Scranton vs. Schuylkill County---Obviously Years Apart (Allentown, Reading: lofts, neighborhoods, buy)

[whorunbartertown]

My minister and his wife have moved to Tremont and have had NO problem whatsoever. Nothing but good things have been said about their move in from NY city. He especially feels the area is very hospitable to newcomers. I agree. sour grapes to Scan-Barre. I worked in Scranton for years, and it's a hole. Wilkes-Barre is the better of the two, but how 'bout that junkyard, and the enormous culm piles? People are very rude also....I'll take Tremont any day. And if I go anywhere it's south towards Harrisburg........

[ScranBarre]

Originally Posted by whorunbartertown

My minister and his wife have moved to Tremont and have had NO problem whatsoever. Nothing but good things have been said about their move in from NY city. He especially feels the area is very hospitable to newcomers. I agree. sour grapes to Scan-Barre. I worked in Scranton for years, and it's a hole. Wilkes-Barre is the better of the two, but how 'bout that junkyard, and the enormous culm piles? People are very rude also....I'll take Tremont any day. And if I go anywhere it's south towards Harrisburg........

Sour grapes? I'm jealous of Shenandoah? HA!

[tremontpa]

Ok, Scranton is not that diverse either. Look at these statistics directly off of the Scranton City Data profile.
Races in Scranton:

• White Non-Hispanic (92.3%)
• Black (3.0%)
• Hispanic (2.6%)
• Other race (1.2%)
• Two or more races (1.1%)

Now if you ask me that is not all that high percentage of Hispanics, or any other minority if you ask me.

Races in Tremont:

• White Non-Hispanic (98.9%)

Races in Pottsville:

• White Non-Hispanic (95.1%)
• Black (2.3%)
• Hispanic (1.2%)
• Two or more races (0.8%)
• Other race (0.5%)

Races in Minersville:

• White Non-Hispanic (98.1%)
• Two or more races (0.7%)
• Hispanic (0.6%)

Races in Shenandoah:

• White Non-Hispanic (96.0%)
• Hispanic (2.8%)
• Other race (1.0%)
• Two or more races (0.6%)

But yes, Scranton is more diverse than many Schuylkill County communities but it is still not a large gap. Therefore I would have to conclude that Scranton is no better than the majority of the southern coal region towns. Also, Shenandoah is the only town with notable problems, so don't judge the rest of Schuylill County to be the same way.

Now heres local city that is diverse and has been for a long time. Also note that the crime gets worse and worse every year. And its not the Caucasians who are causing the most of it.

Races in Reading:

• White Non-Hispanic (48.1%)
• Hispanic (37.3%)
• Other race (22.3%)
• Black (12.2%)
• Two or more races (4.2%)
• American Indian (1.0%)
• Vietnamese (0.9%)

[FightinPhils]

Tremont, those figures are from the 2000 census....a lot has changed in Scranton since then. I would guess that Scranton's hispanic population has easily tripled since then....and probably has the second highest hispanic population in NEPA to Hazleton. Its still not racially diverse if you're comparing it to places like Reading or Harrisburg, though. The black population in Scranton has probably stayed about the same from 2000.

You're comparing apples to oranges comparing Scranton to places like Tremont, Shenandoah, etc...comparing a city of 70,000+ to small towns.

I think the reason towns down in the coal region of Schuylkill County are in rough shape is the economy.....people from that area have to drive to either Scranton/Wilkes-Barre or Harrisburg to work (or stay locally and work for minimum wage)...both of which are far, especially in winter. I work with people in Wilkes-Barre that make the drive from down there. I don't envy them with that drive every day.

[NYRangers 2008]

What is the point? What does it matter that Scranton isn't that diverse?

[FightinPhils]

It really doesn't. To me, it already was diverse....Irish, Italian, Polish, Welsh, German, have lived here for a century or more.....to me, that is diverse...very different cultures. But the politically correct crowd thinks that diversity only means dark skin or differing sexual preferences....not that those are not diverse...but we "whiteys" can be diverse too.

[tremontpa]

Originally Posted by ScranBarre

. Scranton and Wilkes-Barre have been somewhat diverse now for at least the past 15-20 years, so people have had nearly an entire generation to acclimate themselves to differences in others. Places like Shenandoah, Frackville, Tamaqua, Tremont, etc. were traditionally 99% Caucasian for generations, and now all of a sudden there has been a huge influx of minorities.

I was making a point that Scranton is not as diverse as ScranBarre wants us to think and that there has not been a huge influx of minorities in many of the Schuylkill coal towns. And yes I get that there are many types of Caucasians, but there are also many types of African Americans, Hispanics, and Asians too. Because of all these types of people that exist it is standard to just classify the peoples over the genaral places that they originate from.

Furthermore, I know a lot has changed from 2000 (I can't wait for the 2010 cencus data), but its all there is right now. As said about Apples to oranges, I would disagree. Proportionally speaking the hispanic populations are not that far apart between Scranton and Shenandoah. For every 100 "whitey" there are almost 3 hispanics in both cities (Scranton is actually less, statisticlly speaking, than Shenandoah). Although in reallity there is greater exspoure to the hispanic population in Scranton the statistics still help make a valid point. Shenandoah's racial problems are not caused by a large chunk of its population but a small group of citizens who can not tolerate others. Thus I would have to draw the conclusion that the Shenandoah issues do not accurately reflect the views of most Schuylkill Countians.

[tremontpa]

Originally Posted by ScranBarre

I think the reason towns down in the coal region of Schuylkill County are in rough shape is the economy.....people from that area have to drive to either Scranton/Wilkes-Barre or Harrisburg to work (or stay locally and work for minimum wage)....

This is a sad and true fact

[whorunbartertown]

Scran-Barre, I don't live in Shendo, I live in Tremont, where the population has grown by 4.5% and diversity is welcome. What was the population growth....or decline in Scranton or Wilkes-Barre??? I see an influx of people from all over the country moving here. My daughters best friend growing up was black by the way....Scranton and Wilkes-Barre are dirty cities where street people abound. Again, I worked there for years. I had origionally thought of moving to Forty Fort, but decided against it. And am glad I didn't!
I know you love your hometown SB, but lets be realistic about them. Tremont is no pie in the sky either, but my tax dollars have produced newly paved roads, a new deep aquifer water system, a new sewer system and improvements all over town. I also see a diverse increase in population and a great sense of community. I see that as a town on the upswing in close proximity to three mid sized metro areas (for your CULTURAL needs). Again, sour grapes to you.....

[tremontpa]

Tremont is a very nice place to live in. With two community centers, multiple parks, and historic churches you can really enjoy yourself. But I will agree it is no "pie in the sky". Furthermore Tower City is not that bad. Yes there may be old run down row homes and a vacant church (thanks to the Allantown Dioclese) but it is still a historic and interested place. Whorunbartertown is also right on Tremont's diversity and population increase. The town will see better days soon and is on the upswing. Scranton is half the size it was in the 1940s and shows little signs of a big turnaround. I still like the city though.