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OT: Poorest town in each state...in PA, it's

royboy

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Nov 9, 2001
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Lewisville, NC
Johnstown, according to this MSN list (they do love lists of notable facts for each state)

http://www.msn.com/en-us/money/real...-in-each-state/ss-BBNsovO?ocid=ientp#image=39

38. Johnstown, Pennsylvania

> Town median household income: $24,075
> State median household income: $54,895
> Town poverty rate: 37%
> Town population: 20,169

The typical household in Johnstown earns $24,075 a year, less than half the median income of $54,895 a year across Pennsylvania as a whole. Because so many live on low incomes, a relatively large share of Johnstown residents rely on SNAP benefits. The town’s 38.8% SNAP recipiency rate is nearly three times the statewide rate of 13.0%.
 
Always thought that place was a $hithole.I had a 401k client that inherited a huge essop buyout and moved to that dump to retire.
 
Obli, not sure if you checked the list, but East Cleveland is "featured" for Ohio; looks like they are really hurting

35. East Cleveland, Ohio
> Town median household income: $19,953
> State median household income: $50,674
> Town poverty rate: 41.8%
> Town population: 17,413

As the nation’s seventh most populous state, several of the nation’s most populous metro areas are located in Ohio, including Cleveland. As is often the case with major metropolitan areas, Cleveland has areas of both extreme wealth and severe poverty. Hudson, Cleveland’s wealthiest suburb, has a median annual household income of $126,618. Meanwhile, East Cleveland, just a 45 minute drive from Hudson, has a median annual household income of just $19,953, less than one-sixth that of Hudson.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/money/real...-in-each-state/ss-BBNsovO?ocid=ientp#image=36
 
I thought Altoona was a shithole in the early 80's haven't been back since 1983.
Johnstown, Somerset, Meyersdale...all have issues.
I went to Tuna twice this year to see one of my friends.It eerily reminds me of a bigger Mt Carmel/Shamokin.Although,I must say the new Champs is super dope.
 
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Obli, not sure if you checked the list, but East Cleveland is "featured" for Ohio; looks like they are really hurting

35. East Cleveland, Ohio
> Town median household income: $19,953
> State median household income: $50,674
> Town poverty rate: 41.8%
> Town population: 17,413

As the nation’s seventh most populous state, several of the nation’s most populous metro areas are located in Ohio, including Cleveland. As is often the case with major metropolitan areas, Cleveland has areas of both extreme wealth and severe poverty. Hudson, Cleveland’s wealthiest suburb, has a median annual household income of $126,618. Meanwhile, East Cleveland, just a 45 minute drive from Hudson, has a median annual household income of just $19,953, less than one-sixth that of Hudson.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/money/real...-in-each-state/ss-BBNsovO?ocid=ientp#image=36
Thanks...sad. East Cleveland is a rough place. Lots of race issues and was the center of the race riots. It actually isn't far from the Cleveland Clinic, winter home of the symphony and University Hospitals (Case University) and little Italy. Drop out rate and drugs are off the charts.

The city also put in place a very punitive program for people that buy and rent homes. They give you a notice and 30 days. After 30 days, they charge $1000/day. Good luck finding a roofer in January. And, renters often hide the notices. I've got a friend who had to rebuild a $10k porch and the home owner accepted then threw away the certified letter. He was charged with $400,000 and six months in jail (only knew of the fine when a lien was placed on the home and he tried to sell it). So people are letting banks foreclose on $30k properties that require tens of thousands in repairs. That results in rows of abandoned homes that get taken over by druggies and the homeless.

Dropout rate is just under 40%.

Its quite a problem.
 
