74-513: The Historic Moravian Bethlehem Historic District encompasses a complex of the oldest surviving buildings in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania . The National Historic Landmark District is a subset of the larger Central Bethlehem Historic District which is specifically focused on the early buildings constructed by the Moravians , who settled the city in the 18th century. The district was designated
148-599: A National Historic Landmark in 2012 for its historical assemblage of communal religious buildings and history. In 2016, it was named to the U.S. Tentative List for nomination to the World Heritage List . In 2024, it became a World Heritage Site, together with other Moravian church settlements in Denmark , Germany , and the United Kingdom . The Historic Moravian Bethlehem Historic District occupies
222-538: A humid continental climate ( Dfa ). Summers are typically hot and humid, fall and spring are generally mild, and winter is cold. Precipitation is distributed fairly uniformly throughout the year, with thunderstorms in the summer, showers in spring and fall, and snow in winter. The average high temperature varies widely, from 37 °F (3 °C) in January to 85 °F (29 °C) in July. The highest recorded temperature
296-700: A rugby union team founded in 1998, play their home matches at Monocacy Park. Bethlehem Steel FC , a United Soccer League team founded in 2015, played at Goodman Stadium at Lehigh University , until 2019, when it moved to Subaru Park in Chester, Pennsylvania after concerns about Goodman Stadium's lighting deficiencies went unaddressed. The Lehigh Valley Steelhawks , a former Professional Indoor Football League , played home games at Stabler Arena in Bethlehem until they moved to Allentown in 2014. Northampton County, Pennsylvania Northampton County
370-484: A chapel. The next addition that was made was the last addition made to the building. The addition included a building that was raised above the building on a basement and it was the first time that architectural detail was included in a Moravian building. The Single Sisters' House is located on West Church Street near the Bethlehem Public Library. The Single Brethens' House was a building that served
444-400: A county executive, a nine-person county council, a county controller, and a county district attorney. The executive, controller, district attorney, and five of the nine council members are elected at large by all voters in the county. The other four members of the county council are elected from single-member districts , which they represent. This weighted structure of county government favors
518-621: A discontiguous 14.7-acre (5.9 ha) area of central Bethlehem. Its central core consists of the Moravian Museum of Bethlehem and adjacent properties, located at Main and West Church Streets east of Monocacy Creek , which is a tributary of the Lehigh River in Northampton County . The museum property includes a connected series of 18th-century stone buildings which includes the 1744-1772 Single Sisters' House and
592-414: A failed proposed merger between Northampton Heights and Hellertown to make a rival city. With the annexation of Hottlesville , Macada , Altonah , and Shimersville , Bethlehem's present borders were established. According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 19.4 square miles (50 km ), of which 19.3 square miles (50 km ) is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km ) (0.88%)
666-471: A female householder with no husband present, and 39.2% were non-families. 32.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.95. In the city, the population was spread out, with 21.0% under the age of 18, 14.4% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 20.1% from 45 to 64, and 17.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age
740-410: A few minutes after polls closed in the county in 2019, panic began to spread through the county's election offices as it became evident that vote totals in one judge's race showed one candidate, Abe Kassis, a Democrat , had received just 164 votes out of 55,000 ballots across more than the 100 precincts in the county; Some precinct machines reported zero votes for him. The ES&S voting system, which
814-478: A little Dfb in higher northern areas) and the hardiness zone is 7a except in the northern iier where it is 6b. Average monthly temperatures in downtown Bethlehem average from 29.1 °F in January to 74.1 °F in July, while in Wind Gap they average from 27.0 °F in January to 71.7 °F in July. As of the 2020 census , the county's population was 312,951, reflecting growth of 5.1% over 2010. As of
SECTION 10
