Bethlehem Apartments and Rentals

Though it may only be the seventh largest city in Pennsylvania, Bethlehem's impact on both the state and country has been much more significant than its population would indicate. Once home to one of the largest steel manufacturers in the world, the metropolis has more than 74,000 residents and ample financial and cultural opportunity.

The unique culture of the city is a blend of a young and vibrant art scene, a former mill town working-class mentality, one of the country's most innovative research universities and, more recently, a brand new casino. This confluence of people from different walks of life has led many to scour the area for Bethlehem apartments for rent, and the city's recent expansion has made this possible and easier than one would think.

Initially started as a Moravian mission community in the 1740s, the city of Bethlehem grew quickly and the local Native Americans were partially assimilated into the religious settlement. Home to the first water-works in America to pump water for public use, the metropolis grew out of this innovative spirit and eventually became a prosperous industrial center.

Bethlehem Steel shaped the city, and the corporation that was named after the area was operational from 1857 to 1995. Much of the region's population was employed at this massive site, and it was a significant contributor to the shipbuilding efforts in both World Wars, the evolution of the skyscraper in New York City and the nation's steel industry. As the decline of the mill continued due to foreign competition, the makeup of the metropolis shifted.

The city was placed on CNNMoney's top 100 places to live in 2008, and this award represented a move to modernity and away from its industrial past.

Bethlehem, PA is generally thought to have three sections, the North, West and South sides. Up on the hill is Lehigh University, and the campus is scattered around the base, sloping hills and top of the mountain, where many Bethlehem apartments are located.

Though the city used to be home to a number of industrial and manufacturing jobs, the old mill area is now home to the Sands Casino, which provides a number of employment opportunities and entertainment to the region. University jobs are plentiful at Lehigh University, and Moravian College and St. Luke's Hospital offers a number of available medical positions.

Several shopping centers are located in the region, construction jobs tied to the casino exist and development of new residential areas in the old mill part of the city has led to a number of new positions.

Lehigh University, ranked no. 35 on the U.S. News & World Report's 2011 college rankings, is located on South Mountain. Raucous, yet studious students often spill over into the city center, bringing in revenue and business to many unique and family-run establishments, along with supporting a vibrant bar scene in the surrounding areas.

In summer months, the Philadelphia Eagles reside in the Lehigh dorm rooms, and the team practices on the university's field and facilities.

The range of the cost of living in the city is based upon where one wants to reside, as the real estate tends to be cheaper in the areas that surround student housing, but newer and more developed residences are available for those with the necessary resources.

According to the 2010 Census, the median gross rent in 2009 was $856 a month and people can find apartments in Bethlehem for much higher or lower than this depending on the area.

The old mill city is home to a number of special art shows, outdoor festivals and celebrations of all ethnicities and backgrounds. St. Patrick's Day in the Lehigh Valley is one of the biggest parties in the region, and a Celtic Festival held in the city attracts people from all over.

Big name concerts and events are no strangers to Bethlehem, as Lehigh University and the Sands Casino are both destinations to some of the best artists touring in the U.S. Outdoors fanatics will enjoy the many 39 park sites in the city, and the South Mountain offers expansive views of downtown and the surrounding area. Sandwiched between the Lehigh River and the mountain, Bethlehem is a destination for people of all walks of life.

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