Culture of Allentown, Pennsylvania

Last updated

Allentown, the largest city in the Lehigh Valley, third-largest city in Pennsylvania, and county seat of Lehigh County, in May 2010 Allentown.jpg
Allentown, the largest city in the Lehigh Valley, third-largest city in Pennsylvania, and county seat of Lehigh County, in May 2010

The culture of Allentown, Pennsylvania dates back to the early 18th century settlement of the city and the surrounding Lehigh Valley, which was then part of the Province of Pennsylvania, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, by German immigrants almost exclusively affiliated the Lutheran, Moravian, and Reformed faiths, three of the most prominent Protestant denominations.

Contents

Prior to the arrival of German immigrants, Allentown and the region was inhabited by the Lenape Native American tribe, which spoke the Unami language. [1]

The German immigrants who settled present-day Allentown and the surrounding Lehigh Valley were mostly fleeing religious persecution and war at the time in Germany and were drawn to Allentown and its surrounding communities by the region's reputation for religious freedom and fertile farming land. Later, in the 19th and early 20th centuries, the city and region's reputation as a central manufacturing location during the American Industrial Revolution attracted a second wave of German and other European immigrants who sought economic opportunity and jobs afforded by its anthracite coal, iron ore, steel, railroad, and other manufacturing and mining industries.

History

American Revolution

Zion Reformed Church at 622 Hamilton Street in Center City Allentown, where the Liberty Bell was hidden from the British for nine months during the occupation of Philadelphia from September 1777 to June 1778 Church Lehigh Valley Allentown.JPG
Zion Reformed Church at 622 Hamilton Street in Center City Allentown, where the Liberty Bell was hidden from the British for nine months during the occupation of Philadelphia from September 1777 to June 1778

Allentown's influential role in support of the American Revolution and Revolutionary War is celebrated in the city with various museums and memorials. Until 2023, the Liberty Bell Museum inside Zion Reformed Church at 622 West Hamilton Street in Allentown honored the role Allentown played in protecting and concealing the Liberty Bell, which was hidden underneath this Allentown church's floor boards from September 1777 to June 1778 during the British Army's occupation of Philadelphia. At the corner of Jordan and Gordan streets in Center City, a memorial exists on the site where General George Washington and the Continental Army housed Hessian mercenary prisoners of war during the Revolutionary War.

American Civil War

The Soldiers and Sailors Monument, located on Allentown's center square on South 7th Street, was erected on October 19, 1899, in honor of Union Army soldiers from Allentown and local Lehigh Valley towns and boroughs who died in combat in the American Civil War. In April 1861, the 47th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment from Allentown and its suburbs was deployed to defend the national capital in Washington, D.C., and later launched bold and effective attacks on Confederate positions, tilting the Civil War in the Union's favor. [2] [3]

Industrial Revolution

An aerial view of Lehigh Structural Steel Company in Allentown in 1959 1959 - Lehigh Structural Steel Company Allentown PA.jpg
An aerial view of Lehigh Structural Steel Company in Allentown in 1959

In the early 19th century, Allentown was one of the cities and regions that sparked the Industrial Revolution in the United States as the city emerged as an early national mining and industrial manufacturing hub. Allentown's Lehigh Canal, which afforded the city and region the ability to utilize the Lehigh River for the transport of anthracite coal, iron ore, steel, and other products from the region to nation's largest markets, especially New York City and Philadelphia made Allentown a center of early American industrialization, which continued until the late 20th century when foreign competition, regulations, trade practices, manufacturing costs, innovation and other trends combined to force substantial downsizings, bankruptcies, and outsourcing of many of these traditionally strong regional manufacturing industries.

Immigration

Migration to Allentown and the region continued through most of the 19th and 20th century with additional German immigrants followed by waves of Italians and Asians. In the late 20th century, Hispanics, primarily Puerto Ricans arriving directly from Puerto Rico or indirectly from nearby New Jersey and New York City, immigrated to the city and currently comprise a sizable percentage of the city's population.

