The Right ARMPIT of Illinois | Danville

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 20 มิ.ย. 2024
  • Danville most certainly is the right armpit of Illinois. The city might be the most economically depressed city in the state. It's continued to be one of the fastest shrinking cities in not only Illinois, but in the entire country. In this video I tell you about how Danville was able to grow to be the size that it was, along with all of the factory closures over the years that has helped make the city what it is today: An urban blight mecca.
    0;00 - 17:25 A Mostly Dead Downtown / Current Issues
    17:25 - 19:35 Last days of the Village Mall
    19:35 - 33:36 More of today's issues in Danville / Ugly east side
    33:36 - 40:57 The worst part of town
    40:57 - 50:53 Vermilion Street & The towns history
    50:53 - 55:09 Chris's Livability Score
    ====================================================================
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    INTERACTIVE MAP that shows you all of the places that I've made videos on: (Doesn't always work on mobile devices. Will always work on PC.) www.google.com/maps/d/u/2/edi...
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ความคิดเห็น • 265

  • @ChrisHarden
    @ChrisHarden  23 วันที่ผ่านมา +8

    See more of what Danville looks like here: - There's A LOT of abandoned stuff to see in this one. th-cam.com/video/feoBFbWcTFk/w-d-xo.html
    Armpit Cities Playlist: th-cam.com/play/PLkAKbwTlGHeKiBMIC2RcftN5mUGrzp4VO.html
    Illinois Playlist: th-cam.com/play/PLkAKbwTlGHeKoOBxconpFSyUSO32NKREy.html
    USA Small Cities Playlist: th-cam.com/play/PLkAKbwTlGHeKtFmPCMocWgfnB7jOr5M1Q.html
    Help me grow my other channels!
    Chris Harden's Travel Archives: www.youtube.com/@chrishardenarchives
    Nostalgia Tours Radio: www.youtube.com/@Nostalgiatoursradio
    ====================================================================
    EVERYTHING THAT I USE IN THE FIELD:
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    WHAT I USE AT HOME:
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    INTERACTIVE MAP that shows you all of the places that I've made videos on: (Doesn't always work on mobile devices. Will always work on PC.) www.google.com/maps/d/u/2/edit?hl=en&mid=1Lhzf04ocimPu-ROkg4cfXEYEvKMNnlI5&ll=34.29834970801405%2C-91.53765609999999&z=5
    SOCIAL MEDIA & CONTACT INFO:
    Email: ChrisHardenYT@Gmail.com
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    DISCLAIMER: Links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you. As an Amazon Associate I do earn a small commission on qualifying purchases. As always, thank you for supporting my channel!

    • @pizzaearthpancakesandother2549
      @pizzaearthpancakesandother2549 21 วันที่ผ่านมา

      Dan Ville is really more of an Arsewhole City or more accurately Village to be Frank Chris

  • @michellelewis6247
    @michellelewis6247 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +29

    I grew up in Danville. It was starting to go downhill when I was a teen in the 1980s. It's only gotten worse; sad to see my hometown take such a nosedive...

    • @MikeB3542
      @MikeB3542 22 วันที่ผ่านมา

      Danville really took a hit when Wyman Gordon and GM closed their plants...they were bleeding off workers all through the 1980s and shut down for good in the 1990s. Nothing left but the prison and VA hospital.

    • @buckjones4901
      @buckjones4901 8 วันที่ผ่านมา

      Do most people vote Democrat there?

    • @ericswires8534
      @ericswires8534 6 วันที่ผ่านมา

      I had a bus driver for oakwood school school named Mr Wise. Back in the 80s. He was a mean old bastard. 😂

    • @bonniebaert3592
      @bonniebaert3592 5 วันที่ผ่านมา

      @@buckjones4901oh no, they definitely do NOT. At least in the rural county area it is in.

  • @netbucks
    @netbucks 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +15

    Another good video Chris! I grew up in West Lafayette, Indiana--back in the 60's Danville and Lafayette were virtual mirror images. Now Danville is a ghost town and Lafayette is a bustling, growing city with gleaming new factories and high tech research and development labs spun off from Purdue University. Keep up the good work--I never miss your videos!

    • @Bonzi_Buddy
      @Bonzi_Buddy 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      A mexican bakery too.

    • @MikeB3542
      @MikeB3542 18 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      The key to West Lafayette's success is having Purdue in town. It's why Champaign-Urbana is relatively prosperous compared to neighbors Decatur and Danville...the University is both a large industry unto itself, and access to research and educated workers pulls in industry.
      Danville really depended on GM and, to a lesser degree, Wyman-Gordon Forge. (Arguably, the closing of Wyman-Gordon was what tanked Harvey, Illinois).

  • @rahuliyer7456
    @rahuliyer7456 21 วันที่ผ่านมา +15

    From 1979 to 1987, Mom, Dad, my sister and I lived in Danville... Shorewood Point on the North Side. Mom and Dad were MDs in this town. In 1987 we moved away to Virginia, then New York, then to Dixon IL.
    As I write this, I am a resident of metro Phoenix AZ...for the last 14 years.
    Danville has seen better days. Perhaps the best way forward in this post industrial landscape it to start figuring out how to attract a technology mindset....like a data center.
    I have always said that Illinois is a high tax and business unfriendly state. This is part of why I left. The people that run all levels of government need to start thinking "about the economy stupid!"

