CARBON COUNTY
County Offices
Four Broadway
Jim Thorpe 570-325-3611
www.carboncounty.com
Chamber of Commerce
110 North Third Street
Lehighton 610-379-5000
www.carboncountychamber.org
Carbon County is strategically located 90 miles west of New York City and approximately the same distance north of Philadelphia. Bordered by Luzerne, Monroe, and Schuylkill counties, it also borders Lehigh and Northampton counties for easy access to the Leheigh Valley. The northern and eastern portions of Carbon County are encompassed within the Pocono Mountains region. Recent growth has been largely driven by the completion of Interstate 78, opening faster and more direct access into the New York metropolitan area.
Beautiful Carbon County was named for the large deposits of anthracite coal found in the region, and Carbon County was also the home of our nation’s first large-scale railroad. Dubbed the “Switchback” railroad in its glory days, it began as a coal transport system and later served as a tourist attraction until the ’30s. Covering 500 square miles, Carbon County is well known for its panoramic landscapes, scenic mountains, and rolling rivers.
Services
Residents of Carbon County enjoy convenient services including door-to-door and fixed route bus service between all the boroughs and to popular points outside the county. Healthcare facilities are state-of-the-art, anchored by the recently formed Blue Mountain Health System that encompasses Gnaden Huetten and Palmerton campuses. Shifting from a competitive to a cooperative environment, the formerly independent hospitals are able to expand their services without duplication and narrow the focus on delivering the most comprehensive range of advanced care.
Nearby in Coalsdale, St. Luke’s Miners Memorial Hospital within the St. Luke’s Hospital & Health Network is an acute-care institution that includes a geriatric skilled nursing facility and home health agency. The Lehigh Valley also offers full-services hospitals within this health system. Carbon County manages an active office on aging and excellent amenities such as senior centers that offer daily lunches, libraries, activities, and computer access. The county operates a 200-bed nursing home and rehabilitation facility, widening the network of routine and specialized care.
Residents of Carbon County place a high priority on education as the key to success and personal growth. Five respected school districts serve the region, offering favorable pupil-teacher ratios, well-equipped classrooms, and a wide array of special and extra-curricular programs. Several options for a private education are also available close to home. Students of all ages will find affordable career and vocational training as well as college-track programs at the Carbon County Area Vocational Technical School and Lehigh Carbon Community College (LLLC). At its Carbon Center in Nesquehoning, LLCC offers associate degrees in business administration, education, psychology, social sciences, and liberal arts.
Excellent opportunities to pursue a four-year degree or graduate and professional studies are available throughout the area in public and private colleges and universities. Among them are Lehigh University, Wilkes University, East Stroudsburg University, Lafayette College, Muhlenburg College, Cedar Crest College, and several campuses for Pennsylvania State University.
Lifestyle
Newcomers to Carbon County will discover an unrivaled quality of life in open, rural townships and welcoming boroughs. More than two-thirds of the county is preserved in state game land and state parks, ensuring world-class opportunities for outdoor enjoyment around the four seasons. Hiking and biking trails, campgrounds, championship golf courses, developed sports facilities, local parks and playgrounds, tennis courts, private sports clubs, and well-equipped recreation centers are just a few of the amenities. Every imaginable winter sport is extremely popular in this area that skirts the Pocono Mountains. Mauch Chunk Lake Park, managed by Carbon County, provides opportunities for boating, fishing, swimming, camping, and cross-country skiing close to home.
Residents enjoy a rich and intimate community life that includes social, civic, and school events as well as strong involvement in and support of athletics and team sports. Colorful festivals and seasonal celebrations dot the calendar with dates to remember and anticipate, bringing friends and neighbors together in a spirit of camaraderie. Fine museums, cultural attractions, the performing arts, wonderful galleries, unique shopping districts, and first-rate restaurants are scattered throughout the region. The housing selection combines beauty with affordability and features a wide range of architectural styles, sizes, price ranges, and settings. Handsome new residential development, country estates, horse properties, quaint farmhouses, and well-kept older properties shaded by ancient trees are among the possibilities. From charming boroughs to breathtaking natural beauty, Carbon County welcomes newcomers to the best of all worlds.
Jim Thorpe Borough
Municipal Offices
570-325-3025
www.jimthorpe.org
Chamber of Commerce
610-379-5000
www.carboncountychamber.org
Serving as the county seat, the borough of Mauch Chunk changed its name to Jim Thorpe in 1954 to honor the famous Native American athlete. Thorpe has yet to be duplicated in his 1912 Olympic feats of winning both the pentathlon and decathlon, although he excelled in many other sports from baseball to ballroom dancing. Situated at the base of a steep valley carved by the Lehigh River, Jim Thorpe is characterized as a storybook town with unique architectural appeal. Each holiday season, residents and visitors enjoy an old-fashioned “Dickens Christmas” atmosphere that begins with the tree-lighting in Packer Park. Throughout the four seasons, breathtaking mountain vistas create a scenic backdrop for fine shopping, dining, entertainment, and outdoor recreation. The borough is only 90 minutes from Philadelphia and approximately two hours from New York City. Penn Forest Township expands the options for multi-acre home sites, country estates, and custom builds on generous wooded lots.
