MISSISSIPPI: The Poorest Towns In The USA's Poorest State - Forgotten, Dying Places In The Delta
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 31 มี.ค. 2023
- I visited these Mississippi towns: Lambert, Marks, Darling, Falcon, Sledge & Crenshaw.
My Instagram: / joeysroadtrip
Travel Vlog 215
Mississippi born and bred. I’m from this area. This is one of my hometowns. Lived here from 12 years old to freshman or sophomore year in college. Then moved to the next town Marks. The county has been poorly ran since I can remember. The same politicians have been in office all of my life. That’s another story. But yeah. I appreciate my upbringing. It made me appreciate life and the opportunities that have come my way. Thanks for shining a light on a place that had much potential but gets put on the back burner year after year.
Lucky for you 💙
You might know my family the Young and Anderson or Crowders
Ty❤
@@sharonyoung6512 hey I'm a young have traced some of my roots to Ms.. but not sure where my Young last name comes from.
Why would people continue to vote for people that can't run government correctly?
Low crime could mean; there is nothing left to steal!
Mykinduvtown❤
Then again, whenever I watch shows about homeless encampments and shelters they all worry about theft of the few belongings they do have.
Der ist gut !
😂😂
Not true I have family that lives in Lambert Mississippi I've been there over 20 times every body knows every body and my cousin is City Council there and she's a nurse and her brother have his own trucking company he owns 3 semi trucks. He did not show the entire Lambert even though it's not that big
I really appreciate you covering these small, nearly forgotten towns. I have lived in the deep South my entire 50 years and it absolutely never fails to amaze me the vast amount of generational poverty and decay. Heartbreaking when you consider these were vital, thriving, living and breathing towns at one point, not really so long ago. It seems like they degrade to a certain point, and finally the few remaining residents just give up on keeping up the town and their homes. The ones that can afford to, leave and all that is left is a aging population that is unable to afford to keep a town up and are not physically able to do it themselves.
The lack of people is so strange.
Where I live, even dying small towns still have people out in the street, gardening, walking dogs, maintaining their homes, etc etc.
Ya thats what I was wondering where are the kids , people and dogs
It looks like it had just rained.
It does in small towns in Mississippi. Not like it used to be but they pick the parts that are damn near abandoned or the time of day. I have seen like 5 and I'm from there. When I go visit there are still people. Obviously not like when I was there. A lot of buisnesses because they can't stay open are closed but there are usually somewhere with convenient stores dollar stores at least some small grocery store.
@@amberpowell2609 So you're basically agreeing that there are at least large areas of these towns, which are effectively abandoned. It still doesn't explain anything.
WHERE are the people who live in the towns. If your small city has 20,000 people (for example), they would be very visible. They would be out and about around town. Walking their dogs. Gardening. Shopping. Catching up with friends at cafes. Playing tennis. Working out. Hiking. Riding bikes. Commuting to work. Jogging. Etc etc? All the normal things that normal people do.
@@pm2886 not large and 20,000 is a lot bigger than a little over a 1,000. A huge difference. I would bet money not a single person plays tennis, or even cares to for the large majority. What I meant is that there will be places in the community that obviously you will see people on a pretty day but obviously with that small of a population is going to be very different. No town like that has a "large area" most work will probably not even be in town.
It’s always so creepy in these small towns how you see cars and homes but never see any people 😳
RIght? No kids outside
True
Right
The only living thing seems to be stray dogs...
@@Snarkapotamus Yeah and they're in bad shape. I feel sorry for the dogs
Sat next to Charlie pride on a plane to Germany. He was going to sing at the NCO clubs for the military. Fell in love with his voice and his wonderful personality. Very humble man.
I don't care who you are, when people from that area see you driving down the road, THEY WAVE at you. Some of the friendliest folks in the world. And...I was in a funeral procession in Batesville, and the traffic pulled over and men standing outside their cars with their hats over their hearts....out of sheer respect.....and the young folks are brought up with "Yes Sir, No Maam"...That's the Mississippi Delta I saw, know and love....
Good comment. The friendly, humble and respectful people are to be praised.
