The Bethlehem Area School District, in partnership with the home and community, is committed to providing a safe and supportive environment in which each student will attain the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to become a productive citizen and life-long learner in our technologically demanding and culturally diverse society.

As its name may suggest, Bethlehem was founded with the Bible in mind. In 1741, land along the Lehigh River in the heart of the Lehigh Valley was deeded to the Moravian Church to establish a mission. On Christmas Day of that year, church leaders named the settlement after the birthplace of Jesus, and that moniker has influenced the city ever since.

One of Bethlehem’s defining characteristics, for example, is how it celebrates the holidays. In 1747, the city became the first in the United States to feature a decorated Christmas tree, and in 1937, Bethlehem adopted the nickname “Christmas City USA.” Meg Leadbetter, a Realtor and member of the Eric Leadbetter Team of Acre and Estate, says, “Bethlehem has a star that gets lit during the holidays. No matter where you are in the city, you can look up and see the star shining on South Mountain."

Bethlehem Steel, once the city’s main employer, was an industrial giant in the late 19th century and for most of the 20th century. The second-largest steel producer in the U.S., the company pioneered the use of “I-beam” in constructing steel-framed skyscrapers, like New York’s Chrysler Building, and national landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge. Today, the site has become a lively arts and entertainment district. City industries have shifted from manufacturing to knowledge- and service-based industries, with organizations like St. Luke’s Hospital and Health Network, B. Braun Medical and Lehigh University taking the top three employer spots.

Between 2020 and 2024, the private sector invested $1.1 billion in Bethlehem, from new housing to new building and long-term commercial leases. The city has committed to several new projects, including redesigning West Broad Street and East Broad Street to improve pedestrian safety and create bike lanes. City planners are also working toward building an affordable housing community on land donated by the Lehigh Valley Industrial Park. Essential infrastructure updates are in the works, too, such as replacing lead water pipes, upgrading meters and repaving roads citywide.