Allentown, Pennsylvania

Allentown is a city in eastern Pennsylvania, United States. It is the third-most populous city in the state, with a population of 125,845 as of the 2020 census. The city is also the most populous in the Lehigh Valley metropolitan area, which had over 861,000 people.

Founded in 1762, Allentown sits on the Lehigh River, a tributary of the Delaware River. It is part of a group of three nearby cities: Bethlehem, Easton, and Northampton. The city is located about 48 miles north of Philadelphia and 78 miles west of New York City.

History

18th century

In the early 1700s, the land that is now Allentown was a wilderness of scrub oak, where the Lenape Indigenous tribe fished for trout and hunted deer and other animals.

In 1732, the land was given to Joseph Turner by Thomas Penn, one of the sons of William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania. Two years later, William Allen, a wealthy merchant, bought a part of this land.

In 1762, Allen named and laid out the land, and Allentown was founded. The city was originally named Northampton Towne. Many of the city's streets were named after Allen's children. Allen hoped Allentown would become a major center for business because of its location along the Lehigh River.

American Revolutionary War

Allentown played an important role in the American Revolution. Some of the first actions against British rule began there. A group of local leaders formed a Committee of Observation and stood up against British control.

During the war, Hessian prisoners were kept in Allentown, and the city had hospitals for soldiers hurt in battle. After a big battle, General George Washington and his team stopped in Allentown to rest and water their horses.

Liberty Bell's hiding

Allentown is famous for hiding the Liberty Bell from the British Army during the Revolutionary War. After the British took over Philadelphia, American leaders moved the bell to Allentown and hid it in a church basement.

19th century

In 1811, Allentown became an official city. Throughout the early 1800s, it grew as a market and court town. A canal was built to help transport coal, and later, railroads were added.

In 1838, the city’s name was changed to Allentown. The city faced challenges like floods and fires but began to recover in the 1850s.

American Civil War

During the Civil War, Allentown sent soldiers to defend the nation’s capital. A regiment called the 47th Pennsylvania Volunteers was formed there, and they fought in many important battles.

Industrialization

Allentown became a major industrial center. Factories made iron, shoes, and other goods. The city also became known for silk manufacturing, with many mills opening up. By the early 1900s, silk was the city’s biggest industry.

20th century

In the early 1900s, Mack Trucks moved to Allentown and became famous for making strong trucks used in World War I.

Later in the century, many factories closed, and people moved to the suburbs. The city’s economy struggled, and many stores and businesses shut down.

21st century

In the 2000s, Allentown worked to improve its economy. A new arena, hotel, and other developments opened in the city center. Today, Allentown is known as a good place to live and retire.

Geography

Topography

Further information: Blue Mountain (Pennsylvania) and South Mountain (Eastern Pennsylvania)

Allentown covers an area of 18.0 square miles (46.6 km²). Most of this is land, with only a small part being water. The city has several bodies of water, such as Jordan Creek and Little Lehigh Creek, which flow into the Lehigh River. There is also Lake Muhlenberg and a pond in Trexler Park.

Adjacent counties

Allentown is in the Lehigh Valley, a valley in eastern Pennsylvania between two mountain ridges. To the north is Blue Mountain, and to the south is South Mountain. The Lehigh Valley includes Lehigh and Northampton counties.

Nearby counties include Carbon, Monroe, Bucks County, Montgomery County, Berks, Schuylkill, and Warren County, New Jersey.

Cityscape and neighborhoods

Main articles: Buildings and architecture of Allentown, Pennsylvania; Center City Allentown; and List of Allentown neighborhoods

Center City Allentown is the downtown area, home to many important buildings and shops along 7th Street. East of Center City are older neighborhoods called The Wards. Across the Lehigh River are the East Side neighborhoods, close to Bethlehem. South of Center City are the South Side neighborhoods, near Emmaus. The West End has a mix of shops, cultural spots, and larger homes.

The tallest building in Center City is the PPL Building, standing 322 feet tall. Other notable buildings include the Dime Savings and Trust Company with its beautiful Art Deco style. An indoor arena called the PPL Center opened in 2014, where the Lehigh Valley Phantoms play hockey.

In 2015, two big hotels, the Americus Hotel and a Marriott, opened in Center City.

