Altonah, Pennsylvania

Altonah was a former village in Northampton County Pennsylvania located one mile north of the then borders of Bethlehem. The village's name is said to be a corruption of the German phrase "all zu nähe" or "all too near" referencing its close proximity to Bethlehem and the fact that the village was inhabited by German settlers.[1] On September 5, 1832 Prince Maximilian of Wied-Neuwied rode through the village 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] The village would be annexed by Bethlehem during its consolidation effort between 1904 and 1920 alongside Macada, Hottlesville, and Shimersville.[5] The only remaining reference to the village is Altona road in Bethlehem.[1]

Not to be confused with Altonah, Utah.
Altonah
Former Village
Etymology: all too near
Altonah is located in Pennsylvania
Altonah
Altonah
Altonah is located in the United States
Altonah
Altonah
Coordinates: 40.65682903045693°N 75.35622773495402°W / 40.65682903045693; -75.35622773495402
CountryUnited States
State Pennsylvania
County Northampton
Absorbed into Bethlehem1904–1920

References
  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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