    • @ronaldhall2489
      @ronaldhall2489 17 วันที่ผ่านมา

      Arkansas looks a lot better to me

    • @KyRipsnorter
      @KyRipsnorter 2 วันที่ผ่านมา

      The corrupt, liberal, Democrat politicians do not want a good economy anywhere, and that is true in Illinois. They like poverty, because they can more easily control those who are dependent upon them for life's necessities. There is no saving Illinois as long as the corrupt, liberal Democrats continue to control the politics of this state. It is very sad. I am from Hoopeston, IL, just 25 miles North of Danville.

  • @somerandomvertebrate9262
    @somerandomvertebrate9262 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +28

    A city like this doesn't need a boardwalk. It needs manufacturing and industry.

    • @cocoaorange1
      @cocoaorange1 5 วันที่ผ่านมา

      Preach it!

    • @spaceghost8995
      @spaceghost8995 2 วันที่ผ่านมา

      That will not happen.

  • @sunsetcaptiva8573
    @sunsetcaptiva8573 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +8

    Really like the evolution of your videos, all of the newer tweaks have been excellent choices / additions.

    • @ChrisHarden
      @ChrisHarden  22 วันที่ผ่านมา +8

      Thanks, if I’m not getting better after every video then I’m not doing it right

  • @kennybubash3278
    @kennybubash3278 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +6

    Another fantastic video. The historic facts are mind boggling. I’m looking forward to the next video

  • @siphomogale779
    @siphomogale779 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +9

    Chris you explain clearly hence I enjoy your show

  • @TomMcBoston
    @TomMcBoston 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +10

    Amazing the number of celebrities who were born and raised in Danville.

    • @ChrisHarden
      @ChrisHarden  22 วันที่ผ่านมา +3

      I know right?

    • @dreed7312
      @dreed7312 21 วันที่ผ่านมา

      Was Bobby Short on that mural? I'd have to replay it to see.

    • @derrekgrapp7421
      @derrekgrapp7421 7 วันที่ผ่านมา

      The legendary dirt latemodel driver Bob Pierce lived in Danville at one time. Now they live in Oakwood.

  • @kendalson7100
    @kendalson7100 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +15

    Downtown doesn't look too bad. At least it looks neat and clean. I've been much worse places than Danville. Don't know how well a casino in an area with high unemployment will do.

    • @GG-vx7gi
      @GG-vx7gi 5 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      The lack of available labor is a greater issue than unemployment. Many of the unemployed are also unemployable due to substance abuse etc

  • @paulp9050
    @paulp9050 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +7

    Baseball Hall of Fame member Robin Yount is from Danville and should of ben mention.
    He is the only player ever to win the MVP award twice playing two different positions of SS and OF.

  • @sunsetcaptiva8573
    @sunsetcaptiva8573 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +11

    Thanks! A donation to the Hill-Jack Mountain Dew fund! You deserve so many more subscribers and views

    • @Minelaughter
      @Minelaughter 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

      Rich 🤑

    • @ChrisHarden
      @ChrisHarden  22 วันที่ผ่านมา +3

      Very generous, thank you!

  • @shelbyz1974
    @shelbyz1974 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +3

    Thank you for the video Chris! It's good to see some previous residents of Danville helping with rehab costs of the theatre. Not sure whether the town will ever revitalize to what it once was, especially with the high taxes and everyone leaving the state. Can't wait to see your other videos you have coming from IL!❤

  • @michaelmathes1991
    @michaelmathes1991 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +49

    A big part of the problem is when they tore down the housing projects in Chicago they moved to Danville.

    • @berniemarkley
      @berniemarkley 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +18

      True! Section 8 housing in Danvile has helped in its demise

    • @slrobinson
      @slrobinson 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

      what?

    • @shelbyz1974
      @shelbyz1974 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +8

      That's all the suburbs. It started happening in the 90's.

    • @michaelmathes1991
      @michaelmathes1991 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +7

      @@shelbyz1974 Your right but Danville got hit hard. The northern suburbs by the lake got little to none at all.

    • @bonzocleach2496
      @bonzocleach2496 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +8

      @@michaelmathes1991 The wealthy north shore burbs didn't get any; but North Chicago, Waukegan, and Zion got plenty.

  • @user-ys6nw5ju9j
    @user-ys6nw5ju9j 23 วันที่ผ่านมา +10

    80 percent occupancy rate must be related to Dalton Mayor

  • @laurafoote214
    @laurafoote214 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +4

    thank you for the video, i've never made it down to Danville.

  • @RivermanTV-
    @RivermanTV- 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +8

    I grew up in Danville and still visit the area to spend time with family and work as fishing guide on the Middle Form Vermilion River which is Illinois' only National Scenic River. It's located in Kickapoo State Park which is a gem just outside of town and isn't far from Kennekuk County Park, another great place. Those are definitely bright spots in the area.
    At about the the 48 minute mark you state that business continue to close along the business corridor which is technically true. However, by and large, much more business has been added to that part of town over the last 5 years than lost. Some of it not being due to lack of business, rather corporate decisions influenced by venture capital or private equity which continues to kill aspects of our economy all over the country.
    Anyways, I know your theme is doom and gloom, but there are some really nice and normal middle class areas in Danville not shown in the video and the city really isn't as bad as it's chalked up to be and has some unique characteristics to it. There are definitely more blighted areas in the state with nothing to offer their residents.

