Northampton County, Pennsylvania
Northampton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It was formed in 1752 from parts of Bucks County. As of 2000, the population was 267,066, (2008 estimate 294,787). Its county seat is Easton.Northampton County is located in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley. Its northern edge borders The Poconos. The eastern section of the county borders the Delaware River, which divides Pennsylvania and New Jersey. It is bordered on the west by Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, the Lehigh Valley's more highly populated county.The county is industrially-oriented, producing anthracite coal, cement, and other industrial products. Bethlehem Steel, once one of the world's largest manufacturers of steel, was located there prior to its closing in 2003.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 377 square miles (977 km²), of which 374 square miles (968 km²) is land and 4 square miles (9 km²) (0.94%) is water.
Adjacent counties
Monroe County(north)
Warren County, New Jersey(east)
Bucks County(south)
Lehigh County(west)
Carbon County(northwest)
National protected areas
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area(part)
Middle Delaware National Scenic River(part)
Government
Northampton is one of the six counties in Pennsylvania which has adopted a home rule charter. Instead of being run by a Board of Commissioners and several Row Officers, voters elect an Executive, a nine-person Council, a Controller, and a District Attorney. The Executive, Controller and District Attorney are elected by all voters in the County, as are five members of the Council. The other four Councilmen are elected by districts.Elected OfficialsCounty Executive:John Stoffa, Democrat
County Council:Ron Angle, Republican
John Cusick, Republican
Thomas H Dietrich, Republican
J. Michael Dowd, Republican
Margaret (Peg) Ferraro, Republican
Bruce A Gilbert, Republican
Lamont G. McClure Jr., Democrat
Ann McHale, Democrat
Barbara A. Thierry, Republican
Clerk of Courts:Leigh Ann Fisher, Democrat
County Controller:Stephen Barron, Jr. , Democrat
District Attorney:John Morganelli, Democrat
Prothonotary:Holly Ruggiero, Democrat
Register of Wills:Dorothy Cole, Democrat
Sheriff:Randall Miller
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 267,066 people, 101,541 households, and 71,078 families residing in the county. The population density was 714 people per square mile (276/km²). There were 106,710 housing units at an average density of 286 per square mile (110/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 91.23% White, 2.77% Black or African American, 0.15% Native American, 1.37% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 3.06% from other races, and 1.39% from two or more races. 6.69% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 24.0% were of German, 14.0% Italian, 8.8% Irish, 5.1% English and 5.1% American ancestry according to Census 2000. 89.3% spoke English and 5.5% Spanish as their first language.There were 101,541 households out of which 31.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.40% were married couples living together, 9.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.00% were non-families. 24.70% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.02.In the county, the population was spread out with 23.30% under the age of 18, 9.20% from 18 to 24, 28.30% from 25 to 44, 23.40% from 45 to 64, and 15.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 94.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.70 males.
Politics
As of January 2010, there are 196,862 registered voters in Northampton County.Democratic: 98,451 (50.00%)
Republican: 65,975 (33.51%)
Other Parties: 32,436 (16.48%)
In recent decades, Northampton has been identified as one of Pennsylvania's 'swing counties,' with statewide winners carrying it in most cases. All five statewide winners carried it in November 2004 and all four statewide Democratic candidates carried it in November 2008, with its DA John Morganelli doing well there despite losing statewide to incumbent Attorney General Tom Corbett. The Democratic Party has been dominant most of the time in county-level politics in recent decades, County Executive John Stoffa, and most of the row offices. However with only two out of nine current county council seats.
