View source for Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

{{short description|City in Pennsylvania, US}}
{{Use American English|date = September 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2015}}
{{Infobox settlement
| settlement_type    = [[List of municipalities in Pennsylvania|City]]
| nicknames          = The Christmas City<ref>{{cite web | title = Welcome to the Christmas City | publisher = ChristmasCity.org website | url = http://www.christmascity.org/ | access-date = March 22, 2009 | archive-date = December 14, 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201214183128/https://www.christmascity.org/ | url-status = live }}</ref> and Steel City|
| image_skyline      = {{multiple image
 | border                   = infobox
 | total_width              = 280
 | caption_align            = center
 | perrow                   = 1/2/2
 | image1                   = Bethlehem Pennsylvania downtown.jpg
 | caption1                 = Northside Bethlehem as viewed from the [[Hill to Hill Bridge]]
 | image2                   = South Bethlehem Downtown Historic District Oct 11.JPG
 | caption2                 = [[South Bethlehem Downtown Historic District|South Bethlehem]]
 | image3                   = Alumni Memorial Building Lehigh University.jpg
 | caption3                 = [[Lehigh University]]
 | image4                   = Moravian College Bethlehem 2924px.jpg
 | caption4                 = [[Moravian University]]
 | image5                   = Central Bethlehem Historic District Oct 11.JPG
 | caption5                 = [[Central Bethlehem Historic District]]
}}
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = 
| image_seal         = Bethlehem PA seal.png
| image_flag         = {{multiple image|total_width=100|border=infobox|perrow=1/1|image1=Bethlehem PA Flag.png|image2=Bethlehem PA Flag 2.png}}
| image_blank_emblem = Logo of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.jpg
| blank_emblem_type  = Logo
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| map_caption        = Interactive map of Bethlehem
| pushpin_map        = Pennsylvania#USA
| pushpin_relief     = yes
| pushpin_label      = Bethlehem
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = {{USA}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = {{flag|Pennsylvania}}
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Pennsylvania|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Lehigh County, Pennsylvania|Lehigh]] and [[Northampton County, Pennsylvania|Northampton]]
| government_type    = [[Mayor–council]]
| leader_title       = [[List of mayors of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania|Mayor]]
| leader_name        = [[J. William Reynolds]] ([[Democratic Party (U.S.)|D]])<ref>{{cite web |last1=Satullo |first1=Sara K. |title=Bethlehem Swears in its 14th Mayor |url=https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/bethlehem/2022/01/bethlehem-swears-in-its-14th-mayor.html |website=lehighvalleylive.com |date=January 3, 2022 |access-date=31 January 2022 |archive-date=January 31, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220131182847/https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/bethlehem/2022/01/bethlehem-swears-in-its-14th-mayor.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
| established_title  = Founded
| established_date   = December 24, 1741
| area_magnitude     = 
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_total_sq_mi   = 19.46
| area_total_km2     = 50.40
| area_land_sq_mi    = 19.11
| area_land_km2      = 49.51
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.34
| area_water_km2     = 0.89
| area_urban_sq_mi   = 289.50
| area_urban_km2     = 749.79
| area_metro_sq_mi   = 730.0
| area_metro_km2     = 1174.82
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_note    = 
| population_total   = 75781
| population_density_km2 = 1530.67
| population_density_sq_mi = 3964.48
| population_rank    = [[Lehigh Valley#Cities and location|2nd]] in the [[Lehigh Valley]]<br />[[List of municipalities in Pennsylvania|7th]] in [[Pennsylvania]]
| population_metro   = 865,310 (US: [[Metropolitan statistical area|68th]])
| timezone           = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|EST]]
| utc_offset         = −05:00
| timezone_DST       = [[Eastern Daylight Time|EDT]]
| utc_offset_DST     = −04:00
| coordinates        = {{coord|40|37|34|N|75|22|32|W|region:US-PA|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_m        = 109.728
| elevation_ft       = 360
| footnotes          = 
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP Code]]s
| postal_code        = 18015, 18016, 18017, 18018, and 18019
| area_codes         = [[Area codes 610, 484, and 835|610 and 484]]
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| pop_est_footnotes  = 
| population_est     = 
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 42-06088
| blank1_name        = Primary airport
| blank1_info        = [[Lehigh Valley International Airport]]
| blank2_name        = Major hospital
| blank2_info        = [[Lehigh Valley Hospital–Cedar Crest]]
| blank3_name        = School district
| blank3_info        = [[Bethlehem Area School District|Bethlehem Area]]
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/5/query?where=STATE%3D%2742%27&outFields=NAME%2CSTATE%2CPLACE%2CAREALAND%2CAREAWATER%2CLSADC%2CCENTLAT%2CCENTLON&orderByFields=PLACE&returnGeometry=false&returnTrueCurves=false&f=json|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=October 12, 2022|archive-date=November 9, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109154513/https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/5/query?where=STATE%3D%2742%27&outFields=NAME%2CSTATE%2CPLACE%2CAREALAND%2CAREAWATER%2CLSADC%2CCENTLAT%2CCENTLON&orderByFields=PLACE&returnGeometry=false&returnTrueCurves=false&f=json|url-status=live}}</ref>
| website            = {{URL|https://www.bethlehem-pa.gov}}
| population_footnotes = <ref name="USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly"/>
}}
 <!-- Infobox ends !-->

'''Bethlehem''' is a [[City (Pennsylvania)|city]] in [[Northampton County, Pennsylvania|Northampton]] and [[Lehigh County, Pennsylvania|Lehigh]] counties in the [[Lehigh Valley]] region of eastern [[Pennsylvania]], United States.<ref>{{Citation |last=Taft |first=Chloe E. |title=Bethlehem, Pennsylvania |date=2023-09-20 |encyclopedia=Oxford Research Encyclopedia of American History |url=https://oxfordre.com/americanhistory/display/10.1093/acrefore/9780199329175.001.0001/acrefore-9780199329175-e-1066 |access-date=2024-04-14 |language=en |doi=10.1093/acrefore/9780199329175.013.1066 |isbn=978-0-19-932917-5|url-access=subscription }}</ref> As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], Bethlehem had a total population of 75,781, making it the second-largest city in the Lehigh Valley after [[Allentown, Pennsylvania|Allentown]] and the [[List of cities in Pennsylvania|seventh-largest city]] in the state.<ref>[http://2010.census.gov/news/releases/operations/cb11-cn74.html.csv U.S. Census Bureau, 2010. Retrieved 25 March 2011.]{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Among its total population as of 2020, 55,639 were in Northampton County and 19,343 were in Lehigh County. The city is located along the [[Lehigh River]], a {{convert|109|mi|km|adj=mid|-long}} tributary of the [[Delaware River]].  

Bethlehem lies in the geographic center of the Lehigh Valley, a metropolitan region of <span style="white-space:nowrap">{{convert|731|sqmi|abbr=on}}</span> with a population of 861,899 people as of the 2020 census that is Pennsylvania's [[Pennsylvania metropolitan areas|third-most populous metropolitan area]] and the 68th-most populated [[Metropolitan statistical area|metropolitan area]] in the U.S. Bethlehem borders Allentown to its west and is {{convert|48|mi}} north of [[Philadelphia]] and {{convert|72|mi|km}} west of [[New York City]].

There are four sections to the city: [[Central Bethlehem Historic District|central Bethlehem]], the [[South Bethlehem Downtown Historic District|south side]], the east side, and the west side. Each of these sections blossomed at different times in the city's development and each contains areas recognized under the [[National Register of Historic Places]]. [[Norfolk Southern Railway]]'s [[Lehigh Line (Norfolk Southern)|Lehigh Line]], formerly the main line of the [[Lehigh Valley Railroad]], runs through Bethlehem heading east to Easton and across the [[Delaware River]] to [[Phillipsburg, New Jersey]]. The Norfolk Southern Railway's [[Reading Line]] runs through Bethlehem and west to Allentown and [[Reading, Pennsylvania|Reading]].

Bethlehem has a long historical relationship with the celebration of [[Christmas]]. The city was christened as Bethlehem on [[Christmas Eve]] 1741 by [[Nicolaus Zinzendorf]], a [[Moravian Church|Moravian]] bishop. In 1747, Bethlehem was the first U.S. city to feature a decorated [[Christmas tree]].<ref name="bexar-tx.tamu.edu">{{Cite web |url=https://bexar-tx.tamu.edu/homehort/archives-of-weekly-articles-davids-plant-of-the-week/a-little-bit-of-history-about-christmas-trees/ |title=A little bit of history about Christmas trees," Texas A&M Agrilife Extension |access-date=April 12, 2022 |archive-date=January 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220118012243/https://bexar-tx.tamu.edu/homehort/archives-of-weekly-articles-davids-plant-of-the-week/a-little-bit-of-history-about-christmas-trees/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On December 7, 1937, at a grand ceremony during the [[Great Depression]], the city adopted the nickname '''Christmas City USA''' in a large ceremony.<ref name="Christmas City USA">{{Cite web |url=https://bethlehempa.org/things-to-do/christmas-in-bethlehem/ |title=Christmas City USA |access-date=April 12, 2022 |archive-date=January 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220128003113/https://bethlehempa.org/things-to-do/christmas-in-bethlehem/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It is one of several Lehigh Valley locations, including [[Egypt, Pennsylvania|Egypt]], [[Emmaus, Pennsylvania|Emmaus]], [[Jordan Creek (Pennsylvania)|Jordan Creek]], and [[Nazareth, Pennsylvania|Nazareth]], whose names were inspired by locations in the [[Bible]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Theodore|first1=Bevin|title=Nazareth's Repayment Day celebrates legend of Barony of Rose|url=http://blog.pennlive.com/lvbreakingnews/2008/06/barony_of_rose.html|website=Penn Live|date=June 20, 2008 |publisher=The Patriot News|access-date=1 May 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160617155048/http://blog.pennlive.com/lvbreakingnews/2008/06/barony_of_rose.html|archive-date=17 June 2016}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Karl Bodmer Travels in America (3).jpg|thumb|''View of Bethlehem'', an 1832 [[aquatint]] by [[Karl Bodmer]]]]
[[File:Birds-eye view of the Bethlehems, Pa. LOC 2015585060.jpg|thumb|An 1878 map of Bethlehem and [[South Bethlehem Downtown Historic District|South Bethlehem]]]]
[[File:Bethlehem Pa 1935 LOC fsa 8c52905.jpg|thumb|South Bethlehem homes in the foreground and [[Bethlehem Steel]] in the background in 1935]]
[[File:Bethlehem PA graveyard and steel mill 1935.jpg|thumb|''Bethlehem Graveyard and Steel Mill'', a 1935 photo by [[Walker Evans]] of St. Michael's Cemetery in the foreground with Bethlehem Steel's smokestacks in the background]]

===Settlement===
Prior to European settlements, the areas around present-day Bethlehem and its surrounding locales along the [[Delaware River]] and its tributaries in eastern Pennsylvania were inhabited by various [[indigenous peoples]], including the [[Algonquian languages|Algonquian]]-speaking [[Lenape]], which had three main divisions, known by the [[dialect]]s, the [[Unami people|Unami]], [[Unalachtigo Lenape|Unalachtigo]], and [[Munsee]]. They traded with the [[Dutch colonization of the Americas|Dutch]] and then [[British colonization of the Americas|British colonialists]] in the [[Mid-Atlantic (United States)|Mid-Atlantic]] region in present-day [[Connecticut]], [[Delaware]], [[Long Island]], [[Maryland]], [[New Jersey]], the lower [[Hudson Valley]] in [[New York (state)|New York]], and other regions in [[Pennsylvania]].

