Overview
Allentown is a city located in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States.
After Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, it is Pennsylvania's third most populous city.
As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 106,632.
It is the county seat of Lehigh County.
Located on the Lehigh River, Allentown is the largest of three adjacent cities that comprise
the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania, with the cities of Bethlehem and Easton nearby.
Allentown is the home of Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom, a highly popular amusement park.
Two four-year colleges, Cedar Crest College and Muhlenberg College, are located in Allentown.
Government
Allentown operates as a third-class city code of Pennsylvania with the strong Mayor-City Council
form of government wherein the mayor serves as chief executive and administrative officer for the
municipality and City Council serves as the legislative and oversight body providing checks and
balances on the system. A Home Rule charter adopted by the voters in 1996 assigns the rights
and responsibilities of each elected official and provides for citizen input on ordinances through
a process of initiative and referendum.
