Always nice to come home to Missouri.... (St. Louis, Springfield: high crime, construction)

[MUTGR]

crossed the Mississippi today after a nice vacation on the Gulf....thrilled to be back in this great State. And unlike some people, I like most all of it that I've seen or experienced in my life, which is a lot of it. I've travelled it extensively in my life for business and/or pleasure as an adult or a kid with my family and have always found friendly people more often than not. Had a lot of business a few years ago in Sikeston and points further south in the bootheel and came to appreciate that area and the people I met. Canoeing in the Ozarks. Vacationing at Lake of the Ozarks and Branson as a kid and in college and shortly after. College in Columbia. Visiting the State Capital and school in Columbia. KC and STL. I think North Eastern Missouri is an underappreciated gem doing that drive up the river through river towns like Elsberry, Clarksville, Louisiana and of course historic Hannibal. I also love Missouri River towns like Washington, Herman, Augusta, etc. and wine country. I've been to historic Lexington. Not as familiar with the northwest quadrant of the state but I've been in Kirksville a few times. Many old friends from southwest Missouri like Joplin (love that city) and Nevada and Lamar. Throw in Sedalia, but I've yet to catch a state fair.

It was interesting crossing over the bridge from Dyersburg Tennessee to the delta area and then driving north how the elevation rises. I've done this trip many times, but it's always nice to get back to Missouri.

We live in a very underrated state that I often stick up for on this forum and elsewhere. But then again, it's okay with me if it stays that way.

[glamatomic]

Wonderful post- and welcome home!

♡♡♡

[GunnerTHB]

Nice to see a positive post about Missouri, don't see that very often. I agree MUTGR.

[MOforthewin]

Originally Posted by MUTGR

crossed the Mississippi today after a nice vacation on the Gulf....thrilled to be back in this great State. And unlike some people, I like most all of it that I've seen or experienced in my life, which is a lot of it. I've travelled it extensively in my life for business and/or pleasure as an adult or a kid with my family and have always found friendly people more often than not. Had a lot of business a few years ago in Sikeston and points further south in the bootheel and came to appreciate that area and the people I met. Canoeing in the Ozarks. Vacationing at Lake of the Ozarks and Branson as a kid and in college and shortly after. College in Columbia. Visiting the State Capital and school in Columbia. KC and STL. I think North Eastern Missouri is an underappreciated gem doing that drive up the river through river towns like Elsberry, Clarksville, Louisiana and of course historic Hannibal. I also love Missouri River towns like Washington, Herman, Augusta, etc. and wine country. I've been to historic Lexington. Not as familiar with the northwest quadrant of the state but I've been in Kirksville a few times. Many old friends from southwest Missouri like Joplin (love that city) and Nevada and Lamar. Throw in Sedalia, but I've yet to catch a state fair.

It was interesting crossing over the bridge from Dyersburg Tennessee to the delta area and then driving north how the elevation rises. I've done this trip many times, but it's always nice to get back to Missouri.

We live in a very underrated state that I often stick up for on this forum and elsewhere. But then again, it's okay with me if it stays that way.

Somewhat related since this city literally is in the Bootheel, right on the AR/MO state line, but why is Blytheville, Arkansas such a dump with really high crime?


I came across this video on YouTube. Back in the day it didn't look like a bad city. Is the air force base that closed there years back a reason why the city has the problems it does now? Losing jobs associated with it?

It seems the Delta area in general of southeast Missouri, Northeast AR and western TN down to Northern MS are all in economic decline along with crime and poverty issues. Memphis also has very similar problems to what St. Louis has, but that is another topic.

Well the good thing for THB with Blytheville no longer a SAC base is that if there is a nuclear attack you probably won't have to worry about getting vaporized by multiple ICBMs or SLBMs.

MO is an interesting state where in a short distant drive you can experience different cultures. I remember once driving down here to FL and we had breakfast somewhere in Scott County and there was a few MO highway patrol troopers finishing breakfast and we asked for directions due to road construction and their accents had the typical Delta style accent you hear in Southeast MO, northern AR, west TN, northern MS. They could tell we were from St. Louis and not that area of the state when we talked to them lol. How you can go from St. Louis to Scott County both in the same state and short distance and it seems like two totally different planets.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0EJ...&start_radio=1

[johninvegas]

Originally Posted by MUTGR

We live in a very underrated state that I often stick up for on this forum and elsewhere. But then again, it's okay with me if it stays that way.

It's good that it's underrated. Keeps most of the hoards of people moving from other states out. I lived in Springfield for 16 years back in the 70s and 80s and hope to return when I retire.

[MOforthewin]

Originally Posted by johninvegas

It's good that it's underrated. Keeps most of the hoards of people moving from other states out. I lived in Springfield for 16 years back in the 70s and 80s and hope to return when I retire.

springfield metro area has grown a lot since then. People moving there.

Not a lot of people are moving to states like Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, Kansas. That is good. Keeps them deep red.

[Danica32]

Originally Posted by MOforthewin

springfield metro area has grown a lot since then. People moving there.

Not a lot of people are moving to states like Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, Kansas. That is good. Keeps them deep red.

Lot of people moving from California, Washington and other west states to Nashville. Have a friend who has been a Realtor there in Nashville since 1998, she said 80 people per day are moving to Nashville. I guess the "no state tax" is appealing.

[MOforthewin]

Originally Posted by Danica32

Lot of people moving from California, Washington and other west states to Nashville. Have a friend who has been a Realtor there in Nashville since 1998, she said 80 people per day are moving to Nashville. I guess the "no state tax" is appealing.

I know Nashville, but other than those area the rest of the state isn't growing a lot.

That worries me because I hear people from Commiefornia are also moving to places like Branson and such to retire. Bring their liberal voting patterns with them.

[RisingAurvandil]

It has a lot of underrated areas, for sure. I am reminded of that every time I'm standing in one of our many crystal-clear trout streams. Or running Forest Park, which is easily one of America's greatest urban parks. Or wine country along 94. The list goes on.

[glamatomic]

Originally Posted by MOforthewin

springfield metro area has grown a lot since then. People moving there.

Not a lot of people are moving to states like Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, Kansas. That is good. Keeps them deep red.

Actually, even though Trump got over 56% of the vote and Missouri has gone red for the past few Presidential elections, I disagree about being deep red.

In terms of registered voters, Missouri has 42% affiliated Democrats, 41% affiliated Republicans- of course the majority of the Democrats are centered in STL, KC, etc.

When I think of "deep red" states, I'm more inclined to think of places like Alabama or the Dakotas or Wyoming-
places where more than 50% of voters lean Red.