1957 Map of Allentown

About this map

Industrial expansion and postwar suburban growth define the landscape of the Lehigh Valley in the late 1950s. The heavy industrial corridor of Bethlehem and Freemansburg centers on the Lehigh River, where the historic Lehigh Canal and multiple lines of the Reading railroad network intersect. This mid-century view captures the transition from rural agricultural land to residential developments, evidenced by the numerous cemeteries, golf courses like Green Pond Golf Course, and the emergence of neighborhoods such as Palmer Heights and Prospect Park.