>the population is shrinking pretty quickly, and lots of downtowns are filled with mostly empty shops.

Sadly common place no matter where you go in PA. On the other side of that coin, at least entire neighborhoods aren't being bull dozed to build new 500k condos where they can fit four units where one house was previously which was common in Seattle and San Diego when I was there.

Honestly that's the most depressing thing for me being back in this state, I just feel like all the momentum is elsewhere. There's a "land that time forgot" sort of energy, although still comforting in its familiarity and I do appreciate the local history.

The rural areas are just not super sustainable and too far removed from city hubs. It's funny but I sometimes forget where I live until I want to go out and try some new restaurant and realize there are no new restaurants to explore!