Culture of Allentown, Pennsylvania facts for kids
The culture of Allentown, Pennsylvania has a long history, starting in the early 1700s. Back then, German immigrants settled the area, looking for religious freedom and good farmland. These settlers were mostly Protestant Christians, like Lutherans and Moravians. Before they arrived, the Lenape Native American tribe lived here, speaking the Unami language.
Later, in the 1800s and early 1900s, Allentown became a major manufacturing center. This brought more German and other European immigrants. They came for jobs in industries like coal mining, iron ore, steel, and railroad building. In recent times, many Hispanic people, especially from Puerto Rico, have moved to Allentown, making the city even more diverse.
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Allentown's History
Allentown has played an important part in America's past.
American Revolution
During the American Revolutionary War, Allentown was a strong supporter of the American cause. From September 1777 to June 1778, the famous Liberty Bell was hidden in Allentown's Zion Reformed Church. This was done to keep it safe from the British army, who had taken over Philadelphia.
American Civil War
Allentown also played a key role in the American Civil War. The city's 47th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment was a brave and effective fighting unit for the Union Army. They helped the Union win important battles after the war began in April 1861.
Industrial Revolution
In the early 1800s, Allentown helped kick off the Industrial Revolution in the United States. The city became a major center for mining and manufacturing. The Lehigh Canal was very important. It allowed boats to carry coal, iron ore, and steel from Allentown to big markets like New York City and Philadelphia. This made Allentown a busy industrial hub for many years. However, by the late 1900s, changes in trade and manufacturing caused many local industries to shrink or close.
Immigration to Allentown
People continued to move to Allentown throughout the 1800s and 1900s. After the first German settlers, waves of Italians and Asians arrived. More recently, many Hispanic people, especially Puerto Ricans, have moved to the city. They now make up a large part of Allentown's population.
According to the 2010 census, Allentown's population was about 43% White (non-Hispanic), 43% Hispanic, 12% Black, and 2% Asian.
Allentown's "Rust Belt" Image
In the late 1900s and early 2000s, Allentown became known as a "Rust Belt" city. This term describes older industrial cities that faced economic challenges. Allentown's image as a tough, industrial city has been shown in many movies, TV shows, and songs around the world.
Media in Allentown
Allentown has its own newspapers, websites, radio, and TV stations. It's part of the Philadelphia television market, which is one of the biggest in North America.
WFMZ-TV Channel 69 is based in Allentown. WLVT-TV, also in Allentown, is the local PBS station, offering educational programs. Major TV stations from Philadelphia also serve Allentown, including KYW-TV (CBS), WCAU (NBC), WPVI-TV, and WTXF-TV (Fox).
Allentown has two daily newspapers: The Morning Call and The Express-Times. There are also many weekly and monthly magazines.
Allentown is a significant radio market. Stations licensed to Allentown include WAEB-AM (talk radio, news, and sports), WAEB-FM (Top 40 music), WDIY (NPR and public radio), WLEV (adult contemporary music), WMUH (Muhlenberg College radio), WSAN (sports radio), and WZZO (hard rock music). You can also hear most major radio stations from New York City and Philadelphia in Allentown.
Fun Things to Do in Allentown
Amusement Parks and Zoos
Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom is the main amusement park in the area, offering thrilling rides and a water park. For animal lovers, there's the Lehigh Valley Zoo and the Trexler Nature Preserve. The William F. Curtis Arboretum is a beautiful place to see many different kinds of trees and plants.
Annual Events
The Great Allentown Fair is a very old fair, held every year since 1852. It takes place in late August and early September. The Mayfair Festival of the Arts is an art festival held each May at Cedar Crest College. Musikfest, the largest free music festival in the country, happens every August in nearby Bethlehem. Das Awkscht Fescht, a huge antique and classic car show, is held in early August in nearby Macungie.
Other events include the Lehigh Valley Spring Home Show and the Lehigh Valley Auto Show, both held in March. Drum Corps International competitions, featuring top drum and bugle corps from around the world, have been held in Allentown for over thirty years.
Art in Allentown
Allentown Art Museum, founded in 1934, is the city's main art museum. The Baum School of Art, started in 1926, is a leading art school in Center City Allentown.
The city has worked to reduce graffiti by painting murals in parks and other areas. They also offer rewards for information about people who deface buildings.
