History
The Nazareth Area historically includes six municipalities — three boroughs and three townships. The Nazareth Area Chamber of Commerce has members from additional surrounding communities. In addition, the Borough of Bath participates extensively in the activities of the Chamber.
Founded in 1740, the Barony of Nazareth, a land tract purchased by George Whitefield, encompassed 5,000 acres in regions now known as the Borough of Nazareth and Townships of Upper and Lower Nazareth. Whitefield invited Moravians, who had encountered adverse circumstances in both Europe and a small Georgia colony, to settle the land. He requested their assistance in establishing a free school for black children, as well as a haven for Englishmen suffering from harsh laws.
As the Moravians began to prosper, they bought many tracts of land, including the Barony of Nazareth, from Whitefield. Grist and sawmills were erected, log cabins and stone houses were built, and the number of manufacturing facilities increased.
Life and culture changed dramatically in the Nazareth Area at the beginning of the 20th century when the cement industry was established. Large labor forces were needed, and people who satisfied this demand came directly from Europe. Population increased considerably, providing a rich variety of ethnic heritages, which co-existed easily with descendants of early Moravians.
Timeline
1807: Upper and Lower Nazareth Townships were incorporated.
1813: The land to the north was incorporated as Bushkill Township, the name Dutch settlers had given to its rambling creek.
1856: Bath Borough was incorporated. Bath Borough was founded by the Scotch-Irish prior to the Revolution (1737). It takes its name from Bath, England, through Margaret DeLancey, a native of that place, who sold tracts of land to some of the earliest settlers.
1858: Incorporation of Nazareth Borough took place.
1893: Tatamy Borough was incorporated. It was named for “Moses” Tatamy, a Christianized Native-American Indian Chief who lived in the area during early settlement.
1900: Stockertown Borough, comprised of land laid out by Andrew Stocker for use by Bushkill milling industries, was incorporated.
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