Allentown

Allentown is the county seat of Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, and the largest city in the Lehigh Valley, located in eastern Pennsylvania on the Lehigh River. It is part of the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton metropolitan area and, according to the 2020 census, has a population around 125,000.

Founded in 1762 by William Allen, Allentown grew as an industrial city in the 19th century, with manufacturing tied to the Lehigh Canal and rail networks. It diversified into services and healthcare in the late 20th century. The city today hosts major employers in health care, energy, and logistics, and serves as a cultural hub for the region.

Cultural and educational institutions include the Allentown Art Museum, the Allentown Band, and Cedar Crest College and Muhlenberg College campuses in the city. The Lehigh Valley IronPigs minor league baseball team plays at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown. The city is served by Lehigh Valley International Airport nearby and major highways I-476 and US-22. The Billy Joel song "Allentown" popularized the region's industrial decline in the 1980s.