The following article appeared in The Times Leader
on January 6, 2008
Numbers in county up
after longtime decline
Study: High housing prices elsewhere bring slight growth in quantity of people locally
By MIKE McGINLEY
mmcginley@timesleader.com
As housing prices in New Jersey and other New York City areas soar, people are seeking housing elsewhere, ending a longtime population decline in LuzerneCounty, according to a new study released by the Joint Urban Studies in Wilkes-Barre.
With the housing prices in New York and northern New Jersey being nearly $225,000 more than in LuzerneCounty, the study titled “The Rise of Luzerne County” shows Luzerne County experiencing a slight growth in population.
The JUSC, a regional planning agency, opted to study the trend-but didn't want to just make note of it.
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"Understanding why and how it happened was even more intriquing,” said Joseph Boylan, the research analyst who conducted the study
A quick took at 2010 projections from the U.S. Census Bureau show more than a 7,000 decrease in county population, but these figures were compiled in 2000 and generally show past trends, according to Boylan, who says that now LuzerneCounty’s demographics are changing.
The latest Census Bureau figures also don't reflect that demographic change. In 2006, LuzerrieCounty's population was estimated at 313,020, more than 6,000 less than in 2000.
"A great byproduct of our increasing population is that with new people come new ideas, and those ideas often translate into new perspectives and new job opportunities for everyone in Luzerne County,” County Commissioner Gregory Skrepenak said. “That’s exactly why our county’s Office of Community Development has developed a menu of initiatives to help start-up as well as existing small businesses looking to expand.
Boylan’s research shows migraters should continue turning west due to the more affordable housing. The report professes that the county is undergoing the same growth that was pivotal to northern New Jersey in the 1990’s, which made its demographic profile more appealing.
"Trends indicate that an increase in the population between 2004 and 2006," said Steve Zaricki, research arid information manager at the Northeastern Pennsylvania Alliance. Zaricki noted that the shift may be attributable to college students coming back to the area or the housing affordability.
Boylan says it’s a natural trend when people leave New York City and head to New Jersey, but with the rising prices and demand for housing, city workers are now looking to call Northeastern Pennsylvania home.
“Only housing became unavailable and overpriced, people continued heading west in search of available and affordable housing, with LuzerneCounty now next in line,” Boylan said.
Housing units increase in availablility by 4.3 percent from 1990 to 2005 and 1.8 percent from 2000 to 2005. And as the report indicates, the county median home values, which stood at $102,800 in 2005, were $82,400 less than nationwide totals.
In recent years, Luzerne County experienced a significantly decreasing population, but that changed in 2004, according to the JUSC. An increase of more than 250 residents is noted from 2004 to 2006. While not numerous, the JUSC says it is significant to realize that the population decline has ended.
The end to the decline is pivotal for new businesses looking to open and vital to the success of a region, according to Boylan.
State Sen. Lisa Baker, R-Lehman Township, represents a portion of Luzerne County and is pleased with the recent trend.
"I view this trend as a positive opportunity on many fronts: for business potential, for families coming in and from a community standpoint to continue to attract young graduates," she said. "We are fortunate to offer a great quality of life."
Drawing on statistics from the Internal Revenue Service, which tracks in-migration new filings as well as out-migrations, there were more in-migrations than out between 2003 and 2006.
More than 113,000 people migrated to LuzerneCounty from other areas between 1990 and 2006 with most coming from other Pennsylvania counties, New York, and New Jersey.
From 1990 to 2006, 79,818 residents came to LuzerneCountyfrom other counties in the state. More than 33,000 came during 2000 and 2006, according to the JUSC. The second-largest contributor was New York state, sending 11,081 people between 1990 and 2006, with steadier increases noted between 2060 and 2006. New Jersey, the third-largest contributor, sent 11,000 peo-ple, with 44.4 percent coming between 2000 and 2006.
"The new population growth in our county shows it has a great deal to offer, and folks from outside the region recognize that," Skrepenak said.
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