Lehigh is a city in Webster County, Iowa, United States.

[2] Located in a valley, Lehigh is divided in two by the Des Moines River, unusual for such a small town.

While the town on the west side of the River was always called Lehigh, the east town was called Slabtown, and a piece of history marks the east side's roots––a sign that hangs over the playground with the words "Slabtown Traders," perhaps alluding to the flea market which is held there every summer during Lehigh River Days.

The "Slabtown Traders" sign was blown over by a gust of wind in the summer of 2010.

Lehigh was surrounded by coal mines until the early 20th century and home to a large clay sewer pipe factory until the 1980s.

Lehigh's first settlers, a Mr. Reed and Mr. Wright, set up a steam sawmill on the site in 1855.

Originally, the town was named Slabtown because slabs, scrap from the mill, were used in construction.

The company built a 3-foot gauge rail line from Judd, on the Illinois Central Railroad 8.5 miles south to the mines, including a 370-foot wooden truss bridge across the Des Moines River.

The Webster Coal and Land Company operated a mine near Lehigh from 1899 to 1902.

[9] The Crooked Creek railroad was widened to standard gauge in 1880 and a line to Webster City was built in 1886.

Diesel traction replaced overhead electric lines in the 1950s and the track was abandoned in 1962.

[10] By 1901, Lehigh was large enough to support a new First National Bank, with an initial capitalization of $25,000.

In addition, the old Lehigh Brick and Tile works was being rebuilt after the fire.

[16] Lehigh is located at 42°21′26″N 94°3′5″W / 42.35722°N 94.05139°W / 42.35722; -94.05139 (42.357332, −94.051283)[17] on the west bank of the Des Moines River.

The racial makeup of the city was 98.6% White, 0.2% African American, and 1.2% from two or more races.

36.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.