About the Lehigh Valley The Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania is made up of Lehigh and Northampton Counties and is home to the three cities of Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton, as well as numerous townships and boroughs. With more than half-a-million residents, it is the third largest metro region in the state. Allentown The largest of the three cities, Allentown was founded in 1762 by William Allen, a successful businessman and former mayor of Philadelphia. The city is known for its award-winning parks system, The Allentown Band, the oldest civilian concert band in the country, and for hiding the Liberty Bell from the British from 1777 to 1778 in the basement of a church. Allentown is home to the world headquarters for Mack Trucks Inc.©, amusement and water park Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom, and Mayfair Festival of the Arts which takes place over Memorial Day weekend every May. Cedar Crest College and Muhlenberg College are located in Allentown’s west end. Bethlehem The city of Bethlehem, known as “Christmas City U.S.A.,” was founded by members of The Moravian Church in 1741. The downtown area is home to many original structures from the 1700s and early 1800s including a water works, tannery, and grain mill, as well as Moravian College. The Star of Bethlehem looks down over the city from atop South Mountain. Lit year round, the star is 81 feet high and has 246 light bulbs. Today the city is known for its many annual festivals including Musikfest in August, Celtic Classic in September and Christkindlmarkt in November and December. Just Born makes its famous marshmallow Peeps® and Mike & Ike® candies here too. Shopping along Main Street and dining along “Restaurant Row” are highlights of any visit to Bethlehem. The city’s Southside features eclectic restaurants, shops and art galleries and the campus of Lehigh University.
Easton
Located in the eastern end of the Lehigh Valley along the New Jersey state border is Easton. Founded in 1752 by Thomas Penn, the city sits at the confluence of the Delaware and Lehigh Rivers. Centre Square is a hub of activity with weekly farmers markets, trendy restaurants, art galleries and antique shops. Families flock to Two Rivers Landing to check out how melted wax becomes crayons at The Crayola FACTORY®, and to learn about the city’s industrial history at the National Canal Museum. Stars of stage and screen perform throughout the year at The State Theatre Center for the Arts. The College Hill neighborhood is named so for Lafayette College. The city’s annual Heritage Festival celebrates one of the three original readings of the Declaration of Independence which took place on July 8, 1776.
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