What's the most depressing U.S. town you've ever visited?

[Anonymous]

Potomac, MD. Pathetic display of materialism, bad taste and selfishness. Depressing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The only place more depressing and third world IME is Cairo, Illinois. Lots of racism too.

Charleston, SC

I couldn't get over the racism there. Plus everything was grimy and dirty. Beautiful old buildings in rotten decay. I don't get how people like it there. I felt like the historical racism made the air thick.... and I'm white.

Wow I don’t see that at all. What parts of town did you go? I have only been once but I learned so much about the history of that region and how the black culture in and around the city evolved. It does have a terrible racist history but I feel like they own it and acknowledge it in a way a lot of other places paper over. For instance, this was years ago, but it was a historical site near Charleston that I first went on a tour that was centered on the enslaved people who built it and cultivated the land, rather than the slave owners. This is now more common in the South, but it was very uncommon then.

Also, the food in Charleston is phenomenal. And you can be at the beach in a half hour.

I can’t imagine calling it depressing in the way people are talking about here. It’s diverse, economically vibrant, culturally rich.

I was just in Charleston a few months ago and I agree I didn’t see it that way either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The only place more depressing and third world IME is Cairo, Illinois. Lots of racism too.

Charleston, SC

I couldn't get over the racism there. Plus everything was grimy and dirty. Beautiful old buildings in rotten decay. I don't get how people like it there. I felt like the historical racism made the air thick.... and I'm white.

Wow I don’t see that at all. What parts of town did you go? I have only been once but I learned so much about the history of that region and how the black culture in and around the city evolved. It does have a terrible racist history but I feel like they own it and acknowledge it in a way a lot of other places paper over. For instance, this was years ago, but it was a historical site near Charleston that I first went on a tour that was centered on the enslaved people who built it and cultivated the land, rather than the slave owners. This is now more common in the South, but it was very uncommon then.

Also, the food in Charleston is phenomenal. And you can be at the beach in a half hour.

I can’t imagine calling it depressing in the way people are talking about here. It’s diverse, economically vibrant, culturally rich.

You really must have had rose colored goggles on. Yes the food is good. Everything else, not so much. South of Broad is where all the main touristy stuff is but you don't have to travel far to see the black people still live in decaying shacks. If they owned their racism, then why are they still so segregated?

There are middle class and UMC black people in Charleston. There is certainly a legacy of slavery and racism there— it’s far from perfect. But it’s not terribly different from New Orleans in that way. While I recognize the problems of these kinds of cities in the south, I’d never call either depressing except insofar as America is depressing.

Exactly. Travel enough and you see every city/town has a wide range of socioeconomic statuses regardless of race.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a total bleeding heart highly educated liberal, and when I see threads like this I totally understand the rise of Trumpism. You are all a bunch of elitist self-important snobs who think a little money and education makes you better than other people. No wonder this country is so divided. I'd hate us too, if I were them.

Shame on all of you.

Oh, stop virtue signaling!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a total bleeding heart highly educated liberal, and when I see threads like this I totally understand the rise of Trumpism. You are all a bunch of elitist self-important snobs who think a little money and education makes you better than other people. No wonder this country is so divided. I'd hate us too, if I were them.

Shame on all of you.

Has your bleeding heart traveled extensively away from major cities. I’m betting your bleeding heart has never driven through or driven into Gary, Indiana. Get off your throne.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The only place more depressing and third world IME is Cairo, Illinois. Lots of racism too.

Charleston, SC

I couldn't get over the racism there. Plus everything was grimy and dirty. Beautiful old buildings in rotten decay. I don't get how people like it there. I felt like the historical racism made the air thick.... and I'm white.

Wow I don’t see that at all. What parts of town did you go? I have only been once but I learned so much about the history of that region and how the black culture in and around the city evolved. It does have a terrible racist history but I feel like they own it and acknowledge it in a way a lot of other places paper over. For instance, this was years ago, but it was a historical site near Charleston that I first went on a tour that was centered on the enslaved people who built it and cultivated the land, rather than the slave owners. This is now more common in the South, but it was very uncommon then.

Also, the food in Charleston is phenomenal. And you can be at the beach in a half hour.

I can’t imagine calling it depressing in the way people are talking about here. It’s diverse, economically vibrant, culturally rich.

I was just in Charleston a few months ago and I agree I didn’t see it that way either.

I wonder if the person who found it depressing actually lived there as opposed to just visiting. I have a friend who loved it when visiting but then ended up moving there and hated it. Racism, intolerance, poverty, not great schools. I think it depends how you experience a place—as a visitor or a resident. Like the obnoxious DC person who drives through Virginia and says it is miserable. Yeah, there are strip malls, but if you live here there are great schools, parks, and established, friendly neighborhoods with people who live in the same house for 30 years, and an excellent quality of life.