#1732801570324888-474: A long historical relationship with the celebration of Christmas . The city was christened as Bethlehem on Christmas Eve 1741 by Nicolaus Zinzendorf , a Moravian bishop. In 1747, Bethlehem was the first U.S. city to feature a decorated Christmas tree . On December 7, 1937, at a grand ceremony during the Great Depression , the city adopted the nickname Christmas City USA in a large ceremony. It
962-412: A major supplier of armor plate and ordnance products during World War I and World War II. After roughly 140 years of metal production at its Bethlehem plant, Bethlehem Steel ceased operations there in 1995, in the face of overseas competition and declining demand, and the company's liquidation was completed in 2003. In December 2006, Las Vegas Sands Corp was awarded a Category 2 Slot Machine License by
1036-439: A million attendees from all over the world, and features hundreds of musical acts from all genres. In 2011, the city opened Steel Stacks, a 10-acre campus on the former grounds of Bethlehem Steel , that showcases music, art, festivals, films and educational programming throughout the year. It is located in the backdrop of the blast furnaces of the former Bethlehem Steel plant. Lehigh University 's Zoellner Arts Center offers
1110-417: A population of 861,899 people as of the 2020 census that is Pennsylvania's third-most populous metropolitan area and the 68th-most populated metropolitan area in the U.S. Bethlehem borders Allentown to its west and is 48 miles (77 km) north of Philadelphia and 72 miles (116 km) west of New York City . There are four sections to the city: central Bethlehem , the south side , the east side, and
1184-503: A variety of musical and dramatic events through the year. On the first Friday of the month, the businesses of the Southside Shopping District host First Friday, a celebration of arts and culture. Stores, restaurants and art galleries stay open late and offer special discounts, refreshments, gallery openings and more. The Lehigh Canal provides hiking and biking opportunities along the canal towpath which follows
1258-626: Is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania , United States. As of the 2020 census , the population was 312,951. Its county seat is Easton . The county was formed in 1752 from parts of Bucks County . Its namesake was the county of Northamptonshire in England, and the county seat of Easton was named for Easton Neston , a country house in Northamptonshire. Northampton County and Lehigh County to its west combine to form
1332-538: Is a popular destination for recreation and entertainment. The Banana Factory houses studios of area artists and is open to the public every first Friday of the month. Touchstone Theatre, also on Bethlehem's SouthSide, houses the Valley's only professional resident theatre company, which produces and presents original theatre performances. Bethlehem hosts Musikfest , the nation's largest free music festival, annually each August. The festival spans 10 days, attracts roughly
1406-528: Is also a National Historic Landmark as the first pump-driven North American municipal water supply. This area, known as the Colonial Industrial Quarter , is also archaeologically significant, as the early Moravians developed it industrially from an early period. Non-museum properties in the district include the 1803-06 Central Moravian Church , the God's Acre , a Moravian burial ground, and
1480-604: Is located approximately 4 miles (6.4 km) northwest of Bethlehem and 11 miles (18 km) west-southwest of Easton . Public bus service in Northampton County is available through LANta . A shuttle bus service called the Bethlehem Loop provides public transportation services in Bethlehem . NJ Transit provides service from Easton 's Centre Square to the Phillipsburg area. Northampton County
1554-637: Is one of several Lehigh Valley locations, including Egypt , Emmaus , Jordan Creek , and Nazareth , whose names were inspired by locations in the Bible . Prior to European settlements, the areas around present-day Bethlehem and its surrounding locales along the Delaware River and its tributaries in eastern Pennsylvania were inhabited by various indigenous peoples , including the Algonquian -speaking Lenape , which had three main divisions, known by
SECTION 20
#17328015703241628-421: Is prominently celebrated in the city annually. The city was christened as Bethlehem on Christmas Eve , 1741 by Nicolaus Zinzendorf , a Moravian bishop. In 1747, Bethlehem was the first U.S. city to feature a decorated Christmas tree . On December 7, 1937, at a grand ceremony during the Great Depression , the city adopted the nickname ' Christmas City USA in a large ceremony that included Marion Brown Grace,
