Allentown, Pennsylvania
USA
Geographic Coordinates: 40.596100, -75.475600
Temperature Range: -20.0°C to 40.0°C (-4°F to 104°F)
Climate: Seasonal.
Population: 714136
Language: English
Allentown, Located in eastern Pennsylvania, Is the third-largest city in the state and serves as the county seat of Lehigh County. The city has a rich history dating back to its founding in 1762 by William Allen, A wealthy businessman and politician. One of Allentown’s most notable attractions is its downtown area which offers an array of cultural landmarks, Entertainment venues, And shopping destinations. Visitors can explore the Allentown Art Museum or catch a show at the historic Miller Symphony Hall. Additionally, There are numerous restaurants and bars that offer diverse cuisine options and nightlife experiences.
For outdoor enthusiasts, Allentown offers several parks and recreational areas where visitors can enjoy hiking trails, Picnicking areas, Playgrounds for children as well as sports facilities such as basketball courts or soccer fields. One of the most popular parks in Allentown is Lehigh Parkway which covers over 1, 000 acres along Little Lehigh Creek with winding trails perfect for biking or walking. Another attraction worth mentioning about Allentown is Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom which offers thrilling rides like roller coasters as well as water slides for those looking to cool off during hot summer days.
Allentown also has a rich industrial heritage that includes steel production among other industries like textiles or manufacturing. Visitors interested in learning more about this aspect of Allentown’s past can visit The Mack Trucks Historical Museum or take one of several guided tours available throughout town to learn more about its history. yet importantly music lovers will appreciate that famous musician Billy Joel wrote his hit song Allentown inspired by his experience visiting family members who lived there during tough economic times when many factories were closing down leaving thousands without jobs.
whether you’re interested in exploring cultural landmarks or enjoying outdoor activities such as hiking trails through beautiful parks while learning about local history – there’s something for everyone here!
Important Landmarks
- Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom
- Allentown Art Museum
- America on Wheels Museum
- PPL Center
- Lehigh Valley Zoo
- The Liberty Bell Museum
- Miller Symphony Hall
- The Mack Trucks Historical Museum
- Coca-Cola Park
- Sands Bethlehem Event Center
Primary Industries
- Manufacturing: Allentown has a strong manufacturing industry, with companies such as Mack Trucks, Air Products and Chemicals, and PPL Corporation.
- Healthcare: The city is home to several hospitals and medical centers including Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest and St. Luke’s University Health Network.
- Retail: Allentown has a vibrant retail sector with popular shopping destinations like the Lehigh Valley Mall, Whitehall Mall, and Hamilton Crossings.
- Education: There are several colleges and universities in the area including Cedar Crest College, Muhlenberg College, and Lehigh Carbon Community College.
- Food processing: The city has a strong food processing industry with companies like Nestle Purina PetCare Company, Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc., Just Born Quality Confections (maker of Peeps), etc.
- Finance & Insurance: There are many financial institutions headquartered in Allentown such as PNC Bank N.A., Wells Fargo Bank N.A., BB&T Corporation (Truist Financial Corporation), etc.
- Transportation & Logistics: The city is well connected by roadways with easy access to major highways like I-78 & I-476 which makes it an ideal location for transportation & logistics companies such as FedEx Ground Package System Inc., Penske Truck Leasing Co LP., etc.
- Technology: There are several tech companies based in Allentown including Computer Aid Inc., Lutron Electronics Co Inc., Olympus America Inc., etc.
- Construction & Real Estate Development: With growing population demand for housing is increasing day by day which attracts real estate developers to invest more into the region thus creating new opportunities for construction firms like J.G Petrucci Co.Inc, HMK Construction, etc.
- Energy: With growing awareness of renewable energy sources, there is an increase in solar panel installation companies like Solar Energy World LLC, Sunrun Inc. etc.
Noteable History
- The founding of Allentown in 1762 by William Allen, a wealthy merchant and politician.
- The Liberty Bell was hidden in Allentown during the American Revolution to protect it from British troops.
- H.D. Deve Gowda, former Prime Minister of India, lived in Allentown for several years while studying at Lehigh University.
- The Mack Trucks company was founded in Allentown in 1900 by John Mack and his brother Augustus.
- Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom amusement park opened in 1884 and has since become a popular tourist attraction.
- World-renowned artist Keith Haring painted a mural on the side of the Baum School of Art building in downtown Allentown in 1987.
- The PPL Center, a multi-purpose arena that is home to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms hockey team, opened in downtown Allentown in 2014.