As of the 2010 census, Allentown's demographic composition was 43.2% White (non-Hispanic), 42.8% Hispanic, 11.6% Black, and 2.2% Asian. [4]

Rust Belt reputation

In the late 20th and early 21st century, Allentown's image and character as one of the nation's most prominent examples of a rugged industrial Rust Belt city was reflected globally in the city's appearance in several movies, television shows, and songs.

Media

Allentown's media includes print, web, radio and television outlets. Allentown is part of the Philadelphia television media market, the fourth-largest television market in North America as of 2023. [5] WFMZ-TV Channel 69, based in Allentown, has studios and a transmitting site atop South Mountain. WLVT-TV, also based in Allentown, is the local PBS affiliate.

Major Philadelphia-based network stations serving Allentown include: KYW-TV (CBS), WCAU (NBC), WPVI-TV, and WTXF-TV (Fox). There are also other network and local television stations. [6] [7] [8]

Allentown has two daily newspapers, The Morning Call and The Express-Times , and numerous weekly and monthly print publications.

Allentown has the 68th-largest radio market in the United States by Arbitron. [9] Stations licensed to Allentown include WAEB-AM (talk, news and sports), WAEB-FM (Top 40 music), WDIY (NPR and public radio), WHOL (rhythmic contemporary), WLEV (adult contemporary music), WMUH (Muhlenberg College campus radio), WSAN (Fox Sports Radio and Philadelphia Phillies broadcasts), WZZO (hard rock music) and others. Most major New York City and Philadelphia radio stations are received in Allentown.

Recreation

Amusement parks and zoos

The first drops of Dorney Park's Steel Force and Thunderhawk rollercoasters in Allentown. At 5,600 ft (1,700 m), Steel Force is eighth longest steel rollercoaster in the world. Dorney Park Steel Force Thunderhawk.jpg
The first drops of Dorney Park's Steel Force and Thunderhawk rollercoasters in Allentown. At 5,600 ft (1,700 m), Steel Force is eighth longest steel rollercoaster in the world.
A street mural at Gordon Street and American Parkway 2021 - Allentown Mural - Gordon St and American Parkway - Allentown PA.jpg
A street mural at Gordon Street and American Parkway
Allentown Art Museum at 31 N. 5th Street in July 2008 Allentown Art Museum, Pennsylvania.jpg
Allentown Art Museum at 31 N. 5th Street in July 2008
Da Vinci Science Center at Cedar Crest College in March 2014 Da Vinci Science Center 05.JPG
Da Vinci Science Center at Cedar Crest College in March 2014

Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom is the area's main amusement park. The Lehigh Valley Zoo and the Trexler Nature Preserve are the two zoos in the Lehigh Valley. The William F. Curtis Arboretum is the area's arboretum.

Annual events

The Great Allentown Fair, one of the nation's longest standing fairs held annually since 1852, is held the end of each August and early September. Mayfair Festival of the Arts, an arts festival, is held annually on the campus of Cedar Crest College each May. Musikfest, the nation's largest free music festival, is held annually in neighboring Bethlehem each August. Das Awkscht Fescht, the country's largest antique and classic car show, is held annually in early August in neighboring Macungie; in August 2022, it will hold its 58th consecutive show. [10]

The Lehigh Valley Spring Home Show is held annually in March at the Allentown Fairgrounds, [11] and the Lehigh Valley Auto Show [12] is also held annually in March at Stabler Arena in Center Valley.

The Drum Corps International [13] has been held for over thirty years at J. Birney Crum Stadium, bringing together the top junior drum and bugle corps in the world over two nights of competition.

Art

Allentown Art Museum, founded in 1934, is the city's main fine art institution. Baum School of Art, located in Center City Allentown and founded in 1926, is the city's leading art school.

The city has long struggled with graffiti throughout the city. In an effort to eliminate it, the city has painted murals in some of its city parks and high graffiti locations, arresting graffiti artists and giving out rewards for turning in those who deface buildings with graffiti.