1702-554: Is used in other Pennsylvania jurisdictions, features a touch screen with a paper ballot backup. County officials ultimately calculated results by counting paper ballots, which showed Kassis actually won the election by 1,054 votes, according to unofficial results that were announced on November 6. The election results were later certified following a canvass and audit, and no challenges to the results were filed. On November 7, 2023, ExpressVoteXL machines again malfunctioned in calculating votes for Superior Court of Pennsylvania judges with
1776-690: Is water. Because large volumes of water were required in the steelmaking process, the city purchased 22,000 acres (8,900 ha) of land in the Pocono Mountains , where its water is stored in reservoirs. The Lehigh River , a tributary of the Delaware , flows through Bethlehem. Monocacy and Saucon Creeks empty into the Lehigh River in Bethlehem. Bethlehem is approximately 50 miles (80 km) north of Philadelphia and about 80 miles (130 km) west of New York City . Bethlehem has
1850-525: The 1746 Bell House , both of which served as communal living facilities, and the 1751 Old Chapel . Also part of the complex, the Lewis David de Schweinitz Residence is a National Historic Landmark for its association with botanist and mycologist Lewis David de Schweinitz who used to take up residence in the building. The museum also manages properties near the creek, including the industrial 1761 Tannery building, and Bethlehem Waterworks , which
1924-751: The American Revolution , Bethlehem was visited by George Washington and his wife Martha , Alexander Hamilton , Benjamin Franklin , John Adams , Samuel Adams , John Hancock , and the Marquis de Lafayette. On September 22, 1777, fourteen members of the Second Continental Congress signed the Moravian Sun Inn register in Bethlehem and stayed there overnight. George Washington stored his personal effects at
1998-484: The Delaware River and New Jersey to its east. The Lehigh River , a 109-mile-long (175 km) tributary of the Delaware River, flows through the county. According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 377 square miles (980 km ), of which 370 square miles (960 km ) is land and 7.7 square miles (20 km ) (2.0%) is water. The climate is humid continental (mostly Dfa with
2072-805: The James Burnside farm at 1461 Schoenersville Road in Bethlehem. as of 1998 , this site is operated as a historical museum known as James Burnside Plantation. In 1845, Bethlehem was a prosperous village that was incorporated into a free borough in the County of Northampton . After the Unity Synod of 1848, Bethlehem became the headquarters of the Northern Province of the Moravian Church in North America. On March 27, 1900,
2146-757: The Lehigh River in Bethlehem. Both the Lehigh Canal and the Monocacy Creek are popular for sport fishing, and both are stocked annually with trout. The Historic Moravian Bethlehem District, also known as the Moravian Church Settlement, was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2024 as an extension of the Christiansfeld Moravian Church Settlement in Denmark. Lehigh Valley RFC,
2220-623: The Lehigh Valley . Other major employers include B. Braun , Lehigh University , and the Guardian Life Insurance Company of America . Other companies in Bethlehem include the candy company Just Born . Zulily has a large logistics operation in the city that serves the United States. In the early 21st century, several shops and restaurants have opened in the city's downtown and South Side . In
2294-787: The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board . LVSC began work on the site, categorized as both the largest brownfield redevelopment project in the nation and the largest casino development investment made to date in Pennsylvania. Its mission was to create reinvestment and urbanization in the area. At a projected cost of $ 743 million, the historic Bethlehem Steel plant is being redeveloped as a fully integrated resort , to include 3,000 slot machines, over 300 hotel rooms, 9 restaurants, 200,000 square feet (19,000 m ) of retail outlet shopping, and 46,000 square feet (4,300 m ) of flexible multi-purpose space. In 2007,
Historic Moravian Bethlehem District - Misplaced Pages Continue
2368-492: The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania struck down their incorporation as unconstitutional in 1915 and in 1917 South Bethlehem would be annexed. Following the merger with South Bethlehem, the new consolidated City of Bethlehem was incorporated. Bethlehem Steel executive Archibald Johnston was elected the new city's first mayor. Northampton Heights was incorporated into the city in 1920 after significant local resistance and
