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

[Anonymous]

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?

Native upstate NYer here and I totally agree with Utica and Niagara Falls. The latter is just kind of baffling at this point, so much opportunity there.

[Anonymous]

Detroit is up there, Newark NJ too.

[Anonymous]

Bellaire, Ohio

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ashburn/South Riding - no character at all

If that is truly the most depressing place you've been, I hope you get the chance to travel more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kansas City…. I just can’t remember if it was Missouri or Jansas. Driving cross country. I’d been there years before so cute. But this time (just before Covid) so sketchy and barren

Kansas City was just named one of the best places to live.

Living and visiting are very different experiences.

[Anonymous]

Tie between Ottumwa, Iowa and Ft. Smith, Arkansas.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

Spent three years in Augusta, GA-the disparity was horrific and depressing. I'll never forget crossing the train tracks for the first time and feeling like I'd arrived in the 1850s. I can hardly stomach listening to commercials for the Masters.

[Anonymous]

Newark, NJ.

[Anonymous]

Youngstown OH
and many other dead towns in OH and PA

I don't understand why people stay in these hell holes.

[Anonymous]

Troy, NY

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Detroit is up there, Newark NJ too.

n

They are not really as depressing as they are dangerous from poverty, but there are nice parts of both cities - so not really hopeless.

[Anonymous]

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?

[Anonymous]

Jonesboro, Arkansas: very depressed, and DRY
Huge chunks of WV, KY, & PA, no specific town/city

[Anonymous]

Albany NY