Cranberry ultra-growth? (Pittsburgh, McKeesport, Washington: median income, to live, malls)

[Tiger Beer]

I'm NOT surprised that people talk about a new suburb like Cranberry, but I AM surprised it's the only suburb like that, (that I know of).

(Most cities seem to have 20-25 of those types of suburbs).

[JoeP]

It's not the only suburb in the area with that type of growth.

[airwave09]

Originally Posted by Tiger Beer

I'm NOT surprised that people talk about a new suburb like Cranberry, but I AM surprised it's the only suburb like that, (that I know of).

(Most cities seem to have 20-25 of those types of suburbs).

There are about 10-15 similar areas, it's just that Cranberry has been unofficially nominated by everyone to represent the rest of them on this board I guess.

[ferraris]

Originally Posted by airwave09

There are about 10-15 similar areas, it's just that Cranberry has been unofficially nominated by everyone to represent the rest of them on this board I guess.

I'd say that's because Cranberry and Robinson are the only 2 that are experience such growth, and are also pulling things away from the city - not just people. With so many jobs and businesses being pulled out there, it creates disdain for them. It's different than a true bedroom community, where people in the city don't really feel affected by it.

[Copanut]

Originally Posted by airwave09

There are about 10-15 similar areas, it's just that Cranberry has been unofficially nominated by everyone to represent the rest of them on this board I guess.

Name at least 3.

I'm thinking Peters, that's all I got.

[BrianTH]

Yeah, lots of residential areas are growing/expanding. But significant jobs clusters are more rare.

[greg42]

Originally Posted by Copanut

Name at least 3.

I'm thinking Peters, that's all I got.

Hm. I suppose it depends upon what you're measuring. The idea that there's only one like this here as Tiger Beer mentioned is not really right. The idea that "most cities have 20-25 of these" is also not really right, heh, not cities this size anyway, and definitely not if you're counting significant job centers as opposed to just bedroom communities.

I'm sure there are still growing areas in northern Washington County (Peters), western Westmoreland (Murrysville), western Allegheny near the airport (Robinson/Moon) and southern Butler near Cranberry. If you count up all the municipalities, there are probably a dozen at least I would think. Murrysville area is not really a job cluster though I don't think.

[Corvidae22]

Pittsburgh kind of had satellite cities but they were decimated by the collapse of industry.

McKeesport - 55,355 in 1940
Wheeling - 61,099 in 1940

If the two kept up an even basic growth pattern from 1940-2010, they'd be looking at around 75-100K. They weren't too big to collapse from what most people would call a "city", like Akron, but I hear tales of how lively and centralized they once were.

EDIT: And let's not forget that Morgantown had a 10% population jump from 2000-2010. They're nearly at 30K now. Not a true satellite city but could be relevant if it keeps growing.

[Tallysmom]

Originally Posted by greg42

Actually, it already meets that one. Or did, in 2000. Here's the doc that I used to cite those commuting stats before: http://www.cranberrytownship.org/Doc.../Home/View/517

It says total workers in Cranberry for 2000 was 14956. Total working residents was 12079.

Of course if they're counting literal bedrooms (like number of homes x avg number of bedrooms) maybe that's going to be different still. But seems like it could be close. But, although the employment has grown in the intervening decade, so have the bedrooms, so it's actually possible this has swung the "wrong" way a bit in these past 12 years.

Also, they're not qualifying the type of employment, and for sure a decent chunk of it is retail, etc.

And don't forget -- a lot of the Brush Creek Industrial Park is in Allegheny County -- it's right at the border. The post office complex is Allegheny County. I'd bet a lot of that money funnels into Cranberry for lunch and shopping.

[greg42]

Originally Posted by Corvidae22

Pittsburgh kind of had satellite cities but they were decimated by the collapse of industry.

McKeesport - 55,355 in 1940
Wheeling - 61,099 in 1940

If the two kept up an even basic growth pattern from 1940-2010, they'd be looking at around 75-100K. They weren't too big to collapse from what most people would call a "city", like Akron, but I hear tales of how lively and centralized they once were.

EDIT: And let's not forget that Morgantown had a 10% population jump from 2000-2010. They're nearly at 30K now. Not a true satellite city but could be relevant if it keeps growing.

I might call Wheeling a little far for being a satellite, and certainly Morgantown is too far. But McKeesport, that is right on. What is McKeesport population now?