What Happened to Scranton Pennsylvania?

What Happened to Scranton PA?
References:
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www.lackawanna...
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Images:
"Greetings from Scranton, Pennsylvania - Large Letter Postcard" by Shook Photos is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
"Pennsylvania - Overlook near Scranton - 21 October 1983" by Ladycliff is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
"Scranton, Pennsylvania - The Electric City" by klndonnelly is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
"Scranton - Downtown" by ajay_suresh is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
"Scranton at night" by Muffet is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

[@allisons3663]

Corruption is why Scranton is a stagnant city. Businesses can barely afford to operate within the city limits, city government is loaded with nepotism with do-nothing jobs and backroom deals are the norm when it comes to the school district and city hall.

[@joelp5093]

Crime is getting much worse very quickly and the quality of the schools is declining very rapidly, especially over the past 5-10 years and even more exacerbated since Cognetti took over. I can’t believe how much nicer the city was, even just five years ago. Taxes are high and you get nothing for them.

[@allisons3663]

@@joelp5093 She cares more about renaming roads than fixing them. And let's not forget Sister Sneakers.

[@joelp5093]

@@allisons3663 Exactly. Just pandering to her ultra low IQ voter base and distraction from the abysmal job she’s doing.

[@justsomeguymustache]

i agree, we are quite corrupt here in Scranton.. even our court system is corrupt LOL.

[@GeorgeCoggins]

not to mention 2 recent mayors indicted on federal corruption charges

[@xenawolf]

The Capitol Records building has now been repurposed, but at one point every Beatles album sold in the US was pressed in Scranton.

[@Pennsyfan19]

Yeah the building is now about half empty and 30% behavioral health offices and about 20% a pharmacy

[@nevadasestamibi]

It was all over for Scranton once the Dunder-Mifflin Paper Co. moved away.

[@TheAnagnostis]

That follows up on how Scranton improved so much when the Biden crime family left.

[@phillyfan-182]

I would work for dunder mifflin!!

[@matthewmccarthy1615]

Many people lost jobs due to dunder closing

[@PS0722]

We moved here in August 2022, after a hard and long research. We love it! The quality of life and the people are awesome and it has so much to offer! We bought our new and forever home in Dunmore and we're enjoying every single minute of our new community...won't change it at all!!

[@FirstLast-vl1uy]

Living in Dunmore is a lot different than living in Scranton especially if you are raising a family.

[@desmid]

Welcome to the area. Lived here my whole life

[@Whitegorillaboy]

Boy are you deluded

[@keeganshoemaker1785]

I hate dunmores roads and Scranton’s cops but what gets me is how there is nothing to do around here anymore Steamtown used to be the hotspot and now it’s a freaking hospital it’s just a lame area after moving to South Carolina

[@zerogstormz4444]

I live in the mountains surrounding you. I wish you the best of luck! Just be careful of the crappy areas like west side (not saying all of west side or all of scranton is bad) but just be careful for there a lot of stabbings and robbery's

[@folday6169]

At 85 years of age and no longer living in Scranton, I have nothing but love for the city despite its economic decline...just like another old family member!

[@snorlacroix2237]

I think it's worth mentioning why anthracite coal put Scranton on the map. Anthracite is a hard coal that burns cleaner and can only be found in extremely specific places. and if you look at a map of Pennsylvania, you can actually see where that specific place is because there's a thin stripe of constant city around the Scranton/Wilkes-barre area, and then almost nothing for at least a 20 minute drive in any given direction.

[@zerogstormz4444]

Scranton area has the most anthracite coal in the us with the smaller pockets not worth mining for there isn't enough profit in a lot of them

[@richcook2007]

For Phoebe Snow the way to go, from 33rd to Buffalo, from Broadway bright the tubes run right into the Road of Anthracite. Advertising verse for the Lackawanna Railroad, the Road of Anthracite.

[@williammoore27]

Scranton has more skyscrapers between New York City, Philadelphia & Atlanta!🏙🏙🏙🏙🏙🏙

[@tyleroreilly8195]

The anthracite coal from northeast Pennsylvania was the birthplace of the modern day nation. The founding of this country benefited more from anthracite than anything else, monetarily

[@CorporateConnor]

As someone who was born, raised, and currently lives in Scranton I could honestly say it’s a shame to see how much the city has declined over the last 15 years. At least we’re not as bad as Detroit though

[@justinwalker1829]

I think the exact opposite. What has declined???

[@r.pres.4121]

You are also not nearly as bad as both Youngstown Ohio and Niagara Falls New York. Those two blue collar cities are on their death beds 🛌.

[@Goobnav]

I'm a Valley native and my wife is from Detroit, surprisingly I feel more comfortable going to Detroit than back home. Michigan is a true open carry state for now, granted have my CCW from my new home state of NC, PA is questionable at best for open carry. Also I have cousins that are local PD in PA and still don't feel as safe.

[@johncampbell9107]

You're well on your way to Detroit

[@nozzledrich]

Great Battle cry,,,''Detroit, it sucks worse than we do'' BTW, Is Scranton run by scummy commucrats?

[@janelis156]

I live in scranton, moved up here from are you ready? Orlando Fl running away from tourists and traffic. I like it here its quiet. Relatively crime free and almost traffic jam free. Yes its snows and its cold but i dont really worry about the weather. This is a very decent place to raise a family, the jobs are catching up too.

[@jaysweeney9279]

Scranton is hell on earth compared to Florida lol

[@janelis156]

@@jaysweeney9279 to each is own my brother. I lived 20 years in Florida im just fine up here. No traffic no tourists. Im a minimalist im ok with a simple life. Im up in the greenridge section of scranton and its quite nice.

