Below: The borough hall of Leesport is home of the borough's government.

Below: The "Lock House" of the former Schuylkill Canal has been restored and serves as a museum of Leesport's proud past.

Below: The Schuylkill Valley Community Library in Leesport is a source of civic pride.

THE FACTS: Leesport was settled around 1840 along what was the old Centre Turnpike, the main toll road from Reading to Pottsville. Its initial spurt of growth came when the Schuylkill Canal passed through the village and then when the railroad literally cut the town in two sections.

THE FIGURES: Leesport's land area is 7/10ths of a square mile, in which an estimated 2,000 residents dwell.

THE FUN STUFF: Originally called "Althouse's," Lee's Port became Leesport in honor of Samuel Lee, who plotted the original plan of the town.

The earliest industries in town included knitting, and there were once many large grain warehouses along the canal, especially near Althouse's Locks. A large iron furnace operated in Leesport from 1853 to 1914, and several small factories and mills were grouped along the highways, railways, and canal that fueled a modest but steady growth. More recently, further highway development on land once reserved for agriculture has spawned new growth in and around Leesport.

The Althouse Covered Bridge once connected West Leesport and Wall Street, and was a toll bridge until 1886.

The first Post Office in town was established in 1872, and was actually in and called West Leesport. It wasn't until 1901 that the town was consolidation as a borough.

For many miles around, Leesport is best known for its banking interests and its Farmer's Market and cattle auction. Over the years, it was also known for its Cornet Band and championship fast-pitched softball team.

One of the first residents in Leesport was that of one Dr. Strawbridge, who lived there only briefly. His sons moved to Philadelphia where they whet into retailing and became the Strawbridges of Strawbridge & Clothier department store fame.

Thanks to WEEU's Charles J. Adams III for help in compiling this material.