Easton

Easton is the easternmost city in the Lehigh Valley, a region of 731 square miles (1,890 km²) that is Pennsylvania's third largest metropolitan region. Easton is located 17.3 miles (27.8 km) northeast of Allentown, 77 miles (124 km) north of Philadelphia, and 72 miles (116 km) west of New York City. The Lehigh River, a 109-mile-long (175 km) river that joins the Delaware River in Easton and serves as the city's eastern geographic boundary with Phillipsburg, New Jersey. The greater Easton area consists of the city of Easton, three townships (Forks, Palmer, and Williams), and three boroughs (Glendon, WestEaston, and Wilson) Easton was one of the first places the Declaration of Independence was publicly read (along with Philadelphia and Trenton). It is claimed that the Easton flag was flown during that reading, making it one of. the first "Stars and Stripes" to fly over the colonies. The Peace Candle, a candle-like structure, is assembled and disassembled every year atop the Civil War monument for the Christmas season. The city was named in honor of Lady Juliana's family estate, theEaston Neston, south Northamptonshire, England. The county's name was also named after the estate's location, south. Northampton, Pennsylvania, in 1752, as Northampton County was being formed at this time.

Etymology

Easton is the primary city name, but also College Hill, Glendon, West Easton, Williams Township, Williams Twp are acceptable city names or spellings. The official name is City of Easton. On August 22, 1751, Thomas Penn, son of William Penn, the colony's founder and original proprietor married Juliana Fermor. Penn requested that a new town on the confluence be named Easton and that it be in a new county called Northampton. In 1752, the city was named in honor of Lady Juliana's family estate, the Easton Neston as requested. The county's name was also named after the estate's location, south Northamptonshire, England. The city of Easton is now the largest city in the state of New Hampshire, with a population of more than 100,000. The town of Northampton, New Hampshire is the state's second-largest city, with an estimated population of over 50,000, followed by the town of Amherst, New Jersey. The state's largest city is the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts, which has a population in excess of 80,000; the city's name is derived from the word "crown" or "coast" in English. The name of the county is Northampton County, which was named after its location in Northamptonshire, England, which is in the North East of England. Northampton is the most populous county in the United States, with more than 1.5 million people living in it. It is also the most populated county in New England, with about 1.6 million people. The population of the state is about 2.4 million, with the majority of its residents living in the city.

History

Easton was settled by Europeans in 1739 and founded in 1752. It became a major commercial center during the canal and railroad periods of the 19th century and a transportation hub for the region's coal, iron, and steel industries. The Lehigh Valley Railroad's main line is the only major rail line that goes through Easton and is now known as the Lehigh Line. Easton lost its prominence in passenger transportation with the rise of the automobile in the mid-20th century. The city is a composite of hurried commercial present and a sedate mercantile past, leavened by a carefree college atmosphere, dressed according to the dictates of Hollywood, and college boys in sports clothes near the curb. The town is located at the confluence of the rapidly flowing Lehigh River and the deeper and wider Delaware River. The Delaware Canal was built soon after the lower Lehigh Canal was opened in 1818 and became effective in delivering much-needed anthracite coal to the regions largest markets of Philadelphia, New Jersey, and New York City. On June 18, 1779, General John Sullivan led 2,500 Continentals from Easton to engage British Indian allies on the frontier. The Treaty of Easton was signed here by the British colonial government of the Province of Pennsylvania and the Native American tribes in the Ohio Country, including the Shawnee and Lenape. It is claimed that the Easton flag was flown during that reading, making it one of the first "Stars and Stripes" to fly over the colonies. The Pennsylvania Argus, a German language newspaper, was published in Easton until 1917. As part of their heritage, the Germans put up a Christmas tree in the city in 1816.

Geography

Easton is located at 40°4118N 75°1259W (40.688248, 75.216458). According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.7 square miles (12 km²) The city is divided into four districts: Downtown (DD), College Hill (CH), South Side (SS), and West Ward (WW) The boroughs of Wilson, West Easton, and Glendon are also directly adjacent to the city. The city falls within either a hot-summer humid continental climate (Dfa) if the 0 °C (32 °F) is used or a humid subtropical climate (Cfa) If the 3 °C is used, Easton falls within the 6b hardiness zone. Summer temperatures average in the mid-80s during the day, though the high humidity makes it feel much warmer. Winters are usually very cold and produce about 30 inches of snow. The local hardiness zones are 6b and 6c, with 6b being the warmest and 6C the coldest. The Köppen climate classification is Dfa, which means Easton has a very hot and humid climate. It also includes an island, called Getter's Island, which was the site of the last public execution in Pennsylvania. It is located near the confluence of the Lehigh River and Delaware River, and is surrounded by hills. North of downtown is College Hill, the home of Lafayette College.

