West Catasauqua, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
West Catasauqua, Pennsylvania
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Unincorporated community
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 West Catasauqua, Pennsylvania
Location in Pennsylvania
West Catasauqua, Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Pennsylvania |
| County | Lehigh |
| Township | Whitehall |
| Elevation | 117 m (384 ft) |
| Population | |
| • Metro | 865,310 (US: 68th) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Code |
18052
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| Area code(s) | 610 and 484 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1190942 |
West Catasauqua is a small community in Whitehall Township, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. It is often called West Catty by local people. This area was once a busy port and train station along the Lehigh Canal.
West Catasauqua is part of the Lehigh Valley, a larger area with many towns and cities. The Lehigh Valley is home to over 860,000 people. It is the 68th most populated metropolitan area in the United States. The community uses the same Zip Code (18052) as Whitehall. It sits right across the Lehigh River from Catasauqua Creek. This creek is where the first successful anthracite iron blast furnaces in North America were built in 1839. These furnaces used a special type of coal called anthracite to make iron.
Contents
Where is West Catasauqua?
West Catasauqua is located at 40°38′52″N 75°28′53″W / 40.64778°N 75.48139°W. It is surrounded by other communities. To the north, you'll find Hokendauqua. To the south is Fullerton.
The town of Catasauqua is just to the east, across the Lehigh River. Two bridges, called Pine Street and Race Street, connect West Catasauqua to Catasauqua. Most of the homes in West Catasauqua are in a triangle-shaped area. This area is in the southeastern part of the community, between the roads leading to the bridges.
Transportation and Local Spots
An old part of the Lehigh Valley Railroad runs through West Catasauqua along the Lehigh River. This includes an abandoned area where trains used to switch tracks. This old switch yard is near where West Catasauqua meets Hokendauqua, just north of the Pine Street bridge. West Catasauqua was also the starting point for the Catasauqua and Fogelsville Railroad.
In the middle of West Catasauqua, along Pine Street, you'll find the West Catasauqua Playground. The community also has its own fire station, the West Catasauqua Fire Company. There is also a Cetronia Ambulance Corps station nearby. West Catasauqua is also home to two large storage areas for gasoline and oil, known as "tank farms".
Education for Students
The Whitehall-Coplay School District serves the students in West Catasauqua. Students in grades nine through 12 attend Whitehall High School. This high school is located in Whitehall Township.
Famous People from West Catasauqua
- Albert C. Vaughn, who was a U.S. Congressman.
