HAMBURG PA, schools OK? Good place to relocate? (Philadelphia, Allentown: school districts, college)

[Meri678]

How are HAMBURG SCHOOLS? Do you like Hamburg? I am reposting after realizing I put this post in the wrong place...After much research and consideration my husband and I are seriously considering relocating to Hamburg pa. It is centrally located to family, friends, his work, and more for us. Does any one have any kids there who likes/dislikes the schools? I am curious about stores, library, etc. Are there any parts of town to avoid or that are particularly nice? We love my sons current preschool, and much about the area where we live now but I really miss friends and family but we dont want to move our son somewhere where the schools maybe arent as good, or is less safe, etc. Any parents out there living in Hamburg please give me any input as to how you feel about Hamburg and family life there. I really appreciate any input in advance Thanks!

[FamousBlueRaincoat]

I'm not a parent, but I grew up just outside of Hamburg. Currently live in Philadelphia.

The town itself is a very nice town. I went to elementary, middle, and high school there. Based on that personal experience, and nothing else, I thought it was a fairly average school. I found it terribly boring and not challenging personally, but I was a bright kid back then. It was a pretty smooth transition to a state college, which was also very boring and unchallenging. So, in short, I was well prepared.

It really is a nice town. We lived just outside of town in a suburban strip, and I wish we would have lived in the town itself. I like walking around there whenever I go back to visit my family.

If you already think it's a good place to live, there's nothing about the schools themselves that should keep you away, really. The only negative thing is that there are a lot of disgruntled poor white folk who would often harass and threaten the small number of minority students there. This happened when I went there, from 2000-2004, and when my sister went there a couple of years later. My guess is that nearby school districts would also have that problem.

[Meri678]

Thank you for replying I appreciate your input! My son is very bright for his age so hearing first hand school experiences are very helpful.

[PAblackbear]

I like Hamburg because Cabelas is there. Best store ever.

[FamousBlueRaincoat]

Oh yes, the famous Cabelas. Bringing people all over the world to the interstate running through Tilden Township, and having them think they're actually in Hamburg as they eat their lunch at McDonalds, Burger King, and Wendy's.

Looking back at the hope that people in Hamburg had when that Cabelas was built....sometimes small town naive optimism is a very sad thing.

Hamburg is still a really nice place to live, though - even if most people going to Cabelas never see the actual town.

[Bob palko]

Hamburg......where the mountains meet the cornfields...or should I say meets the fast food joints. The town used to be a nice quiet tranquil place to live, but it is now beginning to turned into a transit stop off for a quick hamburger. I only hope the future will bring quality restaurants and diners so we can at least relax in this changing environment.

[MamaHawk]

Pretty area but people are rude. Typical small town attitude. If you are not born there, you will never be fully accepted.
The schools are decent, quite a difficult curriculum. Staffing is adequate.

[Synergy1]

I use to live in Philly and went to school in Hamburg. That was 45 years ago and I remember the town as cool calm and collective place.

I would have no reservation living there now but we retired at an early early age and love SE Florida.. Good luck.

[kunsunoke]

Hamburg is pretty typical of the area from a demographic standpoint. It's PA German in heritage, with some slight crossover into coal-region culture. The area's actually pretty safe, devoid of some of the nastiness present in Easton or downtown Reading. It's also a fantastic location if you enjoy outdoor sports, being situated next to the Schuylkill River and the Blue Mountain.

I'm not too familiar with Hamburg schools but haven't heard anything negative about them.

The borough itself seems to be pretty good at attracting businesses (as evidenced by the Cabelas store and all the other associated growth on the north end of the town). The location is pretty convenient as well, located on I-78 and PA-61, so if one needed to commute to Allentown or Reading it would be fairly easy.

Integration into the host culture will take some time, same as it does anywhere a community's base remains fairly stable.