Architecture

Main article: Buildings and architecture of Allentown, Pennsylvania

See also: List of historic places in Allentown, Pennsylvania

Allentown has many old homes and buildings, showing its history as an early city. Center City has Victorian and row houses, while West Park has Victorian and American Craftsman-style homes. The West End has homes built between the 1920s and 1940s. The East and South Sides have homes from the 1940s to 1960s, with some older Victorian styles.

Allentown has three historic areas: Old Allentown, the Old Fairgrounds, and West Park. These areas often hold tours of their beautiful homes.

The PPL Building is Allentown’s tallest building. It was finished in 1928 and was a model for Art Deco buildings in places like New York City. The building’s lights can be seen from far away on clear nights.

Miller Symphony Hall opened in 1896 and is now a famous music venue. It has hosted many types of performances for over a hundred years.

Climate

Main article: Climate of Allentown, Pennsylvania

Allentown has warm, muggy summers and cool to cold winters. Spring and fall are usually mild. The city gets rain almost equally throughout the year. January is the coldest month, with temperatures sometimes dropping below freezing. July is the warmest month. Snow can vary from light to heavy depending on the year. On average, Allentown gets about 33 inches of snow each winter.

Demographics

Allentown is a big city in Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, it had a population of 125,845 people, making it the third-largest city in the state after Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. The median age of people living there was 34.2 years.

The city has many families, with about a third of households having children under 18. Most people live in urban areas. There were over 45,000 households and almost 49,000 housing units in the city.

The Hispanic population in Allentown has grown a lot over the past few decades. Many of these residents are from Dominican and Puerto Rican backgrounds.

As of the 2010 census, Allentown had many different types of households. About a quarter of the people were under 18 years old, and about a sixth were 65 or older. The median age was 34 years. The median income for a household was $52,449, but many people lived below the poverty line.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Allentown, Pennsylvania

Allentown used to be an important place for making things, with many factories and industries. But starting in the late 1900s, the city changed to focus more on services instead of heavy factory work. This happened because many big factories closed down.

Today, Allentown is where big companies like Air Products and PPL Corporation have their main offices. The biggest employer in the city is Lehigh Valley Health Network, which takes care of people’s health. Their main hospital, Lehigh Valley Hospital–Cedar Crest, is one of the largest in Pennsylvania.

For shopping, the downtown area used to be the main place to go. But now, people often visit malls in the nearby suburbs like South Mall, Lehigh Valley Mall, and Whitehall Mall. A newer mall called Promenade Saucon Valley opened a bit south of Allentown.

Culture

Main article: Culture of Allentown, Pennsylvania

Allentown, Pennsylvania, has a rich and varied cultural scene. The city is home to many arts groups, including the Allentown Symphony Orchestra, which plays beautiful music at Miller Symphony Hall. There is also the Allentown Art Museum, which has thousands of art pieces to explore. The Baum School of Art offers classes for anyone who wants to learn more about art.

The city has a long history of theater, thanks to the Civic Theatre of Allentown. This theater shows many kinds of films and also has live performances. It has been a part of the community for over 90 years.

Allentown’s food is influenced by its Pennsylvania Dutch roots. You can find special dishes like scrapple, cheesesteaks, and shoofly pie in local restaurants and markets. The city is also known for its soft drinks thanks to the A-Treat Bottling Company, which has been making drinks there since 1918.

The city has many landmarks, including the Soldiers and Sailors monument, which honors those who served in the American Civil War. Music is also important in Allentown, with many bands performing in parks and stadiums throughout the year.

Further information: Allentown Art Museum, Allentown Symphony Orchestra, Baum School of Art, Civic Theatre of Allentown, Miller Symphony Hall, and Municipal Band of Allentown

• Allentown Art Museum, art museum
• Allentown Band, nation's oldest civilian concert band
• Allentown Symphony Orchestra, symphony orchestra
• America on Wheels, automotive transportation museum
• Baum School of Art, non-profit community art school
• Civic Theatre of Allentown, historic cinema
• Da Vinci Science Center, science museum
• Lehigh County Historical Society, local historical society and museum
• Marine Band of Allentown, civilian concert band
• Municipal Band of Allentown, civilian concert band
• Museum of Indian Culture, Lenape Indian educational center

See also: List of city parks and recreation facilities of Allentown, Pennsylvania; List of historic places in Allentown, Pennsylvania; and National Register of Historic Places listings in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania

Further information: Allentown Band, Marine Band of Allentown, and Municipal Band of Allentown

Parks and recreation

Main article: List of city parks and recreation facilities of Allentown, Pennsylvania

Many of Allentown's parks were created thanks to a kind man named Harry Clay Trexler. He was inspired by ideas from the early 1900s to make cities beautiful. Trexler helped build West Park, which opened in 1909. This park used to be a trash area and a place for baseball games, but now it has a special stage for music and is loved by local bands. Trexler also helped make other parks and green spaces, and he set up a special fund to help keep all of Allentown's parks looking nice.

