Pennsylvania Route 143
Encyclopedia
Pennsylvania Route 143 is a 21 miles (33.8 km) long state highway
in Pennsylvania
. It runs from Pennsylvania Route 309 near New Tripoli
to Pennsylvania Route 662
in Richmond Township
just east of the town of Shoemakersville
.
It is also known as "Kings Highway" throughout its entire routing. It is also known as Decatur Street through New Tripoli, Willow Street in Lenhartsville, and Virginville Road in the vicinity of Virginville, as well as Main Street through the town of Virginville.
Some popular tourist attractions along the route include Crystal Cave
near Virginville
, The Wanamakers General Store, Wanamakers, Kempton & Southern (WK&S) Railroad, in Kempton
, and Blue Mountain Vineyards, a regional winery, in New Tripoli
.
in Richmond Township
, Berks County
, heading to the north on two-lane undivided Hard Hill Road. It turns northwest through a mix of hilly farms and woods with some homes, reaching the community of Virginville
and becoming Main Street. In Virginville, the road crosses the Maiden Creek
into Perry Township
, where it runs a short distance to the west of the creek with woods to the east and farm fields to the west as an unnamed road. PA 143 continues through rural surroundings as it passes through Windsor Township
and into Greenwich Township
. The road enters more wooded surroundings and makes a few sharp turns prior to heading west into Lenhartsville
. Here, the road becomes Chestnut Street and passes homes and businesses, making a right turn to the north onto Willow Street as it intersects the former alignment of US 22
. Upon leaving Lenhartsville for Greenwich Township again, PA 143 becomes unnamed and reaches an interchange with I-78
/US 22. From this point, the road winds north through more forested areas, still running to the west of Maiden Creek. The route enters Albany Township
and enters a mix of woods and farms as it comes to an intersection with the northern terminus of PA 737
near the community of Kempton
. Following this intersection, the road passes through more rural areas as it runs to the west of Ontelaunee Creek
and the Wanamaker, Kempton and Southern Railroad.
, Lehigh County
, continuing northeast to the community of Wanamakers as Kings Highway. At this point, the road turns more to the east and passes the terminus of the Wanamaker, Kempton and Southern Railroad and heads into more agricultural areas with some homes. Upon reaching the community of Lynnport
, PA 143 comes to the northern terminus of PA 863
. From this intersection, the route continues farther east, passing through New Tripoli
as Decatur Street before reaching its northern terminus at PA 309
.
State highway
State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...
in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. It runs from Pennsylvania Route 309 near New Tripoli
New Tripoli, Pennsylvania
New Tripoli is a small rural village in Lynn Township, in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States.The village is located at the intersection of Madison Street and Pennsylvania Route 143 near Pennsylvania Route 309 in the Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania...
to Pennsylvania Route 662
Pennsylvania Route 662
Pennsylvania Route 662 is a long road located in eastern Pennsylvania. Its northern terminus is at Pennsylvania Route 61 in Shoemakerville and its southern terminus is at U.S. Route 422 in Douglassville. The entire route is in Berks County...
in Richmond Township
Richmond Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania
Richmond Township is a township in Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 3,500 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 23.7 square miles , of which, 23.6 square miles of it is land and...
just east of the town of Shoemakersville
Shoemakersville, Pennsylvania
Shoemakersville is a borough in Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,124 at the 2000 census.-Overview:Shoemakersville was named for the first settlers Henry and Charles Shoemaker. It was a thriving apparel manufacturing town. It is home of the "The Shoey Green Sox" the...
.
It is also known as "Kings Highway" throughout its entire routing. It is also known as Decatur Street through New Tripoli, Willow Street in Lenhartsville, and Virginville Road in the vicinity of Virginville, as well as Main Street through the town of Virginville.
Some popular tourist attractions along the route include Crystal Cave
Crystal Cave (Pennsylvania)
Crystal Cave is a cave in Kutztown, Pennsylvania, United States, the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country. It has been visited by millions of people since its discovery on November 12, 1871. It was found by Gideon Merkel and John Gehret. Greenwich Township farmer Samuel D. F. Kohler bought of land,...
near Virginville
Virginville, Pennsylvania
Virginville is an unincorporated community in Richmond Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located at the junction of Pennsylvania Route 143 and Crystal Ridge Road....
, The Wanamakers General Store, Wanamakers, Kempton & Southern (WK&S) Railroad, in Kempton
Kempton, Pennsylvania
Kempton is an unincorporated community in eastern Albany Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States with a zip code of 19529. Kempton is located at 40.626N, 75.852W, at the junction of Route 737 and Kistler Valley Road....
, and Blue Mountain Vineyards, a regional winery, in New Tripoli
New Tripoli, Pennsylvania
New Tripoli is a small rural village in Lynn Township, in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States.The village is located at the intersection of Madison Street and Pennsylvania Route 143 near Pennsylvania Route 309 in the Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania...
.
Berks County
PA 143 begins at an intersection with PA 662Pennsylvania Route 662
Pennsylvania Route 662 is a long road located in eastern Pennsylvania. Its northern terminus is at Pennsylvania Route 61 in Shoemakerville and its southern terminus is at U.S. Route 422 in Douglassville. The entire route is in Berks County...
in Richmond Township
Richmond Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania
Richmond Township is a township in Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 3,500 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 23.7 square miles , of which, 23.6 square miles of it is land and...
, Berks County
Berks County, Pennsylvania
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 373,638 people, 141,570 households, and 98,532 families residing in the county. The population density was 435 people per square mile . There were 150,222 housing units at an average density of 175 per square mile...
