The Lehigh Coal & Navigation Company would become heavily involved in the improvements.

The town was a central hub during the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Canal era.

By 1821, the Lehigh Coal & Lehigh Navigation companies were merged.

The company name remained associated with anthracite mining through the Lehigh Coal & Navigation Company, incorporated in 1988.

In 2000, Lehigh Coal shut down and laid-off 163 employees, saying plunging coal prices made it impossible to make a profit.

Like other Pennsylvania mining companies, Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company has been criticized for polluting the environment.

After 1904 most of the L&NE's stock was owned by the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company.

The town was founded by Josiah White, founder of the Lehigh Coal & Navigation Company.

The Lehigh Coal and Navigation also offered free water power and discount rates on coal and shipping to encourage the development of the process.

The state sold the canal to the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company in 1858.