Allentown has many parks, including a small stadium for sports, a big path with a lake and a beach, and many other green spaces where people can walk, play, and relax.

Amusement park

Main article: Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom

Allentown is home to Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom, one of the oldest and biggest amusement parks in the United States. It has lots of fun rides, including Steel Force, one of the longest roller coasters in the world.

Festivals

Further information: Great Allentown Fair and Mayfair Festival of the Arts

Allentown holds many fun events each year. The Great Allentown Fair happens every late August and early September. It started in 1852 and has been held at the same place since 1889. There is also a blues music festival called Blues, Brews, and Barbeque in June, and the Mayfair Festival of the Arts, a three-day art event, happens every May.

Sports

Main article: Sports in Allentown, Pennsylvania

See also: Eastern Pennsylvania Conference; History of baseball in Allentown, Pennsylvania; Lehigh Valley IronPigs; Lehigh Valley Phantoms; and Parkettes National Gymnastics Training Center

Collegiate athletics

Further information: Muhlenberg Mules and Muhlenberg Mules football

Both Cedar Crest College and Muhlenberg College in Allentown have teams for many sports. The Muhlenberg Mules play their home football games at Scotty Wood Stadium on the Muhlenberg campus in Allentown.

High school athletics

Further information: Eastern Pennsylvania Conference

Allentown and the surrounding area are known for strong high school sports, and many players from here have gone on to compete in the Olympics.

Allentown's three large high schools, Allen, Dieruff, and Central Catholic, each compete in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference, one of the best high school athletic leagues in the country. All three schools play their home football games at the 15,000-seat J. Birney Crum Stadium at 2027 Linden Street, the largest high school football stadium in the Mid-Atlantic region.

Lehigh Valley IronPigs baseball

Main article: Lehigh Valley IronPigs

See also: History of baseball in Allentown, Pennsylvania

Professional baseball has a long history in Allentown, going back to 1884. The city is home to the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, the top minor league team of the Philadelphia Phillies. They play at Coca-Cola Park, a stadium that seats 8,200 people, located on Allentown's east side.

Lehigh Valley Phantoms ice hockey

Main article: Lehigh Valley Phantoms

Allentown is home to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, the main development team of the Philadelphia Flyers. They compete in the American Hockey League and play at PPL Center, an indoor arena with 8,500 seats in Center City.

Parkettes gymnastics

Main article: Parkettes National Gymnastics Training Center

Allentown is home to the Parkettes National Gymnastics Training Center, which has trained several Olympians and U.S. national gymnastics champions.

Historical teams

Allentown hosted the Allentown Jets, a basketball team that played from 1958 to 1981. The Jets were very successful, winning many championships. Allentown has also been home to two professional soccer teams, the Pennsylvania Stoners (2007–2009) and Northampton Laurels (2005–2008). The Pennsylvania ValleyDawgs played basketball at William Allen High School from 1999 to 2006.

Government

Allentown is a city in Pennsylvania that uses a special way of running its town called the "strong-mayor" system. This means the mayor is the main leader who helps make big decisions, and the City Council helps create rules and laws for the city. The mayor and council members are chosen by the people to serve for four years.

Right now, the mayor of Allentown is Matthew Tuerk, and the president of the City Council is Daryl Hendricks. The city also has a controller who helps watch over the city's money.

For the bigger government, Allentown is part of Pennsylvania's 7th congressional district and is represented in the U.S. House by Ryan Mackenzie. The state is represented in the U.S. Senate by John Fetterman and Dave McCormick. The governor of Pennsylvania is Josh Shapiro.

