Located just outside of Scranton and less than two hours from New York City, Carbondale boasts affordable housing, a revitalized downtown, and an annual space alien festival celebrating a local UFO legend.
We recently had the opportunity to chat with Carbondale Mayor Michele Bannon, a passionate advocate for her community with a fashion sense that complements the town’s unique style.
Nicknamed the “Pioneer City,” Carbondale was once a major railroad hub and coal producer.
However, it’s been decades since both drove the local economy, which endured its share of hardships before a recent turnaround that has attracted new arrivals seeking affordable housing and small-town attributes like access to nearby mountain trails, city parks, new restaurants, and a friendly vibe.
As Carbondale prepares to celebrate its 175th anniversary, we asked Mayor Bannon to fill us in on all the things her beloved city has to offer and who some of the new arrivals are.
Postindustrial: So what prompted the recent influx of new arrivals now living in Carbondale?
Bannon: People wanted to move out [of nearby New York] when the pandemic was going on. So, they moved here during the pandemic because everybody was working remotely.
Then what happened was that their neighbors and friends found out about Carbondale when they would visit, and that’s how we ended up with a lot of people moving here.
Before the pandemic, you could buy a nice house in the city of Carbondale for probably $70- 80,000. Now, you’re not touching anything for under $120-130,000.
Postindustrial: So, a lot of the new residents of Carbondale are remote workers?
Bannon: Yeah, I’d say that that’s like 65% of them. The other ones, they all travel back and forth to New York and New Jersey. I can be in New York City in an hour and 50 minutes if there’s no traffic. Yeah, it’s really quick – Philadelphia takes the same amount of time.
For example, I have a nephew who’s an international tax attorney. His office is in Manhattan, but he works from home here every day, and goes in once a week – leaves early in the morning, comes back at night.
People like having their Manhattan salaries and living here in, you know, cute little Carbondale.
Postindustrial: Who are some of the other new arrivals in Carbondale?
Bannon: We have a huge influx of Latinx people. They see a lot of our housing stock that’s very tired and old, and have no problem ripping it apart and rebuilding it. You know, they’re hardworking. I love having that culture here because they’re god-fearing, they hold down two or three jobs, and they’re very family-oriented. So, those are exactly the people that you want to have in your community.
Postindustrial: Well, I have to ask: Did you see the alien that supposedly landed in Carbondale in 1974?
[Editor’s Note: In 1974, “the Carbondale UFO Crash” drew authorities and experts to the city to investigate the “incident” that has never been proven, though it has inspired the annual Carbondalien Festival featuring vendors, music, food, and family-friendly activities.]
Bannon: That’s a funny story because I live right down the street from where it landed. But I did not see an alien. However, it would explain a lot around here.
Postindustrial: How so?
Bannon: [Laughs] We are very peculiar and quirky.
