Lehigh Valley

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As serene and constant as the river that shares its name, the Lehigh Valley is also a thriving geographic entity comprised of Northampton and Lehigh Counties.

 

Ideally situated in the heart of Pennsylvania at the crossroads of some of the Northeast’s most vital highways, the Valley is located just 60 miles from both Philadelphia and New York City.

Easton, Bethlehem and Allentown serve as the major metropolitan centers for the Valley, although a number of smaller towns and boroughs dot the verdant landscape of gently rolling hills. While each location offers its unique amenities and allure, you’ll soon discover that the charm and beauty of yesterday are always balanced with an invigorating, progressive outlook.

 

Economy

Although the Valley’s major cities served as centers for the iron industry for decades, the growing strength of today’s economy is based on diversity. In addition to the traditional agricultural activity,
service industries and high-technology businesses also enjoy fertile ground in Lehigh Valley’s well-established cities and townships.

 

Many companies from other states and counties have discovered the economies of the area’s industrial parks, and the unsurpassed combination of ideal market location, low expenses, outstanding work force, and transportation facilities.

 

Boasting its own international airport, the Lehigh Valley enjoys a prime location at the crossroads of interstate and state-maintained superhighways that offer quick and easy access to the Mid-Atlantic, New England, Midwest and South.

 

Education and Health Care

The Valley’s public education system operates a network of outstanding neighborhood schools, augmented by options for private education in local academies or parochial schools.

 

Adults or graduating seniors can choose from a wealth of opportunities for continuing higher education near home, from vocational-technical schools and two-year colleges to four-year institutions with international reputations. A regional college consortium provides cross-registration, allows resource-sharing, and opens the door for high-school seniors to take college-level courses at no cost.

 

Valley residents can look to six acute-care hospitals for highly ranked, quality health care. Neonatal intensive care, cancer treatment, open-heart surgery, and an array of other specialties are available near home. In addition to an abundance of skilled professionals, the area offers birthing centers, rehabilitation centers, out­patient clinics, walk-in emergency
centers, home-care services, and a strong network of social and human services.

 

Lifestyle

Whether you love the symphony or want to enjoy the great outdoors, the Lehigh Valley offers enough cultural attractions and recreational opportunities to fill every leisure hour. The active life might include biking on miles of dedicated trails, hiking the Appalachian Trail, or golfing on sweeping greens. Hunting, fishing, white-water rafting, boating, sports leagues, tennis, cross-country or downhill skiing — the choices are virtually endless.

 

Spectators can jump to their feet at college athletics that include NCAA Division I sports, pre-season NFL football, world-class bicycle racing, and a speedway that hosts some of the world’s most famous race car drivers.

 

For thrill-seekers Dorney Park & Wild–water Kingdom promises fun for the entire family with over 100 rides. Special events and festivals lure millions of visitors to the Valley each year to enjoy everything from antique car shows to spectacular holiday celebrations. Aficionados of culture and the arts can choose from Broadway style stage productions, museums, galleries, ballet, musical concerts, and community workshops.

 

An abundance of beautiful, well-kept, affordable housing draws many to Lehigh Valley. Older homes in well-established neighborhoods are particularly desirable, from row homes and town houses to restored vintage Victorians.

 

Diversity marks the housing stock, including cottages, cozy bungalows, homestead houses, four squares in single and twin styles, Cape Cods, ranch homes, split levels, and sprawling two-story houses. It’s true that price ranges vary as much as the architectural styles and construction periods, but the entire Valley is known for its reasonable housing costs and handsome selection.

 

Stately trees, meticulous landscaping, and lush parks add natural beauty to every community, from the bustling urban areas to the quaint boroughs. Combining centuries of historical and cultural treasures with a visionary, progressive attitude, the Lehigh Valley truly offers the “best of America.”

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