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Allentown, Pennsylvania

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Allentown, Pennsylvania
Official seal of Allentown, Pennsylvania
Seal
Nickname: 
The Queen City
Map
CountryUnited States
StatePennsylvania
CountyLehigh
Founded1762
Government
 • MayorEd Pawlowski
Elevation
338 ft (103 m)
Population
 (2000)
 • City
106,632
 • Urban
576,408
 • Metro
637,958
Time zoneUTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
Websitehttp://www.allentownpa.org
For the song by Billy Joel, see "Allentown (song)."
For the borough in Pittsburgh, see Allentown (Pittsburgh)

Allentown is a city located in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. After Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, it is Pennsylvania's third most populous city. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 106,632. It is the county seat of Lehigh County.

Located on the Lehigh River, Allentown is the largest of three adjacent cities that comprise the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania, with the cities of Bethlehem and Easton nearby. Allentown is 60 miles (95 km) north of Philadelphia, the fifth largest city in the United States, and 90 miles (145 km) west of New York City, the largest city.

Allentown is the home of Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom, a highly popular amusement park. Two four-year colleges, Muhlenberg College and Cedar Crest College, are based in Allentown.

Air transport to and from the city is available through Lehigh Valley International Airport (IATA: ABE, ICAO: KABE).

Allentown history

File:Allentown centersquare.jpg
Postcard (dated 1914) depicting the Soldiers & Sailors Monument in Allentown's Center Square. The monument was erected in 1889 to honor the actions of the 47th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers' in the American Civil War.

Founding

Allentown was founded as Northamptontown (Northampton Towne) in 1762 by William Allen, a wealthy shipping merchant, Chief Justice of the Province of Pennsylvania and former mayor of Philadelphia. The property on which the town was established was part of a 5,000-acre plot Allen purchased in 1735 from the sons of William Penn. Allen hoped that Northamptontown would displace Easton as the seat of Northampton County and also become a commercial center due to its location along the Lehigh River and proximity to Philadelphia. Allen gave the property to his son, James, who built a summer residence there in 1770 near the site of his father's hunting lodge. The house, named Trout Hall, is now the home of the Lehigh County Historical Society.

Liberty Bell

Allentown holds historical significance as the location where the Liberty Bell was hidden by the Second Continental Congress during the American Revolutionary War. As the British were attempting to seize Philadelphia in 1777, the Liberty Bell was moved north and successfully hidden in the basement of the Old Zion Reformed Church, in center city Allentown. Today, a shrine in the church's basement marks the exact spot where the Liberty Bell was hidden. It features a full-size official replica of the Liberty Bell, flanked by the flags of the original thirteen colonies, and is the only replica of its type.

Incorporation and naming

In 1811, the town was incorporated as a borough. In 1812, Lehigh County was formed from the western half of Northampton County, and Northamptontown was selected to be the county seat. The town was officially renamed "Allentown" in 1838, after years of popular usage and in honor of Allen.

Geography

Allentown is located at 40°36'6" North, 75°28'38" West (40.601697, -75.477328)Template:GR.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 46.5 km² (18.0 mi²). 45.9 km² (17.7 mi²) of it is land and 0.6 km² (0.2 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 1.34% water.

Climate

Allentowns's climate is considered to fall in the humid continental climate zone. Summers are typically hot and muggy, fall and spring are generally mild, and winter is cold. Precipitation is almost uniformly distributed throughout the year. Allentown's weather is affected by Blue Mountain, a ridge from 1,000 to 1,800 feet in height about 12 miles to the north of the city, and South Mountain, a ridge of 500 to 1,000 feet in height that borders the southern edge of the city.

