New Castle in western Pennsylvania was once a vibrant city of over 50,000 people. Now the population has fallen to 28,000. When people and business began to leave the city, the town itself fell into disrepair. About ten years ago it was decided that the down town area of the city should undergo a renovation and it was truly remarkable. The city is fortunate to be at the juncture of I-376, US 422 and just a few miles from I-79 and I-80. Years ago it was a large industrial hub and four different rail road companies brought goods in and out of the city as well as passenger travel. That is now gone. Yet this is a city that has great possibilities.
The city now needs people to invest in it and to start new businesses. There is easy highway access to Pittsburgh which is about 45 miles away and the New Castle Transit Authority runs a number of daily buses to Pittsburgh on a daily basis. There is even a bus that runs to the Rivers Casino on the North shore or Pittsburgh. Like any city there are some areas that are run down but other areas seem to have shown a renaissance and boast some wonderful homes. Real estate in new Castle is a fantastic bargain that many people have not yet discovered. There are some magnificent mansions in the city such as these:
The city also boasts of several Victorian and Edwardian style homes in the North Hills section of town. It has been said that years ago, during the same time that the original Warner brothers of movie fame lived here, New Castle had more millionaires than most cities in the United States. Their homes were typical of an era now gone by but are well preserved. I am simply amazed at home prices in other areas of the country compared to those in the western Pennsylvania area. In many areas one might expect to spend upwards of a million dollars dollars for houses pictured here. Even those in need of renovation are still a bargain. Pictured here are many that have undergone renovation.
But a city is about people and the people living in New Castle are hard working and down to earth and most live a rather simple life in neighborhoods where people still know and look after each other. Churches are found throughout the city and they are well attended by the faithful who are largely Catholic and Protestant with a mixture of Eastern orthodox, Muslim and Jewish worshippers as well.
While the city still needs to develop a better infrastructure and recreational facilities, it has great schools and a street department that is excellent at quick snow removal in the winter months. The city sits on seven hills and between the Neshannock and Shenango rivers and near by streams afford great fishing. The city hosts several festivals throughout the year the largest being “Back to the 50's” and the official fourth of July celebration, which is always held a week after that day since the area is home to the largest producers of fireworks displays in the country and they are quite busy prior to the fourth of July.
On a typical day it is not uncommon to view Amish people riding their horse-drawn wagons into town as they shop or sell their wares. Most live in the near by village of New Wilmington.
One of the great advantages of living in Pennsylvania is that while there is a sales tax of 6% basic items such as food, clothing, and medicine are exempt. A great advantage of living in Pennsylvania is that retirement income is not taxed by the state while the Federal Government continues to tax things like social security income that many retirees depend upon. In time New Castle will rebound, but like anything prices will go up and opportunities disappear. This is a city waiting to be rediscovered. Ralph
The city now needs people to invest in it and to start new businesses. There is easy highway access to Pittsburgh which is about 45 miles away and the New Castle Transit Authority runs a number of daily buses to Pittsburgh on a daily basis. There is even a bus that runs to the Rivers Casino on the North shore or Pittsburgh. Like any city there are some areas that are run down but other areas seem to have shown a renaissance and boast some wonderful homes. Real estate in new Castle is a fantastic bargain that many people have not yet discovered. There are some magnificent mansions in the city such as these:
The city also boasts of several Victorian and Edwardian style homes in the North Hills section of town. It has been said that years ago, during the same time that the original Warner brothers of movie fame lived here, New Castle had more millionaires than most cities in the United States. Their homes were typical of an era now gone by but are well preserved. I am simply amazed at home prices in other areas of the country compared to those in the western Pennsylvania area. In many areas one might expect to spend upwards of a million dollars dollars for houses pictured here. Even those in need of renovation are still a bargain. Pictured here are many that have undergone renovation.
But a city is about people and the people living in New Castle are hard working and down to earth and most live a rather simple life in neighborhoods where people still know and look after each other. Churches are found throughout the city and they are well attended by the faithful who are largely Catholic and Protestant with a mixture of Eastern orthodox, Muslim and Jewish worshippers as well.
While the city still needs to develop a better infrastructure and recreational facilities, it has great schools and a street department that is excellent at quick snow removal in the winter months. The city sits on seven hills and between the Neshannock and Shenango rivers and near by streams afford great fishing. The city hosts several festivals throughout the year the largest being “Back to the 50's” and the official fourth of July celebration, which is always held a week after that day since the area is home to the largest producers of fireworks displays in the country and they are quite busy prior to the fourth of July.
On a typical day it is not uncommon to view Amish people riding their horse-drawn wagons into town as they shop or sell their wares. Most live in the near by village of New Wilmington.
One of the great advantages of living in Pennsylvania is that while there is a sales tax of 6% basic items such as food, clothing, and medicine are exempt. A great advantage of living in Pennsylvania is that retirement income is not taxed by the state while the Federal Government continues to tax things like social security income that many retirees depend upon. In time New Castle will rebound, but like anything prices will go up and opportunities disappear. This is a city waiting to be rediscovered. Ralph
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