Slateford, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Slateford is a small community located in Northampton County, Pennsylvania. It is part of the larger Lehigh Valley area. This area is home to many people, with a population of over 860,000.
History of Slateford
The name Slateford comes from its location near the Northampton Slate Belt. This area was famous for its slate. Slate is a type of rock that can be split into thin, flat pieces.
People started producing slate here as early as 1808. This made Slateford one of the first places in the United States to mine slate. During the 1800s, many immigrants came to Slateford. They came from Wales and England to work in the slate quarries. Quarries are places where stone is dug out of the ground.
Slate mining and factories continued to operate in the area for a long time. They finally stopped working in 1917.
Geography of Slateford
Slateford is located in a scenic part of Pennsylvania. To the north, you will find the town of Stroudsburg. To the south, there is the town of Portland.
Slateford is very close to the Delaware Water Gap. This is a famous natural landmark where the Delaware River cuts through a large mountain ridge. Slateford is only about one mile (1.4 kilometers) away from this gap.
An important railway connection called Slateford Junction is also in Slateford. This junction connects two different parts of the Lackawanna Railroad's tracks. It links the old main railway line with a newer section called the Lackawanna Cut-Off.