    • @ChrisHarden
      @ChrisHarden  22 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

      Hmm. I showed some really nice homes along Vermilion St heading up to the area that you’re speaking of. Maybe you didn’t catch that part of the video. I’ll be showing more of the area that you’re speaking of in the 2nd video. I agree that Kickapoo State Park is a bright spot of the area.
      I also find it extremely hard to believe that there’s been more business growth than decline in that corridor over the last 5 years. I saw 2 store closing signs when I was there. One was a music store.
      The places that have closed absolutely have done so due to a lack of business. Otherwise they wouldn’t have closed their Danville location. If their Danville location was profitable, then they would’ve continued to operate in Danville.
      I know of many cities of Danville’s size that share similar problems (a declining 30k population or so) that have a much, MUCH larger selection of stores and restaurants in town.
      - My theme isn’t doom and gloom. My theme is truth telling. Some people don’t like it. Thats ok with me.

    • @RivermanTV-
      @RivermanTV- 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      @@ChrisHarden you drove by no less than 5 businesses that have been built in the last two years and some that are currently being built. The entire development around Meijer has sprung up in the last couple years with some stores being added in the last year alone. I'm not sure that suggests declining business on the whole.
      The music store that's closing is a family business that's been around for a long time. The available press states that the owner is 80 and she thinks "it's time." While I'm sure business has slowed, I wouldn't find it hard to believe that they're retiring and selling the property. Red Lobster, as another example of a closing business, was one of 120 other stores that were closed. The current owner, Golden Gate Capital, sold the land from beneath the stores and began renting it back to the restaurant at a rate of 12,000 USD per month. So according to private equity, the store was all of a sudden not making enough for corporate to keep it open. Don't you have to ask whether or not that's an absolute decline in business or a decision to benefit private equity that comes at the cost of stores that were profitable for the previous 20 years, even during the midst of a financial crisis?
      I did catch that portion of the video with the nicer homes. I just wanted to add there's good amount of that that I am sure is hard to include in a video.
      And respectfully, I've driven up and down Vermilion probably hundreds more times than you in the last 5 years. I can attest that, even if hard to believe, more has been gained recently than lost. I wouldn't call them hugely beneficial businesses to the local economy, but it's better than nothing.

    • @jadewatson2440
      @jadewatson2440 3 วันที่ผ่านมา

      But how many do the new businesses employ compared to the ones that left.

    • @ted356
      @ted356 วันที่ผ่านมา

      I have family in and around Danville. The old city has definitley gone downhill, but I think the bad reputation is somewhat amplified by TH-camrs. Illinois, overall hasnt done all that well. Anyway, Kickapoo Park is still a wonderful place to visit!!

  • @paulj6756
    @paulj6756 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +6

    A few years ago, Danville had a fairly successful hockey team in the Federal Prospects Hockey League: the Danville Dashers. For some reason they were replaced by a team in the Southern Professional Hockey Leagues -- the Vermilion County Bobcats. Just a couple of months into the season they were scheduled to play the team from the Quad Cities. There was a post game skate scheduled too. Well the fans showed up, the stadium staff showed up, the Quad Cities team showed up, the line-ups announced, and Quad Cities lined up for the National Anthem. Quess who didn't show up? The Bobcats! They went out of business without telling anyone.
    So the Quad Cities team treated the fans to their post-game skate!

    • @ChrisHarden
      @ChrisHarden  22 วันที่ผ่านมา

      Ha wow. Had to look them up. That was 2021?!? Hard to imagine Danville being able to support any kind of minor league team.

    • @paulj6756
      @paulj6756 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      @@ChrisHarden Both the FPHL and SPHL are very low level hockey leagues. They pay their players next to nothing. Neither league has player development contracts with the NHL.

  • @jetsons101
    @jetsons101 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +5

    Chris, when you were driving around Main Street and even some of the other streets there seems to be a lack of graffiti -- that's a good thing....

  • @stevecarr32
    @stevecarr32 17 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

    46:03 Point of clarification: The GM plant was not actually in Danville. It's site was located in the neighboring town of Tilton. Municipal property taxes would have been paid to Tilton rather than Danville.

  • @graysonbuttercheeks3136
    @graysonbuttercheeks3136 2 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา

    I worked at the Devro Teepak casing factory in Danville back in 2002. Some of the nicest people I’ve ever worked with there.

  • @joannunemaker6332
    @joannunemaker6332 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +4

    I enjoyed this video. 😊❤

  • @rachellynn1507
    @rachellynn1507 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +5

    17:26 When it comes to malls, It's NEVER a good sign to see a Cititrends store at a "thriving" mall‼️

  • @ericswires8534
    @ericswires8534 6 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    Danville was great as a kid growing up on the 80s. Spent hours at the mall playing video games at the Jolly Jester.

  • @Automedon2
    @Automedon2 6 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

    Casinos and 'riverfront projects' seem to be the hallmark for dying towns. Oh, and wall murals too.

  • @Squatch_Rider66
    @Squatch_Rider66 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +11

    Same story as a hundred other Illinois towns. Destroyed by state government policies that drive business to more accommodative locations.

