The city of Allentown is situated within the Pennsylvania's Lehigh County. It is the 3rd most popular city in the state after the much larger Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. Within the country, the city ranks as the 215th biggest city. Now, it is the fastest growing city within Pennsylvania with a total population of approximately 118,032 as of the year 2010. Allentown is also the county seat of Lehigh County.
As among the 3 adjacent cities in Lehigh Valley, the city of Allentown is situated in the eastern region of Pennsylvania near Western New Jersey, and is situated along the Lehigh River. The state capital is Harrisburg and the city of Allentown is situated 80 miles or 130 km east of this city and 90 miles or 140 km west of the city of New York and 97 km or 60 miles north of Philadelphia.
Wildwater Kingdom and Dorney Park are among the more popular establishments in the area. Dorney Park is a famous amusement park located just on the outskirts of the city of Allentown. Muhlenberg College and Cedar Crest College are two four-year colleges also situated in the city of Allentown.
The Lehigh Valley International Airport or likewise called LVIA provides commercial airline service from the city of Allentown. The Allentown Queen City Municipal Airport likewise offers general aviation services and chartered service in addition to LVIA.
Manufacturing has long been and continues to be the key economic driver within the area. The city of Allentown serves as corporate head office site for different international companies including PPL, Air Products & Chemicals as well as others. The biggest employer in Allentown is the Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network with more than 7800 employees.
After over 100 years based in Allentown, Mack Trucks announced in 2008 that their corporate based headquarters would be moved to Greensboro, North Carolina the following year. Mack still operates a major manufacturing facility within the nearby Lower Macungie Township. It is estimated that the move cost approximately 600 people their jobs.
Until the middle part of the 1970s the primary shopping district within Allentown City was the Center City area along Hamilton Street between 10th and 5th Streets. The "Downtown" as it was referred to was anchored at Hamilton and 9th by Hess's, on Hamilton and 7th by H. Leh and Company and on 6th and Hamilton by the department stores of Zollinger and Harned. There were various retail stores along Hamilton Street as well as several lunch counters, restaurants, big banks and movie theatres.
The Mayfair Festival of the Arts was established during 1986 in order to help promote the arts and crafts in the area. The event is now held annually during May at Cedar Beach Park. The Great Allentown Fair is held during early September of every year on the Allentown Fairgrounds. This event has been celebrated since the year 1889. In 1852, the first Allentown Fair was hosted. This fair was held at the "Old Allentown Fairgrounds" between 1852 and 1899. The grounds were situated between 6th and 5th Streets north of Liberty Street. In addition, each year, the J. Birney Crum Stadium plays host to the Collegiate Marching Band Festival as well as other competitions. This Festival has been another local event ever since 1995.