I am the person who “nominated” Columbus, GA. I’ve met someone who loved living there. To me, all I saw on two (required) quick trips there was gun stores, strip bars, and tattoo shops.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a total bleeding heart highly educated liberal, and when I see threads like this I totally understand the rise of Trumpism. You are all a bunch of elitist self-important snobs who think a little money and education makes you better than other people. No wonder this country is so divided. I'd hate us too, if I were them.

Shame on all of you.

Oh, stop virtue signaling!

And to be clear, we *are* better than them.

[Anonymous]

Utica, NY
Binghamton, NY

Just so so depressing

[Anonymous]

Des Moines Iowa

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Having been to many places mentioned in this thread, my answer is honestly Baltimore. The depressing sense is heightened by how its lovely history is still visible.

I'm a huge supporter of Baltimore. I've lived in the city and worked there for two decades. I have always seen the beauty that is there and its potential to be even more.

With that said, my most recent trips since the arrival of COVID were depressing. The city has regressed and it's heartbreaking.

[Anonymous]

While I'm not surprised, I'm bummed to see so many places I've lived in this thread. I've lived in Toledo, Troy, and Cincinnati. Though I haven't seen it on this thread, I wouldn't surprised to see someone say all of Southern MD. I have such fond nostalgia for all of these places.

[Anonymous]

Anywhere in WV

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: Took a trip to go rafting on the New River in West Virginia when I was in my mid-twenties. I felt like I was in a third world country - there were literal tin shacks on the side of the road. It was shocking.

I actually live in Morgantown now (city in WV) and it’s really funny to see people from “north central WV” - where I am - take pains to distinguish themselves from “southern West Virginians.”

(I think WV generally sucks BTW. Husband brought me here and we make so much comparative to the COL it feels stupid to move, but honestly some stereotypes are kind of true and I am so lonely.)

I've only been to Morgantown once, in 1981, and I found it depressing. I guess it's better now?

PP here. It tries. I am a DC native and have always lived in larger cities (Raleigh, Austin, San Diego) and there’s just not a lot happening here. Very little diversity (nearly all white except for international transplants working at the university or hospital). Its got a very odd layout and is kind of ugly, just not a lot going on. The “who’s who” of Morgantown are very insular and self-important. Told DH I would give it five years (we just bought a house). It’s been one and I’m managing.

I think you need to try harder. The CAC has interesting options, Bridgeport has a great spa/yoga place, Morgantown has good food, and you're so close to Pittsburgh. I'll give you that there isn't much diversity, but if you look around, I think you'll find your people and a lot of DC transplants.

There are not a lot of DC transplants in Morgantown lol
DMV, maybe a few but not "a lot", let's not lie.
Pittsburgh is pretty awful as well.
The only people who are impressed by Pittsburgh are people from WV.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For me, it would have to be a tie between Utica, New York, and Torrington, CT -- with the NY side of Niagara Falls being hot on both of their heels.

You?

I read this thread specifically, because I knew I would know somewhere someone was hating on. Didn't need to look too far (although I did look through the whole thread) - Torrington, CT.

I have been visiting Torrington all my life. My grandparents lived there and then my mother took over their house. In fact I was just there over the weekend! I love being in Torrington. It's a quiet town. Everything is much cheaper than where I live. There's so much to do. It's close to hiking, skiing. We go to Hartford to watch sports. Short drive up to the Berkshires. We go to the town pool. It's a small town of working people. It used to be very white. Now there are all different kinds of races and ethnicities living in town. We consider ourselves lucky to have Torrington as a free getaway. And my kids loved KidsPlay downtown when they were younger.

Having grown up in another New England post-industrial city, I'm used to the snobbery of those who consider these places "rundown". This country's anti-urban policies have left these once vibrant towns to fend for themselves. The real estate and construction lobbies push cheap new suburban construction over rehabilitation of urban areas. Our culture values the car over public transportation and walkability. Increasing concentrations of poverty intensify a vicious cycle of disinvestment.

Personally what I find depressing is suburban sprawl which we have in CT even though we have an aging and declining population. There's nothing more depressing to me than an empty suburban strip mall, but you can find those anywhere.

I agree! Plus go a bit away from Torrington and it’s lovely and charming. We have a second home in Washington, CT and love it.

[Anonymous]

I haven't read the entire thread, but for me it's Trenton, NJ. It's the freakin' state capitol, and it's just a complete dump. NJ deserves better.