    • @WarrenG302V8
      @WarrenG302V8 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +6

      Hey now, we're progressive and darn proud of it. So proud the population is declining every year and more and more businesses pack up and leave.

    • @jays1079
      @jays1079 21 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      Let's get real here. Businesses and corporations have screwed over the entire country, not just blue states. And when they move out of blue states to move to red states, it's again the business or corporation screwing over the workers with lower pay and screwing over cities by getting tax breaks.

    • @69eddieD
      @69eddieD 18 วันที่ผ่านมา

      Taxes destroyed communities close to the state borders. There's no reason to shop in Illinois when you can drive right down the block and pay way less tax. For that matter, there's no reason to live in Illinois when you can move right down the block and pay a third of the property tax you were paying in Illinois.
      But Illinois got revenge! Everybody from Indiana and Wisconsin comes here to visit our dispensaries. When I saw Danville (1980) it was about as redneck as a town could be. A townie told me I better have my hippy ass out of town by sundown. Now you can buy pot there legally. Mind blowing!

    • @supercinos8924
      @supercinos8924 15 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      "The grass is always greener in the other pastures, America will be great again once I am in the next State over despite the declines of all of the states regardless of progressive or conservative policies"

  • @kire115
    @kire115 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    Thanks for sharing Danville. I’ll now be buying a lake house on Lake Vermillion. Good livin!

  • @ibezzant
    @ibezzant 6 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    It's so incredibly depressing what has happened to our country. Here's a perfect example of how much manufacturing leaving the country has killed the US and in particular the rust belt. In the late 70s Dayton, Ohio had the same median household income as Seattle. That blew my mind. Almost every blue collar entry level job that used to provide a living wage has left the country and its killed so many cities like this.

  • @billj1836
    @billj1836 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +24

    I live in Chicago and spent a lot of time in Danville in 60s+70s. Was real nice and laid back compared to Chicago. Then the demographics changed and that started the end. Last there in 2012. Looked bad and dangerous then. Now I feel safer in Chicago and that's unbelievable. Sad the way a small percent of people can ruin an town, large or small just with drugs and crime. All unpunished.

    • @bettykelly7565
      @bettykelly7565 19 วันที่ผ่านมา +4

      The fact that all the jobs left has nothing to do with it ,right?

    • @bonniebaert3592
      @bonniebaert3592 5 วันที่ผ่านมา

      Yep, used to date a sheriff’s deputy who worked there and he told me some stories. 😬

    • @jKLa
      @jKLa 4 วันที่ผ่านมา

      "All unpunished" certainly isn't true of criminals in Danville Illinois. An absurd statement in fact. The city has had a severe industrial decline.

  • @craignovy2090
    @craignovy2090 21 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    Another gem of a production with peerless expert fact filled narration, surface video that feels like being in the vehicle, spectacular drone work, an extremely creative way to show old coal mines (check it out) with spot on when needed background music. Whether the town/city be rich or poor, big or small, cross country and or scenic tours the viewer will be informed and entertained.

  • @careywilliamson4709
    @careywilliamson4709 19 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    We used to drive through Danville on our trips from Hammond IN to Central Illinois on Route 1. Our excitement of Danville was the Big Indian and Tin man outside of a heat and air company

    • @ericswires8534
      @ericswires8534 6 วันที่ผ่านมา

      They moved the Indian to Champaign I believe it’s at Curtis Orchard. I remember both of those. I think there was a miniature golf joint near there as well.

  • @berniemarkley
    @berniemarkley 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +4

    If Scott Isenhauer still lives in Danville, he must be crazy! I knew him when he worked for WGFA radio in Watseka. I don't know how he remained mayor for so long. Having lived between Danville and Kankakee for 60 years and to see the continued deterioration of these two cities and the state, as a whole, is alarming. I moved out of IL in 2016 due to the reasons you state in this video. Extremely sad!!

    • @allamar9083
      @allamar9083 20 วันที่ผ่านมา

      Scott ,was the ONLY mayor that ever called us back. Ever ,,in 38 years. Everyone else is too busy after they are elected. So there’s that. He got screwed by the Clowns who actually run the Mayor.

  • @vince8436
    @vince8436 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +6

    The 70s early 80s were great here. Then everything changed. Haven't lived there since early 80s.

    • @ChrisHarden
      @ChrisHarden  22 วันที่ผ่านมา

      That’s too bad

    • @vince8436
      @vince8436 22 วันที่ผ่านมา

      @@ChrisHarden Yes it is. I would like to retire to a town about that size that is still nice enough it not over priced for retirement.

    • @ChrisHarden
      @ChrisHarden  22 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

      @@vince8436Columbus, Indiana. Bigger than Danville now by nearly twice the size. Plenty of affordable living options and as nice of a “small city” in the Midwest that you’ll find.

    • @vince8436
      @vince8436 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      @@ChrisHarden Thank You. I have driven past there many times in the past when I traveled from my Florida home to Danville to visit friends who still lived there. Last visit 2010. I will check out co!umbus maybe visit next summer.
      Keep up y
      The great work, I am subscribed and believe I have watched most of not all of your videos.
      Thank You.

