Editing Allentown, Pennsylvania (section)

==Geography==
[[File:2017 - Hamilton Street Christmas Skyline - Allentown PA.jpg|thumb|The Allentown skyline at Christmas in 2017]]
[[File:Allentown viewed from Egypt.jpg|thumb|[[South Mountain (Eastern Pennsylvania)|South Mountain]] (in background), part of the [[Appalachian Mountains|Appalachian Mountain range]], with Allentown (in foreground) in December 2010]]
[[File:2020 - Allentown CBD at Night - 11 - Allentown PA.jpg|thumb|[[Center City Allentown|Center City]] at night in October 2020]]
===Topography===
{{Further|Blue Mountain (Pennsylvania)|South Mountain (Eastern Pennsylvania)}}
Allentown's geographic boundaries include a total area of {{convert|18.0|sqmi|1}}. Of this, {{convert|17.8|sqmi|1}} is land and {{convert|0.2|sqmi|1}} is water, according to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]]. Bodies of water include [[Jordan Creek (Pennsylvania)|Jordan Creek]] and its tributary, [[Little Lehigh Creek]], which join in the city and empty into [[Lehigh River]]. Other bodies of water in Allentown include [[Lake Muhlenberg]] in Cedar Creek Parkway and a pond in [[Trexler Park]].

====Adjacent counties====
Allentown is located in the [[Lehigh Valley]], an eastern [[Pennsylvania]] geographic valley located between two [[Appalachian Mountains|Appalachian]] mountain ridges, [[Blue Mountain (Pennsylvania)|Blue Mountain]], which varies from {{convert|1000|ft|m}} to {{convert|1600|ft|m}} in height about {{convert|17|mi|km}} north of the city, and [[South Mountain (Eastern Pennsylvania)|South Mountain]], a ridge of {{convert|500|ft|m}} to {{convert|1000|ft|m}} in height bordering the city's southern edge. The Lehigh Valley includes both [[Lehigh County, Pennsylvania|Lehigh]] and [[Northampton County, Pennsylvania|Northampton]] counties.

The Lehigh Valley's adjacent counties are [[Carbon County, Pennsylvania|Carbon]] and [[Monroe County, Pennsylvania|Monroe]] counties to its north, [[Bucks County, Pennsylvania|Bucks County]] to its southeast, [[Montgomery County, Pennsylvania|Montgomery County]] to its south, [[Berks County, Pennsylvania|Berks]] and [[Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania|Schuylkill]] counties to its west, and [[Warren County, New Jersey]] to its east.

===Cityscape and neighborhoods===
{{Main|Buildings and architecture of Allentown, Pennsylvania|Center City Allentown|List of Allentown neighborhoods}}
[[Center City Allentown]] includes the downtown area and its 7th Street retail and residential corridor, which is the city's central business district and the location of most of its city, county, and federal government buildings. To the east of Center City are The Wards, residential areas developed during the late 19th century and early 20th century industrial boom. Just east of the [[Lehigh River]] are the city's East Side residential neighborhoods, most of which border various routes to neighboring [[Bethlehem, Pennsylvania|Bethlehem]]. South of Center City across [[Little Lehigh Creek]] are the city's South Side neighborhoods, which border [[Emmaus, Pennsylvania|Emmaus]]. Allentown's West End, with a mix of commercial corridors, cultural centers, and larger single-family residences, begins approximately west of 15th Street.

Center City's tallest building is the [[PPL Building]] at {{convert|322|ft|m}}. In addition to the PPL Building, Center City commercial office buildings include the [[Dime Savings and Trust Company]] building, which features the city's [[Art Deco architecture of New York City|Art Deco architecture]], which was highly popular in Allentown and [[New York City]] in the 1920s and 1930s. One City Center, Two City Center,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://articles.mcall.com/2014-02-26/news/mc-allentown-arena-zone-building-opens-20140226_1_city-center-investment-corp-lehigh-gas-corp-neighborhood-improvement-zone |title=Two City Center the first to open in Allentown arena zone |work=tribunedigital-mcall |access-date=July 1, 2014 |archive-date=May 28, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140528054545/http://articles.mcall.com/2014-02-26/news/mc-allentown-arena-zone-building-opens-20140226_1_city-center-investment-corp-lehigh-gas-corp-neighborhood-improvement-zone |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://sanatogapost.com/2013/09/24/national-penn-bank-allentown-relocation/ |title=National Penn Bank Moves Ahead With Allentown Relocation |work=The Post |access-date=April 1, 2014 |archive-date=April 7, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407072324/http://sanatogapost.com/2013/09/24/national-penn-bank-allentown-relocation/ |url-status=dead}}</ref> and other commercial buildings are located in Center City.

