History of Allentown, PA
Early History
The city of Allentown was first called Northamptontown by its discoverer, William Allen. who was the Chief Justice of Colonial Pennsylvania's Supreme Court, Allen, formerly the Mayor of Philadelphia and an accomplished businessman, drafted plans for the rural area in 1761. Despite its name today, originally the town simply called Allen's town. Mr. Allen dreamt that Northamptontown would evolve into a national commercial center due to its strategic location on the banks of the Lehigh River. However, due to low water almost every year, the location made regular trade too difficult. In the early 1770s, Mr. Allen gave the property to James Allen, his son. James built a country home in the area named Trout Hall remainest of his father's fishing and hunting lodge. As the Amercian Revolution approached, the town never grew beyond its Pennsylvania Dutch roots of German tradesmen and farmers. However, after the war, the town began to evolve as a local center of commerce. In the early 1800s, Allen's Town was designated by the US Census as the center of the largest grain producing areas in the country.
Finally, in 1839, the city officially renamed itself Allentown, which turned out to not be the only change for the city on the Lehigh River. In the 30s and 40s, as the American industrial revolution boomed, Allentown was the focus of this emergence and was taking off as a key US commercial marketplace beyond the wildest dreams of William Allen. In this period, the Lehigh Canal and then the railroad would find its ways to and through Allentown.
A strong rise in the iron business in the 1850s and 60s continued to strengthen Allentown's prosperity. The grow rail lines of the country has an insatiable appetite for Allentown iron. After the Civil War. German and Irish immigrant workers create their own version of Pittsburgh on the Lehigh River banks. However, the good times didn't last as the collapse of the railroad industry also brought the decline in Allentown's iron fortunes. Knowns as the Panic of 1873, iron plants shutdown creating a death spiral the city would truly never recover from.
In the early 1900s, the city has somewhat recovered through the founding of silk mills, which emerged from the now virtually dead iron business. The economy also became diversified through a varied production of products ranging from furniture to cigars to beer.
Finally, in 1839, the city officially renamed itself Allentown, which turned out to not be the only change for the city on the Lehigh River. In the 30s and 40s, as the American industrial revolution boomed, Allentown was the focus of this emergence and was taking off as a key US commercial marketplace beyond the wildest dreams of William Allen. In this period, the Lehigh Canal and then the railroad would find its ways to and through Allentown.
A strong rise in the iron business in the 1850s and 60s continued to strengthen Allentown's prosperity. The grow rail lines of the country has an insatiable appetite for Allentown iron. After the Civil War. German and Irish immigrant workers create their own version of Pittsburgh on the Lehigh River banks. However, the good times didn't last as the collapse of the railroad industry also brought the decline in Allentown's iron fortunes. Knowns as the Panic of 1873, iron plants shutdown creating a death spiral the city would truly never recover from.
In the early 1900s, the city has somewhat recovered through the founding of silk mills, which emerged from the now virtually dead iron business. The economy also became diversified through a varied production of products ranging from furniture to cigars to beer.
Modern History
Since WWII and notably since the early 1960s, the city has totally transitioned from its bygone years and legacy as a steel producer. With the decline of manufacturing and the rise of service industries, Allentown has had to evolve once again. Bolstered by Pennsylvania's passage of the Neighborhood Improvement Zone bill, the city has seen more than $1B in new investment. The PPL Center, with a seating capacity of over 10,000 has been symbolic of this reemergence. Allentown's infrastructure provides cutting-edge technology, such as uninterrupted electrical service and a fiber optic loop, which enables the city to compete for business investment.
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