Obli, not sure if you checked the list, but East Cleveland is "featured" for Ohio; looks like they are really hurting

35. East Cleveland, Ohio
> Town median household income: $19,953
> State median household income: $50,674
> Town poverty rate: 41.8%
> Town population: 17,413

As the nation’s seventh most populous state, several of the nation’s most populous metro areas are located in Ohio, including Cleveland. As is often the case with major metropolitan areas, Cleveland has areas of both extreme wealth and severe poverty. Hudson, Cleveland’s wealthiest suburb, has a median annual household income of $126,618. Meanwhile, East Cleveland, just a 45 minute drive from Hudson, has a median annual household income of just $19,953, less than one-sixth that of Hudson.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/money/real...-in-each-state/ss-BBNsovO?ocid=ientp#image=36

I don't know if you guys listen to podcasts but the Serial podcast season three was recently released and it focuses on East Cleveland (which is actually separate from Cleveland apparently). I'm not surprised to see East Cleveland on this list after listening to season 3 of Serial. Sarah Koenig spends the season going to court houses in East Cleveland and observing them and following some stories/people based on those visits. It seems like just an awful place to live, full of corruption and apparently poverty as well.
 
I don't know if you guys listen to podcasts but the Serial podcast season three was recently released and it focuses on East Cleveland (which is actually separate from Cleveland apparently). I'm not surprised to see East Cleveland on this list after listening to season 3 of Serial. Sarah Koenig spends the season going to court houses in East Cleveland and observing them and following some stories/people based on those visits. It seems like just an awful place to live, full of corruption and apparently poverty as well.
The key is education but what are you going to do when dropout is 40%? Neutrician is an issue as none of the grocery stores move there so dinner is a choice of KFC, McDonald's or Popeyes

It all comes down to family; mom's and Dad's working hard every day to keep their kids in school and getting good grades. When the family is broken, there isn't much anyone can do
 
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As someone whose entire family originates from Johnstown, I'm not surprised. Went in last year and it was quite sad to see.

A little bit off-topic, but I stumbled upon a Rust Belt wikipedia page and it had a color-coded graphic of every county in the midwest/northeast based on how many manufacturing jobs they lost. There was an asterisk at the bottom that said three cities lost so many jobs (>80%) that they didn't have a color for them on the map. It was Johnstown and Steubenville, OH. Of course two of the most depressed areas on that side of the country happened to be places where I've lived at one time. Go figure!

Spent lots of time there growing up, it is a complete disaster downtown in Steubenville now. Such a shame., still lots of family friends there but travelling all the way you Pittsburgh or Youngstown or Columbus almost daily for work.
 
As someone whose entire family originates from Johnstown, I'm not surprised. Went in last year and it was quite sad to see.

A little bit off-topic, but I stumbled upon a Rust Belt wikipedia page and it had a color-coded graphic of every county in the midwest/northeast based on how many manufacturing jobs they lost. There was an asterisk at the bottom that said three cities lost so many jobs (>80%) that they didn't have a color for them on the map. It was Johnstown and Steubenville, OH. Of course two of the most depressed areas on that side of the country happened to be places where I've lived at one time. Go figure!
Sad.
 
I don't get Johnstown - Every time I bottle of booze in PA Johnstown get's money right? Isn't that why they still have the Johnstown Flood Tax at State Stores in PA? That was one helluva flood. I bet if PA actually gave them the money the STILL collect from that tax they would be in much better shape. It's been in place since 1936 for God's sake.
 
My wife worked in the Altoona Hospital and 15 years ago she told me the Neonatal ICU was full of drug - addicted babies. Those babies represented our future.
The town isn’t as bad as many smaller PA cities, but it’s damn hard to have decent community when a large number of kids are coming out of drugged and broken families.
 
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Usually I have the Steelers and Pens to fall back on this time of year, but that’s not going well either. :oops:
If it's any consolation to you, the Patriots are not looking like world beaters, either. Both teams are going to the playoffs, IMHO. We'll see how far they get.
 
