A Data Collection of Coopersburg, Pennsylvania
Jennifer Cannon
Cedar Crest College
Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to gain an understanding of Coopersburg, Pennsylvania by collecting data and utilizing Clark’s Dimensions Model to organize the assessment. The categories included in this model are biophysical, psychological, environmental, sociocultural, behavioral, and health systems. This community assessment was performed by direct observation of Coopersburg via a windshield survey, and online database research. The information collected will provide a better understanding of Coopersburg Borough, its residents, and the type of community in which they live. Keywords: data collection, Clark’s Dimensions Model, community assessment, Coopersburg, Lehigh County
Coopersburg Data Collection This community assessment of Coopersburg, Pennsylvania was performed to understand the population residing here. Data collected for Lehigh County, Pennsylvania was utilized as a comparison for Coopersburg. Clark’s Dimensions Model provided structure to the data collection to better acknowledge the different aspects of this community. The six dimensions biophysical, psychological, environmental, sociocultural, behavioral, and health systems provide an outline of data collected (“Community Assessment,” 2007). This data will be useful in gaining a perspective of the problems the citizens of Coopersburg may be experiencing.
Biophysical
The borough of Coopersburg, Pennsylvania is home to 2,401 citizens (Advameg Inc., 2014a). The median age is 40.8 years old (CLRChoice, Inc., 2012). According to the Lehigh County Health Profile (2013), the median age of Lehigh County is comparable to Coopersburg at 39.2 years old (See Table 1). Coopersburg’s female population is 53.4% and males representing 46.6% (Advameg, 2014f). The United States (U.S.) Census Bureau (2014c), reports a similar gender percentage for Lehigh County with females comprising 51.3% for the County. Male percentage for Lehigh County was not reported. The majority of Coopersburg’s population is Caucasian at 93.7% (see Table 2), which is greater than Lehigh County’s white only population of 69.1%, and Hispanic (20.7%) comprising the second largest percentage (Advameg Inc., 2014t). Coopersburg’s Hispanic population is a mere 3.5%, which is significantly lower than Lehigh County(Advameg, Inc., 2014k; Advameg, Inc., 2014t).
Table 1
Age Shown in Years
Age
Coopersburg
Lehigh County
0-5
7.12
6.1
5-14 n/a 13
6-11
7.97 n/a 12-17
8.91
n/a
15-24
n/a
13.1
18-24
9.04
n/a
25-34
8.37
12.3
35-44
14.89
12.9
45-54
17.78
15.2
55-64
12.97
12.6
65-74
6.73
7.3
75-84
4.2
n/a
75+
n/a
7.5
85+
2.01
n/a
Source: Advameg Inc., 2014a; Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, 2014a
The majority of Coopersburg’s population is Caucasian at 93.7% (see Table 2), which is greater than Lehigh County’s white only population of 69.1%, and Hispanic (20.7%) comprising the second largest percentage (Advameg Inc., 2014t). Coopersburg’s Hispanic population is a mere 3.5%, significantly lower than Lehigh County(Advameg, Inc., 2014k; Advameg, Inc., 2014t).
Table 2
Race Shown in Percentages
Race
Coopersburg
Lehigh County
White alone
93.7
69.1
Hispanic
3.5
20.7
Asian alone
1.1
3.4
Two or more races
0.8
2.3
Black alone
0.5
8.2
American Indian alone
0.1
0.8
Other race alone
0.1
n/a
Native Hawaiian/other Pacific Islander alone
0.04
0.1
Source: (Advameg Inc., 2014k; Advameg Inc., 2014t)
The ethnic background for a large number of people whom reside in Coopersburg is German at 35% (Advameg Inc., 2014e). The statistics dictate Lehigh County’s ethnic backgrounds are similar to Coopersburg (See Table 3).
Table 3
Ethnicity Shown in Percentages
Ethnicity
Coopersburg
Lehigh County
German
35.3
27
Irish
12
8
Italian
7.4
8
Dutch
4.6
n/a
Pennsylvania German n/a 6
English
3.9
4
United States American n/a 6
Polish
3.5
4
Source: (Advameg Inc., 2014e; Advameg Inc., 2014q)
