Pennsylvania is a state with a lot of history and a lot of different scenery. However, some towns are losing people because of economic and social problems. People have been leaving some towns in search of better chances as industries move and the economy changes. Check out these seven Pennsylvania towns that people are leaving as soon as possible, along with some of the reasons for this.
1. Johnstown
Johnstown was once a thriving steel town, but since the end of the steel business in the late 20th century, the economy has been bad for a long time. The town’s economy has been stuck because of high jobless rates and a job market that is getting smaller. Many people who used to live there have moved away to find better job opportunities. Those who still live there have trouble getting medical care and their homes are losing value. The ongoing flight is also caused by an aging population and crumbling infrastructure.
2. Hazleton
Because of economic problems and social problems, Hazleton’s community has changed a lot. It used to be a coal mining town, but as the coal business went away, it started to lose its appeal. Residents now have to deal with crime and high jobless rates. Even though there are efforts to revitalize the town and a lot of new people moving in to find cheap housing, many long-time residents are leaving because there aren’t many jobs and it’s hard to adjust to the town’s changing population.
3. McKeesport
McKeesport, which is close to Pittsburgh, used to be a busy industrial town famous for making steel. McKeesport was hit hard by the fall of the steel industry, which caused economic problems and a steady drop in population. Many people who lived there before have moved away in search of work, leaving empty homes and an economy that is failing. The town’s efforts to get it back on its feet have been slow because of problems like high crime rates and worsening public services.
4. Erie
Erie, which is on Lake Erie, has had economic problems because industry jobs have gone away. The city has had a hard time adjusting to a post-industrial economy. It used to be a hub for heavy industry. Many people, especially younger people, have left the area in search of better chances because of the high unemployment rate and slow job growth. The city is trying to get its economy going again by focusing on tourists and health care, but progress has been slow, which is why the population keeps going down.
5. Shenandoah
Shenandoah is a small town in northeastern Pennsylvania that has had problems with its economy for many years. Once a thriving coal mining town, it now has a high rate of poverty, few job opportunities, and fewer people living there because the mining business has gone away. The town’s economy hasn’t changed enough to keep people there, so many have moved to towns with better job markets and better places to live.
6. Greenville
Greenville, which is in Mercer County, has had problems with its economy that have made people leave. Greenville used to be known for its manufacturing and railroad businesses, but these have been going downhill, which has cost jobs and made the economy tough. The number of people living in the town has gone down as people leave to find work elsewhere. There hasn’t been much progress in trying to get the local economy going again, which is why the population keeps going down and people are getting older.
7. Wilkes-Barre
As coal and industrial jobs have gone away, Wilkes-Barre, which is part of the Scranton-Wilkes-Barre metropolitan area, has had trouble with its economy. High rates of unemployment, poverty, and crime make the town hard to live in, and people leave to find better chances elsewhere. Even though there have been efforts to bring new businesses to downtown and make it look better, the general economic recovery has been slow, which is why people are still leaving.
Conclusion
These Pennsylvania towns show the problems that many places in the Rust Belt and other areas that used to be industrialized have. Traditional industries going out of business, high unemployment rates, and a lack of economic diversification have caused people to leave for better chances elsewhere. To change these trends and bring life back to these towns, it is important to deal with these problems through focused economic growth, investments in education, and better public services.