Catasauqua

History

George Taylor, signer of the Declaration of Independence, built a Georgian stone house in 1768 in what is now Catasauqua. The George Taylor House has been named a National Historic Landmark, a showpiece of the community's rich historical heritage. At the time, the area of present-day Catasaqua was referred to as Biery's Port. In 1840, the anthracite iron industry was found in Biery's Port in present-day Catasaqua, making Catasaqua a birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution. Welsh immigrant David Thomas relocated to the area and opened the Crane Iron Works. The Catasauqua and Fogelsville Railroad existed to transport ore from limonite deposits to the plant. Remembered as "the father of Catasauqua," Thomas initially named the community Craneville after his former employer in Wales. The wealthy, generous Thomases were responsible for many sweeping changes to the prosperity of the community. David Thomas founded the Presbyterian Church of Catasauqua, in which residents still worship today, and his wife Elizabeth donated money and land to found the Welsh Congregational Church, which no longer exists. Thomas organized Catasauqua's first fire company, installed its first public water system, and served as its first burgess. In 1854, the town was formally titled Catasauqua (pronounced "Cat-uh-SAW-kwuh"), derived from the Lenape language, and meaning "dry ground" or "thirsty ground." By 1900, Catasauqua boasted 5,000 residents, and had the highest percentage of self-made millionaires of any town in the United States. In 1917, while many of the young men of the town served in World War I, Catasauqua became the first community in the United States to raise $1 million in war bonds, earning it the nickname "The Million Dollar Town". Catasauqua observed its 150th…

Geography

Catasauqua is located at (40.652995, -75.467627). Nearby large communities include Allentown to the south and Bethlehem to the east. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of , of which is land and or 2.31%) is water. Catasauqua Creek flows through the town. Lehigh River runs along the southwestern edge of Catasauqua. *Hanover Township *North Catasauqua *Whitehall Township *Northampton *Allentown *Allen Township *Bethlehem *Coplay *Hokendauqua

Race & ethnicity

Largest nearby schools

• Parkland HS
  High · Allentown · 3,220 students · 14.9:1 ratio
• William Allen HS
  High · Allentown · 2,852 students · 20.2:1 ratio
• Emmaus HS
  High · Emmaus · 2,846 students · 17.4:1 ratio
• Louis E Dieruff HS
  High · Allentown · 1,915 students · 18.1:1 ratio
• Whitehall HS
  High · Whitehall · 1,459 students · 16:1 ratio
• Executive Education Academy CS
  Other · Allentown · 1,368 students · 14.4:1 ratio
• Springhouse MS
  Middle · Allentown · 1,344 students · 15.6:1 ratio
• Southern Lehigh SHS
  High · Center Valley · 1,056 students · 18.2:1 ratio