Tuesday, October 30, 2007

If John Murtha were a businessman, he'd be the biggest employer in this town.

The powerful U.S. congressman has used his clout on Capitol Hill to create thousands of jobs and steer billions of dollars in federal spending to help his hometown in western Pennsylvania recover from devastating floods and the flight of its steelmakers.

John Murtha and Johnstown, Pa., have been living high on the hog for decades.

Johnstown has yet to find its economic footing for the 21st century. In 2003, US Census data showed that Johnstown was the least likely city in the United States to attract newcomers, demonstrating the weak opportunities provided by the local manufacturing and service economies. At the same time, Johnstown does show signs of recovering from its decades-long slumber. New or recent construction in the downtown and adjacent Kernville neighborhoods signal the increasing potential for Johnstown's service economy. Johnstown remains a regional medical, educational, and communications center. Healthcare now provides the bulk of employment opportunities within the city.

[...]

The median income for a household in the city was $20,595 and the median income for a family was $28,279. Males had a median income of $26,163 versus $19,791 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,236. 24.6% of the population and 18.9% of families were below the poverty line. Of the total population, 37.5% of those under the age of 18 and 12.6% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.