Government

Easton operates a mayor-on-council city government. Residents elect a city controller, six city councilpersons (three at large and three district) and a mayor who is also Chairman and a voting member of the city council. All of these officials are elected to four-year terms. The incumbent mayor, Democrat Sal Panto Jr., was re-elected to his fourth consecutive term in 2019; he had previously served two terms as mayor from 1984-1992. Easton is part of Pennsylvania's 7th congressional district, represented in the U.S. House of Representatives by Democrat Susan Wild, first elected to this office in 2018. The city is located on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, which runs from New Jersey to Delaware. It has a population of about 2,000,000 (as of 2013) and is located in Pennsylvania's 7th district. It is in the state's eastern part, and is in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, which is in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The town's population is about 1,200,000 (as of 2012) and it is in Easton's eastern suburbs, which are in West Chester, Pennsylvania and West Point, Pennsylvania. It also has a small section of West Chester County, where the city is in Berks County, and parts of Berks County and Berks County are in Berks and Berks counties. The mayor of Easton was elected in 1984, and has served two consecutive terms.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 26,263 people, 9,544 households, and 5,735 families residing in the city. As of the 2010 census, the city was 67.2% White, 16.8% Black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 2.4 % Asian, and 4.9% were two or more races. The increase in Hispanic/Latinos from less than 10% of the population in the 2000 census, to nearly 20% in the 2010 Census, is a significant change in city's demographics. The median income for a household in theCity was $33,162, and the medianincome for a family was $38,704. About 12.3% of families and 16.0%. of the city were below the poverty line, including 21.3%. of those under age 18 and 11.2. of those age 65 or over. The growth in Hispanic residents is similar to increases in Allentown and Bethlehem, the Valley's two largest cities. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.10. There were 10,545 housing units at an average density of 2,476.7 per square mile (955.7/km²). The racial makeup of the City was 78.48% White, 12.71% African American, 0.24% Native. American, 1.66% Asian, 1.11% Pacific Islander, 3.67% from other races, and 3.13% from two or two races.

Education

The Easton Area School District serves the residents of the city of Easton along with Forks and Palmer Townships and the village of Martins Creek to the north. The school district has seven elementary schools (Cheston, Forks, March, Palmer, Paxinosa, Shawnee and Tracy) for grades K-5. Total student enrollment is about 8,289 students in all grades as of 2020-21. Easton is the home of one four-year college, Lafayette College, which was established in 1826. In 2017 the U.S. News & World Report ranked Lafayette as the 36th best liberal arts school in the country.Easton is also home to Notre Dame High School, a Catholic school. The two teams play an annual football game on Thanksgiving Day that is considered one of the largest and longest-standing rivalries in American high school football. In 2009, Easton was the location of the Gatorade REPLAY Game in which the 1993 teams from the Easton vs. P-Burg Game met again to resolve the game, which ended in a 77 tie. The game was shown on ESPN, and was won by Easton. In 2006 marked the 100th anniversary of theEaston-Phillipsburg high schoolFootball rivalry. The games are played on Thanksgiving and are played in Easton's football stadium, which is also called Easton High School. It is home to the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference, which consists of the 12 largest high schools in the Lehigh Valley and is one of nation's most elite high school athletic conferences.

Industry

Easton is the home of 27 interactive children's attractions, and the National Canal Museum. Two national magazines, Runner's World and Bicycling, are based in Easton. Easton is part of the Philadelphia DMA, but also receives numerous radio and television channels from New York City and the smaller Scranton-Wilkes-Barre media market to the northwest. The Norfolk Southern Railway is now the only railroad in the city. The Lehigh Valley Railroad, Central Railroad of New Jersey using the Lehigh and Susquehanna Railroad and Conrail are major defunct railroads that operated in East on. The city was also once the home to Dixie Cup Corporation, the manufacturer of Dixie Cups and other consumer products. Majestic Athletic, current provider of uniforms for Major League Baseball, is based in nearby Palmer Township. The Express-Times is the city's daily newspaper. The Morning Call, based in Allentown, also is read in the City. The Easton area is home to two television stations: PBS affiliate WLVT Channel 39 in Bethlehem, and independent station WFMZ Channel 69 in allentown. The City is the site of the Pennsylvania State Fair, which is held annually in June and July. It is also home to the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, which takes place in July and August. The Pennsylvania State Museum, which holds the Pennsylvania state Shakespeare Festival in September and October each year, is located in the Easton section of the town.

Telecommunications

Easton was once served only by the 215 area code from 1947 until 1994. In response to southeastern Pennsylvania's growing telecommunication demand, Easton telephones exchanges were switched to area code 610 in 1994. An overlay area code, 484, was added to the 610 service area in 1999. Easton is located on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, which runs from New Jersey to Delaware. The city is home to the University of Pennsylvania's Easton Medical Center, which was founded in 1883. The Easton area code is 610, and the city has a population of 2,856. The 610 area code was added in 1994 in response to the growing demand for telecommunication services in southeastern Pennsylvania. It is the only area code in the state that is not in the Philadelphia or Philadelphia-Wilkes-Barre area code areas. It was added as part of the North American Numbering Plan of the Bell System, which went into effect in 1947. The 215 was the last area code used in Easton before the 610 was introduced in 1994, when the 215 was switched to its current form. The City of Easton has been in the same area code area code since the 1950s, when it was placed in the 215 service area. It also has its own ZIP code, 605, which is in the Easton, Pennsylvania, area code zone. It has an area code code of 610, which has been added in 1999 to meet the needs of the city's growing population.