County Council Members
Ron Angle, President,Republican, District 4
John Cusick, Vice President, Republican, (At-Large)
Thomas H Dietrich, Republican, (At-Large)
J. Michael Dowd, Republican, District 2
Margaret (Peg) Ferraro, Republican, (At-Large)
Bruce A Gilbert, Republican, (At-Large)
Lamont G. McClure Jr., Democrat, District 3
Ann McHale, Democrat, District 1
Barbara A. Thierry, Republican, (At-Large)
State Representatives
Karen D. Beyer, Republican, 131st district
Joseph F. Brennan, Democrat, 133rd district
Steve Samuelson, Democrat, 135th district
Robert L. Freeman, Democrat, 136th district
Richard Grucela, Democrat, 137th district
Marcia Hahn, Republican, 138th district
Julie Harhart, Republican, 183rd district
State Senators
Pat Browne, Republican, 16th district
Lisa Boscola, Democrat, 18th district
Bob Mensch, Republican, 24th district
Dave Argall, Republican, 29th district
US Representative
Charlie Dent, Republican, 15th district
Famous people from Northampton County
Marco Andretti, professional race car driver.
Mario Andretti, former professional race car driver.
Michael Andretti, professional racing team owner, former professional race car driver.
Jonathan Frakes, director and actor.
Larry Holmes, boxing's former heavyweight champion of the world.
Daniel Dae Kim, actor.
Samuel Henry Kress, founder ofS. H. Kress & Co.and noted art collector.
Kristen Maloney,gymnastand formerOlympian.
Bob Parsons, former professional football player,Chicago Bears.
Aldo Ray, actor.
Daniel Roebuck, actor.
Brian Schneider, professional baseball player,Philadelphia Phillies.
Tighe Scott,NASCARand modified driver.
Jonathan Taylor Thomas, actor.
George Wolf, Governor of Pennsylvania 1829-1835
Municipalities
Under Pennsylvania law, there are four types of incorporated municipalities: cities, boroughs, townships, and two towns. The following cities, boroughs and townships are located in Northampton County:
Census-designated places
Census-designated places are geographical areas designated by the U.S. Census Bureau for the purposes of compiling demographic data. They are not actual jurisdictions under Pennsylvania law. Other unincorporated communities, such as villages, may be listed here as well.Belfast
Eastlawn Gardens
Middletown
Old Orchard
Palmer Heights
Colleges & Universities
Lafayette College, Easton.
Lehigh University, Bethlehem.
Moravian College, Bethlehem.
Northampton County Area Community College, Bethlehem Township.
Public school districts & schools
Bangor Area School DistrictBangor Area High School,Upper Mount Bethel Township
Bethlehem Area School DistrictFreedom High School,Bethlehem
Liberty High School,Bethlehem
Catasauqua Area School DistrictCatasauqua High School,Northampton
Easton Area School DistrictEaston Area High School,Palmer Township
Nazareth Area School DistrictNazareth Area High School,Nazareth
Northampton Area School DistrictNorthampton Area High School,Northampton
Pen Argyl Area School DistrictPen Argyl Area High School,Pen Argyl
Saucon Valley School DistrictSaucon Valley High School,Hellertown
Wilson Area School DistrictWilson Area High School,Wilson
Public Charter High Schools
The Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Performing Arts, Bethlehem
Non-public high schools
Bethlehem Catholic High School, Bethlehem
Holy Family School, Nazareth
Moravian Academy, Bethlehem
Notre Dame High School, Bethlehem Township
Pius X High School, Bangor
Air transportation
Air transport to and from Northampton County is available through Lehigh Valley International Airport (IATA: ABE, ICAO: KABE).
Bus transportation
Public bus service in Northampton County is available through the Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority, known as LANTA.
Expressways
Interstate 78
Pennsylvania Route 33
U.S. Route 22
Telecommunications
Northampton County was once served only by the 215 area code from 1947 (when the North American Numbering Plan of the Bell System went into effect) until 1994. With the county's growing population, however, Northampton County was afforded area code 610 in 1994. Today, Northampton County is covered by 610. An overlay area code, 484, was added to the 610 service area in 1999. A plan to introduce area code 835 as an additional overlay was rescinded in 2001.
Recreation
There are 2 Pennsylvania state parks in Northampton County.Delaware Canal State Parkfollows the course of the oldDelaware Canalalong theDelaware RiverfromEastonin Northampton County toBristolin Bucks County.
Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center