From industrial community to quiet suburb
Formerly a hub of iron and cement industry, Coplay is a borough rich in history and active community organizations above the Lehigh River. “We’re a quiet borough with a couple of mom and pop stores and local sports leagues,” says Tiffany Benson, Coplay’s borough secretary who has lived in the area for nine years. “It’s a small, connected community.” Within 6 miles of Allentown and the Lehigh Valley International Airport, Coplay enjoys a pocket of homey suburbia without losing access to the broader region.
Dense riverside streets and midcentury suburbs
Extensive sidewalks connect Coplay’s residential blocks from the old industrial town areas closest to the river to the grassy midcentury suburbs further inland. Rowhouses, twin homes and detached Colonial Revival two-stories built close together in the late 1800s through early 1900s sell for $90,000 to $290,000, while familiar midcentury suburban forms like ranch-style houses and Cape Cods spread across larger lawns for $215,000 to $350,000. Residents in homes without attached garages typically need to street-park or store cars in garages on alleys between main streets.
Route 145 and LANTA commutes
Route 145 is about a mile west of Coplay, connecting locals to retail centers like Whitehall Mall within 3 miles and downtown Allentown within 6 miles. LANTA bus stops line Second Street and Chestnut Street, providing public transit options for commuters. Lehigh Valley International Airport is 6 miles east across the Lehigh River.
Mom and pops off Second and Chestnut streets
Locally owned specialty shops in small storefronts between homes on Second and Chestnut streets make up much of the commercial life in Coplay, like Tony’s Hobby Shop which has been family owned and operated since 1947 and Coplay News Agency, a convenience store that also sells fishing supplies. GIANT provides groceries and essentials across the street from Samuel Owens Restaurant & Bar, a favorite for casual diner fare and weekend breakfasts. For Thai cuisine, residents can sit down at Thai Diner, or find a new favorite dish at Coplay Eatery which opened in 2021.
Community parks and Ironton Rail-Trail
Kids can run around the tree-shaded playground at Saylor Park and down the hill to a cluster of preserved brick cement kilns, and the ball diamonds at Coplay Sports Field Complex host Coplay’s youth ball league games. The Ironton Rail-Trail runs through Saylor Park and along the Lehigh River, connecting locals to miles of paved biking and walking trails interspersed with historic markers between Coplay and North Whitehall.
Attending Whitehall-Coplay School District
Students attend kindergarten through first grade at Gockley Elementary School which earns a B on Niche, second through third grade at Steckel Elementary which earns a B-minus, fourth through fifth grade at Zephyr Elementary School which earns a B-minus, sixth through eighth grade at Whitehall-Coplay Middle School which earns a C-plus and ninth through 12th grade at Whitehall High School which earns a B-minus. The district’s schools all sit on a large campus 2 miles south of Coplay.
Coplay newsletter events
“Our assistant secretary puts out a newsletter every month to update people on community events,” Benson says. Food pantries, bake sales and art markets frequently take place at the Coplay Library, borough building, and several local churches, and seasonal celebrations like egg hunts mark holidays throughout the year. Residents can also find information about upcoming meetings for community groups like the Garden Club and Borough Council in their newsletter to stay informed about ongoing projects and development.
Photography Contributed By
Danny Lambert
