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{{Short description|County in Pennsylvania, United States}}
{{Short description|County in Pennsylvania, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
{{Infobox U.S. county
| county = Northampton County
| county = Northampton County
| state = Pennsylvania
| state = Pennsylvania
| seal = Northampton County, Pennsylvania seal.png
| seal = Northampton County, Pennsylvania seal.png
| founded date = March 11
| founded date = March 11
| founded year = 1752
| founded year = 1752
| seat wl = Easton
| seat wl = Easton
| largest city wl = Bethlehem
| largest city wl = Bethlehem {{efn|name=City|Bethlehem is the most populous city within Northampton County alone; however a portion of it extends into neighboring Lehigh County.}}
| area_total_sq_mi = 377
| area_total_sq_mi = 377
| area_land_sq_mi = 370
| area_land_sq_mi = 370
| area_water_sq_mi = 7.7
| area_water_sq_mi = 7.7
| area percentage = 2.0%
| area percentage = 2.0%
| census yr = 2020
| census yr = 2020
| pop = 312951
| pop = 312951
| density_sq_mi = 830
| density_sq_mi = 830
| web = www.northamptoncounty.org
| web = http://www.northamptoncounty.org
| time zone = Eastern
| time zone = Eastern
| district = 7th
| district = 7th
| named for = [[Northamptonshire]]
| named for = [[Northamptonshire]], England
| ex image = Northampton County, Pennsylvania, Courthouse 1905.jpg
| ex image = Northampton County, Pennsylvania, Courthouse 1905.jpg
| ex image cap = A 1905 illustration of Northampton County Courthouse in [[Easton, Pennsylvania|Easton]]
| ex image cap = A 1905 illustration of Northampton County Courthouse in [[Easton, Pennsylvania|Easton]]
|flag=Northampton County, Pennsylvania.gif}}
| flag = Northampton County, Pennsylvania.gif
}}


'''Northampton County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] in the [[Commonwealth (U.S. state)|Commonwealth]] of [[Pennsylvania]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 312,951.<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/42/42095.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=November 20, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606195135/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/42/42095.html|archive-date=June 6, 2011}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Easton, Pennsylvania|Easton]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=2011-06-07|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|archive-date=2011-05-31}}</ref> The county was formed in 1752 from parts of [[Bucks County, Pennsylvania|Bucks County]]. Its namesake was [[Northamptonshire]], England. The county seat of Easton was named for the country house [[Easton Neston house|Easton Neston]] in that shire.
'''Northampton County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] in the [[Commonwealth (U.S. state)|Commonwealth]] of [[Pennsylvania]], United States. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 312,951.<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/42/42095.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=November 20, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606195135/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/42/42095.html|archive-date=June 6, 2011}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Easton, Pennsylvania|Easton]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|archive-date=May 31, 2011}}</ref> The county was formed in 1752 from parts of [[Bucks County, Pennsylvania|Bucks County]]. Its namesake was the county of [[Northamptonshire]] in England, and the county seat of Easton was named for [[Easton Neston house|Easton Neston]], a country house in Northamptonshire.


Northampton County and [[Lehigh County, Pennsylvania|Lehigh County]] to its west combine to form the eastern Pennsylvania region known as the [[Lehigh Valley]], and both counties are included in the [[Philadelphia]] media market, the nation's [[List of United States television markets|fourth largest]] media market. Lehigh County, with a population of 374,557 of the 2020 U.S. census, is the more highly populated of the two counties.
Northampton County and [[Lehigh County, Pennsylvania|Lehigh County]] to its west combine to form the eastern Pennsylvania region known as the [[Lehigh Valley]]; Lehigh County, with a population of 374,557 as of the 2020 U.S. census, is the more highly populated of the two counties. Both counties are part of the [[Philadelphia]] media market, the [[List of television stations in North America by media market|fourth-largest in the nation]].


Northampton County is industrially oriented, producing [[cement]] and other industrial products. It was a center for global cement production with the world's then-largest cement producer [[Atlas Portland Cement Company]] operating in the county for nearly a century from 1895 until 1982.<ref name="atlasMus">{{cite web|title=Cement museum nurtures nostalgia in Pennsylvania|url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2006-05-20/news/0605200196_1_cement-dust-largest-cement-producer-atlas-plant|last=Duck|first=Michael|publisher=Chicago Tribune| date=20 May 2006|website=tribunedigital-chicagotribune}}</ref> [[Bethlehem Steel]], one of the world's largest manufacturers of [[steel]] throughout the 20th century, was located in the county prior to its dissolution in 2003.
Northampton County has historically been a national leader in heavy manufacturing, especially of [[cement]], [[steel]], and other industrial products. [[Atlas Portland Cement Company]], the world's largest cement manufacturer from 1895 until 1982, was based in [[Northampton, Pennsylvania|Northampton]] in the county.<ref name="atlasMus">{{cite web|title=Cement museum nurtures nostalgia in Pennsylvania|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2006/05/20/cement-museum-nurtures-nostalgia-in-pennsylvania/|last=Duck|first=Michael|publisher=Chicago Tribune| date=May 20, 2006|website=tribunedigital-chicagotribune}}</ref> [[Bethlehem Steel]], the world's second-largest manufacturer of steel for most of the 20th century, was based in [[Bethlehem, Pennsylvania|Bethlehem]], the county's most populous city, prior to its dissolution in 2003.


The [[Lehigh River]], a {{convert|109|mi|km|adj=mid|-long}} tributary of the [[Delaware River]], flows through Northampton County. The county borders [[Carbon County, Pennsylvania|Carbon County]] and [[Pocono Mountains|the Poconos]] to the north, Lehigh County to the west, Bucks County, and the [[Delaware Valley]] to the south, and the Delaware River, which divides Pennsylvania and [[New Jersey]], to the east.
Northampton County borders [[Carbon County, Pennsylvania|Carbon County]] and the [[Pocono Mountains|Poconos]] to its north, Lehigh County to its west, Bucks County to its south, and the [[Delaware River]] and [[New Jersey]] to its east. The [[Lehigh River]], a {{convert|109|mi|km|adj=mid|-long}} tributary of the Delaware River, flows through the county.


