Geography of Allentown
Allentown, Pennsylvania, the seat of Lehigh County. It is on the Lehigh River, about 45 miles (72 km) north-northwest of Philadelphia. Allentown is one of Pennsylvania's leading industrial cities and manufactures a variety of products. The city is also the marketing center of one of the state's most productive agricultural areas.
Allentown is the site of Muhlenberg and Cedar Crest colleges. A replica of the Liberty Bell is in the Zion Reformed Church (built 1773), where the original bell was hidden from the British in 1777, during the Revolutionary War. The Lehigh County Historical Society features Indian relics and items from the Revolutionary War. The Allentown Art Museum is known for its Kress Collection of Renaissance and Baroque paintings. The city maintains several parks with beautifully landscaped gardens, and sports grounds.
Allentown was laid out in 1762 by William Allen, a Pennsylvania jurist. It was known as Northampton Town and soon became a trading center. It was renamed Allentown in 1838. Allentown was incorporated as a city in 1867.
Population: 106,632.