  • @Phil00484
    @Phil00484 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +3

    Kickapoo State Park has a great MTB trail system thanks to local volunteers. Worth a visit.

    • @avgjoeavglife
      @avgjoeavglife 21 วันที่ผ่านมา

      Kickapoo is a funny word.

    • @69eddieD
      @69eddieD 18 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      @@avgjoeavglife Better than Stepapoo.

    • @avgjoeavglife
      @avgjoeavglife 18 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      @@69eddieD LOL

  • @erictorow250
    @erictorow250 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +3

    Other than that your videos are amazing as always 😊

  • @SuperMickey57
    @SuperMickey57 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +5

    It's a shame to see Danville has declined so much. I went to Navy weather school at Chanute Air Force Base in 1985. We used to go to Danville on weekends when we didn't want to deal with the frat boys in Champaigne. It was still a nice town back then. They had some pretty girls too!

  • @playboyx8856
    @playboyx8856 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +9

    Danville where ppl in Chicago go when they become homeless or on the run for a crime back in the day😂

  • @SlumericanDream
    @SlumericanDream 3 วันที่ผ่านมา

    It's on a upswing right now, though it was hard to get much lower. They've invested a lot in razing buildings that needed it, improving and adding parks, many new small businesses popping up.

  • @andygetz7343
    @andygetz7343 52 นาทีที่ผ่านมา

    I used to flight instruct at Danville Airport. There is an abandoned control tower there from a bygone era. Someone had been living in it. There was an aquarium and clothes up in the top area where the controllers hang out. This was in 2003 I wonder if it's still there.

  • @reply_guy
    @reply_guy 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +4

    Now THIS is actual reporting. Fake News could use a lesson.

    • @supercinos8924
      @supercinos8924 15 วันที่ผ่านมา

      True, this is actual reporting, but please tell me what is and isn't fake news, I'm sure the answer will be solid

  • @dylanmckinley2068
    @dylanmckinley2068 2 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Danville is my home town I hate the condition that it is in it has much potential and was once a great city. My parents and grandparents rave about how nice it was in the 60-70s

  • @dreed7312
    @dreed7312 21 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    Heartbreaking.I left in 1969. Went back once to bury my grandmother. You drove right past Abe Lincolns law office several times without mentioning it lol. Not that it matters. Many buildings are so old that I remember them. I wish you'd called out the streets as you drove down them though. I think I knew where you were but wadn't certain. My mom knew all of those celebrities, dated one of them, our home was right down the street. This is a bittersweet memory lane for some of us.

  • @Dee-7414
    @Dee-7414 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +5

    Please, if you could do one on Waukegan.if you're ever in that Township.

  • @jKLa
    @jKLa 3 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Gotta say I'm m really not surprised about either Danville OR Washington DC being ranked the two "Loneliest" US metro areas! A lot of smaller isolated cities that have lost much of their sociel infrastructure a middle class local leadership class along with their economic base (while simultaneously sprawling outwards) have big problems with loneliness. They have had major social breakdown. But so do large, complexly fragmented and often unfriendly urban regions full of transient residents based on national and global financial, tech and government operations. I't's very easy for many to fail to keep up and end up getting lost in the rat race and often cutthroat status competitions of big, cosmopolitan urban regions!

  • @6300As
    @6300As 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    I used to go to Danville alot in the 90s early 00s it was already heading down to a bad time I recall the closest store would be the county market but was peaceful but now it's downhill sad I spent alot a time there

  • @owenriggs8518
    @owenriggs8518 18 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

    Quaker Oats left because of the less than motivated employee base. Productivity was an issue that almost close the plant back in 2000 when POS governor George Ryan threw a Hail Mary and somehow convinced Quaker Oats to stay. They only stayed as long as they did to fulfill their nationwide minority quotas. Their turnover was another reason as this facility had the highest training costs of any Quaker plant. The last reason was the Union. No surprise there.

  • @Drewzer154
    @Drewzer154 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    My dad used to travel there during the mid 80s when he worked for EDS.

  • @clashwithneo
    @clashwithneo 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +3

    Can you do one on Watseka IL?

  • @yourroyalhighness7662
    @yourroyalhighness7662 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +8

    For the record, Dick Van Dyke was not born in Danville, Illinois but he did go to High School there.
    Dick was born in West Plains, Missouri.
    I make this distinction because many people refer to one’s hometown as the one that person was born in.

    • @loopyloo788
      @loopyloo788 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      I think the same applies to Gene Hackman. I believe he was born in California.

    • @chrisbartolini1508
      @chrisbartolini1508 22 วันที่ผ่านมา

      Which is weird since we have “birthplace” as a word to describe what you’re talking about

    • @ChrisHarden
      @ChrisHarden  22 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

      Same with Eminem and Detroit. Nobody associates Eminem with where he was born… St. Joseph, Missouri.

    • @yourroyalhighness7662
      @yourroyalhighness7662 22 วันที่ผ่านมา

      @@ChrisHarden I hear what you are saying but lots of people refer to their hometown as the place they were born.
      Of course, many may NOT do this if they spent their formative years somewhere else.
      I guess it depends on the individual.

