Northampton County, Pennsylvania

Image:easton-pburg-toll-bridge.jpg, 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 {{convert|377|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|370|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|7.7|sqmi}} (2.0%) is water.{{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}} 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.{{cite web | url=http://prism.oregonstate.edu/explorer/ | title=PRISM Climate Group at Oregon State University }} Notably, the Lehigh and Delaware rivers flow through Northampton County. To its north is the Kittatinny Ridge, in the south are the South Mountains (part of the piedmont) and to its east are the Paxinosa Mountains.

• Monroe County (north)
• Warren County, New Jersey (east)
• Bucks County (south)
• Lehigh County (west)
• Carbon County (northwest)

• Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (part)
• Middle Delaware National Scenic River (part)

{{US Census population

|1790= 24220

|1800= 30062

|1810= 38145

|1820= 31765

|1830= 39482

|1840= 40996

|1850= 40235

|1860= 47904

|1870= 61432

|1880= 70312

|1890= 84220

|1900= 99687

|1910= 127667

|1920= 153506

|1930= 169304

|1940= 168959

|1950= 185243

|1960= 201412

|1970= 214368

|1980= 225418

|1990= 247105

|2000= 267066

|2010= 297735

|2020= 312951

|align-fn=center

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 9, 2015}}
1790-1960{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=March 9, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120811110448/http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/|archive-date=August 11, 2012}} 1900-1990{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/pa190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|editor-last=Forstall|editor-first=Richard L.|date=March 24, 1995|access-date=March 9, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150320031117/http://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/pa190090.txt|archive-date=March 20, 2015}}
1990-2000{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|date=April 2, 2001|access-date=March 9, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141218203824/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf|archive-date=December 18, 2014}} 2010-2019

}}

As of the 2020 census, the county's population was 312,951, reflecting growth of 5.1% over 2010. 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.

Northampton County is part of the larger Lehigh Valley metropolitan region, which was historically a global leader in heavy manufacturing. As of 2023, the Lehigh Valley's gross domestic product (GDP) was ${{nts|55.7}} billion, led by its manufacturing sector, which comprised $9 billion, or 16 percent.[https://lvb.com/lehigh-valley-gdp-grows-to-record-55-7-billion/ "Lehigh Valley GDP grows to record $55.7 billion"], Lehigh Valley Business, December 10, 2024, retrieved January 3, 2024

The county served as the global headquarters of Bethlehem Steel, founded in 1857 and based in Bethlehem, which was the nation's second-largest steel manufacturer after U.S. Steel for most of the 20th century. In 1982, Bethlehem Steel reported an unexpected loss of US$1.5 billion, and responded by promptly shutting down much of its operations. In 2001, the company declared bankruptcy, and it was dissolved in 2003. The plight of Bethlehem Steel is often cited as a prominent example of the impact of deindustrialization associated with the Rust Belt regions of the U.S. during the late 20th century.[https://psmag.com/economics/rust-belt-allure-bethlehem-pennsylvania-67738/ "Rust Belt Allure of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania"], Pacific Standard, October 6, 2013

The county is also home to the global headquarters of C. F. Martin & Company, based in Nazareth, which manufacturers Martin Guitars, used by Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, Hank Williams, Neil Young, John Lennon, Willie Nelson, Kurt Cobain, Eric Clapton, John Mayer, and other prominent guitarists.[https://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/news/141918/ "Artists Who Play Martin Guitars"], Guitar Guitar, July 2, 2024

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.

{{PresHead|place=Northampton County, Pennsylvania|whig=no|source1={{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}}}}