===18th century===
{{Further|Central Bethlehem Historic District|Pennsylvania in the American Revolution}}
On April 2, 1741, [[William Allen (loyalist)|William Allen]], a wealthy [[Philadelphia]] merchant and political figure, who later founded the city of [[Allentown, Pennsylvania|Allentown]], deeded {{Convert|500|acre}} along the banks of the [[Monocacy Creek (Lehigh River tributary)|Monocacy Creek]] and [[Lehigh River]] to the [[Moravian Church]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bdhp.moravian.edu/bethlehem/bethlehem.html|title=Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 1741-1844|publisher=Bethlehem Digital History Project|access-date=September 10, 2019|archive-date=August 31, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190831220256/http://bdhp.moravian.edu/bethlehem/bethlehem.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On Christmas Eve of that year, [[David Nitschmann der Bischof|David Nitschmann]] and [[Nicolaus Zinzendorf]], leading a small group of [[Moravian Church|Moravians]], founded the [[Mission (Christian)|mission]] community of Bethlehem at the confluence of the [[Monocacy River|Monocacy]] and [[Lehigh River|Lehigh]] rivers. This group included [[John Martin Mack]], who later became bishop of the Moravians in the [[Virgin Islands]].<ref>Cf. Werner Raupp: „Ein vergnügter Herrnhuter“. Johann Martin Mack, Württembergs erster evangelischer Missionar, in: Blätter für Württembergische Kirchengeschichte 92 (1992), ISSN 0341-9479, p. 111–115.</ref> 

They established missionary communities among the Native Americans and unchurched [[German language|German]]-speaking [[Christianity|Christians]] and named the settlement after the Biblical town [[Bethlehem]] of [[Judea (Roman province)|Judea]], said to be the birthplace of [[Jesus Christ|Jesus]]. "[[Nicolaus Zinzendorf|Count Zinzendorf]] said, 'Brothers, how more fittingly could we call our new home than to name it in honor of the spot where the event we now commemorate took place. We will call this place Bethlehem.' And so was Bethlehem named after the birthplace of the Man of Peace."

Bethlehem was started as a typical Moravian Settlement Congregation, where the Church owned all the property. In the late 1700s, Bethlehem established grist and saw mills, known as Calvin's Mills.<ref name="Calvin">{{cite book|last=Calvin|first=Claude|title=The Calvin Families|publisher=University of Wisconsin|date=1945|url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89062866439;view=1up;seq=1|page=59|access-date=January 9, 2019|archive-date=June 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603041702/https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89062866439;view=1up;seq=1|url-status=live}}</ref> The historic Brethren's House, Sisters' House, Widows' House, and [[Lewis David de Schweinitz Residence|Congregation House]], with the Old Chapel, are remnants of this period of communal living.<ref>{{cite web|title=Exploring the Religious History of the Lehigh Valley at the Moravian Historical Society Museum|url=https://uncoveringpa.com/moravian-historical-society-museum|website=Uncovering PA|date=April 19, 2017|access-date=25 December 2017|archive-date=December 25, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171225093123/https://uncoveringpa.com/moravian-historical-society-museum|url-status=live}}</ref>

Moravians ministered to the regional [[Lenape]] Native Americans through their mission in the area, and to others further east in the [[Province of New York|New York colony]].  In historic Bethlehem's [[God's Acre]] cemetery, converted Lenape were buried alongside Moravians. In 1762, Bethlehem built the first [[waterworks]] in America to pump water for public use.

In the autumn of 1777, during the [[American Revolutionary War]], many [[Patriot (American Revolution)|patriots]] fled from [[Philadelphia]] to Bethlehem and the surrounding area as the [[British Army during the American Revolutionary War|British Army]] advanced from the east. The [[Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette|Marquis de Lafayette]] recovered from an injury received at the [[Battle of Brandywine]] in Bethlehem, and several of the most prominent members of the [[Continental Congress]] fled north to Bethlehem before the congress eventually reconvened in [[Lancaster, Pennsylvania|Lancaster]]. Before, during, and after the [[American Revolution]], Bethlehem was visited by [[George Washington]] and his wife [[Martha Washington|Martha]], [[John Adams]], [[Samuel Adams]], [[Benjamin Franklin]], [[Alexander Hamilton]], [[John Hancock]], and the Marquis de Lafayette. 

On September 22, 1777, records show, 14 of the 56 delegates to the [[Second Continental Congress]] signed the [[Moravian Sun Inn]] register in Bethlehem and stayed there overnight.<ref name="arch">{{cite web| url = https://www.dot7.state.pa.us/ce/SelectWelcome.asp| title = National Historic Landmarks & National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania| publisher = CRGIS: Cultural Resources Geographic Information System| format = Searchable database| access-date = March 17, 2022| archive-date = September 14, 2005| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20050914194407/https://www.dot7.state.pa.us/ce/SelectWelcome.asp| url-status = dead}} ''Note:'' This includes {{cite web| url = https://gis.penndot.gov/CRGISAttachments/SiteResource/H001027_01H.pdf| title = National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form: Moravian Sun Inn| access-date = 2011-11-07| author = unknown| date = n.d.| archive-date = May 16, 2022| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220516124101/https://gis.penndot.gov/CRGISAttachments/SiteResource/H001027_01H.pdf| url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |first=John B. |last=Frantz |title=Franklin and the Pennsylvania Germans |journal=Pennsylvania History |year=1998 |pages=21–34 |url=https://journals.psu.edu/phj/article/view/25467/25236 }}</ref>

George Washington stored his personal effects at the [[Burnside Plantation (Bethlehem, Pennsylvania)|James Burnside farm]] at 1461 Schoenersville Road in Bethlehem. As of 1998, the farm is operated as a historical museum known as James Burnside Plantation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tnonline.com/archives/news/1998_weeklies/09.23/lehigh/briefs.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040709174002/http://www.tnonline.com/archives/news/1998_weeklies/09.23/lehigh/briefs.html|title=weekly news briefs|archive-date=July 9, 2004|work=tnonline.com|access-date=November 13, 2004|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===19th century===
{{Further|Pennsylvania in the American Civil War}}
{{See also|Central Bethlehem Historic District|South Bethlehem Downtown Historic District}}
[[File:Bethlehem 1886 Map.jpg|thumb|An 1886 map prior to the mergers and consolidation into Bethlehem]]
In 1845, Bethlehem was a prosperous village that was incorporated into a free borough in the [[Northampton County, Pennsylvania|County of Northampton]]. After the [[Unity Synod]] of 1848, Bethlehem became the headquarters of the Northern Province of the Moravian Church in North America.<ref>[http://www.moravian.org/history/ "Moravian Church in North America: Our History"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080829134130/http://www.moravian.org/history/ |date=August 29, 2008 }}</ref> On March 27, 1900, [[the Bach Choir of Bethlehem]] presented the United States debut of [[Germans|German]] [[Lutheranism|Lutheran]] composer [[Johann Sebastian Bach]]'s [[Mass in B Minor]] in the city's Central Moravian Church. Bethlehem was one of the four leading Moravian communities in the [[Northeastern United States]]; [[Emmaus, Pennsylvania|Emmaus]], [[Lititz, Pennsylvania|Lititz]], and [[Nazareth, Pennsylvania|Nazareth]], each in Pennsylvania, were the three others.

Until the 1850s, officially only members of the Moravian Church were permitted to lease land plots in Bethlehem. A member of a group of [[Huguenots|Huguenot]] families also settled in Bethlehem.

In 1865, after the end of the [[American Civil War|Civil War]], the Borough of South Bethlehem was formed. In 1886, the Borough of West Bethlehem in [[Lehigh County, Pennsylvania|Lehigh County]] was formed.

===20th century===
In 1901, the Borough of Northampton Heights was incorporated. Starting in 1904, the borough of Bethlehem began a concerted effort to merge with its neighboring municipalities. In 1904 Bethlehem absorbed West Bethlehem followed shortly after in 1905 by Hottlesville. South Bethlehem would attempt to resist merger and incorporated themselves as their own city in 1913; however, the [[Supreme Court of Pennsylvania]] struck down their incorporation as unconstitutional in 1915 and in 1917 South Bethlehem would be annexed.

