Allentown is the third most populous city in Pennsylvania and the county seat of Lehigh County. It is located in the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania. As of 2021, Allentown had an estimated population of 121,104 residents.
Population and Demographics
The population of Allentown has grown over the past several decades. Here is a look at the historical population data for the city (source: Wikipedia):
- 1970 census: 109,756 residents
- 1980 census: 106,643 residents
- 1990 census: 105,090 residents
- 2000 census: 106,632 residents
- 2010 census: 118,032 residents
- 2020 census: 121,283 residents
The racial makeup of Allentown is quite diverse. According to the 2020 census, the racial composition of the city was:
- White: 54.5%
- Black or African American: 19.1%
- Asian: 3.5%
- Two or more races: 3.3%
- Other race: 17.4%
- Hispanic or Latino of any race: 54.2%
In terms of age, the 2019 American Community Survey showed that 24.8% of Allentown residents were under 18 years old and 17.3% were aged 65 or older.
Economy and Major Employers
Historically, Allentown’s economy was based heavily on manufacturing, due to its proximity to iron ore, limestone and coal. While manufacturing is still an important sector, the economy has diversified over the past few decades.
According to the city’s website, some of the major industries in Allentown today include:
- Health care
- Finance and insurance
- Professional and technical services
- Warehousing and transportation
- Information technology
- Food and beverage processing
- Manufacturing
Some of the largest employers in Allentown include:
- Lehigh Valley Health Network (14,000 employees)
- Amazon (4,500 employees)
- Air Products (3,400 employees)
- Lehigh County and Lehigh County School District (2,795 employees)
- Penske Logistics (2,000 employees)
The unemployment rate in Allentown as of June 2022 was 5.1%, slightly lower than the national rate of 5.5% (source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Landmarks and Attractions
Some of the most famous landmarks and attractions in Allentown include:
- Allentown Art Museum – Founded in 1959, this art museum houses over 16,000 works of art.
- The America On Wheels Museum – Dedicated to the history of over-the-road transportation in America.
- Da Vinci Science Center – Science center with interactive exhibits and activities.
- Miller Symphony Hall – Historic theater that hosts concerts and other performances.
- PPL Center – Multi-purpose indoor arena that is home to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms minor league hockey team.
Sports
In addition to being home to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms hockey team, Allentown hosted the Philadelphia Eagles NFL team for preseason training camp from 1951 to 1967 at Muhlenberg College. The camp drew thousands of fans each August from across eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
The city also has a long history with baseball. From 1884 to 1961, Allentown was home to several minor league baseball teams. Today, the Allentown Railers Baseball Club plays collegiate summer baseball at Allentown’s Bicentennial Park.
For youth sports, the Allentown Soccer Association offers soccer leagues and camps. The Allentown Youth Baseball Association provides T-ball, baseball, and softball programs.
About the City
Allentown has a council-manager form of government. The current mayor is Matt Tuerk, and the current City Manager is Leonard Lightner.
Residents and visitors can keep up with news and events happening in the city via the City of Allentown Facebook page and Twitter account.
To learn more about visiting, living in, or doing business in Allentown, check out the official city website.