Johnstown, Pennsylvania
The rise of international trade, combined with a significant decline in the manufacturing industry, has wreaked havoc on Johnstown and other Rust Belt cities since the 1980s. The city of Johnstown, in particular, has been hit the hardest. Thousands of people have left the town over the years, leaving behind a large number of abandoned buildings. The median household income in this community is only $24,561, less than half the state median, and nearly 40% of the population lives below the federal poverty line. Residents claim that “The Friendly City” hasn’t lost any of its friendliness, but the city’s serious drug and crime problems have taken away some of the city’s luster.
Johnstown, Pennsylvania
Middlesboro, Kentucky
Middlesboro, the largest city in southeast Kentucky, is not a place where even a mediocre living can be expected. The city’s median household income is only $25,488, less than half of the state’s median household income. According to the city, more than 40% of Middlesboro residents live in poverty, and only one out of every ten residents has a bachelor’s degree. In 2019, coal employment in Eastern Kentucky declined significantly, particularly after bankrupt energy company Blackjewel was forced to close and checks began to bounce. There have been plans to expand the tourism industry by utilizing the region’s natural beauty and offering tours of abandoned coal mines, but those plans are still a long way off.
Middlesboro, Kentucky
