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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

And the big racist statue in the middle of town.

Gary, IN for sure and is not the butt of a lot of family jokes.

[Anonymous]

Wichita, KS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Forks, WA!

I’m from WA and agree, but maybe would tie it with Aberdeen, WA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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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.

Is the "who's who" all people somehow affiliated with the university and its hospital? That's the way it is in many college towns and it can be very hard to break in if your job isn't with one of those.

Yes, generally speaking. I do work for the hospital so some access to these circles but…not too interested haha. Growing up in DC turned me off to self-importance overall.

[Anonymous]

We drove to California and back last year. I'm happy to say that we drove through a lot of small cities and towns that were nicer and a lot more interesting than I was anticipating.

[Anonymous]

The towns near the KY/TN state line. Some of the geography is nice (rolling hills and lakes) but the towns…honestly, it reminded me of Deliverance.

[Anonymous]

Another vote for Kansas City. My best friend moved back there a few years ago and she won't shut up about it. Every time I visit I just think it's so depressing and sad. The suburbs are vibrant but downtown and the adjacent areas seem like a city just completely left behind.

Also agree with Palmdale, CA. Family from that area and these days its just about the saddest place on the planet.

[Anonymous]

Oak Hill, WV

Holy sh!t I don't know how those poor people live in that town.

My family and I went whitewater rafting in WV nearby this town. My dad is a huge, huge Hank Williams fan and knew that he died in Oak Hill, WV at some gas station. We drove up there as it was only maybe an hour from us and that town is so depressing. The gas station he died at was torn down so there's just a tiny plaque now. Other than than, like every store front in the town was empty, boarded up, or had smashed windows. There was no grocery store we found, either. We were going to re-supply while there and all we could find was a convenience store. There was also only 1 place to eat, a Wendy's, and the one worker at the counter was 100% high as a kite. She kept scratching her arms and hair so we left.

Pretty crazy experience because the other towns around there and where we were camping and rafting were lovely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Troy, NY

+1

My mother is from that area so I spent a lot of time these as a kid. certain areas are really depressing. It is like you have gone back in time.

[Anonymous]

The whole state of NV

[Anonymous]

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?

I found it depressing in fall of 2020 too

[Anonymous]

I lived in Cleveland and grew up near Akron. Akron, Youngstown and NE Ohio in general is pretty depressing. In the winter it is so cold and gray.

There are some great pockets and you can’t beat the cost of living, but I joke to people that it’s great of you are from there and know people, but it is a terrible place to visit or move to as an adult.

There is lots of love on the college board for my alma mater CWRU, but I imagine a lot of DMV families visit and wonder why anyone would choose to live there.

[Anonymous]

I am not enjoying the upstate NY responses on this thread. Both Troy and Albany have some dismal parts (so I understand), but they are also quite vibrant and have beautiful parts (and relatively easy access to nature). Scenes for The Gilded Age are shot in Troy; Washington Park in Albany is one of my favorite small city parks (with free plays in the summer). Albany has the economic lift of being the seat of NYS government. There are a lot of colleges in the capital district as well which makes an area less depressing to me. I am sure someone loves every town in the US.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Gary, Indiana

Wow I was about to say this!!
Cairo Illinois and St Louis Missouri also fit the bill. So depressing. So areas that used to have industry and prosperity and are now quite Ghosted.

[Anonymous]

Carbondale IL. The architecture on the campus there looks straight out of East Germany.