See also: Mayors of Allentown, Pennsylvania

Education

Primary and secondary education

Further information: Allentown School District

Allentown School District, founded in 1828, is one of the largest school districts in Pennsylvania. It includes two main high schools: William Allen High School and Louis E. Dieruff High School. The district also has middle schools and many elementary schools. There are special schools like charter schools and religious schools as well.

Colleges and universities

Further information: Cedar Crest College and Muhlenberg College

Allentown is home to two colleges, Cedar Crest College and Muhlenberg College. There is also a smaller campus of Lehigh Carbon Community College that offers different programs.

Libraries

Main article: Allentown Public Library

The city has a public library where people can borrow books and other materials.

Media

Main article: Media in the Lehigh Valley

Allentown is part of the Philadelphia media market, which is the fourth-largest television market in the nation. Major Philadelphia-based network stations that serve Allentown include KYW-TV Channel 3 (CBS), WCAU Channel 10 (NBC), WPVI Channel 6 (ABC), and WTXF Channel 29 (Fox). There are two television stations in Allentown: WFMZ-TV Channel 69, an independent station based in Allentown, and WLVT-TV Channel 39, a regional PBS station licensed to Allentown with studios in neighboring Bethlehem.

Allentown is ranked the nation's 74th-largest radio market. Stations licensed to Allentown include WAEB-AM for talk, news, and sports, WAEB-FM for contemporary hits, WDIY for NPR public radio, WHOL for rhythmic contemporary, WLEV for adult contemporary, WMUH for Muhlenberg College freeform campus radio, WSAN for oldies and Philadelphia Phillies broadcasts, and WZZO for classic rock. Many stations from New York City and Philadelphia can also be received in Allentown.

Allentown has two daily newspapers, The Morning Call and The Express-Times. The Times News, based in Lehighton, also covers the city. Several weekly and monthly print publications are based in Allentown or cover the city's news and people.

Infrastructure

Transportation

Airports

Further information: Lehigh Valley International Airport and Allentown Queen City Municipal Airport

The main airport for Allentown is Lehigh Valley International Airport, located just a few miles away in Hanover Township. This airport offers flights to many places, including Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago–O'Hare, and Philadelphia. There is also a smaller airport called Allentown Queen City Municipal Airport used mostly for private planes.

Roads

Further information: Allentown Parking Authority

Allentown has many roads for cars to travel on. The biggest highway is I-78, which goes across the southern part of the city. There are also nine main roads leading into the center of Allentown. Another important road is I-476, part of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, which runs close to the city.

Buses

Further information: LANta and Lehigh Valley Transit Company

Buses in Allentown are mostly run by LANta, which has a big stop at Allentown Transportation Center. There are also buses from companies like Trans-Bridge Lines and Greyhound Lines that go to places such as New York City and Philadelphia.

Rail

Further information: Leigh Line (Norfolk Southern)

Allentown is an important place for moving goods by train. Big train companies like Norfolk Southern Railway have large train yards here. There used to be passenger trains, but they stopped running a long time ago. There are plans to bring passenger trains back to New York City in the future.

Utilities

Further information: PPL Corporation, RCN Corporation, Service Electric, and UGI Corporation

Electricity in Allentown comes from PPL Corporation. UGI Corporation provides natural gas. There are two main cable companies that have served the area since the 1960s. Water and sewage are now managed by Lehigh County.

Health care

Further information: Lehigh Valley Health Network, Lehigh Valley Hospital–Cedar Crest, and St. Luke's University Health Network

The biggest hospital in Allentown is Lehigh Valley Hospital–Cedar Crest, which has many beds and operating rooms and can handle serious injuries. Other hospitals, like St. Luke's University Health Network, also provide care.

Fire department

The Allentown Fire Department, started in 1870, has six fire stations to keep the city safe.

