Living and Working in Lehigh Valley

Experience the Greater Lehigh Valley Area

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St. Luke's

St. Luke's Graduate
Medical Education

St. Luke's two largest hospital campuses are in Bethlehem and Allentown – major metropolitan areas that make up the Greater Lehigh Valley. Both communities have a rich and diverse history dating back to the 1700s.

Bethlehem

Founded in 1741 as a Moravian settlement, Bethlehem is rich in colonial and industrial history. Through the years of growth and progress, Bethlehem has carefully preserved its past. Main Street in historic downtown Bethlehem offers quaint shops and restaurants and many historic attractions. Gardens and parks add to Bethlehem's beauty and make it a wonderful place to visit or call home. The city also offers many wonderful festivals annually, including Musikfest and Celtic Fest. The Sands Casino Resort in Bethlehem also offers a variety of nightlife, entertainment and restaurants.

Allentown

Named after its founder William Allen (a former mayor of Philadelphia), Allentown started as a rural village in 1762. It is home to many residences, businesses and recreational attractions. The park system in Allentown is expansive, largely due to the efforts of the late philanthropist and industrialist General Harry C. Trexler.

Those wishing to stay within the city's limits can enjoy great nightlife and fine dining to festivals and cultural offerings such as the Allentown Art Museum and Symphony Hall, home of the Allentown Symphony Orchestra.

A key tourist attraction for families is Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom, a major amusement park on the East Coast. Also, the Lehigh Valley Ironpigs, the AAA affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies, make their home in Coca-Cola Park in Allentown.

A Short Drive to Major Cities

The Lehigh Valley is close to many major cities including:

  • Philadelphia (1 hour)
  • New York City (1.5 hours)
  • Baltimore (3 hours)
  • Boston (5.5 hours)
  • Washington, D.C. (3.5 hours)

The area is less than an hour away from the Pocono Mountains (and its skiing and whitewater rafting) and is only a short drive to the nearest shore.

Affordable Living

The Lehigh Valley also affords residents a lower cost of living than other major metropolitan areas. To learn more about local housing costs and current offerings, visit any number of local realtors that can be accessed via a web search.