Why is the population of Pennsylvania dwindling at such a rapid pace?

Question

I have my opinions on both a) having grown up there, and b) from simply doing some basic studies and observations on the common"wealth" as a whole.

Though, I'm curious as to what the opinions would be from others.

Have fun, and be brutally honest.

Pittsburgh has slowly dropped in population since the decline of the Carnegie steel mills and the steel industry as a whole.

While western PA simply has the friendliest people in the state, the localized economy needs an overhaul.

Central PA....heh, I'll leave that one alone. I truly have nothing nice to say about it outside of the nature parks. Great for hiking and fishing, but that's about all. Horrendous for business, and lousy for networking.

And Philadelphia, that city is only kept alive by the transients from NYC and NJ that do business in and around the area.

The economy of the commonwealth is some of the poorest in the nation. For the sake of arguement, I find it to be entertaining that they're still airing commercials that I saw when I was graduating in '97 BEGGING the youth not to leave the state post-graduation for out of state education or employment.

No state should have to do that...and I see that as a definitive signal of desperation.

I grew up in Pittsburgh, PA...and then several years throughout the rest of the state. So I'm asking this question from personal experience.

Answer 1

I, too, grew up in PA...but now live and work in VA. In fact Ihave never worked in PA.

Why?

I loved the small town I grew up in. Today, however, like so many others, the town is made up of mostly elderly, fixed-income people with few incentives for younger people to work. Let me be more specific...there is alot of work, but mostly low paying service industries from hospice care to sales clerks to mechanics. I wanted high tech...I found nothing in my home town.

When the younger crowd left, and fewer working people existed, the downtown imploded from a bustling Main Street USA when I was young. Further, with a smaller work force and less educated in high tech, the town is less likely to ever be considered for new high tech opportunities.

PA needs to find its niche...what can it offer the country that others cannot or cannot do as well? We have silicon valley in CA and high tech government work in northern VA and ship building in Norfolk. Ask yourself...what comes to mind when you hear PA? Beautiful rolling mountains, small towns, and, unfortunately, small wages, unemployment, and a disproportionately high elderly poulation.

Also, to support the growing elderly population, taxes increasingly are raised on those that still remain. Its devastating for those on fixed income. The situation has been going downhill for years, and I see no answer in the foreseeable future.

I really hope an answer can be found...I love where I grew up.

Answer 2

You have answered your own question it is a Commonwealth, not even a state. No really, much industry has left and most of the larger industries such as the steal and coal industries have long been gone. The weather and the highways also have a lot to be desired. Just an opinion. Although I have spent most of my life in West Central PA, I'm a Southern girl at heart.

Answer 3

I'm not from there, but here are a few thoughts:

1. Pencils just aren't the big business that they used to be.
2. It just can't compete with North Dakota.
3. Without Jerome Bettis - why stay?

Answer 4

It's not! Pennsylvania is getting more crowded by the day! They just approved almost 1,000 more houses in my area, and I live in a very small town in York County. I don't know where you're getting your research from.

Answer 5

I think they are moving down here in Florida, causing the price of real estate to escalate.