Interesting what you said about the funeral procession. My grandmother died in rural Southern Alabama in the 90s and I remember the same thing happening with people pulling over their cars...
love how he says 'downtown' and there is not one open shop or person to be seen. these videos are amazing. the world is always changing.
I am from the ms delta, my mom lives in Tchula, MS, in a little community on horseshoe lake. This brings tears to my eyes because growing up in the delta you don't really see how poverty stricken these places are until you leave. I wish somehow we could revive these places, I love the delta, I miss home.
I visited Tchula in one of my videos. :)
Maybe a change in leadership and ideals and maybe just maybe investors would come. Until then it's kinda of like a no go zone to people outside of the state and I mean all walks of life people.
I agree. I’m from the AR side of the river and it’s no different there.
Farmers have been leaving California over the past 30 years over water concerns, regulations and taxes. They should start showing up in the Delta at some point in time.
I will have to look that video up
We lived in MS for several years. My husband was a pilot stationed at Keesler AFB in Gulfport after serving two tours in Vietnam (he's since passed long ago). Yet, while living in MS we explored everything we could as we were absolutely fascinated by this state with such amazing rich history. The Delta, indeed, was home to rock and roll...PLUS, jazz. Such as Son House, John Lee Hooker, Junior Parker, Ike Turner, Eddie Boyd, Sam Cooke, Muddy Waters, Pinetop Perkins, Earl Hooker, Lil Green, Big Jack Johnson and the list goes on. Just being able to have had the opportunity to live within this amazing state was an enormous blessing that we could never forget. The people of MS are the best, kindest folks we'd ever met. Just thinking of all those we'd met... I can hardly breathe. We thank God to have had such a wonderful opportunity. Sir, your videos are beyond wonderful. Yet, regarding MS no matter how well it's shown in pictures or videos it doesn't compare to actually being there. My husband was originally from TX...me, from Detroit. MS, from the moment we first got there was etched within our hearts forever. Thank you, thank you, thank you for your amazing videos. Much Respect to you...
💖😼😼
I totally agree with you. I'm also from Detroit ,but now have move away. I have been to Mississippi at least 21 to 23 times and the Delta area. I love Mississippi people in Mississippi are really down to earth and respectable like no other place. haven't been to Mississippi in about eight years now boy do I miss it. Lambert and marks Mississippi where's my stomping ground😊
Firstly , sorry for your loss . I just wanted to tell you . That your husband saved many of our lives while in RVN .. doc Gubs 25th I.D / others ....
Thank you so much for your kind words. I’ve lived in Tupelo, MS my entire life, except for the five years I lived in Clarksdale. It’s really nice to hear someone speak positively about us Mississippians and our very poor but still so very rich state. We don’t get that often. 😊❤
"A rich history" of slavery, domination and exploitation.
Love me some Pinetop Perkins and Sam Cooke. The artists you listed sang from a place of pain. The movie ‘Mississippi Burnimg’ is an accurate description of Mississippi.
Jackson Mississippi today is the state capital. They have no clean water to drink because the town is 80 % dark skin folk. Mississippi is a disgusting hell hole to this day. As a military family you did not live like a ordinary citizen. America is a tribalistic nation of consumers. Dark skin citizens are still slaves in the land of the free and the home of the brave.
Greetings from NYC. I've heard of Mississippi but wasn't sure where it was on the map. Then my job sent me there on a 3-day assignment (attend the funeral of a retiree). I couldn't believe and was astonished by how wonderful the people there were. A sheriff suggested I buy a house near him and his family. Despite being a poor state, they make up for it in character. I'll never say a negative work about Mississippi.
Yes. No matter how little people have there, they'll do whatever they can to share with others who are struggling. The people of Mississippi are wonderful. There might be a few bad apples, but you'll find that everywhere.
@@cynthiamatthewsim glad to read this ...I still want to move to Mississippi
I’m from Brooklyn, MS. Most of the bad stuff I have to say about my home state is about the heat. Eff that noise.
I moved to Clarksdale for retirement after 40 years in Calif. Just went to one of the many blues festivals we have in the area. This was in Helena, Ar, about 30 miles away. We're just 50 miles south of Memphis. We have live music here 7 nights a week and our "Juke Joint Festival" every April. Yes, we are a convenience store nation now and we buy our stuff online which hurts downtown. But the people around here are so friendly. I love it. Everything costs 2/3 less than in Calif. People are poor but they are not depressed with anxiety. Good, salt of the earth folks. Houses are really cheap and utility rates are low. I pay $300 per month rent.