[@johburale4991]

I moved out of Florida too to Minnesota i think Florida is overrated. As working class man Florida is not for me, it's more like rich and bilioniors, the jobs are mostly service jobs. Here in Minnesota I have a union job ,and make 70k ayear, that is impossible in Florida

[@Whitegorillaboy]

@@jaysweeney9279 Yo, jaysweeney9279. You any relation to jimmy'sweeney?

[@jaysweeney9279]

@@Whitegorillaboy where is he from?

[@admirals818]

No mention of Dunder Mifflin? (Sorry, someone had to say it)

[@lightcycle87]

It's okay. I thought the same thing.

[@bluerisk]

...I'm sure Scranton is still a major center of the beet production.

[@adamsteele6148]

They call it the electric city because of the electricity

[@someperson3883]

That could be anywhere with a powerplant

[@adamsteele6148]

@@someperson3883 it's from the office tv show look it up lol

[@erink695]

First electric rail street cars here. That's why. Plus vaudeville was biggest here before Hollywood era. If you made it in Scranton, you were a success.

[@michaelbufalino4646]

@@erink695 There's actually a book titled "If You Can Play Scranton" that discusses the history of theater in the city bt Nancy McDonald. I was lucky enough to be a student in the classes she taught for both AP American and AP European History. I'm not sure if the book is available at the local library but I know there's a copy at the Lackawanna Historical Society.

[@ianowens5255]

If you look up n. Washington Avenue it ran from end to end crawley park to about where the mall is. When the road gets really bad you can see the track come up in spots

[@GigglePantsMcGee]

I live in West side Scranton. I love it here. Us millennials have been working hard to bring something great here..our art and music (myself being a part) are awesome. We've worked hard since we were just kids to put on shows and give hope and love to anyone we come in contact with. Is it the best city in the world? No... But it's mine and I'm proud of it.

[@justsomeguymustache]

i also live in west side! i think the splash park was a pretty good addition to help with people getting outside. the thunderstorms the past few days havent really been as good though..

[@TN-D18]

I remember a pizza place there called “Slice of Scranton” …some of the best NY style pizza I’ve ever had. It was a family operated restaurant in a house. We would always go out of our way to stop there.

[@match328]

Is it better than Alfredo's pizza?

[@TN-D18]

@@match328 Dunno. This would have been 10 years ago, while driving thru. We are trapped in Tennessee, where Domino’s is king. 🤣

[@lolodee3528]

“Slice of Italy?”( a.k.a. The SLICE?) 😂😂😂it was in South side. I’m in TN now too-I make my own Old Forge style pizza. Every week I make a tray. I’ve never had a good slice in the south.

[@TN-D18]

@@lolodee3528 Thanks, I bet that was it! We have ONE pizza place in Chattanooga (Community Pie) that is passable NY style. Geesh, I miss great pizza.

[@mrbutch308]

Personally I think Scranton is a great town - it's situated in the scenic Wyoming Valley, right next door to the Poconos, and a mere 2 1/2 hours drive to both New York City and Philadelphia. It's full of lovely historic architecture, has a couple of universities, several beautiful parks, and some cultural amenities. I pray it makes a comeback. As the song "The Pennsylvania Polka" states - "It started in Scranton, it's now #1!"

[@rjmprod]

Well it will if we can get a Conservative Governor some day and a guy that is not impaired in the Senate, then we give Philly to NJ and Pittsburgh to Ohio, and let ANTIFA protest and burn down Penn State College…..! Maybe then we can allow great places like Scranton to flourish again….!

[@mrbutch308]

@@rjmprod Well, this has got to be the silliest comment I've read in a long time. Not going to happen. Shapiro absolutely demolished Mastriano (who is a bigot, anti-Semite and an insurrectionist.) Philly can not be given to New Jersey nor can the 'Burgh be given to Ohio. Put away your adolescent masturbation fantasies and accept reality.

[@Youngmanvibin284]

Tbh, it would be a great city if there weren’t so many wannabes following people who moved in from New York or New Jersey. They ruined this city and at this point I’m just trying to get a job and move tf outta here. There’s nothing but hostility and a bunch of people who just all out HATE it here. Sure it may be a cheap place to live in but it is NOT WORTH IT! It’s just full of fakes who are trying to act reeeallly hard infront of their New York and Jersey friends 🤦🏽‍♂️.

[@rjmprod]

@@Youngmanvibin284 if you could loose the woke from any, it automatically gets better in the soul of the city. Economy will follow…!

[@fjb4932]

Mr Butch, Being 2 1/2 hours to New York City or Philadelphia . . . is certainly Not a selling point. Now, 2 1/2 days, a whole lot better . . . .

[@wispersystem6444]

As someone who once lived there it's quite interesting to see it covered and talked about in this way

[@7wayOrNoWay]

I'm here still

[@williammoore27]

Scranton has all the massive skyscrapers to be a city nickname as known as: "New York City of the Wyoming Valley"!🏙🏙🏙🏙🏙🏙

[@pauletteschiowitz8989]

Many government buildings in downtown, not like it used to be. I was born and lived most of my life here except when I moved to San Francisco and lived there for 25 years. Right now, most people can’t even afford senior housing. Nursing homes charge $9k/month for bathing, changing you, feeding you and letting you sleep, nothing else.

[@benjamin3044]

My family is from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton area. The anthracite coal comment is really understated. The church my family went to, the altar was made from coal. The coal closures is also part of the reason why my family left. Thanks for the video!

[@samanthab1923]

Both my grandparents on my dads side were from Scranton. They saw how things were & moved to NYC in 1935 right after my dad was born. Both were educated so they had better chances at jobs.

[@ronaldbobeck1026]

Kings College in Wilkes Barre has a Solid Coal Altar The the Schools Chaple it was moved to the new student center . I'm a Kings graduate.

