America's most underrated region: The Rust Belt

Have you ever thought about the Rust Belt beyond the haunting images of abandoned factories and urban decay? Join me on a journey as we redefine the narrative surrounding cities like Cleveland and Detroit.
In this video, I challenge the conventional perception and shed light on the untapped potential, renaissance, and a brighter tomorrow that lies within the post-industrial Midwest.

Topics Covered:

Understanding the Rust Belt: From Upstate New York to the heart of the Midwest, unraveling the geographical and historical dimensions.
Redefining Rust Belt Cities: It's not just about Cleveland and Detroit; delve into the broader spectrum that includes St Louis, Baltimore, and Philadelphia.

What to Expect:

Insightful analysis on why Rust Belt cities thrived in the past and the factors contributing to their decline since the 1950s.
Unveiling the untold stories of resilience, innovation, and community efforts that hint at a resurgence in these once-booming industrial centers.
🌐 Join the Conversation:
Have your say in the comments! Share your thoughts on the Rust Belt, its challenges, and the potential you see for its future. Let's reshape the narrative together!

Follow for more explorations into unique landscapes and stories. Subscribe, like, and hit the bell icon to stay updated on our journey through the Rust Belt and beyond!

#RustBelt #UrbanExploration #Renewal #MidwestRevival #CityResilience #ExploreWithMe 🚀

[marcrugani]

As a Buffalo native and expatriate, I appreciate the careful analysis and recognition of the opportunities that it, and peer cities, have to be hospitable and thriving communities in the 21st century. What most of the "rust belt" cities have is geographic advantage in the face of climate change, base infrastructure for redevelopment, and a resilient base population to innovate. The long-run economic cycles, I believe, will prove that these communities are the best places in the U.S.!

[laynefangs]

I'm a DC area native, and visited Pittsburgh four times this past year. Each visit has been wonderful in its own regard. As you mentioned you can actually explore downtown without congestion and parking is a lot more affordable (parking by the AC Marriott Pittsburgh was $5/day ~ in DC Colonial Parking can easily run you $20).
Goth and punk subcultures are very active, and there are shops catering to niche styles and aesthetics. There are many quirky cafes and eateries, and you can find one-of-a-kind Airbnbs at fair price.
Overall I've found Pittsburgh to be an artsy, alternative city ~ the relatively lower cost of living allowing a lot of independent businesses and unique ideas to thrive. The city also has a distinct grungy Rust Belt feel, which I like, and I'm looking forward to exploring more of the Rust Belt.

[zteanalysisofcompanies]

And in 30-50 years this region will be the most sought after in the entire nation, it’s called climate change resistant with abundant natural resources and a cooler climate, along with lower COL

[StLouis-yuiz]

Nice video, thanks for showing some clips from the Lou. Once we get more rail transit and infill development, we will be the greatest city in the Western Hemisphere again! :]

[sfdko]

Buffalo has the most potential right now.

There are various college students that went to Buffalo, like myself, from NYC. The power of NY state comes from NYC. So if you can get politicans from NYC that actually CARE about upstate, like myself, we can truly call ourselves the Empire State instead of just depending on NYC.

Give us a decade.

[HX]

Great video and it echoed my sentiments exactly. The midwest is underrated but on the rise. We are considering relocating from our smallish city in 5 years or less to a larger city in the Midwest where there are things to do, 4 seasons, and great architecture.

[hamburglar]

I moved to Texas and 7 years came back….i rather have cold winters plus amazing summers and springs then super hot summers and still kinda cold winters. Dallas was cool but too much growth, construction, lack of character in new suburbs just never overcame me. I misused my trees and old warehouses turned into breweries and cool little downtowns.

[twilightcitystudios]

Go Cubs Go!
Go Cubs Go!
Hey Chicago What Do You Say?
The Cubs Are Gonna Win Today!

[nygeriunprence]

The Sunbelt has and will continue to dominate despite what this dork is yapping about.

