Situated in the heart of Pennsylvania's picturesque Lehigh Valley is Allentown, a community with deep historical roots. Its original settlers hailed from England, Germany, Ireland and Scotland. Many critical decisions that would shape the future of the United States were executed here, in buildings that remain standing today thanks to the restoration efforts of dedicated local organizations. Throughout time, many "firsts" took place in Allentown and the surrounding Lehigh Valley. Farmers planted the first seeds of what would become thriving crops, and during the Industrial Revolution, immigrants took up residence here as factories and cities began developing in the region.

Allentown's name is derived from Chief Justice William Allen of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, who in his pre-Allentown days served as mayor of Philadelphia. In addition to being a skilled litigator, Allen was also a successful businessman. During the mid-1700s, he drew the blueprints for a village, located on the banks of the Lehigh River, which he called Northamptontown. Although the land was rural when he first drew up his plans for the village, Allen envisioned Northamptontown as a leading center of commerce. Its position on the Lehigh River, he believed would bolster trade.

Unfortunately, that dream would not become a reality; the shallow waters of the river made trade difficult if not impossible. Throughout this period of planning, however, locals began calling Northampton "Allen's Town." The nickname stuck. Allen later gave the land to his son, James. Allentown was officially established in 1838, but it wasn't until the Industrial Revolution -- and subsequently, the arrival of a railroad network -- that Allentown came into its own as a leading center of commerce, particularly in the transportation sector.

Since then, Allentown has grown, prospered and diversified economically. Allentown city planners have embarked on a campaign of revitalization, dubbed the Lehigh Landing project, in the city's downtown sector in order to attract more residents back to the epicenter of city life. Included in this effort are the establishment of a "river walk" along the Lehigh River, and the metamorphosis of old industrial buildings into office space for multiple businesses. In addition, the city has been working on developing cultural attractions that pay tribute to the Valley's history. Foremost among them is the America on Wheels Museum, based in what once served as the Lehigh Valley Transit Company building.

A visit to Allentown and the surrounding Lehigh Valley is a treat for anyone who enjoys covered bridges. These rarely spotted structures are quite common in the Valley. In fact, of the 1,500 covered bridges in existence in the United States, some 250 of them are in Pennsylvania, many in the Allentown area. Among the bridges you'll spot here is Bogert's Bridge, built in 1841. Bogert's is the oldest bridge in this region and one of the oldest covered bridges in the United States. An excellent day trip for any visitor to Allentown is a drive through the Lehigh Valley, tracing the route of covered bridges throughout the region.

The Valley also is revered for its wineries -- eight of them, all family-owned (Slate Quarry Winery, Blue Mountain Vineyards, Franklin Hill Vineyards, Pinnacle Ridge Winery, Cherry Valley Vineyards, Clover Hill Vineyards & Winery, Big Creek Vineyard and Vynecrest Winery). Weather and soil conditions in the Lehigh Valley are very conducive to grape-growing, and these eight wineries produce a diverse assortment of wines, many of them European varieties.

For the relocating family, Allentown offers a strong local economy supported by diverse industries, a quality public school system and a high quality of life. This community of approximately 105,000 residents is home to telecommunications companies, including Lucent Technologies; banking and financial corporations; media; retail companies and universities including Lehigh University, Muhlenburg College, Moravian College and Penn State Lehigh Valley. Residential real estate is varied and for the most part affordable. Newcomers to Allentown will likely be surprised at the amount of home they get for their money here. The majority of single-family home prices in and around Allentown range from well below $100,000 to the mid-$200,000s, although some larger properties are priced $300,000 and above. A home priced more than $500,000 is a rare find. Architectural styles range from modest, traditional row houses (some of them converted into mulitfamily properties) to sprawling, colonial-style residences. New homes come with a much higher price tag, many of them falling into the $200,000 to $300,000 range.

Allentown is unique in the sense that it offers residents a quiet, historic atmosphere, but without the steep real estate costs usually associated with that privilege. A strong dedication to restoration efforts has ensured the preservation of a region where some of the most significant events in our nation's history took place. Its proximity to leading educational institutions, its strong regional economy, high quality of life and the unwavering pride of its locals all contribute to make Allentown a smart investment for relocating families.

Published: May 15, 2000

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