2442-700: The dialects , the Unami , Unalachtigo , and Munsee . They traded with the Dutch and then British colonialists in the Mid-Atlantic region in present-day Connecticut , Delaware , Long Island , Maryland , New Jersey , and the lower Hudson Valley in New York , and other regions in Pennsylvania . On April 2, 1741, William Allen , a wealthy Philadelphia merchant and political figure, who later founded
2516-454: The 1758-60 Moravian Sun Inn , located further up Main Street. The Sun Inn was created as a place for non-Moravian people to stay when they visited Bethlehem at the time. The Sun Inn was used during the American Revolution . Its guests during the era included George Washington , Martha Washington , Benjamin Franklin , Samuel Adams , John Hancock , John Adams , and other notable Americans of
2590-532: The 18th century. Bethlehem was settled in 1741, and was the first successful community established by German Moravians in North America . It became a central point for later Moravian settlements across what the present-day eastern United States . Because some of its earliest communal buildings were built in stone, they have survived into the 21st century. These buildings housed the community's single men and women, then segregated by gender, and served as
2664-422: The 2009 openings of Wind Creek Bethlehem casino and SteelStacks, a 10-acre campus dedicated to music and the arts, on property that was previously part of Bethlehem Steel 's global manufacturing headquarters prior to the company's 2001 liquidation. Outside center city Bethlehem, there are five additional shopping centers: Bethlehem has a long historical relationship with the celebration of Christmas , which
2738-399: The 2010 census, the county was 81.0% White Non-Hispanic, 5.0% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American or Alaskan Native, 2.4% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian, 2.2% were two or more races, and 3.8% were some other race. 10.5% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry. Northampton is one of the seven counties in Pennsylvania which has adopted a home rule charter . Voters elect
2812-593: The Bach Choir of Bethlehem presented the United States debut of German Lutheran composer Johann Sebastian Bach 's Mass in B Minor in the city's Central Moravian Church. Bethlehem was one of the four leading Moravian communities in the Northeastern United States ; Emmaus , Lititz , and Nazareth , each in Pennsylvania, were the three others. In 1865, after the end of the Civil War ,
2886-608: The Borough of South Bethlehem was formed. In 1886, the Borough of West Bethlehem in Lehigh County was formed. In 1901, the Borough of Northampton Heights was incorporated. Starting in 1904, the borough of Bethlehem began a concerted effort to merge with its neighboring municipalities. In 1904 Bethlehem absorbed West Bethlehem followed shortly after in 1905 by Hottlesville. South Bethlehem would attempt to resist merger and incorporated themselves as their own city in 1913, however,
2960-558: The Lehigh Valley after Allentown and the seventh-largest city in the state. Among its total population as of 2020, 55,639 were in Northampton County and 19,343 were in Lehigh County. The city is located along the Lehigh River , a 109-mile-long (175 km) tributary of the Delaware River . Bethlehem lies in the geographic center of the Lehigh Valley, a metropolitan region of 731 sq mi (1,890 km ) with
3034-536: The Native Americans and unchurched German -speaking Christians and named the settlement after the Biblical town Bethlehem of Judea , said to be the birthplace of Jesus . " Count Zinzendorf said, 'Brothers, how more fittingly could we call our new home than to name it in honor of the spot where the event we now commemorate took place. We will call this place Bethlehem.' And so was Bethlehem named after
Historic Moravian Bethlehem District - Misplaced Pages Continue
3108-527: The Old Chapel, are remnants of this period of communal living. The Moravians ministered to the regional Lenape Native Americans through their mission in the area, and to others further east in the New York colony . In historic Bethlehem's God's Acre cemetery, converted Lenape were buried alongside Moravians. In 1762, Bethlehem built the first waterworks in America to pump water for public use. In
