Powder Valley, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Powder Valley
Pulwerdaal
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Village
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 Powder Valley, Pennsylvania
Location in Pennsylvania
Powder Valley, Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Pennsylvania |
| County | Lehigh |
| Elevation | 205 m (673 ft) |
| Population | |
| • Metro | 865,310 (US: 68th) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| Primary airport | Lehigh Valley International Airport |
| Major hospital | Lehigh Valley Hospital–Cedar Crest |
| School district | East Penn |
Powder Valley is a small village located in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. Its name in Pennsylvania German is Pulwerdaal.
This village is part of the larger Lehigh Valley area. The Lehigh Valley is home to over 860,000 people. This makes it one of the biggest metropolitan areas in the United States.
Powder Valley sits along the Indian Creek. This creek flows south through a gorge and then joins the Hosensack Creek. The Hosensack Creek is a branch of the Perkiomen Creek. The village uses the same Zip Code as Zionsville, which is 18092.
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Powder Valley's Past
Early Inhabitants: The Lenape Tribe
Long ago, the area where Powder Valley is now was home to the Lenape tribe. They lived here for nearly 10,000 years. The Lenape people often lived near rivers and creeks. They used the rich soil around these waterways for farming.
Over time, the land became less fertile from constant farming. It could no longer grow enough crops to support the tribes. Because of this, the Lenape slowly began to leave the area.
European Arrivals and Changes
In the 1600s, Dutch settlers arrived in the area. They traded European goods with the Lenape for animal furs. This was one of the first big changes for the native people.
In 1682, William Penn and other Quaker settlers came to Pennsylvania. They founded the Pennsylvania Colony near the Delaware River. A peace treaty was signed between the new English settlers and the Lenape tribes.
However, many more colonists arrived in the years that followed. About 20,000 settlers came to the area. This large number of new people meant the Lenape were often forced to move from their lands. Some Lenape people also had to adopt the ways of the colonists.
Land Disputes and New Settlers
After William Penn passed away in 1718, his sons, John and Thomas Penn, took over. They, along with other leaders, changed some of William Penn's original policies. They started to consider selling land that had been promised to the Lenape.
This led to an agreement known as the Walking Purchase. The Lenape were eventually forced off their land. This caused them to start raiding some of the Pennsylvania settlements.
After 1733, many German colonists moved into the lower Lehigh Valley area. They began building farms and homes nearby. It's believed that there were not many Lenape tribes left in this specific spot, or they were friendly with the new settlers. So, building in the area began around 1734.
Powder Valley was first known as Piercetown. Then its name changed to Powder Mill Valley. Finally, it was shortened to its current name, Powder Valley.
By 1788, most of the remaining Lenape had either left or were moved out of Powder Valley and eastern Pennsylvania. They settled in the Northwest Territory, which is now part of the Midwestern United States.
Learning in Powder Valley
Powder Valley is part of the East Penn School District. This district helps students from kindergarten through high school.
Older students, from ninth to twelfth grade, attend Emmaus High School in Emmaus. For students in sixth through eighth grade, there are two middle schools: Eyer Middle School and Lower Macungie Middle School. Both of these schools are located in Macungie.