==Geography==
==Geography==
[[Image:easton-pburg-toll-bridge.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|The [[Easton–Phillipsburg Toll Bridge]], connecting [[Easton, Pennsylvania|Easton]] in Northampton County with [[Phillipsburg, New Jersey|Phillipsburg]] and northwestern [[New Jersey]] in the [[Lehigh Valley]], October 2009]]
[[Image:easton-pburg-toll-bridge.jpg|thumb|The [[Easton–Phillipsburg Toll Bridge]], which connects [[Easton, Pennsylvania|Easton]] in Northampton County with [[Phillipsburg, New Jersey|Phillipsburg]] in northwestern [[New Jersey]] in the [[Lehigh Valley]], in October 2009]]
According to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|377|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|370|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|7.7|sqmi}} (2.0%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_42.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 9, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}</ref> The climate is [[humid continental climate|humid continental]] (mostly ''Dfa'' with a little ''Dfb'' in higher northern areas) and the [[hardiness zone]]s are 6b and 6a. Average monthly temperatures in downtown Bethlehem average from 29.1&nbsp;°F in January to 74.1&nbsp;°F in July, while in Wind Gap they average from 27.0&nbsp;°F in January to 71.7&nbsp;°F in July.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://prism.oregonstate.edu/explorer/ | title=PRISM Climate Group at Oregon State University }}</ref>
According to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|377|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|370|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|7.7|sqmi}} (2.0%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_42.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 9, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}</ref> The climate is [[humid continental climate|humid continental]] (mostly ''Dfa'' with a little ''Dfb'' in higher northern areas) and the [[hardiness zone]] is 7a except in the northern iier where it is 6b. Average monthly temperatures in downtown Bethlehem average from 29.1&nbsp;°F in January to 74.1&nbsp;°F in July, while in Wind Gap they average from 27.0&nbsp;°F in January to 71.7&nbsp;°F in July.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://prism.oregonstate.edu/explorer/ | title=PRISM Climate Group at Oregon State University }}</ref>


===Adjacent counties===
===Adjacent counties===
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==Demographics==
==Demographics==
{{US Census population
{{US Census population
|1760= 1989
|1790= 24220
|1790= 24220
|1800= 30062
|1800= 30062
Line 78: Line 78:
}}
}}


As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the county's population was 312,951, reflecting growth of 5.1% over 2010.<ref name="QF"/>As of the 2010 census, the county was 81.0% White Non-Hispanic, 5.0% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American or Alaskan Native, 2.4% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian, 2.2% were two or more races, and 3.8% were some other race. 10.5% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry.
As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the county's population was 312,951, reflecting growth of 5.1% over 2010.<ref name="QF"/> As of the 2010 census, the county was 81.0% White Non-Hispanic, 5.0% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American or Alaskan Native, 2.4% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian, 2.2% were two or more races, and 3.8% were some other race. 10.5% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry.


===2020 Census===
===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|+Northampton County Racial Composition<ref>{{Cite web|title =P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Northampton County, Pennsylvania|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Northampton%20County,%20Pennsylvania&t=Race%20and%20Ethnicity&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2}}</ref>
|+Northampton County Racial Composition<ref>{{Cite web|title =P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Northampton County, Pennsylvania|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Northampton%20County,%20Pennsylvania&t=Race%20and%20Ethnicity&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2}}</ref>
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|14.25%
|14.25%
|}
|}

==Government==
==Government==
Northampton is one of the seven counties in Pennsylvania which has adopted a [[home rule]] [[charter]]. Voters elect an Executive, a nine-person Council, a Controller, and a District Attorney. The Executive, Controller and District Attorney are elected [[At-large|at large]] by all voters in the County. Five members of the council are also elected at large. The other four members of the council are elected from [[single-member districts]]. This weighted structure of government favors the majority of voters, but it does allow for representation of minority groups, if they live within a compact voting district. The Row Officers are nominated by the county executive and approved by county council.
Northampton is one of the seven counties in Pennsylvania which has adopted a [[home rule]] [[charter]]. Voters elect a county executive, a nine-person county council, a county controller, and a county district attorney. The executive, controller, district attorney, and five of the nine council members are elected [[At-large|at large]] by all voters in the county. The other four members of the county council are elected from [[single-member districts]], which they represent. This weighted structure of county government favors the majority of voters. The county's row officers are nominated by the county executive and approved by county council.

===Elected officials===
The following currently serve as elected officials in Northampton County government offices:
{{colbegin|colwidth=150}}
'''County Executive'''
*Lamont McClure, Democrat
'''County Council'''

Democrats
*Ronald R. Heckman
*Lori Vargo Heffner
*Kevin Lott
*Kerry L. Myers
*Tara M. Zrinski

Republicans
*John Brown
*John Cusick
*Tom Giovanni
*John Goffredo

'''Clerk of Courts'''
*Leigh Ann Fisher, Democrat
'''County Controller'''
*Richard Szulborski, Democrat
'''District Attorney'''
*Terry Houck, Democrat
'''Prothonotary'''
*Holly Ruggiero, Democrat
'''Register of Wills'''
*Gina Gibbs, Democrat

{{colend}}


==Politics==
==Politics==
{{PresHead|place=Northampton County, Pennsylvania|whig=no|source1=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|first=David|last=Leip|website=uselectionatlas.org|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180323225526/https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/|archive-date=2018-03-23}}</ref>}}
{{PresHead|place=Northampton County, Pennsylvania|whig=no|source1=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|first=David|last=Leip|website=uselectionatlas.org|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180323225526/https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/|archive-date=March 23, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP/Whig vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP/Whig vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|89,817|86,655|1,743|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|2020|Democratic|83,854|85,087|2,458|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|2020|Democratic|83,854|85,087|2,458|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|71,736|66,272|6,558|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|71,736|66,272|6,558|Pennsylvania}}
Line 192: Line 161:
|}
|}


As of November 7, 2022 there were 225,050 registered voters in Northampton County
As of January 8, 2024, there were 219,719 registered voters in Northampton County
* [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]: 99,453 (44.19%)
* [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]: 95,780 (43.59%)
* [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]: 81,711 (36.31%)
* [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]: 80,828 (36.79%)
* No affiliation: 32,461 (14.42%)
* No affiliation: 32,480 (14.78%)
* Other parties: 11,425 (5.08%)
* Other parties: 10,631 (4.84%)


In recent decades, Northampton has been identified as one of Pennsylvania's "swing counties," with statewide winners carrying it in most cases; since 1952, it has gone to the statewide winner in the presidential election.<ref name="BellwetherNorthampton">{{cite news | url=http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2014/11/the_bellwethers_what_do_voters.html | title=The bellwethers: What do voters in eastern PA know that the rest don't? | work=PennLive.com | access-date=13 September 2016 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160917143433/http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2014/11/the_bellwethers_what_do_voters.html | archive-date=17 September 2016 }}</ref> All five statewide winners carried it in November 2004 and all four statewide Democratic candidates carried it in November 2008, with District Attorney [[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. In 2014, John Brown bucked that trend when he became the only Republican in the 21st Century to be elected Northampton County executive, a harbinger of Donald Trump winning the county and the state at the presidential level in 2016. Lamont McClure retook the county executive position for the Democrats in 2018; Joe Biden won Northampton County and Pennsylvania in 2020.
Northampton County is considered one of Pennsylvania's "swing counties," with statewide winners carrying it in most cases.<ref name="BellwetherNorthampton">{{cite news | url=http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2014/11/the_bellwethers_what_do_voters.html | title=The bellwethers: What do voters in eastern PA know that the rest don't? | work=PennLive.com | access-date=September 13, 2016 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160917143433/http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2014/11/the_bellwethers_what_do_voters.html | archive-date=September 17, 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{citation |url= https://ballotpedia.org/Pivot_Counties_in_Pennsylvania |title= Pivot Counties in Pennsylvania |work= [[ballotpedia.org]] |access-date= 2024-09-19 }}</ref> As of 2024, the last presidential election where Northampton County did not back the statewide winner was in 1948.


