Need info about Berwick, PA (Scranton, Wilkes-Barre: ski resorts, apartment, rent)

[mikhar1960]

Hello,

Me and wife are looking into moving to Berwick, PA. We are going to look at a couple of home this week. We would like to know about Berwick and the surrounding area. We are looking for both the good and bad of the area. Any information would be helpful.

Thanks, Mike

[MB2]

Originally Posted by mikhar1960

Hello,

Me and wife are looking into moving to Berwick, PA. We are going to look at a couple of home this week. We would like to know about Berwick and the surrounding area. We are looking for both the good and bad of the area. Any information would be helpful.

Thanks, Mike

Welcome....
We were also looking, extensively, in the Berwick/ Bloomsberg area.
Housing prices have gone up there as well, just like everywhere else. But, the good news is, there is still affortable housing available.
It's beautiful out there, nesteld, and surrounded mainly by farmland and country, and the cost of living is on the lower side in comparison.
However, we discovered, that due to the somewhat remote and country location, they offer only limited cable service out there (satelite is widely used), and most of them will have septic sewer systems.
One major thing that prevented us to persue Berwick any further, is the power plant out there.........So, we re-directed our search into the Bloomsburg area.
Hope this helps a bit, and maybe are some Berwick residents here on the forum, to help you with even more info.
Good luck.

[SteelCityRising]

Berwick isn't anything to write home about. It's your typical small PA town of about 10,000 residents, and there's not much to do. There's a Wise Potato Chip Factory here, and the nuclear power plant is just to the northeast of town. High school football is a religion here, as the residents seem to think that tossing around a pigskin should take precedence over supporting the arts.

With that being said, one of its greatest assets is its location. It's very near to the town of Bloomsburg, which hosts the annual Bloomsburg Fair, is home to a small airport, a thriving historic Main Street, and Bloomsburg University (including the talented Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble). It is also a short drive to Hazleton, a city of 30,000 with more chain store options (even though Bloomsburg has a nice amount as well).

Berwick is just boring in my opinion. If people wet their pants out of excitement over a HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL GAME on Friday nights, then that tells you that there's not much to do that stimulates the mind. It does have a well-kept, affordable housing stock though and isn't too terribly far from the heavily-populated Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area, with more "big city" options, such as a casino, ski resorts, outlet malls, sporting events, concerts, Starbucks, etc.

I hope to do a photo tour of both Bloomsburg and Berwick at some point during the middle of this week. Stay tuned for it! If it were up to me personally, I'd overlook Berwick and shoot straight for nearby Bloomsburg, but that decision will be yours to make.

[mikhar1960]

Originally Posted by ScrantonWilkesBarre

Berwick isn't anything to write home about. It's your typical small PA town of about 10,000 residents, and there's not much to do. There's a Wise Potato Chip Factory here, and the nuclear power plant is just to the northeast of town. High school football is a religion here, as the residents seem to think that tossing around a pigskin should take precedence over supporting the arts.

With that being said, one of its greatest assets is its location. It's very near to the town of Bloomsburg, which hosts the annual Bloomsburg Fair, is home to a small airport, a thriving historic Main Street, and Bloomsburg University (including the talented Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble). It is also a short drive to Hazleton, a city of 30,000 with more chain store options (even though Bloomsburg has a nice amount as well).

Berwick is just boring in my opinion. If people wet their pants out of excitement over a HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL GAME on Friday nights, then that tells you that there's not much to do that stimulates the mind. It does have a well-kept, affordable housing stock though and isn't too terribly far from the heavily-populated Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area, with more "big city" options, such as a casino, ski resorts, outlet malls, sporting events, concerts, Starbucks, etc.

I hope to do a photo tour of both Bloomsburg and Berwick at some point during the middle of this week. Stay tuned for it! If it were up to me personally, I'd overlook Berwick and shoot straight for nearby Bloomsburg, but that decision will be yours to make.

Thanks for the info. It sounds like what I am looking for. Both me and my wife are disabled and we are looking for a slower pace. We now live in Central NJ and it is just to expensive to live. I am paying $1300 rent for a two bed room apartment. I can get a house in central PA between 60,000's to 80,000's dollars. That would cut my living expenses in half.

Thanks, Mike

[mikhar1960]

Originally Posted by MovingBack2PA

Welcome....
We were also looking, extensively, in the Berwick/ Bloomsberg area.
Housing prices have gone up there as well, just like everywhere else. But, the good news is, there is still affortable housing available.
It's beautiful out there, nesteld, and surrounded mainly by farmland and country, and the cost of living is on the lower side in comparison.
However, we discovered, that due to the somewhat remote and country location, they offer only limited cable service out there (satelite is widely used), and most of them will have septic sewer systems.
One major thing that prevented us to persue Berwick any further, is the power plant out there.........So, we re-directed our search into the Bloomsburg area.
Hope this helps a bit, and maybe are some Berwick residents here on the forum, to help you with even more info.
Good luck.

