New York and Pennsylvania communities diverge due to fracking policies

A stark economic divide has emerged between rural communities straddling the New York and Pennsylvania border, driven by differing policies regarding hydraulic fracturing. While Pennsylvania has embraced the fracking boom from the Marcellus Shale, New York has maintained a statewide ban on the practice since 2014.

In Bradford County, Pennsylvania, the influx of natural gas revenue has funded significant infrastructure projects, including a $20 million 911 center, a new sheriff’s center, a veterans center, and a $4 million courthouse renovation. Economic indicators in the region show a median household income of $61,000 in Towanda, PA, with a poverty rate of 13% and a violent crime rate roughly 60% below the national average.

Conversely, neighboring Chemung County, New York, faces economic stagnation. Elmira, NY, reports a median household income of $43,000 and a poverty rate of 30%. Crime rates in Elmira are significantly higher, with violent crime running 52% above the national average. Residents and officials note that while both regions sit atop the same natural gas deposits, New York’s environmental regulations have prevented local communities from accessing the wealth generated by the industry.