=== Voting machine problems ===
=== Voting machine problems ===
===2019 election===
Municipal elections were held across Pennsylvania in November 2019, and results in Northampton County were plagued with problems caused by newly purchased machines, The ExpressVoteXL, sold by the manufacturer Election Systems & Software (ES&S) as a luxury one-stop voting system. According to ''[[The New York Times]]'' and other publications, it was a few minutes after the polls closed on Election Day when panic began to spread through the Northampton county election offices. Vote totals in one judge’s race showed one candidate, Abe Kassis, a Democrat, had just 164 votes out of 55,000 ballots across more than 100 precincts. Some machines reported zero votes for him.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/30/us/politics/pennsylvania-voting-machines.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage "A Pennsylvania County’s Election Day Nightmare Underscores Voting Machine Concerns," ''The New York Times'', November 30, 2019].</ref>
In November 2019, municipal elections were in Pennsylvania in November 2019, and the county's result tabulations were plagued with problems caused by newly purchased voting machines, known as ExpressVoteXL, which were manufactured and sold to the county by [[Election Systems & Software]] (ES&S), an [[Omaha, Nebraska]]-based company, as representing a luxury one-stop voting system.


According to ''[[The New York Times]]'' and other media, a few minutes after polls closed in the county in 2019, panic began to spread through the county's election offices as it became evident that vote totals in one judge's race showed one candidate, Abe Kassis, a [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]], had received just 164 votes out of 55,000 ballots across more than the 100 precincts in the county; Some precinct machines reported zero votes for him.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/30/us/politics/pennsylvania-voting-machines.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage "A Pennsylvania County’s Election Day Nightmare Underscores Voting Machine Concerns," ''The New York Times'', November 30, 2019].</ref>
The voting system, used in numerous Pennsylvania jurisdictions, combines a touch screen with a paper ballot backup. County officials determined the results by counting the paper ballots, which showed Mr. Kassis had won by 1,054 votes. Unofficial results were announced at 6AM on November 6. The election results were certified following a canvass and audit. No challenges to the election results were filed.<ref>[https://www.mcall.com/news/elections/mc-nws-election-problems-20191106-im2nc6s7wfhkhpyu5lhmvxucv4-story.html "Pennsylvania says election went well but Republicans disagree; both following Northampton County problems," ''The Morning Call'', November 6, 2019]</ref>

The ES&S voting system, which is used in other Pennsylvania jurisdictions, features a touch screen with a paper ballot backup. County officials ultimately calculated results by counting paper ballots, which showed Kassis actually won the election by 1,054 votes, according to unofficial results that were announced on November 6. The election results were later certified following a canvass and audit, and no challenges to the results were filed.<ref>[https://www.mcall.com/news/elections/mc-nws-election-problems-20191106-im2nc6s7wfhkhpyu5lhmvxucv4-story.html "Pennsylvania says election went well but Republicans disagree; both following Northampton County problems," ''The Morning Call'', November 6, 2019]</ref>

===2023 election===
On November 7, 2023, ExpressVoteXL machines again malfunctioned in calculating votes for [[Superior Court of Pennsylvania]] judges with the machines switching "yes" and "no" votes on the summary display of votes on whether the judges should be retained. The county's director of administration, Charles Dertinger, attributed the problem to the summary display and not the actual ballots.<ref>[https://apnews.com/article/pennsylvania-election-voting-machines-votes-flipping-1aede0966e0c418b4efbbb36b513acef "Pennsylvania county promises accurate tally after clerical error appears to flip votes for judges" ''The Associated Press'', November 7, 2023]</ref>


===County executives===
===County executives===
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| Incumbent
| Incumbent
|}
|}
===County council members===
*Lori Vargo Heffner, President, Democrat, at large
*John A. Brown, Republican, at large
*John P. Goffredo, Republican, at large
*Ronald R. Heckman, Democrat, at large
*Tara Zrinski, Democrat, at large
*Kevin Lott, Democrat, district 1
*Kerry Myers, Vice President, Democrat, district 2
*John Cusick, Republican, district 3
*Tom Giovanni, Republican, district 4


===State representatives<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/findyourlegislator/county_list.cfm?CNTYLIST=Northampton|title=Find Your Legislator|last=Center|first=Legislativate Data Processing|website=The official website for the Pennsylvania General Assembly.|language=en|access-date=2017-04-21|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170422125056/http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/findyourlegislator/county_list.cfm?CNTYLIST=Northampton|archive-date=2017-04-22}}</ref>===
===State representatives<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/findyourlegislator/county_list.cfm?CNTYLIST=Northampton|title=Find Your Legislator|last=Center|first=Legislativate Data Processing|website=The official website for the Pennsylvania General Assembly.|language=en|access-date=April 21, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170422125056/http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/findyourlegislator/county_list.cfm?CNTYLIST=Northampton|archive-date=April 22, 2017}}</ref>===
*[[Milou Mackenzie]], Republican, [[Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 131|131st district]]
*[[Milou Mackenzie]], Republican, [[Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 131|131st district]]
*[[Steve Samuelson]], Democrat, [[Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 135|135th district]]
*[[Steve Samuelson]], Democrat, [[Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 135|135th district]]
*[[Robert L. Freeman]], Democrat, [[Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 136|136th district]]
*[[Robert L. Freeman]], Democrat, [[Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 136|136th district]]
*[[Joe Emrick]], Republican, [[Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 137|137th district]]
*[[Joe Emrick]], Republican, [[Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 137|137th district]]
*[[Ann Flood]], Republican, [[Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 138|138th district]]
*[[Ann Flood (politician)|Ann Flood]], Republican, [[Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 138|138th district]]
*[[Zach Mako]], Republican, [[Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 183|183rd district]]
*[[Zach Mako]], Republican, [[Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 183|183rd district]]


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===United States Senate===
===United States Senate===
* [[Bob Casey, Jr.]], [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]]
* [[John Fetterman]], [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]]
* [[John Fetterman]], [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]]
* [[Bob Casey, Jr.|Bob Casey]], [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]]


