Lehigh County, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lehigh County
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|
Old Lehigh County Courthouse in Allentown, built between 1814 and 1819
|
|||
|
|||
Location within the U.S. state of Pennsylvania
|
|||
 Pennsylvania's location within the U.S. |
|||
| Country |  United States |
||
| State |  Pennsylvania |
||
| Founded | March 6, 1812 | ||
| Named for | Lehigh River | ||
| Seat | Allentown | ||
| Largest city | Allentown | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 348 sq mi (900 km2) | ||
| • Land | 345 sq mi (890 km2) | ||
| • Water | 3.1 sq mi (8 km2) 0.9%% | ||
| Population
(2020)
|
|||
| • Total | 374,557 | ||
| • Density | 1,046/sq mi (404/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | ||
| Congressional district | 7th | ||
Lehigh County is a county in the state of Pennsylvania. It is home to over 374,000 people, based on the 2020 census. The main city and county seat is Allentown. This is Pennsylvania's third-largest city.
Lehigh County is part of the Lehigh Valley region. This area also includes Northampton County. Together, they form Pennsylvania's third-largest metropolitan area. Lehigh County is growing fast and has more people than Northampton County. Both counties are part of the Philadelphia television market. This is the fourth-largest TV market in the United States.
The county gets its name from the Lehigh River. This river is about 109 miles (175 km) long. It flows into the Delaware River. Long ago, during the Industrial Revolution, the Lehigh River was very important. It helped transport coal, iron, and steel products. This helped the country grow a lot.
Lehigh County is located between two mountain ranges. These are part of the Appalachian Mountains. Blue Mountain is to the north. South Mountain is to the south. The county shares borders with several other counties. These include Montgomery, Bucks, Northampton, Carbon, Schuylkill, and Berks counties. It is about 64 miles (103 km) northwest of Philadelphia. It is also about 93 miles (150 km) west of New York City.
Contents
History of Lehigh County
How Lehigh County Started
Lehigh County was first settled around 1730. It became its own county in 1812. Before that, it was part of Northampton County. The county is named after the Lehigh River. The river's name comes from a Lenape Indian word. It means "where there are forks."
One of the oldest buildings in the area is the Shelter House. It was built in Emmaus in 1734. German settlers built it. It is still used today.
The American Revolution
Lehigh County played a part in the American Revolutionary War. People here started to resist British rule early on. In 1774, they formed a "Committee of Observations." This group helped organize local patriots.
After the Declaration of Independence, local militias pushed out people who supported the British. The colonial government in the area began to fall apart.
A famous event happened in 1777. After a battle, Philadelphia was in danger. The government ordered important bells from Philadelphia to be moved. This included the Liberty Bell. They were hidden in the basement of Zion Reformed Church in Allentown. This kept them safe from the British Army.
The Industrial Revolution
The opening of the Lehigh Canal in 1827 changed Allentown and Lehigh County a lot. It helped the area grow from farms to factories. The canal made it easier to transport goods. Lehigh County became a major center for heavy industry. It was an important part of the Industrial Revolution.
The American Civil War
When the American Civil War began in 1861, people from Allentown volunteered. They formed a unit called the Allen Infantry. Many people from Lehigh County joined the Union Army. About 70% of the 47th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment came from here.
In 1899, the Soldiers and Sailors Monument was built in Allentown. It honors the men from Lehigh County who fought and died to save the Union.
Geography and Climate
Lehigh County covers about 348 square miles (901 square km). Most of this is land. Only a small part is water.
Mountains and Rivers
Lehigh County is surrounded by two mountain ridges. To the north is Blue Mountain. It is about 1,300 to 1,604 feet (396 to 489 meters) high. To the south is South Mountain. It is about 700 to 1,100 feet (213 to 335 meters) high. The highest point in Lehigh County is near Germansville. It is called Bake Oven Knob.
Most of the county's water flows into the Lehigh River. The Lehigh River then flows into the Delaware River. Some southern parts of the county also drain into the Schuylkill River.