Notable people

Main article: List of people from the Lehigh Valley

Since it was founded in 1762, Allentown has been the birthplace or home to many famous Americans. Some of them include:

• Saquon Barkley, a professional football player for the Philadelphia Eagles
• Stephen Barrett, a former psychiatrist and co-founder of Quackwatch
• Clair Blank, a former author of the Beverly Gray mystery series
• Chakaia Booker, a sculptor
• Lillian Briggs, a former rock music singer
• Thom Browne, a fashion designer
• Frank Buchman, founder of the Oxford Group and Moral Re-Armament religious movements
• Howard J. Buss, a composer and music publisher
• Leon Carr, a former Broadway composer and television advertising songwriter
• Francesco Caruso, a soccer player
• Alexis Cohen, a former American Idol contestant
• Michaela Conlin, a film and television actress known for Fox's Bones
• Dane DeHaan, a film and television actor known for In Treatment and Chronicle
• Stanley Dziedzic, a freestyle wrestling Olympic bronze medalist from the 1976 Summer Olympics, and 1977 World Wrestling Championships champion
• Gloria Ehret, a former professional golfer and 1966 LPGA Championship winner
• Oakes Fegley, an actor
• Winslow Fegley, an actor
• Victoria Fuller, a sculptor
• James Knoll Gardner, a former U.S. federal judge
• Scott Haltzman, a psychiatrist, relationship counselor, and author
• Tim Heidecker, a film and television actor known for Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!
• Lee Iacocca, a former chairman of Chrysler
• Sam Iorio, a professional basketball player for Hapoel Be'er Sheva B.C. in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
• Keith Jarrett, a jazz musician
• Michael Johns, a healthcare executive and former White House presidential speechwriter
• Billy Kidman, a former professional wrestler
• Sarah Knauss, a supercentenarian, the longest-lived American ever and the third oldest person verified to have ever lived
• Brian Knobbs, a former professional wrestler
• Sally Kohn, a political commentator
• Carson Kressley, a television personality and designer
• Varvara Lepchenko, a professional tennis player
• Ryan Mackenzie, a U.S. representative
• William Marchant, a former playwright and screenwriter
• Tyrese Martin, a professional basketball player for the Brooklyn Nets
• Roy Mayorga, a musician and drummer for Ministry
• Ed McCaffrey, a former professional football player for the Denver Broncos, New York Giants, and San Francisco 49ers
• Lara Jill Miller, an actress and voice actress
• Hans Moller, a former painter
• Aimee Mullins, a Paralympian, model, and actress
• Marty Nothstein, an Olympic Gold Medal cyclist
• Lawrence Nuesslein, a former five-time Olympic shooting medal winner from the 1920 Summer Olympics
• Lil Peep, a former emo rapper, singer, songwriter, and model
• Marty Ravellette, a person who saved an elderly woman from a burning car despite having no arms
• Anthony Recker, a former professional baseball player for the Atlanta Braves, Chicago Cubs, New York Mets, and Oakland Athletics
• Andre Reed, a former professional football player for the Buffalo Bills and Washington Redskins, and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame
• Ian Riccaboni, a professional wrestling sportscaster for Ring of Honor
• Matt Riddle, a professional wrestler for Major League Wrestling
• Jerry Sags, a professional wrestler
• Larry Seiple, a former professional football player for the Miami Dolphins, and a two-time Super Bowl champion
• Amanda Seyfried, an actress known for Veronica Mars, Big Love, Mamma Mia!, and Les Misérables
• Dana Snyder, a voice actor for Adult Swim
• Andrea Tantaros, a former political analyst and commentator
• Christine Taylor, an actress and wife of actor Ben Stiller
• Mildred Ladner Thompson, a former Wall Street Journal reporter
• DeNorval Unthank, a former physician and civil rights activist
• Donald Voorhees, a former Emmy-nominated orchestral conductor
• Susan Jane Walp, an artist
• Jamie Weinstein, a political journalist and commentator
• Lauren Weisberger, an author of The Devil Wears Prada
• Susan Wild, a former U.S. representative and Allentown solicitor
• Hana Wirth-Nesher, a literary scholar and university professor at Tel Aviv University
• Chris Wyles, a former professional rugby union player for Saracens F.C. and the U.S. national rugby team

In popular culture

Main article: Culture of Allentown, Pennsylvania

See also: List of films shot in the Lehigh Valley

Allentown has often appeared in popular culture, especially in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. The city is known for its history in heavy manufacturing, which changed greatly over time. Many movies, songs, and TV shows have used Allentown as a setting or mentioned it in their stories.

In recent years, movies like Glass and The Hangover Part II have been filmed or set in Allentown. Songs by artists such as Billy Joel and Say Anything have also referenced the city. TV shows like The Sopranos have featured scenes filmed there as well. Older movies and music from the 20th century, including Hairspray and Billy Joel's song "Allentown," have also highlighted the city.