[@zeeptollbooth4129]

How much longer can the country go on when we don't manufacture goods. Where does the money come from in a service industry based economy? The Time is now.....

[@r.pres.4121]

Supply side/ trickle down economics and service based economies do not work, period!

[@inthrutheoutdoor5849]

those jobs have been gone for a long time. There are no updated facilities to put them. It would cost millions to just open a plant.

[@GR-le1ms]

They should build a replica of The Office building in Scranton, and people would visit more. There are millions of fans worldwide.

[@CARLOTTAZAIREFerguson]

Great idea!

[@josheroh1514]

Scranton ended up on "forgotten places" channel Feels bad man, I live here. The newer pictures you use I recognize where they are.

[@NamefulOdder]

Ya You can litteraly see things from your childhood and just know, there is very few people that share these memories... but hey at least there's 77 thousand of us to share our memories together ♥️

[@ProtossHyrdalisk]

Scranton is actually having a bit of a resurgence. Great mayor and progress being made to bring in a larger a variety of cultures to the area. One of the biggest issues is the University of Scranton which gets around real taxation by making donations to the city every year. They own such a large swath of land, but are a religious school to skirt around some of the rules.

[@z612528]

Great Mayor who does not live in the City. City Hall closed since the Pandemic. Large variety of Criminals from big cities with the promise of free everything and easy welfare. Don 't know where you live Buddy but the resurgence will come when we get rid of these clowns running the current circus here.

[@joelp5093]

You are very, very delusional

[@johnchambers8528]

I live in the Philadelphia suburbs but worked for the state of Pennsylvania for many years. For some time I was assigned to work in the Scranton area. As noted in the video you can see how the city declined as many industries closed down. However not everything I bad about the city. When I was first assigned to the area it was very depressed. However I did see the city when the downtown mall was relatively new. But just like most malls today has fallen on hard times due to internet shopping and retail expansion outside the city limits. As noted high taxes drive most business to close or relocate and when it comes to manufacturing most of that work was relocated to Asia due to lower costs. I feel there still is hope for the city to improve but like most cities in PA taxes need to go down and leaders need to change their thinking on how to attract new business to the city. By the way the trolley wire you saw is for an active historic trolley museum next to Steamtown Railroad museum and does operate trolleys over a historic route to the Baseball park area.

[@PDVideo1]

This is a good facts based report on Scranton. As a lifelong Scrantonian, I can truly say that I love our city. There has definitely been an uptick over the past 15 years for Scranton as a whole. The neighborhoods are much safer than they were a decade and a half ago. For it's size, Scranton is a relatively safe city to live in. Immigration has created a much improved atmosphere in the city. Immigrants from Asia as well as Latin America, Africa, and New Jersey have formed strong family bonds here and have improved the atmosphere in the city. We have been a hotbed for corruption politically through the years, but our current leadership is really trying to improve the city and it's surroundings and is doing a good job. The arts scene is growing and expanding, and the entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well. We are a unique bunch as a people and are willing to laugh at ourselves, as evidenced by the overall acceptance of "The Office" as a Scranton thing. Many of my friends have moved away and gone around the world to live and produce, but I have been grateful to be able to raise my family here and have lived an incredible life. This was a good video to see!

[@joelp5093]

Saying that Scranton is safer today than it was a decade and a half ago than is an absolute lie.

[@dartskipper3170]

Senator Dan Flood did everything he could to support the anthracite mining industry, even getting the US Army to export it to their bases in Europe for heating during the Cold War. He deserved a mention in the video.

[@AnthraciteHorrorStories]

True.

[@doug.jones.88]

That's a good point, but Dan Flood's district was mostly the Wilkes-Barre area and never included Scranton, which is probably why he's not in the video.

[@thomascooney2610]

Really? You guys live in WIlkes-Barre? The stories of corruption and Dan Flood run rampant throughout the valley.

[@stevea6816]

Flood was a Congressman

[@Goobnav]

Dan Flood left politics due to the mountain of investigations he had on him, wonder why the roads are bad in NE PA, he's to blame, especially the repave contracts after the road, especially, Route 81, was built, Dan was corrupt and his replacement Kanjorski was worse, he tried to damn the Susquehanna with an inflatable dam for a "lake", of the most polluted water in PA.

[@rowdyboys951]

My Great-Aunt formally lived in Scranton, I remember visiting her there a few times, and I’ll admit when I was there, there wasn’t a whole lot to do.

[@samanthab1923]

We went up for a funeral once & the whole town seemed depressed.

[@rowdyboys951]

@@samanthab1923 Same here, a lot of run-down old fashioned buildings, few restaurants, and no entertainment venues.

[@jgrysiak6566]

Same with Johnstown, an old depressing former steel town. My grandfather used to take us to feed the pigeons in the park.

[@awesomeneiss]

I'd love to return back after going to college there! Low prices & great views!

[@jeremyhague2119]

Same here.

[@bretthewitt3890]

All those cities in Pennsy suffered from the downturn in Anthracite. Labor is cheaper overseas so the factories closed an we are left with a severly depressed region. There really is nothing left. Reading, Lancaster, Tamaqua all suffered. When the steel left it was another great blow to PA, mostly Bethlehem/Allentown and Easton area, but it was worth driving in to Bethlehem Steel from midstate because steel paid so well. Its depressing. Pennsy used to be great, now it's a shadow of its former self.

[@williammoore27]

Scranton can have many, many, many massive skyscrapers between New York City, Philadelphia & Atlanta!🏙🏙🏙🏙🏙🏙🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎

[@johnr6019]

Moved here from Philly 3 years ago and the public transit system (Coltsbus) sucks. It doesn't even run on Sundays when there are art classes and church events I can't attend. It seems like most people who live here drive, so I guess there's less incentive for Coltsbus to add evening service and routes to more of the adjoining towns like Jim Thorpe that has a quaint downtown area that I've only seen a little of on TV. The upside is that I was able to get into affordable senior housing very quickly plus I feel safer here than if I still were in Philly.

