Altonah, Pennsylvania

Altonah
Altonah
Former Village
	Etymology: all too near
	Altonah Altonah
	Coordinates: 40°39′25″N 75°21′22″W / 40.65682903045693°N 75.35622773495402°W
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
County	Northampton
Absorbed into Bethlehem	1904–1920

Altonah was a former village in Northampton County, Pennsylvania located one mile north of the then borders of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The village's name is a corruption of the German phrase "all zu nähe", translated as "all too near", referencing its close proximity to Bethlehem and the fact that the village was inhabited by German settlers.^[1]

History

19th century

On September 5, 1832 Prince Maximilian of Wied-Neuwied rode through Altonah during his travels from Mauch Chunk to Nazareth and noted that the village used to have a large Moravian population.^[2]

In 1877, the village consisted of 16 dwellings.^[3]

In 1895, a post office was opened near where the village was located. The post office was initially going to be named Altonah, in reference to the village, but was instead named Macada and become the center of a village in its own right.^[4]

20th century

Altonah was annexed by Bethlehem, Pennsylvania during its consolidation effort between 1904 and 1920 along with Macada, Hottlesville, and Shimersville were similarly annexed.^[5] The only remaining reference to the village is Altona Road in Bethlehem.^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b Rehm, Jason. "THE STREETS OF BETHLEHEM". lvpnews.com. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
^ Philipp Maximilian, Alexander (1833). The North American Journals of Prince Maximilian of Wied. University of Oklahoma Press. pp. 148–149. ISBN 0806185988. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
^ FRITTS, PETER (1877). HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. p. 238. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
^ "Bethlehem's Best General Store to be demolished". The Morning Call. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
^ Grygiel, Phillips Preiss. "Preservation Plan for the City of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania" (PDF). bethlehem-pa.gov. Retrieved 13 October 2023.

[Streets-1] Rehm, Jason. "THE STREETS OF BETHLEHEM". lvpnews.com. Retrieved 13 October 2023.

[2] Philipp Maximilian, Alexander (1833). The North American Journals of Prince Maximilian of Wied. University of Oklahoma Press. pp. 148–149. ISBN 0806185988. Retrieved 13 October 2023.

[3] FRITTS, PETER (1877). HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. p. 238. Retrieved 13 October 2023.

[4] "Bethlehem's Best General Store to be demolished". The Morning Call. Retrieved 13 October 2023.

[5] Grygiel, Phillips Preiss. "Preservation Plan for the City of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania" (PDF). bethlehem-pa.gov. Retrieved 13 October 2023.

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v t e Municipalities and communities of Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States
County seat: Easton
Region	Lehigh Valley
Cities	Bethlehem‡ Easton
Boroughs	Bangor Bath Chapman East Bangor Freemansburg Glendon Hellertown Nazareth North Catasauqua Northampton Pen Argyl Portland Roseto Stockertown Tatamy Walnutport West Easton Wilson Wind Gap
Townships	Allen Bethlehem Bushkill East Allen Forks Hanover Lehigh Lower Mount Bethel Lower Nazareth Lower Saucon Moore Palmer Plainfield Upper Mount Bethel Upper Nazareth Washington Williams
CDPs	Ackermanville Belfast Cherryville Chestnut Hill Eastlawn Gardens Martins Creek Middletown Mount Bethel Morgan Hill Old Orchard Palmer Heights Raubsville
Other communities	Beersville Berlinsville Butztown Chickentown Christian Springs Colesville‡ Danielsville Emanuelsville Flicksville Franks Corner Hanoverville Hollo Katellen Klecknersville Moorestown Newburg Schoenersville‡ Seidersville Slateford Treichlers Wassergass Zucksville
Former settlements	Altonah Hottlesville Macada Shimersville
Notable people	Notable people
Culture	In films
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