I was born and reared in Western Pennsylvania. About the same time that I graduated high school, many industries were making economic decisions to move their operations overseas.
One by one, the blast furnaces were extinguished and the great mills were shut down forever. The great industrial complexes soon disappeared, as did the thousands of good paying jobs that were associated with them.
As jobs became more and more scarce, many were forced to leave the area. I was one of them. I packed everything I owned into my Dodge Dart and headed South in search of not only a job, but a new life.
In many ways, I was not unlike those settlers that sailed the Atlantic to a New World, or the pioneers that pushed west of the Alleghenies seeking survival. In those cases, the lure of the unknown is a better opportunity than certain failure at home.
Today, more so than ever, we are a mobile society. It is more common for an entire family to pack up and move as a new opportunity presents itself. As technology continues to shrink effective distance, more and more people will elect to follow their dreams in a new place.
And it’s up to the citizens of a community and their government to determine whether or not THEIR municipality will be one that fortune seekers will abandon, or rather, one that they will choose as their economic destination!
Photo: The United States Steel (USX) Homestead Mill prior to demolition courtesy of RichardWeisser.com.
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Richard, your blog makes me think of that Billy Joel song, Allentown.
We are seeing lots of people moving to our area, not only for jobs but due to low housing prices.
We are a mobile society. From the days of "Go West, Young Man" we have always gone where the fortunes were perceived to be. Where will it be? Not sure anymore!
Bob (above) - It's interesting that Billy Joel originally titled the some "Levittown" and was writing about the closure of the nearby US Steel plant here in southeastern Pennsylvania.
I watched the areas where my parents grew up expand and contract over the years as the economy changed. Living in the DC area we don't see much "mass" exodus but do see neighborhoods that come in and out of favor over the years.
Bob...
Although Allentown is in the anthracite coal region of Northeastern PA. the song still affected me deeply, because as you correctly pointed out, i captured the essences of the end of the industrial age! THX
Gary...
For a while it was Florida ... now who knows? Oh yeah, the next real estate millionaire knows! Thanks my friend.
Richard...
I did not know that! Thanks for the trivia tidbit!
Cindy...
D.C. will always have "built-in jobs!" Thanks so much for the comment.
You raise a very excellent thought Richard. We must protect our communities by being advocates for them, because as you stated the internet has allowed people to live anywhere now. BTW Congratulations on the US win over England. A win is a win.
At the end of the day, it is all about location, location, locations, for both businesses and residents. You raise a good point that individuals need to be aware of change and make moves if need be if they do not see their local community prospering. Is good to be a part of it to make things better but at the same time, be aware to not be part of a sinking ship.
Good morning Richard,
We do need to be vigilant to ensure are local economy prospers. In our mobile society families are picking up and moving to regions that can offer a better life style for their families to enjy!
I live in the Detroit Area. Would you believe me, Richard, if I told you that I understand what you described?
How long before many Americans begin their journey across the Pacific into China?
Richard great thought provoking post, one question is nagging me however, was your Dodge Dart pulled by a team of oxen? Have a great Sunday
At age 42 I felt compelled/forced to move to an area unknown to me. Was I driven out, or was I seeking something new. In retrospect, probably both. It's worked out well.
Richard: Making moves across Country definitely doesn't seem as daunting now that technology has made the world seem so much smaller. With email, text messages and video phones, there are so many ways to stay connected to family and friends you leave behind. And that way, you really aren't leaving them behind.
Richard,
I grew up in West Virginia, just outside of Charleston. I was fortunate that my parents had enough vision to move us out in the mid-80s as the area continued to decline and opportunities dwindled. Now, when I visit, 20 years after I left, everything that they feared has been realized.
I miss the mountains and I miss the people, but the state and local governments have not had the vision to capitalize on the natural beauty of the state.
Richard - having lived in Bethlehem (just upwind of Allentown), and spent a lot of time in western PA (Beaver Falls, Aliquippa, Monaca), that photo looks like many a steel mill I'd seen during my youth.
You make some great points... We're already seeing heightened competition by cities to attract businesses here amongst cities in the Pacific Northwest.
Richard I can relate. My dad is from Eastern Ohio close to Pittsburgh. The factories are gone and so are many of the people. Seems one has to move away to support his family these days. I really try to buy things made in the USA these days.
I know what you mean. My family and I moved here to Maine to start our "new life" and we did find everything we were looking for. Ironically, the people here can't seem to understand the attraction. I think they don't realize what they have. Now I field calls from people every week looking to relocate to Maine, looking for their new start.
Our area is a destination that people want to move to. That's how I got here...packed up the RV and hit the road. This is where I landed and I'm so glad I did.
Yep, I'm a transient as well. With gas so cheap (30 cents a gallon when I moved out-of-state) it seemed like I could always go "home" to visit whenever I wanted. Now that gas is over $3.00 (California), I think twice before driving. I see my family only once a year now, and that makes me sad. With this oil hemorrhage, gas prices and airline mergers, I'm wondering if families might stay closer in the future and end this trend of leaving "home".
Richard...we can seek to better ourselves or we can wallow in our self pity. Only seeking gives us a chance at a better life.
Great post Richard. There's a lot of subtleties here that cities, towns and states have to consider. The right mix and the right incentives can make a location sustainable and vibrant.
Richard - We have lived in 6 different states....each time moving on for better job opportunities. We've got a GREAT situation here in Gainesville FL, a community with an AWESOME quality of life which is always looking for new innovations, and I'm very hopeful we won't be moving again. :)
Wow Richard - good post! I grew up in the Joliet, Illinois area which also went thru the decline of manufacturing industry and for a while resembled a dying town. I moved out west in my 20's as kind of an adventure - & fell in love with Washington. So now my roots are here - and a good portion of my family migrated on west too.
Richard - In a previous life I flew into Allentown for a business deal. Even the airport personnel were extolling the down side of the migration of business. We truly are a mobile America, and the fruit tree are ever on the move
Oh, I know that story so well. I have moved many times in my life, and sometimes I ask 'Why am I in Michigan?'. Michigan is struggling so much with its dependency on the automotive industry that is leaving them for greener pastures. This is compounded by a Governor that is turning away jobs if they conflict with her union supporters agenda.