History of Allentown, Pennsylvania

Allentown, the county seat of Lehigh County, is situated on the Lehigh River 50 miles north-northwest of Philadelphia. It is connected to Bethlehem on the east, and together with Bethlehem and Easton, it forms a metropolitan area. Allentown is located in an area rich in limestone deposits, from which the city's cement industry developed. The surrounding agricultural landscape belongs to the Pennsylvania Dutch region. Thomas Penn, the son of William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania, acquired the land on which Allentown was eventually built. It was acquired in 1745 by William Allen, a Philadelphia merchant. In the 1760s, Allen constructed a private lodge on the site, but the town did not begin to develop until much later. Originally, it was named Northhampton, as was the surrounding county. James Allen, the son of William Allen, constructed Trout Hall in 1770, which is now a museum. The community was incorporated as a borough in 1811, and the following year it became the county seat of newly formed Lehigh County. In honor of its founder, the city's name was changed to Allentown in 1838. In 1848, Allentown Seminary opened its doors; in 1867, it became Muhlenberg College. In 1867, Lehigh was granted city status. Learn about the geography of Allentown.