There has been an exodus from the coal region of Pennsylvania over the past generation.. high unemployment, economic conditions worse than other areas, and traveling to better jobs, all have forced younger people away from Schuylkill County .. And now the POTTSVILLE REPUBLICAN is sharing knowledge that has already been assumed: Most people who are young want to leave Schuylkill County..
Schuylkill County commissioners had a press conference on Thursday. They say that the county has lots to offer–presumably more than Yuengling beer and the A-Hole in Girardville–but they lament the fact so many young want to leave the area. To put a number on that, survery was conducted of the ‘yout’ of the region.. it found that 55% want don’t plan on living in the county when they are adults.
Of course, kids have grand plans. There is sure something about the coal region, maybe those tentacles of coal veins, that latch on to your spirit and trap you in the area.. Kids today become coal-region bar hoppers tomorrow, still wearing their varsity football jackets, trying to relive the dream of yesteryear. Just place GLORY DAYS by the Boss, and most will tear up thinking about the Friday night lights–unless your school didn’t have lights, in which case you’ll think of Saturday Afternoon Sun (*Cardinal Brennan football players would understand that*)…
So ….what would be a model for the future?
Two possibilities exist:
1) The county will continue to perish slowly, like a miner running out of oxygen in a confined space.. It will keep its high unemployment, and is generation of disenchanted kids..
2) Many who leave the area for experience and knowledge, will actually come back to Schuylkill county at some point in their lives, and bring progress to the area. The future will feature people, people who don’t sport mullets and cutoff jean shorts, creating jobs and hope ..
Which possibility is more likely?
A stroll down any street, Schuylkill County, will show how difficult number 2 would be to achieve.
