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We're in a fortunate position of looking around. We like the Hamlin area and the Hideout is just one place we are familiar with. We definitely want to avoid what you are describing. We do not have any of that here in Port Charlotte and are searching for an affordable place, that's peaceful and close enough to where if we want to drive into NYC for a day we can and not feel as though we're on the other side of the moon in terms of driving time.
Ahh if I were a rich man, dada deedee deedledum I can think of other places but best of my recollection, Wayne Cnty is just a little too far for the commuters and as such a better deal pricewise. A big question is the market. Has it turned into a full buyers market yet or is it hanging on for dear life? I saw on one of the real estate reports that it was a very slow summer for sales.
Correct me if I'm wrong that's prime time in those parts for sales? We are in an unbelievable buyers market here in SW Fla and in my opinion, there's a lot of financial pain to come. I see that's happening all around the country and we are hoping to see something similar if not this month, in 2007 when we will hopefully get an even better deal on a 2nd house there, with the trees and deer, lakes and all.
I liked Pa a lot when I was younger always driving to New Hope and the Water Gap etc. Love the place but places like New Hope best I can see on realtodotcom is you have to have a lot of money. Love those older historic houses in Pa with the stone fences.....but out of my league pricewise unless we were going to relocate full time.
Who knows what tomorrow will bring
Thank you for your input, you are a wealth of information and obviously love your beautiful state
The coal region has its own cuisine, just like us PA Dutch. Some of it isn't half bad. Someone help me out, what is it called when you mix peanut butter and mashed potatoes?
This would be called " FLITCH". It can be found in [url]http://www.coalregionrecipes.com
It is a candy and very tastety!
I am reading some of your responses and if you are so unhappy here move. I have lived here all my life (miners/potts) and I love it. I work in harrisburg and I am always glad to come home. Sure there isn't much to do...it is the coal region!!!!! It is laid back !!! We are in a great part of the state. We are not far from NY, the outlets in Hershey or Reading, amusement parks and all with the greatest part of all, you dont' live by all that traffic and trouble. I like going to football games on a Friday night. Not only small towns in the coal region have that for their entertainment.... at least is shows that we support our kids and are proud of them. Isn't it better to have the area children there supporting their school and friends then out on the streets causing trouble like you so called "City Slickers"... can your kids walk to the corner and get an ice cream? go with friends to the community pool??? I think coal region living is great. I like the close communities and the family traditions. There are differences I see each day at work in the city of harrisburg and our small town is so much better. Just in our block parties and church picnics... you don't have to be a drinker to have fun.. I'm not one, I enjoy all the sports my child is involved in during the year.
so to anyone who is looking into Sch. County to live, I say go for it. I know I won't be leaving anytime soon. I like the coal region!!! I know there are plenty others that do too!
Guers Ice Tea, Boilo in the winter time and ring bologna and cheese... now that is home to me!!! lol
Welcome!
I couldn't agree more. I don't live in the coal regions but my wife and I go there often. We've always found the folks to be down-to-earth, friendly and very genuine. There's none of the 'nose in the air' snobiness and elitism like in Lewisburg and Selinsgrove.
Yes, the area is economically distressed from losing their manufacturing base to NAFTA, GATT and MFN. The tax base has shrunken and Shamokin et al is just a shell of its former self. Main Steet in Shamokin is mostly boarded up since Wal-Mart moved in too. It's a darn shame what the area is now compared to pre-1990.
We could easily live there just because we like the friendly people.
I am in the process of moving back to PA (Pittsburgh area). My family is from southern Schuykill County. It is a truly stagnant and depressed area. Almost everyone in the town was born there and most will probably die there. Nothing has changed much in the 25 years since my family left.
There are some very reasonably priced homes in the area, but you will forever be an outsider. Try looking to the northern end of the county. Maybe you will find a more sophisticated community, or at least a place where you won't get glares at the grocery store.
Good Luck!
