Allentown, PA

Allentown, Pennsylvania

Introduction to Allentown, Pennsylvania

Allentown, located in eastern Pennsylvania on the Lehigh River, is the third-largest city in the state. Founded in 1762 by William Allen, the city was named after him in 1838. It has traditionally been an industrial city, with its economy depending on iron and mining. As chronicled on the famous 1982 Billy Joel song, Allentown has seen the fall of these industries in recent years. Today, Allentown's economy is diversified among a wide range of products and services, including printing and publishing, food processing, chemicals, electrical and medical equipment, and furniture. Its 110,000 residents already know that Allentown is a great place to live. Located just 35 miles northwest of Philadelphia and a short drive from the Poconos, Allentown offers the comfort and amenities of a small city, with big city attractions and rural splendor both just minutes away.

Allentown Culture

Allentown's cultural attractions include the Allentown Art Museum, the Museum of Indian Culture, Haines Mill Museum and the Civic Theater of Allentown. Mayfair, a five-day multicultural arts festival held each May, is one of the largest of its kind in the country, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors. Lehigh Valley Blues Festival is a four-day event held each July just north of the city. A wide spectrum of historical and cultural attractions is available in Philadelphia to the southeast and Pennsylvania Dutch Country to the southwest.

Allentown Sports and Leisure

For the sports fan, Allentown is a stone's throw from a lot of action. Nearby Philadelphia offers 4 major league teams that all play in the same complex. The NFL's Philadelphia Eagles play at 68,500-seat Lincoln Financial Field. Baseball's Philadelphia Phillies play at brand-new, 43,000-seat Citizens Bank Park. The Wachovia Center is hosts the home games of the NHL's Philadelphia Flyers and the NBA's 76ers. Adjacent is the Spectrum, former home of the Flyers and 76ers and current home of lacrosse's Wings, hockey's Phantoms, and soccer's Kixx. For more big league teams, the Meadowlands in New Jersey (the NFL's Jets and Giants, the NBA's Nets, the NHL's Devils) and New York City (baseball's Yankees and Mets, the NBA's Knicks, the NHL's Rangers) are just over an hour away. Pennsylvania is one of the North's few hotbeds of auto racing. Nazareth Speedway, known as the "World's Fastest Mile", offers Indy Racing 15 miles away in Nazareth. Pocono Raceway, 32 miles away in Long Pond, hosts the Pocono 500 and the Pennsylvania 500 NASCAR events. Wilkes Barre, about 45 miles north, is home to the Red Barons (minor league baseball), Penguins (AHL), Pioneers (Arena Football).

Allentown Outdoors

Allentown is equally suited to those who prefer to be a part of the action, offering a myriad of recreational sites within a short distance. Nearby Beltzville State Park has nearly 3,000 acres of recreation areas around 949-acre Lake Beltzville. The lake is a favorite for fishing, with several varieties of bass, trout and perch. In the winter, it's a favorite spot for cross-country skiing and tobogganing. Blue Marsh Lake offers hiking trails, boating and fishing in the summer, and ice fishing, ice skating and sledding in the winter. Lake Nockamixon, halfway toward Philadelphia to the southeast, offers similar activities. Literally dozens of other lakes surround the area, providing great swimming, boating and fishing opportunities. The Pocono Mountains to the north provide hiking and camping. Asbury Park (NJ), famous for its beach scene and for being the hometown of Bruce Springsteen, is just 25 miles away. Atlantic City (NJ) is about 100 miles away. Skiiers will find numerous options within an hour's drive, including Bear Creek, Big Boulder, Camelback, Shawnee Mountain and Hidden Valley.

Allentown at Night

Nightlife in Allentown offers the advantages of a small city with access to an array of activities to suit all tastes. Philadelphia to the southeast offers a high concentration of college students and first-rate music, dining and entertainment options for young adults. An aspect of Allentown's nightlife that is of particular interest to males is that the city has an unusually high female population, with 109 females for every 100 males.

High Points

Allentown strengths, compared to Peers (similar size places nationally) or State (other places in Pennsylvania):

Category	Trophy
Racial Diversity (vs. State)	Top 2%
Walking and Biking to Work (vs. State)	Top 13%
Public Transportation Use (vs. State)	Top 15%

Comparative Profile of Allentown, PA

Comparing Allentown to similar size places nationwide (Peers) and to other places in Pennsylvania (State):

Ratings range from (lowest) to (highest).

The People

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Racial Diversity
Senior Citizens
Female Share of the Population
Children Under 5 Years Old
Age of the Population
Well-Paid Single Women
Male Share of the Population
Well-Paid Single Men

Families

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Average Household Size
Portion of People Married

Wealth

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
College Educated Adults
People in Middle Class or Better
People Above Poverty
Median Family Income

Commute & Sprawl

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Walking and Biking to Work
Public Transportation Use
Short Commute Times
Working at Home

Housing

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Studio & One-Bedroom Rentals
People Living Alone
Affordability of Rents
Affordability of Property Taxes
Seasonal and Vacation Housing
Housing Recently Built

Crime

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Low Property Crime
Low Violent Crime

Allentown Almanac

Allentown Climate

Nearest Weather Stations

• Temp ranges are avg daily min and max for the month
• Precipitation is rainfall (and rainfall equiv of snowfall)

Allentown Population (2000)

(From 2000 Census, as reported by individuals)

Political Contributions (2004)

Money donated by Allentown residents to parties and candidates for the 2004 elections.

by Political Party

by Presidential Candidate

Neighborhood and Nearby Area Names

According to the US Postal Service, Allentown, its neighborhoods, and/or surrounding areas are also referred to as:

Note that not all alternate names are acceptable for use in US Post Office addresses.

Nearby Cities and Towns

Allentown Public Libraries

More Information for Librarians

Allentown Hospitals

SACRED HEART HOSPITAL
(Voluntary non-profit - Other)
421 CHEW ST
(215) 776-4900
Emergency Service: Yes

LEHIGH VALLEY HOSPITAL
(Voluntary non-profit - Other)
1200 S CEDAR CREST BLVD P O BOX 689
(610) 402-2273
Emergency Service: Yes

Allentown High Schools (2004)

WILLIAM ALLEN SHS
484-765-5001
Serves 3,277 students.
Student/teacher ratio: 23.1

PARKLAND SHS
610-351-5600
Title I eligible, not participating.
Serves 2,905 students.
Student/teacher ratio: 19.5

LOUIS E DIERUFF HS
484-765-5501
Serves 1,819 students.
Student/teacher ratio: 20.3

SALISBURY SHS
610-791-3641
Serves 470 students.
Student/teacher ratio: 16.8

ROBERTO CLEMENTE CS
610-439-5181
A charter school.
A Title I school.
Serves 175 students.
Student/teacher ratio: 11.9

ALLENTOWN SECURE TREATMENT UNT
610-433-9839
A Non-traditional School
Serves 13 students.

Allentown Colleges

Click school name for a detailed profile.

Cedar Crest College

DeSales University

Muhlenberg College

Pennsylvania School of Business

The Vision Academy

Welder Training and Testing Institute

(List of All Pennsylvania Colleges)

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