Scranton, PA

Practical resilience for a relocator: food, water, energy, and defensibility

For someone serious about self-sufficiency, Scranton offers a mixed bag. The surrounding Lackawanna and Luzerne counties have significant agricultural land, particularly in the Wyoming Valley to the south, where you’ll find dairy farms, cornfields, and small-scale vegetable operations. Farmers’ markets are common, and the Amish and Mennonite communities in nearby Columbia and Montour counties provide a reliable source of non-industrial food and livestock. Water is abundant, but you’ll need to treat it—the region’s coal mining legacy means heavy metals and acid mine drainage are real concerns in many streams. A well with a hand pump or a rainwater catchment system is a must for any property outside city limits. Energy-wise, the area has decent solar potential (about 4.5 peak sun hours per day), and wood heat is a practical option given the extensive forests. Natural gas is available in many areas via the UGI network, but in a grid-down scenario, you’re looking at propane or wood as primary heat sources. Defensibility varies by neighborhood: the city itself is dense and has a higher crime rate (Scranton’s violent crime rate is about 50% above the national average), so most preppers will want to look at the surrounding townships—South Abington, Clarks Summit, Dalton, or even further north toward the Endless Mountains. These areas offer larger lots, better sightlines, and more separation from potential civil unrest. The local gun culture is strong, with multiple gun shops and ranges in the area, and Pennsylvania has relatively permissive firearm laws, including constitutional carry for residents. That said, the state’s politics are split—Lackawanna County leans blue, but the rural townships are reliably red, so your neighbors will likely share your worldview if you choose the right location.

Overall, Scranton presents a viable but not ideal strategic relocation option for the conservative prepper. Its strengths are genuine: defensible terrain, abundant water, proximity to rural farmland, and a low probability of being a primary target. Its weaknesses are equally real: vulnerability to refugee surges from the Northeast Corridor, a nuclear plant within fallout range, and a city core that is not safe for long-term habitation in a crisis. The smart play here is not to move into Scranton itself, but to secure property in the surrounding townships within a 20- to 30-minute drive—close enough to access the city’s hospitals, hardware stores, and supply chains during normal times, but far enough to maintain operational security when things go sideways. If you’re looking for a place that balances access to resources with genuine geographic protection, the Scranton area deserves a spot on your short list. Just don’t expect it to be a paradise—it’s a gritty, working-class region that will require you to bring your own skills, supplies, and community-building effort to make it work.