QUICK NOTE: Look into "mine subsidence" in the area before buying a home. I just recently found out that it may be an issue in Pittsburgh and it is a more serious possibility in the area you are considering.
What is wrong with an area where people are born and die in??? MAybe they like it that much that they feel no need to leave. Sometimes quiet and peaceful is the best form of life. It varies in the individual .
I couldn't agree more. I don't live in the coal regions but my wife and I go there often. We've always found the folks to be down-to-earth, friendly and very genuine. There's none of the 'nose in the air' snobiness and elitism like in Lewisburg and Selinsgrove.
Yes, the area is economically distressed from losing their manufacturing base to NAFTA, GATT and MFN. The tax base has shrunken and Shamokin et al is just a shell of its former self. Main Steet in Shamokin is mostly boarded up since Wal-Mart moved in too. It's a darn shame what the area is now compared to pre-1990.
We could easily live there just because we like the friendly people.
Totally agree!!!! I live in DE and come back often. More often and for longer periods since I retired. I will never leave the coal region. Everyone says hello if they know you or not.
The Coal towns and the people there(mostly life residence) do not know any better when it comes to culture. They never left!
My goodness you will never find a decent place to eat(upper Class that is) there!
The bar scene is a sad past time in most of the small towns. And high school football is the highlight in entertainment (certainly not for women- at least this one)!
But the poster could shop in Reading and Reading does have a Wachovia Arena(many concerts) and lots of outlet stores! I use to shop down there but since we have a 2nd home in Lancaster I find that more appealing.
Making a trip to the nearby cities without paying the high price of housing may be your ticket.
Lancaster has a great deal to do and see and I would suggest it to anyone.
I wish the writer luck.. I am just not one to wanting to go back in time- Once you visit Paris, and London serveral times there is no going to hickville.
EXCUUUUUUUUUUUSE ME !!! Maybe you shoud have stayed in Paris or London
I have had nothing but good experiences in my trips to coal country, it's very picturesque, at least I think so... Those small towns with relatively unchanging population bases have a different feel, a good one, and a charm which large towns and cities lack. The people there are very down to earth, as some said, will say hi even if they don't know who you are, which is a quick way to feel welcome.
The food of the coal region brings about an old world flavor at times, especially during the summer at church fesitvals and the like, when, depending on which one you go to, but especially at Polish,Slovak, Russian Orthodox and Ukranian churches, you'll sample some of the finest Pierogi(Yes, it's already pluralized for those who didn't know...there is no -es to pluralize.), haluski, halupki...Truly a delicious(though high in calorie count) diet during those festivals.. Also, if you want to live there, it couldn't hurt to learn how to dance the polka, as that is also a festival staple.
Lastly, learn to pronounce and correctly spell names like Toczynski(toe-chin-ski) or Graziano or Dempkowski.
Entertainment is limited, surely, but if you like sports you will be fine. if not...learn to love the "Red Tornadoes" or the "Blue Devils" or the "Red Raiders" and embrace them as your own..Football is king in coal country, especially at high school level, it's not uncommon to see mount carmel fill the silver bowl to beyond capacity for games against rival shamokin. I think its a true love for the kids of the community that drives the support...you're rooting for your child, or the neighbor, or the kid around the corner.
The coal region is an acquired taste, its for those who don't necessarily desire a huge house, but one of those older rowhouses will suit fine in a place like Shenandoah or Mount Carmel(it would work for me, and if you're moving there, don't move into one of those new developments going up on 61 outside pottsville or into a suburban sprawl type place going up off 309, that's not REAL coal region, thats sleep there but "live" elsewhere...real coal region is found in a place like Girardville, or Mahanoy City, or Shamokin), its for those who like down to earth, hard working people who will generally be friendly, and if you like pride in your town,schools and ethnicities, it could be the place you're looking for.(though i think that ethnicity,unfortunately, it's dropped a bit in the younger generation as pop-culture is apparently the way to go, though there's nothing wrong with liking pop culture and your heritage.)
