Fairmont City... is it any nicer/safer than East St Louis? (Chicago: violent crime, most dangerous)

[motownewave]

Also, I am amazed the street sign for the old Venture store there still has the Venture name and "zebra" stripes on it, not painted over or anything. It was way back in 1997 or 1998 that the last Venture stores closed, but perhaps this one closed even earlier? I seem to recall Venture using a more modern logo/color scheme in their later years, but that may have only been at stores that were built new after a certain point.

[karlsch]

East Saint Louis has been the most dangerous city in the United States for quite a few years.

Fairmont City or any other city in the United States will be safer than ESL.

[linicx]

Actually, ESL is not the most dangerous city in Illnois, but it can be dangerous enough if you do not family there or a reason to be there. It is 97% Black, African American plus 3% white and others.

Fairmont City is roughly 72% Hispanic and 27% white. It is called the Mexican city of St. Louis.

Collinsville is in the same counties as Fairmont. It's racial make up is about 87% white (including an Italian enclave), 11% black, with a small percentage of 'others'. It is 12 Miles from St. Louis. Groceries are cheaper here, but gasoline and other items such as foods from Whole Foods or Trader Joe's are cheaper in StL than in Chicago. And it seems to have a good reputation.

[PerseusVeil]

Originally Posted by motownewave

Also, I am amazed the street sign for the old Venture store there still has the Venture name and "zebra" stripes on it, not painted over or anything. It was way back in 1997 or 1998 that the last Venture stores closed, but perhaps this one closed even earlier? I seem to recall Venture using a more modern logo/color scheme in their later years, but that may have only been at stores that were built new after a certain point.

Besides the track, no one in the Metro East, let alone the entire STL metro, really thinks about Fairmont City. It's small, rundown, and fairly inconsequential.

It is nicer (and significantly smaller) than East St. Louis though, but that doesn't take much effort.

[motownewave]

Has East St Louis improved at all since 1983, when the movie Vacation was made? ESL was where the main characters got lost and had their car vandalized.

[PerseusVeil]

Originally Posted by motownewave

Has East St Louis improved at all since 1983, when the movie Vacation was made? ESL was where the main characters got lost and had their car vandalized.

It's continued to bleed population, crime is still off the charts, and it's shown zero signs of turning around. Everything that has been tried to turn it around has failed thus far.

I will say the lower murder rate than its historic peak is a plus, but the same can be said for basically everywhere that's had a crime problem for decades.

[motownewave]

Isn't it a bit odd that there used to be a Wendy's in ESL? Wendy's started in 1969 and didn't start to grow nationally until the 80's, so I'm shocked Wendy's was daring enough to build in ESL presumably sometime in the 80's.

[linicx]

Everything was different 35-years ago including ESL.

The State Legislature stopped any serious thought on funding ESL many years ago.

The housing crash that began in earnest in 2007 was a death knell for ESL. You could invest billions today and a year from now, you would still have an island of poverty, drugs, violence and no hope. But it would still look good on the outside.

[motownewave]

Originally Posted by linicx

Everything was different 35-years ago including ESL.

The State Legislature stopped any serious thought on funding ESL many years ago.

The housing crash that began in earnest in 2007 was a death knell for ESL. You could invest billions today and a year from now, you would still have an island of poverty, drugs, violence and no hope. But it would still look good on the outside.

Honestly though, can I (especially as a white person) walk down the streets and relax? They have some cheap booze in that city.

[linicx]

Let me put it this way. You're a white guy. ESL is black. by a very large majority. A couple of years ago it was the #1 worst city in Illinois for murder, rape, theft, violent crime, auto theft, and burglary.

In my opinion you will have a much better chance of surviving in Ford Heights.

Originally Posted by motownewave

Honestly though, can I (especially as a white person) walk down the streets and relax? They have some cheap booze in that city.