Economy of Allentown, Pennsylvania facts for kids

Allentown, the largest city in the Lehigh Valley, is in Pennsylvania.

Allentown, Pennsylvania is a big city in the eastern part of Pennsylvania. It's known for being the home of many important companies. Some of these companies, like Air Products and PPL Corporation, have their main offices here. The biggest employer in the area is Lehigh Valley Health Network, which provides many jobs.

What Makes Allentown Special?

Allentown has grown a lot over the years. It used to be known for its factories, but now it's a busy place with lots of different businesses and fun things to do.

Sports and Entertainment

Allentown is a great place for sports fans! Two professional sports teams have made their home here:

• The Lehigh Valley Phantoms: This is a hockey team that plays in the PPL Center. They are a development team for the Philadelphia Flyers, a famous team in the National Hockey League. The PPL Center also hosts big concerts and other exciting events.
• The Lehigh Valley IronPigs: This baseball team plays at Coca-Cola Park. They are a minor league team for the Philadelphia Phillies, a major league baseball team. You can catch a game and enjoy the fun atmosphere!

Art and Learning

Allentown also has a strong focus on art and education.

• The Allentown Art Museum is a popular spot. It has many amazing artworks and recently got bigger with a new expansion.
• The Baum School of Art is the main art school in the city. It helps young artists learn and grow.
• Several colleges, like Cedar Crest College and Muhlenberg College, bring students and teachers from all over the country to Allentown.

Where to Shop in Allentown

If you love to shop, Allentown and its nearby towns have many options. You can find several shopping malls, including:

• Lehigh Valley Mall: This is the biggest mall in the area.
• Whitehall Mall: Another large mall located nearby.
• South Mall: This mall is on Lehigh Street.
• The Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley: This outdoor shopping center offers a different kind of shopping experience.

Companies in the Allentown Area

Many important companies have their main offices or big operations in Allentown and the surrounding Lehigh Valley area. These companies provide many jobs and help the local economy.

• Air Products (in Trexlertown)
• Buckeye Partners (U.S. headquarters in Breinigsville)
• Crayola (in Easton)
• Just Born (in Bethlehem)
• Lehigh Valley Hospital–Cedar Crest (in Allentown)
• Norfolk Southern Railway
• Olympus (U.S. headquarters in Center Valley)
• PPL Corporation (in Allentown)
• HNL Lab Medicine (in Allentown)

Companies That Used to Be Here

Some well-known companies that once had their headquarters or major operations in the Allentown area include:

• Bethlehem Steel: This was a very large steel company.
• Hess's: A department store that was popular for many years.
• Mack Trucks: A famous truck manufacturing company.

Images for kids

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  The global headquarters of Air Products, a big company located near Allentown.

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  The main office of PPL Corporation in Center City Allentown.

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  Bethlehem Steel was once a huge steel company in the Lehigh Valley.

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  South Mall, one of the shopping centers near Allentown.