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bethlehem

Growing Without Roots on the South Side

Devynn Goodspeed, ’23, reflects on her family’s move from New Jersey to the Lehigh Valley after the 2008 recession and how newcomers seek more affordable, sustainable living on Bethlehem’s South Side.

Published Apr 1, 2026, 10:25 AM EDT | Lehigh University

Devynn Goodspeed, ’23, is the social media and marketing manager for Five Maidens Cider Company and recalls her family’s relocation to the Lehigh Valley shortly after the 2008 recession. Like many families from New Jersey, they were looking for lower property taxes, more affordable housing and a place that felt sustainable long-term, experiences she ties to life on Bethlehem’s South Side.