{{PresRow|2024|Republican|89,817|86,655|1,743|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|2020|Democratic|83,854|85,087|2,458|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|2016|Republican|71,736|66,272|6,558|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|61,446|67,606|1,992|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|58,551|75,255|2,148|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|2004|Democratic|62,102|63,446|1,301|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|47,396|53,097|4,197|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|35,726|43,959|11,317|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|34,429|42,203|20,893|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1988|Republican|42,748|39,264|966|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1984|Republican|44,648|37,979|840|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1980|Republican|35,787|31,920|8,330|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|32,926|42,514|1,521|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1972|Republican|41,822|32,335|124|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|32,033|42,554|3,543|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|21,048|58,818|619|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|40,683|41,552|71|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1956|Republican|43,375|33,749|573|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1952|Republican|39,131|36,993|614|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|27,030|33,209|1,265|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|26,643|32,584|292|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|25,385|33,304|269|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|22,827|36,871|1,438|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|20,779|24,009|1,345|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1928|Republican|37,403|14,768|404|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1924|Republican|20,459|11,459|3,104|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1920|Republican|14,227|9,086|891|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|9,610|11,000|1,050|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|3,893|10,325|7,518|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1908|Democratic|10,857|11,365|923|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1904|Republican|11,039|9,914|604|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1900|Democratic|9,849|11,412|556|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|9,762|10,032|717|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1892|Democratic|6,892|10,320|367|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1888|Democratic|6,785|10,027|291|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1884|Democratic|6,327|9,491|224|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1880|Democratic|5,961|9,653|114|Pennsylvania}}

|}

{{U.S. SenHead|place=Northampton County, Pennsylvania|Seat=1|source={{cite news |title=2024 Senate Election (Official Returns) |website=Commonwealth of Pennsylvania by county |date=November 5, 2024 |access-date=December 5, 2024 |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-elections/pennsylvania-senate-results}}}}

{{U.S. SenRow|2024|Republican|85,787|84,762|4,066|Pennsylvania}}

|}

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.{{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 }}{{citation |url= https://ballotpedia.org/Pivot_Counties_in_Pennsylvania |title= Pivot Counties in Pennsylvania |work= ballotpedia.org |access-date= 2024-09-19 }} As of 2024, the last presidential election where Northampton County did not back the statewide winner was in 1948.

In the 2024 U.S. Senate election in Pennsylvania, Republican Dave McCormick won the election and Northampton County, while losing Erie County, Pennsylvania. The county also closely mirrored the 2024 U.S. presidential election in Pennsylvania, which was won by Republican Donald Trump (50.2% to 48.5%), compared to Trump winning Northampton County 50.4% to 48.62%.

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.[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].

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.[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]

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.[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]

Source:{{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}}

• Milou Mackenzie, Republican, 131st district
• Steve Samuelson, Democrat, 135th district
• Robert L. Freeman, Democrat, 136th district
• Joe Emrick, Republican, 137th district
• Ann Flood, Republican, 138th district
• Zach Mako, Republican, 183rd district

Source:

• Nick Miller, Democrat, 14th district
• Lisa Boscola, Democrat, 18th district

• Ryan Mackenzie, Republican, 7th district

• Dave McCormick, Republican
• John Fetterman, Democrat

File:Lehigh University Alumni Building.jpg in Bethlehem in August 2005]]

• Lafayette College, Easton
• Lehigh University, Bethlehem
• Moravian University, Bethlehem
• Northampton County Area Community College, Bethlehem Township
• Respect Graduate School, Bethlehem

File:Freedom High School Gym (Bethlehem, Pennsylvania - 2008).jpg, 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
• Bethlehem Area School District
• Freedom High School, Bethlehem Township
• Liberty High School, Bethlehem
• Catasauqua Area School District
• Catasauqua High School, Northampton
• Easton Area School District
• Easton Area High School, Easton
• Nazareth Area School District
• Nazareth Area High School, Nazareth
• Northampton Area School District
• Northampton Area High School, Northampton
• Pen Argyl Area School District
• Pen Argyl Area High School, Pen Argyl
• Saucon Valley School District
• Saucon Valley High School, Hellertown
• Wilson Area School District
• Wilson Area High School, Easton

{{div col end}}

• Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts, Bethlehem

• Bethlehem Catholic High School, Bethlehem
• Moravian Academy, Bethlehem
• Notre Dame High School, Easton

File:ABE terminal (2).JPG, the fourth-busiest passenger airport in Pennsylvania, located in Hanover Township]]

{{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, which is located approximately {{convert|4|mi|km}} northwest of Bethlehem and {{convert|11|mi|km}} west-southwest of Easton.

