Muhlenberg College - Local Atmosphere

College Prowler Take

Muhlenberg is located in the center of two different areas of Allentown. Off the west side of campus, you have the fairly wealthy side of Allentown that has a much more suburban feel to it. There are several shopping centers that provide some college necessities within walking distance such as grocery stores, beer distributors, pizza places, ice cream, movie rental, and pharmacies. If you’re willing to get in the car, there is a 24-hour Wal-Mart within 10 minutes that is very useful for those random late-night snack runs. Going in that same direction, you pass Dorney Park. This is great during the beginning and end of the year because they have good prices at those times, and you can also get group discounts. In addition to the nice neighborhoods, there are also several parks nearby that are great for taking walks when thereis pleasant weather. Cedar Beach Park has a lot of ponds and streams with statues and fountains, and it is also where you can find the must-see rose garden.

If you head east of campus, you go into downtown Allentown. This is more of your typical city with some historic and cultural spots. A lot of students and most Muhlenberg freshmen get so trapped in the “Muhlenberg Bubble” that they don’t give downtown Allentown a chance. In addition to having a lot of rewarding places to volunteer (such as an after school program called Casa Guadalupe), downtown also offers several social and cultural spots such as the Allentown Art Museum on 5th Street and the 19th Street Theater. There are five other colleges that are nearby and part of the Lehigh Valley Association of Independent Colleges (LVAIC). As a part of this association, Muhlenberg students are able to take classes and use the libraries at DeSales University, Lafayette College, Lehigh University, Moravian College, and Cedar Crest College.

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Students Speak Out

rr237333 says:

There is obviously that area in... There is obviously that area in town where you would rather not go, but it is very easy to avoid and never necessary to go through. Plus, it is pretty far away, so if you are there, you put yourself there. 12345 Local Atmosphere: November 27, 2008 Report

Anonymous says:

Allentown has everything you would... Allentown has everything you would expect from a moderately-sized city: movie theaters, bars, dance clubs, restaurants, and shopping. Some areas of Allentown are nicer than others. The college itself is located in a very safe and pretty part of the city; however, it’s close enough to the inner city to provide other opportunities. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

Some people actually seem scared... Some people actually seem scared to go into the city. It’s not that bad! If you’ve ever been into cities like Philly or New York, Allentown is nothing. Sure, there are areas that are sketchier than others; yet, I really don’t feel like they are too dangerous to explore them with your friends. Take some trips on the weekends just to check out the places that are near campus. You’ll find that Allentown isn’t as dangerous or as boring as you might think. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

Each year, I’m amazed by how much... Each year, I’m amazed by how much there is in Allentown that I never knew about. My first year here, I was kind of scared into staying on campus or only going to places like the mall and the movies. Now that I’ve become more relaxed about where I’m willing to go, I’ve realized that the areas around campus have so much more to offer than I initially thought. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

I love going into the city to work... I love going into the city to work with the children. There are a lot of opportunities to volunteer in the inner city, and the children always seem really happy to see us. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Facts

Did You Know?

5 Fun Facts about Allentown:

• Allentown is considered the “truck capital of the world.”
• A local church harbored the Liberty Bell when it was taken from Philly to prevent British seizure.
• The 1988 movie Hairspray was filmed in Allentown.
• Allentown was named after William Allen, early landowner and son-in-law of Alexander Hamilton.
• While he grew up on Long Island, Billy Joel’s song “Allentown” is a depiction of life in industrial Allentown during the 1980s.

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