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TheSlate Belt is a geographic region inNorthampton County, Pennsylvania that is typically described as includingBangor,Wind Gap,Pen Argyl, andPortland.[1] The region is named for the historical prevalence ofslate quarrying in the area.
The Slate Belt lies between theAppalachian Trail inWind Gap and theDelaware River inPortland, Pennsylvania.[2]
Bangor, Wind Gap, Pen Argyl, and Portland are the largest communities in the Slate Belt region. Other smaller municipalities in the region includeRoseto,East Bangor,Plainfield Township,Upper Mount Bethel,Lower Mount Bethel, andWashington Township.[3]
This definition of the region's boundaries does not align perfectly with the geological boundaries of slate deposits, and is based more on the region of the slate industry and slate production. GeologistCharles H. Behre [de], in a 1926 report, included a much larger geographic definition of the Slate Belt that extended the southern boundary to theLehigh River north ofCatasauqua.[4]
The slate industry in the Slate Belt quickly expanded following the arrival of Robert M. Jones, aWelsh immigrant, in 1848. Jones foundedBangor, Pennsylvania and established several slate quarries. The industry continued to expand throughout the 19th century, reaching its peak production in 1903.[5]
At its 19th century peak, the Slate Belt was the world's largest slate-producing region despite its relatively small geographic size, which is 22 square miles.[6]
In the years leading up toWorld War I, Pennsylvania was responsible for more than half of the slate production in the United States, and the vast majority of it came fromNorthampton County in theLehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania. More than 40% of national slate production during this period came from Northampton County alone.[7]
The slate industry in the region began declining in the first half of the 20th century. DuringWorld War I, many quarry owners closed their quarries to allow workers to contribute to the war effort, especially at nearbyBethlehem Steel inBethlehem.[8] The increased use of other roofing materials, especiallyasphalt shingles, resulted in reduced demand for slate. Many quarries also removed all of the easily extractable slate present. A final factor to the industry's decline was theGreat Depression, which resulted in greatly reduced home constructions that represented the market for slate roofs. Many quarries in the Slate Belt went out of business during this period.[5]
Three slate quarries remain active in the Slate Belt: one each inBangor,Wind Gap, andPen Argyl.[5] Slate quarries that have been abandoned remain recreational popular for swimming, despite the dangers associated with them. Several people have drowned while swimming in them.[9][10][11]
Slate-board quoits, which originating with Slate Belt miners in the 1930s, remain popular in theLehigh Valley andNortheastern regions ofPennsylvania.[12]