Allentown, PA Foreclosed Homes & Properties

Foreclosure Homes for Sale in Allentown, PA: What You Need to Know

Nestled beside the Lehigh River, Allentown, Pennsylvania is the fastest growing city in Pennsylvania as of 2019. With a rich history tied to the country’s beginnings, Allentown residents enjoy a unique cultural identity along with plentiful economic opportunity. 

The Local History

Allentown was one of several cities within the American colonies that experienced a dissolution of Colonial British government and a rise of patriot militias after the Declaration of Independence was signed. In fact, the patriots successfully hid the Liberty Bell from British soldiers in Allentown during the Revolutionary War. The city really began to boom in the early 18th century with the construction of several sawmills, flour mills, saddle makers, and several other manufacturing establishments. 

The Local Sports Scene

In 2008, Coca-Cola Park was officially opened in Allentown, a baseball stadium built to accommodate 8,100 spectators. The city is home to the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, the Philadelphia Phillies’ AAA-level Minor League baseball team. Allentown also features the PPL Center, an 8,500-seat ice hockey arena where the Lehigh Valley Phantoms play, an affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers. Several U.S. Olympians and national gymnastics champions have trained at the Parkettes National Gymnastics Training Center in Allentown. 

Local Culture

Local Allentown cuisine still contains hints of the city’s Pennsylvania German roots with scrapple, Lebanon bologna, cole slaw, and apple butter. Other favorites like shoofly pie, birch beer, and funnel cakes are popular at local fairs. The Allentown Symphony Orchestra performs often at Miller Symphony Hall in center city. However, the city also has a rich history of civilian concert bands, and the Allentown Band, the oldest civilian concert band in the U.S., still plays regularly. The Soldiers and Sailors monument stands proudly in Center Square, topped by a statue representing the Goddess of Liberty and originally unveiled in 1899.

Employment Opportunities

Though much of Allentown’s economic history is centered around manufacturing, the city now focuses more on service. Allentown is the home of several corporate headquarters for companies including Air Products & Chemicals, Talen Energy, and PPL, among others. Though these companies employ a large percentage of Allentown residents, the most significant employer in the city is Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network with over 7,800 employees.  

Schools and Higher Education

The Allentown School District provides public education to Allentown residents with a wide variety of elementary, middle, and high schools and around 18,118 students enrolled each year. Locals seeking a four-year college program have their pick between Cedar Crest College and Muhlenberg College.