January lows average 18.8 °F (-7.3 °C) and highs average 34.3 °F (1.3 °C). The lowest officially recorded temperature was -16 °F (-26.7 °C) in 1912. July lows average 63.6 °F (17.6 °C) and highs average 84.5° F (29.2 °C), with a average relative humidity (morning) of 82%. The highest temperature on record was 105 °F (40.6 °C) in 1966 Early fall and mid winter are generally driest, with October being the driest month with only 2.94 in (74.7 mm) of average precipitation. [1]

Snowfall is variable, with some winters bringing light snow and others bringing numerous significant snowstorms. Average snowfall is 32.4 in (823 mm) per year, [2] with the months of January and February receiving the highest at just over 9 in (228.6 mm) each. Rainfall is generally spread throughout the year, with eight to twelve wet days per month,[3] at an average annual rate of 43.52 in (1105.4 mm). [4]

Demographics and statistics

Population

Historically, the population of Allentown increased from 25,288 in 1890; to 35,416 in 1900; to 51,913 in 1910; to 73,502 in 1920; and to 96,904 in 1940.

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 106,632 people, 42,032 households, and 25,135 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,320.8/km² (6,011.5/mi²). There were 45,960 housing units at an average density of 1,000.3/km² (2,591.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 72.55% White, 7.85% African American, 0.33% Native American, 2.27% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 13.37% from other races, and 3.55% from two or more races. 24.44% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

One of the primary reasons for Allentown's population increase is due to significant migration from northeastern New Jersey and New York City.

There are 42,032 households in the city, of which 28.8% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.4% were married couples living together, 15.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.2% were non-families. 33.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The city's average household size is 2.42 and the average family size was 3.09.

In the city, the population was spread out with 24.8% under the age of 18, 11.2% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 19.1% from 45 to 64, and 15.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there are 91.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.7 males.

Median household income

The median income for a household in the city was $32,016, and the median income for a family was $37,356. Males had a median income of $30,426 versus $23,882 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,282. 18.5% of the population and 14.6% of families were below the poverty line. 29.4% of those under the age of 18 and 10.3 percent of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Crime statistics

In 2006, the known criminal offenses in Allentown, as reported to the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation, included around 800 violent crimes and over 7,000 property crimes. With the exception of aggravated assault, Allentown exceeded national averages in all criminal categories. Cases of arson in Allentown were nearly double the national average[1]. Other crimes in Allentown that substantially exceeded national averages were robbery, murder and forcible rape.

The total reported violent crimes in Allentown was comparable to the 2003 national average (1.01 times the average). Individual violent crime rates per capita compared to U.S. national averages were: robbery (1.54 times avg.), murder (1.47 times avg.), forcible rape (1.32 times avg.), and aggravated assault (0.57 times avg.).

The total reported property crimes in Allentown exceeded the 2003 national average by 1.21 times. Individual property crime rates per capita compared to the U.S. national average were: arson (1.71 times avg.), burglary (1.23 times avg.), larceny/theft (1.22 times avg.), and automobile theft (1.08 times avg.).

The city's crime statistics have been heightened over the past decade by growing gang-related crime and gang rival violence. The city also has seen a growth in drug trafficking and prostitution.

Economy

While many of Allentown's major industrial businesses have disappeared over the past two decades as a result of foreign competition and other factors, Allentown continues to be a corporate headquarters for several large, global companies, including Agere Systems, Air Products & Chemicals, Mack Trucks, Olympus Corporation USA, Pennsylvania Power & Light (PPL) and others.

As of 2006, the largest employer in the city is Lehigh Valley Hospital, with 6,500 employees.

The city once had a strong tradition in the brewing of beer and was home to several notable breweries, including the Horlacher Brewery (founded 1897, closed 1978), the Neuweiler Brewery (founded 1875, closed 1968) and Schmidts, brewed by Pabst, whose last standing brewery was located in Allentown before its brewing was contracted to Miller Brewing in 2001.

Notable residents

Allentown is the birthplace of, or home to, several notable Americans, including:

Main article: Allentown, PA in popular culture

The city's national reputation as a rugged blue collar city has led to several references to the city in popular culture. Allentown is globally known as the subject of the popular Billy Joel song, "Allentown," which was originally released on Joel's The Nylon Curtain album in 1982. The song depicts the resolve of Allentonians, amidst the rough and hardened life that characterizes this East Coast, industrial city. "Allentown" also references nearby Bethlehem, home of the then-declining (and now defunct) Bethlehem Steel Corporation. In "Allentown," representing the challenges associated with the demise of traditional American industry for Allentonians, Joel sings: "They never taught us what was real. Iron and coke. And chromium steel. And we're waiting here in Allentown."

