Emmaus, Pennsylvania
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Emmaus is a borough in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The population was 11,313 at the 2000 census. Emmaus is located six miles southwest of Allentown, Pennsylvania, in the Lehigh Valley region of the state.
Contents |
[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 7.5 km² (2.9 mi²), all land, though parts of the Little Lehigh River, a tributary of the Lehigh River, flow just outside of the Emmaus border with Salisbury Township. Emmaus borders South Mountain. Emmaus's elevation is 260-feet-above-sea level.
Emmaus is located at: (40.536997, -75.495776)GR1.
[edit] Demographics
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 11,313 people, 4,985 households, and 3,155 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1,511.4/km² (3,918.8/mi²). There were 5,186 housing units at an average density of 692.8/km² (1,796.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the borough was 95.89% White, 0.70% African American, 0.06% Native American, 1.81% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.88% from other races, and 0.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.51% of the population.
There were 4,985 households out of which 26.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.9% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.7% were non-families. 31.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.85.
In the borough, the population was spread out with 21.2% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 31.0% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 19.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there are 91.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.8 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $44,181, and the median income for a family was $54,120. Males had a median income of $38,659 versus $25,331 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $23,245. About 2.2% of families and 3.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.2% of those under age 18 and 7.9% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] History
[edit] Founding
Emmaus was settled in the 1740s and was formally founded in 1759. For approximately 100 years, until the mid-1800s, it was a closed community of the Moravian Church. The original land on which the town now lies was donated by Sebastian Heinrich Knauss for use by the Moravian church. The founders and original residents of the town were members of the Lutheran and Reformed faiths, who joined the Moravian church when their own denominations were unable to provide ministers. Emmaus was one of the three leading Moravian communities in the northeast United States at the time of its founding.
[edit] 1800s
Iron ore was discovered nearby in the 1800s and served as a source of industrial growth for much of the 1800s and 1900s. In 1859, the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad East Branch brought trains to Emmaus. That same year, the town was incorporated into a borough. In 1869, the town's first blast furnace opened. The largest iron company was Donaldson Iron Company, which made cast iron pipes and other products until the company closed in 1943. During the 1800s, Emmaus was also a center of silk and cigar manufacturing.
[edit] Origin of name
The borough was named for the Palestine village of Emmaus, where, according to Christian teachings, Jesus was seen by disciples following his crucifixion and resurrection.
[edit] Population trends
In 1940, public census statistics showed that 6,731 people lived in Emmaus. The population of the borough has since nearly doubled to 11,313, as of the 2000 census. Housing construction has reached the borough line in all directions, so significant continued population growth in the borough is unlikely. Outside the borough line, however, the local population continues to grow, particularly in neighboring Lower Macungie Township.
[edit] Historical sites
Emmaus is home to several residences and other properties that were constructed in the late 1700s and early 1800s and have been labeled historic sites by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Under Commonwealth law, the sites are protected from commercial and other development expansion in the borough.
[edit] Industry and commerce
Emmaus is the global headquarters of Rodale Press, one of the world's largest publishers of health-related books and magazines, including Men's Health, Prevention, and Runner's World magazines.
Buckeye Pipe Line, a United States petroleum distributor, also is headquartered in Emmaus.
Emmaus also is the home of Shangy's, a beer retailer and wholesaler with the largest number of domestic and imported beers in the U.S. The Emmaus-based beer distributor offers over 3,000 domestic and imported beer brands from its 35,000-square-foot Emmaus store. Shangy's attracts beer enthusiasts throughout the nation, especially those seeking obscure domestic and imported beer brands[1].
One of the six Yocco's Hot Dogs restaurants, the Lehigh Valley-based fast food establishment known for their world-famous hot dogs and cheesesteaks, is located in Emmaus, on Buckeye Road in west-side Emmaus. The Emmaus Yocco's, which was opened in the 1980s, is known as Yocco's South. The original Yocco's, founded in 1922, is located in center city Allentown, on West Liberty Street.
[edit] Public education
[edit] East Penn School District
Emmaus is part of the East Penn School District and comprises 25% of the district's population. The other jurisdictions in the district are the bordering townships of Lower Macungie and Upper Milford, the boroughs of Macungie and Alburtis, and parts of west-side Allentown. The school district has two middle schools (Eyer Middle School and Lower Macungie Middle School) for grades six through eight and six elementary schools (Alburtis, Jefferson, Lincoln, Macungie, Schoemaker and Wescosville) for kindergarten through fifth grade.
[edit] Emmaus High School
Emmaus is served by one high school, Emmaus High School, for grades nine through twelve. As of the 2006-2007 academic year, the high school is attended by 2,783 students.
[edit] External links
- Emmaus High School Official Home Page.
- Rodale Press Web Site.
- Yocco's South at MyTravelGuide.com.
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
- Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
