[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 4663]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




       CELEBRATING THE 275TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CITY OF BETHLEHEM

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. CHARLES W. DENT

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 19, 2016

  Mr. DENT. Mr. Speaker, in 1741, 275 years ago, a small group of 
Moravian settlers founded a community along the banks of the Monocacy 
Creek in an area about 60 miles north of Philadelphia.
  In recognition of their faith--and in the hope that they were 
establishing a community that would stand the test of time--they named 
their settlement Bethlehem.
  These Moravian settlers chose an excellent site for their settlement. 
Bethlehem quickly grew to become an important hub for commerce, 
industry and learning. It remains so to this day, and continues to 
evolve with the times while still retaining strong ties to its heritage 
and founders.
  Bethlehem also remains a rich melting pot and serves as a shining 
example for other cities. Many of its citizens share a connection to 
the former Bethlehem Steel plant, which was once the number two steel 
producer in the United States. While time and circumstances resulted in 
Bethlehem Steel's closure, the people of Bethlehem have proven 
themselves to be as resilient and strong as the steel they forged. The 
City has continued to prosper, and it consistently appears on lists of 
the best places to live in the country.
  Now with a population over 75,000, a diversified industrial base, and 
a unique blend of culture and commerce, Bethlehem is celebrating its 
275th Anniversary.
  Mr. Speaker, it is an honor for me to serve and represent the people 
of Bethlehem, and I offer them my sincerest congratulations on their 
numerous achievements over the course of their city's long and storied 
past. May their city long continue to grow and to prosper.

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