Lansford Borough, Nesquehoning Borough, Summit Hill Borough
Lansford Offices
570-645-3900
Nesquehoning Offices
570-669-9588
Summit Hill Offices
570-645-2305
www.summithillborough.com
Chamber of Commerce
610-379-5000
www.carboncountychamber.org
Nestled in the Panther Valley, the welcoming neighboring boroughs of Lansford, Nesquehoning, and Summit Hill offer small-town charm and friendly neighbors. Social, community, church, and school events add to the intimacy of a close-knit spirit and family-oriented lifestyle. Tree-lined neighborhoods are lined by well-kept older homes that reflect a wide variety of architectural styles, sizes, and periods. Lansford is home to the most expansive central business district for the local region, guided by the Lansford Alive! organization with its focus on revitalization throughout the community. One of the attractions in this area is the No. 9 Mine and Museum, combining a ride by rail into the mine and a walking tour with historical displays and artifacts.
Lehighton Borough, Weissport Borough
Lehighton Offices
610-377-4002
www.lehightonborough.com
Weissport Offices
610-377-5606
Chamber of Commerce
610-379-5000
www.carboncountychamber.org
Serving as the commercial hub for a number of rural townships, Lehighton Borough claims a significant population of German ancestry, architectural appeal, and tidy neighborhoods. Since the 1940s, the borough has operated its own electric power company, generating revenues that add quality of life amenities. Lehighton is also home to the Gnaden Huetten Campus of the Blue Mountain Health System. Residents are minutes away from Beltzville Dam for swimming, boating, and fishing. Other recreational highlights include a community swimming pool, an amphitheater for free concerts, and lush green space in local parks. East Penn, Franklin, Mahoning, and Towamensing townships expand the options for rural living in close proximity to borough amenities. Just one mile south of Lehighton, historic Weissport remains as one of the cultural and historic resources along the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor.
Palmerton Borough, Bowmanstown Borough, Parryville Borough
Palmerton Offices
610-826-2505
Bowmanstown Borough
610-852-2455
Parryville Borough
610-852-3800
Chamber of Commerce
610-824-5100
www.palmertonpa.com
The established small boroughs of Palmerton, Bowmanstown, and Parryville combine with rural townships Towamensing and Lower Towamensing in the Palmerton area of Carbon County. Quaint architecture, a variety of older homes along quiet tree-lined streets, and a close-knit spirit characterizes all three boroughs. Palmerton is the hub of commerce and healthcare, home to one of the hospital campuses for the Blue Mountain Health System. Residents enjoy easy access to regional amenities and expansive urban centers, but they are also close to outstanding recreational sites including state parks, deep forests, ski areas, sparkling lakes, and major rivers. The surrounding townships offer opportunities for newer construction and generous acreage.
Weatherly Borough, Beaver Meadows Borough
Weatherly Offices
570-427-8640
www.weatherlypa.gov
Beaver Meadows Offices
570-455-7841
Chamber of Commerce
610-379-5000
www.carboncountychamber.org
Nestled in a region graced by scenic creeks, Weatherly Borough provides commercial amenities and a small-town atmosphere that is rich in active clubs and organizations. Lehigh, Lausanne, and Packer townships expand the opportunities for rural living, while Beaver Meadows offers cozy neighborhoods just four miles from Weatherly. The borough features a lovely Downtown Park, a lush oasis that also serves as a gathering place for community events. Rolling hills, the Lehigh Valley Gorge, and natural landscapes encourage outdoor enjoyment throughout the four seasons. Since the 1960s, this quiet borough has welcomed thrill-seekers to the Weatherly Hillclimbs, events that test even expert driving skills with hairpin turns and a “jump” where most cars lose contact with the pavement. Hiking, biking, swimming, rafting, camping, fishing, hunting, and winter sports are all popular activities.
White Haven Borough, Kidder Township
Borough Offices
570-443-9129
Township Offices
570-722-0107
www.kiddertownship.org
Chamber of Commerce
Online Information
www.whitehaven.org
The quaint borough of White Haven features a downtown business district with the breathtaking Green Mountain as its scenic backdrop. Newcomers will discover small-town charm and premier recreational activities and amenities, from outfitters to ski areas, Hickory Run State Park, the Lehigh Gorge River, and state game lands for hunting and fishing. Other attractions near this area include the Mountain Laurel Resort, Sandy Valley Campground, downhill ski resorts, and Eckley Miners’ Village. White Haven is nestled along the western edge of the Poconos, straddling the Lehigh River into Luzerne and Carbon counties. An active chamber is encouraging redevelopment efforts but also sponsoring exciting events like the Jam Below the Dam. Hiking, biking, camping, whitewater rafting, fine dining, and shopping are all available in this area. Sprawling Kidder Township maintains its offices in Lake Harmony.