An 8,500-seat indoor arena, [[PPL Center]], which hosts the [[Lehigh Valley Phantoms]] of the [[American Hockey League]], opened in August 2014 at 701 [[Hamilton Street]] in Center City.<ref name="cost">{{cite web |url=http://articles.mcall.com/2012-09-25/news/mc-allentown-pa-arena-block-20120924_1_city-center-investment-arena-block-sara-hailstone |title=Allentown Pa Arena block will cost $272 million |work=tribunedigital-mcall |access-date=October 14, 2012 |archive-date=April 7, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407064648/http://articles.mcall.com/2012-09-25/news/mc-allentown-pa-arena-block-20120924_1_city-center-investment-arena-block-sara-hailstone |url-status=dead}}</ref> Other Center City historic and recreational landmarks include [[Allentown Art Museum]], [[Baum School of Art]], [[Lehigh County Historical Society]], and [[Miller Symphony Hall]].

In January 2015, two major hotels, [[Americus Hotel]] and a [[Marriott Hotels & Resorts|Marriott]], opened in Center City.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/abebr-renaissance-allentown-hotel/ |title=Renaissance Allentown Hotel |work=Marriott |access-date=September 28, 2014 |archive-date=October 6, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006073649/http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/abebr-renaissance-allentown-hotel/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://articles.mcall.com/2013-10-21/news/mc-allentown-arena-hotel-marriott-20131021_1_new-hotel-tax-district-business-travelers |title=Allentown Arena Hotel to be a Marriott Renaissance |work=tribunedigital-mcall |access-date=April 1, 2014 |archive-date=March 11, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140311064312/http://articles.mcall.com/2013-10-21/news/mc-allentown-arena-hotel-marriott-20131021_1_new-hotel-tax-district-business-travelers |url-status=dead}}</ref>

==== Architecture ====
{{Main|Buildings and architecture of Allentown, Pennsylvania}}
{{See also|List of historic places in Allentown, Pennsylvania}}
[[File:2008 - Miller Symphony Hall.jpg|thumb|[[Miller Symphony Hall]] on N. 6th Street, home of the [[Allentown Symphony Orchestra]], in July 2008]]
Allentown is characterized by a large stock of historic homes, commercial structures, and century-old industrial buildings reflecting its standing as one of the nation's earliest urban centers. [[Center City Allentown|Center City]]'s neighborhoods include [[Victorian architecture|Victorian]] and [[Terraced house|terraced rowhouses]]. West Park includes mostly Victorian and [[American Craftsman]]-style architecture. Houses on Allentown's tree-lined streets in the West End were built mostly between the 1920s and 1940s. Houses in Allentown's East and South Sides are a mixture of architectural styles and are generally single and twin family homes built between the 1940s and 1960s; both areas include some older Victorian homes. Allentown has many [[loft|loft apartments]] in converted mills and historic brick manufacturing buildings and modern and historic high-rise apartment buildings in Center City.

Allentown has three primary historic districts: Old Allentown, the Old Fairgrounds, and West Park. Old Allentown and Old Fairgrounds are Center City neighborhoods, which hold a joint house tour organized by the Old Allentown Preservation Association (OAPA) annually in September. West Park also offers a tour of its Victorian and Craftsman-style homes.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oldallentown.org/ |title=Home |website=oldallentown.org |access-date=October 23, 2017 |archive-date=October 24, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171024095825/http://www.oldallentown.org/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[PPL Building]], at 2 N. 9th Street, is Allentown's tallest building at {{convert|322|ft|m}}. The building, which opened on July 16, 1928, was designed by [[New York City]] architectural firm Helme, Corbett, and Harrison, and [[Wallace Harrison]], one of the firm's partners, served as the building's primary designer. The building was later a prototype for [[Art Deco architecture of New York City|Art Deco]] architecture in [[Manhattan]], including [[Rockefeller Center]] and other building structures. Built between 1926 and 1928, the PPL Building's exterior decorative friezes were designed by [[Alexander Archipenko]]. The building has been illuminated every night since its opening in 1928.<ref>Ann Bartholomew (Author), Carol M. Front (Author) (2002), Allentown (Images of America), Arcadia Publishing (April 8, 2002), {{ISBN|0738509965}}, p. 38</ref> In clear weather at night, the PPL Building's nighttime illumination is visible as far north as the [[Blue Mountain Resort|Blue Mountain Ski Area]] in [[Palmerton, Pennsylvania|Palmerton]]. The building's exterior is featured in multiple scenes in the 1954 movie ''[[Executive Suite]]''.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |url=https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/life-and-culture/g66l-2019/01/16469ca35b7553/m-night-shyamalans-glass-joins-these-21-other-films-shot-in-the-lehigh-valley.html |title=M. Night Shyamalan's 'Glass' joins these 21 other films shot in the Lehigh Valley |first=Nick |last=Falsone |date=January 16, 2019 |website=Lehighvalleylive.com |access-date=March 4, 2022 |archive-date=February 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220215081502/https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/life-and-culture/g66l-2019/01/16469ca35b7553/m-night-shyamalans-glass-joins-these-21-other-films-shot-in-the-lehigh-valley.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Miller Symphony Hall]] at 23 N. 6th Street opened in 1896 and served initially as the city's public market; the 1,100 seat facility is now home to the [[Allentown Symphony Orchestra]]. The structure was converted to a theater in 1899 by architect [[J. B. McElfatrick]]'s firm, and was initially named the Lyric Theater. Miller Symphony Hall, one of roughly a dozen famous McElfatrick designs still standing in the nation, has been used for burlesque shows, vaudeville, silent films, symphony orchestras, and other entertainment for over a century.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080213094212/http://www.allentownsymphony.org/ABOUTSYMPHONYHALL/tabid/192/Default.aspx "About Symphony Hall"]. Allentown Symphony Orchestra official website. Archived February 13, 2008</ref> Other Allentown-based performing arts facilities and programs include Pennsylvania Sinfonia, Community Concerts of Allentown, [[Allentown Band]], and Community Music School of the Lehigh Valley.