Following the merger with South Bethlehem, the new consolidated City of Bethlehem was incorporated. [[Bethlehem Steel]] executive [[Archibald Johnston (Bethlehem)|Archibald Johnston]] was elected the new city's first mayor. Northampton Heights was incorporated into the city in 1920 after significant local resistance and a failed proposed merger between Northampton Heights and [[Hellertown, Pennsylvania|Hellertown]] to make a rival city. With the annexation of [[Hottlesville, Pennsylvania|Hottlesville]], [[Macada, Pennsylvania|Macada]], [[Altonah, Pennsylvania|Altonah]], and the former town of [[Shimersville, Northampton County, Pennsylvania|Shimersville]], Bethlehem's present borders were established.
{{wide image|Bethlehem steel c.1896.jpg|850px|The blast furnaces of [[Bethlehem Steel]] in Bethlehem as seen from the north bank of the [[Lehigh River]] with [[South Mountain (Eastern Pennsylvania)|South Mountain]] in the background in 1896}}

== Geography ==
[[File:Hill to Hill Bridge, Bethlehem PA 02.JPG|thumb|[[Hill to Hill Bridge]], crossing the [[Lehigh River]], connects North Bethlehem with [[South Bethlehem Downtown Historic District|South Bethlehem]].]]
[[File:South Bethlehem PA View 01.JPG|thumb|[[South Bethlehem Downtown Historic District|South Bethlehem]] in September 2013]]
[[File:Lehigh River Bethlehem.jpg|thumb|The [[Lehigh River]] in Bethlehem in January 2007]]
According to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|19.4|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|19.3|sqmi|km2}} is land and {{convert|0.2|sqmi|km2}} (0.88%) is water. Because large volumes of water were required in the [[steelmaking]] process, the city purchased <span style="white-space:nowrap">{{convert|22,000|acre}}</span> of land in the [[Pocono Mountains]], where its water is stored in reservoirs. The [[Lehigh River]], a tributary of the [[Delaware River|Delaware]], flows through Bethlehem. [[Monocacy Creek (Lehigh River tributary)|Monocacy]] and [[Saucon Creek]]s empty into the Lehigh River in Bethlehem.

Bethlehem is approximately {{convert|50|mi|km}} north of [[Philadelphia]] and about {{convert|80|mi|km}} west of [[New York City]].

=== Climate ===
Bethlehem has a [[humid continental climate]] (''Dfa''). Summers are typically hot and humid, fall and spring are generally mild, and winter is cold. Precipitation is distributed fairly uniformly throughout the year, with thunderstorms in the summer, showers in spring and fall, and snow in winter. The average high temperature varies widely, from {{convert|37|°F|°C}} in January to {{convert|85|°F|°C}} in July. The highest recorded temperature was {{convert|105|°F|°C}}, while the lowest recorded temperature was {{convert|-16|°F|°C}}.

Bethlehem falls under the [[United States Department of Agriculture|USDA]] 6b Plant [[hardiness zone]].<ref>{{cite web
 |url      = https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/
 |title      = USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
 |author      = Agricultural Research Center, PRISM Climate Group Oregon State University
 |website      = USDA
 |access-date      = February 24, 2014
 |url-status      = live
 |archive-url      = https://web.archive.org/web/20140227032333/http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/
 |archive-date      = February 27, 2014
 |df      = mdy-all
 }}</ref>

{{Weather box|width=auto
|location = Bethlehem
|single line = Y
|Jan record high F = 72
|Feb record high F = 76
|Mar record high F = 87
|Apr record high F = 94
|May record high F = 97
|Jun record high F = 100
|Jul record high F = 105
|Aug record high F = 105
|Sep record high F = 99
|Oct record high F = 93
|Nov record high F = 81
|Dec record high F = 72
|year record high F= 105
|Jan high F = 37
|Feb high F = 40
|Mar high F = 49
|Apr high F = 61
|May high F = 72
|Jun high F = 80
|Jul high F = 85
|Aug high F = 82
|Sep high F = 75
|Oct high F = 64
|Nov high F = 53
|Dec high F = 41
|year high F=
|Jan low F = 21
|Feb low F = 22
|Mar low F = 29
|Apr low F = 39
|May low F = 48
|Jun low F = 58
|Jul low F = 64
|Aug low F = 61
|Sep low F = 53
|Oct low F = 41
|Nov low F = 33
|Dec low F = 24
|year low F=
|Jan record low F = −16
|Feb record low F = −12
|Mar record low F = −5
|Apr record low F = 12
|May record low F = 29
|Jun record low F = 39
|Jul record low F = 38
|Aug record low F = 41
|Sep record low F = 31
|Oct record low F = 19
|Nov record low F = 3
|Dec record low F = −9
|year record low F= −16
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 3.03
|Feb precipitation inch = 2.80
|Mar precipitation inch = 3.39
|Apr precipitation inch = 3.56
|May precipitation inch = 4.14
|Jun precipitation inch = 4.31
|Jul precipitation inch = 4.95
|Aug precipitation inch = 3.69
|Sep precipitation inch = 4.62
|Oct precipitation inch = 3.88
|Nov precipitation inch = 3.50
|Dec precipitation inch = 3.58
|year precipitation inch= 45.45
|source 1 = The Weather Channel<ref>{{cite web|title=Monthly Averages for Bethlehem, PA|url=http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/businesstraveler/wxclimatology/monthly/USPA0125|access-date=August 3, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140305081702/http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/businesstraveler/wxclimatology/monthly/USPA0125|archive-date=March 5, 2014|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
|date=August 2013
}}

=== Neighborhoods ===
Bethlehem is divided into five main areas: [[Central Bethlehem Historic District|Center City]], West Side, East Side, [[South Bethlehem Downtown Historic District|South Side]], and North Side. The West Side is located in [[Lehigh County, Pennsylvania|Lehigh County]] and the other four neighborhoods are in [[Northampton County, Pennsylvania|Northampton County]].
* Center City is bounded by [[Monocacy Creek (Lehigh River tributary)|Monocacy Creek]] to the west, Dewberry Ave. to the North, and Stefko Boulevard to the east.
* The West Side begins at the city's western border with [[Allentown, Pennsylvania|Allentown]] and continues east to the Monocacy Creek and north to [[Hanover Township, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania|Hanover Township]].
**The Mount Airy Neighborhood is bounded by Pennsylvania Ave to the west, West Broad St to the north, 2nd Avenue to the east, and the [[Lehigh River]] to the south.
* The East Side is bordered to the west by Center City and to the east by Bethlehem Township and [[Freemansburg, Pennsylvania|Freemansburg]]. The East Side includes the [[Pembroke Village]] area.
* The South Side's borders are [[Fountain Hill, Pennsylvania|Fountain Hill]] to the west, the [[Lehigh River]] to the north, [[South Mountain (Eastern Pennsylvania)|South Mountain]] to the south, and [[Hellertown, Pennsylvania|Hellertown]] to the east.
* The North Side begins above Dewberry Ave and extends up Route 191 (Linden Ave) to Oakland Road, where the city and township divide is. Northside extends as far West as Monocacy Creek on Macada Road and as far East as Easton Ave and Stefko Blvd. intersection. 'North Side' refers more to a cultural division than an actual boundary.

== Demographics ==
{{US Census population
|1850= 1516
|1860= 2866
|1870= 4512
|1880= 5193
|1890= 6762
|1900= 7293
|1910= 12837
|1920= 50358
|1930= 57892
|1940= 58490
|1950= 66340
|1960= 75408
|1970= 72686
|1980= 70419
|1990= 71428
|2000= 71329
|2010= 74982
|2020= 75781
|estyear=2024
|estimate=79453
|footnote=Sources:<ref name="USDecennialCensus">{{cite web|title=Census of Population and Housing|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=December 11, 2013|df=mdy|archive-date=April 26, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150426102944/http://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website|df=mdy|archive-date=December 27, 1996|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19961227012639/https://www.census.gov/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=CensusPopEst>{{cite web|title=Incorporated Places and Minor Civil Divisions Datasets: Subcounty Resident Population Estimates: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012|url=https://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2012/SUB-EST2012.html|work=Population Estimates|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=December 11, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130611010502/http://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2012/SUB-EST2012.html|archive-date=June 11, 2013|df=mdy}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Census 2020|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/bethlehemcitypennsylvania/PST045219|access-date=October 8, 2021|archive-date=April 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210413142149/https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/bethlehemcitypennsylvania/PST045219|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly">{{cite web|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=P1_001N,NAME&for=place:*&in=state:42&key=5ccd0821c15d9f4520e2dcc0f8d92b2ec9336108|title=Census Population API|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=Oct 12, 2022|archive-date=November 9, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109154513/https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=P1_001N,NAME&for=place:*&in=state:42&key=5ccd0821c15d9f4520e2dcc0f8d92b2ec9336108|url-status=live}}</ref>
}}

As of the 2020 census,<ref name="GR2" /> there are 75,781 people living in the city. The racial makeup of the city is 72.7% [[White people in the United States|White]], 9.2% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.3% [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]], 0.0% [[Pacific Islander]], 3.1% [[Asian American (U.S. Census)|Asian American]], 9.8% from [[Other races (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 7.5% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race are 29.9% of the population.

As of the census<ref name="GR2" /> of 2010, there were 74,982 people living in the city. There were 31,221 housing units, with 5.9% vacant.  The racial makeup of the city was 76.4% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 6.9% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.3% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 2.9% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.0% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 10.0% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 3.4% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 24.4% of the population.

As of the census<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 71,329 people living in the city, including 17,094 families and 28,116 households. The population density was {{convert|3,704.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 29,631 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1,538.8|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 81.85% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 3.64% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.26% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 2.22% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.03% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 9.44% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.56% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 18.23% of the population.
There were 28,116 households, out of which 26.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.1% were married couples living together, 12.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.2% were non-families. 32.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 21.0% under the age of 18, 14.4% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 20.1% from 45 to 64, and 17.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.6 males. The median income for a household in the city was $35,815, and the median income for a family was $45,354. Males had a median income of $35,190 versus $25,817 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,987. About 11.1% of families and 15.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.7% of those under age 18 and 8.8% of those age 65 or over.

