Northumberland County??? (Harrisburg, York, Bloomsburg: real estate, crime, houses)

[bnjwhitney]

I am planning on moving to PA and am looking at Northumberland County. I like the Marion Heights area. I need to know about work, the schools, the stores. I have kids that ride motocross and bmx, is there anything for them there??

[Dawne]

It may be just a local prejudice, but I'd stay away from Northumberland County. There are government issues and high debt in the county. I'm not very familiar with Marion Heights, but the majority of Northumberland County is economically depressed and the schools aren't the greatest.

If it were me, I would look to the neighboring counties of Union (Lewisburg), Snyder (Selinsgrove), Montour (Danville) and Columbia (Bloomsburg).

I can't help you out with motocross and BMX, but I do know some people who race. I'm just not sure where they go for it. You might be better off to find a house with some land with it and let your kids ride on your land. Be sure to check into zoning restrictions and township ordinances, which a realtor can help you with.

Good luck!

[Icy Tea]

I see many many bike trails among the coal banks and woodlands up that way so I'm sure they do alot of racing and off roading. If you want to work, I think you'll be commuting a long way. But land and houses are cheap, crime is low, diversity is too, LOL. I think Shamokin is 98% white, although you have a good mix of cultures, polish, irish, english, welsh, eastern european,italian, etc.

[bnjwhitney]

I have to work so how far is the commute?? Is there work in Harrisburg?? I like the Shamokin/Trevorton area; I just don't know where people work or how far they commute. There doesn't seem to be much in the towns. Am I crazy for wanting to move up there. I am originally from Jersey, moved to the south about 2 years ago and miss the north. I can't wait to get back to where it snows

[Dawne]

Yes, there's work in Harrisburg. You could hop on I-81 or go down US 15. You're probably looking at an hour to an hour and a half one way.

You have to be really careful when off-roading in the area because of the old strip mines and underground mines. People have fallen into them and been killed or seriously hurt. Plus much of the property is posted as private.

There is a good rails to trails program but I'm not sure if motor vehicles are allowed on those trails. I'm thinking they're for bicyclers and hikers.

I don't think you're crazy for wanting to move to PA. It's beautiful here and the seasons are great, especially if you like snow. I'm curious as to why the Shamokin/Trevorton area? Had you lived there before? Do you have friends or family there?

[susquehannock]

Originally Posted by bnjwhitney

I have to work so how far is the commute?? Is there work in Harrisburg?? I like the Shamokin/Trevorton area; I just don't know where people work or how far they commute. There doesn't seem to be much in the towns. Am I crazy for wanting to move up there. I am originally from Jersey, moved to the south about 2 years ago and miss the north. I can't wait to get back to where it snows

Shamokin used to have an excellent local economy. There were a lot of shopping centers and national chain stores. The area's economy was supported by thousands of factory jobs and their local economy flourished. I can remember through the end of the '80s , the area was a local destination for shopping etc. It was bustling with activity.

Then in the early '90s the area started to become depressed. With the passage of NAFTA and other one-sided trade deals negotiated by our government, the Shamokin area started to lose their good paying factory jobs because they couldn't compete with foreign goods. Many of the factories closed for good or moved offshore to take advantage of the slave labor in Mexico and China. As the jobs moved and people were thrown out of work, the local area began a downward economic spiral. The malls began closing and a lot local merchants had to close their shops and stores. One fast food restaurant couldn't even stay open. Then about 10 years ago, a Super Wal-Mart moved n that was supposed to save the day for Shamokin. With Wal-Mart's predatory practices, more stores closed and more jobs were lost. The local tax based eroded even more. Now, when you drive through Shamokin, all you see is empty store fronts and shopping centers. Hundreds of discarded empty Wal-Mart bags blow around the streets and lie along the roadside. That's about all that is left in Shamokin....Wal-Mart.They still have some great local mom and pop eateries though.

But, the folks from the Shamokin area are probably the friendliest people in this area and have the old virtue of neighbor helping neighbor. They're great salt-of-the-earth people.

