Editing Palmerton, Pennsylvania (section)

== History ==
[[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native Americans]] lived in the area that is now Palmerton for many years. Early European settlers established the villages of Hazard and Little Gap, which were part of [[Lower Towamensing Township, Pennsylvania|Lower Towamensing Township]]. There was also an [[Underground Railroad]] station there. Palmerton was officially incorporated in 1912.

In 1912, the [[New Jersey Zinc Company]] located a [[Zinc smelting]] operation (now the West Plant) here, in order to take advantage of the [[anthracite|anthracite coal]] being mined just north of Palmerton and the zinc mines in [[Franklin, New Jersey]]. The town was named after New Jersey Zinc's then-President, Stephen S. Palmer, though Palmer was reportedly not pleased with having his name on the town.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mcall.com/2010/04/16/developers-try-to-overcome-zincs-legacy-in-palmerton/ |title=Developers try to overcome zinc's legacy in Palmerton |author=Jenna Portnoy  |publisher=Allentown Morning Call |date=April 16, 2010}}</ref>

A second location, the East Plant, was established on the other side of town in 1911. Though other industries, such as several garment manufacturing shops, came to Palmerton, the zinc company was the major employer for most of the town's history. Much of the population came to the site, principally from [[Eastern Europe]], in order to work in the zinc plants.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tnonline.com/2010/jun/10/architectural-historical-tour-hikes-round-park-palmerton?page=1 |title=Architectural, historical tour hikes round the park in Palmerton |author=ELSA KERSCHNER  |publisher=Times News Online |date=June 10, 2010}}</ref>

Zinc smelting was ended in 1980 due to a poor zinc market and [[environmental regulation]]. The West Plant was demolished in 2010. The East Plant continues to operate at reduced capacity, processing electric arc furnace dust into zinc [[calcine]].

The Palmer House, a five-story Senior Citizens residence at 360 Delaware Avenue is on the site of the former Palm Theater.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/25441 |author=Cinema Treasures |title=Palm Theater |year=2017}}</ref>

The [[Palmerton Historic District]], covering the downtown area, was added to the [[National Register of Historic Places]] on January 19, 2018.<ref>{{cite web |title=National Register of Historic Places Program: Weekly List |url=https://www.nps.gov/nr/listings/20180126.htm |date=January 26, 2018}}</ref>