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Lower Macungie Township
History Of Lower Macungie Township
Lower Macungie Township was settled in the early 18th century by German immigrant farmers who found the rich, fertile soil and amply watered land to their liking. They remained, caring for their farms, raising large families and eventually becoming prosperous. The massive bank barns and impressive stone farmhouses that can still be found throughout that Township are their legacy to us.
Today Lower Macungie is noted for its comfortable housing developments. It has become one of the most desirable parts of the Lehigh Valley for many families, who have chosen to live here because of the Township's attractive landscape, acres of open space, and excellent schools.
The name 'Macungie' is derived from a Native American word meaning bear swamp, or place where the bears feed. The early Pennsylvania German settlers took land that had been hunting grounds for the native Lenni Lenape tribe, adopting their name for the area. They cleared the forests and planted crops, selling what they could at market. Eventually they raised enough money to buy land warrants in Philadelphia form the proprietors, William Penn and his heirs.
Change is not new in Lower Macungie. When in the mid to late 19th century, the Lehigh Valley became one of the states leading producers of cast iron and iron products, most of the farms took advantage of the need for iron ore. On the neat, one hundred acre farms that had been the sustenance of the population for so long, pits began to appear, and washeries to clean the limonite ore of its clay. Large surface clay deposits are very common throughout the area, created by the settling ponds of the numerous washeries. Ore was hauled from the mines to furnaces in Macungie and Alburtis, and to loading wharves along the Indian Creek Road in East Macungie, to be transported on the East Penn Branch of the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad. This line later became known as Conrail.
The aspect of the Township changed again, only more permanently when housing subdivisions began to sprout new homes in the early 1960's. High assessments on farmland and the decisions in late 1960's by the Lehigh County Commissioners to place a sewer interceptor along the little Lehigh Creek, right through the center of Lower Macungie Township, precipitated the sale of many farms as elderly farmers sought to make the most of the value of their land. By 1988, homebuilding had consumed 3,500 acres of land. In 2001, the Township Community Center and Library opened its doors to all Township residents.
Lower Macungie Township was settled in the early 18th century by German immigrant farmers who found the rich, fertile soil and amply watered land to their liking. They remained, caring for their farms, raising large families and eventually becoming prosperous. The massive bank barns and impressive stone farmhouses that can still be found throughout that Township are their legacy to us.
Today Lower Macungie is noted for its comfortable housing developments. It has become one of the most desirable parts of the Lehigh Valley for many families, who have chosen to live here because of the Township's attractive landscape, acres of open space, and excellent schools.
The name 'Macungie' is derived from a Native American word meaning bear swamp, or place where the bears feed. The early Pennsylvania German settlers took land that had been hunting grounds for the native Lenni Lenape tribe, adopting their name for the area. They cleared the forests and planted crops, selling what they could at market. Eventually they raised enough money to buy land warrants in Philadelphia form the proprietors, William Penn and his heirs.
Change is not new in Lower Macungie. When in the mid to late 19th century, the Lehigh Valley became one of the states leading producers of cast iron and iron products, most of the farms took advantage of the need for iron ore. On the neat, one hundred acre farms that had been the sustenance of the population for so long, pits began to appear, and washeries to clean the limonite ore of its clay. Large surface clay deposits are very common throughout the area, created by the settling ponds of the numerous washeries. Ore was hauled from the mines to furnaces in Macungie and Alburtis, and to loading wharves along the Indian Creek Road in East Macungie, to be transported on the East Penn Branch of the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad. This line later became known as Conrail.
The aspect of the Township changed again, only more permanently when housing subdivisions began to sprout new homes in the early 1960's. High assessments on farmland and the decisions in late 1960's by the Lehigh County Commissioners to place a sewer interceptor along the little Lehigh Creek, right through the center of Lower Macungie Township, precipitated the sale of many farms as elderly farmers sought to make the most of the value of their land. By 1988, homebuilding had consumed 3,500 acres of land. In 2001, the Township Community Center and Library opened its doors to all Township residents.