Highly Localized Vernacular Regionalization in the Allentown-Bethlehem Area, PA-NJ∗

∗I thank Ary J. Lamme, III, and Peirce F. Lewis for their advice on the research and Michael M. Swann, the anonymous reviewers, and the editor for their comments on the manuscript. I could not have completed the difficult sampling process without the assistance of several members of the faculty and staff at the Northampton, Lehigh, Warren, Bucks, and Montgomery County community colleges.

Yi-Fu Tuan's cognitive theory of the construction of place suggests the need for a higher level of resolution in research on American local vernacular regions. A survey-based case study of the Allentown-Bethlehem area demonstrates that municipal data can substantially refine an existing county-based delimitation by revealing previously undocumented regions and subregions, areas with mixed regional identity, and areas lacking regional identity. The resulting delimitations of subcounty vernacular regions are sufficiently precise to disclose a striking correspondence with area school districts.

Key Words:

• place
• vernacular region
• scale
• localization
• Pennsylvania

Notes

∗I thank Ary J. Lamme, III, and Peirce F. Lewis for their advice on the research and Michael M. Swann, the anonymous reviewers, and the editor for their comments on the manuscript. I could not have completed the difficult sampling process without the assistance of several members of the faculty and staff at the Northampton, Lehigh, Warren, Bucks, and Montgomery County community colleges.