15th District

The 15th District of Pennsylvania is a diverse area in Eastern Pennsylvania, comprising all or parts of Lehigh, Northampton, Montgomery and Berks counties. The district includes the Lehigh Valley, Indian Valley and Upper Perkiomen Valley regions.

The majority of the district's population lives in the Lehigh Valley — Pennsylvania 's third-largest metropolitan area, comprised of the cities of Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton , and numerous surrounding boroughs and townships. Since the days leading to the American Revolution and the founding of our nation, the Lehigh Valley has always been at the center of industrial development. Today, modern industries continue to provide work for the Valley's many residents.

The district has long been known for its mix of historical boroughs and rural areas. Even with urban development and suburban growth, the district boasts beautiful countryside and quiet villages. Much of northern Montgomery County has retained the small-town atmosphere dating back to Colonial times.

The region's history is the story of America 's founding and growth. References to the area's original inhabitants, the Delaware tribe's Lenni Lenape, are reflected in the names of many municipalities and features throughout the district. Settlers came to the area in the early 1700s and established farming communities, and agriculture remains an important part of life in the region today. Revolutionary War soldiers, including the Marquis de Lafayette, were treated at a local hospital in Bethlehem . In Easton , the Declaration of Independence was read publicly for the first time outside Philadelphia on July 8, 1776. The home of Declaration signer George Taylor still stands nearby. The early 1800s saw the area flourish as a commercial center following the construction of the Delaware and Lehigh Canal . Later, cement, slate, steel, railroad and other industries thrived throughout the region.

Today, the area remains a successful commercial center, and serves as a preferred residence for commuters to nearby cities. Just an hour-and-a-half west of New York City and an hour north of Philadelphia , the region has seen continual growth in both population and commercial development.