==Education==
==Education==
[[File:Lehigh University Alumni Building.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Alumni Memorial Building at [[Lehigh University]] in [[Bethlehem, Pennsylvania|Bethlehem]], August 2005]]
[[File:Lehigh University Alumni Building.jpg|thumb|The Alumni Memorial Building at [[Lehigh University]] in [[Bethlehem, Pennsylvania|Bethlehem]] in August 2005]]
===Colleges and universities===
===Colleges and universities===
*[[Lafayette College]], [[Easton, Pennsylvania|Easton]]
*[[Lafayette College]], [[Easton, Pennsylvania|Easton]]
*[[Lehigh University]], [[Bethlehem, Pennsylvania|Bethlehem]]
*[[Lehigh University]], [[Bethlehem, Pennsylvania|Bethlehem]]
*[[Moravian University]], Bethlehem
*[[Moravian University]], Bethlehem
*[[Northampton Community College|Northampton County Area Community College]], [[Bethlehem Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania|Bethlehem Township]]
*[[Northampton Community College|Northampton County Area Community College]], [[Bethlehem Township, Pennsylvania|Bethlehem Township]]
*[[Respect Graduate School]], Bethlehem
*[[Respect Graduate School]], Bethlehem


===Public school districts===
===Public school districts===
[[File:Freedom High School Gym (Bethlehem, Pennsylvania - 2008).jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|[[Freedom High School (Pennsylvania)|Freedom High School]], one of two large public high schools in [[Bethlehem, Pennsylvania|Bethlehem]], November 2008]]
[[File:Freedom High School Gym (Bethlehem, Pennsylvania - 2008).jpg|thumb|[[Freedom High School (Pennsylvania)|Freedom High School]], one of two large public high schools in the [[Bethlehem Area School District]], in November 2008]]
{{div col}}
[[Bangor Area School District]]
*[[Bangor Area High School]], [[Bangor, Pennsylvania|Bangor]]
*[[Bangor Area School District]]
**[[Bangor Area High School]], [[Bangor, Pennsylvania|Bangor]]
[[Bethlehem Area School District]]
*[[Bethlehem Area School District]]
*[[Freedom High School (Pennsylvania)|Freedom High School]], [[Bethlehem Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania|Bethlehem Township]]
**[[Freedom High School (Pennsylvania)|Freedom High School]], [[Bethlehem Township, Pennsylvania|Bethlehem Township]]
*[[Liberty High School (Bethlehem, Pennsylvania)|Liberty High School]], [[Bethlehem, Pennsylvania|Bethlehem]]
**[[Liberty High School (Bethlehem, Pennsylvania)|Liberty High School]], [[Bethlehem, Pennsylvania|Bethlehem]]
[[Catasauqua Area School District]]
*[[Catasauqua Area School District]]
*[[Catasauqua High School]], [[Northampton, Pennsylvania|Northampton]]
**[[Catasauqua High School]], [[Northampton, Pennsylvania|Northampton]]
[[Easton Area School District]]
*[[Easton Area School District]]
*[[Easton Area High School]], [[Easton, Pennsylvania|Easton]]
**[[Easton Area High School]], [[Easton, Pennsylvania|Easton]]
[[Nazareth Area School District]]
*[[Nazareth Area School District]]
*[[Nazareth Area High School]], [[Nazareth, Pennsylvania|Nazareth]]
**[[Nazareth Area High School]], [[Nazareth, Pennsylvania|Nazareth]]
[[Northampton Area School District]]
*[[Northampton Area School District]]
*[[Northampton Area High School]], [[Northampton, Pennsylvania|Northampton]]
**[[Northampton Area High School]], [[Northampton, Pennsylvania|Northampton]]
[[Pen Argyl Area School District]]
*[[Pen Argyl Area School District]]
*[[Pen Argyl Area High School]], [[Pen Argyl, Pennsylvania|Pen Argyl]]
**[[Pen Argyl Area High School]], [[Pen Argyl, Pennsylvania|Pen Argyl]]
[[Saucon Valley School District]]
*[[Saucon Valley School District]]
*[[Saucon Valley High School]], [[Hellertown, Pennsylvania|Hellertown]]
**[[Saucon Valley High School]], [[Hellertown, Pennsylvania|Hellertown]]
[[Wilson Area School District]]
*[[Wilson Area School District]]
*[[Wilson Area High School]], Easton
**[[Wilson Area High School]], Easton
{{div col end}}


===Public charter schools===
===Public charter schools===
Line 304: Line 271:


==Transportation==
==Transportation==
[[File:ABE terminal (2).JPG|thumb|upright=1.1|[[Lehigh Valley International Airport]] in [[Hanover Township, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania|Hanover Township]], March 2014]]
[[File:ABE terminal (2).JPG|thumb|[[Lehigh Valley International Airport]], the fourth-busiest passenger airport in Pennsylvania, located in [[Hanover Township, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania|Hanover Township]]]]
[[File:PA 611 NB past Third Street Easton.JPG|thumb|upright=1.1|Larry Holmes Drive, an [[Easton, Pennsylvania|Easton]] street named in honor of Easton resident and former boxing heavyweight champion [[Larry Holmes]], who fought under the nickname "The Easton Assassin".]]
===Air transportation===
===Air transportation===
{{Main|Lehigh Valley International Airport}}
Air transport to and from Northampton County is available through [[Lehigh Valley International Airport]] {{Airport codes|ABE|KABE}} in [[Hanover Township, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania|Hanover Township]], which is locatedapproximately {{Convert|4|mi|km}} northwest of [[Bethlehem, Pennsylvania|Bethlehem]] and {{Convert|11|mi|km}} west-southwest of [[Easton, Pennsylvania|Easton]].
Air transport to and from Northampton County is available through [[Lehigh Valley International Airport]] {{Airport codes|ABE|KABE}} in [[Hanover Township, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania|Hanover Township]], which is located approximately {{convert|4|mi|km}} northwest of [[Bethlehem, Pennsylvania|Bethlehem]] and {{convert|11|mi|km}} west-southwest of [[Easton, Pennsylvania|Easton]].


===Bus transportation===
===Bus transportation===
{{Main|LANta}}
Public bus service in Northampton County is available through the [[Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority]], known as LANta. A shuttle bus service, [[Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority|The Bethlehem Loop]], also operates in [[Bethlehem, Pennsylvania|Bethlehem]]. [[NJ Transit]] provides service from [[Easton, Pennsylvania|Easton]]'s Centre Square to the [[Phillipsburg, New Jersey|Phillipsburg]] area.
Public bus service in Northampton County is available through [[LANta]]. A shuttle bus service called the Bethlehem Loop provides public transportation services in [[Bethlehem, Pennsylvania|Bethlehem]]. [[NJ Transit]] provides service from [[Easton, Pennsylvania|Easton]]'s Centre Square to the [[Phillipsburg, New Jersey|Phillipsburg]] area.