    • @UserName-ts3sp
      @UserName-ts3sp 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      i think hometown is where you grew up mainly… by that logic id call danville his hometown

  • @The1stClassVillain
    @The1stClassVillain 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    Are you revisiting small towns you did videos on before? You have a older Danville video

    • @ChrisHarden
      @ChrisHarden  22 วันที่ผ่านมา

      I’ll remake videos on a few here and there but I’m not going to redo a lot of them.

  • @audrisampson
    @audrisampson 4 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Interesting view from the outside looking in. I lived in Danville from 2003 to 2016. I worked at the Fair Oaks complex for a part of my time there. Fair Oaks rent is based on income. Some rents were as high as like 150 and as low as free. Sadly the crime there generally wasn't the residents fault. It was people coming down from Chicago to visit. I once heard the manager of the location tell residents not to have baby daddies come visit to beat on them.
    I live in Vermillion County Indiana now so I still use Danville for things.

  • @thehappyhermit01
    @thehappyhermit01 23 วันที่ผ่านมา +10

    Back in the late 60's, I had a cousin who was driving thru Danville one night. All of a sudden, a brick comes thru his windshield, but like the dummy he was, he stopped the car and "they" proceeded to drag him out and beat the tar out of him.

    • @ChrisHarden
      @ChrisHarden  22 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

      These days in Danville you might have a brick come through your windshield if you’re driving WB on East Main past Vermilion. For a different reason though.

    • @swannoir7949
      @swannoir7949 22 วันที่ผ่านมา

      "They" weren't in Danville in the 60s.

    • @thehappyhermit01
      @thehappyhermit01 22 วันที่ผ่านมา

      @@swannoir7949 These were. As a kid growing up, we lived about 50 miles away. I think the year that happened was 1967.

  • @ChadQuick270W
    @ChadQuick270W 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    Danville, IL is a great place to watch trains (if one is so inclined). Outside of that I can’t think of much else there.

  • @thehappyhermit01
    @thehappyhermit01 23 วันที่ผ่านมา +4

    Pat, I'd like to solve the puzzle.

  • @JonathanButler-zd8qt
    @JonathanButler-zd8qt 22 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Any plans to go to parts of Philadelphia or NYC?

  • @kybble
    @kybble 7 วันที่ผ่านมา

    I also grew up in Danville back in 70's then move to Bloomington and then Springfield. Still have about 90% of my extended family there I still couldn't be in town for more than 10 mins without passing a relative. I hate seeing mansion sized houses in a town just falling apart. There is great architecture all though out the residential areas of Danville. Unique well build Homes just rotting away or being destroyed by vagrants. whats weird is when my grandma and grandpa were moving from TN they were supposed to be going to Danville In but ended up in Danville IL. They are only about 30 miles apart. that Kirby risk building used to be Coco Cola. I lived real close to there.
    You hit it head of nail with comment on why some blight in Danville when they closed the big projects in Chicago the people come down to Danville, Decatur Bloomington Champaign and Springfield.

  • @rcusa4863
    @rcusa4863 6 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    With the exception the projects, I was surprised to see that the Danville streets appear to be very clean. Almost, as if Danville is saying "we are cleaning the slate to attract re-development". I think that is always the first requirement for any struggling town; that is, demolish and remove any abandoned buildings. Hope it works; I really do. However, high Illinois taxes will not allow that happen. Illinois needs both pension reform and property tax reform that will give its struggling towns, like Danville, a fighting chance to survive and to attract new businesses and new residents.

    • @jKLa
      @jKLa 3 วันที่ผ่านมา

      Truly blighted or unsound buildings not feasible to restore (and those with no real esthetic or historic value) should be demolished only when helpful for developement (sometimes repear and reuse is cheaper), while single family homes may not be financially feasible to restore depending on conditions. But demolishing empty commercial or larger residential buildings that are still in good condition or that can feasibly be repaired (which partly depends on if there are people potentially interested in and capable of doing so!) is a bad idea as smaller cities especially need to distinguish themselves by their history. Historic preservation where feasible tends to greatly help a town attract those with money, especially in smaller cities away from large urban regions!

  • @jimeddinger5407
    @jimeddinger5407 10 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Please come to Lake County, Michigan, and do an episode.

  • @ronaldhall2489
    @ronaldhall2489 17 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    I will say it does look nice and clean

  • @richardbrown-cook9978
    @richardbrown-cook9978 6 วันที่ผ่านมา

    7:09 was a very good and clever😂

  • @MTXSHO9732vV8SHO
    @MTXSHO9732vV8SHO 8 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    38:45 My mortgage/HOA in California to live in a gated community is $1050. I grew up in Iowa City/Cedar Rapids/Peoria you can HAVE those 😬winters😬

  • @kinggamerz2838
    @kinggamerz2838 18 วันที่ผ่านมา

    I lived here as a kid and man it was depressing we lived right by a cornfield

  • @FelixzWrath82
    @FelixzWrath82 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    If you want a good town to do, I suggest Hopkins park illinois and surrounding pembroke township in illinois. It's worse then ford heights.

    • @ChrisHarden
      @ChrisHarden  22 วันที่ผ่านมา

      Did a while back. th-cam.com/video/Okb0zaEgzq4/w-d-xo.html

  • @zachfolts
    @zachfolts 3 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Please do Racine/ Kenosha, WI both of these city's are hurting

  • @MacAttackCobra77
    @MacAttackCobra77 7 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Nw side of Danville is nice… I was told not to go into town after dark by my gfs family around 2010

  • @TheShafe13
    @TheShafe13 23 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    U should def go back and redo all the cities u did in the beginning years and u should do my home town Joliet and make sure to compare the Eastside to the Westside if u ever do come here!