- Notable people from or associated with Allentown include musicians Billy Joel and Taylor Swift; baseball player Curt Schilling; football player Andre Reed; actress Amanda Seyfried; and wrestler Kurt Angle.
Museums and Things To See
- Allentown Art Museum
- America On Wheels Museum
- Liberty Bell Museum
- Mack Trucks Historical Museum
- Lehigh Valley Heritage Center
- Soldiers and Sailors Monument
- Miller Symphony Hall
- Trout Hall
- Da Vinci Science Center
- The Baum School of Art
Sports Teams
- Lehigh Valley IronPigs is a minor league baseball team that has been affiliated with the Philadelphia Phillies since 2008. They play at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown.
- Lehigh Valley Phantoms is a professional ice hockey team that has been affiliated with the Philadelphia Flyers since 1996. They play at PPL Center in Allentown.
- Cedar Crest College Falcons are the athletic teams of Cedar Crest College, which is a private women’s college located in Allentown. Their sports programs include basketball, cross country, field hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis and volleyball.
- Muhlenberg College Mules are the athletic teams of Muhlenberg College located in Allentown. Their sports programs include football, basketball, baseball/softball track & field/cross country among others.
- Allen High School Canaries is one of three public high schools located within the city limits of Allentown that participates in interscholastic athletics as part of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA). Their sports programs include football, basketball, wrestling among others.
Cultural Events
- Allentown Fair is a popular annual event held from late August to early September. It showcases live music, agricultural exhibits, carnival rides and food vendors.
- Mayfair Festival of the Arts takes place in May each year and features performances by local artists and musicians, as well as art exhibits and workshops.
- Great Allentown Comic Con is an annual event that celebrates comic books, sci-fi movies and TV shows with cosplay competitions, celebrity guests and vendor booths.
- Puerto Rican Festival is held in July every year at Jordan Park to celebrate Puerto Rican culture with food vendors selling traditional dishes like empanadas and arroz con pollo.
- Celtic Classic Highland Games & Festival takes place annually in September at the Historic Bethlehem Riverfront Park featuring live music by Celtic bands from around the world along with Scottish games like caber tossing and stone throwing.
- Lehigh Valley Wine Trail events: Throughout the year, Lehigh Valley Wine Trail hosts several wine festivals where visitors can sample wines from local vineyards while enjoying live music performances.
- Oktoberfest Allentown celebrates German culture every fall season with authentic German food & drink along with traditional dances & entertainment at Cedar Beach Park.
- Blues Brews & Barbecue Festival is a summer event that brings together blues musicians from across the country for a weekend of great music along with delicious BBQ options to satisfy your appetite!
Cuisine
- Yocco’s Hot Dogs – a famous hot dog joint that has been serving the community since 1922.
- The Bayou – a Cajun-style restaurant that serves dishes like gumbo, jambalaya, and po’ boys.
- Grille 3501 – a fine dining restaurant that offers American cuisine with an Asian twist.
- Shankara Vegan Restaurant – an Indian vegan restaurant that serves traditional dishes like samosas, dosas, and curries.
- Allentown Farmers Market – a market that offers fresh produce, meats, cheeses, baked goods and more from local vendors.
- Queen City BBQ – a barbecue joint that serves smoked meats like brisket and ribs along with sides like mac & cheese and collard greens.
- The Dime Restaurant – an upscale eatery that offers contemporary American cuisine in a chic setting.
- Fegley’s Brew Works – an award-winning brewery & pub offering craft beers & pub fare in historic surroundings
- Grain – A modern gastropub featuring farm-to-table New American fare plus craft beer on tap & cocktails
- Mamma Mia Italian Grill – Classic Italian-American dishes served in homey surrounds with outdoor seating & live music
- Cedar Beach Park features a swimming pool, tennis courts, basketball courts, and picnic areas.
- Jordan Creek Parkway is a scenic trail for hiking, biking, and birdwatching.
- Trexler Memorial Park is a large park with playgrounds, picnic areas, fishing ponds, and hiking trails.
- Lehigh Parkway is a 6-mile long park with trails for walking or biking along the Little Lehigh Creek.
- Allentown Rose Garden is a beautiful garden with over 100 varieties of roses.
- Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom is an amusement park with roller coasters and water rides.
- Coca-Cola Park is home to the Lehigh Valley IronPigs minor league baseball team.
- Allentown Municipal Golf Course is an 18-hole golf course open to the public.
- Da Vinci Science Center is an interactive museum featuring science exhibits.
- Mack Pool offers swim lessons and recreational swimming opportunities to the community.