City history
From its 18th-century colonial origins to its role as an industrial powerhouse, explore the temporal and historical evolution of Allentown.
Chapter one
Earliest documented name
"Valley of the Lehigh River"
A specific indigenous name for the settlement is not reliably documented; the area was part of the Lehigh Valley.
Named after John Allen
The town was named in honor of John Allen, a prominent landowner who purchased the land in the mid-18th century.
Chapter two
The adoption of standardized time by railroad companies allowed Allentown to synchronize its local schedule with the Eastern Time Zone.
The Uniform Time Act of 1966 standardized the seasonal transitions between standard time and daylight saving time in Pennsylvania.
Chapter three
John Allen, a prominent landowner, purchased the territory that would eventually be developed into the city of Allentown.
The community was officially incorporated as a borough, providing a formal structure for local governance and urban development.
Allentown was granted official city status, reflecting its significant growth as a key industrial and commercial center in Pennsylvania.
The city saw massive industrial expansion during this era, driven by manufacturing and the growing Lehigh Valley Railroad network.