Info on California, PA area? (Pittsburgh, Washington: crime, home, neighborhoods)

[pghkid54]

We may be moving to the California, PA area from the DC suburbs. Any advice as to where is a good area for an interracial couple to live? We would like to get some acreage too for us and our dogs. Thanks

[rd620]

Hi,
I see you have not had any luck with this one. California, PA is pretty rural so not many on here will have advice for you. As far as land goes, you will have no problem finding that.

[pghkid54]

Thanks for the info. Any other info on that surrounding area, also including parts of Westmoreland and/or Fayette County would help too. Thanks!

[danwxman]

very, very depressed area. Nearby Brownsville is almost completely abandoned.

[ScoobyDee]

Hi, I'm curious about the area, too, since the California University of Pennsylvania is there. I'm surprised that a college town would be that depressed, and I wonder if any efforts are being made to revitalize it. Are either Brownsville or California locations in the rural empowerment zone, where businesses and residents would be eligible for grants to revitalize the area?

[Rafterman]

Originally Posted by ScoobyDee

Hi, I'm curious about the area, too, since the California University of Pennsylvania is there. I'm surprised that a college town would be that depressed, and I wonder if any efforts are being made to revitalize it. Are either Brownsville or California locations in the rural empowerment zone, where businesses and residents would be eligible for grants to revitalize the area?

I grew up in Brownsville/Uniontown and attended California University for a time.

The area is EXTREMELY depressed. That said, Joe Hardy the owner of 84 Lumber and the Nemacolin Woodlands has given both Uniontown and now Brownsville revitalization grants. Downtown Uniontown looks much better then when the wife and I moved to NOVA 20 years ago. Hopefully Brownsville will turn out as nicely. However, there isn't ANYTHING there. The biggest employer is in the mountains above Uniontown and that would be Hardy's Nemacolin Woodlands.

California in located in Westmoreland Cty. the reason it stayed undeveloped is that the old time locals fought any national chain that tried to come in. Picture a college town WITHOUT a McDonald's.

My mother passed away about five years ago and I sold the family property.
Therefore, I rarely get back and when I do it's only to Uniontown.
The housing is fairly cheap, but you'll find that other expenses are similar to the DC burbs.

[Evergrey]

While California is in a very depressed area (Mid-Mon Valley), the town itself doesn't seem too bad (due to it being a college town). I've only visited briefly a couple times, but it appeared to be quite attractive. There is a mid-sized state university there (California University of Pennsylvania) that has recently undergone a major building campaign. The campus architecture is quite impressive. Downtown seemed to be pretty active... mostly catering to college students... but interesting. I thought the natural location was pretty gorgeous as well.

[Bazzwell]

Thought I'd try this thread even though it might be a stale one. With that, what kind of information is anyone looking for on the little California area? For that matter, our home county of Washington or neighboring Fayette, Westmoreland or Greene counties? I've been here off and on for fifty years and can pretty much fill you in on everything.

[appalachiangirl]

I personally would not live in Brownsville--LOTS of crime,especially drug related for a small town. You'd be better off in the Pittsburgh region or maybe even Morgantown,WV (not too far from the area you asked about). Uniontown has some businesses moving in, California is mainly a small college town. Wesmoreland might not be bad. Don't know as much about the Washington county area.

[Bazzwell]

Originally Posted by appalachiangirl

I personally would not live in Brownsville--LOTS of crime,especially drug related for a small town. You'd be better off in the Pittsburgh region or maybe even Morgantown,WV (not too far from the area you asked about). Uniontown has some businesses moving in, California is mainly a small college town. Wesmoreland might not be bad. Don't know as much about the Washington county area.

Brownsville.....yes, a bit of a tough town but still some very good neighborhoods. A recent grant will help it along quite a bit but the attitude of the town as a whole will take decades to adjust.

Washington County...(which California is in)...is as we say "wide open" for almost anything. The western side of the county near Washington city is pretty much packed to the brim since Pittsburgh migrated down Route 19. The rest of it though has a lot of room to grow. Prices are great compared to the counties north of Pittsburgh and there's a lot of land as well. Higher crime areas are pretty much the older towns along the Mon river, Charleroi thru Donora. Monongahela has held up well since it is somewhat isolated.

In Washington County, stay to the far western side of the county seat (toward Wheeling) or to the south of I-70 to the Greene County line to get the best bang for your buck.