Overview

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.

Demographics

People

Total Population120,410
Male Share of the Population48.7%
Female Share of the Population51.3%
Senior Citizens11.9%
Employed Population 16+50,060
Age of the Population32

Families

% of people married33.6%
Average household size3

Education and Earnings

Population % with Bachelor Degree or Higher14.6%
Median Earnings25+$28,802
Median Earnings Without High School Qualification$21,498
Median Earnings With High School Degree$25,932

Wealth

Median Family Income$44,130
% Above Poverty Level73.8%
% Below Poverty Level26.2%

Commute & Sprawl

Average Commute Time23 minutes
% Working from Home4%
% Walking and Biking to Work5.7%
% Using Public Transportation5%

Housing

People Living Alone27.9%
Median Gross Rent$968
Median House Value$126,700

Ancestry

Other(often includes Hispanic and African American)60.9%
Irish5.6%
Italian4.5%
Arab2.9%
German2.2%
English1.9%
West Indian1.8%
Polish1.8%
Syrian1.6%
Dutch1.2%
Slovak1.1%
French Except Basque0.9%
Hungarian0.9%
Austrian0.8%
Welsh0.7%
African0.7%
Jamaican0.7%
Russian0.6%
Ukrainian0.5%
Scottish0.4%
Lithuanian0.3%
Lebanese0.3%
Egyptian0.3%
Brazilian0.2%
Haitian0.2%
Nigerian0.2%
Swedish0.2%
Greek0.2%
British0.1%
Bermudan0.1%
Portuguese0.1%
Iranian0.1%
Trinidad Tobago0.1%
Romanian0.1%
Guyanese0.1%
Norwegian0.1%
Canadian0.1%
Swiss0.1%
Turkish0.1%
Czech0.1%
Belgian0.1%
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Allentown Almanac

CategoryValue
CountyLehigh County
Standard Zip Codes18101, 18102, 18104, 18103, 18109, 18195, 18106
P.O. Box Zip Codes18105
Phone Area Codes4,84,610, 484
Time ZoneAmerica/New_York
Approximate Latitude40.6
Approximate Longitude-75.47

Allentown Climate

Nearest Weather Stations

Notes:

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

StationALLENTOWN LEHIGH VLY AP
Distance3.6 miles
Jan Temp19 to 35 F
Apr Temp38 to 60 F
Jul Temp63 to 84 F
Oct Temp41 to 63 F
Annual Precip45.1 inches
StationRODALE RESEARCH CENTER
Distance12.5 miles
Jan Temp17 to 36 F
Apr Temp37 to 60 F
Jul Temp59 to 83 F
Oct Temp39 to 63 F
Annual Precip46 inches
StationBELTZVILLE DAM
Distance16.8 miles
Jan Temp14 to 34 F
Apr Temp35 to 59 F
Jul Temp58 to 83 F
Oct Temp37 to 63 F
Annual Precip49.7 inches

Nearby Cities and Towns

LocationPopulationMedian Family Income
Bethlehem75,296$66,986
Catasauqua6,550$63,814
Coplay3,216$63,667
Emmaus11,361$76,233
Northampton9,873$75,543
Whitehall13,759$85,729

Allentown Public Libraries

Allentown Public Library
1210 HAMILTON ST
Allentown, Pennsylvania
(610) 820-2400
Parkland Community Library
4422 WALBERT AVENUE
Allentown, Pennsylvania
(610) 398-1333

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More Information for Librarians

Allentown Hospitals

Surgical Specialty Center At Coordinated Health
(Proprietary)
1503 Cedar Crest Boulevard
(610) 871-9110
Lehigh Valley Hospital
(Non-profit)
Cedar Crest Blvd & I-78 Po Box 689
(610) 402-8000
Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Hospital
(Non-profit)
850 South 5th Street
(610) 776-3299
Lehigh Valley Hospital-17th St
1637 W Chew St
(610) 402-8000
Sacred Heart Hospital
(Non-profit)
421 Chew Street
(610) 776-4500

