Living in the Lehigh Valley

On a map you can find the Lehigh Valley in Eastern Pennsylvania. But what you won’t find is all the little pieces that come together to make the Lehigh Valley a wonderful place to live and work.

What Makes Up the Lehigh Valley?

The Lehigh Valley sits approximately 60 miles north of Philadelphia and 80 miles west of New York City making it an ideal location for many businesses. The area is part of the Great Appalachian Valley. And yes, it is actually a valley - the Lehigh Valley is flanked by Blue Mountain and South Mountain to the north and south. The area is also considered a part of Pennsylvania Dutch Country.

The main metropolitan areas are the cities of Easton, Allentown and Bethlehem. As of 2010 the Lehigh Valley was home to more than 820,000 residents.

Transportation 

The Lehigh Valley is exceptionally accessible. The area is easy to get to by car but also has constant bus traffic coming from Philadelphia and New York City making city-trips easy. There is also the Lehigh Valley International Airport located northeast of Allentown.

Industry

The largest industry in the Lehigh Valley is healthcare with one of the state’s largest hospital networks, the Lehigh Valley Health Network, employing more than 18,000 people.

Historically the Lehigh Valley was home to booming steel and coal production and was a major manufacturing hub. Though that has waned since the turn of the century, the area has pivoted to other industries. Currently companies like Mack Trucks, Air Products & Chemicals Inc. and Olympus Corp. all have a major manufacturing presence in the Lehigh Valley.

Recreation

There’s lots to do in the Lehigh Valley! The more popular recreational areas include Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom, Wind Creek Bethlehem, ArtsQuest and the Pocono Mountains. You can also find some family fun like Hershey Park and Six Flags only a short drive away!

There are also dozens of trails, parks and golf courses in and around the Lehigh Valley for avid outdoorsmen.

Education

The Lehigh Valley is home to numerous public and private schools but what makes it stand out is the higher education choices. A few of the colleges and Universities include DeSales University, Lafayette College, Lehigh University, and Cedar Crest College.

The area also has a good selection of community colleges like Lehigh Carbon Community College and Northampton Community College.

Athletics 

If you are looking for local sports you have come to the right place. Several minor league sports teams have home arenas in Allentown including the IronPigs AAA baseball team and the Lehigh Phantoms AHL hockey team. Both teams are affiliated with professional sports teams the Phillies and Flyers respectively.

The Lehigh Valley is also home to Valley Preferred Cycling Center, a nation-leading center for professional cycling development.

Entertainment

If you want to watch a show or a sports game you will probably find yourself at either PPL Center or Stabler Arena. Both venues host events like concerts and athletics year-round. 

No matter what you enjoy, the Lehigh Valley has something for everyone.