Does NEPA have a "Culture?" (Philadelphia, Pittsburgh: big home, living in)

[JimmyLane]

i'm moving to Montrose PA soon and I am curious whether NE Pennsylvania has an identifiable "culture" compared to other parts of the state. are there any real differences in behaviors, customs, norms?---or anything in particular you'd like to share that in your mind makes Pennsylvania a place you're proud (or not so proud) to call "home."

thanks.

[scrantonluna]

[tsedeski]

I would characterize it as full of eastern and western european immigrants 2-4 generations removed. In my case, and i am only 42, my grandparents were from Poland and Russia who immigrated and worked in the mines.

I often describe jokingly that where i come from most towns have a church or a beer garden (bar) on every corner. It used to be that wasn't an exageration.

LOng story short, alot of old world tradition but its fast eroding.

[JimmyLane]

Scrantonluna: lol!

tsedeski: to add to what you said about coal mining being the foundation of whatever culture the area actually has, much of NEPA hasn't changed all that much. Towns like Shamokin and Danville, for example, still have that coal town esthetic. and for the exceptional pockets of gentrification like Honesdale and Milford (perhaps), i think what NEPA lacks is a "center" in the spirit of Pittsburgh or Philadelphia.

NEPA is a land without a soul. the bigger problem is the region's economy. "NEPA" is often said in the same breath as "economically depressed and "no jobs," which has a stinging impact on long-term perceptions. NYorkers and NJerseyans view NEPA's interior as remote and backwoodsy and its land nothing more than a nice place to lay a big home on, so long as that home and land reside at the periphery where residents maintain an arm's length from the rest of "them," ensuring they'll never become part of, at one "with." if there's any culture, look east of the NEPA border. at least for now.

[tcwest]

Be careful not to say "a soul" too fast, or even worse, aloud. Mods'll getcha.

[JimmyLane]

Originally Posted by tcwest

Be careful not to say "a soul" too fast, or even worse, aloud. Mods'll getcha.

thanks tc. the "soul" reference is more a cry of frustration after being subject to a barrage of negativity about NEPA when i announced to friends and family my decision to move there. so i mean no disrespect to NEPAians. there's a lot to like about the place. i meant it in the simple sense that i don't see NEPA as standing for anything to the extent that the region has truly discovered itself. Texas has its lonestar; California its dreamers; Montana its Big Sky; NY its Big Apple. i think that regional identities emerge out of a prideful state. in the case of NEPA and PA, i see neither.

[BLUEDIAMOND64]

Actually does not seem to be be the Poconos anymore especially in the areas close to NY. Rapidly changing too fast.

[KristyLiz]

Originally Posted by JimmyLane

i don't see NEPA as standing for anything to the extent that the region has truly discovered itself. Texas has its lonestar; California its dreamers; Montana its Big Sky; NY its Big Apple. i think that regional identities emerge out of a prideful state. in the case of NEPA and PA, i see neither.

This is an interesting point.

When I first moved to PA it was to NEPA (Drums) and all my NY/NJ relatives called it PennsylTuckey. Three years later when we moved to montgomery county (outside Philly), these same people praised this move. Now we are getting set to move again, this time to Lehigh valley, and once again the peanut gallery is heard from saying what a beautiful area it is and how cool downtown Bethlehem is.

So, in my own personal experience with living in three areas of PA, your sentiments hold true - NEPA doesn't seem to have a 'center' or sadly anything outsiders see as alluring (short of a cheap cost of living).

[tsedeski]

I think the "soul" is the strong family values and feeling of home and tradition I get whenever I come over the mountain on 81N and see the valley open up. As far as my interpretation goes, I am talking more about the actual valley extents rather than the surrounding areas filling with out of towners. (Larksville to WB Twp and Pittston to Nanticoke)

I havent lived there since 1985 but no matter where I've been, not one place has ever felt like home as much. I have to admit though, the limited diversity and culture make long stays a bit boring.

[Mr Yuk]

Originally Posted by tsedeski

I think the "soul" is the strong family values and feeling of home and tradition I get whenever I come over the mountain on 81N and see the valley open up. As far as my interpretation goes, I am talking more about the actual valley extents rather than the surrounding areas filling with out of towners. (Larksville to WB Twp and Pittston to Nanticoke)

I havent lived there since 1985 but no matter where I've been, not one place has ever felt like home as much. I have to admit though, the limited diversity and culture make long stays a bit boring.

I agree with your first paragraph. But the second? I'm tired of people saying there is a "lack of diversity" here just because the overwhelming majority here are caucasian. Have you ever stopped to notice all of the different ethnic backgrounds that inhabit this area, and all of the ethnic festivals and ethnic churches and organizations? Irish, Italian, Polish, German, Welsh, Russian, Slovak, etc etc, all with different cultures and customs. Just because people are white does not mean they are not diverse and does not mean that all light-skinned people are the same. Why is it that people think that diversity only means black or hispanic? People seem to think that cities that are a majority black are "diverse," but not cities that are a majority white.

Hayna er no?