SE Perry County = Worst in the US? (Oregon, Bucyrus: foreclosures, hotels)

[sdmlions]

I have been around this region a fair bit, as I have in-laws in this area, and I have to believe that south eastern Perry county is the worst area I have EVER been too. There are some towns in this area which resemble a childs messy bedroom! Crooksville, Shawnee, Corning, and New Lex have to be some of the more poverty stricken country towns in the whole of the US. I don't understand why the people here just choose to absolutely trash their land. There is garbage everywhere; old mobile homes, burnt out car bodies, and just crap all over the joint. The unemployment rate is getting totally out of control with some major industries going under in the past 10-15 years, and I can't see anyway that they can turn it around. The people are overrun with apathy, and there is NOTHING there in the way of recreational activities. It is trailer heaven! The worst part of it is, go up to northern Perry county, in the Somerset area, and it's not too bad.

Can you tell me about a worse place in Ohio, or anywhere else for that matter? The one stipulation is it has to be a country area, because i'm sure there are plenty of run down urban areas worse than this. But as far as the country goes...it doesn't get much worse

[travelin]

It sounds pretty darn bad. Sad part is most of Ohio is not much better. Just look at every statics. Ohio is pretty much at the bottom. Most home foreclosures, near the highest unemployment, some of the lowest median incomes, greatest number of people below the poverty line, etc. Man the list just goes on.

[OhioT]

Im JUST north of perry co in muskingum (I can see the line from my house..)

and for the mostpart..yep..its welfare central..

however..the 4x4 community is trying to bring life back to some parts...the perry state forest OHV and a few smaller private offroad parks are trying to gain support from the local powers to make it a "hot spot" in ohio for 4 wheling and offroad sports..which since we lost the biggest place in the mideast lakes region...perry county could have HUGE gains from this..these guys bring tons of revenue into an area...(gas/food/hotels)

[higas]

I live in Somerset and it has it's pit places too. It has people w/no electric/sewage/running water and I've concluded that Perry County is a place where people come to, to hide from something they've done in their past. My Mom relocated to of all places Corning from Oregon and she loves it there. My two sisters also live in Corning and Rendville. The government in Perry County is all corrupt and money from taxes is not spent on making this a better place to live. Worst of all, it's ALL white, no diversity. Things are how they've always been, how they always will be, no creativity, no open-mindedness. People here on the whole not only don't think outside the box, they plain don't think. There are exceptions and people are polite, but on the whole, if you're not from Somerset, you will NEVER be welcome here. I know other people not from Somerset (many of them) who feel the same as I do. Don't mean to be negative, just realistic.

[bairdch]

I spent alot of time there as a kid. It is sad to see the decline since the coal mines packed up and left. I remember a time when Corning had a Pharmacy, hardware store, a grocery store.

Last time I was there there was 1 gas station (Johns Place), One bar with damn fine food (Deans Place?) and an Eagles.

[Rocket 1]

I grew up in the Somerset area and you are right anything south of Somerset is a pit. The mines were dying in the 80's I can only imagine how bad it is now. Also you are right Perry county is a good ole boy net work and you only get ahead if you are born into the right family. I left and never looked back.

[italianbluesboy]

I have spent some time exploring Nobles, Gurnsey, and especially Belmont Counties, and they certainly have their share of poverty striken hillbillies.

[Linda Pratt]

Poverty hits spots all over the USA. Have you been to Alabama, Mississippi and Arkansas recently? Drive around in the country there for a while and you will see even bigger areas of poverty.

[J.W.R.]

I was raised in Hemlock ohio and went to miller high . I moved away in 1970 to fined work and now i'm retierd after 30 yr. working for the city of Bucyrus ohio. Miss the old stomping grounds very much. I still get down to see some of the places I use to go and the place I miss the most believe it or not is the schools. I miss looking up the hill in shawnee and not seeing the old school house. What memories that i have of that place. AS I GET older how i wish i would have done things differently. I have made a lot of mistakes in life but i,m glad i was born in S.E. OHIO perry county in a little town called HEMLOCK.
JOHN W.ROSTASH
NEVADA, OHIO

[chikaranotori]

we've camped on some land a friend of ours owns in the Corning area. beautiful land, but sad what the towns in that are have come to.

but there are parts of KY/TN--especially the mountain areas that have been that bad off (and worse) for over 50 years. and where my dad originally migrated from (Northern AL), oh yeah...he said from what he heard, it was that poverty stricken since the end of the Civil War. and my boyfriend had relatives in W.Va that we visited and they were extremely poor, but they more than matched that with their kindness and were willing to share all they had.

but i always heard Morgan County was the poorest in Ohio. the way things are going on in this state anymore, i doubt Morgan is alone in that dubious position.