===Crime===
{{Infobox UCR
|city_name=Bethlehem
|year=2018
|homicide=1.3
|forcible_rape=42.2
|robbery=65.9
|aggravated_assault=163.6
|violent_crime=273.0
|burglary=286.2
|larceny_theft=1,329.7
|motor_vehicle_theft=73.9
|arson=6.6
|property_crime=1689.8
|source_url=https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2018/crime-in-the-u.s.-2018/tables/table-8/table-8-state-cuts/pennsylvania.xls
|source_name=2018 FBI UCR Data
|notes=2018 population: 75,809
}}
As of 2018 in the [[Lehigh Valley]], Bethlehem had a lower crime rate than [[Allentown, Pennsylvania|Allentown]], but a higher crime rate than [[Easton, Pennsylvania|Easton]], the Lehigh Valley's third-largest city. In 2018, Bethlehem had a violent crime index of 273.0, while Allentown's violent crime index was 338.4 and Easton's was 254.1.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-09-30 |title=Crime in the U.S. 2018: Table 8 |url=https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2018/crime-in-the-u.s.-2018/tables/table-1/table-1.xls |access-date=2023-05-11 |website=FBI Uniform Crime Reports |language=en-us |archive-date=March 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320170126/https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2018/crime-in-the-u.s.-2018/tables/table-1/table-1.xls |url-status=live }}</ref> For reference, the United States' average was 368.9 in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-09-30 |title=Crime in the U.S. 2018: Table 1 |url=https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2018/crime-in-the-u.s.-2018/tables/table-8/table-8-state-cuts/pennsylvania.xls |access-date=2023-05-11 |website=FBI Uniform Crime Reports |language=en-us |archive-date=May 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230511210245/https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2018/crime-in-the-u.s.-2018/tables/table-8/table-8-state-cuts/pennsylvania.xls |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Economy==
===Bethlehem Steel===
{{main|Bethlehem Steel}}
[[File:Bethlehem Steel (18).JPG|thumb|This former [[Bethlehem Steel]] building and its smokestacks have been preserved.]]
[[File:Sands Casino Resort bridge with sign.JPG|thumb|[[Wind Creek Bethlehem]], a casino that opened in 2009 on the former grounds of [[Bethlehem Steel]]]]
Bethlehem became a center of heavy industry and trade during the [[Industrial Revolution]]. [[Bethlehem Steel]] (1857–2003), founded and based in Bethlehem, was once the second-largest steel producer in the United States, after [[Pittsburgh]]-based [[U.S. Steel]]. The company was a powerhouse in the mid-twentieth century, with over 30,000 employees at its peak.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rajdev |first=Anmol |date=2023-06-26 |title=Bethlehem Steel's Asbestos Hazard {{!}} HalpernLawyer.com % |url=https://halpernlawyer.com/blog/bethlehem-steels-asbestos-hazard/ |access-date=2024-04-24 |website=The Halpern Law Firm |language=en}}</ref> Bethlehem Steel was also one of the largest [[shipbuilding]] companies in the world and one of the most powerful symbols of American industrial manufacturing leadership, and it manufactured over 1,100 [[warship]]s used in [[World War II]].

Bethlehem Steel began producing the first wide-flange structural shapes made in the United States and they pioneered the production of the now-ubiquitous "I-beam" used in construction of steel-framed buildings, including skyscrapers. It manufactured construction materials for numerous [[New York City]] and other city skyscrapers and major bridges.

The company became a major supplier of [[armor]] plate and ordnance products during World War I and World War II. After roughly 140 years of metal production at its Bethlehem plant, Bethlehem Steel ceased operations there in 1995, in the face of overseas competition and declining demand, and the company's liquidation was completed in 2003.

===Wind Creek Bethlehem===
{{Main|Wind Creek Bethlehem}}
In December 2006, [[Las Vegas Sands Corp]] was awarded a Category 2 Slot Machine License by the [[Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board]]. LVSC began work on the site, categorized as both the largest [[brownfield]] redevelopment project in the nation and the largest casino development investment made to date in Pennsylvania.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Taft |first=Chloe E. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0pK-CwAAQBAJ&pg=PA1 |title=From Steel to Slots: Casino Capitalism in the Postindustrial City |date=2016-04-06 |publisher=Harvard University Press |isbn=978-0-674-66049-6 |language=en |jstor=j.ctvjnrsg4}}</ref> Its mission was to create reinvestment and urbanization in the area. At a projected cost of $743 million, the historic [[Bethlehem Steel]] plant is being redeveloped as a fully integrated [[resort]], to include 3,000 slot machines, over 300 hotel rooms, 9 restaurants, {{convert|200000|sqft|m2}} of retail outlet shopping, and {{convert|46000|sqft|m2}} of flexible multi-purpose space.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pasands.com/about/default.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090512030742/http://www.pasands.com/about/default.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 12, 2009|title=Sands Casino - Resort - Bethlehem|date=May 12, 2009}}</ref> In 2007, the casino resort company of [[Las Vegas Sands]] began the construction of Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem, later rebranded as [[Wind Creek Bethlehem]]. The casino has been projected to bring in approximately $1&nbsp;million in revenue per day as of 2009.

Another major economic anchor to the city is [[St. Luke's University Health Network|St. Luke's Hospital]] located in neighboring [[Fountain Hill, Pennsylvania|Fountain Hill]]. That Hospital and Health Network is the second-largest of its type in the [[Lehigh Valley]]. Other major employers include [[B. Braun Melsungen|B. Braun]], [[Lehigh University]], and [[the Guardian Life Insurance Company of America]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.greaterlehighvalleyrealtors.com/about-the-lehigh-valley/top-25-lehigh-valley-employers|title=Top 25 Greater Lehigh Valley Employers - GLVR|access-date=September 26, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150927170755/http://www.greaterlehighvalleyrealtors.com/about-the-lehigh-valley/top-25-lehigh-valley-employers|archive-date=September 27, 2015|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

Other companies in Bethlehem include the candy company [[Just Born]]. [[Zulily]] has a large logistics operation in the city that serves the United States.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mcall.com/news/local/mc-bethlehem-zulily-expansion-20140911-story.html|title=Zulily's Bethlehem warehouse is Lehigh Valley's 'biggest economic' coup of 2014|date=September 12, 2014|access-date=November 11, 2021|archive-date=November 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211111163126/https://www.mcall.com/news/local/mc-bethlehem-zulily-expansion-20140911-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Retail development===
{{Further|The Outlets at Wind Creek Bethlehem|Westgate Mall (Pennsylvania)}}
In the early 21st century, several shops and restaurants have opened in the city's [[Central Bethlehem Historic District|downtown]] and [[South Bethlehem Downtown Historic District|South Side]].<ref name=Chamber2010 /> In the mid-1970s, West Broad Street between New and Guetter Streets in center city was converted to a pedestrian plaza. The buildings on the south side of the block were torn down and replaced by an enclosed mall and an eleven-story office tower.<ref name=Lehigh>{{cite web|url=http://digital.lib.lehigh.edu/cdm4/beyond_viewer.php?CISOPTR=21471&ptr=21511&searchworks=search_0__621&DMTHUMB=1|title=Beyond Steel: Past Revitalization Efforts|publisher=[[Lehigh University]]|access-date=2017-12-01|archive-date=December 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171202053247/http://digital.lib.lehigh.edu/cdm4/beyond_viewer.php?CISOPTR=21471&ptr=21511&searchworks=search_0__621&DMTHUMB=1|url-status=live}}</ref> The tower, at One Bethlehem Plaza on the corner of Broad and New, continues to operate, but the {{Convert|80,000|ft2|adj=on}} mall, which was erected in response to the development of suburban shopping malls, failed. Since then, the block has been reopened to traffic, and the mall has been converted into offices for PowerSchool, a software company based in [[Folsom, California]], and the [[Internal Revenue Service]].<ref name=Lehigh /><ref name=PowerSchool>{{Citation|last=Salamone|first=Anthony|title=Bethlehem's SunGard K-12 sold in $850M deal|newspaper=[[The Morning Call]]|date=February 2, 2017|url=http://www.mcall.com/business/retail/mc-allentown-moravian-book-shop-closing-20170512-story.html|access-date=2017-12-01|archive-date=December 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171202052807/http://www.mcall.com/business/retail/mc-allentown-moravian-book-shop-closing-20170512-story.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Retail business in downtown Bethlehem on Main Street south of Broad Street has experienced growth.<ref name="LATimes">{{Citation |last=Zimmermann |first=Karl |title=Bethlehem, Pa.'s German Christmas tradition |date=December 25, 2011 |url=https://www.latimes.com/travel/la-xpm-2011-dec-25-la-tr-bethlehem-20111225-story.html |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111228042618/http://articles.latimes.com/2011/dec/25/travel/la-tr-bethlehem-20111225 |access-date=2017-12-01 |url-status=live |archive-date=December 28, 2011}}</ref> The two-block shopping area is anchored by the campus of [[Moravian University]], Central Moravian Church in the south, Bethlehem Common indoor mall, and the historic [[Moravian Sun Inn]], built in 1758, in the north.<ref name=Downtown>{{cite web|url=https://getdowntownbethlehem.com/get-the-style/|title=Get Downtown and Experience Bethlehem: Shopping and Salons|publisher=Downtown Bethlehem Association|access-date=2017-12-01|archive-date=December 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171202053013/https://getdowntownbethlehem.com/get-the-style/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Among the blocks' attractions are the [[Moravian Book Shop]], the country's oldest continuously operating bookstore built in 1756, and the historic [[Hotel Bethlehem]], built in 1922.<ref name=Downtown /><ref name=Publishers>{{Citation|last=High|first=John|title=PW: Centenarian Booksellers II|newspaper=[[Publishers Weekly]]|date=August 14, 2000|url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/print/20000814/19127-pw-centenarian-booksellers-ii.html|access-date=2017-12-01|archive-date=December 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171202053052/https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/print/20000814/19127-pw-centenarian-booksellers-ii.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

On the city's South Side, new stores and restaurants opened on 3rd and 4th streets in the early 21st century, due partly to the presence of [[Lehigh University]] and the 2009 openings of [[Wind Creek Bethlehem]] casino and SteelStacks, a {{Convert|10|acre|adj=on}} campus dedicated to music and the arts, on property that was previously part of [[Bethlehem Steel]]'s global manufacturing headquarters prior to the company's 2001 liquidation.<ref name=Chamber2010>{{cite web|url=http://www.bethlehempa.org/docs/Guide_2010-revwebsite.pdf|title=Bethlehem Pennsylvania Guide, July 2010-July 2011|publisher=Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce|access-date=2017-12-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171215095837/http://www.bethlehempa.org/docs/Guide_2010-revwebsite.pdf|archive-date=December 15, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=UrbanLand>{{cite web|url=https://casestudies.uli.org/steelstacks-arts-and-cultural-campus/|title=SteelStacks Arts and Cultural Campus|date=November 30, 2015|publisher=[[Urban Land Institute]]|access-date=2017-12-01|archive-date=December 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171202102736/https://casestudies.uli.org/steelstacks-arts-and-cultural-campus/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Outside center city Bethlehem, there are five additional shopping centers:
* Bethlehem Square on the edge of the city in [[Bethlehem Township, Pennsylvania|Bethlehem Township]]
* Lehigh Center Shopping Center on Union Boulevard near the [[Allentown, Pennsylvania|Allentown]] border
* Martin Court Shopping Center on 8th Avenue near [[Pennsylvania Route 378|Route 378]]
* Stefko Boulevard Shopping Center between Washington and Easton Avenues
* [[Westgate Mall (Pennsylvania)|Westgate Mall]], an enclosed mall, on Schoenersville Road

