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is a borough in eastern Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The borough, located in Pennsylvania's Coal Region, had a population of 7,174 as of the 2000 U.S. Census. 2007 estimate was 6,696 population, down -7%.
The name Tamaqua (pronounced Tuh-MAH-qwah) is a Native American word that means "Land of the Beaver." The town also is known as "The Land of the Running Water." The name is unique in that Tamaqua is the only community in the world with this name.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 10.0 square miles (25.8 km²), of which, 9.8 square miles (25.5 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²) (1.31%) of it is water.
Tamaqua is situated within the Pennsylvania Coal Region section of the Appalachian Mountains. In the Tamaqua area, coal mining was an extremely vital economic activity throughout the 20th century but has since experienced a decline. The town also gained recognition as a railroad center. In addition, the 1885 Edison Electric Illuminating Co. of Tamaqua is said to have furnished the town with the nation's third incandescent municipal lighting system, a feat accomplished through the involvement of Thomas Edison.
Three streams pass through Tamaqua. The Little Schuylkill River runs through the town from the North through a gap in Nesquehoning Mountain. Panther Creek, flowing southwest at the foot of the mountain, joins the Little Schuylkill in Tamaqua, and the Wabash Creek joins the Little Schuylkill from the West.
Tamaqua is located south of Hazleton, southwest of Lansford and approximately south of Wilkes Barre.
Tamaqua's average elevation is above sea level. Elevations can reach up to above sea level.
Since 1965 Tamaqua has had its own FM station, beginning as WSVB later WZTA and WCRN, now WMGH Magic 105.5. Studios are in Nesquehoning with co-owned WLSH AM 1410. The Bill Angst Little League Field is on the site of the former studios and transmitting tower in the Dutch Hill section of the borough.