[@gerardradwanski9556]

Kitchen

[@johnr6019]

@@gerardradwanski9556 ?

[@frankbeetsch4798]

Lived in the Scanton area many years ago and going to try to get back in the area again. I was born and raised in little Italy Newark NJ in the heart of little Italy 7th Ave. Left! Joined the Marines and many Italians started moving out to different places like Scranton where I hope to relocate back. If you needed help you can always find help from the Italians, Irish and the Jews it was a good place to live.

[@robinrutkosky5887]

I’m from this area. I remember the rise and fall of steamtown mall. Today it is mostly part of a college and doctors offices. What wasn’t touched on was the garment industry. There was a factory almost on every corner. My town had at least 5. I believe that was the final nail in the coffin. In so far as education that’s starting to decline. Scranton has 3 high schools now only rwo. They are combining the elementary schools whic will close some. Higher level education will eventually suffer. Taxes are ridiculous.

[@jaromeartley73]

I'm from Scranton I remember when downtown was alive at night now its a ghost town

[@DanielleWhite]

I grew-up in the area in the 1980s and one memory is how many small garment companies there were, often operating out of second floors over various retail businesses, even into the various up-valley towns. I remember accompanying a family member to the bank in Mayfield and seeing dresses being loaded into a panel truck from above one of the small markets in the area (not sure if it was the Big Chief across the street from the bank or one that used to exist on Rushbrook in Jermyn.) They had strung a cable between the rear of the truck and a second floor window then in batches the dresses, in protective bags, would be placed on the cable by the hanger hook and allowed to slide down.

[@robinrutkosky5887]

@@NamefulOdder wouldn’t be surprised. Look what happened in Wilkes Batte. From 3 high schools to one.

[@flinch622]

Government never thinks to shrink itself in the face of a declining population. The term I reach for in these places is "pension farm" - people staying there become the crop. Also, I'd say Clinton giving China MFN was the death knell for places like Scranton. Anything garment industry in the US related was pretty much toast by the time he left office.

[@davegoodwin1848]

I'll tell you exactly what happened. Dunder Mifflin moved to the West Coast and since they were one of the biggest businesses there the whole area shuttered down. Bad business decision imo...makes the while company look greedy.

[@markusmaximus629]

I'm from Brooklyn NY, and I have I lived in Scranton for over 30 years and I say it is a wonderful city. The people are kind, the police respected and don't shoot you right away, the streets are clean, and there is plenty to do. It is not a corporate nightmare conglomerate, say like the endless malls of Maryland is. People still own and run the restaurants, most of which are quite good. There is a good interstate system with no daily traffic jams, several excellent colleges, a AAA baseball park, a ski mountain, Lake Scranton with a beautiful 4 mile walking trail, a museum, a water park, a great concert venue, lots of local bands to see, SteamTown National Recreation Area, a coal mine tour that is totally awesome, it hosts both the St. Patrick's Day Parade and the Italian Festival, bike trails, lakes, boating, fishing, theater, a somewhat lively downtown that has saw much redevelopment of which I participated. We even have internet, cable, electric and water. We do have some potholes but they fill them. All of this surrounded by rolling hills and small farms and towns. Some folks here say the taxes are high. They are not high. I don't think they have ever paid taxes in another state. I have lived in several east coast states, and I chose Scranton.

[@Goobnav]

As a native that moved over 30 years ago, you are flat wrong. The Taxes are outrageous compared to other states, I live in NC and they are more than half! Perfect example, sales tax on vehicle is 6%!!! In NC it is 3%. Auto insurance is a joke in PA, more than double the rate in NC. The roads ARE the worst in the lower 48, seriously drive 81 from Scranton to Harrisburg, every repave is toast in 5 years!! That's because the original contractor, Adinizo for ADDY construction did the road at half the roadbed level to get the forever contract for repaving. The Turnpike is the highest tolled road in the US!!! There are NO jobs there!! To be a teacher, you better not insult the school board with a small bribe, its not a joke, its a fact!! Also the local school boards control your property taxes and milk every dollar!! The only good thing there is Pizza in Old Forge and, Yes, it is better than the City, I've had both and nothing beats Old Forge, especially Ravellos!!! FYI, all the recreational activities you have mentioned are here in NC and all in one state and no stupid tolls!!!

[@markusmaximus629]

@@Goobnav Waa

[@Goobnav]

@@markusmaximus629 LOL!!! Go Hurricanes!!!

[@markusmaximus629]

@@Goobnav Scranton might not be your problem. You might be your problem.

[@Goobnav]

@@markusmaximus629 nah, I'm perfectly fine. You keep living in your fantasy and when, not if, the city catches up with "valley", you'll move to Florida like the rest of the Tri state area. Heyna!

[@keithzotynia4780]

I just moved to scranton and my wife and I love it here so many fabulous restaurants and so much to do we love tripps park area and we are so happy we left nnj and it's the best decision we've ever made and not to mention the people here are very nice and the city is revitalizing with the new generation its great here

[@TenaciousDmitchell]

My grandfather worked in Scranton in the 70s and 80s at a meat packing slaughterhouse. But we lived in Wilkes Barra, which I think is a much nicer town 20 miles away. And every time I go back to the area I visit train town. Because I love trains ever since my uncle showed me his train set when I was a boy right there in Scranton, Pennsylvania

[@robertstaples3256]

They don't call it the rust belt for nothing. It's a depressing city with not much industry outside of health care and services like the video mentioned, high poverty, horrendous taxes, many suspect neighborhoods (I used to live in one), government corruption, terrible weather, the list goes on. As for a recent example of decline, take the Steamtown Mall, which went up in the 90s. When I was a kid, it was bustling with business and was a very popular hangout spot. That changed when I was in highschool when the mall was almost completely abandoned and bought by somebody else because the place was failing rapidly. Despite the aquarium moving in, it's nothing like it used to be. I hear some bozo wants to build a 17 story tower somewhere downtown that's going to double as a multi story mall and apartments. Excellent idea. That'll bring in tourists.. or something. A lot of people I know want to move south to Florida or pretty much anywhere that's not the northeast US. I can't imagine retiring here myself.

