Slatington, Pennsylvania
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Slatington is a borough located in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. As of the 2000 census, the borough had a total population of 4,434.
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Geography
Slatington is located at 40°45'9" North, 75°36'33" West (40.752561, -75.609229)Template:GR.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 3.6 km² (1.4 mi²). 3.4 km² (1.3 mi²) of it is land and 0.2 km² (0.1 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 4.35% water.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 4,434 people, 1,743 households, and 1,190 families residing in the borough. The population density is 1,297.0/km² (3,354.6/mi²). There are 1,867 housing units at an average density of 546.1/km² (1,412.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the borough is 96.23% White, 1.42% African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.77% from other races, and 0.97% from two or more races. 2.03% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 1,743 households out of which 35.7% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.7% are married couples living together, 13.9% have a female householder with no husband present, and 31.7% are non-families. 26.4% of all households are made up of individuals and 12.5% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.51 and the average family size is 3.01.
In the borough the population is spread out with 27.1% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 32.4% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.3% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 36 years. For every 100 females there are 94.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 89.3 males.
The median income for a household in the borough is $36,531, and the median income for a family is $43,542. Males have a median income of $32,101 versus $23,796 for females. The per capita income for the borough is $16,189. 12.3% of the population and 10.6% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 14.1% of those under the age of 18 and 10.1% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
History of Slatington
In 1737 Nicholas Kern was the first white settler in what would become Slatington. The Lenni-Lenape Native Americans were already living along "Warriors Path" which would become Route 873. Kern established a sawmill shortly after arriving. In 1756 Benjamin Franklin reported to Governor Morris that he procured boards and timber from that very sawmill. In the 19th century two Welshman, who recognized its properties and importance from being used back in Europe, discovered slate. A Quarry was set up in 1845 and in 1847 a factory was erected. In 1846 Slatington was incorporated into a Borough of Pennsylvania and its first Mayor was Robert McDowell.