Awesome! We spent the past two nights in Clarksdale. Had to visit the Ground Zero Club!
@JoeandNicsRoadTrip Not sure if you know or have mentioned it already but Morgan freeman is the owner of Ground Zero.
@@karimmiller5441 Yep, you’re right! 😀
I’m proud to be from Mississippi. Taught many of us to work hard and always go get what you want. Mount Olive, MS 🤠💪🏾
We stayed in Olive Branch while I filmed this video. Beautiful small city!
You GENIUS I BET AND WELL TRAVELLED.
Well what happened to Brett farve guess he didn't get that message
YAY! Back in rural Mississippi!! Thanks for sharing the rich history of the Delta!!
I actually love it there. :)
I am from Crowder! Which is one town east of Lambert. I love this place, and it fills my heart with joy to see this while at the same time I am also saddened. I accept it for what it is. It is home to me, and I love and always feel refreshed coming back visiting! Thank you for coming through and visiting!
Two slight corrections, the Muddy Waters song was “Rolling Stone” (not “Like a Rolling Stone” which is Bob Dylan). Second, Muddy didn’t play electric guitar with a band until he moved to Chicago. For bonafides, my band did gigs opening for Muddy and other great blues musicians in the early 70s.
If I was a politician from the state of Mississippi, I would be embarrassed. So sad!
The people that live here should be embarrassed an ashamed.
Drove through this area last year when tracing the blues trail from NOLA to Memphis. Its was fascinating, inspiring and deeply depressing all at the same time. Such deep roots in culture, but such poverty and so few prospects.
All states have problems, not just MS has over ONE BILLION DOLLARS + in our treasure. Not many states can claim that. Just look at the slums in all the Nothern states.
@@mitchboswell2445 --Compared to rural Russia this looks like Beverly Hills.
@@mitchboswell2445 And what does MS plan to do with all of that money? Build indoor volleyball facilities. Jk Anyhow I live in the Northeast but there isn’t anything like this. Even in our most impoverished areas they oddly sit surrounded by some of the most affluent areas. It’s extremely rare to be able to travel to a downtown of a town or city and see complete abandonment like this. I can only speak for the Northeast though, maybe areas like Detroit and some of those regions are a different story.
Blame Brett Farve
The culture is poverty, it always has been.
I was born and spent my first 6 years in Mississippi. I loved it. No other place has ever felt like home to me, and I am getting old now. All these small towns that have a much higher % of females - I wonder how many men from these towns are incarcerated. I wonder if that is why there are so many more women. I suspect one reason why so many people don't get married is b/c they can get more government assistance if they are single with kids vs married with kids, and they need the assistance.
I had the same sad experience. We came from Sweden looking for music. Old historic music venues are empty or shuttered and felt like they were in the middle of nowhere. Good thing we started in Nashville! We adored Mississippi though. The people are very relaxed and friendly and can chat all day.
Sweden? All the way here? My god.
It's just a few hrs. Coming from England next month 4 week tour southern states ❤
@@tomf4547 Cool, suppose it's not that long of a plane journey. I'm Irish so even 7 hours to America seems far to me 😂✈️🍀🇺🇸
I was born there but am so happy to have left many years ago. I just feel sad for those that made the decision to stay. I moved North where I received numerous opportunities to earn a good living and gain office experience. Later I graduated junior college which allowed me to earn even more thereby saving for retirement and qualifying for a nice SS check each month. I watched my mom and sister work 25 & 23 years respectively at a nursing home in MS and never earn $9 an hour. That's how the system was designed, to keep the poor, very poor. There are no jobs...just feelings of despair and hopelessness. My nieces and nephews moved to Texas where they found jobs one week after arriving. It has been four years since they moved, and one nephew said "he'd live in a shelter rather than return to MS". This is not a place for young people which is why they leave in large numbers every year.
At least, the climate is good in MS
My paternal grandparents were born and raised in the rural Mississippi Delta region. They left Mississippi and moved to Milwaukee in the 1940s. They were part of the Great Migration.