[@edhlavaty6914]

Actually Delta Medix has most of the Old Mall. The Mall Owner is restoring Old school's and Mills into Condos and Apartments. He's actually doing a good job turning abandoned buildings around.

[@lucifchristo]

government corruption is an udnerstatement speaking as a residenet of the last 40 years. everything else is accurate

[@enchanted_raven_of_gold_11]

@@edhlavaty6914my ex gf used to go to luzerne and one of her classes were in the mall. But even we were reminiscing about how busy steamtown used to be. It’s good it’s getting used for the school and medical space too. I think that’s actually a good idea.

[@jimhanratty9543]

My mother is from Duryea, left in the '50s. Today a guy could live like a king there. Kielbasa,pizza and beer,nothing better.

[@NatsFan18]

Harsh but kinda true. I'm from the Lehigh valley currently living in Central pa/Harrisburg area but brother just moved to Scranton area and boy is that a sad area 😂

[@kxi529]

there's definitely some things they can do to make the city more livable and streamlined. unfortunately its overrun with an aging population that hates the idea of modernization. im all for protecting old architecture and such but its annoying watching the council meetings and hearing 80 year old's complain about how we should add another lane to the highway, or give them roadside parking. Instead they should be focusing on getting that Amtrak line from Scranton to new York up, or maybe put some of that tax money into bringing back the trolley system this city was built around? idk, just feels like a ton of wasted potential here anymore.

[@kxi529]

its 2 hours distance from 2 major population centers that have a housing and job crisis. The cities economy could legitimately be BOOMING right now, its just not being taken advantage of.

[@r.pres.4121]

You have to change the mindset of the city and the younger more open minded folks need to stand up to these elderly NIMBYS and tell them off. Scranton and other older northern cities need to clean out their local governments of all the entrenched career dinosaurs and elect fresh new blood. I am all for historic preservation but some old buildings are just too badly deteriorated to be repaired and restored. You have to have some new architectural styles added to the city to liven it up.

[@TheMrPeteChannel]

@@r.pres.4121 You can make old buildings look & feel modern. Look at the Old Murphys Varnish building in Newark NJ. Every pre world war 2 building should be preserved or modernized.

[@CryptoX-kr3wu]

OMG. 😂 Never expected to see a video about Scranton. This is my hometown.

[@enchanted_raven_of_gold_11]

Same babe literally lived there my entire life 🙃 moved away last year and honestly part of me does miss it. I’m only a half an hour away though to be fair

[@CryptoX-kr3wu]

@@enchanted_raven_of_gold_11 I moved away years ago across the country. But my extended family is still in West Scranton. So I visit at least once a year. I don’t care what anyone says, Scranton is a great city with a rich cultural history.

[@claykalmar8131]

What happened to most of PA? The resource and manufacturing industries left, and the place contracted heavily. I'm from a small, dying steel town in western PA, same general story.

[@joesmith9216]

Yeah, death by design, only jobs are food service. And most factory jobs lay off after a year.

[@gregorycyr9272]

I was in Altoona Pennsylvania back in April from Raleigh NC and was gonna do a solar panel job.

[@jimhanratty9543]

Suburban Phila., i would say is basically booming

[@paulmercuri8108]

Where you from buddy Westmorland country?

[@tomfields3682]

Listen to Billy Joel's Allentown. He tells the story.

[@RandomFabrication]

Pretty much the only reason the town is there is because that’s where the coal was/is. If you check out a mine map, the entire town is mined out underneath. Grid after grid of room and pillar, solid across the entire valley.

[@joeygoul4617]

As a person who lives outside of Scranton I can say that this video paints the city in a nicer way than it actually is

[@ajd0101]

True

[@JD200_]

All went to shit after Michael left

[@sirweed7554]

I knew there would be at least one office comment here 😂

[@dickhertz8103]

SCRANTON...if you can make it here you can make it anywhere!

[@damianslick1725]

I enjoy living here. (well, near scranton, I happen to be in Carbondale) but i've met some really amazing people here. Plus, the NUMEROUS family owned restaurants. The food in this area is TOP NOTCH!!

[@GR-le1ms]

What pizza do you buy?

[@damianslick1725]

@@GR-le1ms Domenicks pizza in Carbondale is the best in NEPA IMHO. 2nd would be Andy's in Peckville.

[@joelp5093]

@@damianslick1725 I agree Andy's is one one of the best

[@gregorycyr9272]

Reminds me of Binghamton NY in how it lost a lot of business.

[@joelp5093]

Binghamton is a bit different because IBM was keeping that area alive up until 60,000 people lost their jobs all at once, so the deterioration was much more sudden. They haven’t mined coal near Scranton since the 1950s and nothing has really replaced it since then.

[@gregorycyr9272]

@@joelp5093 It wasn't all at once it was gradually that IBM left.They employed at most about 25,000.What also hurt the Binghamton area was Endicott Johnson shoes closing all the factories gradually another 20,000 people lost their jobs.At least Binghamton area is affordable for housing,I live in Raleigh NC now and it is a lot more expensive for housing here.Homeless is going up in Raleigh.

