<p>I’m working on a project that will take me to a facility in a tiny town in north-central Pennsylvania several times over the next few months. As far as I can tell, that area has a whole lot of nothing except for a nice landscape, with Corning seeming to be a modest outpost of civilization. It’s conceivable that this project could turn into an advancement opportunity, but it would require moving there.</p>
<p>So I ask, who is familiar with that area? Is it as remote and empty as I expect it to be? Is it as beautiful as I expect it to be? What’s life like around there? For reference, I’ve driven from Pittsburgh to State College and thought the landscape was stunning. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.</p>
<p>What do you see on Google Maps in the satellite view? It looks like a lot of farming, and there is probably mining in the area. More rural areas of our country have a certain charm. I’m familiar with the upstate New York area, but not this specific Pennsylvania area – although they are not far apart.</p>
<p>I would expect the landscape to be rolling to hilly farm country with a lot of forest. Small towns, with not a lot of city type conveniences or culture. I’m not sure what you mean by remote and empty, but I do not find farm country to feel remote and empty like a deserted wasteland. Your mileage may vary!</p>
<p>I would expect social life to revolve around schools, churches, and drinking establishments, and outdoor activities such as fishing, hunting, hiking, biking etc in the warmer seasons to be the primary activities. Also, you’ll find that people routinely drive longer distances in more rural areas, as opposed to more congested areas where 10 miles would be a long way to go for groceries etc.</p>
<p>We lived in the Corning area for four long winters when we were first married. A couple of years ago we went back through on our way to Syracuse and were surprised at how little it had changed in 30 years, but the changes that had happened were generally good ones. </p>
<p>The area is wooded, agricultural dotted with small towns and lots of lakes and wineries and steep hills. It’s the prettiest place we’ve lived and we’ve lived in five states.</p>
<p>I grew up in Corning. I’ve been gone a very long time but went back for a visit recently. Yes, it is scenic and has the glass museum. It has the small town feel in that the main street through the town has shops and restaurants and is fairly quaint. Elmira, Ithaca, Watkins Glen, and the Finger Lakes are fairly close. Don’t forget Harris Hill, where you can watch gliders and participate if you are brave enough.</p>
<p>The glass museum also hosts concerts and other fine arts displays. What do you need to know besides arts and recreation?</p>
<p>There used to be (and may still be) hang gliding between Hammondsport and Bath. I would often see that being done on Summer afternoons on my way back from work. With the steep hills, it must make for ideal conditions. We also woul see quite a few hot air ballons.</p>
<p>Moved to the area a few years ago. Friendly, helpful neighbors. Beautiful almost all seasons, but economically challenged area. Not much cultural diversity in the southern tier of NY nor the northern tier of PA. If you like good restaurants, nightlife, and excitement…this is not a place for you. On the other hand, if you like outdoor activities (hiking, camping, fishing), wineries, lakes, gorges…you will absolutely love this place.</p>
<p>For someone who’s accustomed to living in fairly densely-populated areas, does it feel more like paradise or purgatory? Does it feel backwards, as if everything is behind the times and disconnected from the outside world, or more like a pocket of tranquility “away from it all”? I know these are just matters of opinion, so I’m not looking for comments along the lines of, “It depends what you like,” but rather, “I liked/tolerated/hated it, and here’s why.”</p>
<p>I’ve been to and lived in small towns that were quaint (think the northwest rim of Chicagoland) and others that just felt like the people were biding their time until they died. Qualitatively, which are north-central PA and the adjacent part of NY more like? Is it anything like the Rust Belt, where the small towns feel like they’re decaying? Or is it a tourist and vacation destination? Or something in between?</p>
<p>I wish I could be more specific, but any impressions would be interesting to read.</p>
<p>mantori.suzuki, the Finger Lakes area of NY is a huge tourist and vacation destination but that doesn’t extend quite south enough to Corning. Corning is a quaint little town, and a nice place to visit, but I wouldn’t want to live there. That’s me, though, and there’s nothing to say that you wouldn’t enjoy it. We have a vacation property in the Finger Lakes and love it there but, honestly, I wouldn’t want to live there full-time either. The physical beauty of the area is stunning and if you like outdoor activities, you’d likely enjoy it. The winters are very long, cold, snowy, and the grey days sometimes seem endless. If I were contemplating living in the area, I’d want to visit for at least a week to get a true feel for things. That part of PA is very pretty but the drive on 15 from Corning to Williamsport will give you a good feel for how remote it is.</p>
<p>NCentral PA is indeed a beautiful part of the world! Yes, it’s rural and remote. The people are wonderful and welcoming. My grandparents owned a property there (near Wellsboro, PA) and always said the locals welcomed them with open arms. I enjoyed hiking in the Grand Canyon of PA and learned how to fly fish in that area! </p>
<p>As is the case with most short-term postings in ‘foreign’ parts of the world, I’d suggest approaching it with an open mind. The good news is weekends could be used for exploring this area as well as NYC and Philadelphia, both just over 4 hours away. Nice Finger Lake areas, Penn Yan and Ithaca: just about 2 hours. Is this the area you’re considering?</p>
<p>Agree with Corning being a “nice place, wouldn’t want to live there.” Four hours away is a bit too far for me to consider cities within exploring distance, so it feels isolated. The winters are long and dark. I know people who live in the area who love it and even they get very tired of the winters. </p>
<p>If we had to live there, we’d make it work but it would be hard work.</p>
<p>masslou, yes, Tioga County is exactly where I’m going. The facility is about 35 miles southwest of Corning, between Westfield and Elkland. I asked about Corning because it seems like the most likely place people would have visited or lived in.</p>
<p>I’ll definitely make the best of my time there, but as for living there, it sounds like it combines two things I’ve moved to get away from in the past: long winters and lack of things to do. (I love nature but am not an outdoorsman.)</p>
<p>Thought I’d close this thread out with an update. I’m telling the company today that I’m not going to move to north-central Pennsylvania. The job itself would be a good opportunity and a tidy raise, but it’s just too remote. It’s the kind of place I would love to live if my extended family were there, but without that, I think we would just feel too isolated.</p>
<p>Thanks again to you who responded to my questions.</p>