8 Worst Places in the U.S.

Discussing the 8 worst places in the U.S. I examine the worst urban slums, the worst rural areas and also take a look at some places that are truly strange (in a bad way).

[GeographyKing]

Hey guys. I wanted to address the content of this video as after three years it's now showing up in a lot of folks' recommended videos and getting a ton of views. At the time that I posted this video, the channel had less than 1, 000 subscribers and most videos had views in the hundreds. The majority of subscribers were geographers and nerdy folks interested in places. I was able to use terms like "ghetto" and "third world" knowing that viewers would put those terms in context as slang. But with this video now being tossed around the political media circles and being recommended to folks who watch a lot of political videos, many people are pouncing on it as a political tool. "Of course these places suck, they're Democrat cities", or "Of course these places suck, they're Republican states". I take pride in this channel being above politics and cringe when videos are used to push an agenda. I could've definitely presented the info in this video better and more professionally, although I do stand by the actual content.

Specifically for Chicago, I have posted a new video that addresses some of what I spoke about here, and how I myself am partly to blame for some misguided opinions of Chicago. If you're interested in a new (and frankly, much better) overview of Chicago, please do check out my more recent video on the city.

[MrDlt]

My truck broke down in one of what was probably the poorest areas of Southern West Virginia. I managed to coast into a small town, but it was Sunday morning and nothing was open but a convenience store. The town appeared to be a whole lot of nothing. My truck was full of expensive gear (telescopes, computers and camping gear), so I couldnt just lock it up and come back the next day. Anyway, the girl in the convenience store called to one of the auto shops in town, and the owner skipped church, came in and fixed my truck. When I went to pay him, he said 'No charge' because he saw the veteran license plates on my truck. I insisted on paying, but he wouldnt budge. Nicest and kindest people Ive ever seen in my life. Since then, Ive realized that many of the most charitable people youll ever met are also some of the poorest. It still blows me away that people would be that nice to a stranger.

[wovfm]

Of all the US road drifters you are simply the best. No smug sarcasm, no over the top mocking. You could have had a field day with these places but instead presented an excellent sober rendering. Always interesting and unique views. Dog's adorable as well.

[grumpyoldlady_rants]

My daughter-in-law had a business trip to Chicago so my son went with her. One day, he decided to take the train out to a car museum. As the train got farther away from the business district, the sketchier it got. There was an elderly black gentleman sitting across from him on the train and he noticed my son was getting nervous.

He asked him where he was trying to get to. My son told him and then the man said “Son, you look like you got a few dollars in your pocket. I suggest when this train stops you get right back on one going back into the city”.

That’s what my son decided to but when he got off, he didn’t know where the station was that he needed. He was nervous about walking around and it was starting to rain. My son then saw a policeman and went over to ask him for directions. The officer had my son get in the car and the officer drove him to the correct train station he needed.

[TheresaBryant-dqml]

My daughter went to Pine Ridge reservation, she celebrated her 15th birthday there. She made friends. She enjoyed meeting the people, but she told me how poor it was there. We aren't rich or middle class ourselves... I'm glad you talked about Pine Ridge

[EdgeXXI]

My hometown is on a Native American reservation in Arizona. My mother made the decision to move my brother and I to the city for better educational opportunities and to avoid the rampant poverty that was all around us. This meant leaving my grandmother behind but she wanted her sons to excel, which we did. Today I live a very comfortable life thanks to those opportunities my mother gave me, and I am forever thankful to her for this.

[RocketDescends]

I remember being poor growing up, but our neighborhood cared about each other and it was a clean neighborhood.

[Romeo_GR]

I live in Crete Greece, I am 45....I've always considered myself lucky enough to have parents that offered everything to my sister and me. I try the same for my kids.
After watching this video, I feel many times luckier.
It is unbelievable how stupid human race is....spending uncountable resources for wars, drugs, spaceships etc while basic needs and problems of millions of people haven't been (and will never be) resolved...

[JoeTheDude]

I've been out to Bombay Beach and the Salton Sea and honestly I love it out there. It's surreal to see a massive sulfuric basin in the middle of the desert with rotting fish in the salt crystal sand and the bizarre art made from decades old boats and cars and homes. It is really like nowhere else, it's like you've gone to another dimension.

[IHateMyAccountName]

Big issue with places like Detroit and West Virginia is their whole economy was only built on 1 industry. Once that one industry declines the whole area goes with.

[Muffinarm_]

I never, ever forget just how insanely lucky I am every day of my life. I cannot imagine living in abject, crushing poverty.

[charliebakken]

I’ve been to a New Mexico reservation, New Orleans (a couple of years after Katrina) and Perry County, Kentucky. All these places filled me with sadness. After seeing the film “Nomad, ” I never realized a town could lose its zip code for being totally abandoned. Such was the fate of Empire, Nevada. I thank you for pointing out communities or neighborhoods in decline. I believe you’ve only begun to hit the tip of the iceberg. I wish there was a magic pill to cure all the parts of forgotten America.

[RealTJS]

Driving through Navajo nation in Arizona is also very depressing. Miles and miles of abject poverty. My Wife is from Mexico and it shocked her. I'm from Detroit, you're spot on there.

[ronnie]

This video could also be titled " places where houses are still affordable in the US"

[annekramer]

The people in Richwood, WV really touched my heart with their kindness in 2016 a couple months after landslides buried much of the town, yet they pulled together and still held their summer parade. A damaged church offered me a free burger, a disabled resident befriended me and told me all about his family roots. I’ll never forget my humbling and positive experience there.

[dudeistmonkmatthew]

What's crazy is that the US allows any citizens to live like this

[WindrunnerWargamer]

I'm new to your channel and wanted to say I really enjoyed the couple videos of yours I've seen. You're straightforward, honest, and speak earnestly about things that capture your interest. I fully agree with your assessment of these areas, particularly the rural areas and ghettos. It is ultimately sad that these exist in the way they do. Things *should* be better than that, and it's rare that anyone with the ability to do so bothers enough to.

[basileagle]

The poverty in that part of West Virginia looks awful, don't get me wrong, but the landscape is breath-taking.

[cassiemeyer]

It’s such an interesting phenomenon, how some of the poorest places contain some of the kindest hearted people. One year my brother and I got stuck in a rural Appalachian town during a snowstorm trying to get to a larger resort town. We were helped by countless local people at several points along the way. I will never forget it.

[lcasey]

Geek- Me KING! informative and production quality high, from having the interest and putting in the time. Glad you found me with it. Glad you broke them down into categories, and with the exception of Salton Sea, nothing to make fun of. Kyle, I guessed 3 out of 8, you pulled the rest by surprise, shock and provided a teaching moment for a quarter hour. Now that it's known, time to pray and do something about it. Take the ones that really got worse to make the worst compared to the ones that have been the worst. Some moved from moonshine to meth, they always had the same pain, same problems. Now subscribed, looking forward to seeing, hearing and learning about new places! Yes, congrats! Impressive stats, you earned and deserve the kudos! LC