Jennifer Sopko

Jennifer Sopko is a writer and historian with a love of local history. A Pittsburgh native who grew up in White Oak Borough, Jennifer’s writing projects focus on Western Pennsylvania with goals of enlightening readers about forgotten and obscure regional history and reinterpreting familiar stories. Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania.

Since 2003, Jennifer has covered the Ligonier Valley, Westmoreland County and Western Pennsylvania as a freelance writer and journalist for several regional publications, including the Latrobe Bulletin, the Ligonier Echo and Westmoreland History magazine. She is the author of Ligonier Valley Vignettes: Tales from the Laurel Highlands (2013), and Idlewild: History and Memories of Pennsylvania’s Oldest Amusement Park (2018). Her next book will cover lost amusement parks across Western Pennsylvania.

Jennifer is the editor of Westmoreland History magazine, a triannual publication of the Westmoreland Historical Society, and an active community volunteer. She is also a board director or member of the Ligonier Valley Rail Road Association, the National Amusement Park Historical Association, the American Coaster Enthusiasts Western Pennsylvania chapter, the National Carousel Association, the Senator John Heinz History Center, the McKeesport Regional History and Heritage Center, the Latrobe Area Historical Society and Tube City Community Media, Inc. Learn more about Jennifer at www.jennifersopko.com.