The borough is served by the Pen Argyl Area School District. Pen Argyl is the burial place of actress Jayne Mansfield, whose family requested to have her body buried in Fairview Cemetery, located on the borough's outskirts. Her heart-shaped gravestone is visible from the road. Pen Argyl is also home to the Weona Park Dentzel carousel, which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Pen Argyl's Fire Company, Lookout Fire Company #1, also holds an annual Labor Day parade and carnival. Pen Argyl is also home to Real English Foods, Inc, the company behind Mr. Pastie. In 1853, Joseph Kellow discovered slate in the surrounding area, coining what is now known as the Slate Belt community. The name Pen Argyl originated from the Welsh name meaning "head" and the Anglo-Saxon name of Slate Rock, meaning "argylite". With the surge of quarrymen from Cornwall and England, the town expanded. Today, there is still one slate quarry in operation.