In eastern Pennsylvania is the city of Bethlehem, so named by a count from Moravia, from central Europe.
Bethlehem, PA, is the namesake of Bethlehem outside of Jerusalem in the Middle East and is the place named where Christ Jesus was born. References in the New Testament (New Revised Standard) include:
"In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, 'Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews: For we observed his star at its rising and have come to pay him homage... The told him [Herod] 'In Bethlehem of Judea; for it has been written by the prophet: 'And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people, Israel.''"
- Matthew 2: 1-7
"In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David...the shepherds said to one another, 'Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us."
- Luke 2: 1-12, 14.
Bethlehem, the city in Pennsylvania, had its origins with a group of people who settled here from a region in the Czech Republic called the Moravians. They followed an ancient Protestant sect that existed 100 years before Martin Luther's Reformation - see the web site link to the history page, below. From that page:
"On Christmas Eve of that first year, 1741, the Moravians' patron, Count Nicholas Ludwig von Zinzendorf of Saxony, Germany, visited the new settlement. In their two-room log home that housed both man and beast, the Count christened the community "Bethlehem.""
Bethlehem, the city, in turn was the source of the name for Bethlehem Steel, which was a steel mill that operated until recently. The people of Bethlehem, today, fully embrace the name. The city is nicknamed, "Christmas City." Also, the 'Star of Bethlehem' is painted on the street at the intersection of Main Street and West Market and is in many other signs and designs.
The place waymarked is the government plaza where the city hall and library is located. The Bethlehem Public Library sign was used to identify the location since it has the city name in it.
Bethlehem Government Site (History):
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visit link)