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Johnstown, according to this MSN list (they do love lists of notable facts for each state)

http://www.msn.com/en-us/money/real...-in-each-state/ss-BBNsovO?ocid=ientp#image=39

38. Johnstown, Pennsylvania

> Town median household income: $24,075
> State median household income: $54,895
> Town poverty rate: 37%
> Town population: 20,169

The typical household in Johnstown earns $24,075 a year, less than half the median income of $54,895 a year across Pennsylvania as a whole. Because so many live on low incomes, a relatively large share of Johnstown residents rely on SNAP benefits. The town’s 38.8% SNAP recipiency rate is nearly three times the statewide rate of 13.0%.
Smithton can't be far behind Johnstown. :cool:
 
I don't get Johnstown - Every time I bottle of booze in PA Johnstown get's money right? Isn't that why they still have the Johnstown Flood Tax at State Stores in PA? That was one helluva flood. I bet if PA actually gave them the money the STILL collect from that tax they would be in much better shape. It's been in place since 1936 for God's sake.

Yup, 18% of the wholesale price. But I'm sure you've guessed that the money doesn't go to Johnstown but directly into the state's general fund. Last time I read about it, I believe the amount was over $350mm p.a.
 
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I don't get Johnstown - Every time I bottle of booze in PA Johnstown get's money right? Isn't that why they still have the Johnstown Flood Tax at State Stores in PA? That was one helluva flood. I bet if PA actually gave them the money the STILL collect from that tax they would be in much better shape. It's been in place since 1936 for God's sake.
Not to worry, the Casino tax revenue is going to provide you with property tax relief, and the fuel tax Corbett tripled is going to do wonders to fix the roads in Pa. ;)
 
As someone whose entire family originates from Johnstown, I'm not surprised. Went in last year and it was quite sad to see.

A little bit off-topic, but I stumbled upon a Rust Belt wikipedia page and it had a color-coded graphic of every county in the midwest/northeast based on how many manufacturing jobs they lost. There was an asterisk at the bottom that said three cities lost so many jobs (>80%) that they didn't have a color for them on the map. It was Johnstown and Steubenville, OH. Of course two of the most depressed areas on that side of the country happened to be places where I've lived at one time. Go figure!

Perhaps it was your fault?
 
The key is education but what are you going to do when dropout is 40%? Neutrician is an issue as none of the grocery stores move there so dinner is a choice of KFC, McDonald's or Popeyes

It all comes down to family; mom's and Dad's working hard every day to keep their kids in school and getting good grades. When the family is broken, there isn't much anyone can do

You do not need a trader joes to eat healthy. You can provide healthy meals for a family for about $10 a day. Rice, dried beans, vegetables (frozen), whatever meats are available.

The reason there is so much fast food is because no-one wants to spend the time to cook.

The closest grocery store to my home growing up was 15 miles. Closest to my parents place right now is more like 25 miles.

LdN
 
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Not to worry, the Casino tax revenue is going to provide you with property tax relief, and the fuel tax Corbett tripled is going to do wonders to fix the roads in Pa. ;)
For sure - that is why I hate Tax Time - It's not that I don't think we need taxes but they way the money gets wasted or just falls into a black hole of political corruption drives me crazy.
 
You do not need a trader joes to eat healthy. You can provide healthy meals for a family for about $10 a day. Rice, dried beans, vegetables (frozen), whatever meats are available.

The reason there is so much fast food is because no-one wants to spend the time to cook.

The closest grocery store to my home growing up was 15 miles. Closest to my parents place right now is more like 25 miles.

LdN

You missed his point.

When a burger costs 99 cents and lettuce costs triple, there's a problem.
 
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You missed his point.

When a burger costs 99 cents and lettuce costs triple, there's a problem.

I did not. Feeding a family at popeyes is expensive. More expensive in the long run than buying proper food.

A head of iceberg is about 2 dollars. A three piece popeyes meal is nine.

It isnt cost... it is work and effort. This fast food is the only option schtick is a myth.

Ldn
 
I did not. Feeding a family at popeyes is expensive. More expensive in the long run than buying proper food.

