Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
There are a lot of small depressing towns in the West--here are a few, some already mentioned--Amarillo, TX (not that small, but not big enough to be interesting, totally dead downtown, just lots of ugly strip malls and fast-food joints), Tucumcari and Santa Rosa, NM; Chickasha, OK; Winslow, AZ (only claim to fame is that Eagles song--depressing); Grants and Gallup, NM; Blythe, CA (I couldn't believe they had a Starbucks in this hole! Goes to show you, Starbucks is everywhere).
There are a lot of small depressing towns in the West--here are a few, some already mentioned--Amarillo, TX (not that small, but not big enough to be interesting, totally dead downtown, just lots of ugly strip malls and fast-food joints), Tucumcari and Santa Rosa, NM; Chickasha, OK; Winslow, AZ (only claim to fame is that Eagles song--depressing); Grants and Gallup, NM; Blythe, CA (I couldn't believe they had a Starbucks in this hole! Goes to show you, Starbucks is everywhere).
Interestingly, practically every town you mentioned here was formerly situated on historic Route 66. These towns partially formulated thier economies on motorists. However, the Interstate highway system enabled cars to travel further between stops, hence, the number of towns on this route were essentially superflous. For instance, if one is averaging 75 mph, they need not stop in both Grants and Gallup for food, a hotel, etc.
I can't believe nobody picked Oil City, PA. Just the number of times I've seen it mentioned in different posts convinces me that it isn't a place I would want to live.
I do hear that you can get a 100+ year old house for $30k there
There are a bunch of really depressing small towns out West. Cisco, Utah (pretty much entirely abandoned buildings, but not in a quaint ghost way), Browning, Montana (really really poor, on a reservation), etc.
I remember Browning, Montana after stopping at a convenience store there to use the bathroom. Big mistake! The store was filled with dirtbags and low-lifes, and the toilet was covered in sh*t!! Browning indeed!
The only "houses" were rusting trailers with broken windows, with rusted out cars on the front lawn!
Most of the towns I drove through in West Virginia are arm-pitty. Really small without more than one store for commerce, and RV traliers on cinderblocks pass for housing in several of them. The nature isn't good enough to bring spirits up in these areas.
- Traffic is insane, drivers are reckless
- Too many people don't/refuse to speak English
- Customer service is dreadful
- There is zero work ethic, zero professionalism
- Few parks, places to walk, run, cycle
- Lack of mass transit for such a huge metro area
- Corrupt, inept politicians
- Lack of diversity (you're either Latin, or you're not)
- Too many condos, messing up the skyline (most are empty)
- Housing is too expensive, while pay is too low
- Severe lack of culture, or things to do in general
- It's not what you know here, it's who you know
- People are fake, rude, vain, stuck up, obnoxious and superficial
- Hard to make friends as people tend to use you here
1.) Dead end town
2.) Not a happening dating scene for mid 20 something singles
3.) Gray, cold and dreary weather-- I remember when it rained for 3 WEEKS staight and the susquehanna overflowed and flooded 2 feet inside the hospital I worked at!
4.) Not much for outdoor enthusiasts
Positives: It was close to the finger lakes and Ithaca!
1] High Cost Of Living. [try 1,000$ + per sq. foot on for size...]
2] The pinnacle and center of social degeneration in the U.S. possibly the World. [best evidence of this seen at zombietime.com]
3] Traffic. [it's bad]
4] Homeless. [ie. pure un-adulterated crazeeez]
5] Gang-stah "culture" put on by true gangstaaahs.
6] Gang-stah "culture" put on by true yuppieeeez.
7] Trash blowing in the streets....everywhere.
8] Communist/Socialist politics and politicians....
9] Ultra-rich liberal hypocrites.
10] Lousy ultra-aggressive drivers....
Amen. San Francisco is the sewer of the universe. But at least most sewers are cheap to live in...Not San Francisco!
My votes:
1) Los Angeles
2) St. Louis
3) Philadelphia
4) Youngstown, OH
5) Binghamton, NY
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
