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thumb|Catasauqua Municipal Complex

History

18th century

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.

19th century

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.

20th century

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".

21st century

Catasauqua observed its 150th anniversary of incorporation in 2004. In July 2014, the town also celebrated its 100th anniversary of the old home week celebration in 1914. The original old home week marked the 75th anniversary of the town's Lehigh Crane Iron Company.

Catasauqua is home to two different neighborhoods listed on the National Register of Historic Places: Biery's Port, located along the Lehigh River and named for an early family of prominence, and a neighborhood known as "the mansion district," which includes Victorian homes once owned by wealthy Catasauqua residents.

Education

Catasauqua is served by the Catasauqua Area School District and maintains three public schools: Sheckler Elementary (grades k-4), Catasauqua Middle School (grades 5–8), and Catasauqua High School (grades 9–12). The district also serves parts of Hanover Township and North Catasauqua.

Transportation

thumb|Race Street in Catasauqua

As of 2019, there were of public roads in Catasauqua, of which were maintained by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and were maintained by the borough.

The main thoroughfares through the borough are Race Street, Lehigh Street, and Howerton Road.

Notable people

  • Buck Freeman, former professional baseball player, Boston Americans, Boston Beaneaters, and Washington Senators
  • Conner Habib, novelist, podcaster, and former pornographic film actor
  • Pat Kelly, former professional baseball player, New York Yankees, St. Louis Cardinals and Toronto Blue Jays
  • Bert Kuczynski, former professional baseball player for Philadelphia Athletics and former professional football player for Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles
  • Jonathan Linton, former professional football player, Buffalo Bills
  • Thomas Lynch, World War II P-38 fighter pilot and Quadruple Ace of the 39th Fighter Squadron, 35th Fighter Group
  • Larry Miller, former professional basketball player for Carolina Cougars, Los Angeles Stars, San Diego Conquistadors, Utah Stars and Virginia Squires
  • Anthony Recker, former professional baseball player, Atlanta Braves, Chicago Cubs, New York Mets, and Oakland Athletics

References

Further reading

  • Catasauqua and North Catasauqua (a book on Catasauqua, Pennsylvania) ().
  • Borough website
  • Company F, 47th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry (a Civil War regiment formed in Catasauqua)
  • Historic Catasauqua Preservation Association