More Objective Review
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5/13/2009
I have lived in Steubenville and the surrounding area for the entire 25 years of my life and still do. The previous reviews seem to all (but one) be from people who either hated their experience and/or haven't lived here for the last decade. Hopefully I can offer a less biased review for those who want a better idea of what Steubenville is like.
Steubenville used to be a mill-based town, and because of economic changes country-wide the mills have been shrinking and gradually closing. This hit the area rather hard as so many people and jobs were connected to them. As of yet, the area has not found an industry to take the place of the mills, and this, coupled with the recession, is why there are still so few jobs available. As another reviewer mentioned, Steubenville is only an hour from downtown Pittsburgh and about half an hour from the Robinson Town Centre(a major shopping center)and the Pittsburgh airport. My husband works in downtown Pittsburgh but we chose to stay in OH because, despite the gas, it is cheaper than living in PA with it's higher cost of living and crazy taxes. As long as you don't mind commuting, jobs are not overly difficult to find (given the current economy).
Yes, Steubenville has gangs and violence, but I don't know a city that doesn't. There are a few neighborhoods that I wouldn't recommend living in, but there are also some very quaint, quiet areas. Just like any city, there are older rundown areas as well as newly developed areas. It's all in what part of town you're at. Also, you could look at Wintersville, which is directly connected to Steubenville and is generally quieter.
There are a variety of options for schooling. I am not too familiar with the public grade schools but there is a private Catholic grade school that has been improved on a lot lately and has implemented a lot of great programs. For high school there is the Steubenville High School that does have a very good sports program. They are highly competitive in all sports and I have heard great things about the football coach. There is also a Catholic high school (CCHS), a very good Christian high school (JCCS)and several others in the surrounding area. College also has several options. I graduated from Franciscan University and they do offer a very good education. Their biggest programs are their nursing, theology, and business depts. They also offer half-off tuition for local high school graduates. There is a community college (JCC) as well as a vocational school a few miles out of town. Also, there is a large homeschooling community that is very supportive.
The population is not as diverse as larger metropolitan areas but we do have all the basics. There are a ton of churches in pretty much every religion I can think of. It is a predominately black and white community but there is a good handful of every other ethnicity floating around. I would actually consider the area more liberal than conservative (predominately Democrats), but it's all in who you spend your time with. Yes, there are homosexuals in the area (duh) they just don't make as much noise about it as in other cities. In addition, the University has drawn many of the more conservative, religious mindset. We have all kinds, it's just a matter of finding them!
I hope this review helps you make a more informed decision!
Maria | Steubenville, OH