3182-586: The Sisters House after it was built. The original version of the Single Sisters' House was built in 1744 and was a two-story stone building that lacked a basement and a kitchens. At the time, a second version of the Sisters' House was constructed, adding a northern wing. The northern wing included a few new changes to building which were a new dormitory a larger dining area and in the later future
3256-493: The United States' average was 368.9 in 2018. Bethlehem became a center of heavy industry and trade during the Industrial Revolution . Bethlehem Steel (1857–2003), founded and based in Bethlehem, was once the second-largest steel producer in the United States, after Pittsburgh -based U.S. Steel . The company was a powerhouse in the mid-twentieth century, with over 30,000 employees at its peak. Bethlehem Steel
3330-544: The Water Department, in Lower Saucon Township . In 1939, the wooden star was replaced with a star made of steel from Bethlehem Steel , at a cost of $ 5,000. It had eight rays, with the main horizontal ray 81 feet wide and the main vertical ray 53 feet high. In 1967, the current star, 91 feet high, was installed on the old steel frame and set in a concrete base 25 feet wide by 5 feet deep. Plexiglas
3404-788: The autumn of 1777, during the American Revolutionary War , many patriots fled from Philadelphia to Bethlehem and the surrounding area as the British Army advanced from the east. The Marquis de Lafayette recovered from an injury received at the Battle of Brandywine in Bethlehem, and several of the most prominent members of the Continental Congress fled north to Bethlehem before the congress eventually reconvened in Lancaster . Before, during, and after
3478-643: The birthplace of the Man of Peace." Bethlehem was started as a typical Moravian Settlement Congregation, where the Church owned all the property. Until the 1850s, officially only members of the Moravian Church were permitted to lease land plots in Bethlehem. But a member of a group of families who were Huguenots also settled in Bethlehem. In the late 1700s, Bethlehem established grist and saw mills, known as Calvin's Mills. The historic Brethren's House, Sisters' House, Widows' House, and Gemeinhaus (Congregation House), with
3552-571: The block has been reopened to traffic, and the mall has been converted into offices for PowerSchool, a software company based in Folsom, California , and the Internal Revenue Service . Retail business in downtown Bethlehem on Main Street south of Broad Street has experienced growth. The two-block shopping area is anchored by the campus of Moravian University , Central Moravian Church in the south, Bethlehem Common indoor mall, and
3626-564: The campus of Lehigh University and on the historic grounds of the nation's earliest Moravians . Other Bethlehem festivals include The Celtic Classic, which celebrates Celtic culture, food and music, and the SouthSide Film Festival , a film festival. The city also hosts the North East Art Rock Festival, or NEARFest , a three-day progressive rock music event. The Bethlehem Area Public Library
3700-483: The casino resort company of Las Vegas Sands began the construction of Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem, later rebranded as Wind Creek Bethlehem . The casino has been projected to bring in approximately one million dollars in revenue per day as of 2009. Another major economic anchor to the city is St. Luke's Hospital located in neighboring Fountain Hill . That Hospital and Health Network is the second-largest of its type in
3774-523: The city of Allentown , deeded 500 acres (200 ha) along the banks of the Monocacy Creek and Lehigh River to the Moravian Church . On Christmas Eve of that year, David Nitschmann and Nicolaus Zinzendorf , leading a small group of Moravians , founded the mission community of Bethlehem at the confluence of the Monocacy and Lehigh rivers. They established missionary communities among
SECTION 50
#17328015703243848-555: The city was 76.4% White , 6.9% African American , 0.3% Native American , 2.9% Asian , 0.0% Pacific Islander , 10.0% from other races , and 3.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 24.4% of the population. As of the census of 2000, there were 71,329 people living in the city, including 17,094 families and 28,116 households. The population density was 3,704.4 inhabitants per square mile (1,430.3/km ). There were 29,631 housing units at an average density of 1,538.8 per square mile (594.1/km ). The racial makeup of
3922-400: The city was 81.85% White , 3.64% African American , 0.26% Native American , 2.22% Asian , 0.03% Pacific Islander , 9.44% from other races , and 2.56% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 18.23% of the population. There were 28,116 households, out of which 26.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.1% were married couples living together, 12.8% had
