What are the most "white trash" towns around Kansas City, in rough order? (Springfield: 2015, find a job)

[luzianne]

Originally Posted by JackieB23

It's not just the kids.

When I moved from STL to KC in 1991, people of all ages in St. Louis assumed I was moving to Kansas (I moved to Westport) and when I corrected them and reminded them that KCMO is, in fact, the largest city in the state, they hemmed and hawed...

It's been the same story no matter where I was and no matter what the age to this very day. Unless they'd actually BEEN there, 99% of people think that the "Kansas City" with the sports teams is in Kansas, and is surprised when I correct them.

Even Barack Obama. When he was campaigning back in 2007 or so, he was in Kansas City in someone's home - it seems like it was Brookside but honestly I don't remember for sure, but somewhere in KCMO. Anyway, they televised live from wherever it was, and he made a statement on live TV about how good it was to be in Kansas. Good job, Mr. President!

[MOKAN]

Originally Posted by luzianne

Even Barack Obama. When he was campaigning back in 2007 or so, he was in Kansas City in someone's home - it seems like it was Brookside but honestly I don't remember for sure, but somewhere in KCMO. Anyway, they televised live from wherever it was, and he made a statement on live TV about how good it was to be in Kansas. Good job, Mr. President!

It was the Brookside area, and in the home of the Girardeau family. I don't remember the Kansas part.

This is all I can find on this on YouTube, so I can't find the Kansas part, but like has been said here some people simply shorten Kansas City to Kansas.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFj96QPQhn4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuTNJcim59g

Edit:

According to a glimpse of a Springfield News-Leader article I got a glimpse of, Obama actually mistakenly said he was in St. Louis when he was here in Kansas City at the Girardeau's home. That may be what you were thinking of, or he may have said Kansas too. I don't know.

Obama quote in Google search:

https://www.google.com/#q=%22I%27m+h...+St.+Louis.%22

[JackieB23]

Originally Posted by CrownVic95

You're right - it's not just the kids. I guess I used the term kid simply because of the individual he described.

Here in California, the educational vacuum is breathtaking across the spectrum of ages.

Edit: Despite what I wrote above, which is based on 24 years of direct personal observation, you will see media articles galore referring to the Bay Area as one of the best educated metros. Don't believe it for a second, because it is the worst of any in which I've ever lived.

Don't even get me started on the Californians.

Poor dears - nobody likes them but them.

[pacificwhim]

Originally Posted by JackieB23

Don't even get me started on the Californians.

Poor dears - nobody likes them but them.

Go easy on us Californians, people. I'm one, born and bred and a resident for 44 years. We're not so bad. Hell, I had the sense to move to KCMO to raise my family, and I love it here.

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by pacificwhim

Go easy on us Californians, people. I'm one, born and bred and a resident for 44 years. We're not so bad. Hell, I had the sense to move to KCMO to raise my family, and I love it here.

We have a few California transplants in the Madison region but many of them leave after a winter or two. The average high temperature last month was 25F. It was 10-12F warmer than that in Kansas City by comparison.

[pacificwhim]

Originally Posted by GraniteStater

We have a few California transplants in the Madison region but many of them leave after a winter or two. The average high temperature last month was 25F. It was 10-12F warmer than that in Kansas City by comparison.

My wife (a KC native) and I came very close to moving to Madison but decided against it because of the winters. Again (tapping temple), knowing what you want and don't want is critical when relocating.

[MidWestCityNative]

Originally Posted by Techwired

Ditto on Bonner Springs, and I might have agreed with you on Gladstone until I saw this.


Gladstone MO Redneck Rally


Redneck Rally 2010 - YouTube

Where in Gladstone was this? I drive through Gladstone quite a bit (I used to live there a long time ago), and I don't recognize the location. Perhaps this was some farm area between Gladstone and Pleasant Valley?

And I agree with kcmo, Gladstone is not redneck at all. I don't see very many people there with cowboy hats, rebel flags, or twangy accents.

Now, Northmoor on the other hand...

[Georgiapeach32]

Originally Posted by MOKAN

I've had trouble getting an answer elsewhere, as people want to pussyfoot around and/or be politically correct and not answer the question. What I mean by "white trash" is the type that is exemplified on TV shows like Jerry Springer. This type is often emotionally troubled, easily offended, may easily lash out at others, and they may start trouble with innocent people for no apparent reason. I absolutely do not specifically mean poor people, rural people, blue collar, or anything like that. While money doesn't necessarily have anything to directly to do with it, "white trash" tend to be poorer, maybe financially insecure, and somewhat destitute. The fact they don't have much to lose, I think, is largely what drives and allows for their "white trash" behavior. That said, places where concentrations of "white trash" live could be accurately considered white ghettos. The intro paragraph to this Wikipedia article explains very well what I mean by "white trash":

"....The term suggests outcasts from respectable society living on the fringes of the social order who are seen as dangerous because they may be criminal, unpredictable, and without respect for authority whether it be political, legal, or moral...."

White trash - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I want to know what others familiar with the Kansas City area think, but I will say I think Excelsior Springs is one of the most "white trash" towns in the region. In this regard, that town is off the chains. Yes, there are good aspects of "Excelsior" (as it's locally referred), and not everybody there is white trash, but there is a huge concentration there. If you haven't experienced "white trash", so be it, but those who have should understand where I'm coming from and why this is an interesting topic. If anybody cares to share, I'm also curious about why certain places became "white trash" in the first place. The first thing I think of is a large stock of older, cheap housing.

-MOKAN

Dude or Dudette you are totally not gonna get anywhere with this. The people here are easily offended and closeminded. There are lots of white trash and ghetto trash here for this size of a city and it's totally sad. Independence is totally white trash and I wouldn't wanna live there. That's the one place that comes to mind right now.

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by pacificwhim

My wife (a KC native) and I came very close to moving to Madison but decided against it because of the winters. Again (tapping temple), knowing what you want and don't want is critical when relocating.

Winter is highly variable here, though. Last Winter was milder. They clear roads of snow far better than states to the south. It's a great place to live/ work if you can land a good paying position.

If you HATE Summer heat like I do and want milder temperatures for the remainder of the year it is hard to match.
http://mcc.sws.uiuc.edu/climate_midw...4961_tsum.html

[JackieB23]

Originally Posted by pacificwhim

Go easy on us Californians, people. I'm one, born and bred and a resident for 44 years. We're not so bad. Hell, I had the sense to move to KCMO to raise my family, and I love it here.

You got better.