Tamaqua is a historic rail and coal town at the edge of the Poconos
Coal mining and the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad built up the borough of Tamaqua where the Pocono Mountains meet the Anthracite Uplands. Its small-town skyline has anchored the Little Schuylkill River and Panther Creek valleys for generations. Along with the rest of Pennsylvania's coal region, however, Tamaqua experienced population decline and blight starting in the midcentury. More recently, millions have been invested in local infrastructure, landmarks and economic incentive programs. In this way, Tamaqua has remained rooted in Schuylkill County’s proud industrial heritage, refitted to meet the historical and outdoor tourism industries of the Lehigh Valley and the Poconos. “Tamaqua is sort of like ‘town’ for Schuylkill, in terms of the tiny towns we have out here,” says Nada Laguna, a Realtor with EveryHome Realtors who’s specialized in Schuylkill and its surrounding counties for more than 13 years. “They have a historical society that preserves buildings and a bunch of Indian and coal mining history. But a lot of its appeal also has to do with location. Routes 209 and 309 run through, so you can get right down to Allentown or other places to work.”
Hilly blocks of prewar homes walkable to the railroad
Many residential blocks were developed to house workers within walking distance of the railroad. Vinyl-sided National homes built around the turn of the 20th century stand close together along gridded streets in detached, twin-home and rowhouse styles. Victorian details like bay windows and creative porch trim decorate properties scattered around town. Homes might sit flat along narrow sidewalks or tower atop shallow, sloped front lawns. Depending on size and condition, the homes in Tamaqua’s dense center can sell for about $30,000 to $340,000. Houses on small acreages outside the borough’s town center rarely come on the market but can sell for around $340,000 to $460,000. Streets are flatter along the valley bottom’s waterways but quickly rise into surrounding hills.
Shopping and dining in downtown Tamaqua
Grand Italianate commercial buildings have stood along Route 209 and Pine Street since Tamaqua’s railroad boom. The Tamaqua Station Restaurant welcomes visitors for sit-down American dinners in the train station that community organizers rescued from demolition decades ago. La Dolce Casa is an Italian mainstay illuminated by string lights and changing seasonal decor; the over-the-top Christmas decorations make it a true wonderland through the winter. The grand First National Bank is now a museum and headquarters for the Tamaqua Historical Society, but modern banks are a short walk past convenience shops and a hardware store. Boyer’s Food Market is the borough’s grocery store.
Train history, vendors and the arts at Tamaqua community events
Tamaqua’s chamber of commerce, historical society and many other groups have organized the borough’s community events for decades. The Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad’s steam engines travel through verdant valleys during SummerFest, a tourist line that has replaced regular passenger service. During the annual Father's Day tradition, dozens of vendors and live musicians set up at Depot Square Park and South Railroad Street. The Tamaqua Community Arts Center, a historic church now decorated with a sunshine mosaic, is a venue for art classes and live music throughout the year. Many of the borough’s other century-old churches, like Bethany Evangelical Congregational Church, still hold religious services.
Borough parks and larger regional recreation areas
Bungalow Park is Tamaqua’s most popular park, thanks to its outdoor swimming pool and forested hiking trails. North and Middle Ward Playground has old-school metal slides, jungle gyms and a basketball court. A lush garden and park benches encircle the central fountain at Depot Square Park next to the train station. Farther from the borough’s center, Owl Creek Reservoir Recreation Area offers two tranquil reservoirs for kayaking, catch-and-release fishing and boats with electric motors. Tuscarora State Park’s sandy lakefront beach and rentable yurts are less than 5 miles from home.
Attending Tamaqua Area School District and LCCC
Tamaqua Area School District serves the borough. Tamaqua Elementary School earns a C from Niche, as does Tamaqua Area Middle School. Tamaqua Area High School scores a B-minus and allows students to take dual enrollment courses through Lehigh Carbon Community College. The Morgan Success Scholarship doubles down on the relationship between LCCC and TASD. “When you've gone to Tamaqua Area School District, and meet certain requirements, there’s an incentive where you can go to Lehigh Carbon Community College for free,” Laguna says.
Walking downtown and commuting on Routes 209 and 309
U.S. Route 209 offers a roughly 15-mile drive to Pottsville and Jim Thorpe. St. Luke’s Hospital — Miners Campus is closer to 3 miles down 209. State Route 309 begins the 12-mile trip to Hazleton and the 35-mile drive to Allentown. Schuylkill Transportation System buses run regional routes, though locals often rely on cars to get around. Interstate 81 passes just outside Tamaqua for longer-distance travel to places like Harrisburg and Scranton. Lehigh Valley International Airport is about 40 miles away.
Flood risk on the Little Schuylkill River
Waterways like the Little Schuylkill River may flood after unusually heavy rain. Buyers can consult maps to understand their potential risk and need for flood insurance.
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Written By
Julia Szymanski
