Welcome to the Borough of Bath! We’re glad you’re here. Please click on a tab below to learn more about our beautiful borough.
Community Profile
Address: 121 S. Walnut Street
Bath, PA 18014
Phone: (610) 837-6525
Facsimile: (610) 837-8989
Government: Council/Manager
Elected Officials: Mayor, 7 Council Members, Tax Collector
Square Miles: .90
Acreage: 576
Population (2020 Census): 2,808
Median Age (2020 Census): 33.9 years; Pennsylvania is 40.9 years.
Age over 65 (2020 Census): 13.9%; Pennsylvania is 19.0%.
Housing Units (2020 Census): 1,221 units
Homeownership Rate (2020 Census): 60.1%; Pennsylvania is 69.9%.
Family Size (2020 Census): 3.16 persons per household in Bath.
Household Income (2020 Census): $59,803; Pennsylvania is $68,957.
Poverty (2020 Census): 18.3% of people in Bath fall below the poverty line; people living across Pennsylvania is 12.1% below the poverty line.
School District Northampton Area: (includes the Borough of Bath, Northampton Borough, Chapman Borough, East Allen Township, Lehigh Township, Moore Township, Allen Township) Code 484990
Police: Pennsylvania State Police
Fire: Bath Volunteer Fire Department
EMS: Bethlehem Township EMS
Municipal Budget (Six Funds): $3.5 million
Assessed Valuation: $55,652,500 as of December 15, 2022
Millage Rate: 16.95 mills as of January 1, 2023
House of Representative District 138th
Senate District 16th
Congressional District 15th
History
Beautifully nestled among the hills, at the head of the Monocacy Valley, which takes its name from the creek bearing the same name, and in the heart of a rich agricultural region and thriving economic area, lies the traditional town of Bath Borough. It is one hundred miles distant from New York, sixty from Philadelphia, eight from Bethlehem and eleven from Easton, the county seat. It is a beautiful town, with its advantage of pure air, beautiful surroundings and charming scenery. No stranger ever visits this locality without being charmed with its hills and valleys. If we ascend “Siegfried’s Hill”, west of town, an unobstructed view of the Monocacy and Lehigh Valleys is had for miles, affording a panoramic scene that seems to dissolve in the haze of the distant mountains.
To the north and west, stretches the Kittatiny or “Endless Mountains’” and as the eye ranges along its summit, it notes the singular clefts in the range known as the Lehigh and Delaware Water Gaps and the Wind Gap. To the east are visible the lofty church spires of the Moravian town of Nazareth, five miles distant. To our south, lie the South or Lehigh mountains and the City of Bethlehem, with the distinguished seat of learning, Lehigh University, while to the west is clearly seen parts of the City of Allentown, Catasauqua and Northampton.
Bath is in reality a part of the Scotch-Irish Settlement which was established in 1728, being the first settlement by white people within the Forks of the Delaware.
Bath was laid out by the Scotch-Irish prior to the Revolution. It takes its name from Bath, England, through Margaret DeLancey, a native of that place, who sold tracts of land in this locality to some of the earliest settlers. Mrs. DeLancey was the daughter of William Allen, who served as a lieutenant colonel in the Continental army, but raised a regiment of loyalists in 1778.
Bath can authenticate the first white settler’s purchase of a parcel of land within the boundaries as it stands today, to the year 1737 when 247 acres of land were purchased and surveyed for Daniel Craig. The lands we talk about are situated along Chestnut Street and to the north of Northampton Street.
The lands to the east of the Monocacy, upon which the greater part of Bath lies, remained in William Allen’s ownership. In 1776 he conveyed this to his son, Andrew. In 1776, Andrew Allen made an agreement to sell 150 acres to John Lattimore.
Andrew Allen also owned the lands on the western bank of the Monocacy. These were confiscated in 1778 and sold to John Sterling, who in turn, sold acres to the Ralston, Berger, Siegfried, and Hirst families. The Siegfried home is a genuine log cabin, standing faithful to its forbearers on West Main Street.
Local Eateries, Things To Do, Places to Stay
Follow this link to the Borough’s Business Directory! The Business Directory is located under the ‘Community’ menu from the Homepage.