
• Sheckler Elementary School serves students in grades K-4.

Notable People

• Pat Kelly: A former professional baseball player. He played for teams like the New York Yankees, St. Louis Cardinals, and Toronto Blue Jays.

See also

In Spanish: North Catasauqua para niños