==Arts and culture==
===Christmas celebrations===
[[File:Star of Bethlehem Main Street 2382px.jpg|thumb|A replica of the [[Star of Bethlehem]] on Main Street in Bethlehem with historic [[Hotel Bethlehem]] on the right in December 2007; Bethlehem is known as "Christmas City USA".]]
Bethlehem has a long historical relationship with the celebration of [[Christmas]], which is prominently celebrated in the city annually. The city was christened as Bethlehem on [[Christmas Eve]] 1741 by [[Nicolaus Zinzendorf]], a [[Moravian Church|Moravian]] bishop. In 1747, Bethlehem was the first U.S. city to feature a decorated [[Christmas tree]].<ref name="bexar-tx.tamu.edu"/>

On December 7, 1937, at a grand ceremony during the [[Great Depression]], the city adopted the nickname '''Christmas City USA'' in a large ceremony that included Marion Brown Grace, the daughter of former [[South Bethlehem Downtown Historic District|South Bethlehem]] burgess Charles F. Brown and wife of [[Bethlehem Steel]] president [[Eugene Grace]]. Hundreds of citizens attended the ceremony and thousands more listened to the speeches and musical performances on the radio, which was held at [[Hotel Bethlehem]],  then a two-room log house, where the original settlers conducted their evening worship on [[Christmas Eve]] in 1741. As their benefactor, Count Zinzendorf, observed the farm animals that shared the space and listened to the settlers sing the hymn, "Not Jerusalem, But Lowly Bethlehem", he proclaimed the name of the settlement to be Bethlehem. The people gathered at the 1937 ceremony heard the same words when the Bach Choir sang the old German hymn, "Jesu, Rufe Mich (Jesus, Call Thou Me)", by Adam Drese.

The ''Bethlehem Globe-Times'', which later merged into ''[[The Express-Times]]'', paid for the large wooden star erected on the top of [[South Mountain (Eastern Pennsylvania)|South Mountain]], at a cost of $460. The original star was created with four wooden planks, overlapped to create an eight-point star, which was 60 feet high and 51 feet wide, mounted on two wooden poles, and lit by 150 50-watt light bulbs. [[PPL Corporation]] and the Bethlehem Water Department installed the star, which was erected at the top of South Mountain on property owned by the Water Department, in [[Lower Saucon Township, Pennsylvania|Lower Saucon Township]].

In 1939, the wooden star was replaced with a star made of steel from [[Bethlehem Steel]], at a cost of $5,000. It had eight rays, with the main horizontal ray {{Convert|81|ft}} wide and the main vertical ray {{Convert|53|ft}} high. In 1967, the current star, {{Convert|91|ft}} high, was installed on the old steel frame and set in a concrete base {{Convert|25|ft}} wide by {{Convert|5|ft}} deep. Plexiglas was installed to protect the 250 fifty-watt light bulbs. In the summer of 2006, the city repaired the base. A crew of municipal electricians changes the bulbs every two years.  Beginning in the mid-1990s, the star was lit from 4:30&nbsp;p.m. until midnight, every day of the year.<ref name="Christmas City USA"/>

===Bach Choir of Bethlehem===
{{Main|Bach Choir of Bethlehem}}
[[Bach Choir of Bethlehem]], founded in 1898, attracts thousands of visitors to the annual Bethlehem Bach Festival,<ref>bach.org/history.php</ref> held annually on the campus of [[Lehigh University]] and on the historic grounds of the nation's earliest [[Moravian Church|Moravians]]. Other Bethlehem festivals include The Celtic Classic, which celebrates [[Celtic nations|Celtic]] culture, food and music,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.celticfest.org/|title=Celtic Classic 2015 - Bethlehem, PA - Highland Games, Irish and Celtic Music Festival|work=celticfest.org|access-date=January 13, 2007|archive-date=February 2, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070202131314/http://celticfest.org/|url-status=live}}</ref> and the [[SouthSide Film Festival]], a film festival. The city also hosts the North East Art Rock Festival, or [[NEARFest]], a three-day [[progressive rock]] music event.

===Bethlehem Area Public Library===
The Bethlehem Area Public Library is a popular destination for recreation and entertainment.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bapl.org/|title=Welcome to Bethlehem Area Public Library|work=bapl.org|access-date=January 13, 2007|archive-date=January 15, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070115055703/http://www.bapl.org/|url-status=live}}</ref> The Banana Factory houses studios of area artists and is open to the public every first Friday of the month.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bananafactory.org/|title=Banana Factory — Arts & Education Center|work=bananafactory.org|access-date=January 27, 2007|archive-date=February 2, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070202171436/http://www.bananafactory.org/|url-status=live}}</ref>  Touchstone Theatre, also on Bethlehem's SouthSide, houses the Valley's only professional resident theatre company, which produces and presents original theatre performances.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.touchstone.org/|title=Touchstone Theatre|work=touchstone.org|access-date=December 16, 2007|archive-date=December 31, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071231073916/http://www.touchstone.org/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Musikfest===
{{Main|Musikfest}}
[[File:Weezer Bethlehem 2019 5.jpg|thumb|[[Musikfest]], the nation's largest free music festival, held annually in August in Bethlehem]]
Bethlehem hosts [[Musikfest]], the nation's largest free music festival, annually each August. The festival spans 10 days, attracts roughly a million attendees from all over the world, and features hundreds of musical acts from all genres.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.musikfest.org/venues/ |title=Largest 10 day free music festival |publisher=Musikfest |date= |access-date=May 26, 2012 |archive-date=May 13, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120513145250/http://www.musikfest.org/venues/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===SteelStacks===
In 2011, ArtsQuest, a non-profit that runs Musikfest and other cultural facilities and events in the Bethlehem area, coordinated with local community partners including the City of Bethlehem and [[WLVT-TV|PBS 39]] to open SteelStacks. The facility currently spans a 10-acre campus on the former grounds of [[Bethlehem Steel]]. SteelStacks showcases music, art, festivals, films and educational programming throughout the year, and acts as the "South Side" portion of Musikfest.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.steelstacks.org/history/ |title=SteelStacks - Bethlehem, Pennsylvania |access-date=2014-01-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131207144430/http://www.steelstacks.org/history/ |archive-date=December 7, 2013 |df=mdy }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Our Story — ArtsQuest |url=https://www.artsquest.org/who-we-are/our-story/ |website=ArtsQuest |access-date=26 March 2025}}</ref> It is located in the backdrop of the blast furnaces of the former Bethlehem Steel plant.

===Zoellner Arts Center===
{{main|Zoellner Arts Center}}
[[Lehigh University]]'s [[Zoellner Arts Center]] offers a variety of musical and dramatic events through the year.

===Other===
On the first Friday of the month, the businesses of the Southside Shopping District host First Friday,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://firstfridaybethlehem.com/ |title=First Friday, Southside Bethlehem |publisher=Downtown Bethlehem Association |access-date=May 10, 2010 |archive-date=July 14, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100714015046/http://www.firstfridaybethlehem.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref> a celebration of arts and culture. Stores, restaurants and art galleries stay open late and offer special discounts, refreshments, gallery openings and more. The [[Lehigh Canal]] provides hiking and biking opportunities along the canal [[towpath]] which follows the [[Lehigh River]] in Bethlehem. Both the Lehigh Canal and the [[Monocacy Creek (Lehigh River tributary)|Monocacy Creek]] are popular for sport fishing, and both are stocked annually with trout.

The [[Historic Moravian Bethlehem District]], also known as the Moravian Church Settlement, was inscribed as a [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site]] in 2024 as an extension of the [[Christiansfeld]] Moravian Church Settlement in Denmark.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024 |title=Moravian Church Settlements |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1468 |access-date=2024-08-02 |website=UNESCO World Heritage Convention}}</ref>

== Sports ==
[[File:Stabler Athletic & Convocation Center, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA.jpg|thumb|[[Stabler Arena]], a 6,200-capacity indoor arena at Lehigh University]]

===Rugby===
Lehigh Valley RFC, a [[rugby union]] team founded in 1998, play their home matches at Monocacy Park.

===Former teams===
[[Philadelphia Union II|Bethlehem Steel FC]], a [[United Soccer League]] team founded in 2015, played at [[Goodman Stadium]] at [[Lehigh University]], until 2019, when it moved to [[Subaru Park]] in [[Chester, Pennsylvania]] after concerns about Goodman Stadium's lighting deficiencies went unaddressed.<ref>[https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/news/2019/12/bye-bye-bethlehem-minor-league-soccer-team-drops-bethlehem-steel-fc-name.html "Bye, bye Bethlehem,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220815134522/https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/news/2019/12/bye-bye-bethlehem-minor-league-soccer-team-drops-bethlehem-steel-fc-name.html |date=August 15, 2022 }} Lehigh Valley Live, December 12, 2019</ref>

The [[Lehigh Valley Steelhawks]], a former [[Professional Indoor Football League]], played home games at [[Stabler Arena]] in Bethlehem until they moved to [[Allentown, Pennsylvania|Allentown]] in 2014.

From 1996 to 2012, the [[Philadelphia Eagles]] of the [[National Football League]] held pre-season training camp each summer at the football facilities of Bethlehem's [[Lehigh University]].<ref>[https://www.mcall.com/2013/03/15/no-more-training-camp-at-lehigh-university-for-birds/ "No more training camp at Lehigh University for Birds"], By Nick Fierro, March 15, 2013.</ref>

In the early part of the 20th century, Bethlehem had a corporate soccer team, the [[Bethlehem Steel F.C. (1907–1930)|Bethlehem Steel F.C.]], which won the 1918–19 championship in the National Association Football League (NAFL), and then won what amounted to national championships three more times during the next decade (1920–21 in the NAFL; 1926–27 in the American Soccer League I; and in 1928–29 winning the EPSL II). The Bethlehem Steel sides consisted largely of British imported players and also had the distinction of being the first American professional soccer team to play in Europe, which it did during its tour of [[Sweden]] in 1919. The team also won the National Challenge Cup, now called the [[Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup]] after billionaire sports franchise owner [[Lamar Hunt]], five times beginning in 1915, and for the last time in 1926.

