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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

I am from there and I can absolutely say it’s depressing. I couldn’t wait to get out of there when I was ready for college. And I come from generations up there, great family, etc., but it was so grey.

[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.

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?

[Anonymous]

New Straightsville, Ohio, famous for their Moonshine Festival. You can pay $5 to see what they call “the world’s tiniest hillbilly horse”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wichita, KS

Emporia, KS
The slaughter house add such a nice aroma to the town. Especially if you like it so pungent your eyes water.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Gary, Indiana

Yep.

[Anonymous]

For me it's a tie:
Albany, Georgia and Cumberland, Maryland

[Anonymous]

Ballmer

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You don't need to go too far to find "depressing towns". The Bailey's Crossroads area is one, Springfield, Wheaton, Aspen Hill. Truly ugly and very depressing.

Nah, I live in Aspen Hill, Albany GA is worse.

[Anonymous]

Another vote for Gary, IN – but dishonorable mention to both McAllen and Beaumont, TX.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cumberland, MD - both of my parents grew up there. It was a beautiful little town once, but it became depressed once railroads became less vital to the economy. It is so sad to visit now - I believe it may be ranked the poorest town in MD - lots of drugs and all boarded up. I sometimes wonder if it will ever have a renaissance like Ashevillle - such a pretty location and charming old buildings. I hope it revitalizes one day.

I lived in western Maryland and it is extremely depressing. Good Maryland resources but it’s pretty much West Virginia (not in a good way).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You don't need to go too far to find "depressing towns". The Bailey's Crossroads area is one, Springfield, Wheaton, Aspen Hill. Truly ugly and very depressing.

Aspen Hill is a neighborhood, not a town

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:LYNCHBURG, VA!

I was expecting to hate it, but was pleasantly surprised. Cute, quaint downtown with nice suburbs - given we did go to an event at the country club. Low COL and SML just an hour away!

[Anonymous]

San Francisco I've been to Compton and run down parts of LA but always imagined SF was gonna be this beautiful town I see in movies (Princess Diaries).

Homeless everywhere and human waste in the streets. I felt bad because I loved the architecture, but the place doesnt feel safe sadly and it is extremely expensive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You don't need to go too far to find "depressing towns". The Bailey's Crossroads area is one, Springfield, Wheaton, Aspen Hill. Truly ugly and very depressing.

Aspen Hill is a neighborhood, not a town

You don't know what you're talking about. A neighborhood of what town exactly? Aspen Hill is it's own city.

[Anonymous]

Vienna, Virginia