Quote:
Originally Posted by xzmattzx
Nice job. You covered Coudersport better than I did a few years ago. But the reason I did not cover it quite as much as I wished I had now is because of that road sign you have in your picture. After taking longer than I expected to get to Olean NY, and then to Coudersport, I saw that it was 73 miles to Jersey Shore and that was all mountain roads (some not even paved, I found out as I went; I almost went over a cliff when the road switched from asphalt to crushed stone halfway through a curve). Driving from Olean to Jersey Shore seems like the most time-consuming drive there is.
Considering you also showed Renovo, which place felt more isolated? Coudersport was the most isolated town I've ever been to in Pennsylvania.
I'll ask you what you asked me when I posted my Coudersport thread: Did you get to Shinglehouse?  |
A. I did not make it to Shinglehouse. I have never visited Shinglehouse, though it is home to Oswayo Valley High School... which my high school competed against in a few sports (though not my sport, football, as they don't field a program). The name is awesome... and I'd like to see it... but Shinglehouse will be an unlikely visit as it's really out of the way and probably doesn't offer much.
B. I would love to drive PA-44 someday! Jersey Shore and Coudersport actually share some history... despite being 73 miles apart. When settled, the Coudersport area had little connectivity to the outside world. It was densely forested and had little agricultural value beyond potatoes, so supplies had to be brought in along a wagon trail from Jersey Shore... which is pretty much PA-44. There is even an "Old Coudersport Pike" near Jersey Shore.
C. Renovo is definitely more remote/isolated than Coudersport... in terms of location, setting, feel, economy, etc. I stick by my statement that Renovo is the most remote town over 1,000 in Pennsylvania... though Galeton might give it a run for its money (location on US-6 and the fact that is is closer to both Coudersport and Wellsboro than Renovo is to the admittedly larger Lock Haven make it feel less remote. Reasons Coudy is less remote than Renovo:
1. It is located closer to other towns over 1,000. A Coudersport resident can reach Port Allegany (17 miles west), Shinglehouse (20 miles north), Galeton (22 miles east), Smethport (27 miles west) and Emporium (27 miles south) before a Renovo resident can reach Lock Haven (28 miles southeast). Coudersport is one of a constellation of small Northern Tier towns, while Renovo is really an outpost on its own. There is nothing within 45 miles of Renovo to the north, west and south. And while Lock Haven is much larger than any of those towns listed, Coudersport can access a similarly-sized small regional city (Olean, NY) in only a few more minutes. At the next level, Renovo does have quicker access to even larger small cities like Williamsport (65 min), which I suppose counts for something.
2. Coudersport is located on US-6, a relatively significant highway used as both a through route tying together PA's Northern Tier and a major tourist corridor. Renovo is not located on a through route. Few people would have any reason to drive through Renovo beyond curiosity and pleasure rides. Renovo is close to Hyner View, however, a rather famous State Park. My hometown of St. Marys has a sign on PA-120 East that says "Emporium 19; Renovo 64"... yet I never made it to Renovo until a couple years ago. Outside of interstate highway control cities, it is very uncommon to see mileage signs of towns so far away in Pennsylvania.
3. Coudersport is twice the size of Renovo, which makes a big difference at this scale. It has more amenities and businesses. Coudersport is vibrant and active while Renovo is a bit of a twilight zone. Coudersport was HQ of a major national corporation until a few years ago, and today is the location of a major unit of Level 3 Communications.
4. Coudersport is located in a densely forested, rugged environment. However, it is also near some lightly populated potato-growing regions, such as Roulette to the west and the Oswayo Valley to the north. So Coudersport has more of a "hinterlands population" than Renovo, which is located in an even more dramatic setting along the West Branch Susquehanna. There are a few villages strung out along narrow river flatlands, but beyond that... there is nothing close to Renovo.
5. Coudersport is a county seat, and acts as the economic, social and administrative hub for Potter County. Renovo is quite detached from the population center of Clinton County (Lock Haven and its satellite villages).
That was a absurdly detailed analysis of perceptions of remoteness, but I enjoyed being such a dork.