Thanks for posting. What is the problem with the power plant? I know it a nuclear plant. Do you know the name of the plant? I am going to do some research about it if I can get the name.
Also, what other areas are you looking at? I am open to any other areas. The one thing I found about Bloomsburg is you need to check out about the flood zones. Some areas are prone to flooding.

Good luck on your search, Mike

[MB2]

Originally Posted by mikhar1960

Thanks for posting. What is the problem with the power plant? I know it a nuclear plant. Do you know the name of the plant? I am going to do some research about it if I can get the name.
Also, what other areas are you looking at? I am open to any other areas. The one thing I found about Bloomsburg is you need to check out about the flood zones. Some areas are prone to flooding.

Good luck on your search, Mike

Well, we have chosen to make our move down the NC.....(after much drama, and back and forth..huh )
But, we looked at places like Drums, Mountain Top, Sugarloaf, Berwick, Bloomsburg....
And suggest, you will do the same, since it seems like, that's the kind of area you are looking for as well.
Yes, PARTS of Bloomsburg are prone to flooding issues, but, there are plenty of nice neighborhoods in a somewhat more elevated location, and away from the river. (outskirts....new developments, georgeous!!!)
I would never, ever buy a house here even near a tiny creek, because that tiny thing will turn into a monster rapid during massive rainfalls we have here in PA.

We only know the Power Plant as "Berwick Power Plant".
My husband, a born and raised Hazleton/ PA guy, won't have any part of that plant, and won't move near it!
According to him, did they have some problems over the years.
Which, he doesn't remember details, but I am sure can be researched online.
Good luck in your search...I know, I was pulling my hair out...huh.

[cjseliga]

Originally Posted by MovingBack2PA

We only know the Power Plant as "Berwick Power Plant".

Here's a link to info about the plant, it's owned by PPL (Pennsylvania Power and Light).

PPL Susquehanna (http://www.pplweb.com/ppl+generation/nuclear+plants/ppl+susquehanna.htm - broken link)

[SteelCityRising]

Now that I've reread my replies, I realize I may have just been a tad too harsh on Berwick. Just yesterday I saw a heartwarming story on the news about the community banding together first to line the city's streets several months ago to welcome home a wounded soldier from Iraq with a grand parade, and now they all want to help his family recover after losing their home to a fire. There's just something to be said about small towns.

It's all subjective I guess. Berwick is very, very slow-paced, laid-back, and somewhat "boring," but while I find that to be a turn-off as an energetic 20-year-old with an interest in diving headfirst into an inner-city neighborhood in Scranton, those who are looking to unwind, relax, and enjoy the simpler things in life will most certainly love Berwick. I'll still be blunt and say I'm partial to Bloomsburg, but Berwick isn't that far behind as a runner-up.

About fifteen minutes north of Berwick and Bloomsburg lies the country village of Benton, which hosts a popular annual rodeo. The annual Bloomsburg Fair in Bloomsburg is the largest agricultural fair in Pennsylvania. I know you said you and your husband are disabled (I'm assuming physically), but if you can ever muster up the strength when you get here, I'd DEMAND that you visit Ricketts Glen State Park, about ten minutes to the east of Benton along Route 118. The waterfalls there are absolutely breathtaking, and you don't need to venture too far up the trail system to enjoy them. When my family and I were last there for a family hike we saw an Amish family frolicking around in the stream, as well as chipmunks, deer, and squirrels. It truly is the "best kept secret" in NEPA, as the "New Yahkers" haven't quite found it yet (anything northwest of Scranton/Wilkes-Barre is apparently still "unconquered territory" to them).

There was (were?) also some awesome historic Twin Covered Bridges just to the south of Benton near Route 487, but I believe they might have been washed away during the major Flood of 2006 (I'll have to look into that). Also not far from this area is the Knoebel's Family Amusement Park, which offers free admission. I often see older people just strolling around the park holding hands and/or sitting in motorized scooters just enjoying the sounds of the laughing children nearby and the plentiful shade trees. For medical emergencies, the major Geisinger Medical Center is a short drive away in nearby Danville.

[HomeAgainInWestPittston]

On my peaceful communte each morning into Plymouth, I see "The Cloud Factory" pouring out in all it's glory and think - YIKES! It's a hellova lot closer than I thought and ZOIKES! every burn-out who had a father in a trade Union in the mid-late 1970s worked there... I know, cause... I hung-out with the burn-outs.

Three Mile Island, Chernobyl... we're gunna get it one way or the next. I think it's better to be close - it will be over quicker and I won't linger.

LOL -

God Bless America!

Linda

[mich66]

I am also looking in the Berwick area. I want to slow down and take my life back and thought Berwick would be a good fit. The problem is I have my retired Mom with me who doesn't drive, would Berwick be ok for her or should I just stick to Bloomsburg?
So many decisions......