Why So Few Americans Live In Central Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania has emerged as one of the most important states in the country. Not only politically, but also economically and culturally. And this is largely because the state spans two distinct regions that are fairly different from each other. And right in the middle? A large, mostly empty region I've termed Pennsylvania's Empty Belt. So why don't more people live in central PA and and why is its east side so different from its west?

In this video, we'll cover the physical geography of Pennsylvania as one moves from east to west, the history of how the state developed into its two respective halves, and why the population of Pennsylvania largely coalesced in the far east and far west, but not really in its middle.

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Video editing support provided by Kat Olsen

[billm]

Philadelphia and Pittsburgh ignore each other. They have nothing on common except being on the same state.

[nathanielthrush]

This video basically also explains why PA has become the quintessential swing state. Such a massive contrast between the east west and middle, a state with massive cultural differences

[velodjk]

State College is the home to Penn State and is right in the middle of the empty section. The joke is that is "equally inaccessible to all."

[michaelanderson]

Pennsylvania is the only state that has ports connected to 3 different major water ways.
Philly is on the Delaware River which is connected to the Atlantic Ocean.
Pittsburg is on the Ohio river, which connects to the Mississippi River, and then the Gulf of Mexico. Erie, is on Lake Erie, which is connected to Great Lakes system, which connects to St Laurence River and out to Northern Atlantic Ocean.

[shariwachob]

Those of us in the middle just want to be left alone to quietly live our lives. We don't like the hustle and bustle of the cities

[ddmarsh]

I go on a 3-day canoe trip every year in the Allegheny region of PA with my college buddies and it’s the highlight of my year. It’s beautiful, you can go on for miles down the river and not see any other humans but instead bald eagles, great blue herons, and unobstructed forest.

[KristianWontroba]

WaWa Pennsylvania Vs. Sheetz Pennsylvania. FIGHT! 🤜🏼🤛🏻

[TheBrawlingBrothers]

The fabled land we native Pennsylvanians call “Pennsyltucky”

[kgardner]

Harrisburg, York, and Lancaster are growing into a mega city. When i was young there was nothing but farmland in between them. Now the in between is getting more and more populated.

[rozchristopherson]

I’m 63. I was born and bred in southwestern Pennsylvania. Went to college just outside of Philadelphia in an area known as the “Main Line. Almost went to Dickinson College which is in Carlisle PA, near Harrisburg. I’ve traveled to Erie PA and Lancaster County. Our state is beautiful. But there are a lot of hills and mountains running through. Even the Pittsburgh area has lots of hills and surrounding counties are full of mountainous terrain. The mountainous areas are coal mining regions. Otherwise, not much can be done in those areas due to the terrain. Driving in these areas is a big pain because of all the hills and mountain. But so much beauty. I’ve lived in Michigan and in DC and my father grew up on a farm in Georgia. All those areas are flat like Philly and Erie. Easier driving. But I can’t imagine not seeing the beautiful hills and mountains of southwestern and central PA. Like the forests in fairytales. ❤️

[toddsmith]

I live in Williamsport, PA. It's sort of the hub for North-Central PA. Population is about 28K. Travel just a short distance in ANY direction and you are surrounded by farms, forests, and mountains. A great area to live if you like the outdoors but not everyone does.

[steveb]

The answer to all of these questions is simple: the mountains that divide Pennsylvania. The mountains are sparsely populated, and they divide east from west.

[akken]

I grew up in Philly, Philadelphia has more in common with NYC than it does with Pittsburgh.

[lisavatavuk-kinter]

Another big reason that Johnstown didn't get to the same level as Pittsburgh was the Johnstown Flood that wiped out the city

[jeffhampton]

Pennsylvania is BEAUTIFUL from one end to the other with hundreds of miles of Mountains and wilderness 😊

[FeliceChiapperini]

I don't think Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and the Poconos should be lumped together with central Pennsylvania. It's its own region.

[bubblegum]

You know your no longer in Eastern PA when you stop seeing Wawas.

[serenitasmedia]

I am from Erie, PA and always love seeing my city being on YouTube!

[chrislatsko]

Would have been cool if he mentioned that at the height of the industrial revolution The Pennsylvania Railroad Company was the largest corporation in the world.

[BradWhitfield-pf]

I love it here, stay out people 😊 thank you, have a great day from Central PA, Hollidaysburg to be exact 👍