North Catasauqua, Pennsylvania

North Catasauqua is located at 40°39′43″N 75°28′34″W (40.661896, -75.476015).[3]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 0.8 square miles (1.9 km²), of which, 0.7 square miles (1.9 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (2.67%) is water.

The Lehigh River and the Lehigh Canal and towpath provides the western border of the borough.

• Borough Council President: Peter Paone
• Borough Council Vice President: John Joseph Yanek
• Borough Council Members:
  • Jessica Cope
  • Cherie D. Gebhardt
  • Mark Gioielli
  • Michelle Hazzard
  • Joseph T. Keglovits
• Mayor: William Molchany, Jr.
• Borough Secretary: Tasha Jandrisovits
• Borough Treasurer: Annette Englert

The governing body consists of a 7-member Borough Council who are elected at-large by the citizens of the borough. The Council President, Council Vice-President, and President Pro Tempore are selected by the council members. The borough secretary, borough treasurer, and a public works supervisor are selected by the council members and provide for the day-to-day operations of the borough. The borough maintains a paid police department with 4 full time officers and one chief and several part time officers.

As of the census[7] of 2010, there were 2,849 people, 1,181 households, and 809 families residing in the borough. The population density was 3,825.5 people per square mile (1,468.2/km²). There were 1,186 housing units at an average density of 1,612.3 per square mile (618.8/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 95.2% White, 1.2% African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.9% Asian, 1.7% from other races, and 1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.2% of the population.

There were 1,181 households, out of which 25.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.1% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.5% were non-families. 27% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.9.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 23.2% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 30.3% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 16.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 92.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.2 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $39,375, and the median income for a family was $47,214. Males had a median income of $35,324 versus $26,250 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $19,424. About 5.2% of families and 6.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.2% of those under age 18 and 5.3% of those age 65 or over.

In 1907, the citizens of western Allen Township met at the Northampton Hotel, and signed a petition declaring the formation of the Borough of North Catasauqua. This petition was submitted to the county in early June, the final decree of incorporation was made on June 11, and was officially entered into the records on June 17. Shortly after the incorporation was made official, the first borough elections were held, with William H. Thomas becoming the first burgess, an office equivalent to a present-day mayor.

Located between the larger boroughs of Catasauqua in Lehigh County, and Northampton in Northampton County, North Catasauqua quickly grew as businesses and residents came into the new borough. Eventually a police department was formed along with the Charotin Fire Department in 1909. A new combined firehouse and municipal building was built in 1911; prior to this, fire-fighting equipment was housed at the Hoffman and Follweiler stables. Church services were held around the borough at various places of worship including St. Lawrence Church (built in 1857), St. Andrew’s Church (built in 1903), and Holy Trinity Church (built in 1903).

On June 14, 1947, the borough celebrated the opening of the North Catasauqua Park and Playground, built on 4 acres (16,000 m²) of land purchased from Northampton County. At the time, the park included a war memorial, complete with flagpole and monument (erected in 1945); playground equipment; a baseball diamond; and 95 Sycamore trees. The park and playground quickly became a popular spot for play and recreation, as well as band concerts, picnics, the borough Christmas tree, and carnivals. The Willowbrook Golf Course has played an important role in the borough’s development. The golf course was originally a private five-hole course built by Colonel James Fuller on the Willowbrook Farm Estate to entertain personal friends and executives visiting the Fuller Company in Catasauqua. In 1932, the golf course opened as a private nine-hole course leased to Dr. Calvin Miller from Mrs. Dorothy Fuller, the Colonel’s widow. The golf course was open to the public in 1934 as a way to pay for expenses. The golf course has grown over the years and has become a popular course for local residents and area golfers. Today the golf course has been closed so more housing can be built in the borough.

In 1913, the North Catasauqua School District razed the four-room Allen Township schoolhouse so that a new one could be built. The new school building housed grade 1-8 and featured, what were at the time, state-of-the-art amenities. After a merger of North Catasauqua and Catasauqua school districts in 1953, the school housed elementary grades 1-6 until June 1972. In 1975, North Catasauqua Borough obtained possession of the building and transferred the municipal offices to the site in 1976. In 1995, extensive renovations took place and a rededication ceremony was held in 1996. The municipal building now houses the borough police department, borough offices, council chambers, a meeting room, fire department administrative headquarters, as well as room for future expansion.

The Charotin Fire Department was relocated to the municipal building site in 1980 with the building of a new combined fire station and public works garage. The North Catasauqua Public Works Department moved to its present location at the Main Street complex when the old Charotin fire station and municipal garages were sold in 1986. A public works building was built in 1983 at the Main Street complex. This new building included garages and an office, and allowed all of the public works’ equipment to be housed in one building. In 2004, an additional building was erected. This new facility allows for increased storage and includes bigger garage bays, offices, a break room, and shower facilities for employees. Additionally, a paved pathway leading down to the D&L Canal towpath and Lehigh River was also created, along with a parking lot, for future public recreation at the river. North Catasauqua Borough celebrated the centennial of its incorporation with a year-long centennial celebration in 2007.

• Pat Kelly, former professional baseball player, New York Yankees.
• Joe Meeko, Bodybuilder and former Mr. America

The borough is served by the Catasauqua Area School District.

Sheckler Elementary School (Fourteenth Street, Catasauqua, PA) serves K-4 grades

Catasauqua Middle School (Pine Street, Catasauqua, PA) serves 5-8 grades

Catasauqua High School (Bullshead Road, Northampton, PA) serves 9-12 grades

• Catasauqua School District, official website
• North Catasauqua Betterment Committee, official website