Neighboring Counties
Lehigh County borders these other counties:
- Carbon County (north)
- Northampton County (east)
- Bucks County (southeast)
- Montgomery County (south)
- Berks County (west)
- Schuylkill County (west)
Weather in Lehigh County
Lehigh County has a humid continental climate. This means it has four distinct seasons. Summers are usually hot and humid. Fall and spring are mild. Winters are cold. Rain and snow are spread out throughout the year.
In Allentown, January is the coldest month. Temperatures average around 30.1°F (-1.1°C). July is the warmest month. Temperatures average around 75.6°F (24.2°C). The county gets about 33 inches (84 cm) of snow each year. January and February get the most snow. The average rainfall is about 47 inches (120 cm) per year.
| Climate data for Allentown, Pennsylvania (Lehigh Valley International Airport) 1991-2020 normals (Records x-2021) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 72 (22) |
81 (27) |
87 (31) |
93 (34) |
97 (36) |
100 (38) |
105 (41) |
100 (38) |
99 (37) |
93 (34) |
81 (27) |
72 (22) |
105 (41) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 38.4 (3.6) |
41.6 (5.3) |
50.8 (10.4) |
63.4 (17.4) |
73.5 (23.1) |
81.9 (27.7) |
86.4 (30.2) |
84.3 (29.1) |
77.4 (25.2) |
65.5 (18.6) |
53.8 (12.1) |
43.1 (6.2) |
63.3 (17.4) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 30.1 (−1.1) |
32.4 (0.2) |
40.7 (4.8) |
51.8 (11.0) |
62.0 (16.7) |
70.9 (21.6) |
75.6 (24.2) |
73.6 (23.1) |
66.3 (19.1) |
54.6 (12.6) |
43.9 (6.6) |
35.0 (1.7) |
53.1 (11.7) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 21.8 (−5.7) |
23.2 (−4.9) |
30.5 (−0.8) |
40.3 (4.6) |
50.6 (10.3) |
59.9 (15.5) |
64.7 (18.2) |
62.8 (17.1) |
55.2 (12.9) |
43.8 (6.6) |
34.1 (1.2) |
26.8 (−2.9) |
42.8 (6.0) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −15 (−26) |
−12 (−24) |
−5 (−21) |
12 (−11) |
28 (−2) |
39 (4) |
46 (8) |
41 (5) |
30 (−1) |
21 (−6) |
3 (−16) |
−8 (−22) |
−15 (−26) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 3.30 (84) |
2.77 (70) |
3.63 (92) |
3.67 (93) |
3.65 (93) |
4.40 (112) |
5.30 (135) |
4.56 (116) |
4.84 (123) |
4.14 (105) |
3.24 (82) |
3.86 (98) |
47.36 (1,203) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 9.8 (25) |
10.8 (27) |
6.3 (16) |
0.5 (1.3) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.2 (0.51) |
0.9 (2.3) |
4.6 (12) |
33.1 (84) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 11 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 12 | 129 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 5 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 16 |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
People of Lehigh County
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1820 | 18,895 | — | |
| 1830 | 22,256 | 17.8% | |
| 1840 | 25,787 | 15.9% | |
| 1850 | 32,479 | 26.0% | |
| 1860 | 43,753 | 34.7% | |
| 1870 | 56,796 | 29.8% | |
| 1880 | 65,969 | 16.2% | |
| 1890 | 76,631 | 16.2% | |
| 1900 | 93,893 | 22.5% | |
| 1910 | 118,832 | 26.6% | |
| 1920 | 148,101 | 24.6% | |
| 1930 | 172,893 | 16.7% | |
| 1940 | 177,533 | 2.7% | |
| 1950 | 198,207 | 11.6% | |
| 1960 | 227,536 | 14.8% | |
| 1970 | 255,304 | 12.2% | |
| 1980 | 272,349 | 6.7% | |
| 1990 | 291,130 | 6.9% | |
| 2000 | 312,090 | 7.2% | |
| 2010 | 349,497 | 12.0% | |
| 2020 | 374,557 | 7.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2019 |
|||
In 2020, Lehigh County had 374,557 people. This was a 7.2% increase since 2010. The county is one of the fastest-growing in Pennsylvania.