    • @ChrisHarden
      @ChrisHarden  23 วันที่ผ่านมา +3

      Not redoing all of them. Only will redo a few here and there. The goal is still to go everywhere. Don’t want to be on an endless loop of re-filming the same cities over and over. That wouldn’t be fun.
      A video of Joliet is on the radar.

  • @davidnemsick2200
    @davidnemsick2200 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    The buildings look like there in good shape.

  • @jetsons101
    @jetsons101 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    Funny: The image of the sky at 2:26 looks like the wallpaper in Andy's bedroom in the first Toy Story......

  • @raydemos1181
    @raydemos1181 22 วันที่ผ่านมา

    They should have a Buy a House for one Dollar program like Ft Myers did 35 years ago, then it gets renovated, and taxes are kept up on the property

  • @owenriggs8518
    @owenriggs8518 18 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    This video is 100% right on! Probably even too kind. Recently spent a weekend here and it was like driving through the hoods of Detroit. 1 in 4 houses have failing roofs. Every strip mall has at least two businesses: gambling/slots and pot/vape shops. It’s - c r a z y!!! My family and I stayed at a Baymont Hotel and at check-in if you live 30 miles or further away you must put down and extra $100 deposit and if you live 30 miles or closer you must place a $200 deposit….. I was like WTF but after we entered the room it was like holy crap this place smelled like a Pot plantation. We literally moved rooms 3 times to find one that wasn’t repugnant. Sunday morning we go across the street to for breakfast to this place called Sunnyside. Nothing telling us anything different we walk in (father-mother-16 y/o daughter and 13 y/o son) to death stares and a stern declaration that children are not allowed. The it hit us, we were in a Cannabis Dispensary! I kid you not the place either had been a restaurant or sure the hell looked like one. Even sadder was the completely full parking lot on a Sunday morning at 9:30 a.m.

  • @usernotfound40495
    @usernotfound40495 22 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Well they have a good Mexican restaurant and a decent Chinese buffet! The mall is hanging on by threads. I’m from Ambia Indiana and Danville was just as popular to go to for groceries and out to eat as Lafayette Indiana. It’s like the hood in the middle of a corn field 😂 not to mention they got two dispensaries, as long as lower middle class exists and it will for a while the working lower class have a home in Danville.

  • @GG-bl9xt
    @GG-bl9xt 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    can you do Charelston/Mantoon Illinois soon please?

    • @ChrisHarden
      @ChrisHarden  22 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      Did a video on both a while back.

    • @GG-bl9xt
      @GG-bl9xt 22 วันที่ผ่านมา

      @@ChrisHarden ok. I will try to find it. Thanks

    • @ChrisHarden
      @ChrisHarden  21 วันที่ผ่านมา

      Charleston: th-cam.com/video/vscXFNOlzjk/w-d-xo.htmlsi=pUZJbrFKnyr9XtrE
      Mattoon: th-cam.com/video/TQ2Ms1FOhV0/w-d-xo.htmlsi=L0tG3oHsOZ0q-Cig

  • @ChipWoods-bp3ex
    @ChipWoods-bp3ex 20 วันที่ผ่านมา

    I used to visit Quaker and Bunge before I retired.

  • @gels1922
    @gels1922 11 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    WOW - $90,000.00 for being mayor of Danville. Outrageous for sure

  • @markstein9254
    @markstein9254 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +7

    The cost of shipping jobs Taiwan and China for 50 yrs . We have 16% mfg base in the GNP we are done thanks leaders

  • @mykofreder1682
    @mykofreder1682 18 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Started as farming and transportation town, WW2 changed it and I suspect a lot of those businesses were run by local people. Those people ran their business to some extent and kept things going till the 70s, but these owners eventually retired or died. I rode my bike there from Champaign in 1980 and it was a decent town then, probably on the fumes of its WW2 self. Its main problem is Champaign is 20 some miles and Lafayette is 30 some miles away, much better cities with major Universities, it still is farm country, and someone's got to lose. If it were the size of Covington down the road, it would probably be OK, the highway exit might be its biggest business but gas taxes and closeness from the border hurts that.

  • @pizzaearthpancakesandother2549
    @pizzaearthpancakesandother2549 21 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    It's important to note the French origin of Dan Ville.
    In FACT the word Ville is a French term for Village which means if Dan Ville was NOT French it would be called Dan Village or just Dan, like how Gary City is named Gary.
    AMA
    I mean even France Fries are really America's Fries

    • @KaraMiaSantaLucia
      @KaraMiaSantaLucia 21 วันที่ผ่านมา

      French were in Indiana and Illinois before the English. Many were voyagers and fur traders with the Indians. Came down into Indiana/Vincennes into Vinceness County IL, along the Red River (Vermillion River)…then moved their way down to St. Louis to St. Genevive.
      Illinois is for the Illini Tribe, the -Ois part is French.

