How Northern Pennsylvania is Being Left Behind

By Seth Higgins
Within the last year, several institutions that the communities of northern Pennsylvania depend upon — including healthcare services, a college branch campus, and two correctional facilities — have been snuffed out or find themselves on life support. Officials in Harrisburg have proven unable or unwilling to intervene. If trends continue, this region may soon find itself in an economic and demographic death spiral from which it cannot recover.

There is still time, but it is running out.

Why It Matters. The residents of this vast rural expanse tend to be older, lower-income, and less educated than the rest of the Commonwealth. Given the distances between communities, most residents must travel greater distances to access basic services, such as healthcare, educational institutions, and economic opportunities, than people living elsewhere.

Within the last year, several pillars of northern Pennsylvania have crumbled or are under threat.

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