Bethlehem, PA
Music connected to Bethlehem
About Bethlehem
- • Jimmy Herring, the lead guitarist for Widespread Panic, was born in Bethlehem.
- • The Moravian Book Shop, the oldest bookstore in the U.S., was founded there in 1745.
- • Its early economy was built on the Moravian Church's communal economy and craft industries.
- • The Star of Bethlehem, a large metal star, tops South Mountain every Christmas season.
- • The Great Flood of 1955 caused significant damage and spurred major infrastructure changes.
- • It was named on Christmas Eve in 1741, after the biblical Bethlehem.
- • With roughly 75,000 residents, it's smaller than Allentown, but larger than Easton.
- • At 400 feet above sea level, the air feels crisp and the views stretch far.
- • Healthcare and education are major employment sectors, alongside manufacturing.
- • A charming mix of historic beauty and modern energy creates a welcoming atmosphere.
- • The Lehigh Valley IronPigs, a Phillies minor league affiliate, play in nearby Allentown.
- • Lehigh University has a fierce football rivalry with Lafayette College, dating back to 1884.