Middletown, PA
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4/15/2008
I have lived in Middletown for a year, I'm 24 and recently married. We're both from SE PA.
Middletown is the town of Three Mile Island nuclear facility, that's right the one that almost had a melt down in 1979. When I first came to Middletown I thought for sure that the 450,000 people who left the central PA area post fallout, never returned. It has a general feeling of economic depression. The town has its nice parts, afterall it is the most historic town in Dauphin County. But the town feels depressed especially when visiting the local grocery store or Wal-Mart. Just about every time I have been to either I get behind someone using Food Stamps, WIC, or an ACCESS card (for those that don't know the lingo, that means they are on government assistance or Welfare, that all us hard working middle class pay into). This wouldn't be so bad if the people were genuinely unable to work, but when the lady in front is talking about lighting up a fat one while she hands the cashier her welfare card, it gets me pretty disgusted. So the people and culture are lacking in this town. There are NO good bars or restaurants in the town, you need to go to Harrisburg. There are also virtually NO outdoor activities near Middletown. You have to drive to go hiking in a decent location, and the ticks are insane! The Susquehanna River has been named the most polluted river in the Nation 5 years in a row, stay out of it and don't eat the fish people. The vibe from the locals is generally, poor, somewhat trashy, older, depressed. If you don't live in Middletown Boro, you probably have a failing or malfunctioning septic system as this whole area is very wet and every home should be on the public sewer. The water is also not very good here, we have a well and I refuse to drink it, lots of iron and sediment.
On the good side. Middletown is nicely located right outside of Harrisburg. The traffic is not bad at all and if you land a job in Harrisburg its a inexpensive area to buy property. Its also close to Lancaster and Hershey so if you work in either of those areas you can be to work quick, I work in Lancaster and the drive is painless. Its probably one of the least expensive areas to buy a home, not sure if this is because of 3 Mile Island or what. The feeling is still somewhat rural, and there are some farms left. Taxes are low, and Lower Dauphin SD is great from what I hear. Penn State Harrisburg campus is right in Middletown, they offer all sorts of degrees, BS, MS, and PhDs. The locals are very friendly if you talk to them.
Overall, I've enjoyed the past year in Middletown but look forward to moving somewhere where I can get outdoors more to swim, fish, hike, etc. Middletown is a cheap place to settle down if you don't leave the comforts of your home often.
Hailey | Middletown, PA