==Parks and recreation==
Bethlehem owns 39 park sites, encompassing {{convert|568|acre|km2|1}}. Among the city's parks are Buchannan Park, Elmwood Park, Illick's Mill Park, Johnston Park, Monocacy Park, Rockland Park, Rose Garden, Sand Island, Saucon Park, Sell Field, South Mountain Park, Triangle Park, West Side Park, and Yosko Park.<ref>{{cite web | title = Parks and Recreation, Comprehensive Plan 2008 | publisher = City of Bethlehem | url = http://www.bethlehem-pa.gov/dept/planning_Zoning_Permits/compplan/PDF/Comprehensive%20Plan%20_Parks%20and%20Recreation.pdf | access-date = November 22, 2008 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081217015747/http://www.bethlehem-pa.gov/dept/planning_Zoning_Permits/compplan/PDF/Comprehensive%20Plan%20_Parks%20and%20Recreation.pdf | archive-date = December 17, 2008 | df = mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = Parks, Recreation & Public Property | publisher = City of Bethlehem website | url = http://www.bethlehem-pa.gov/parks/index.htm | access-date = November 22, 2008 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081208200645/http://www.bethlehem-pa.gov/parks/index.htm | archive-date = December 8, 2008 | df = mdy-all }}</ref>

==Government==
{{See also|Mayor of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania}}
[[File:Bethlehem Municipal and Public Safety Complex Oct 11.JPG|thumb|Bethlehem's Municipal and Public Safety Complex in 2011]]
The city government is composed of a mayor and a seven-person city council. Mayor J. William Reynolds was sworn in on January 3, 2022. Federally, Bethlehem is part of [[Pennsylvania's 7th congressional district]], represented by Republican [[Ryan Mackenzie]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Weber |first1=Lindsay |last2=Pelekis |first2=Andreas |title=2024 Lehigh Valley Congress election results: Susan Wild concedes to Ryan Mackenzie |url=https://www.mcall.com/2024/11/05/2024-lehigh-valley-congress-election-results-susan-wild-ryan-mackenzie-face-off-in-7th-district/ |website=[[The Morning Call]] |date=November 6, 2024 |access-date=8 November 2024}}</ref> 

===City Council===
Bethlehem has a seven-person city council with staggered elections. Four members are elected in the same election as a mayor, the other three members are elected in between elections. Since 1998 the city council has been uniformly filled by members of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]].

Following the 2021 municipal election, the current council composition is:<ref>{{cite web |title=Members |url=https://www.bethlehem-pa.gov/Meet-Your-Government/City-Council/Members |website=bethlehem-pa.gov |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231012084250/https://www.bethlehem-pa.gov/Meet-Your-Government/City-Council/Members |access-date=19 October 2023|archive-date=October 12, 2023 }}</ref>

* Michael G. Colón (D), Council President
* Grace Crampsie Smith (D)
* Wandalyn Enix (D)
* Hillary Kwiatek (D)
* Rachel Leon (D)
* Paige Van Wirt (D)
* Kiera Wilhelm (D)

== Education ==
=== Colleges and universities ===
{{Further|Lehigh University|Moravian University}}
[[File:Moravian College Bethlehem 2924px.jpg|thumb|[[Moravian University]] in Bethlehem in 2007]]
Bethlehem is home to three institutes of higher education. [[Lehigh University]], located on [[South Mountain (Eastern Pennsylvania)|South Mountain]] on Bethlehem's South Side, has 5,000 undergraduates and 2,100 graduate students.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www3.lehigh.edu/about/default.asp | title = About Lehigh | publisher = [[Lehigh University]] | access-date = August 29, 2009 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090926030620/http://www3.lehigh.edu/about/default.asp | archive-date = September 26, 2009 | df = mdy-all }}</ref> The university, which was founded in 1865, was ranked 51st nationally in ''[[U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges Ranking]]'' of the nation's best colleges in 2022.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/lehigh-university-3289|title=Lehigh University|work=US News|access-date=2023-03-07|archive-date=December 27, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221227202252/https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/lehigh-university-3289|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Moravian University]], located in center city Bethlehem, is a small [[liberal arts]] college. Founded in 1742 as the Bethlehem Female Seminary, a [[Primary school]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.moravian.edu/about/index.htm | title = About Moravian College | publisher = [[Moravian College]] | access-date = August 29, 2009 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090815021429/http://www.moravian.edu/about/index.htm | archive-date = August 15, 2009 | df = mdy-all }}</ref> Besides undergraduate programs, the college also includes the Moravian Theological Seminary, a graduate school with approximately 100 students from more than a dozen religious denominations.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.moravianseminary.edu/general/seminary.html | title = About MTS | publisher = Moravian Theological Seminary | access-date = August 29, 2009 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090418134327/http://www.moravianseminary.edu/general/seminary.html | archive-date = April 18, 2009 | df = mdy-all }}</ref>

The [[International Institute for Restorative Practices]] is a graduate school dedicated to the advanced education of professionals and to the conduct of research that can develop the growing field of [[restorative practices]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.iirp.edu/mission.php/ |title=International Institute for Restorative Practices |access-date=2011-08-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111001082250/http://www.iirp.edu/mission.php |archive-date=October 1, 2011 |df=mdy }}</ref> The IIRP offers two master's degrees: the Master of Restorative Practices and Education (MRPE) and the Master of Restorative Practices and Youth Counseling (MRPYC). The IIRP also offers an 18-credit Graduate Certificate in Restorative Practices.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iirp.edu/certificate.php|title=Graduate Certificate in RP - International Institute for Restorative Practices|work=iirp.edu|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111001082432/http://www.iirp.edu/certificate.php|archive-date=October 1, 2011|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

The [[Northampton Community College]]'s Fowler Center is located in Southside Bethlehem, but its main campus is located in neighboring [[Bethlehem Township, Pennsylvania|Bethlehem Township]].

=== Primary and secondary education ===
{{Further|Bethlehem Area School District}}
[[File:Liberty High School, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.jpg|thumb|[[Liberty High School (Bethlehem, Pennsylvania)|Liberty High School]], one of two large public high schools in the [[Bethlehem Area School District]] in 2020]]
Bethlehem public schools are managed by the [[Bethlehem Area School District]], which covers a {{convert|40|sqmi|km2|adj=on}} area that includes the city, the boroughs of [[Fountain Hill, Pennsylvania|Fountain Hill]] and [[Freemansburg, Pennsylvania|Freemansburg]] and two townships, [[Bethlehem Township, Pennsylvania|Bethlehem Township]], and [[Hanover Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania|Hanover Township]].<ref name="Bethlehem">{{cite web | url = http://bethlehempa.org/citylife/education/ | title = Citylife: Education | publisher = City of Bethlehem website | access-date = August 29, 2009 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091024041655/http://www.bethlehempa.org/citylife/education/ | archive-date = October 24, 2009 | df = mdy-all }}</ref> The district operates two high schools for grades 9–12, [[Liberty High School (Bethlehem, Pennsylvania)|Liberty High School]] near center city, and [[Freedom High School (Pennsylvania)|Freedom High School]] in neighboring Bethlehem Township.<ref name="tennessean.com">{{cite web |url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/entertainment/2015/08/09/rock-remembers-nashville-past/31370895/ |title='The Rock' remembers Nashville past |website=The Tennessean |access-date=April 19, 2019 |archive-date=September 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230930111917/https://www.tennessean.com/story/entertainment/2015/08/09/rock-remembers-nashville-past/31370895/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The district also has four public middle schools for grades 6–8: Broughal Middle School, East Hills Middle School, Nitschmann Middle School, and Northeast Middle School. In addition, BASD maintains 16 public elementary schools for grades K-5: Asa Packer Elementary School, Calypso Elementary School,  Clearview Elementary School, Donegan Elementary School, Farmersville Elementary School, Fountain Hill Elementary School, Freemansburg Elementary School, Governor Wolf Elementary School, Hanover Elementary School, James Buchanan Elementary School, Lincoln Elementary School, Marvine Elementary School, Miller Heights Elementary School, Spring Garden Elementary School, Thomas Jefferson Elementary School, and William Penn Elementary School. [[Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts]]  is also operated by the district, though it accepts students in grades 9–12 from throughout Northampton and surrounding counties.

Bethlehem has two parochial high schools available to students: [[Bethlehem Catholic High School]], which serves grades 9–12, and [[Moravian Academy]], which serves all primary and secondary school grades. [[Notre Dame High School (Easton, Pennsylvania)|Notre Dame High School]], located in [[Easton, Pennsylvania|Easton]], serves grades 9 through 12.

Each of Bethlehem's three large high schools, Bethlehem Catholic, Freedom, and Liberty, compete athletically in Pennsylvania's [[Eastern Pennsylvania Conference]] and play their home football games at [[Bethlehem Area School District Stadium]], a 14,000-capacity stadium that is one of the largest high school football stadiums in the state and has been labeled "a local football mecca."<ref>[https://www.mcall.com/sports/mc-groller-basdstadium-column-1103-20141104-column.html "Busy BASD stadium has become a local football mecca,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220917021358/https://www.mcall.com/sports/mc-groller-basdstadium-column-1103-20141104-column.html |date=September 17, 2022 }} ''The Morning Call'', November 4, 2014</ref>

== Media ==
{{Main|Media in the Lehigh Valley}}
Two daily newspapers currently serve Bethlehem. ''[[The Morning Call]]'', based in [[Allentown, Pennsylvania|Allentown]], and ''[[The Express-Times]]'', based in [[Easton, Pennsylvania|Easton]]. Other smaller newspapers include ''The Bethlehem Press'', an award-winning weekly, ''Pulse Weekly,'' based in Allentown, ''Eastern Pennsylvania Business Journal'', based in Bethlehem, and ''Lehigh Valley Sports Extra'', an all-sports monthly newspaper founded in 2001. A Bethlehem-based daily, ''The Globe-Times'', founded in 1855, ceased publication in 1991.

Religious broadcaster WBPH is the only television station licensed in Bethlehem, though [[WLVT-TV|WLVT Channel 39]], a [[Public Broadcasting Service|PBS]] affiliate, has its operations in the city. [[WFMZ-TV|WFMZ Channel 69]], an independent station, is based in neighboring Allentown. Bethlehem is part of the Philadelphia [[media market]], the nation's fourth-largest, and its cable systems also receive select radio and television broadcasts from [[New York City]].

