Allentown, at the center of the Lehigh Valley and county seat of Lehigh County, is Pennsylvania’s third most populous city. First settled in 1735 on land purchased directly from the sons of William Penn, it quickly became an important commercial center due to its location along the Lehigh River and proximity to Philadelphia.
The arrival of the Lehigh Canal, however, expanded the city’s commerce and industrial capacity greatly. With this, the town underwent significant industrialization, ultimately becoming one of the nation’s largest centers for heavy industry and manufacturing. Like the city of Scranton, railroads in Allentown were vital to the movement of raw materials and finished goods and to the economy of the Lehigh Valley.
Written by Marietta Dooley