[@joesmith9216]

Yeah, Binghamton is the twin city of Scranton, less populated there though.

[@fraters.4430]

As a Scrantonian, I remember well when moving to Binghamton was the mark of "having arrived" (or if I'm honest, "having escaped successfully"). It looks like one generation of those refugees managed to flourish before meeting the same economic fate as their hometown. It's morally repugnant what has been permitted to happen to that whole entire region, economically and socially. They broke their backs building this country and facilitating its growth and success, and for thanks got left behind the moment things looked more easily profitable elsewhere.

[@inthrutheoutdoor5849]

both are the same thing... and they are only a few miles apart up 81

[@endlessmtnman]

Scranton is a success story compared to whats happened to many other towns in NEPA

[@r.pres.4121]

And in upstate New York.

[@Woodstock-53]

A dump

[@thommeeg]

Scranton became known as the Electric City because of it being the first U.S. city to have electric trolly cars. Also the population situation is even worse as that 140,000 plus population in the forties did not count the now incorporated communities of Providence or Minooka which were separate communities now incorporated into Scranton with its bore 70,000 population.

[@msg2743]

6 year difference though.

[@kansaschaser12]

As an NEPA resident, Scranton and Wilkes-Barre are nice cities. Sure, they may be old, but I feel pretty safe living in the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton area.

[@TenaciousDmitchell]

My advice to Scranton Toniann’s is to consider yourself a distant suburb of New York City and try to get a speed rail line to make this happen. Would be a boom for the region bringing in much needed high-end wage earners. That is people making more than 100,000 a year.

[@idaliss]

All my new neighbors are from nyc 😩

[@edwardzarnowski5558]

I think they thought about that once but they voted against it. Railroads go both ways you know... Didn't want the crime in NYC coming back. This was in the late 80s 90s

[@mullena98]

Heard through the grapevine recently that this may actually be happening…

[@jeffjacobson59]

PA is the best place to live….as long as you have a good job. Taxes are nothing compared to NJ or NY. My mortgage was cheaper in pa than my taxes were in nj

[@markusmaximus629]

Word brother. My property tax is 3.7K, in NJ the same tax was 18.2K. So PPL who say taxes are high have no experience paying taxes.

[@richardalcantar7817]

I was born in Scranton Pennsylvania, but we moved back to Texas when I was still just a baby, I am 50yrs old now and would love to travel back to see where I was born. If not mistaken i was born in lakawanna

[@majorproblem8796]

As someone who lived in was also born in NEPA, grew up there and moved to Texas. Y’aint missin much

[@nikolasgemski4148]

I live in Scranton we doin just fine

[@joelp5093]

I live outside of Scranton and it’s really not that bad. Allentown or Reading are way shittier

[@jaysweeney9279]

scranton sucks bad

[@NamefulOdder]

They are taking dumps on us cuz they don't know the good sides, they just see what's online and assume it's horrible, sure it could be better but it's not that bad.

[@jaysweeney9279]

@@NamefulOdderi lived in scranton it's a hellhole lol...potholes everywhere..crazy taxes..miserable people...weather sucks..should i go on?

[@NamefulOdder]

@jay sweeny ya lol I just don't think it's bad as they say it is, there could be a ton of improvements but I'm just saying there is people out there that think it's the worst in all of PA. It's the fact that people just keep complaining instead of doing something about it that make everything suck

[@kimhiller2532]

We have an amazing art culture..restaurants, skiing and many amazing opportunities. University of Scranton, Marywood college, Johnson school if technology

[@thechitownclown8972]

Hometown of the most amazing band in the world!

[@justsomeguymustache]

i have been a resident of Scranton for nearly 16 years now, not amazing, there are our fair shares of great businesses like Coney Island, which i actually worked at previously, but other than that we are quite corrupt and quite boring. pretty good amount of crime that happens here, but most of us know each other, and are tight-knit.

[@markusmaximus629]

Crime? When was the last mass shooting? A: Never.

[@justsomeguymustache]

@markusmaximus629 dumbass just because there aren't mass shootings doesn't mean there isn't bad crime. we have property crimes, drug crimes, and violent crimes rising in how often they occur. ive had property crimes occur to me several times in this city. i have had guns and knives pointed at me, and I've been hit by cars both purposefully and not. this city is not in any way glamorous, and remember, mass shootings aren't an extremely common crime. the rates of mass shootings in the entire U.S. are probably 0.1% of violent crimes. ive even witnessed a drive-by right down my street.

[@mikeyeden5791]

One of the most fascinating videos I have ever seen! I am near Scranton!! Has anyone ever done a video about Clark's Summit PA? That would be fun!!!!

[@TaxTimeForever]

I still heard the music even though you didn't play it...

[@dr.woozie7500]

Scranton needs to capitalize on the Office and increase tourism, pull some people out of the Poconos too.

[@muhmd.d]

Here to give a shout-out to my man Michael Scott

[@vlc518]

Love my sweet Scranton - hope to one day move to the mountains and live it out there🏔

[@zxcpiggy]

You really don’t want to theres so many better places then Pennsylvania im from there and wanna leave youll find out one day

[@ardentknight2262]

as a student of the university of scranton, it’s on the rise once again

[@Anonymous______________]

Do you have any data that supports your claim?

[@felipesastre3790]

Scranton is a beautiful city and is coming back!

[@jaysweeney9279]

Scranton sucks bad lol

[@felipesastre3790]

@@jaysweeney9279 I guess is how you see things out there…I don’t see Scranton that way I think is a beautiful quiet city…it might not be for everyone like NYC is not as well.