Cuisine

The Dime, an upscale restaurant and bar in Center City Allentown 2021 - Dime Restaurant and Bar - 06 - Allentown PA.jpg
The Dime, an upscale restaurant and bar in Center City Allentown

Allentown is influenced by cuisine from the Pennsylvania Dutch, Hispanic and Latino Americans, and Philadelphia. Allentown has a local variant of the Philly cheesesteak, and local pizza parlors. Pennsylvania Dutch foods, including head cheese, liver pudding, sous vide, chow-chow, apple butter, and others are available at some diners across the region. Ethnic food types represented include Dominican, Puerto Rican, West Indian, Japanese, Italian, Lebanese and Syrian. A regionally-famous hot dog chain, Yocco's Hot Dogs, founded in 1922, maintains two restaurants in the city and two additional locations in Allentown suburbs.

Golf

Allentown and its suburbs are home to several golf courses. Saucon Valley Country Club, located in Upper Saucon Township, hosted the 2009 U.S. Women's Open. Allentown is home to a high quality city-run golf course, Allentown Municipal Golf Course, located at 3400 Tilghman Street. Others include Brookside Country Club in Macungie, Lehigh Country Club on Cedar Crest Boulevard in Allentown, Olde Homestead Golf Club in New Tripoli, Shepherd Hills Golf Club in Wescosville, and Wedgewood Golf Course in Coopersburg.

Museums

Allentown is home to multiple museums, including:

Music

Rock, hip hop, and punk music

Miller Symphony Hall in Allentown is the home to the Allentown Symphony Orchestra 2008 - Miller Symphony Hall.jpg
Miller Symphony Hall in Allentown is the home to the Allentown Symphony Orchestra

Allentown has a long tradition of producing successful national musical acts and groups. In the 21st century, Pissed Jeans, a hardcore punk group founded in Allentown in 2005, [14] and Pearls and Brass, a stoner rock band founded in 2001 from neighboring Nazareth, [15] both started as local Allentown acts, were ultimately signed, and have since developed strong national and global followings.

Rock and hip hop performances at Allentown nightclubs have included appearances by Hollywood Undead, Pitbull, Day26, Metro Station, Fabolous, and other performers.

Allentown has a large radio market featuring many genres of music and also is within broadcasting reach of most major Philadelphia and New York City stations.

Symphony and bands

Allentown Symphony Orchestra performs at Miller Symphony Hall in Center City Allentown north of Hamilton Street on North 6th Street. The city also has several citizen bands, which perform at the West Park bandshell and elsewhere, including the Allentown Band, the oldest civilian concert band in the United States, the Marine Band of Allentown, the Municipal Band of Allentown, and the Pioneer Band of Allentown.

Youth Education in the Arts (YEA) is headquartered in Allentown its home and sponsors The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps, a ten-time DCI world champion, in addition to a senior drum and bugle corps, a competitive scholastic marching band circuit, and the Urban Arts Center in the Lehigh Valley.

Shopping

Allentown and its suburbs are home to several shopping areas and indoor malls, including Lehigh Valley Mall in Whitehall Township, South Mall in Salisbury Township, The Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley in Center Valley, The Shoppes at Trexler in Trexlertown, Whitehall Mall in Whitehall Township, and others.

Allentown's reputation as a rugged blue collar city has led to many references to the city in popular culture: [16]

21st century

20th century

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lehigh County, Pennsylvania</span> County in Pennsylvania, United States

Lehigh County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the county's population was 374,557. Its county seat is Allentown, the state's third-largest city after Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Allentown, Pennsylvania</span> Home rule municipality in Pennsylvania, United States

Allentown is the county seat of Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is the third-most populous city in Pennsylvania with a population of 125,845 as of the 2020 census and the most populous city in the Lehigh Valley metropolitan area, which had a population of 861,899 and was the 68th-most populous metropolitan area in the nation as of 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Salisbury Township, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania</span> Township in Pennsylvania, United States

Salisbury Township is a township in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, United States. The township's population was 13,621 at the 2020 census. The township borders Allentown, Pennsylvania's third-largest city, Bethlehem, and Emmaus, in the Lehigh Valley, which had a population of 861,899 and was the 68th-most populous metropolitan area in the U.S. as of the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Whitehall Township, Pennsylvania</span> Township in Pennsylvania, United States

