Histopolis Place-of-the-Day

Histopolis features a different cemetery, town, county or other place every day on the Place-of-The-Day.

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

The Histopolis Place-of-the-Day for Tuesday, August 30, 2011 is the Carbon County in Pennsylvania.

"Carbon County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 65,249.

"Carbon County marks the northern border of the Lehigh Valley region of the state and is considered part of the state's Coal Region, though the eastern and northeastern section is considered part of the Pocono Mountains region. Most consider lower Carbon County, including Palmerton and Lehighton areas, as part of the Lehigh Valley in spite of being north of Blue Mountain.

"Its county seat is Jim Thorpe.

...

"Carbon County was created on March 13, 1843 from parts of Northampton and Monroe Counties and was named for the extensive deposits of coal in the region.

"The first settlement in Carbon County was the Moravian mission Gnadenhutten, established in 1745. Deeply moved by the deplorable state of the Leni Lenape Indians in America, twelve Moravian missionaries left their home in Herrnhut Germany and traveled by sea to the wilderness of Pennsylvania, a place known for religious tolerance under the auspieces of Count Zinzendorf. Located where Lehighton now stands, Gnadenhutten exemplified communal simplicity. Home to hundreds of Lenni Lenape (Delaware) and Mahican Indians. The mission was a scene of quiet, humble and unobtrusive heroism and the Indians' shelter. Although the wilderness of Carbon County was quite treacherous, the Moravians traveled in the wilds of Carbon County undaunted. By 1752, increased hostility put Gnadenhutten at risk for attack, but the missionaries' pious good works did not go unnoticed. The frankness and earnestness of the simple Moravians had won respect with the many tribes of Pennsylvania Indians, and they lived without incident until 1755. Page text.

"Carbon County is the location of the trials and executions of the controversial Molly Maguires, an Irish secret society that had been accused of terrorizing the region.

"Carbon County has a rich history, some interesting people have passed through her mountains, including County Zinzendorf, Moravian mystic; John James Audubon, Benjamin Franklin and many more.

"Blessed with a unique geography, Carbon County dazzled the adventurous travelers of the Victorian era, just as it attracts adventurers today. Aesthetically not much has changed of this unique landscape, written about in 1877, the following passage is still valid today, 'Such rough and tumble experience, climbing mountains, falling over rocks, exploring wild ravines, diving into coal mines, and riding on every description of conveyance which it has entered into the mind of man to run on.' Home of the Lehigh Gorge State Park, Carbon County is an ideal place for hikers, cyclists, history buffs and adventurers. "

Explore Carbon County on Histopolis now. If you have a place that you would like to see featured as the Histopolis Place-of-the-Day, contact the webmaster to suggest it.

August 2011

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Note: The first Place-of-the-Day was in September 2010