coplay

Coplay is a borough in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is part of the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton metropolitan area and lies in the eastern end of the Lehigh Valley. The borough sits along Coplay Creek, near its confluence with the Lehigh River, and is bordered by Whitehall Township to the north and east.

The community was settled in the 18th century, primarily by German and other European settlers, and developed as a labor- and industry-oriented community tied to the Lehigh Valley’s mining and cement industries. It was incorporated as a borough in the 19th century. In the 20th century, the local economy shifted from industrial production to a residential base with small businesses; several historic industrial sites remain as reminders of the area’s manufacturing heritage.

Today Coplay is largely residential, with a mix of single-family homes and small commercial corridors. It is governed by a borough council and a mayor, and is part of the Whitehall-Coplay School District, which serves Coplay along with surrounding communities.

For recreation and culture, the borough shares access to parks and trails along Coplay Creek and within the greater Lehigh Valley, and preserves local historic sites associated with its industrial past.