The population is made up of different groups. About 60.8% are White. About 26% are Hispanic or Latino. About 6.12% are Black or African American. About 3.66% are Asian. Other groups make up the rest.
Education in Lehigh County
.JPG)
Lehigh County has many schools and colleges. Students can choose from different types of education.
Colleges and Universities
- Cedar Crest College in Allentown
- DeSales University in Center Valley
- Muhlenberg College in Allentown
- Penn State Lehigh Valley in Center Valley
Two-Year Colleges and Technical Schools
- Baum School of Art in Allentown
- Lehigh Carbon Community College in Schnecksville (main campus) and Allentown (satellite campus)
- Lincoln Tech in Allentown
Public School Districts
Here are some of the public school districts in Lehigh County:
- Allentown School District (includes William Allen High School and Louis E. Dieruff High School)
- Bethlehem Area School District
- Catasauqua Area School District (includes Catasauqua High School)
- East Penn School District (includes Emmaus High School)
- Northern Lehigh School District (includes Northern Lehigh High School)
- Northwestern Lehigh School District
- Parkland School District (includes Parkland High School)
- Salisbury Township School District (includes Salisbury High School)
- Southern Lehigh School District (includes Southern Lehigh High School)
- Whitehall-Coplay School District (includes Whitehall High School)
Other Schools
- Public Charter Schools: Lincoln Leadership Academy Charter School and Roberto Clemente Charter School in Allentown.
- Private High Schools: Allentown Central Catholic High School in Allentown and Salem Christian School in Macungie.
- Vocational High School: Lehigh Career and Technical Institute in Schnecksville.
Getting Around Lehigh County
Air Travel
.JPG)
Lehigh County has two airports. Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE) is the main airport for commercial flights. It is in Hanover Township. There is also Allentown Queen City Municipal Airport. This airport is mostly for private planes.
Bus Service
Public bus service is provided by LANta. You can also take private bus lines. These buses go from Allentown to places like New York City, Philadelphia, and Atlantic City.
Major Roads
Many important highways run through Lehigh County:
I-78
I-476 / Penna Turnpike NE Extension
US 22
US 222
PA 29
PA 100
PA 143
PA 145
PA 222
PA 309
PA 329
PA 378
PA 863
PA 873
PA 987- Cedar Crest Boulevard
- Lehigh Street
- Tilghman Street
Media and Communication
Newspapers
You can read about Lehigh County in these newspapers: The Morning Call (Allentown), The Express-Times (Easton), and The Times News (Lehighton).
Radio and Television
Lehigh County has its own radio stations. Some major stations from New York City and Philadelphia can also be heard.
For television, Lehigh County is part of the Philadelphia TV market. This is one of the biggest in the country. Three TV stations are based in the county: WBPH-TV Channel 60, WLVT Channel 39 (PBS), and WFMZ Channel 69 (an independent station). You can also watch major network channels from Philadelphia, New York City, and Scranton-Wilkes-Barre.
Phone Service
Lehigh County uses several phone area codes. These include 610 and 484. A new area code, 835, might be added in the future.
Fun Things to Do in Lehigh County
Lehigh County offers many fun activities and places to visit.
Amusement Parks
Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom is a large amusement and water park. It is located in South Whitehall Township. It is open from May to October.
Fairs and Festivals
The Great Allentown Fair is a huge annual fair. It takes place at the Allentown Fairgrounds in late August and early September. The Mayfair Festival of the Arts is another yearly event. It celebrates art and is held at Cedar Crest College in May.
Golf Courses
If you like golf, Lehigh County has many courses. Some popular ones include Brookside Country Club, Lehigh Country Club, and Saucon Valley Country Club.
Museums and History
The county has several interesting museums:
- Allentown Art Museum
- America on Wheels (about transportation)
- Da Vinci Science Center (hands-on science fun)
- Lehigh County Historical Society at Trout Hall
- Museum of Indian Culture
Parks and Zoo
Lehigh County has many public parks.
- Lehigh Parkway in Allentown is a large park along Little Lehigh Creek.
- Lock Ridge Park in Alburtis has the Lock Ridge Furnace Museum.
- Trexler Nature Preserve in North Whitehall Township is a big park with the Lehigh Valley Zoo.