Allentown was also the subject of the song "Allentown Jail", which has been recorded by artists including The Kingston Trio, The Lettermen, The Seekers and Jo Stafford.

Dorney Park has also served as a filming location for movies including the John Waters' movie Hairspray (1988) and Where Angels Go, Trouble Follows (1968).

Media

Allentown is part of the Philadelphia DMA, though numerous New York City radio and television stations are also available in Allentown and its suburbs. Allentown-based media include Tribune-owned The Morning Call, Allentown's daily newspaper, Pulse Weekly, a weekly arts and entertainment publication, and two Allentown-based television stations: WLVT Channel 39 (a PBS affiliate) and WFMZ Channel 69 (an unaffiliated, independent Allentown television station).

Allentown-area radio stations include WAEB-AM, a news, talk and sports station (in Allentown), WAEB-FM (popularly known as "B104"), a contemporary Top 40 music station (in Allentown), WLEV, a contemporary soft rock music station (in Allentown), WZZO, a hard rock music station (in Whitehall Township), and WYHM, a Christian broadcasting station and the Lehigh Valley affiliate for Philadelphia Phillies radio broadcasts (in Allentown).

Allentown's radio market is ranked as the 68th largest radio market in the United States by Arbitron's ranking system.

See also: List of Lehigh Valley FM Radio Stations
See also: List of Lehigh Valley AM Radio Stations

Education

Public schools

Most of the City of Allentown is served by the Allentown School District, which is the third largest school district in Pennsylvania, with over 17,000 students.

Allentown is served by two public high schools for grades 9 through 12, William Allen High School and Louis E. Dieruff High School. Three large Allentown suburban high schools, Emmaus High School (in Emmaus), Parkland High School (in South Whitehall Township) and Whitehall High School (in Whitehall Township), also draw students from Allentown. Allentown area high schools compete athletically in the Lehigh Valley Conference.

Allentown School District's four middle schools, for grades six through eight, include: Francis D. Raub Middle School, Harrison-Morton Middle School, South Mountain Middle School and Trexler Middle School. The city is served by 17 elementary schools, for kindergarten through fifth grade, including: Central, Cleveland, Hiram W. Dodd, Jackson, Jefferson, Lehigh Parkway, McKinley, Mosser, Muhlenberg, Ritter, Roosevelt, Sheridan, Union Terrace and Washington. Several middle schools also house fifth graders.

The Roberto Clemente Charter School, also located in the Allentown School District, provides educational services to mainly Hispanic students in grades 6 through 12.

Private schools

Allentown has two parochial high schools, Allentown Central Catholic High School and Lehigh Valley Christian High School, though both schools draw students from both Allentown and the city's suburbs. Other Allentown-based parochial schools (serving all grades) include: Cathedral of Saint Catharine of Siena School, Holy Spirit School, Mercy Special Learning Center, Our Lady Help of Christians School, Sacred Heart School, Saint Francis of Assisi School, Saint Paul School, and Saint Thomas More School. Parochial schools in Allentown are operated by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Allentown. The Swain School, a non-sectarian private school founded in 1929, is also located in Allentown.

Higher education

Two four-year colleges are located in Allentown: Cedar Crest College and Muhlenberg College.

Philadelphia Phillies AAA team

Allentown plans to unveil Lehigh County Ballpark, a $34 million, 7,000-seat stadium in 2008. The stadium is being constructed in east-side Allentown and, beginning in April 2008, will be used as the home field for the Philadelphia Phillies' AAA-level Minor League baseball team. Official groundbreaking ceremonies for the new stadium were held September 6, 2006 with construction scheduled to be completed in December 2007.

As part of this change, the Phillies will part ways with their current AAA affiliate of the past 18 seasons, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons. The Ottawa Lynx of the International League will be moved to Allentown in 2008 and formally affiliate with the Phillies' farm system a year earlier, in 2007. The benefit of this move is that it will bring the Phillies' AAA team much closer to its Philadelphia and eastern Pennsylvania fan base, also facilitating Phillies rehabilitation and other assignments, by bringing the AAA affiliate within 60 miles of the Phillies' Citizens Bank Park. A name for the new Allentown-based AAA Phillies team will be announced November 16, 2006.

