City Profile: Allentown

The Lehigh Valley has seen a boom in community and economic development. Completed projects, such as the PPL Plaza and the new Alvin H. Butz, Inc. headquarters in center city Allentown, showcase the revitalization of the region. (Sarah Evans/The Morning Call)

Allentown is the largest of the three cities that comprise the Lehigh Valley. It is 60 miles north of Philadelphia, the fifth largest city in the United States, and 90 miles west of New York City.

Allentown is the thrid largest city in Pennsylvania after Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. It's the home of Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom, Muhlenberg College and Cedar Crest College.

Here are some other fun facts about the city:

Allentown History

Allentown was founded in 1762 by William Allen, who was one of the first Mayors of Philadelphia. Allen originally called the city Northamptontown. But the area became known as "Allen's Town." In 1838 (58 years after Allen's death), the city's was formally named Allentown.

A significant moment in history came to Allentown when, during the Revolutionary war, the Liberty Bell was moved by the Second Continental Congress to Allentown when the British were attempting to seize Philadelphia. The Liberty Bell was moved to the basement of the Old Zion Reformed Church, in Center City, where there is now a shrine open to visitors.

Pop Allentown

Billy Joel's "Allentown"
Billy Joel's 1982 song was meant to depict the resolve of the residents who were largely blue collar workers at a time when the big manufacturers in the area were closing factories.

Movies
Allentown's Dorney Park has served as a filming location for "Where Angels Go, Trouble Follows" (1968) and John Waters' movie "Hairspray" (1988).

Forensic Files
The "Forensic Files" television series was filmed on location in Allentown. "Medical Detectives" aired on the TLC network from 1995 to 2002, and "Forensic Files" began airing on Court TV in 2000. Both shows used local Allentown actors and locations for dramatic recreations of various crimes.

X-Files
Allentown was the plot setting for two X-Files episodes, broadcast on Fox Television in 1995 and 1997. Neither episode was actually filmed in the city.

Sources: Wikipedia, The Morning Call, Lehigh County Historical Society