Warren, Pennsylvania: No longer home to 15,000 friendly people

 

The population of Warren has decreased 40% since its 1940 peak of 15,000 friendly people.

Wikipedia

My connection to Warren goes back to August 1957, when the Nelson family moved there from Great Falls, Montana.  After graduating from high school in June 1968, I increasingly spent less time there, down to annual visits, on average, by the late 1970s.  With two brothers and a sister-in-law still living there, Warren remains a regular destination for my wife and me.

It's a beautiful place, especially in the summer, nestled in a valley in the Allegheny foothills.    And it offers a variety of amenities.

To compete with a mall and Walmart, the downtown has undergone a transformation to make it more welcoming

All photos by Retiring Guy

Some great architecture, including the lovingly restored Struthers Library Theater, Warren's cultural center, which presents a regular schedule of plays, musicals, concernts, and movies. 

The nearby Allegheny National Forest and Kinzua Dam and Allegheny Reservoir, which provide a host of recreational activities:  boating, canoeing, kayaking, swimming, picnicking, fishing, hiking, camping, hunting, biking.