It's a shame what has happened to Shamokin economically. The wonderful folks who live in the area didn't deserve what happened.

[bnjwhitney]

We are stuck in the south and really want to move back north. PA seems like the reasonable place to go. Love the state. NJ is way too expensive and PA is close enough that we can still visit family and friends. My sister lives in NE PA, closer to the New York border in Hallstead. I miss her but I don't want to be that far up. The Northumberland area seems like a nice area. The taxes seem to be reasonable anyway. I like quite a few of the houses I've looked at on the internet. We had thought of PA before, but more towards the Poconos, which I see as a big NJ suburb. Never thought of moving further in. I am looking for a town where kids are out riding bikes and playing. Where we are now, you never see any kids outside. It's weird, there are swing sets and basketball hoops but never any kids. The town in Jersey we came from there were always kids out, riding bikes, playing basketball at the park, doing something. Here there's nothing. We've been here almost two years and nothing. We really have no neighbors where we are either. You have to be in a community to have neighbors. We live on almost 5 acres. I miss people and neighbors and kids. My kids are bored out of their minds. I can't wait to move but I also need to know theres work. I like the Selinsgrove area too. I'm not sure where to look thats why I am here. I am still open on the area. I do office work, my husband is an electrician. I have two boys that also need work. One is a mechanic the other hasn't decided yet. Any help is greatly appreciated.

[PAman]

northumberland economy isn't the greatest, but if you're looking for a quiet place to live\raise family, i'd suggest it. I think life is much simpler up there, nobody is keeping up with the jones',which is becoming an increasing problem in the valley(along with the crime rate), Ive been attracted to the area since the first time i ever went there, while finding work can be tough up there, i only think its a matter of time before somebody starts reinvesting in those coal region towns like mt carmel and shamokin, there's potential there, I think they're nice, tightly knit towns...

[ameridan]

Originally Posted by susquehannock

Shamokin used to have an excellent local economy. There were a lot of shopping centers and national chain stores. The area's economy was supported by thousands of factory jobs and their local economy flourished. I can remember through the end of the '80s , the area was a local destination for shopping etc. It was bustling with activity.

Then in the early '90s the area started to become depressed. With the passage of NAFTA and other one-sided trade deals negotiated by our government, the Shamokin area started to lose their good paying factory jobs because they couldn't compete with foreign goods. Many of the factories closed for good or moved offshore to take advantage of the slave labor in Mexico and China. As the jobs moved and people were thrown out of work, the local area began a downward economic spiral. The malls began closing and a lot local merchants had to close their shops and stores. One fast food restaurant couldn't even stay open. Then about 10 years ago, a Super Wal-Mart moved n that was supposed to save the day for Shamokin. With Wal-Mart's predatory practices, more stores closed and more jobs were lost. The local tax based eroded even more. Now, when you drive through Shamokin, all you see is empty store fronts and shopping centers. Hundreds of discarded empty Wal-Mart bags blow around the streets and lie along the roadside. That's about all that is left in Shamokin....Wal-Mart.They still have some great local mom and pop eateries though.

But, the folks from the Shamokin area are probably the friendliest people in this area and have the old virtue of neighbor helping neighbor. They're great salt-of-the-earth people.

It's a shame what has happened to Shamokin economically. The wonderful folks who live in the area didn't deserve what happened.

As PAman pointed out Shamokin will soon be undergoing some substantial reinvesting and revitalization. Get in before home prices go up. Real estate is rock bottom right now.

I have lived here for 5 yrs, great community, low CoL, great people.

[sunsetcliff]

Shamokin takes alot of critism. In a way it is nice but expect NO JOBS. NONE. Cheap housing is there- tho it often needs a ton of work. Sunbury is a better bet if you can afford it- or Milton. We have problems but crime gets punished.

It you do live in western nor county=- look at i81/83 to cummute to hb. Shamokin is the butt of all jokes. [here] Much of it is unwarranted. Keep in mind many houses are teardowns.