Allentown is the hometown of fictional Peggy Sawyer, an aspiring showgirl on Broadway musical 42nd Street. Though Sawyer left Allentown to make it big, Allentown itself is a major city of manufacturing, finance, and government. Publishing has also become a large industry of Allentown in more recent years.
Ceder Crest College and Muhlenberg College are located in the city. Allentown has various museums, cultural organizations, venues, and bands.