20% of white people have been running and running down these towns forever and it shows.people live their whole life's not knowing the real beautiful America because of repression.
My Dad grew up near New Albany, MS and after he was in the military, he moved to Kenosha, WI. He retired to Blue Springs, MS in 1989 and passed in 2003. He worked at AMC in Kenosha. Good pay for sure. A lot of people came North. It was financially a very depressed area. I am 52 and moved there with them my senior year of school. Huge culture shock! I refused to convert to any religion. I was an atheist and they really tried to bring me to jesus! I couldn't wait to leave.
i was born in Woodstock NY in the 1960s. i learned to snap my fingers while jumping on my sister's bed and listening to her Beatles records. at 14, i ran away from home. not to escape....but to explore. the first day, i went straight to Max Yasgur's farm (the site of the original Woodstock festival) and met Max and his wife. i camped on the hill above where the stage had been. i then headed south. i hitchhiked for ten days before i landed in Corinth Mississppi. the food and music are what i remember the most.
I like how you give us the break down about each town. I had cancer and can't get out much any more. I am so short winded now. It is so relaxing seeing all the towns. Thanks for all the work you do to bring us these videos. I Sub
My mom left there in 1963 said she would never return our family last name was White so my siblings and I will never know our family there my grandfather was name Luther White grandmother Paralee Williams a whole lost generation
@@corlisswhite120 That's a darn shame!
My daughter said it well. The small, really tiny, Delta towns look like the Depression came, but never left.
How the hell did I just happen to click on a random video and immediately recognized my hometown?!
First, there is a lot of rich history that you apparently don’t know. Such as the reason that town went to hell in a hand basket. One of the biggest contributors was when Garan, a large manufacturing plant for Fruit of The Loom or Haynes shut down, and a huge portion of the town became unemployed and a lot less cash in circulation. In the early ‘80’s that town looked a lot like The Sandlot movie. We had baseball games and parades during the summer. Around the early ‘90’s is when it all fell apart. Our grocery store shut down, they removed all the stop lights and replaced them with stop signs. We had to travel to Marks just to get groceries. Main St., or “downtown” as you called it, was a thriving business area until the old man that owned the warehouse on the end was murdered by 3 guys trying to rob the place. After that, the stores on Main just started closing down. The school, Southside, didn’t have air conditioners in the 80’s so our summer vacation would last 4 to 5 months.
Are three guys arrested?
@@TheRunningLeopard bro the guy that owned the warehouse WAS killed by the three others, they weren't dead
@@slowcodersloth Not certain. I was just a kid when it happened. But that was the beginning of the end for Lambert.
So you didn't have to school for the federally mandated 180 days?
Yup, when they moved manufacturing out of the USA... this is the result!!
thanks for taking us with you! I've only been to Mississippi once and enjoyed it -- blues music, great southern food, low cost of living...... I think Mississippi has alot to offer and alot of potential but gets overlooked.
The most bizarre thing for me was not seeing a single place where people could meet. Only streets (with no sidewalk), houses and Dollar General. No squares, parks, theaters, libraries or even bars with some kind of outdoors sitting space. It's like these towns were built with no urban planning whatsoever. Or maybe these things existed at some point and local government just stopped maintaining them.
That's because these towns were either segregated for non-whites or they were decent until segregation ended, new opportunities presented itself, causing many of the families to move and/or the town became so stubborn that when new money making tools came out like brand new technology for example, they refused to learn, thinking their old ways is enough for their little town. It is usually a combo of all of the above. I suspect the town that has 100% black was likely a designated "black only" town way back during segregation. So it never improved.
When I first visited the States as a kid I remember having the impression that there were almost no "real villages" compared to Europe. While villages and cities in Europe naturally grew and expanded around a castle, a monastery or a church, those places called downtown in the US appear more like a necessity after settlers had moved there and occupied the land. That lack of centers probably hurts those communities badly as the population shrinks.
CHECK IT - SAD- DELTA- like the rest of the south- last in health care, education, crumbling infrastructure, - First in DOMESTIC APARTHAID- VOTER SUPPRESSION- VOTE BLUE
In other words soulless
@@RozettaVyper
oh a member of the KKK making a comment....😂
I'm from Clarksdale and went to Ole Miss. Soon after graduating, I moved to Texas. It is depressing to go back home and see all the closed businesses and empty homes. I'm interested as well as to what the area will look like in 20 or 30 years.