=== Climate ===
{{Main|Climate of Allentown, Pennsylvania}}
Under the [[Köppen climate classification]], Allentown falls within the [[humid continental climate|hot-summer humid continental climate]] (''Dfa'') if the {{convert|0|°C}} isotherm is used or the [[humid subtropical climate]] (''Cfa'') if the {{convert|-3|°C}} isotherm is used. Summers are typically warm and muggy. Fall and spring are generally mild. Winter is cool to cold. Precipitation is almost uniformly distributed throughout the year.

The average temperature in January is {{convert|30.1|°F|1}} and the lowest officially-recorded temperature was {{convert|-15|°F|0}} on [[1994 North American cold wave|January 21, 1994]].<ref name=nws>{{cite web |url=https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=phi |title=NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data |publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |access-date=August 8, 2021 |archive-date=March 5, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305104542/https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=phi |url-status=live}}</ref> July averages {{convert|75.6|°F|1}} and the highest temperature on record was {{convert|105|°F|0}} on July 3, 1966.<ref name=nws/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.met.utah.edu/jhorel/html/wx/climate/normrain.html |title=Normal Monthly Precipitation, Inches |access-date=November 4, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061113222938/http://www.met.utah.edu/jhorel/html/wx/climate/normrain.html |archive-date=November 13, 2006 |url-status=dead}}</ref> January temperatures average below freezing. Seven months average above {{convert|50|°F|1}}, and two months average above {{convert|71.6|°F|1}}.

Snowfall is variable with some winters bringing light snow and others bringing multiple and significant snowstorms. Average snowfall is {{convert|33.1|in|cm|0}} seasonally<ref>{{cite web |url=http://lwf.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/online/ccd/snowfall.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020219075528/http://lwf.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/online/ccd/snowfall.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 19, 2002 |title=Snowfall – Average Total In Inches |access-date=November 4, 2006}}</ref> with February receiving the highest snowfall at just under {{convert|11|in|mm}}. Rainfall is generally spread throughout the year with eight to 12 days of precipitation monthly<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.met.utah.edu/jhorel/html/wx/climate/daysrain.html |title=Average Days of Precipitation, .01&nbsp;cm or more |access-date=November 4, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061103025303/http://www.met.utah.edu/jhorel/html/wx/climate/daysrain.html |archive-date=November 3, 2006 |url-status=dead}}</ref> at an average annual rate of {{convert|110.5|cm|in|order=flip}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.met.utah.edu/jhorel/html/wx/climate/normrain.html |title=Average Monthly Precipitation |access-date=November 4, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061113222938/http://www.met.utah.edu/jhorel/html/wx/climate/normrain.html |archive-date=November 13, 2006 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Allentown falls under the [[United States Department of Agriculture|U.S. Department of Agriculture]]'s 6b Plant [[hardiness zone]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/ |title=USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map |author=Agricultural Research Center, PRISM Climate Group Oregon State University |website=[[United States Department of Agriculture]] |access-date=February 24, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140227032333/http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/ |archive-date=February 27, 2014}}</ref>
{{Allentown, Pennsylvania weatherbox}}