South Whitehall Township is a township in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, United States. The township's population was 19,180 at the 2010 census. It is a suburb of Allentown and is part of the Lehigh Valley, which had a population of 861,899 and was the 68th-most populous metropolitan area in the U.S. as of the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Upper Saucon Township, Pennsylvania</span> Township in Pennsylvania, United States

Upper Saucon Township is a township in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is part of the Lehigh Valley metropolitan area, which had a population of 861,899 and was the 68th-most populous metropolitan area in the U.S. as of the 2020 census. The township had a population of 16,973 as of the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hellertown, Pennsylvania</span> Place in Pennsylvania, United States

Hellertown is a borough in Northampton County, Pennsylvania. Its population was 6,131 at the 2020 census. Hellertown is part of the Lehigh Valley metropolitan area, which had a population of 861,899 and was the 68th-most populous metropolitan area in the U.S. as of 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Index of Pennsylvania-related articles</span>

The following is an alphabetical list of articles on people, places, and things related to Pennsylvania in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lehigh Valley</span> Metropolitan Statistical Area in the United States

The Lehigh Valley is a geographic and metropolitan region formed by the Lehigh River in Lehigh and Northampton counties in eastern Pennsylvania. It is a component valley of the Great Appalachian Valley bounded to its north by Blue Mountain, to its south by South Mountain, to its west by Lebanon Valley, and to its east by the Delaware River and Warren County, New Jersey. The Lehigh Valley is about 40 miles (64 km) long and 20 miles (32 km) wide. The Lehigh Valley's largest city is Allentown, the third-largest city in Pennsylvania and the county seat of Lehigh County, with a population of 125,845 residents as of the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WFMZ-TV</span> Independent TV station in Allentown, Pennsylvania

WFMZ-TV is an independent television station in Allentown, Pennsylvania, United States. Locally-based Maranatha Broadcasting Company owns both WFMZ-TV and Wilmington, Delaware–licensed MeTV affiliate WDPN-TV. The two stations share studios on East Rock Road on South Mountain in Allentown, where WFMZ-TV's transmitter is located. WFMZ-TV also maintains a secondary studio in the PPL Center sports arena in Center City Allentown and a newsroom on Court Street in Reading.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dorneyville, Pennsylvania</span> Census-designated place in Pennsylvania, United States

Dorneyville is a census-designated place in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census the population was 4,850. Dorneyville is located just west of Allentown in South Whitehall Township and Salisbury Township.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pennsylvania Route 222</span> Highway in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Route 222 is a 4.482 mi (7.213 km)-long state highway located in Allentown and its surrounding suburbs in the Lehigh Valley region in eastern Pennsylvania.

Cedar Crest Boulevard, colloquially known as Cedar Crest and The Boulevard, is a major north-south highway in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania in the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania. South of Interstate 78 (I-78), the road is part of Pennsylvania Route 29. North of it, the road becomes State Route 1019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Summit Lawn, Pennsylvania</span> Unincorporated village in Pennsylvania, U.S.

Summit Lawn is a small unincorporated village that is located in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. It is part of the Lehigh Valley, which has a population of 861,899 and is the 68th-most populous metropolitan area in the U.S. as of the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cetronia, Pennsylvania</span> Census-designated place in Pennsylvania, United States

Cetronia is a census-designated place (CDP) in South Whitehall Township in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, located near Allentown. As of the 2020 census, its population was 2,421.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Interstate 78 in Pennsylvania</span> Highway in Pennsylvania, US

Interstate 78 (I-78) is a major east–west Interstate Highway stretching from Union Township, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, in the west to the Holland Tunnel and New York City in the east. In Pennsylvania, I-78 runs for about 78 miles (126 km) from the western terminus at I-81 in Union Township east to the New Jersey state line near Easton in Northampton County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hamilton Street</span> Major thoroughfare in Allentown, Pennsylvania

Hamilton Street is a major thoroughfare and historic street in the Center City section of Allentown, Pennsylvania. The street dates back to 1762, when Allentown's founder, William Allen, included it as one of the first of several streets to be constructed in the city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liberty Bell Museum</span> History museum in Allentown, Pennsylvania U.S.

