Lehigh County, Pennsylvania Totally Explained

Everything about Lehigh County Pennsylvania totally explained

Lehigh County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It was formed in 1812 from parts of Northampton County. As of 2000, the population of the county is 312,090. Its county seat is Allentown.
Lehigh County is named after the Lehigh River (whose name is derived from the Delaware Indian term Lechauweki or Lechauwekink, meaning "where there are forks"), which runs through the county's two largest cities, Allentown and Bethlehem. It is located in the Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania, in the eastern part of the state.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 348 square miles (902 km²), of which, 347 square miles (898 km²) of it's land and 2 square miles (4 km²) of it (0.48%) is water.

Adjacent counties

Carbon County (north)
Northampton County (east)
Bucks County (southeast)
Montgomery County (south)
Berks County (southwest and west)
Schuylkill County (northwest)

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 312,090 people, 121,906 households, and 82,164 families residing in the county. The population density was 900 people per square mile (348/km²). There were 128,910 housing units at an average density of 372 per square mile (144/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 87.02% White, 3.56% Black or African American, 0.18% Native American, 2.10% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 5.28% from other races, and 1.83% from two or more races. 10.22% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 27.1% were of German, 7.9% Italian, 7.7% Irish, 6.2% Pennsylvania German and 5.6% American ancestry according to Census 2000. 85.0% spoke English, 8.4% Spanish and 1.2% Arabic as their first language.
There were 121,906 households out of which 30.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.00% were married couples living together, 10.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.60% were non-families. 27.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the county, the population was spread out with 23.90% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 29.20% from 25 to 44, 23.00% from 45 to 64, and 15.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 93.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.60 males.

Politics

As of November 2007, there are 205,974 registered voters in Lehigh County (External Link

Democratic: 93,165 (45.23%)

Republican: 79,265 (38.48%)

Other Parties: 33,544 (16.29%) Despite the advantage in Democratic voter registration, Lehigh County is part of the PA-15 which elected Republicans Charlie Dent in 2004 and 2006 and Pat Toomey in 1998, 2000, and 2002 to Congress. In 2004, however, the county did narrowly vote for John Kerry over George W. Bush for President. The 15th Congressional district is generally considered one of the most contentious "swing districts" nationally, with neither Republicans nor Democrats winning the district consistently.

Famous people from Lehigh County

Lehigh County is the birthplace of several famous Americans, including:

Chuck Bednarik, former professional football player, Philadelphia Eagles, and member of Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Stephen Vincent Benét, author.

Michaela Conlin, stage and television actress, Bones.

H.D., writer.

Charlie Dent, Member of Congress.

Peter Gruner, professional wrestler.

Lee Iacocca, former chairman of Chrysler Corporation.

Keith Jarrett, jazz musician.

Michael Johns, health care executive and former White House speechwriter.

Carson Kressley, fashion consultant on Bravo's Queer Eye for the Straight Guy.

Matt Millen, former professional football player, Oakland Raiders, San Francisco 49ers and Washington Redskins, and current President and General Manager, Detroit Lions.

Andre Reed, former professional football player, Buffalo Bills and Washington Redskins.

Amanda Seyfried, model and actress, The CW's Veronica Mars and HBO's Big Love.

Curt Simmons, former professional baseball player, California Angels, Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies and St. Louis Cardinals.

Dana Snyder, voice actor, Cartoon Network's Aqua Teen Hunger Force

Christine Taylor, actress and wife of actor Ben Stiller.

Lauren Weisberger, author of The Devil Wears Prada.

Municipalities

Under Pennsylvania law, there are four types of incorporated municipalities: cities, boroughs,, and, in at most two cases, towns. The following cities, boroughs and townships are located in Lehigh County:

Census-designated places are geographical areas designated by the U.S. Census Bureau for the purposes of compiling demographic data. They are not actual jurisdictions under Pennsylvania law. Other unincorporated communities, such as villages, may be listed here as well.

Census-designated places

Notable Villages

Breingsville

Cementon

Center Valley

Cetronia

Dorneyville

East Texas

Egypt

Fogelsville

Germansville

Ironton

Kuhnsville

Lanark

Laurys Station

Limeport

Lynnport

Mechanicsville

Meyersville

Neffs

Sherersville

Slatedale

Walbert

Education

4-Year Colleges and Universities

Cedar Crest College, Allentown

DeSales University, Center Valley

Muhlenberg College, Allentown

Penn State Lehigh Valley, Fogelsville

2-Year Colleges and Technical Institutes

Baum School of Art, Allentown

Lehigh Carbon Community College - Donley Center, Allentown

Lehigh Carbon Community College - Main Campus, Schnecksville

Lehigh Valley College, Center Valley

Lincoln Technical Institute, Allentown

Public school districts and schools

Allentown School District

William Allen High School, Allentown
Louis E. Dieruff High School, Allentown

Bethlehem Area School District

Freedom High School, Bethlehem
Liberty High School, Bethlehem.

Catasauqua Area School District

East Penn School District

Northern Lehigh School District

Northern Lehigh High School, Slatington

Northwestern Lehigh School District

Northwestern Lehigh High School, New Tripoli

Parkland School District

Parkland High School, South Whitehall Township

Salisbury Township School District

Salisbury High School, Salisbury Township

Southern Lehigh School District

Southern Lehigh High School, Center Valley

Whitehall-Coplay School District

Whitehall High School, Whitehall Township

Non-public high schools and charter schools

Allentown Central Catholic High School, Allentown

Lehigh Career and Technical Institute, Schnecksville

Lehigh Valley Christian High School, Allentown

Roberto Clemente Charter School, Allentown

Salem Christian School, Macungie

Transportation

Air transportation

Air transport to and from Lehigh County is available through Lehigh Valley International Airport .

Bus transportation

Public bus service in Lehigh County is available through the Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority, known as LANTA.

Road transportation

Interstates

I-78

I-476 -Northeast Extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike

US Highway System

Route 22

Route 222

Pennsylvania Highway System

Route 987

Other roads

Cedar Crest Boulevard

Lehigh County media

The Lehigh County is part of the Philadelphia broadcast media market, though numerous New York City radio and television stations also are available in Allentown and its suburbs. Lehigh County-based media include The Morning Call, a daily newspaper in Allentown, and two Allentown-based television stations: WLVT Channel 39 (a PBS affiliate) and WFMZ Channel 69 (an unaffiliated, independent television station).
Lehigh County-area radio stations include WAEB-AM, a news, talk and sports station (in Allentown), WAEB-FM (known as B104), a Top 40 music station (in Allentown), WRAW, an oldies music station (in Allentown), and WZZO, a hard rock music station (in Whitehall Township).

Further Information

Get more info on 'Lehigh County Pennsylvania'.

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