===Major highways===
===Major highways===
[[File:2022-09-27 11 13 21 View east along Interstate 78 from the overpass for Applebutter Road in Lower Saucon Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania.jpg|thumb|[[Interstate 78 in Pennsylvania|I-78]] eastbound in Northampton County]]
{{div col}}
{{div col}}
*{{jct|state=PA|I|78}}
*{{jct|state=PA|I|78}}
Line 331: Line 300:
==Telecommunications==
==Telecommunications==
{{Main|Area codes 610, 484, and 835}}
{{Main|Area codes 610, 484, and 835}}
Northampton County was once served only by the [[Area codes 215, 267, and 445|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 codes 610, 484, and 835|area code 610]] in 1994. Today, Northampton County is covered by 610 except for the Portland exchange which uses [[Area codes 570 and 272|570]]. An [[area code overlay|overlay area code]], 484, was added to the 610 service area in 1999.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.nanpa.com/pdf/pl-nanp-135.pdf |title= NANP-Overlay of 610 (Pennsylvania) Numbering Plan Area (NPA) with 484 NPA |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101126161654/http://nanpa.com/pdf/pl-nanp-135.pdf |archive-date= 2010-11-26 }}&nbsp;{{small|(359&nbsp;KB)}}</ref> A plan to introduce area code 835 as an additional overlay was rescinded in 2001.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.nanpa.com/pdf/PL_344.pdf |title= PA 835 Implementation for 484/610 NPA Rescinded – 835 NPA Code Reclaimed |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101126171301/http://nanpa.com/pdf/PL_344.pdf |archive-date= 2010-11-26 }}&nbsp;{{small|(20.8&nbsp;KB)}}</ref>
Northampton County was once served only by the [[Area codes 215, 267, and 445|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 codes 610, 484, and 835|area code 610]] in 1994. Today, Northampton County is covered by 610 except for the Portland exchange which uses [[Area codes 570 and 272|570]]. An [[area code overlay|overlay area code]], 484, was added to the 610 service area in 1999.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.nanpa.com/pdf/pl-nanp-135.pdf |title= NANP-Overlay of 610 (Pennsylvania) Numbering Plan Area (NPA) with 484 NPA |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101126161654/http://nanpa.com/pdf/pl-nanp-135.pdf |archive-date= November 26, 2010 }}&nbsp;{{small|(359&nbsp;KB)}}</ref> A plan to introduce [[area code]] 835 as an additional overlay was rescinded in 2001.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.nanpa.com/pdf/PL_344.pdf |title= PA 835 Implementation for 484/610 NPA Rescinded – 835 NPA Code Reclaimed |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101126171301/http://nanpa.com/pdf/PL_344.pdf |archive-date= November 26, 2010 }}&nbsp;{{small|(20.8&nbsp;KB)}}</ref>


==Recreation==
==Recreation==
Line 339: Line 308:


==Communities==
==Communities==
[[File:Easton Skyline.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|[[Easton, Pennsylvania|Easton]], the [[county seat]] of Northampton County, May 2009]]
[[File:Easton Skyline.jpg|thumb|[[Easton, Pennsylvania|Easton]], the [[county seat]] of Northampton County, in May 2009]]
[[File:Dery Silk Mill Lehigh Co PA.JPG|thumb|upright=1.1|Dery Silk Mill in [[Catasauqua, Pennsylvania|Catasauqua]], October 2012]]
[[File:Allen Twp Valley View.jpg|thumb|[[Allen Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania|Allen Township]], in November 2011]]
[[File:7th and Main Street intersection in Tatamy PA during sundown.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|[[Tatamy, Pennsylvania|Tatamy]] at sundown, November 2021]]
[[File:Bangoria.JPG|thumb|[[Bangor, Pennsylvania|Bangor]], in October 2015]]
[[File:Allen Twp Valley View.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|[[Allen Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania|Allen Township]], November 2011]]
[[File:Dery Silk Mill Lehigh Co PA.JPG|thumb|Dery Silk Mill in [[Catasauqua, Pennsylvania|Catasauqua]], in October 2012]]
[[File:Red Barn.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|[[East Allen Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania|East Allen Township]], February 2013]]
[[File:Red Barn.jpg|thumb|[[East Allen Township, Pennsylvania|East Allen Township]], in February 2013]]
[[File:Flickr - Nicholas T - No-Name Lake.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Lake Poco Dam in [[Upper Mount Bethel Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania|Upper Mount Bethel Township]], November 2011]]
[[File:7th and Main Street intersection in Tatamy PA during sundown.jpg|thumb|[[Tatamy, Pennsylvania|Tatamy]] at sundown, in November 2021]]
[[File:Flickr - Nicholas T - No-Name Lake.jpg|thumb|Lake Poco Dam in [[Upper Mount Bethel Township, Pennsylvania|Upper Mount Bethel Township]], in November 2011]]
Under Pennsylvania law, there are four types of incorporated municipalities: [[List of cities in Pennsylvania|cities]], [[List of towns and boroughs in Pennsylvania|boroughs]], [[List of townships in Pennsylvania|townships]], and two [[List of towns and boroughs in Pennsylvania#Towns|towns]]. The following cities, boroughs and townships are located in Northampton County:
[[File:Delaware River view from Forks PA looking north.jpg|thumb|The [[Delaware River]] running through [[Forks Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania|Forks Township]], in May 2012]]
The following cities, boroughs, and townships are located in Northampton County:


===Cities===
===Cities===
Line 377: Line 348:
{{div col|colwidth=18em}}
{{div col|colwidth=18em}}
*[[Allen Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania|Allen]]
*[[Allen Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania|Allen]]
*[[Bethlehem Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania|Bethlehem Township]]
*[[Bethlehem Township, Pennsylvania|Bethlehem Township]]
*[[Bushkill Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania|Bushkill]]
*[[Bushkill Township, Pennsylvania|Bushkill]]
*[[East Allen Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania|East Allen]]
*[[East Allen Township, Pennsylvania|East Allen]]
*[[Forks Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania|Forks]]
*[[Forks Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania|Forks]]
*[[Hanover Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania|Hanover]]
*[[Hanover Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania|Hanover]]
*[[Lehigh Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania|Lehigh]]
*[[Lehigh Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania|Lehigh]]
*[[Lower Mount Bethel Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania|Lower Mount Bethel]]
*[[Lower Mount Bethel Township, Pennsylvania|Lower Mount Bethel]]
*[[Lower Nazareth Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania|Lower Nazareth]]
*[[Lower Nazareth Township, Pennsylvania|Lower Nazareth]]
*[[Lower Saucon Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania|Lower Saucon]]
*[[Lower Saucon Township, Pennsylvania|Lower Saucon]]
*[[Moore Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania|Moore]]
*[[Moore Township, Pennsylvania|Moore]]
*[[Palmer Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania|Palmer]]
*[[Palmer Township, Pennsylvania|Palmer]]
*[[Plainfield Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania|Plainfield]]
*[[Plainfield Township, Pennsylvania|Plainfield]]
*[[Upper Mount Bethel Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania|Upper Mount Bethel]]
*[[Upper Mount Bethel Township, Pennsylvania|Upper Mount Bethel]]
*[[Upper Nazareth Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania|Upper Nazareth]]
*[[Upper Nazareth Township, Pennsylvania|Upper Nazareth]]
*[[Washington Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania|Washington]]
*[[Washington Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania|Washington]]
*[[Williams Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania|Williams]]
*[[Williams Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania|Williams]]
Line 440: Line 411:


===Population ranking===
===Population ranking===
The population ranking of the following table is based on the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]] of Northampton County.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.2010.html|title=This site has been redesigned and relocated. - U.S. Census Bureau|first=US Census Bureau|last=CNMP|website=www.census.gov|access-date=1 May 2018}}</ref>
The population ranking of the following table is based on the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]] of Northampton County.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.2010.html|title=This site has been redesigned and relocated. - U.S. Census Bureau|first=US Census Bureau|last=CNMP|website=www.census.gov|access-date=May 1, 2018}}</ref>


'''†''' ''county seat''
'''†''' ''county seat''
Line 463: Line 434:
|- style="background-color:white;"
|- style="background-color:white;"
| 3
| 3
| '''[[Bethlehem Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania|Bethlehem Township]]'''
| '''[[Bethlehem Township, Pennsylvania|Bethlehem Township]]'''
| Township
| Township
| 23,730
| 23,730
|- style="background-color:white;"
|- style="background-color:white;"
| 4
| 4
| '''[[Palmer Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania|Palmer Township]]'''
| '''[[Palmer Township, Pennsylvania|Palmer Township]]'''
| Township
| Township
| 20,691
| 20,691
Line 483: Line 454:
|- style="background-color:white;"
|- style="background-color:white;"
| 7
| 7
| '''[[Lower Saucon Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania|Lower Saucon Township]]'''
| '''[[Lower Saucon Township, Pennsylvania|Lower Saucon Township]]'''
| Township
| Township
| 10,772
| 10,772
Line 499: Line 470:
|- style="background-color:white;"
|- style="background-color:white;"
| 10
| 10
| '''[[Moore Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania|Moore Township]]'''
| '''[[Moore Township, Pennsylvania|Moore Township]]'''
| Township
| Township
| 9,198
| 9,198
|- style="background-color:white;"
|- style="background-color:white;"
| 11
| 11
| '''[[Bushkill Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania|Bushkill Township]]'''
| '''[[Bushkill Township, Pennsylvania|Bushkill Township]]'''
| Township
| Township
| 8,178
| 8,178
Line 519: Line 490:
|- style="background-color:white;"
|- style="background-color:white;"
| 14
| 14
| '''[[Upper Mount Bethel Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania|Upper Mount Bethel Township]]'''
| '''[[Upper Mount Bethel Township, Pennsylvania|Upper Mount Bethel Township]]'''
| Township
| Township
| 6,706
| 6,706
|- style="background-color:white;"
|- style="background-color:white;"
| 15
| 15
| '''[[Upper Nazareth Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania|Upper Nazareth Township]]'''
| '''[[Upper Nazareth Township, Pennsylvania|Upper Nazareth Township]]'''
| Township
| Township
| 6,231
| 6,231
|- style="background-color:white;"
|- style="background-color:white;"
| 16
| 16
| '''[[Plainfield Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania|Plainfield Township]]'''
| '''[[Plainfield Township, Pennsylvania|Plainfield Township]]'''
| Township
| Township
| 6,138
| 6,138
Line 549: Line 520:
|- style="background-color:white;"
|- style="background-color:white;"
| 20
| 20
| '''[[Lower Nazareth Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania|Lower Nazareth Township]]'''
| '''[[Lower Nazareth Township, Pennsylvania|Lower Nazareth Township]]'''
| Township
| Township
| 5,674
| 5,674
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|- style="background-color:white;"
|- style="background-color:white;"
| 23
| 23
| '''[[East Allen Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania|East Allen Township]]'''
| '''[[East Allen Township, Pennsylvania|East Allen Township]]'''
| Township
| Township
| 4,930
| 4,930
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|- style="background-color:white;"
|- style="background-color:white;"
| 28
| 28
| '''[[Lower Mount Bethel Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania|Lower Mount Bethel Township]]'''
| '''[[Lower Mount Bethel Township, Pennsylvania|Lower Mount Bethel Township]]'''
| Township
| Township
| 3,101
| 3,101
Line 693: Line 664:


==References==
==References==
{{reflist|30em}}
{{Notelist}}{{reflist|30em}}


==Further reading==
==Further reading==
* Frances S. Fox, ''Sweet Land of Liberty: The Ordeal of the American Revolution in Northampton County, Pennsylvania.'' University Park, PA: Pennsylvania State University Press, 2000.
* Frances S. Fox, ''Sweet Land of Liberty: The Ordeal of the American Revolution in Northampton County, Pennsylvania.'' University Park, PA: Pennsylvania State University Press, 2000
* William J. Heller, ''History of Northampton County (Pennsylvania) and the Grand Valley of the Lehigh.'' In Three Volumes. New York: American Historical Society, 1920. [https://archive.org/details/historyofnortham01hell Volume 1] | [https://archive.org/details/historyofnortham02hell Volume 2] | [https://archive.org/details/historyofnortham03hell Volume 3]
* William J. Heller, ''History of Northampton County (Pennsylvania) and the Grand Valley of the Lehigh.'' In Three Volumes. New York: American Historical Society, 1920 [https://archive.org/details/historyofnortham01hell Volume 1] | [https://archive.org/details/historyofnortham02hell Volume 2] | [https://archive.org/details/historyofnortham03hell Volume 3]


==External links==
==External links==

Latest revision as of 22:39, 25 November 2024

Northampton County
A 1905 illustration of Northampton County Courthouse in Easton
A 1905 illustration of Northampton County Courthouse in Easton
Flag of Northampton County
Official seal of Northampton County
Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Northampton County
Location within the U.S. state of Pennsylvania
Map of the United States highlighting Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 40°45′N 75°19′W / 40.75°N 75.31°W / 40.75; -75.31
Country United States
State Pennsylvania
FoundedMarch 11, 1752
Named forNorthamptonshire, England
SeatEaston
Largest cityBethlehem
Area
 • Total
377 sq mi (980 km2)
 • Land370 sq mi (1,000 km2)
 • Water7.7 sq mi (20 km2)  2.0%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
312,951
 • Density830/sq mi (320/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district7th
Websitewww.northamptoncounty.org

Northampton County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 312,951.[1] Its county seat is Easton.[2] The county was formed in 1752 from parts of Bucks County. Its namesake was the county of Northamptonshire in England, and the county seat of Easton was named for Easton Neston, a country house in Northamptonshire.

Northampton County and Lehigh County to its west combine to form the eastern Pennsylvania region known as the Lehigh Valley; Lehigh County, with a population of 374,557 as of the 2020 U.S. census, is the more highly populated of the two counties. Both counties are part of the Philadelphia media market, the fourth-largest in the nation.

Northampton County has historically been a national leader in heavy manufacturing, especially of cement, steel, and other industrial products. Atlas Portland Cement Company, the world's largest cement manufacturer from 1895 until 1982, was based in Northampton in the county.[3] Bethlehem Steel, the world's second-largest manufacturer of steel for most of the 20th century, was based in Bethlehem, the county's most populous city, prior to its dissolution in 2003.

