Allentown is Pennsylvania’s third-most-populous city situated in Lehigh County. It is the county seat of Lehigh County and the largest city in the Lehigh Valley metropolitan area. It was incorporated as the borough of Northampton in 1811 and was later officially renamed Allentown for its founder.
In the mid-1960s, the economy of Allentown was booming, and Allentown’s inability to expand its borders lead hundreds of thousands of baby boomers to move outside the city limits. Allentown began to lose its next generation of working-class residents, who began to migrate to the newer housing in suburbs that also offered lower taxes, green space, less crime, and new schools.
Below are some fascinating vintage photos that show what Allentown looked like in the 1970s.
honestly doesn’t look all that different today lol
It was a beautiful town. What a shame.
Back before Billy Joel and that less-than-flattering song!
It’s so sad how these beautiful working class row homes that I grew up in are now in such deterioration and abuse from people that have no pride in ownership. Some of these homes on 4th Street thru 10th Street had gorgeous details. Double living rooms stained glass French doors… pocket doors an cedar closets. Trashy people have destroyed these gorgeous homes.
Is this N. 5th St.?
hat is what I am thinking looking down towards Gordon St. The author said it might be Chew St. I don’t think it’s Chew St. Chew St is relatively flat until you get to 4th St. and then it leads to the pits. That church is Dubbs at 5th and Allen.
it’s 9th St. at Chew looking down towards Gordon St. I always knew that was Gordon St. Lol 😂
That’s definitely 9th street. I recognize that church steeple. I used to live on the 300 block of tenth during my apartment days. The church is close to Liberty.