3996-423: The city. The racial makeup of the city is 72.7% White , 9.2% African American , 0.3% Native American , 0.0% Pacific Islander , 3.1% Asian American , 9.8% from other races , and 7.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race are 29.9% of the population. As of the census of 2010, there were 74,982 people living in the city. There were 31,221 housing units, with 5.9% vacant. The racial makeup of
4070-448: The daughter of former South Bethlehem burgess Charles F. Brown and wife of Bethlehem Steel president Eugene Grace . Hundreds of citizens attended the ceremony and thousands more listened to the speeches and musical performances on the radio, which was held at Hotel Bethlehem , then a two-room log house, where the original settlers conducted their evening worship on Christmas Eve in 1741. As their benefactor, Count Zinzendorf, observed
4144-446: The earliest places of worship in the colonial era . Bethlehem remained under strong Moravian religious influence until the early 19th century, when the community began to become more secular. One of the living facilities segregated by sex in this area was called the Single Sisters' House and it is a place where single Moravian women would live before they were married or after they were widowed. There were three significant additions to
4218-520: The eastern Pennsylvania region known as the Lehigh Valley ; Lehigh County, with a population of 374,557 as of the 2020 U.S. census, is the more highly populated of the two counties. Both counties are part of the Philadelphia media market, the fourth-largest in the nation . Northampton County has historically been a national leader in heavy manufacturing, especially of cement , steel , and other industrial products. Atlas Portland Cement Company ,
4292-429: The farm animals that shared the space and listened to the settlers sing the hymn, "Not Jerusalem, But Lowly Bethlehem", he proclaimed the name of the settlement to be Bethlehem. The people gathered at the 1937 ceremony heard the same words when the Bach Choir sang the old German hymn, "Jesu, Rufe Mich (Jesus, Call Thou Me)", by Adam Drese. The Bethlehem Globe-Times , which later merged into The Express-Times , paid for
4366-480: The historic Moravian Sun Inn , built in 1758, in the north. Among the blocks' attractions are the Moravian Book Shop , the country's oldest continuously operating bookstore built in 1756, and the historic Hotel Bethlehem , built in 1922. On the city's South Side, new stores and restaurants opened on 3rd and 4th streets in the early 21st century, due partly to the presence of Lehigh University and
4440-504: The large wooden star erected on the top of South Mountain , at a cost of $ 460. The original star was created with four wooden planks, overlapped to create an eight-point star, which was 60 feet high and 51 feet wide, mounted on two wooden poles, and lit by 150 50-watt light bulbs. PPL Corporation and the Bethlehem Water Department installed the star, which was erected at the top of South Mountain on property owned by
4514-485: The machines switching "yes" and "no" votes on the summary display of votes on whether the judges should be retained. The county's director of administration, Charles Dertinger, attributed the problem to the summary display and not the actual ballots. Air transport to and from Northampton County is available through Lehigh Valley International Airport ( IATA : ABE , ICAO : KABE ) in Hanover Township , which
SECTION 60
#17328015703244588-506: The majority of voters. The county's row officers are nominated by the county executive and approved by county council. As of January 8, 2024, there were 219,719 registered voters in Northampton County Northampton County is considered one of Pennsylvania's "swing counties," with statewide winners carrying it in most cases. As of 2024, the last presidential election where Northampton County did not back
4662-462: The mid-1970s, West Broad Street between New and Guetter Streets in center city was converted to a pedestrian plaza. The buildings on the south side of the block were torn down and replaced by an enclosed mall and an eleven-story office tower. The tower, at One Bethlehem Plaza on the corner of Broad and New, continues to operate, but the 80,000-square-foot mall, which was erected in response to the development of suburban shopping malls, failed. Since then,
4736-399: The poverty line, including 20.7% of those under age 18 and 8.8% of those age 65 or over. In the Lehigh Valley , Bethlehem had a lower crime rate as of 2018 than Allentown , but a higher crime rate than Easton , the Lehigh Valley's third-largest city. In 2018, Bethlehem had a violent crime index of 273.0, while Allentown's violent crime index was 338.4 and Easton's was 254.1. For reference,
