Looking to Move to Central PA, but have lots of questions!

[Richard163]

Originally Posted by MtnDewMan

Can anyone tell me anything about Fayettesville or Chambersburg? The good, the bad and the ugly?

I just happened to visit the big sale in Fulton county between Fort Littelton and McConnellsburg in a farmers field. Reminded me of the sale that occurs every Wednesday in the amish town of Belleville (Mifflin County).

[newtibabe]

Just a heads up on the recommendations about Lewisburg. I'm a college student who lives in the town (I've been here for 4 years now) and if you are trying to stay away from drugs and gangs, Lewisburg won't do that for you. I live on the main street (Rt. 45) and down the street about 6 houses is a place that blatantly sells drugs - and I mean coke, meth, and crack...not to college students or anyone like that, but to the regular town people. Also, we have experienced some clearly gang-related incidents on campus and off - just recently someone or someones spray painted "Jew", vulgar images and other things throughout the campus and downtown. It was thought to be a gang-initiation vandalism. You can read about it on the Bucknell website if you go there (Welcome to Bucknell || Bucknell University) and search for the "Bucknellian", our newspaper. As for the high school, my friends who went there all said there's a great divide - the professor, doctor, and lawyer kids and everyone else. So you may want to think about places other than here. It is safe compared to a large city and the violent crime rates are down (for now) but the drugs and gangs are moving in and they are targeting the town kids aged middle to high school. 15 years ago I bet it was a totally safe neighborhood for families, but if I had kids, I wouldn't let them wander Lewisburg the way people here still do. Not after having the meth dealers ask me if I wanted a "free sample" and seeing the vulgar images spray painted around campus.

[Dawne]

So, how many times have you called the local police to report this drug house down the street from you? I hope at least twice.

[sunsetcliff]

LOL. Lewisburg a slum? No way. It doesnt get anymore Norman Rockwell then Lewisburg!

I dont know where that post came from- but it is not THE lewisburg PA 17837.

You wont find a more charming town the Lewisburg. The locals can be snobs. The SUN drug task force nails any drug activity.

Greetings from Sunbury.

[vetegnc]

Definately State College. I live on one side of town and work on the other and it takes me 15 minutes to get to work in the morning and 16 minutes to get home in the afternoon. Sure, there is traffic and sometimes alot of traffic but unless you try to go across town just before a football game, there is never really any extreme congestion. The crime rate is neglegable and the people are friendly. It is a college town, so you will ocassionly have some interesting people that probably wouldn't be considered "Mayberryesque". We are conservative and have found the whole spectrum in our 8 months of living here after moving from NC last March. We chose it because of the schools and environment and outdoor recreation. Good Luck!!!!

[wotown]

Hi Can someone help us out with the townships of Annville, Palmyra and Elizabethtown???
Moving from New Jersey and we are looking for a nice town with shopping and restaurants.
we would like to be about 1 hour west of Allentown.

[mea5043]

Hey Wotown, I've lived in the area all my life, and I'd say of these three Elizabethtown is the best choice. Palmyra and Anneville are gridlocked from 6-10 and 2-6 every weekday as the US Route 422 corridor is among the state's worst for congestion. Elizabethtown is along Route 283 which connects Harrisburg and Lancaster, and is rarely congested. It also has a very nice college campus, Amtrak station with free parking and daily trips to Philadelphia (and eventually NYC), and a vibrant yet quaint downtown with great historical town architecture. Easy access to the larger shopping districts of Lancaster or Harrisburg are just 15-20 minutes away in each direction. I doubt Etown is an hour from Allentown, probably more like 1.5, depends on why you need to be close to Allentown.

If you're not going to be driving at peak times, they're all safe areas, as most of Central PA is. There is a wide variety of housing stock in these areas, and it's generally going to be much cheaper than NJ housing prices. If you're renting, be aware that Elizabethtown and Anneville have college kids who also, for the most part, rent.

All areas you described are great, despite my criticisms, every area has its downsides it all depends on why you're moving. I've loved living in this area, while I constantly hear my sister complain about her situation in North Jersey. Hopefully some others can contribute their opinions as well.

Hope that helps!

[ki0eh]

Originally Posted by wotown

Hi Can someone help us out with the townships of Annville, Palmyra and Elizabethtown???
Moving from New Jersey and we are looking for a nice town with shopping and restaurants.
we would like to be about 1 hour west of Allentown.

All are nice and quiet, Annville is the smallest of the 3, both it and Elizabethtown have small colleges. Palmyra's growth is mostly from folks who work in Hershey looking for a cheaper alternative. Elizabethtown is perhaps the most convenient location to all of Harrisburg, York, and Lancaster simultaneously, and also has frequent Amtrak service to Phila and NYC (although the Keystone trains stop most consistently in NJ in only Trenton and Newark, will often need to change trains to go even to New Brunswick or Metropark or Liberty Airport).

Shopping is somewhat limited in all of the 3, Lancaster is the more usual destination for shopping but at least Palmyra has a Lowe's and Walmart. E-town to Lancaster is the more convenient trip down the PA 283 expressway.

Restaurants are pretty limited in these towns too, one would need to go to Lancaster or Harrisburg for some selection of locally owned establishments although there are other places scattered here and there across the area. Even in Hershey the restaurants mostly serve those who are there for other reasons more than as a gastronomic destination in itself.

[wotown]

Thank you both for getting back to me, My Husband will be working in Harrisburg and we have family in Allentown so we are trying to find a town in the middle that has shopping and restaurants.
What about Palmyra???
Thanks again.
WOTOWN.

[ki0eh]

Palmyra has basic shopping (Walmart, Lowe's, GM and Ford dealerships), many newer and some slightly older developments, slow traffic on US 422, not any particularly distinguished restaurants. There will be more restaurants in adjacent Hershey but most of those are mour tourist accommodation than destination. North of Palmyra would be better for getting to either Harrisburg or Allentown than in-town or south. US 422 is slow slow slow.