Lehigh University - Local Atmosphere

College Prowler Take

It’s no secret that the town of Bethlehem isn’t exactly New York City, but there have been changes over the last few years to help improve the economy—most notably on the south side, near campus. The north side, historic Bethlehem, is five minutes from campus by car and has always been charming. A stroll down Main Street can make you feel like you’re in a completely different era with the old-fashioned sidewalks and storefronts. Both south and north sides have their share of distinct eateries, and the north side actually has some surprisingly good restaurants. Aside from the food, most students will agree that there’s not a lot to do in Bethlehem, but this is more than made up for in the excellent social life on campus. Students with cars often drive to Allentown—a 10- to 15-minute ride—for most of their needs.

While most people are skeptical of Bethlehem upon first visiting, the former steel titan has a way of growing on students. The relationship between residents of Bethlehem and the students is amicable at best; townies don’t exactly love the students, but they tolerate them all the same. Dorney Park and the Crayola Factory are 20-minute drives, Moravian College is right across the river, and Muhlenberg College is a 15-minute drive away. The Promenade outdoor shopping center has opened up a ton of options for students. The center is filled with shops and restaurants, and it’s quite pleasant to walk around. While most Lehigh students are having too much fun to be bothered going anywhere, there are a few options when it feels necessary to go off campus.

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Students Speak Out

Anonymous says:

The atmosphere in Lehigh’s town is... The atmosphere in Lehigh’s town is nothing like the atmosphere in Lehigh. The surrounding Bethlehem area is pretty old, rundown, and relatively quiet. Without a car, it is a bit difficult to make it to places, such as the mall, the Crayola Factory, or restaurants. Regardless of the surrounding area, the beautiful campus makes the experience very worthwhile. There are other schools relatively close, but interaction with them is few andfar between. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

Bethlehem/Allentown is kind of a... Bethlehem/Allentown is kind of a mixed bag. There are some neat places to go in the area, but a lot of it is kind of rundown and definitely not somewhere you’d want to be late at night. There are plenty of brochures available (they’re laying around the student center mostly) on all of the little trips one can take in the area. As far as other colleges, both Muhlenberg and Moravian are in the area, but their students always come here to party and not vice versa. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

The atmosphere is not very good.... The atmosphere is not very good. It is a pretty impoverished town, but that means that the majority of students stay on campus, which makes socializing great. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

The town that we live in is very... The town that we live in is very urban. I don’t feel comfortable walking off campus by myself. There are some nice restaurants on the south side of Bethlehem, but for the most part, the nicer part of town is over the bridge on the north side. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

The restaurants are surprisingly... The restaurants are surprisingly good if you know where to go. The town is worse than Jersey, and there is little interaction with other local colleges. There are attractions to visit within a reasonable distance such as Dorney Park and the Crayola factory. Stay away from the townies unless you’re looking to get held-up or are in search of a gangbang. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Facts

Did You Know?

Five Fun Facts About Bethlehem
• Bethlehem, known as Christmas City, USA, was given its name on Christmas Eve 1741.
• The Moravian Book Shop, located in Historic Bethlehem, is the oldest continuously running bookseller in the world, founded in 1745.
• Bethlehem’s Musikfest is considered the largest music festival in the country, with more than 1,000 musical performers and an annual attendance of more than 1 million.
• Moravians in Bethlehem completed the first-known waterworks system providing drinking and wash water in the American colonies in 1754.
• The Philadelphia Eagles have held their NFL training camp at Bethlehem’s Lehigh University for the past few years.

Famous People from Bethlehem:
Stephen Vincent Benet
Gelsey Kirkland
Asa Packer

Most Recent Contributing Author

Name: Charlie Gimber
Hometown: Sudbury, MA
Major: English and Journalism

Charlie wrote a satirical restaurant review column for Lehigh's student newspaper.

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