The northwestern region of Lehigh County is a rural area comprised of four townships: Heidelberg, Lowhill, Lynn, and Weisenberg. The area was predominantly settled by the Pennsylvania Germans beginning in the 1730s and 1740s. The region was primarily devoted to agriculture and small family-owned farms. As the population grew during the 19th century, small towns were settled, and businesses and manufacturing developed to support the local agricultural communities.
The Pennsylvania Germans were unique in that they continued to speak a German dialect that virtually remained unchanged since their immigration to America. During the second half of the 20th century, the region slowly changed as outsiders moved into the area, and family farms began to disappear from the landscape. Northwestern Lehigh County showcases a region with a diverse population and changing land use, yet one that still maintains its roots in its past and the farming that was so prevalent in the area. The photographs for this book were donated from the archives of the Weisenberg-Lowhill and Lynn-Heidelberg Historical Societies and from private collections of area residents.