  • @jasonhsu4711
    @jasonhsu4711 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +3

    A casino for Danville? The proliferation of gambling casinos since the 1990s reminds me of the alternate 1985 in _Back To The Future 2_ . Exactly how is it a good idea to make it more convenient for poor people to gamble away all their money? Or is there a secret plan to convince hordes of wealthy gamblers to visit the Danville casino instead of the casinos in Las Vegas?

  • @robinrussell7965
    @robinrussell7965 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    I was shocked to find out that Danville, CA is an upscale suburb.

    • @ChrisHarden
      @ChrisHarden  20 วันที่ผ่านมา

      Danville, Indiana is only a little bit over an hour east of Danville, Illinois. For a long time Indiana's Danville was just a small rural town. Now it resembles some of the more upscale Indianapolis suburbs.

    • @IAMHERE486
      @IAMHERE486 20 วันที่ผ่านมา

      Danville, CA is very nice and wealthy.

  • @jKLa
    @jKLa 4 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Sad and bleak, -clean looking streets though and nice history. Too bad it's being lost to decay. Btw official commercial occupancy rates ( just like with residential vacancy rates) only include usable buildings and not abandoned or uninhabitable structures. So the downtown Danville vacancy rate is the actual vacancy rate of spaces downtown, -which doesn't mean the mayor is necessarily correct about the vacancy rate!

  • @RickyBoobie27
    @RickyBoobie27 5 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Spent a lil time at Danville correction

  • @steveburlo8010
    @steveburlo8010 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    Blame the taxes, but on a good note. You passed my old employer in video Courtesy Ford.. yes they have a dealership in Crystal lake, IL..

    • @supercinos8924
      @supercinos8924 15 วันที่ผ่านมา

      Taxes are not entirely to blame, especially as these manufacturing centers outside of the Metropolitan cities do not stand as much of a chance as .Metropolitan areas since places like Danville have less Capital overall

  • @bobvinson3601
    @bobvinson3601 21 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    You review all of these cities and their employment percentages... all of the businesses that have left and how run down these cities are, but you never mention the state facilities which are probably the main reasons these cities are still functioning. There is a state prison in Danville..

  • @MazichMusic
    @MazichMusic 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +5

    This is not the biggest sh-t hole you've featured on your channel.

  • @DasDutchman56
    @DasDutchman56 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

    Thank your Governor for the Decline of Ill Annoy. I'm glad I left in 2015 !

    • @supercinos8924
      @supercinos8924 15 วันที่ผ่านมา

      "In the declining empire of America, the newer real estate is always better than the older real estate, just trust me, the next newer town or less developed state will be better despite everywhere across America going down hill."

  • @jetsons101
    @jetsons101 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +10

    You have a depressed area, loss of jobs, a poor infrastructure and you put in a
    Casino ???
    Who's bright idea was that ??? Try some job training and work on bringing jobs back.....

    • @UserName-ts3sp
      @UserName-ts3sp 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      a casino will at least bring in some tourist revenue and create a few jobs. if you’re a border town like danville is… use it to your advantage

    • @jetsons101
      @jetsons101 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

      @@UserName-ts3sp Misery always seem to follow gambling.

  • @michaelm3345
    @michaelm3345 18 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Illinois also has East St. Louis and Cairo which are pretty bleak

  • @deafviolinist
    @deafviolinist 10 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา

    big Quaker plant news really splinters my churn handle

  • @air4334
    @air4334 20 วันที่ผ่านมา

    What are u driving ? Vehicle ...

  • @jameshazen1679
    @jameshazen1679 19 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Thought it was ironic, when I first clicked on this videos it was sponsored by Quacker Oates , Quacker Oates. just closed their plant in Danville, Illinois

    • @ChrisHarden
      @ChrisHarden  19 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      Haha that’s funny

  • @tarvisbickler3787
    @tarvisbickler3787 18 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Looks like they have a dispensary near the casino; collecting Indiana weed money like we do in Michigan

  • @bettykelly7565
    @bettykelly7565 19 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    There's no point in renovation when there's nothing there.

  • @randyravis8413
    @randyravis8413 18 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

    Decatur, at least we aren’t Danville

  • @KaraMiaSantaLucia
    @KaraMiaSantaLucia 21 วันที่ผ่านมา

    BIG PROBLEM for any small town in America is this place called Wal-Mart. There end of discussion. BTW, I am a direct descendant of the Pioneers of Danville and Hoopeston IL. Please let me know if you are a Jones/Riley/Smith/Brown!

  • @I_LOVE_THE_SUNCOAST
    @I_LOVE_THE_SUNCOAST 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

    "Like the Bahamas compared to Danville" hahahahahah good one.

  • @37HD
    @37HD 7 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Drove through there once. It's sad. Pathetic casino was the highlight which isn't saying much.

  • @robmanj
    @robmanj 21 วันที่ผ่านมา

    I lived there for three years. It sucks.

  • @davehawash2255
    @davehawash2255 21 วันที่ผ่านมา

    That West Coast music was hilarious

  • @corywalker9498
    @corywalker9498 21 วันที่ผ่านมา

    From the 80s to 2024 everything has changed welcome to life and America

  • @jayortiz5589
    @jayortiz5589 20 วันที่ผ่านมา

    I'm interested to see what the left armpit of illinois is🤔 Can't be East St Louis that's like the sweaty ballsack soooo I'm going to say Quincy maybe🫤