Allentown's Food Scene
Allentown's food is a mix of influences from the Pennsylvania Dutch, Hispanic and Latino Americans, and Philadelphia. You can find a local version of the Philly cheesesteak and unique pizza places. Pennsylvania Dutch foods, like head cheese, liver pudding, and apple butter, are available at some local diners.
You can also find many types of international food, including Dominican, Puerto Rican, West Indian, Japanese, Italian, Lebanese, and Syrian dishes. Fast food and restaurant chains are also common. A famous local hot dog chain, Yocco's Hot Dogs, started in 1922 and still has several locations in and around Allentown.
Golf Courses
Allentown and its surrounding areas have several golf courses. Saucon Valley Country Club in Upper Saucon Township hosted a major golf tournament, the 2009 U.S. Women's Open. Allentown also has a good city-run golf course, Allentown Municipal Golf Course. Other courses include Brookside Country Club, Lehigh Country Club, and Wedgewood Golf Course.
Museums to Explore
Allentown is home to many interesting museums:
- Allentown Art Museum: Focuses on art.
- America On Wheels: Features automotive transportation.
- Da Vinci Science Center: A hands-on science museum.
- George Taylor House: A historic house.
- Lehigh Valley Heritage Museum: Explores local history.
- Liberty Bell Museum: Tells the story of the Liberty Bell.
- Mack Trucks Historical Museum: Showcases the history of Mack Trucks.
- Museum of Indian Culture: Focuses on Native American culture.
- Trout Hall: Another historic house.
Music in Allentown
Rock, Hip Hop, and Punk Music
Allentown has a history of producing successful music artists and groups. Many famous rock and hip hop artists have performed at Allentown nightclubs, including Hollywood Undead, Pitbull, and Fabolous.
Allentown has a large radio market with many music genres. You can also listen to most major radio stations from Philadelphia and New York City.
Symphony and Bands
The Allentown Symphony Orchestra performs at Miller Symphony Hall in Center City Allentown. The city also has several community bands that play at West Park and other locations. These include the Allentown Band, which is the oldest civilian concert band in the United States, the Marine Band of Allentown, and the Municipal Band of Allentown.
Youth Education in the Arts (YEA) is based in Allentown. They support The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps, a ten-time world champion drum and bugle corps, and other music and arts programs.
Shopping Areas
Allentown and its suburbs have many places to shop, including large indoor malls and outdoor shopping centers. Some popular spots are Lehigh Valley Mall in Whitehall Township, South Mall in Salisbury Township, and The Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley in Center Valley.
Allentown in Popular Culture
Allentown's image as a tough, working-class city has led to it being mentioned in many movies, TV shows, and songs.
- Parts of the 2019 movie Glass were filmed in Allentown.
- The indie rock band Say Anything mentions Allentown in their song "Fed to Death."
- In the 2008 movie The Wrestler, Allentown is mentioned by the main character.
- A scene from the HBO series The Sopranos was filmed near Allentown.
- The TV production company Medstar Television, which makes Medical Detectives and Forensic Files, is based in Allentown. They often use city locations for their shows.
- Portions of the 1988 movie Hairspray were filmed at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom and other Allentown spots.
- The city is the subject of the famous Billy Joel song, "Allentown" (1982). The song uses Allentown to represent the strength of working-class Americans during tough economic times.
- In The X-Files TV series, the character Dana Scully visits Allentown in the episodes "Nisei" and "Memento mori."
- Allentown is mentioned as the secret location of a bomb in Frank Miller's comic book series, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns (1986).
- In the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical 42nd Street (1980), the main character Peggy Sawyer is from Allentown.
- Hiding The Bell (1968), a historical novel, tells the story of the Liberty Bell being hidden in Allentown during the American Revolution.
- Allentown was the subject of the 1963 song "Allentown Jail," recorded by several artists.
- In the 1960 musical Bye Bye Birdie, a character named Rosie Alvarez sings that she is from Allentown, Pennsylvania.
- Allentown was mentioned in the song "200 Years Old" on the 1975 Frank Zappa album Bongo Fury.
- Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom is featured in the 1968 movie Where Angels Go, Trouble Follows.
- Exterior shots of Allentown's PPL Building are shown in the 1954 movie Executive Suite.
Images for kids
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A street mural at Gordon Street and American Parkway
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Da Vinci Science Center at Cedar Crest College