Bethlehem has two licensed commercial radio stations, variety [[WGPA|WGPA-AM]] and [[rock music|hard rock]] [[WZZO|WZZO-FM]]. There is also one non-commercial station, [[WLVR-FM]], operated by [[Lehigh University]]. [[Public broadcasting|Public radio]] station [[WDIY|WDIY-FM]], while licensed in Allentown, maintains its facilities in Bethlehem. There are numerous other stations broadcast from Allentown and [[Easton, Pennsylvania|Easton]], representing a variety of commercial formats and several [[Broadcast translator|translators]] of public stations from [[Philadelphia]] and [[New Jersey]].

==Infrastructure==
===Transportation===
====Air====
{{Main|Lehigh Valley International Airport}}
[[Lehigh Valley International Airport]], the fourth-largest commercial airport in [[Pennsylvania]], is located roughly {{Convert|4|mi|km}} north of Bethlehem in [[Allentown, Pennsylvania|Allentown]].

====Highways====
{{Further|Interstate 78 in Pennsylvania|U.S. Route 22 in Pennsylvania|Pennsylvania Route 378|Pennsylvania Route 412}}
[[File:2022-08-16 08 31 14 View west along Interstate 78 just west of Exit 67 in Bethlehem, Northampton County, Pennsylvania.jpg|thumb|[[Interstate 78 in Pennsylvania|I-78]] West in Bethlehem in August 2022]]
As of 2022, there were {{convert|234.13|mi}} of public roads in Bethlehem, of which {{convert|27.35|mi}} were maintained by the [[Pennsylvania Department of Transportation]] (PennDOT) and {{convert|206.78|mi}} were maintained by the city.<ref name=PennDOTmap>{{cite web|url=https://gis.penndot.gov/BPR_pdf_files/Maps/Type5/48301.pdf|title=Bethlehem City map|publisher=PennDOT|access-date=March 16, 2023|archive-date=March 16, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230316203024/https://gis.penndot.gov/BPR_pdf_files/Maps/Type5/48301.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Interstate 78 in Pennsylvania|Interstate 78]] is the most prominent highway serving Bethlehem. It traverses the southeastern corner of the city along an east–west alignment. [[U.S. Route 22 in Pennsylvania|U.S. Route 22]] follows the Lehigh Valley Thruway along a southwest–northeast alignment through the northwestern corner of the city. [[Pennsylvania Route 378]] heads southeastward from US 22 through the heart of downtown Bethlehem on a freeway, then transitions to surface streets as it crosses the [[Hill to Hill Bridge]], following Wyandote Street southward out of the city. Finally, [[Pennsylvania Route 412]] heads northwest from its interchange with I-78, following Hellertown Road into downtown, then a variety of city streets before coming to its northern terminus at PA 378.

====Buses====
{{See also|LANta|Trans-Bridge Lines}}
[[LANta]] provides local bus service in Bethlehem, serving points in the city and providing connections to [[Allentown, Pennsylvania|Allentown]], [[Easton, Pennsylvania|Easton]], the [[Lehigh Valley Mall]], and other points in the Lehigh Valley. The Bethlehem Transportation Center at Broad and Guetter streets serves as a transit hub for LANTA buses in Bethlehem.<ref>{{cite map|title=System Map|publisher=LANta|url=http://www.lantabus.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/05sep2016_system_map_jpeg_3000px.jpeg|access-date=February 14, 2018|archive-date=February 15, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180215143612/http://www.lantabus.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/05sep2016_system_map_jpeg_3000px.jpeg|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Trans-Bridge Lines]] provides intercity bus service in Bethlehem, stopping at the Bethlehem Transportation Center and the [[Wind Creek Bethlehem]] bus terminal. Trans-Bridge Lines provides service from Bethlehem to [[Port Authority Bus Terminal]] in [[New York City]] along two routes, one of which runs from Allentown and Bethlehem to New York City and the other which runs from Bethlehem to New York City via [[Doylestown, Pennsylvania]] and [[Flemington, New Jersey]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Allentown/Clinton/New York Route/Bethlehem Transportation Center to New York City|publisher=Trans-Bridge Lines|date=June 4, 2018|url=http://transbridgelines.com/schedules/schedules-eff-june-2018/BethlehemEastDivided.pdf|access-date=August 27, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180828134401/http://transbridgelines.com/schedules/schedules-eff-june-2018/BethlehemEastDivided.pdf|archive-date=August 28, 2018|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Doylestown/Flemington/New York Route/Bethlehem Transportation Center to New York City|publisher=Trans-Bridge Lines|date=June 4, 2018|url=http://transbridgelines.com/schedules/schedules-eff-june-2018/DoylesBethlehemEast.pdf|access-date=August 27, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180828071247/http://transbridgelines.com/schedules/schedules-eff-june-2018/DoylesBethlehemEast.pdf|archive-date=August 28, 2018|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> [[OurBus]] provides bus service from Bethlehem to [[Philadelphia]] and [[Camden, New Jersey]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Book Commuter Ticket|publisher=OurBus|url=https://www.ourbus.com/commuterticket|access-date=February 10, 2019|archive-date=February 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190212011814/https://www.ourbus.com/commuterticket|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Freight rail====
{{Further|Norfolk Southern Railway}}
Freight rail service in Bethlehem is provided by the [[Norfolk Southern Railway]] and Lehigh Valley Rail Management. Norfolk Southern Railway operates the [[Lehigh Line (Norfolk Southern)|Lehigh Line]] through the city along the Lehigh River, with the [[Reading Line]] splitting from the Lehigh Line in Bethlehem.<ref name=PennDOTLehigh>{{cite map|publisher=[[Pennsylvania Department of Transportation|PennDOT]]|title=Lehigh County, Pennsylvania Highway Map|url=http://www.dot7.state.pa.us/BPR_pdf_files/Maps/GHS/Roadnames/lehigh_GHSN.PDF|year=2015|access-date=January 23, 2016|archive-date=October 16, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016164657/http://www.dot7.state.pa.us/BPR_pdf_files/Maps/GHS/Roadnames/lehigh_GHSN.PDF|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=PennDOTNorthampton>{{cite map|publisher=[[Pennsylvania Department of Transportation|PennDOT]]|title=Northampton County, Pennsylvania Highway Map|url=http://www.dot7.state.pa.us/BPR_pdf_files/Maps/GHS/Roadnames/Northampton_GHSN.PDF|year=2015|access-date=January 17, 2016|archive-date=December 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206151349/http://www.dot7.state.pa.us/BPR_pdf_files/Maps/GHS/Roadnames/Northampton_GHSN.PDF|url-status=live}}</ref>

Bethlehem formerly had passenger rail service at the [[Bethlehem Union Station]], which originally served the [[Lehigh Valley Railroad]] and [[Reading Company]] and had service along [[SEPTA]]'s [[Bethlehem Line]] south to Philadelphia until 1981, when service was cut back to [[Quakertown, Pennsylvania|Quakertown]] and later [[Lansdale, Pennsylvania|Lansdale]]. The [[Central Railroad of New Jersey]] formerly provided passenger rail service to the city at the [[Bethlehem station (Central Railroad of New Jersey)|Bethlehem station]].