Infrastructure

Major state, federal, or interstate highways serving Easton include I-78, US 22, PA 33, PA 248 and PA 611 (Delaware Drive) Air transport to and from Easton is available through Lehigh Valley International Airport. Local bus transportation is provided by LANta, which serves Lehigh and Northampton counties. Greyhound Lines provides intercity bus service to Easton, stopping at the Easton Intermodal Transportation Center. The city's Public Works department provides water, sewer service, and trash and recycling collection to the city. Easton's water supply comes from the Delaware River and is treated at a filtration plant along the river. The Easton Suburban Water Authority serves suburban areas outside of Easton and purchases water from the city's public works department. The Lehigh Line is owned by the Norfolk Southern Railway and travels through Easton. Until 1983, NJ Transit's Raritan Valley Line terminated at Phillipsburg, New Jersey. The line now stops at High Bridge, roughly 20 miles (32 km) to the east. Under NJT's I- 78 Corridor study, this service would be restored. The former Lehigh valley Railroad main line, the Lehigh line, travels through the city and is now owned by Norfolk Southern. It is a subsidiary of FirstEnergy and provides electricity and natural gas service to the area. It also provides trash and recyclable recycling collection in Easton for the city, which contracts with Raritans Valley Disposal.

Air Quality, Water Quality, Superfund Sites & UV Index

The Air Quality index is in Easton, Northampton County, Pennsylvania = 8.9. These Air Quality index is based on annual reports from the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The number of ozone alert days is used as an indicator of air quality, as are the amounts of seven pollutants including particulates, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, lead, and volatile organic chemicals. The Water Quality Index is 53. A measure of the quality of an area’s water supply as rated by the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The EPA has a complex method of measuring the watershed quality, using 15 indicators such as pollutants, turbidity, sediments, and toxic discharges. The Superfund Sites Index is 20. Higher is better (100=best). Based upon the number and impact of EPA Superfund pollution sites in the county, including spending on the cleanup efforts. The UV Index in Easton = 3.7 and is a measure of an area's exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays. This is most often a combination of sunny weather, altitude, and latitude. The UV Index has been defined by the WHO (www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/radiation-the-ultraviolet-(uv)-index) and is uniform worldwide.

Employed

The most recent city population of 4,067 individuals with a median age of 32.9 age the population dropped by -0.01% in Easton, Northampton County, Pennsylvania population since 2000 and are distributed over a density of 6,597.94 residents per square mile of area (2,547.27/km²). There are average 2.43 people per household in the 9,607 households with an average household income of $38,868 a year. The unemployment rate in Alabama is 10.10% of the available work force and has dropped -4.50% over the most recent 12-month period and the projected change in job supply over the next decade based on migration patterns, economic growth, and other factors will increase by 20.90%. The number of physicians in Easton per 100,000 population = 214.6.

Weather

The annual rainfall in Easton = 46.7 inches and the annual snowfall = 25.2 inches. The annual number of days with measurable precipitation (over .01 inch) = 108. The average number of days per year that are predominantly sunny = 206. 86 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily high temperature for the month of July and 20.6 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily low temperature for the month of January. The Comfort Index (higher=better) is 48, where higher values mean a more pleasant climate. The Comfort Index measure recognizes that humidity by itself isn't the problem. (Have you noticed nobody ever complains about the weather being 'cold and humid?) It's in the summertime that we notice the humidity the most, when it's hot and muggy. Our Comfort Index uses a combination of afternoon summer temperature and humidity to closely predict the effect that the humidity will have on people.

Median Home Cost

The percentage of housing units in Easton, Northampton County, Pennsylvania which are owned by the occupant = 44.40%. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, or room occupied as separate living quarters. The average age of homes = 46.2 years with median home cost = $112,560 and home appreciation of -9.88%. This is the value of the years most recent home sales data. Its important to note that this is not the average (or arithmetic mean). The median home price is the middle value when you arrange all the sales prices of homes from lowest to highest. This is a better indicator than the average, because the median is not changed as much by a few unusually high or low values. The property tax rate of $17.86 shown here is the rate per $1,000 of home value. If for simplification for example the tax rate is $14.00 and the home value is $250,000, the property tax would be $14.00 x ($250,000/1000), or $3500. This is the 'effective' tax rate.

Study

The local school district spends $5,496 per student. There are 15.6 students for each teacher in the school, 965 students for each Librarian and 386 students for each Counselor. 5.15% of the area’s population over the age of 25 with an Associate Degree or other 2-year college degree, 8.71% with a master’s degree, Ph.D. or other advanced college degree and 6.18% with high school diplomas or high school equivalency degrees (GEDs).