Moving to PA or MD? (Philadelphia, Pittsburgh: rentals, homes, transfer)
Please register to participate in our discussions with 1.5 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
We are trying to research areas to move to. We are a black and white couple and have four children. My husband is may want to transfer with his federal job to the Maryland area and do to the cost of living we are seriously considering living in the PA area, like Chambersburg or Southside of Harrisburgh area. What is is like for black and white couples, cost of living, schools etc. We live in the Nashville TN area now and DO NOT like it, there is a lot of racial issues here especially in the small towns and the school system is terrible, I have had so many issues with trying to get my daughter assistance in school. They have failed the state testing requirements for four years in a role in this district. Plus the rental cost are high in Nashville. We have been trying to move futher North out of here. Someont please help, we like the Pittsburgh area and would like to find out more info on some other areas like Harrisburgh and Chambersburgh. I found some affordable rentals in Chambersburgh but I do not want to move into an area that may be just as racist or worse them here in TN. I know you cannot completely move away from racism, but we can move to a better area. We have got kids to think about.
"Rural parts of Pennsylvania with large concentrations of country folk, noted for interest in Hunting, Country Music, NASCAR, trailer life, Wal-Mart and working at the plant. Often spotted wearing camouflage with full grown beards or unkept caveman appearance driving pickup trucks with gun racks. Note: PA has the largest Rural population of any state, not everyone who lives or is from these regions is a red neck, hick or country bumpkin and most who don't dislike the reference "Pennsyltuckey" and find it insulting."
"Rural parts of Pennsylvania with large concentrations of country folk, noted for interest in Hunting, Country Music, NASCAR, trailer life, Wal-Mart and working at the plant. Often spotted wearing camouflage with full grown beards or unkept caveman appearance driving pickup trucks with gun racks. Note: PA has the largest Rural population of any state, not everyone who lives or is from these regions is a red neck, hick or country bumpkin and most who don't dislike the reference "Pennsyltuckey" and find it insulting."
Hey Movin2Maine, thank you for writing. What is the "T" zone. My parents are both from a small area in Northeast PA, I have family in Erie and Pittsburgh and we (at this point) have never had issues there. I really just didn't know if PA is an area where the use of the "n" word is used as often as in the south. I have been in the south for awhile, in but TN is the worst I have been in.
Any area outside of Philly area or Pittsburgh, is the "T" zone
Quote:
Originally Posted by nasm1974
Hey Movin2Maine, thank you for writing. What is the "T" zone. My parents are both from a small area in Northeast PA, I have family in Erie and Pittsburgh and we (at this point) have never had issues there. I really just didn't know if PA is an area where the use of the "n" word is used as often as in the south. I have been in the south for awhile, in but TN is the worst I have been in.
Here is another definition from the urban dictionary, which references the "T" zone.
Pennsyltucky
A derogatory term that 1.) is associated with the rural T shaped region of Pennsylvania primarily in political circles when campaigning. 2.) a reference to mountainous regions of Pennsylvania resembling Kentucky 3.) a reference to a larger region encompassing Kentucky, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. All of the above are used to describe a lovely peaceful mountainous wooded area in such a way that they are trivialized as not important legislatively. The inhabitants are described as being uneducated, inbred, beer guzzling, redneck,deer hunting, 4 wheel driving, common laborer, bigoted shack rats who have the second largest NRA membership in the nation and also have poor hygiene and no teeth. The Amish are thrown in for good measure. Interestingly, All of these same types of people can be found in the larger urban areas of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh invading the woods during hunting season wreaking havoc upon the seven million acres of farm land that they so easily insult. Rural Pennsylvania manages to provide food from those farms that if they were not in existence the urban areas would surely starve. There are many lovely homes and educated inhabitants in rural areas and those in urban jungles who want to escape crime, drugs, murder, and the sea of humanity, buy camps or retirement homes in the country and are known as Mup'eres because they "come up here" to get away from it all. People who live in rural Pennsylvania do not like the term Pennsyltucky because we have pride in the beautiful tranquil area in which we live and we contribute many tax dollars from our acreage that urban legislators willingly steal.
Also consider this, PA is one of the top states for pollution and poor air quality. Something to consider if you or your family have any type of asthma or allergies. BTW I have been to KY and TN, I had a bi-racial GF a few years back, she was from TN. We suffered more negativeness and meanness in PA than in TN or KY. Just something to ponder.
Hey Movin2Maine, thank you for writing. What is the "T" zone. My parents are both from a small area in Northeast PA, I have family in Erie and Pittsburgh and we (at this point) have never had issues there. I really just didn't know if PA is an area where the use of the "n" word is used as often as in the south. I have been in the south for awhile, in but TN is the worst I have been in.
South central dosent have much (every once in a while) in the way of flat out racism towards people, but is more bigoted. This declines in areas such as harrisburg, york and lancaster due to higher diversity.
Generally, the whole south central area is growing fairly decently. Average rent in this region is about $1 per square foot for a generalization, though it can vary some.
Harrisburg isn't really Pennsyltucky anymore. I think you'll be fine here, just stick to the inner suburbs where there is more diversity. You might feel out of place in the exurbs or outter suburban areas. I have seen a lot more interracial couples lately. There is actually a couple who shops where I work from Maryland who just moved here last summer.
I have a friend who is mixed and married to a white woman. She went to U Tenn and he said there is no way he would ever live in Tennesee b/c of the out and out racism.
He hasnt really been to my part of PA, but they do visit and it is not like I wouldnt go out somewhere with them and worry about it.
I would say the N word is alive and well in Pennsylvania, statewide. I would go to MD if I were you because I would hope the influence of being more Southern, the proximity of DC with its world view, and the overall increased sophisitication of the state would make for a much more welcoming environment...
PA is really not as bad as some people would make it out to be.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $53,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 1.5 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Moving to PA or MD?