Northampton County borders Carbon County and the Poconos to its north, Lehigh County to its west, Bucks County to its south, and the Delaware River and New Jersey to its east. The Lehigh River, a 109-mile-long (175 km) tributary of the Delaware River, flows through the county.

Geography

[edit]
The Easton–Phillipsburg Toll Bridge, which connects Easton in Northampton County with Phillipsburg in northwestern New Jersey in the Lehigh Valley, in October 2009

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 377 square miles (980 km2), of which 370 square miles (960 km2) is land and 7.7 square miles (20 km2) (2.0%) is water.[4] The climate is humid continental (mostly Dfa with a little Dfb in higher northern areas) and the hardiness zone is 7a except in the northern iier where it is 6b. Average monthly temperatures in downtown Bethlehem average from 29.1 °F in January to 74.1 °F in July, while in Wind Gap they average from 27.0 °F in January to 71.7 °F in July.[5]

Adjacent counties

[edit]

National protected areas

[edit]

Demographics

[edit]
Historical population
CensusPop.Note
179024,220
180030,06224.1%
181038,14526.9%
182031,765−16.7%
183039,48224.3%
184040,9963.8%
185040,235−1.9%
186047,90419.1%
187061,43228.2%
188070,31214.5%
189084,22019.8%
190099,68718.4%
1910127,66728.1%
1920153,50620.2%
1930169,30410.3%
1940168,959−0.2%
1950185,2439.6%
1960201,4128.7%
1970214,3686.4%
1980225,4185.2%
1990247,1059.6%
2000267,0668.1%
2010297,73511.5%
2020312,9515.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2019[1]

As of the 2020 census, the county's population was 312,951, reflecting growth of 5.1% over 2010.[1] As of the 2010 census, the county was 81.0% White Non-Hispanic, 5.0% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American or Alaskan Native, 2.4% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian, 2.2% were two or more races, and 3.8% were some other race. 10.5% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry.

2020 census

[edit]
Northampton County Racial Composition[10]
Race Num. Perc.
White (NH) 228,373 73%
Black or African American (NH) 17,429 5.6%
Native American (NH) 251 0.08%
Asian (NH) 9,892 3.2%
Pacific Islander (NH) 75 0.02%
Other/Mixed (NH) 12,334 4%
Hispanic or Latino 44,597 14.25%

Government

[edit]

Northampton is one of the seven counties in Pennsylvania which has adopted a home rule charter. Voters elect a county executive, a nine-person county council, a county controller, and a county district attorney. The executive, controller, district attorney, and five of the nine council members are elected at large by all voters in the county. The other four members of the county council are elected from single-member districts, which they represent. This weighted structure of county government favors the majority of voters. The county's row officers are nominated by the county executive and approved by county council.

Politics

[edit]
United States presidential election results for Northampton County, Pennsylvania[11]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 89,817 50.40% 86,655 48.62% 1,743 0.98%
2020 83,854 48.92% 85,087 49.64% 2,458 1.43%
2016 71,736 49.62% 66,272 45.84% 6,558 4.54%
2012 61,446 46.89% 67,606 51.59% 1,992 1.52%
2008 58,551 43.07% 75,255 55.35% 2,148 1.58%
2004 62,102 48.96% 63,446 50.02% 1,301 1.03%
2000 47,396 45.27% 53,097 50.72% 4,197 4.01%
1996 35,726 39.26% 43,959 48.31% 11,317 12.44%
1992 34,429 35.30% 42,203 43.27% 20,893 21.42%
1988 42,748 51.52% 39,264 47.32% 966 1.16%
1984 44,648 53.49% 37,979 45.50% 840 1.01%
1980 35,787 47.07% 31,920 41.98% 8,330 10.96%
1976 32,926 42.78% 42,514 55.24% 1,521 1.98%
1972 41,822 56.30% 32,335 43.53% 124 0.17%
1968 32,033 41.00% 42,554 54.47% 3,543 4.53%
1964 21,048 26.15% 58,818 73.08% 619 0.77%
1960 40,683 49.43% 41,552 50.48% 71 0.09%
1956 43,375 55.83% 33,749 43.44% 573 0.74%
1952 39,131 50.99% 36,993 48.21% 614 0.80%
1948 27,030 43.95% 33,209 53.99% 1,265 2.06%
1944 26,643 44.76% 32,584 54.75% 292 0.49%
1940 25,385 43.06% 33,304 56.49% 269 0.46%
1936 22,827 37.34% 36,871 60.31% 1,438 2.35%
1932 20,779 45.04% 24,009 52.04% 1,345 2.92%
1928 37,403 71.14% 14,768 28.09% 404 0.77%
1924 20,459 58.42% 11,459 32.72% 3,104 8.86%
1920 14,227 58.78% 9,086 37.54% 891 3.68%
1916 9,610 44.37% 11,000 50.78% 1,050 4.85%
1912 3,893 17.91% 10,325 47.50% 7,518 34.59%
1908 10,857 46.91% 11,365 49.10% 923 3.99%
1904 11,039 51.21% 9,914 45.99% 604 2.80%
1900 9,849 45.14% 11,412 52.31% 556 2.55%
1896 9,762 47.59% 10,032 48.91% 717 3.50%
1892 6,892 39.21% 10,320 58.71% 367 2.09%
1888 6,785 39.67% 10,027 58.63% 291 1.70%
1884 6,327 39.44% 9,491 59.16% 224 1.40%
1880 5,961 37.90% 9,653 61.37% 114 0.72%

As of January 8, 2024, there were 219,719 registered voters in Northampton County

  • Democratic: 95,780 (43.59%)
  • Republican: 80,828 (36.79%)
  • No affiliation: 32,480 (14.78%)
  • Other parties: 10,631 (4.84%)

Northampton County is considered one of Pennsylvania's "swing counties," with statewide winners carrying it in most cases.[12][13] As of 2024, the last presidential election where Northampton County did not back the statewide winner was in 1948.

Voting machine problems

[edit]

2019 election

[edit]

In November 2019, municipal elections were in Pennsylvania in November 2019, and the county's result tabulations were plagued with problems caused by newly purchased voting machines, known as ExpressVoteXL, which were manufactured and sold to the county by Election Systems & Software (ES&S), an Omaha, Nebraska-based company, as representing a luxury one-stop voting system.