[@jaysweeney9279]

@@felipesastre3790 1.weather sucks in scranton..2..roads are terrible..3...taxes are high...4..people are miserable for the most part...i could keep going on and on...just my take

[@r.pres.4121]

As these big coastal cities like Boston, NYC, Miami, LA, etc all get too damned expensive and unlivable, small to mid sized cities like Scranton are becoming more attractive to today’s young people. Many Gen Z’s would rather start up businesses in these smaller cities than work for the man in these expensive big major cities. Scranton PA and Binghamton NY are going to have to start making themselves more open to new ideas and development and become more welcoming to younger people.

[@joshuajeffers-williams952]

@@felipesastre3790 i love every city

[@rickwright7116]

Mafia...the landfills. Depressing

[@r.pres.4121]

That sounds exactly like both Youngstown OH and Niagara Falls NY.

[@inthrutheoutdoor5849]

yeesh, a mile high garbage dump in Dumore....

[@uiu510]

I know a guy that moved there from NYC and he's doing really well.

[@markusmaximus629]

That would be me. Scranton is a fine city.

[@NotAndrew22]

Lived here my whole life and this made me depressed i never knew that much of the backstory before

[@coryburris8211]

It's been all downhill (pun intended) since the town had 30,000 pounds of bananas dumped on it 😆

[@Bertrumes_Shiney_Factory]

Thanks for considering doing a video on it cause besides the office we're unknown

[@TD-np6ze]

Nice job narrating -- enjoyed the smooth hand-offs!

[@pokeysdad17]

as a person who visits the scranton area a couple of times a year, it seems the area is overrun with illegals.

[@marcoceccarelli6415]

My grandfather from Italy lost his life in the coal mines in Scranton Pennsylvania.

[@chasbodaniels1744]

Sorry to hear that. Mining was always a dangerous and dirty trade, unfortunately.

[@avayalde6902]

I live in scraton just moved here 2 years ago from New York bronx. Good to know this information 👍.

[@zenfitnutrition8908]

Nay Aug park needs Tennis courts racket ball hand ball Basket Ball and baseball field’s . The new mayor covered the swimming pools up with asphalt can you imagine

[@joesmith9216]

nay aug has NOTHING, it's funny actually.

[@atrix248]

I've lived in Scranton my whole life ( I'm 20 now ). Scranton and the boroughs in the valley area surrounding it are practically hard froze in the 70s. There is no nightlife, it's called the electric city but your only going to see about 20 ppl out on downtown Scranton at a time. Apart from The Office we are also famous for Eric Frien (the state trooper killer). The local government doesn't really care and likely thrives on the fact that there isn't anything to go out and do for free to enjoy with friends or family

[@benchi223]

That happened in the Poconos

[@BIG17EASY]

Eric Frein has zero connection to Scrranton. He was born in Jersey, grew up in the Pocono Mountain area and committed the murders near there, a good 30 minutes from Scranton. There's also plenty of nightlife in Scranton.

[@brentc6595]

You forgot Harry Chapin's song 30,000 Pounds of Bananas

[@keldon_champion]

On a positive note there is a lot of distribution centers in the area because to ship in or out of the north east you almost have to pass through Scranton and that has become one of the industries that sustains the area. What has killed Scranton however is the problem that is killing America as a whole we simply don't manufacture hardly anything here at all and the majority of work people are doing produces little to no value, more people are going to be in for a rude awakening if the U.S. dollar looses its status as the world reserve currency.

[@ernieforrest7218]

There are numerous formally prosperous places in PA. when mining and steel industries started dying.

[@r.pres.4121]

Same thing in NY. Many once proud and prosperous cities and smaller towns are now all struggling with the typical quota of socioeconomic problems.

[@ECAxeThrowing]

Ayyyy we’re still going strong out here!

[@luciaandglynn]

Nothing happened to Scranton. We are still here.

[@1940limited]

Just had dinner tonight in a very nice Italian restaurant in Scranton. The place was packed; not an empty seat anywhere. The town is clean with well maintained houses and buildings. Soee parts of Lackawanna Ave. are now closed, but overall the city isn't anything like Detroit, Cleveland, Baltimore, etc.

[@PowerFOOLThunderCLOWN]

Born & raised. Scranton is special. There are incredible minds there.

[@rabidgoon]

the economy fell apart after the Michael Scott Paper Company ended operations

[@inthrutheoutdoor5849]

Political corruption is the biggest driving of stagnant growth for Scranton. Cronyism in this small town runs rampant. The second problem that remains is high drug abuse and low education. Sure there are colleges and Universities there, but they are filled with out-of-towners.

[@kenmorgan1745]

Scranton is a depressed city with depressed people, I glad I moved out of there to Chesapeake, va

[@williammoore27]

Scranton has new skyscrapers, real Wall Street, new underground subway trains, new entertainment, new food, new shopping mall & so much more!🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰

[@jeanne8507]

There is no subway in Scranton. There is no new shopping mall. Pretty much everything you just wrote is wrong.

[@joelp5093]

@@jeanne8507 I know you live in Scranton because his obvious joke went over your head. Scranton is horrible.

[@THX-vb8yz]

30,000 Pounds Of Bananas...... "1965, Gene Sesky lost control of the truck he was hauling 30,000 pounds of bananas in Scranton, which inspired a Harry Chapin song."

[@enchanted_raven_of_gold_11]

The Scranton lace copy omg. I remember always asking what it was and why it closed so on…I know they started doing construction on it like three years ago or so. It’s so strange seeing all these pictures, some very familiar or some that I’ve literally walked by several times be in this video.

[@Heres.gioooooooo]

Apparently it’s going to be turned into an apartment complex from what I’ve heard

[@taylorjudge4506]

Lived here all my life it’s not bad there just isn’t much to do.

