The New Student's Reference Work/Allentown, Pa.

Allentown, Pa., the county seat of Lehigh County, was incorporated as a borough in 1826. It is situated at the junction of the Big and Little Lehigh Rivers. It has excellent natural drainage and is located in a rich agricultural district. It originally was known as Northampton. It was named Allentown in honor of James Allen, who at one time owned the greater part of the land on which it is built. There are several beautiful springs near Allentown, which are justly admired by all who have seen them.

Allentown has excellent railroad facilities, and its trolley lines, radiating in every direction, make it easy of approach from all sides. Its proximity to the cement and slate regions of the county furnishes employment to many of its people, Owing to the depreciation of blast furnaces in the east, these have been supplanted by the wire mill, furniture and shoe factories, silk and jute mills and other industries. It has a school population of over 5,000, and is also the seat of Muhlenburg College and the Allentown College for Women. It has a population (1910) of 51,913.