According to The New York Times and other media, a few minutes after polls closed in the county in 2019, panic began to spread through the county's election offices as it became evident that vote totals in one judge's race showed one candidate, Abe Kassis, a Democrat, had received just 164 votes out of 55,000 ballots across more than the 100 precincts in the county; Some precinct machines reported zero votes for him.[14]

The ES&S voting system, which is used in other Pennsylvania jurisdictions, features a touch screen with a paper ballot backup. County officials ultimately calculated results by counting paper ballots, which showed Kassis actually won the election by 1,054 votes, according to unofficial results that were announced on November 6. The election results were later certified following a canvass and audit, and no challenges to the results were filed.[15]

2023 election

[edit]

On November 7, 2023, ExpressVoteXL machines again malfunctioned in calculating votes for Superior Court of Pennsylvania judges with the machines switching "yes" and "no" votes on the summary display of votes on whether the judges should be retained. The county's director of administration, Charles Dertinger, attributed the problem to the summary display and not the actual ballots.[16]

County executives

[edit]
Northampton County executives
Name Party Term start Term end
Glenn F. Reibman Democratic 1998 2006
John Stoffa Democratic 2006 2014
John Brown Republican 2014 2018
Lamont McClure Democratic 2018 Incumbent

State representatives[17]

[edit]

State senators[17]

[edit]

United States House of Representatives

[edit]

United States Senate

[edit]

Education

[edit]
The Alumni Memorial Building at Lehigh University in Bethlehem in August 2005

Colleges and universities

[edit]

Public school districts

[edit]
Freedom High School, one of two large public high schools in the Bethlehem Area School District, in November 2008

Public charter schools

[edit]

Private high schools

[edit]

Transportation

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Lehigh Valley International Airport, the fourth-busiest passenger airport in Pennsylvania, located in Hanover Township

Air transportation

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Air transport to and from Northampton County is available through Lehigh Valley International Airport (IATA: ABE, ICAO: KABE) in Hanover Township, which is located approximately 4 miles (6.4 km) northwest of Bethlehem and 11 miles (18 km) west-southwest of Easton.

Bus transportation

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Public bus service in Northampton County is available through LANta. A shuttle bus service called the Bethlehem Loop provides public transportation services in Bethlehem. NJ Transit provides service from Easton's Centre Square to the Phillipsburg area.

Major highways

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I-78 eastbound in Northampton County

Telecommunications

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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 except for the Portland exchange which uses 570. An overlay area code, 484, was added to the 610 service area in 1999.[18] A plan to introduce area code 835 as an additional overlay was rescinded in 2001.[19]

Recreation

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There are two Pennsylvania state parks in Northampton County:

Communities

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Easton, the county seat of Northampton County, in May 2009
Allen Township, in November 2011
Bangor, in October 2015
Dery Silk Mill in Catasauqua, in October 2012
East Allen Township, in February 2013
Tatamy at sundown, in November 2021
Lake Poco Dam in Upper Mount Bethel Township, in November 2011
The Delaware River running through Forks Township, in May 2012

The following cities, boroughs, and townships are located in Northampton County:

Cities

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Boroughs

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Townships

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Census-designated places

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Census-designated places are unincorporated communities designated by the U.S. Census Bureau for the purposes of compiling demographic data. They are not actual jurisdictions under Pennsylvania law.

Other unincorporated places

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Population ranking

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The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Northampton County.[20]

county seat

Rank City/borough/township/etc. Municipal type Population (2010 Census)
1 Bethlehem (partially in Lehigh County) City 74,982
2 Easton City 26,800
3 Bethlehem Township Township 23,730
4 Palmer Township Township 20,691
5 Forks Township Township 14,721
6 Hanover Township Township 10,866
7 Lower Saucon Township Township 10,772
8 Lehigh Township Township 10,527
9 Northampton Borough 9,926
10 Moore Township Township 9,198
11 Bushkill Township Township 8,178
12 Wilson Borough 7,896
13 Middletown CDP 7,441
14 Upper Mount Bethel Township Township 6,706
15 Upper Nazareth Township Township 6,231
16 Plainfield Township Township 6,138
17 Hellertown Borough 5,898
18 Williams Township Township 5,884
19 Nazareth Borough 5,746
20 Lower Nazareth Township Township 5,674
21 Bangor Borough 5,273
22 Washington Township Township 5,122
23 East Allen Township Township 4,930
24 Allen Township Township 4,269
25 Palmer Heights CDP 3,762
26 Pen Argyl Borough 3,595
27 Eastlawn Gardens CDP 3,307
28 Lower Mount Bethel Township Township 3,101
29 North Catasauqua Borough 2,849
30 Wind Gap Borough 2,720
31 Bath Borough 2,693
32 Freemansburg Borough 2,636
33 Old Orchard CDP 2,434
34 Walnutport Borough 2,070
35 Cherryville CDP 1,580
36 Roseto Borough 1,567
37 Belfast CDP 1,257
38 West Easton Borough 1,257
39 Tatamy Borough 1,203
40 East Bangor Borough 1,172
41 Raubsville CDP 1,088
42 Stockertown Borough 927
43 Martins Creek CDP 631
44 Ackermanville CDP 610
45 Portland Borough 519
46 Glendon Borough 440
47 Chapman Borough 199

Notable people

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved November 20, 2013.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Duck, Michael (May 20, 2006). "Cement museum nurtures nostalgia in Pennsylvania". tribunedigital-chicagotribune. Chicago Tribune.
  4. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  5. ^ "PRISM Climate Group at Oregon State University".
  6. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  7. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  8. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 24, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on March 20, 2015. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  9. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 18, 2014. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  10. ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Northampton County, Pennsylvania".
  11. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Archived from the original on March 23, 2018.
  12. ^ "The bellwethers: What do voters in eastern PA know that the rest don't?". PennLive.com. Archived from the original on September 17, 2016. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  13. ^ "Pivot Counties in Pennsylvania", ballotpedia.org, retrieved September 19, 2024
  14. ^ "A Pennsylvania County’s Election Day Nightmare Underscores Voting Machine Concerns," The New York Times, November 30, 2019.
  15. ^ "Pennsylvania says election went well but Republicans disagree; both following Northampton County problems," The Morning Call, November 6, 2019
  16. ^ "Pennsylvania county promises accurate tally after clerical error appears to flip votes for judges" The Associated Press, November 7, 2023
  17. ^ a b Center, Legislativate Data Processing. "Find Your Legislator". The official website for the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Archived from the original on April 22, 2017. Retrieved April 21, 2017.
  18. ^ "NANP-Overlay of 610 (Pennsylvania) Numbering Plan Area (NPA) with 484 NPA" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on November 26, 2010. (359 KB)
  19. ^ "PA 835 Implementation for 484/610 NPA Rescinded – 835 NPA Code Reclaimed" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on November 26, 2010. (20.8 KB)
  20. ^ CNMP, US Census Bureau. "This site has been redesigned and relocated. - U.S. Census Bureau". www.census.gov. Retrieved May 1, 2018.

Further reading

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  • Frances S. Fox, Sweet Land of Liberty: The Ordeal of the American Revolution in Northampton County, Pennsylvania. University Park, PA: Pennsylvania State University Press, 2000
  • William J. Heller, History of Northampton County (Pennsylvania) and the Grand Valley of the Lehigh. In Three Volumes. New York: American Historical Society, 1920 Volume 1 | Volume 2 | Volume 3
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40°45′N 75°19′W / 40.75°N 75.31°W / 40.75; -75.31