===Utilities===
{{Further|PPL Corporation|UGI Utilities}}
Electricity in Bethlehem is provided by [[PPL Corporation]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Service Area|publisher=PPL Electric Utilities|url=https://www.pplelectric.com/utility/about-us/about-ppl-electric-utilities/service-area.aspx|access-date=August 20, 2017|archive-date=August 20, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170820201950/https://www.pplelectric.com/utility/about-us/about-ppl-electric-utilities/service-area.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=General Tariff|publisher=PPL Electric Utilities|date=June 20, 2017|page=4|url=https://www.pplelectric.com/-/media/PPLElectric/At-Your-Service/Docs/Current-Electric-Tariff/master.pdf|access-date=August 20, 2017|archive-date=August 20, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170820202641/https://www.pplelectric.com/-/media/PPLElectric/At-Your-Service/Docs/Current-Electric-Tariff/master.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> [[UGI Utilities]] supplies [[natural gas]] to the city.<ref>{{cite web|title=Geographic Footprint|publisher=UGI|url=https://www.ugi.com/about-us/geographic-footprint/|access-date=October 4, 2017|archive-date=October 5, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005102103/https://www.ugi.com/about-us/geographic-footprint/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Gas Tariff|publisher=UGI Utilities|date=July 7, 2017|pages=5–6|url=http://gasmngmt.ugi.com/UGIU/doc/tariff/GStariff6.pdf#page=1|access-date=October 10, 2017|archive-date=October 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010215346/http://gasmngmt.ugi.com/UGIU/doc/tariff/GStariff6.pdf#page=1|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Department of Water and Sewer Resources provides water and sewer service to Bethlehem and parts of 10 adjacent municipalities in Lehigh and Northampton counties, serving 35,000 water customers and 25,000 sewer customers. The city's water supply comes from the [[Pocono Mountains]], with the surface water sources containing 10 billion gallons of freshwater capacity in an area consisting of 23,000 acres of protected watershed.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bethlehem Water & Sewer Resources|publisher=Bethlehem, Pennsylvania|url=http://www.bethlehem-pa.gov/water/index.html|access-date=August 27, 2018|archive-date=August 28, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180828071118/http://www.bethlehem-pa.gov/water/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Trash collection in Bethlehem is provided by private haulers while the City of Bethlehem Recycling Department provides recycling collection.<ref>{{cite web|title=Recycling Services|publisher=Bethlehem, Pennsylvania|url=http://www.bethlehem-pa.gov/recycling/index.html|access-date=August 27, 2018|archive-date=August 28, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180828071130/http://www.bethlehem-pa.gov/recycling/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Notable people==
{{See also|List of people from the Lehigh Valley}}
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* [[Charles Altemose]], soccer player
* [[Jeff Andretti]], former professional [[race car]] driver
* [[John Andretti]], former professional race car driver in [[NASCAR]] and [[IndyCar Series]]
* [[Michael Andretti]], professional racing team owner and professional race car driver
* [[David Bader (computer scientist)|David Bader]], data science professor, [[Georgia Institute of Technology|Georgia Tech]]
* [[Saquon Barkley]], professional football player, [[Philadelphia Eagles]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wogenrich |first=Mark |date=December 16, 2016 |title=Born to Run: Saquon Barkley's journey from the Bronx to Pennsylvania to Penn State to Pasadena |url=http://www.mcall.com/sports/college/psu/mc-penn-state-football-saquon-barkley-father-20161217-story.html |access-date=April 25, 2018 |location=Allentown, Pennsylvania |newspaper=Morning Call |archive-date=November 2, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171102030053/http://www.mcall.com/sports/college/psu/mc-penn-state-football-saquon-barkley-father-20161217-story.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[Chuck Bednarik]], former professional football player, [[Philadelphia Eagles]], [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]] member, responsible for [[The Hit (Chuck Bednarik)|The Hit]], one of the most famed plays in [[National Football League|NFL]] history
* [[Michael Behe]], [[intelligent design]] advocate and [[Lehigh University]] biochemistry professor 
* [[Stephen Vincent Benét]], former poet and novelist
* [[Josh Berk]], children's book author
* [[Catherine Drinker Bowen]], biographer
* [[Pete Carril]], former professional and collegiate basketball coach
* [[Alexandra Chando]], actress, [[CBS]]'s ''[[As the World Turns]]'' and ABC Family's ''[[The Lying Game]]''
* [[H.D.]], former writer and poet
* [[Russell Davenport]], publisher and writer
* [[Jimmy DeGrasso]], [[heavy metal music|heavy metal]] drummer, [[Alice Cooper|Alice Cooper band]] and former drummer, [[Megadeth]] and [[Ratt]]
* [[Richard Diehl]], archaeologist, academic and [[Mesoamerican]]ist scholar
* [[Edwin Drake]], first American oil driller
* [[Jonathan Frakes]], director and actor, ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]''
* [[Mark Wayne Glasmire]], [[country music]] singer
* [[Murray H. Goodman]], real estate developer<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thegoodmancompany.com/bio_goodman.php|title=The Goodman Company - A History of Shopping Center Excellence|website=thegoodmancompany.com|access-date=August 11, 2017|archive-date=August 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170812060131/http://thegoodmancompany.com/bio_goodman.php|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Eugene Grace]], industrialist, former president of [[Bethlehem Steel]]
* [[W. R. Granger]], former Canadian sports administrator<ref>{{cite news|title=William R. Granger Died in 52nd Year|date=April 25, 1925|newspaper=The Gazette|location=Montreal, Quebec|page=4|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/67585574/w-r-granger-1925/|access-date=April 4, 2021|archive-date=May 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506195527/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/67585574/w-r-granger-1925/|url-status=live}}{{free access}}</ref>
* [[John Valentine Haidt]], [[Germany|German]]-born American painter and [[Moravian Church|Moravian]] preacher
* [[Mel Harris]], actress, [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]'s ''[[Thirtysomething (TV series)|Thirtysomething]]''
* [[Mike Hartenstine]], former professional football player, [[Chicago Bears]] and [[Minnesota Vikings]]
* [[Darrun Hilliard]], professional basketball player
* [[George Hrab]], [[progressive rock]] musician
* [[Archibald Johnston (Bethlehem)|Archibald Johnston]], industrialist, mayor, and civic leader
*[[Daniel Dae Kim]], actor, voice actor and producer<ref>{{cite web |last1=Doerfler |first1=Andrew |title=This TV star with Bethlehem roots is returning home to accept an award |url=https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2017/05/daniel_dae_kim_award_bethlehem.html |website=Lehigh Valley Live |date=May 9, 2017 |access-date=22 February 2019 |archive-date=February 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190223131430/https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2017/05/daniel_dae_kim_award_bethlehem.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Steve Kimock]], freeform rock guitarist
* [[Gelsey Kirkland]], ballerina
* [[Nathan Homer Knorr]], religious leader and 3rd president, [[Jehovah's Witnesses]]
* [[Joe Kovacs]], world champion, Olympic silver medalist in shot put
* [[Noel LaMontagne]], former professional football player, [[Cleveland Browns]]
* [[Gary Lavelle]], former professional baseball player, [[Oakland Athletics]], [[San Francisco Giants]] and [[Toronto Blue Jays]]
* [[Richard Leibert]], [[theatre organ]]ist in the 1920s-1970s
* [[Barry W. Lynn]], executive director of [[Americans United for Separation of Church and State]]
* [[Micí Mac Gabhann]] (d.1948), Irish immigrant whose award-winning [[memoir]]s in [[Ulster Irish]] describe living in Bethlehem and working in the [[steel mill]].
* [[John E. Madden]], thoroughbred trainer in [[National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame]]
* [[Zach Makovsky]], mixed martial artist fighting in UFC's flyweight division
* [[John E. McGlade]], former chairman, chief executive officer and president of [[Air Products]]
* [[Alix Olson]], spoken word poet
* [[Bob Parsons (American football)|Bob Parsons]], professional football player for [[Chicago Bears]]
* [[Billy Packer]], [[CBS]] basketball analyst
* [[Daniel Roebuck]], actor, [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]'s ''[[Lost (2004 TV series)|Lost]]''
* [[Thom Schuyler]], country music singer and songwriter
* [[Charles M. Schwab]], industrialist, former President of [[U.S. Steel]], later founded and was first Chairman of Bethlehem Steel Corporation
* [[Sheetal Sheth]], actress, ''[[Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World]]''
* [[John Spagnola]], former professional football player, [[Green Bay Packers]], [[Philadelphia Eagles]] and [[Seattle Seahawks]]
* [[Donald Smaltz]], attorney
* [[Sarah Strohmeyer]], novelist, creator of ''[[Bubbles Yablonsky|Bubbles]]''
* [[Ross Szabo]], wellness director and speaker
* [[Jonathan Taylor Thomas]], actor, [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]'s ''[[Home Improvement (TV series)|Home Improvement]]'' 
* [[Joseph Uliana]], Pennsylvania State Representative and State Senator
* [[Melissa VanFleet]], singer, songwriter, and musician
* [[David Zinczenko]], founder and chief executive officer, Galvanized; author, ''[[Eat This, Not That]]''

==In popular culture==
{{See also|List of films shot in the Lehigh Valley}}
*'''2019''': ''Christmas Radio'', a [[LMN (TV channel)|Lifetime Movies]] film, takes place in Bethlehem.
*'''2015 to 2019''': In the [[HBO]] series ''[[Ballers]]'' about retired [[National Football League|NFL]] players, [[Dwayne Johnson]]'s character Spencer Strasmore is from Bethlehem. Johnson attended high school at [[Freedom High School (Pennsylvania)|Freedom High School]] in [[Bethlehem Township, Pennsylvania|Bethlehem Township]].<ref name="tennessean.com"/>
*'''2009''': [[Bethlehem Steel]] was the filming location for the movie ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen]]''. Bethlehem Steel's blast furnaces and the surrounding area appear in the film's opening sequences.
*'''1982''': The lyrics to the [[Billy Joel]] song "[[Allentown (song)|Allentown]]", the lead track on ''[[The Nylon Curtain]]'' album, references Bethlehem: "Out in Bethlehem, they're killing time. Filling out forms, standing in line."
*'''1963''': In the comic strip "Dennis in the Christmas City", a ''[[Dennis the Menace (US comics)|Dennis the Menace]]'' series, Dennis' grandfather lives in Bethlehem. The comic strip has been reprinted frequently since its original publication.<ref>{{cite comic|story=Dennis in the Christmas City|title=Dennis the Menace Giant|issue= 19|date= Winter 1963}}</ref>
*'''1936:''' In the movie [[The Three Wise Guys]], and the [[Damon Runyon|Daemon Runion]] short story by the same name, a scene that parodies the [[The Three Magi|visit of The Three Magi]] occurs in a barn in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0028374/plotsummary/ |title=The 3 Wise Guys (1936) - Plot - IMDb |language=en-US |access-date=2025-03-05 |via=www.imdb.com}}</ref>

==Sister cities==
{{See also|List of sister cities in Pennsylvania}}
Bethlehem's [[Sister city|sister cities]] are:<ref>{{cite web|title=Sister Cities|url=https://www.bethlehem-pa.gov/Meet-Your-Government/Sister-Cities|website=bethlehem-pa.gov|publisher=City of Bethlehem|access-date=2022-03-10|archive-date=April 1, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220401172435/https://www.bethlehem-pa.gov/Meet-Your-Government/Sister-Cities|url-status=live}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|GRC}} [[Corfu (city)|Corfu]], Greece
*{{flagicon|ITA}} [[Foiano di Val Fortore]], Italy
*{{flagicon|SVN}} [[Murska Sobota]], Slovenia
*{{flagicon|GER}} [[Schwäbisch Gmünd]], Germany
*{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Tondabayashi]], Japan

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|position=right|Bethlehem, Pennsylvania}}
{{Wikivoyage|position=right|Bethlehem (Pennsylvania)}}
{{EB1911 poster|Bethlehem (Pennsylvania)}}
*[http://www.bethlehem-pa.gov/ Official website]
*[http://www.bethlehempa.org/ Official visitor website]
*[https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/topic/bethlehem/ Bethlehem news] at [[The Express-Times|Lehigh Valley Live]]
*[https://www.mcall.com/location/pennsylvania/northampton-county/bethlehem/ Bethlehem news] at ''[[The Morning Call]]''
*[https://www.mcall.com/all-community-faug18-htmlstory.html "Famous People from the Lehigh Valley]," ''The Morning Call'', August 18, 2006

{{Geographic location
|Centre = Bethlehem
|North = [[Hanover Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania|Hanover (Northampton Co.)]]
|Northeast = [[Nazareth, Pennsylvania|Nazareth]]
|East = [[Easton, Pennsylvania|Easton]]
|Southeast = [[Hellertown, Pennsylvania|Hellertown]]
|South = [[Center Valley, Pennsylvania|Center Valley]]
|Southwest = [[Fountain Hill, Pennsylvania|Fountain Hill]]
|West = [[Allentown, Pennsylvania|Allentown]]
|Northwest = [[Hanover Township, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania|Hanover (Lehigh Co.)]]
|image =
}}
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{{Lehigh County, Pennsylvania}}
{{Northampton County, Pennsylvania}}
{{Lehigh Valley}}
{{Pennsylvania}}
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[[Category:Bethlehem, Pennsylvania| ]]
[[Category:1741 establishments in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Cities in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Cities in Northampton County, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Cities in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Moravian settlement in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1741]]
[[Category:Populated places on the Lehigh River]]