[bawbjusbawb]

The "rust belt"...
One of the reasons it's called that because of the use of salt on the roads in the winter...
In just a few winters, your "new" rust free vehicle shows signs of surface rust and small pinholes in structure...
In about 5 years, you start seeing holes the size of quarters or bigger...
In about 7 years, you have holes that you can stick your fist through...
In 8 years, your sub-frames and chassis components are too trotted out to safely function...
I worked on cars for a living after going to college and getting certified...
The rusted piles of junk were horrible to work on...
No one wanted to spend money to fix their cars properly because they were all broke...
States like Ohio had no State Vehicle Inspections...
I saw tie rods on trucks held together with coat hangers and duct tape...
Brake rotors worn so badly there were no pads and the rotors were worn through the vents...

I grew up deep in the "rust belt" of Middle Eastern Ohio on the borders of PA and WVA...
It was a GOD awful place...
There was NO opportunity and so much bigotry...
If you weren't a Catholic or an Italian, you weren't getting hired in the mills... (which were the only decent paying jobs)
School teachers and administrators ignored those who weren't "their own"...
I joined the military...
Went to college again...
I retired in NC at the age of 55... (Something I NEVER would have been able to do in the "rust belt")

When I visit these cities, I get a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach...
Every one of my friends and family members who are still living there struggle...
They have health problems from asbestos and polluted air...
And I remember how polluted the rivers and lakes were... (The Ohio River caught on fire for crying out loud!)
You're not going to attract people because of "fresh water"...
The mines and the steel mills took care of that...
And the railroads with their "accidents" are continuing the tradition...
You want to live there...
You can have at it...
As far as I'm concerned, if GOD wanted to give the world an enema, He would start there...

[jasoncroghan]

People generally don’t want to live in cities. Might have been trendy for millennials last decade but now we are starting families and buying homes in suburbs.

[drticktock]

AC invented by a Dr for his patients in Florida.

[apyrrhus]

as someone from pittsburgh, i see effects of the rust belt literally everywhere. This is such a beautiful city yall

[legoboy]

If most of these cities just rebuilt the trolley networks they had in the early 1900’s, invested in renovating old disused housing and built new mid density housing they’d all be places people would be flocking to to live. People like San francisco because it kept its trolleys and many of its walkable neighbors. They like Boston for the same reason. I would love to see a newly revitalized Cleveland or Baltimore or Albany with a similar vibe and I really think that’s possible in the coming decades, especially with climate change pushing people out of the Sun belt. As you say, our cities have good bones, we just have to rebuild the body around them.

[jonathanstensberg]

The real real challenge is the smaller cities that dot the Midwest. Places like Altoona, Johnstown, Erie, Youngstown, Canton, Flint, Saginaw, Lansing, Pontiac, Jackson, South Bend, Gary, Terre Haute, Decatur, Peoria, Rockford, etc, continue to struggle much more than their big city counterparts. Even places like Toledo, Dayton, and Akron are struggling much more to turn things around.

[Sacto]

The very availability of fresh water could literally drive people back to these cities. We could see the likes of Las Vegas and Phoenix lose 50% or more of its urban population because of the lack of water.

[stardragon]

Me as a Milwaukee native, it just makes me smile about this video and rust belt in general. Something about the culture of Rust Belt region is just feels like home to me: the abandon factories, old historic buildings and mixed used homes & economy.

[ConstanceHaga-cztl]

Youngstown Sheet and Tube laid off 5, 000 workers on Black Monday, 1977 at its Campbell Works, not 500, 000.

[AccountName-gvie]

The region is amazing, best wishes from germany.

[RJRobertson-fdxy]

First time seeing your channel and love your content and positive approach so much that I subscribed before the video was over. Even though I am a native of CA and still live here (happily so), I went to law school in a "rust belt city" and and worked for some time there which gave me the opportunity to visit many of these cities and regions. I firmly believe that these cities will rebound for all of the reasons you cited and more, as they have so much to offer that the sterility of newer cities and booming metro areas lack. ❤❤❤