[@nikkifix7768]

Jesus. The first video I see is my hometown

[@plywoodal3012]

Scranton video with no mention of Scranton Army Ammunition Plant?? Been in operation at the center of the city since 1960’s after converting locomotive repair shops that were built in 1910. Secretary of the US Army just visited last week. Hundreds of millions of dollars in USG investment earmarked for Scranton over next 5-10 years. Yes, it’s USG owned, but still good jobs and future for this area.

[@gardbjj24]

Was the XO at SAAP in the 70"s. wonderful people and great location!!

[@daves.6968]

Really enjoyed the style of your vid thanks 🎉

[@michaelficarro2591]

2nd largest St Patricks day parade in the country, so if you like puke, piss, and fighting people that have been cooped up for about 6 months of shitty weather, it's the place to be in the middle of March😁

[@jasondyrkacz8270]

I don't know if Scranton has more pizza places or bars.

[@DanielleWhite]

@@jasondyrkacz8270 When I lived there a joke was made that there was a church or bar on every corner. It's not all that much of an exaggeration. I remember a PLCB representative stating that due to the liquor licenses in the region being issued under old rules that allowed a higher ratio to population there will probably never again be a new one issued there (that's as opposed to transfer of a liquor license between businesses which also requires posted notice and PLCB approval.)

[@skankhunt4220]

Is Scranton worth visiting as an English guy who loves the office?

[@markusmaximus629]

Not really, The Office is fictional. Totally fictional. It is a nice town to live in, I live here, but not worth visiting from England just as a destination city for an Office fan. Fact.

[@skankhunt4220]

@@markusmaximus629 I know the office is fictional lol but surely there some places to visit office themed ect?

[@markusmaximus629]

@@skankhunt4220 All there is is a small gift shop at Coopers Seafood restaurant, and tho it is a nice place to eat with outdoor decks, the Office is not something that exists, or has any other physical place you can visit. Got it? There is an Office theme Bar in Miami Beach Florida, and I think that is where you want to go. I was there, and after you spend 45 minutes there having a meal and a drink, and after, you can enjoy Miami Beach. Bring Flip Flops.

[@skankhunt4220]

@@markusmaximus629 alright mate cheers

[@joannethorne6555]

When I was a child I used to hear the adults joking on election day. They would say "Don't forget to vote early, AND OFTEN, lol". I didn't understand then. I'm angry that I understand it now.

[@mgratk]

My Grandfather was in WW2, then worked for the City of Scranton. He was required to vote 3 or 4 times each election. They would give the city employees places to vote and who to vote for. Unions(mob) made sure you did as told. Democrat machine in Chicago wants to grow up to be as corrupt as Scranton, Philly, and Harrisburg.

[@ronaldbobeck1026]

Wilkes-Barre, Scranton are in the Wyoming Valley. I grew up in the mountains out side of the Wyoming Valley. I had to leave in the late 70 ' s to find work I said I always say I am from the Valley.

[@Goobnav]

Scranton is in the Lackawanna Valley, south of Campbell's Ledge is the Wyoming Valley, Scranton is on the Lackawanna River, hence the Valley name, the Lakawanna River meets the Susquehanna near Pittston and that is where the 2 valleys meet as well.

[@stevekearney3233]

Oh we’ve had a very productive chewy and Amazon warehouse open up in nearby Throop/Archibald. Seems like that’s where most of the jobs are being created now. I’ve seen few interesting places open and stay open in the last decade not sure if the city’s really on the up swing but there is a few promising signs.

[@joelp5093]

Low paying jobs that will be replaced by robots soon. It's growth but it's not good growth.

[@DanielleWhite]

Interesting photo of Old Main at 1:02 - that was the original University of Scranton campus. The opening shot took me a minute to figure out for the location as I don't think I've ever seen a view of downtown from that direction. Since I worked there for several years and recognized many of the buildings. I grew-up on a dairy farm just north of the city. I ultimately moved away because of so much attitude against improving anything. At the time I left young to middle-age adults were one of the smaller population segments and a number of the local elderly residents took expressed attitudes of "I'm against the proposals because they won't improve anything in my lifetime." At the same time they would complain about how so many of us graduated then moved away - I tried a few times to explain why but they dismissed everything, insisting the attraction of higher wages elsewhere was "just greedy."

[@r.pres.4121]

It is because of these elderly NIMBYS that opposed any new ideas or development that younger people along with business all moved away from cities like Scranton. Between them and the corrupt entrenched politicians it is no wonder why most older northern cities have had a tough time revitalizing themselves.

[@joshuajeffers-williams952]

I love scranton pennsylvania i like every city new york city los angeles every city even baltimore chicago paris florida every city in the world i love earth judt be happy where you live love your life enjoy your life and enjoy wherever u live no matter what 😊😊😊😊😊😊❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ i love everyone

[@dariofigert9037]

Lived in Scranton in mid 1980’s. Cultural diversity was interesting.

[@fjb4932]

Most people want to live with their own kind ( morals above all else ). "Most* . . ." *( some don't mind living with filth )

[@XxPissPissPeePadxX]

@@fjb4932 dawgs just out here being racist

[@bonzobrinkley1548]

The whole state went ass up when they allowed 350 miles worth of strip mining to happen.

[@scout9773]

Well done!

[@KANSASKID1961]

Love the HOOTERS in Scranton.

[@masonbeall3216]

Can you do what happened to Cumberland Maryland

[@r.pres.4121]

I have heard that Cumberland is a smaller scale version of Baltimore.

[@Kevin-xi6ts]

I went to college there in the 80’s. It was a depressing dump. I’m glad I left.

[@johncrouch6103]

Can you do a video on Lansing, Michigan. We lost a lot of jobs in the Automotive industry, birthplace of the Oldsmobile

[@bilalbhatti5286]

Fantastic 😍