Here are a few pictures of our home town, Bethlehem Pennsylvania. The first three were taken from the "lookout" at Lehigh University. The pictures show South Bethlehem in the foreground and toward the top of the pictures is North Bethlehem. The city was founded by Moravians. Bethlehem covers large areas in the counties of Northampton and Lehigh. According to the 2010 census Bethlehem is the 7th largest city in the state with 74,982 residents. Its is part of the third largest metropolitan area in the state. Two other cities, Allentown and Easton make up the other part of the metro area with many other little towns. This area is know as the Lehigh Valley.
Steep hills are not only in San Francisco. Note all the wires. That is the remains of Bethlehem Steel in the background. There are many roads to the left and right of this one that are just as steep. In the passed before every family had a car, these hills were home to many steel workers. A short walk to work.
Many of these remaining skeletons of a passed super industry were to become part of a museum supported by the Smithsonian Institute. Bethlehem Steel started in 1857 and lasted until 2003. It ceased operations in 1995. During World Wars 1 and 2 it supplied steel for 1,100 warships.
The heyday of the steel industry is long gone, but our town built by the steel industry is still a very vibrant town.
It's really neat to know that the town didn't collapse when the steel was gone. That happens way too often.
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