Easton (Pennsylvania)

Easton is one of three cities, along with Allentown and Bethlehem, that are the urban population centers of the Lehigh Valley in eastern Pennsylvania. In the Lehigh Valley, Easton borders the Delaware River and Phillipsburg, New Jersey to its east and Bethlehem to its southwest. The city lies in the center of the highly populated Northeast megalopolis region of the U.S., 2 mi west of the Skylands and New Jersey state line, 72 mi west of New York City and 77 mi north of Philadelphia.

Understand
In 1736, Thomas Penn (William Penn's son) surveyed the area and Easton was founded in 1752. Prior to that, Easton had been known as "Lechawitauk", meaning "The Place at the Forks." On July 8, 1776 the Declaration of Independence was read in Easton's Centre Square, one of three public readings of the document. Every year, Easton celebrates this historic event with its Heritage Day celebration, held in July.

Easton became a primary commercial location during the canals and railroads era of the 1800s. The Delaware, Morris and Lehigh Canals were vital for transportation of goods. The railroads replaced the canals for transportation and five railroads served Easton. The city had a strong German heritage. During Prohibition, it was known for nightlife and had plenty of liquor and a large number of brothels.

The population in Easton continues to diversify. Between the 1990 and 2000 censuses, the Hispanic and Black populations increased significantly. However, the primary ethnicity in the city remains White/non-Hispanic.

Geography
Easton sits at the confluence of the Delaware and Lehigh Rivers. Native Americans called Easton Lechawitau, "the place at the Forks".

Climate
Easton has a highly variable four-season temperate climate.

Summertime highs average in the low 80s F, but with occasional short heat waves with temps over, with considerable humidity and occasionally intense thunderstorms.

Winters are somewhat cold with average highs in the mid to upper 30s F (around 1-3 °C), but with occasional short thaws when temperatures can suddenly rise over 65 F for a few days. Severe cold snaps are common, with highs dropping into the twenties. Heavy snowfalls rarely occur more than once or twice each winter, but a wintry mix of ice, sleet, and light snow is possible from mid-November through early April. The combination of above freezing daytime temps and below freezing nights makes black ice a constant wintertime driving hazard even when there has not been precipitation recently.

Late spring and early summer (from mid-April to late June), and autumn are the most pleasant times of the year, with very mild temperatures and generally low humidity. Autumn leaf season usually arrives in the last two weeks of October.

Tourist Information

 * Lehigh Valley Visitor Center - Easton, 30 Centre Square, . Hours: Tu-Sa 9AM - 5PM, Su 9:30AM - 2:30PM, closed Monday.
 * Discover Lehigh Valley (formerly Lehigh Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau).

By bus

 * Trans-Bridge bus line offers daily service to and from New York City and Newark, New Jersey.

By car

 * U.S. Route 22 is a main thoroughfare, being a 4-lane limited-access highway with a speed limit of 55 miles per hour through all of Lehigh Valley except in Easton.
 * Drivers coming from points east will want to note that all of the major bridges across the Delaware River (from New Jersey) are free eastbound, but require tolls westbound. Locating the free bridge in Phillipsburg is possible but not recommended to those unfamiliar with the area. It is called Northampton Street for the adventurous and adds only about half a mile to the trip (unless yu easily get lost).
 * From the southeast and northwest, PA Route 309 provides fairly quick access and is a good road to travel.
 * Interstate 78 and Interstate 476 (PA Turnpike; tolled) intersect very close to the city of Easton, going in all directions north, south, east, and west.
 * PA Route 33 is the best approach for travelers from I-80 in the Poconos and points east.

By bus
Extensive bus services are provided by Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority: [http://lantabus.com LANTA).

By cab
Several cab companies also operate throughout Easton and Lehigh Valley, including:
 * Lehigh Taxi, +1 555-444-9333

By limo

 * A&A Limousine Service, or
 * Champagne Limousine, +1 610-863-5994
 * J&J Transportation, or
 * Your Way Taxi & Limo,

See


For more things to do in the area, check out the Allentown or Bethlehem pages.

Do

 * Skiing is a popular activity in nearby mountains. Most skiing areas are closed seasonally, since snow can usually only be manufactured from about November to April. Bear Creek Mountain Resort and Blue Mountain Resort are a short drive away in Macungie and Palmerton, respectively. Larger, world-famous ski resorts, including Jack Frost & Big Boulder, are in the Poconos, about an hour drive north on Interstate 476.
 * Skiing is a popular activity in nearby mountains. Most skiing areas are closed seasonally, since snow can usually only be manufactured from about November to April. Bear Creek Mountain Resort and Blue Mountain Resort are a short drive away in Macungie and Palmerton, respectively. Larger, world-famous ski resorts, including Jack Frost & Big Boulder, are in the Poconos, about an hour drive north on Interstate 476.
 * Skiing is a popular activity in nearby mountains. Most skiing areas are closed seasonally, since snow can usually only be manufactured from about November to April. Bear Creek Mountain Resort and Blue Mountain Resort are a short drive away in Macungie and Palmerton, respectively. Larger, world-famous ski resorts, including Jack Frost & Big Boulder, are in the Poconos, about an hour drive north on Interstate 476.

Learn
Easton is home to Lafayette College, which was founded in 1826.

Eat
There are also many chain restaurants around the area.

Tourist information

 * Discover Lehigh Valley, 1250 Simon Blvd., Easton,

Phones
In Easton, like all Lehigh Valley locations, you must dial an area code when you place a call. Area codes in the Lehigh Valley are 610 and 484.

Other Lehigh Valley locations

 * Allentown, 172 mi
 * Bangor, 15 mi
 * Bethlehem, 9 mi
 * Emmaus, 22 mi
 * Fogelsville, 25 mi
 * Hellertown, 12 mi
 * Nazareth, 7 mi
 * Phillipsburg, NJ, 2 mi
 * Slatington, 23 mi
 * Whitehall Township, 16 mi

Regional locations

 * Atlantic City, 139 mi
 * Harrisburg, 96.8 mi
 * New York City, 72 mi
 * Philadelphia, 77 mi
 * The Poconos, 40.1 mi