4810-477: The same purpose except it was a place where single and widowed Moravian men would live. The Single Brethens' House is located on Main Street. Bethlehem, Pennsylvania Bethlehem is a city in Northampton and Lehigh Counties in the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania , United States. As of the 2020 census , Bethlehem had a total population of 75,781, making it the second-largest city in
4884-535: The statewide winner was in 1948. In November 2019, municipal elections were in Pennsylvania in November 2019, and the county's result tabulations were plagued with problems caused by newly purchased voting machines, known as ExpressVoteXL, which were manufactured and sold to the county by Election Systems & Software (ES&S), an Omaha, Nebraska -based company, as representing a luxury one-stop voting system. According to The New York Times and other media,
4958-508: The west side. Each of these sections blossomed at different times in the city's development and each contains areas recognized under the National Register of Historic Places . Norfolk Southern Railway 's Lehigh Line , formerly the main line of the Lehigh Valley Railroad , runs through Bethlehem heading east to Easton and across the Delaware River to Phillipsburg, New Jersey . The Norfolk Southern Railway's Reading Line runs through Bethlehem and west to Allentown and Reading . Bethlehem has
5032-430: The world's largest cement manufacturer from 1895 until 1982, was based in Northampton in the county. Bethlehem Steel , the world's second-largest manufacturer of steel for most of the 20th century, was based in Bethlehem , the county's most populous city, prior to its dissolution in 2003. Northampton County borders Carbon County and the Poconos to its north, Lehigh County to its west, Bucks County to its south, and
5106-439: Was 105 °F (41 °C), while the lowest recorded temperature was −16 °F (−27 °C). Bethlehem falls under the USDA 6b Plant hardiness zone . Bethlehem is divided into five main areas: Center City , West Side, East Side, South Side , and North Side. The West Side is located in Lehigh County and the other four neighborhoods are in Northampton County . As of the 2020 census, there are 75,781 people living in
5180-404: Was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.6 males. The median income for a household in the city was $ 35,815, and the median income for a family was $ 45,354. Males had a median income of $ 35,190 versus $ 25,817 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 18,987. About 11.1% of families and 15.0% of the population were below
5254-588: Was also one of the largest shipbuilding companies in the world and one of the most powerful symbols of American industrial manufacturing leadership, and it manufactured over 1,100 warships used in World War II . Bethlehem Steel began producing the first wide-flange structural shapes made in the United States and they pioneered the production of the now-ubiquitous "I-beam" used in construction of steel-framed buildings, including skyscrapers. It manufactured construction materials for numerous New York City and other city skyscrapers and major bridges. The company became
5328-413: Was installed to protect the 250 50-watt light bulbs. In the summer of 2006, the city repaired the base. A crew of municipal electricians changes the bulbs every two years. Beginning in the mid-1990s, the star was lit from 4:30 p.m. until midnight, every day of the year. Bach Choir of Bethlehem , founded in 1898, attracts thousands of visitors to the annual Bethlehem Bach Festival, held annually on
5402-677: Was once served only by the 215 area code from 1947 (when the North American Numbering Plan of the Bell System went into effect) until 1994. With the county's growing population, however, Northampton County was afforded area code 610 in 1994. Today, Northampton County is covered by 610 except for the Portland exchange which uses 570 . An overlay area code , 484, was added to the 610 service area in 1999. A plan to introduce area code 835 as an additional overlay
5476-578: Was rescinded in 2001. There are two Pennsylvania state parks in Northampton County: The following cities, boroughs, and townships are located in Northampton County: Census-designated places are unincorporated communities designated by the U.S. Census Bureau for the purposes of compiling demographic data. They are not actual jurisdictions under Pennsylvania law. The population ranking of
#323676