{{Main|LANta}}

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.

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 eastbound in Northampton County]]

{{div col}}

• {{jct|state=PA|I|78}}
• {{jct|state=PA|US|22}}
• {{jct|state=PA|PA|33}}
• {{jct|state=PA|PA|145}}
• {{jct|state=PA|PA|191}}
• {{jct|state=PA|PA|248}}
• {{jct|state=PA|PA|329}}
• {{jct|state=PA|PA|378}}
• {{jct|state=PA|PA|412}}
• {{jct|state=PA|PA|512}}
• {{jct|state=PA|PA|611}}
• {{jct|state=PA|PA|946}}
• {{jct|state=PA|PA|987}}

{{div col end}}

{{Main|Area codes 610, 484, and 835}}

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.{{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 }} {{small|(359 KB)}} A plan to introduce area code 835 as an additional overlay was rescinded in 2001.{{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 }} {{small|(20.8 KB)}}

There are two Pennsylvania state parks in Northampton County:

• Delaware Canal State Park follows the course of the old Delaware Canal along the Delaware River from Easton in Northampton County to Bristol in Bucks County.
• Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center

File:Easton Skyline.jpg, the county seat of Northampton County, in May 2009]]

File:Allen Twp Valley View.jpg, in November 2011]]

File:Bangoria.JPG, in October 2015]]

File:Dery Silk Mill Lehigh Co PA.JPG, in October 2012]]

File:Red Barn.jpg, in February 2013]]

File:7th and Main Street intersection in Tatamy PA during sundown.jpg at sundown, in November 2021]]

File:Flickr - Nicholas T - No-Name Lake.jpg, in November 2011]]

File:Delaware River view from Forks PA looking north.jpg running through Forks Township, in May 2012]]

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

• Bethlehem (partly in Lehigh County)
• Easton (county seat)

{{div col|colwidth=18em}}

• Bangor
• Bath
• Chapman
• East Bangor
• Freemansburg
• Glendon
• Hellertown
• Nazareth
• North Catasauqua
• Northampton
• Pen Argyl
• Portland
• Roseto
• Stockertown
• Tatamy
• Walnutport
• West Easton
• Wilson
• Wind Gap

{{end div col}}

{{div col|colwidth=18em}}

• Allen
• Bethlehem
• Bushkill
• East Allen
• Forks
• Hanover
• Lehigh
• Lower Mount Bethel
• Lower Nazareth
• Lower Saucon
• Moore
• Palmer
• Plainfield
• Upper Mount Bethel
• Upper Nazareth
• Washington
• Williams

{{div col end}}

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.

{{div col|colwidth=18em}}

• Ackermanville
• Belfast
• Cherryville
• Chestnut Hill
• Eastlawn Gardens
• Martins Creek
• Middletown
• Morgan Hill
• Old Orchard
• Palmer Heights
• Raubsville

{{div col end}}

{{div col|colwidth=18em}}

• Beersville
• Berlinsville
• Butztown
• Chickentown
• Christian Springs
• Colesville
• Danielsville
• Emanuelsville
• Flicksville
• Franks Corner
• Hanoverville
• Hollo
• Katellen
• Klecknersville
• Moorestown
• Mount Bethel
• Newburg
• Schoenersville
• Seidersville
• Slateford
• Treichlers
• Wassergass
• Zucksville

{{Div col end}}

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Northampton County.{{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}}

† county seat

{{Main|List of people from the Lehigh Valley}}

{{Notelist}}{{reflist|30em}}

• 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]

{{Commons category|position=right|Northampton County, Pennsylvania}}

{{Wikivoyage|Northampton County|Northampton County}}

• [http://www.northamptoncounty.org/ Official website]
• [http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/northampton-county/ Northampton County news] at Lehigh Valley Live
• [https://www.mcall.com/all-community-faug18-htmlstory.html "Famous People from the Lehigh Valley]," The Morning Call, August 18, 2006

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{{coord|40.75|-75.31|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-PA_source:UScensus1990}}

Category:1752 establishments in Pennsylvania

Category:Lehigh Valley

Category:Populated places established in 1752