Transportation infrastructure

Air transit

The city's primary airport, Lehigh Valley International Airport (IATA: ABE, ICAO: KABE), is located three miles northeast of Allentown in Hanover Township. Public bus transportation is available from Allentown to Lehigh Valley International Airport, and private bus service is available to the other regional airports.

Bus transit

File:Berninger eighthstbridge.jpg
Eighth Street Bridge (1933) by Allentown artist John E. Berninger. Now known as the Albertus Meyers Bridge, this painting depicts a long since demolished neighborhood on Lawrence Street.

Public transportation services provided within Allentown is provided by LANTA, a public bus system serving both Lehigh County and Northampton County. Several private bus lines provide nearly round-the-clock roundtrip daily bus service to New York City's Port Authority Bus Terminal, Philadelphia, Atlantic City, and other regional locations.

Roads

Four expressways run through the Allentown area, with associated exits to the city: Interstate 78 (which runs from Harrisburg in the west to New York City's Holland Tunnel in the east), the Pennsylvania Turnpike (which runs from the Ohio border in the west to the New Jersey border in the east), Pennsylvania Route 309 (which runs from Philadelphia in the south to The Poconos in the north), and U.S. Route 22 (which runs from Cambridge, Ohio in the west to Elizabeth, New Jersey in the east).

There are six major inbound roads to Allentown: Airport Road, Cedar Crest Boulevard, Hamilton Boulevard, Lehigh Street, Pennsylvania Route 145 (also known as MacArthur Road), and Tilghman Street.

Rail

Allentown is a major national center for commercial rail traffic. Currently, Norfolk Southern's primary hump classification yards are located in Allentown. The city is also served by R.J. Corman Railroad. Historically, Allentown has been served by Central Railroad of New Jersey, Conrail, Lehigh and New England Railroad, Lehigh Valley Railroad, and Reading Railroad. While Allentown currently has no passenger rail service, several of the Allentown-area stations once used for passenger service have been preserved through their current commercial use.

The last public rail service available in Allentown, which was part of the Bethlehem-Philadelphia service provided by Conrail under contract with SEPTA, ceased operating in 1979 as a result of state funding cuts and SEPTA's desire to terminate its non-electric train service.

Parks and recreation

Dorney Park and Wild Water Kingdom's Steel Force and Thunderhawk roller coasters, in Allentown.

City parks

Much of the city's park system can be attributed to the efforts of industrialist Harry Clay Trexler. Inspired by the City Beautiful movement in the early 1900s, Trexler created West Park, a 6.59 acre park in what was then an upscale area of the city. Trexler also facilitated the development of Trexler Park, Cedar Parkway, Allentown Municipal Golf Course and the Trout Nursery in Lehigh Parkway. Trexler was also responsible for the development of the Trexler Trust, which to this day continues to provide private funding for the maintenance and development of Allentown's park system.

City parks in Allentown include:

  • Bicentennial Park (4,600 seat mini-stadium built for sporting events)
  • Cedar Creek Parkway (127 acres, including Lake Muhlenberg, Cedar Beach and the Rose Garden)
  • East Side Reservoir (15 acres)
  • Kimmets Lock Park (5 acres)
  • Lehigh Canal Park (55 acres)
  • Lehigh Parkway (999 acres)
  • Old Allentown Cemetery (4 acres)
  • South Mountain Reservoir (157 acres)
  • Trexler Memorial Park (134 acres)
  • Trout Creek Parkway (100 acres)
  • Union Terrace (19 acres)
  • West Park (6.59 acres)

Recreation

Recreational sites in Allentown include:

Allentown landmarks and popular locations include:

Postcard (dated 1916) depicting Allentown's Eighth Street Bridge.
  • Albertus Meyers Bridge (built 1912-1913). Originally known as (and sometimes still called) the "Eighth Street Bridge", it was later renamed for a well-known leader of the Allentown Band. At the time of its building, it was the largest concrete bridge in the world.
  • Allentown Cemetery Park (established 1765). Local veterans of the American Revolutionary War and War of 1812 are buried here.
  • Allentown Post Office (built 1933-1934). Contains murals by New York artist Gifford Reynolds Beal depicting local history.
  • Allentown Symphony Hall (built around 1896). Originally known as Central Market Hall and (from 1899-1953) as the Lyric Theatre, the building is known today as Allentown Symphony Hall. It once was one of the leading burlesque halls in the United States. In 1912, it was the site of speeches by Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson.
  • Buchman House (home of Frank N. D. Buchman (1878-1961), founder of the Oxford Group and Moral Re-Armament religious movements.)
  • Butz-Groff House (built 1872 by local attorney Samuel A. Butz)
  • Center Square and Soldiers & Sailors Monument (erected 1889). Monument honoring veterans of the 47th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers from the American Civil War.
  • William F. Curtis Arboretum at Cedar Crest College.
  • Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom.
  • The Farmer's Market, Agricultural Hall, The Ritz, the Allentown Fairgrounds (established 1889) and the Allentown Fair (started 1852).
  • Hess's Department Store (closed 1996 and demolished in 2000).
  • Homeopathic Healing Art Plaque. Marks the location of the world's first medical college exclusively devoted to the practice of homeopathic medicine. Established in 1835, the college went bankrupt in 1845 and relocated to Philadelphia, where it developed into what is today Hahnemann University Hospital.
  • Old Allentown Cemetery (established 1846). Tilghman Good (1830-1887), two-term mayor of the city and commander of the 47th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers during the American Civil War is interred here.
  • Old Court House County Museum.
  • Old Zion Reformed Church & Liberty Bell Shrine Museum. Located on Hamilton Boulevard in center city Allentown, it was the temporary home of the Liberty Bell in 1777.
  • Portland Place (former headquarters of Lehigh Portland Cement Company). Built in 1902 and remodeled in the art deco style in 1939-1940. Over the front door is a glass relief by artist Oronzio Maldarelli, which was the largest glass mural panel in the world at the time of its installation.
  • PPL Building (built in 1926-1928). Building was designed by architect and skyscraper pioneer Harvey Corbett (who would later design New York City's Rockefeller Center) and was supervised by his assistant, Wallace Harrison (who would later design New York City's LaGuardia Airport, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and the United Nations headquarters). The building exterior features bas reliefs by Alexander Archipenko. In 1930, the PPL Building was named the "best example of a modern office building" by Encyclopædia Britannica, and also featured the world's fastest elevator.
  • Revolutionary War Plaque. Marks the Allentown location of a Revolutionary War hospital.
  • Trout Hall (built 1770). Oldest building structure in Allentown, once owned by Allentown founder William Allen.
  • Yocco's Hot Dogs (established 1922). The regionally-famous hot dog and cheesesteak establishment, with three locations in Allentown (Liberty Street, Hamilton Boulevard and Catasauqua Road) and three more in the area (Emmaus, Fogelsville and Trexlertown).

Museums and cultural organizations

Allentown museums and cultural organizations include:

  • Allentown Art Museum (founded by Walter Emerson Baum, the museum's north wing was designed by Edgar Tafel, a student of Frank Lloyd Wright)
  • The Allentown Band (founded in 1828, it is the oldest civilian concert band in the United States)
  • Allentown Symphony Orchestra
  • The Baum School of Art (established in 1926 by Walter Emerson Baum)
  • Civic Theatre of Allentown [8]
  • Da Vinci Discovery Center of Science and Technology[9]
  • Lehigh County Historical Society and Lehigh Valley Heritage Center Museum [10]
  • Lenni Lenape Historical Society Museum of Indian Culture
  • Marine Band of Allentown
  • MunOpCo Music Theatre
  • Pioneer Band of Allentown

Sister cities and twin cities

Allentown has two official sister cities as designated by Sister Cities International:

Allentown also has two designated "twin cities":

See also

References

  1. ^ "Normal Monthly Precipitation, Inches". Retrieved 2006-11-04.
  2. ^ "Snowfall - Average Total In Inches". Retrieved 2006-11-04.
  3. ^ "Average Days of Precipitation, .01 Inches or more". Retrieved 2006-11-04.
  4. ^ "Average Monthly Precipitation". Retrieved 2006-11-04.


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