We did a video of Clarksdale. Had a good time there! :)
S/O to Clakrsvegas aka Clakrsdale.
It may not be there. Immigrants could, possibly, revive some of these places. But, heck, some folks don't want any new immigrants.
@@yvonneplant9434 SYRIA
Who knows, it might rejuvenate. People get tired of living in the city with all its crime and other drawbacks. They could have a change of heart and decide the small time life is for them. And with the American entrepreneurial spiri, they could create jobs for the small towns. Where there's people that pray, there's a way. And Mississippi people are a praying people.
I came to the USA from England in 1979 and we did a coast to coast drive from New York to Los Angeles via the Deep South. I remember being quite shocked when driving through Mississippi, and how run down a lot of the towns were, compared to the several other states that we had visited. However, your excellent video has shocked me even more. The situation looks terribly depressing, all those abandoned homes and businesses and nobody around. The future looks extremely bleak for the people living there.
Totally stereotypical response .. depends greatly on which towns you went thru …going from NY to LA , you wouldn’t have gone thru any on the interstate
@@cliffwheeler7357 I call BS - you don’t take a cross country trip by going down obscure two lane state highways…it would take forever . You sure got a totally inaccurate perception of MS , I know that …this guy seems to have a perverse view of the world, where he seeks out every problematic venue he can find .
@@jayedwards4787 I live in MS he is not wrong in his documentaries
@@Marva123 I have for over 60 years … it’s not an attempt at accuracy
@@Marva123 so do I, totally misleading
great work! keep on the good work. you are showing pictures noone wants to see and which are not covered by the public media. we need people like you!
Very, very interesting. Thanks for presenting these exploratory videos. They give an eye opening view to places many of us have never seen.
I lived in Greenwood and Vicksburg and as a black man, I can see that this
is accurate. It’s sad, very sad and depressing. Great video that captures reality.
You know Vicksburg Reed?
I'm from greenwood now living in Seattle Washington. Left in 1999 at the age 17.
Have a great day everyone!
You too!?!!!
My Grandparents were of modest means and mostly lived/worked in Louisiana. The little towns here looked a lot like what I remember visiting them. Thanks for putting this up!
Thank you. As always another great video.
How can there only be 264K of subscribers. I made plans to visit the US from Miami up the East Coast to Chicago and down the middle to New Orleans but now I don’t have. It’s a brilliant channel. Love it. Would like him to interview some of the local inhabitants. Love the architecture and various other commentaries. Really great channel.
Thank you, David!
Just love your attention to significant detail about the areas you and wife visit. Keep up the good work and your enthusiasm for new adventures. As always safe travels 🚘🐈❤️🗺
Thank you, Angie!
❤
I’m from Mound Bayou and Cleveland MS. I was fortunate that my family was instrumental in the delta’s history. Thanks for highlighting this.
Greenville, MS.. Born and raised.. Still love it.. Im 34
Me too! I've lived elsewhere but ended up back in Mississippi, still.have lots of family in and around Greenville.
Lord Spoda, in 1988 my brother was in basic training at Ft. Benning, GA. I was in my early 20s. My family from Pennsylvania drove to visit him. We went over to Alabama and ended up in Phenix City. That was the most culture shock I’ve ever experienced in my life. People of color living in wooden shacks with steam from stoves, and clothes hanging from lines. My late g-ma as a teen in the 1930s told me about this same condition then. I couldn’t believe 50 some years later that it still existed.
Interesting. I'll be heading to Phenix City this summer.
Seen similar outside of Paducah KY on gravel roads in the 70's. Growing up in the northern MI, had never seen folks living like that before. Stuck with me all these decades.
Clothes hanging from lines is the norm in my country, out of the biggest cities anyway. Always been the best way to dry clothes, still is, I don't own a dryer, but we also don't have extremes of weather.
