How would Pennsylvania fare if both Pittsburgh and Philadelphia were never part of the state (city hall, employment)

[TZiggy]

As in if Pittsburgh was given to Ohio and Philadelphia given to NJ. How would the economy and culture of the state would look like if those two major cities were taken away?

[Blackbeauty212]

Considering PA started with the city of Philadelphia I don't think you could have one without the other...Meaning if Philadelphia was in NJ would there even be a PA to speak of??? Would just be NJ the size of PA and current NJ

Pittsburgh I see as being more WV more than OH...

Anyway PA would then be just a larger NJ I guess depending heavily on Major Cities in other states for Economic prosperity.

[simetime]

The state would then be called northern Alabama

[mancat100]

Pennsylvania originated in and grew out from Philadelphia. William Penn himself was instrumental in laying out our city and his gridiron plan still exists today as the streets and squares of Center City. His statue stands atop our city hall. Just walking down a city street is to quite literally live inside his vision.

What I'm trying to say is that Philadelphia and Pennsylvania are inextricably linked and I dispute the entire premise of this thread.

[escilade18]

PA would be economically struggling had Philly and PGH never been part of the state. I say that a comparison would be WV as it would have a few good areas but for the most part it would be rural with not much of an economy.
I will have to agree that Philly is essentially the starting point for PA and both Pittsburgh and Philly being in PA are a large reason why the Mason Dixon line was drawn (before that both MD and PA claimed Philly and both VA (soon to become WV) and PA claimed Pittsburgh.) I am glad that the state has both metros as they provide the state much more of a benefit than they cost.

[blauskies]

Let's look at sports, in terms of teams, Pittsburgh would be the greatest loss. Philly sports teams have less of a legacy than Pittsburgh when you take the Athletics out of the picture, well they left in 1954 with five world championships and 8 world series appearances, go figure.

Eagles, Sixers, Phillies and the Flyers, hmm suppose NJ can have them all. Insert spoken like a true PhillyPhan here, you got that right lol!

[thecoalman]

Originally Posted by simetime

The state would then be called northern Alabama

You can keep the crime, noise, small living space, anti gun laws, litter and the two hour commute where the guy on the bike is making better time.

I'll keep my giant yard, dead silence mornings except the birds, stump I take a **** on, fire pit I drink beer around with friends, the radio turned up as loud as I want at 2AM, back yard I can shoot my rifle any time, my garden and the farm/orchard up the road that sells fresh vegetables in the summer.

[RightonWalnut]

^^ So Pittsburgh would be the greatest loss in sports teams for the state, and Philadelphia would be the greatest loss in GDP, history and employment for the state?

... Glad to see you priorities are in order though

[RightonWalnut]

Originally Posted by blauskies

Eagles, Sixers, Phillies and the Flyers, hmm suppose NJ can have them all. Insert spoken like a true PhillyPhan here, you got that right lol!

The Phillies, Sixers and Flyers are all good teams, especially now. Don't know why you would get rid of any of them. Feels like the Eagles are cursed. It's impossible for them to be any good even when they have good players.

[blauskies]

Originally Posted by Summersm343

^^ So Pittsburgh would be the greatest loss in sports teams for the state, and Philadelphia would be the greatest loss in GDP, history and employment for the state?

... Glad to see you priorities are in order though