- Whitehall Parkway in Whitehall Township connects to the Ironton Rail Trail.
Communities in Lehigh County
Lehigh County has different types of towns and areas. These include cities, boroughs, and townships.
Cities
- Allentown (This is the county seat, where the main county offices are.)
- Bethlehem (Most of this city is in Northampton County.)
Boroughs
Townships
- Hanover Township
- Heidelberg Township
- Lower Macungie Township
- Lower Milford Township
- Lowhill Township
- Lynn Township
- North Whitehall Township
- Salisbury Township
- South Whitehall Township
- Upper Macungie Township
- Upper Milford Township
- Upper Saucon Township
- Washington Township
- Weisenberg Township
- Whitehall Township
Census-Designated Places (CDPs)
These are areas the U.S. Census Bureau uses for data. They are not official towns under Pennsylvania law.
- Ancient Oaks
- Breinigsville
- Cementon
- Cetronia
- DeSales University
- Dorneyville
- Egypt
- Fullerton
- Hokendauqua
- Laurys Station
- New Tripoli
- Schnecksville
- Slatedale
- Stiles
- Trexlertown
- Wescosville
Other Communities
These are smaller, unincorporated communities.
- Balliettsville
- Best Station
- Center Valley
- Colesville
- Eagle Point
- East Texas
- Emerald
- Fogelsville
- Friedensville
- Gauff Hill
- Germansville
- Hensingersville
- Hosensack
- Ironton
- Jacksonville
- Kuhnsville
- Lanark
- Limeport
- Locust Valley
- Lynnport
- Mickleys
- Neffs
- New Smithville
- Old Zionsville
- Orefield
- Pleasant Corners
- Powder Valley
- Scherersville
- Schoenersville
- Shimerville
- Sigmund
- Summit Lawn
- Vera Cruz
- Walbert
- Wanamakers
- Werleys Corner
- West Catasauqua
- Zionsville
Largest Communities by Population
Here are the largest cities, townships, boroughs, and CDPs in Lehigh County, based on the 2020 Census:
† county seat
| Rank | City/Town/etc. | Municipal type | Population (2020 Census) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | † Allentown | City | 125,845 |
| 2 | Bethlehem (mostly in Northampton County) | City | 74,982 |
| 4 | Emmaus | Borough | 11,652 |
| 5 | Ancient Oaks | CDP | 6,995 |
| 6 | Catasauqua | Borough | 6,518 |
| 7 | Wescosville | CDP | 6,039 |
| 8 | Fountain Hill | Borough | 4,878 |
| 9 | Dorneyville | CDP | 4,406 |
| 10 | Slatington | Borough | 4,232 |
| 11 | Breinigsville | CDP | 4,138 |
| 13 | Coplay | Borough | 3,192 |
| 14 | Macungie | Borough | 3,074 |
| 15 | Schnecksville | CDP | 2,935 |
| 17 | Coopersburg | Borough | 2,386 |
| 18 | Alburtis | Borough | 2,361 |
| 19 | Cetronia | CDP | 2,115 |
| 20 | Trexlertown | CDP | 1,988 |
| 22 | Laurys Station | CDP | 1,243 |
| 24 | DeSales University | CDP | 953 |
| 25 | New Tripoli | CDP | 898 |
| 26 | Slatedale | CDP | 455 |
Famous People from Lehigh County
Lehigh County has been home to many well-known people, including:
- Chuck Bednarik: A famous football player for the Philadelphia Eagles. He is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
- Michaela Conlin: An actress known for the TV show Bones.
- Todd Howard: A video game designer for Bethesda Softworks.
- Lee Iacocca: A former president and CEO of Chrysler.
- Keith Jarrett: A famous jazz musician.
- Carson Kressley: An Emmy-winning fashion designer from Queer Eye.
- Andre Reed: A former football player for the Buffalo Bills. He is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
- Amanda Seyfried: An actress known for movies like Mamma Mia! and Les Misérables.
- Christine Taylor: An actress and wife of actor Ben Stiller.
- Lauren Weisberger: The author of The Devil Wears Prada.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Lehigh para niños