Allentown Public Schools

Harrison-morton Ms
137 N 2nd St
ZIP: 18101
(484) 765-5701
Middle
Total Enrollment 853
Central El Sch
829 W Turner St
ZIP: 18102
(484) 765-4801
Primary
Total Enrollment 844
Cleveland El Sch
424 N 9th St
ZIP: 18102
(484) 765-4821
Primary
Total Enrollment 287
Lincoln Early Chld Ctr
1402 W Walnut St
ZIP: 18102
(484) 765-5441
Primary
Total Enrollment 342
Luis A. Ramos El Sch
1430 West Allen St
ZIP: 18102
(484) 765-4841
Primary
Total Enrollment 878
Mckinley El Sch
1124 W Turner St
ZIP: 18102
(484) 765-5461
Primary
Total Enrollment 268
Roberto Clemente Cs
136 S 4th Street
ZIP: 18102
(610) 439-5181
Other
Total Enrollment 312
Roberto Clemente Elementary Charter Scho
501-509 West Cedar Street
ZIP: 18102
(610) 351-4310
Primary
Total Enrollment 308
Sheridan El Sch
521 N 2nd St
ZIP: 18102
(484) 765-4881
Primary
Total Enrollment 685
Trexler Ms
851 N 15th St
ZIP: 18102
(484) 765-4601
Middle
Total Enrollment 850
Washington El Sch
837 N 9th St
ZIP: 18102
(484) 765-4941
Primary
Total Enrollment 455
Arts Academy Cs
1610 East Emmaus Avenue
ZIP: 18103
(610) 351-0234
Middle
Total Enrollment 373
Harry S Truman El Sch
1400 Gaskill Ave
ZIP: 18103
(610) 791-2800
Primary
Total Enrollment 384
Hiram W Dodd El Sch
1944 S Church St
ZIP: 18103
(484) 765-4501
Primary
Total Enrollment 663
Jefferson El Sch
750 Saint John St
ZIP: 18103
(484) 765-4421
Primary
Total Enrollment 671
Lehigh Parkway El Sch
1708 Coronado St
ZIP: 18103
(484) 765-4441
Primary
Total Enrollment 311
Roosevelt El Sch
210 W Susquehanna St
ZIP: 18103
(484) 765-4461
Primary
Total Enrollment 700
Salisbury Ms
3301 Devonshire Rd
ZIP: 18103
(610) 791-0830
Middle
Total Enrollment 365
Salisbury Shs
500 E Montgomery St
ZIP: 18103
(610) 791-3641
High
Total Enrollment 572
South Mountain Ms
709 W Emaus Ave
ZIP: 18103
(484) 765-4301
Middle
Total Enrollment 1017
Western Salisbury El Sch
3201 Devonshire Rd
ZIP: 18103
(610) 797-1688
Primary
Total Enrollment 219
Cetronia Sch
3635 Broadway
ZIP: 18104
(610) 351-5860
Primary
Total Enrollment 517
Francis D Raub Ms
102 S Saint Cloud St
ZIP: 18104
(484) 765-5301
Middle
Total Enrollment 827
Kratzer Sch
2200 Huckleberry Rd
ZIP: 18104
(610) 351-5820
Primary
Total Enrollment 394
Muhlenberg El Sch
740 N 21st St
ZIP: 18104
(484) 765-4861
Primary
Total Enrollment 468
Parkland Hs
2700 N Cedar Crest Blvd
ZIP: 18104
(610) 351-5600
High
Total Enrollment 3123
Parkway Manor Sch
768 Parkway Rd
ZIP: 18104
(610) 351-5850
Primary
Total Enrollment 436
Springhouse Ms
1200 Springhouse Rd
ZIP: 18104
(610) 351-5700
Middle
Total Enrollment 1240
Union Terrace El Sch
1939 W Union St
ZIP: 18104
(484) 765-5481
Primary
Total Enrollment 722
William Allen Hs
106 N 17th St
ZIP: 18104
(484) 765-5001
High
Total Enrollment 2536
Executive Education Academy Charter Scho
555 Union Boulevard Suite #4
ZIP: 18109
(610) 841-7044
Other
Total Enrollment 465
Lincoln Leadership Academy Charter Schoo
1414 E. Cedar St.
ZIP: 18109
(484) 860-3300
Other
Total Enrollment 585
Louis E Dieruff Hs
815 N Irving St
ZIP: 18109
(484) 765-5501
High
Total Enrollment 1757
Mosser El Sch
129 S Dauphin St
ZIP: 18109
(484) 765-5881
Primary
Total Enrollment 626
Ritter El Sch
790 N Plymouth Street
ZIP: 18109
(484) 765-5661
Primary
Total Enrollment 486

Allentown Private Schools

Grace Montessori School
814 W Linden St
ZIP: 18101
Elementary
Total Enrollment 31
Central Catholic High School
301 N 4th St
ZIP: 18102
Secondary
Total Enrollment 766
Divine Learning Center Academy
916 Turner St
ZIP: 18102
Elementary
Total Enrollment 22
Sacred Heart School
325 N 4th St
ZIP: 18102
Elementary
Total Enrollment 290
Devine School
1255 S Cedar Crest Blvd Ste 2300
ZIP: 18103
Elementary
Total Enrollment 8
Lehigh Christian Academy
1151 S Cedar Crest Blvd
ZIP: 18103
Elementary
Total Enrollment 241
Little People Daycare School
2310 S 12th St
ZIP: 18103
Elementary
Total Enrollment 4
St Thomas More School
1040 Flexer Ave
ZIP: 18103
Elementary
Total Enrollment 618
Swain School
1100 S 24th St
ZIP: 18103
Elementary
Total Enrollment 253
Building Blocks Learning Center
6750 Iroquois Trl
ZIP: 18104
Elementary
Total Enrollment 6
Datzyk Montessori School
3300 Broadway
ZIP: 18104
Elementary
Total Enrollment 24
Jewish Community Center Kindergarten
702 N 22nd St
ZIP: 18104
Elementary
Total Enrollment 8
Jewish Day School Of The Lehigh Valley
2313 W Pennsylvania St
ZIP: 18104
Elementary
Total Enrollment 71
Lifespan School & Daycare
1651 N Cedar Crest Blvd Ste 103
ZIP: 18104
Elementary
Total Enrollment 12
St John Vianney Regional School
210 N 18th St
ZIP: 18104
Elementary
Total Enrollment 367
Little People Country Club
357 S Route 100
ZIP: 18106
Elementary
Total Enrollment 2
New Story School
7462 Penn Dr
ZIP: 18106
Combined Elementary And Secondary
Total Enrollment 48
The Devine School
740 N Brookside Rd
ZIP: 18106
Elementary
Total Enrollment 7
A Childrens Place Learning Center
719 Roble Rd
ZIP: 18109
Elementary
Total Enrollment 14
Life Academy
855 N Maxwell St
ZIP: 18109
Elementary
Total Enrollment 66
Our Lady Help Of Christians School
934 Hanover Ave
ZIP: 18109
Elementary
Total Enrollment 158
The Cuddle Zone Learning Center
445 Allentown Dr
ZIP: 18109
Elementary
Total Enrollment 12
Sources :
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