If you have a problem with working class people or older towns or you don't like high school sporting events, like superpowered conglomerate radio stations(anybody up the coal country remember WMBT with their " it must be! it has to be! with that great sound it's gotta be.. W M B T!!" jingle and the "Jak tam polka party" with Billy Urban? WPPA still broadcasts the pottsville football games I think...) or you think you're above eating at the "original italian" as a night out with family\girlfriend or boyfriend\friends, don't even give moving there a thought.
reading through this thread, i'd say that both sides enter some valid points.
first, a bit about myself. i am one of the 'born here, work here, and will probably die here' set. however, i do not hunt. i have no interest in football, much less at the high school level. i do not drink or wear dirty flannel. i am a college graduate and relatively culturally adept.
next, let me address the factually inaccurate:
there is no wal-mart in schuylkill haven. you are likely thinking of the walmart in st. clair, about 10 miles or so north of schuylkill haven. the wachovia arena is in wilkes-barre, not reading. reading is home to the sovereign center. to say the area is over 99% white is inaccurate as well. most of the major municipalities now have roughly 10% or more hispanic populations. census data may not reflect this as illegal immigration is indeed a factor. also, many of these families do not register schuylkill county as their permanent residence. there is a trend towards families from out of the area taking advantage of the cheap housing while their relatives are housed in one of our many fine, local prisons.
a lot depends on which end of the county you're looking at. the areas are generally referred to as north of the mountain (shenandoah, frackville, mahanoy city, etc.) and south of the mountain (pottsville, orwigsburg, schuylkill haven, etc.) housing in the northern part is less expensive than the southern. however, with the lower housing costs come the obvious problems. people north of the mountain will consider wilkes-barre to be their local "big city," while people south of the mountain look to reading the same way. the two cities are quite comparable in size and culture.
the preconception that outsiders are ostracised is a little overblown here. granted, in a such a everybody-knows-everybody area, you may be questioned, but you're not going to be driven out of town.
north or south of the mountain, there truly is very little to do. as such, alcoholism is really something of a problem. but if you have a bit of disposible income and the inclination towards other things, you'll always find something to do, even if it requires a short trip out of the area.
the quality of schools varies wildly from district to district. generally those in the southern half are held in higher regard, particularly blue mountain and pottsville. regardless, there are three private schools (all catholic) if you are displeased with your local public school. of these, the most affordable is cardinal brennan (serving ashland, girardville, gilberton, ringtown, shenandoah and frackville.) but the best is marian (serving mahanoy city, tamaqua, and hometown.)
the biggest difference that you'll notice here, at least in my opinion, is the closeness of it all. you don't have major cities or expansive stretches of farmland. you have several small towns with populations of (generally) 2000-6000 each about 3 or 4 miles apart and each with their own unique identity.
sorry if the preceding seemed a bit disjointed and nonsensical. i am from schuylkill county, after all.
well first of all, the only thing that I wholeheartedly disagree with is that high end shopping equals culture.
I think everything else that has been said on this thread makes a whole lot of sense. yes, schuylkill county is economically depressed. yes, it has great hunting, hiking, and festivals. not much to do, but great access to the eastern seaboard.....there really is two sides to every coin.
I grew up "south of the mountain" and chose to move away...the county just wasn't a good fit for me, however I do miss the sense of community that really is missing in many cities and towns...there is something to be said about a place with deep roots and big hearts and sturdy folks who have weathered so much.
Moving from washington will be an EXTREME culture shock- but nothing is inherently bad or good.....it depends on where you are in your life and what you need right now.
Incidentally... the upside to the the economic depression that has gripped the county is that it has missed much of the suburbanization of other places..with the push to reclaim the mines it really is very physically beautiful...there is so much potential for smart growth and revitalization of downtown areas...you should see the inside of some of the buildings of down town pottsville!
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do not move to schuykill county!!!!!