The Liberty Bell Museum, also the Liberty Bell Shrine Museum was a non-profit organization and museum located in Zion's United Church of Christ, formerly Zion's Reformed Church, in Allentown, Pennsylvania in the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania. The museum was located in the basement of the church, where the Liberty Bell, an iconic and globally-recognized symbol of America's independence and freedom, was hidden from the British Army by Allentown-area American patriots during the American Revolutionary War from September 1777 to June 1778.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Economy of Allentown, Pennsylvania</span>

Allentown, Pennsylvania is the home for the global and U.S. corporate headquarters of several companies, including Air Products, PPL Corporation, and others. The largest employer in the Lehigh Valley is Lehigh Valley Health Network with almost 8,000 employees.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sports in Allentown, Pennsylvania</span> Overview of sports activities in Allentown, Pennsylvania

Sports in Allentown, Pennsylvania has a rich tradition at all levels, including professional sports, the Olympics, and high school levels. While most Allentown residents support professional sports teams in New York City or Philadelphia, Allentown itself also is home to two major professional sports teams, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, the Triple A team of the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball, and the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the American Hockey League, the primary development team of the Philadelphia Flyers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lehigh Valley Health Network</span> Healthcare organization in Allentown, United States

Lehigh Valley Health Network is a subsidiary of Jefferson Health. Prior to its August 2024 acquisition by Jefferson Health, Lehigh Valley Health Network was an independent healthcare network based in the Allentown, Pennsylvania in the Lehigh Valley metropolitan region of eastern Pennsylvania. The healthcare subsidiary serves the Lehigh Valley and Northeastern Pennsylvania regions of Pennsylvania.

References

  1. "Transformation of people and places," Delaware & Lehigh National Corridor
  2. Allentown, 1762–1987, a 225 Year history, Volume II, 1921–1987, Lehigh County Historical Society, 1987.
  3. "Soldiers and Sailors Monument Saluting Lehigh County for over 100 years," WFMZ, July 12, 2011, retrieved January 10, 2016.
  4. "A-B-E UNEMPLOYMENT RATE UP IN DECEMBER" (PDF). Media.lehighvalleylive.com. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  5. "TV Market Maps". Echostar Knowledge Base website. Retrieved April 20, 2009.
  6. "About WFMZ-TV". WFMZ-TV official website. Archived from the original on May 23, 2008. Retrieved June 8, 2008.
  7. "About Us". WBPH-TV official website. Archived from the original on June 17, 2008. Retrieved June 8, 2008.
  8. "Home Page". WLVT-TV official website. Archived from the original on June 15, 2008. Retrieved June 8, 2008.
  9. "StationRatings.com – Allentown/Bethlehem, PA". Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved May 11, 2008.
  10. Awkscht official website
  11. Lehigh Valley Spring Home Show at Discover Lehigh Valley
  12. Lehigh Valley Auto Show official website
  13. Eastern Classic "Eastern Classic"
  14. Pissed Jeans official website
  15. "If a band rocks in the woods, will anyone hear them?" Arthur
  16. 1 2 "All of these movies and TV shows were shot in the Lehigh Valley," Lehigh Valley Live, June 14, 2017
  17. "Bruce Willis, Samuel L. Jackson spotted in Allentown while in town for filming of 'Glass', The Morning Call, November 1, 2017, retrieved February 22, 2019
  18. "Billy Joel's Allentown Reprised in Hangover II, BillyJoel.com
  19. "Say Anything" lyrics, Genius.com
  20. Hiding The Bell by Ruth Nulton Moore Westminster Press, 1968
  21. "M. Night Shyamalan's 'Glass' joins these 21 other films shot in the Lehigh Valley," Lehigh Valley Live, September 24, 2019, retrieved February 15, 2022.