, heading to the north on two-lane undivided Hard Hill Road. It turns northwest through a mix of hilly farms and woods with some homes, reaching the community of Virginville
Virginville, Pennsylvania
Virginville is an unincorporated community in Richmond Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located at the junction of Pennsylvania Route 143 and Crystal Ridge Road....
and becoming Main Street. In Virginville, the road crosses the Maiden Creek
Maiden Creek
Maiden Creek is a tributary of the Schuylkill River in Berks County, Pennsylvania, in the United States.Maiden Creek is formed by the confluence of Ontelaunee and Kistler creeks in the community of Kempton...
into Perry Township
Perry Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania
Perry Township is a township in Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,517 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 18.4 square miles , of which, 18.3 square miles of it is land and...
, where it runs a short distance to the west of the creek with woods to the east and farm fields to the west as an unnamed road. PA 143 continues through rural surroundings as it passes through Windsor Township
Windsor Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania
Windsor Township is a township in Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population as of the 2000 census was 2,392.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 22.6 square miles .22.5 square miles of it is land and 0.1 square...
and into Greenwich Township
Greenwich Township, Pennsylvania
Greenwich Township is a township in Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 3,386 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , all of it land. It is drained by the Maiden Creek into the Schuylkill River...
. The road enters more wooded surroundings and makes a few sharp turns prior to heading west into Lenhartsville
Lenhartsville, Pennsylvania
Lenhartsville is a borough in Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 173 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Lenhartsville is located at ....
. Here, the road becomes Chestnut Street and passes homes and businesses, making a right turn to the north onto Willow Street as it intersects the former alignment of US 22
U.S. Route 22 in Pennsylvania
U.S. Route 22 is an east–west route stretching from Cincinnati, Ohio in the west to Newark, New Jersey in the east. In Pennsylvania, the route runs for between the West Virginia state line at Washington County, where it is a limited-access expressway-grade route through the western suburbs...
. Upon leaving Lenhartsville for Greenwich Township again, PA 143 becomes unnamed and reaches an interchange with I-78
Interstate 78 in Pennsylvania
Interstate 78 is an east–west route stretching from Union Township, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania to New York City. In the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, I-78 runs for about 77 miles in Pennsylvania, from the western terminus at Interstate 81 to New Jersey state line; I-78 continues into New...
/US 22. From this point, the road winds north through more forested areas, still running to the west of Maiden Creek. The route enters Albany Township
Albany Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania
Albany Township is a township in Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,662 at the 2000 census. A 2005 census estimate put the township's population at 1,712. The township hall is located in Kempton.-Geography:...
and enters a mix of woods and farms as it comes to an intersection with the northern terminus of PA 737
Pennsylvania Route 737
Pennsylvania Route 737 is a state highway in Berks County, Pennsylvania. The route runs from U.S. Route 222 in Kutztown north to Pennsylvania Route 143 in Albany Township. Route 737 heads north from an interchange with the U.S. Route 222 Kutztown Bypass north of Kutztown on Krumsville Road. It...
near the community of Kempton
Kempton, Pennsylvania
Kempton is an unincorporated community in eastern Albany Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States with a zip code of 19529. Kempton is located at 40.626N, 75.852W, at the junction of Route 737 and Kistler Valley Road....
. Following this intersection, the road passes through more rural areas as it runs to the west of Ontelaunee Creek
Ontelaunee Creek
Ontelaunee Creek is a tributary of Maiden Creek in Berks County, Pennsylvania in the United States.Ontelaunee Creek and Kistler Creek join in the community of Kempton to form Maiden Creek.-References:...
and the Wanamaker, Kempton and Southern Railroad.
Lehigh County
PA 143 crosses into Lynn TownshipLynn Township, Pennsylvania
Lynn Township is a township in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is a suburb of Allentown, Pennsylvania, in the Lehigh Valley region of the state...
, Lehigh County
Lehigh County, Pennsylvania
-Climate:Most of the county's climate is considered to fall in the humid continental climate zone. Summers are typically hot and muggy, fall and spring are generally mild, and winter is cold. Precipitation is almost uniformly distributed throughout the year....
, continuing northeast to the community of Wanamakers as Kings Highway. At this point, the road turns more to the east and passes the terminus of the Wanamaker, Kempton and Southern Railroad and heads into more agricultural areas with some homes. Upon reaching the community of Lynnport
Lynnport, Pennsylvania
Lynnport is a small unincorporated area in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, United States. The Lynnport area is a quiet neighborhood that is located on PA-143. It lies at an elevation of 486 feet .-Relation to Lynn Township:...
, PA 143 comes to the northern terminus of PA 863
Pennsylvania Route 863
Pennsylvania Route 863 is a state highway in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. The route runs from U.S. Route 222 in Upper Macungie Township north to Pennsylvania Route 143 in Lynn Township.-Route description:...
. From this intersection, the route continues farther east, passing through New Tripoli
New Tripoli, Pennsylvania
New Tripoli is a small rural village in Lynn Township, in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States.The village is located at the intersection of Madison Street and Pennsylvania Route 143 near Pennsylvania Route 309 in the Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania...
as Decatur Street before reaching its northern terminus at PA 309
Pennsylvania Route 309
Pennsylvania Route 309 is a major highway which runs for 134 miles through Pennsylvania in the United States. It connects Philadelphia and its northern suburbs to Allentown, Hazleton, and Wilkes-Barre. A limited-access highway portion of PA 309 in the Wilkes-Barre area is known as the North...
.