Overview
Located on the Lehigh River, Allentown is the largest of three adjacent cities that make up a region of eastern Pennsylvania and western New Jersey known as the Lehigh Valley. Allentown is 60 miles (97 km) north of Philadelphia, the fifth most populous city in the United States, 80 miles (130 km) east of Harrisburg, the state capital, and 90 miles (140 km) west of New York City, the nation's largest city.
Two four-year colleges, Cedar Crest College and Muhlenberg College, are located in Allentown. Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom, a very popular amusement park, is located just outside of the city.
Commercial airline service to and from the city is available through Lehigh Valley International Airport (LVIA). General aviation and charter service is offered by LVIA and Allentown Queen City Municipal Airport.
The city is connected to the Interstate Highway System by Interstate 78 and Interstate 476, the Northeast Extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, which provide access connections to other major Northeastern United States urban areas. Also U.S. Route 22, the Lehigh Valley Thruway, provides a limited access east-west highway connection to the Interstate Highway System to the northern parts of the city. Commuter train service between Allentown and Philadelphia ended in 1979 when state funding to operate the service ceased.
Allentown is a two-time winner of the All-America City Award, being recognized in 1962 and 1974–1975. Allentown was named the 12th most conservative city in America by the non-partisan Bay Area Center.
Read more about this topic: Allentown, Pennsylvania