A head of iceberg is about 2 dollars. A three piece popeyes meal is nine.

It isnt cost... it is work and effort. This fast food is the only option schtick is a myth.

Ldn
Exactly LdN. I recall a coworker who was probably 150 pounds overweight. He was eating from a family sized bag of potato chips complaining that eating healthy was too expensive.
I said "really....how much do you think a five pound bag of potatoes costs? About the same as that one pound bag of chips."
 
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Johnstown, according to this MSN list (they do love lists of notable facts for each state)

http://www.msn.com/en-us/money/real...-in-each-state/ss-BBNsovO?ocid=ientp#image=39

38. Johnstown, Pennsylvania

> Town median household income: $24,075
> State median household income: $54,895
> Town poverty rate: 37%
> Town population: 20,169

The typical household in Johnstown earns $24,075 a year, less than half the median income of $54,895 a year across Pennsylvania as a whole. Because so many live on low incomes, a relatively large share of Johnstown residents rely on SNAP benefits. The town’s 38.8% SNAP recipiency rate is nearly three times the statewide rate of 13.0%.
What's the high school graduation rate in Johnstown? In most parts of the country you can get an entry level job in retail that will pay that much.
 
Obli, not sure if you checked the list, but East Cleveland is "featured" for Ohio; looks like they are really hurting

35. East Cleveland, Ohio
> Town median household income: $19,953
> State median household income: $50,674
> Town poverty rate: 41.8%
> Town population: 17,413

As the nation’s seventh most populous state, several of the nation’s most populous metro areas are located in Ohio, including Cleveland. As is often the case with major metropolitan areas, Cleveland has areas of both extreme wealth and severe poverty. Hudson, Cleveland’s wealthiest suburb, has a median annual household income of $126,618. Meanwhile, East Cleveland, just a 45 minute drive from Hudson, has a median annual household income of just $19,953, less than one-sixth that of Hudson.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/money/real...-in-each-state/ss-BBNsovO?ocid=ientp#image=36
Ouch!
 
Exactly LdN. I recall a coworker who was probably 150 pounds overweight. He was eating from a family sized bag of potato chips complaining that eating healthy was too expensive.
I said "really....how much do you think a five pound bag of potatoes costs? About the same as that one pound bag of chips."

Yes, what he should have said is "eating PREPARED healthy goods is too expensive"

There's a massive step up from McDs to Cava.

However the step is also just as massive down from McD's to preparing food at home.

LdN
 
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Not to worry, the Casino tax revenue is going to provide you with property tax relief, and the fuel tax Corbett tripled is going to do wonders to fix the roads in Pa. ;)
I don't know about PA but the next big thing is legalized pot. That seems to me a lot like the lottery and casinos. States are for anything they can tax.
 
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Yep. We have that too. There's both a grow house and distribution center within miles of my work. All to feed the machine.
 
Altoona is bad, but Johnstown is a complete dump. No decent jobs, rampant crime, drugs galore. There is no sign of things changing for the better either. Young people grow up and either join the bad culture there or get out to make a living and raise a family.

JMO, but the leadership there needs kicked to the curb. They do nothing to attract business to the city. Corruption is rampant. They need to hit the reset button.
 
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I did not. Feeding a family at popeyes is expensive. More expensive in the long run than buying proper food.

A head of iceberg is about 2 dollars. A three piece popeyes meal is nine.

It isnt cost... it is work and effort. This fast food is the only option schtick is a myth.

Ldn

Not making excuses but I've been in some grocery stores in lower income areas where you really wouldn't want to touch any of the "fresh" produce or proteins including the iceberg, or the stuff that does look decent goes bad in 24 hours or less.

That was my big issue when I lived in NYC. Most things would go bad in a day or two so if you didn't eat it immediately, it was cheaper to get carry out or order in vs buying perishables watching it spoil in a day or two.
 
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