A small-town community with an active social calendar
Macungie (ma-CUN-gee), a Lenape Native American word that translates as “feeding place of the bears,” fits this second-oldest borough in Lehigh County well. First settled by German immigrants in 1735, Macungie is surrounded by wildlife and wilderness in the foothills of Brenner-Penfield Macungie Mountain. What draws people together are community events, such as antique car and craft shows, and holiday parades with carnival rides, games and food trucks.
“Macungie Memorial Park is the center of community life,” says Cheryl Snyder Teichman, an associate broker with Re/Max 440, who lives five minutes from Macungie and knows the area well. “It may be a small community on the outskirts of Allentown, but it’s growing and offers many opportunities for people to socialize and live close to their jobs.” Macungie is home to the Allen Organ Company and a short drive to employers Smooth-On, a rubber and plastics company, and Bear Creek Mountain Resort, a year-round vacation facility. In 2024, Lehigh Valley Hospital opened its first neighborhood hospital on Main Street in Macungie. The new hospital features a medical center and an emergency department with state-of-the-art imaging equipment.
Abundant shopping, a good school district and a hospital nearby also satisfy many homebuyer wish lists. “It used to be all farmland, but it’s grown a lot,” says Michelle Weber, a Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway HomesServices Fox and Roach Realtors and a longtime area resident. “It’s close to everything — ski resorts, parks, shopping. It’s a convenient place to live.”