Here it is 2023 in Phenix City, the wooden shacks are still here. All the brothels and pool halls are gone now so that name they gave it " Sin City" doesn't apply these days. And that tree that my uncle (on leave from the Vietnam Era) wrapped our corvair on is still there on S Railroad St. The house my Papa & adopted father built in '65 for us still in use by other folks now
@@jillspence7227 its Saturday, I just took my clothes off the line! Yes I own a dryer, I've used it a couple of times in 5 years. Why run up the gas an electric bill when mother nature will do it better for free?
I'm from Mississippi lived here my whole life it has it good and bad places but to be honest I really like living here
A lot of dogs running free. 😢Our dog is a rescue from Mississippi. I'll be sure to remind her how blessed she is. Her litter was surrendered to a local vet and half had parvo. Prayers for these communities.
Dystopic indeed... Greetings from Tuscany (Italy)
Awesome! :)
I live about an hour away, closer to Memphis. I know some people that are moving into delta towns like Lambert because you can buy land or old houses there for practically nothing. My family lived in Crenshaw in the late 60's . At that time it was so busy on Saturday nights the sidewalks downtown were full. The boarded up building at 37:58 was my fathers grocery store. Look to the right behind that Dollar General and that is the bluff where the delta ends.
I love Lambert Mississippi never live there but I visit at least 21 to 23 times. People are so friendly.
@@dannaharbor8054 Yeah a lot of really good people live in the delta.
I've always thought that some of these abandoned towns would make a comeback once remote work became more mainstream. You could buy a house for straight cash and just forget about even needing to pay a mortgage payment, would be a great way to save money. On the down side, you'd have to live there, and it doesn't necessarily look like the type of place where you'd want to start a family or invite friends from out of town. But on the plus side, it's essentially a blank canvas and you could create whatever type of life you wanted there without worrying about neighbors getting up in your grill!
@@BrokenCompass502 That's exactly why they bought them. Your just over an hour from Memphis and a major airport. Drive 30 minutes east and house values triple, an hour east is Oxford and Ole Miss and home prices there are crazy. All of them paid cash, no HOA's super cheap property taxes. All of them could afford more but wanted to save money and not be house poor.
That’s a story. Thanks for sharing
I enjoy your videos so much, and your relaxed and friendly commentary. Thanks so much for sharing these, always so interesting.😊
Thank you, CL!!
Just subscribed, after seeing one of your videos by chance a while ago. Really appreciate seeing this part of the U.S.A. as I've always had an interest in out-of-the-way places, followed by the folks who live there. My family migrated to Australia from Germany in 1956 and from then until I turned 17 I lived in a small town there, after which I moved to our state's capital city, Melbourne, to find work, and have been there ever since. Over the years I've seen my home town, and many others like it, shrink in population as businesses shut down and work was harder to come by. Although the population has since stabilized, it will never be the bustling, thriving community it once was. I find that sad. Growing up in a small town is so much better than growing up in a large, impersonal city, from what I can tell. Thank you.
Awesome! :)
@@JoeandNicsRoadTripso sad to see one town after another getting bad so shame on politicians who never talk about that even big cities getting worse full of homeless high in crimes what's going on where the money where is the care😭😭🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲
Agreed!
Thanks for another interesting video, Joe.
A fascinating insight into a part of the world I know very little about. Thanks for all the additional facts, figures and information that makes these trips with you so informative.
As a someone who had lived in Pittsburgh, PA her whole life and relocated to Hattiesburg, MS in 2020. I was in culture shock, and that’s for Hattiesburg. A city that has the best school district in the state and 2 universities. We lived in a nice housing plan, someone broke into my car in my driveway, the police came and told me there are over “385 different gangs in Hattiesburg”. 😳 For as poor as the area is, I was shocked to see the high cost of groceries at the time, and the fees to register your car. Car registration fees in PA are $46 a year! There were also loose dogs always running, all the time. We lived there for 18 months, and decided it was not for us. So we moved back home to PA.
Please stop lying about Hattiesburg Mississippi I been here for 14 years move from the delta. Your car will get broken into everywhere you go ,it’s crime no matter were you go it’s not 300 gangs in Hattiesburg stop lying i love my state don’t ever disrespect it city ppl just don’t get it that’s y we will always out live you guys we know what it mean to struggle and get pass it
This actually is false info but live where you wish
@@xavienjones1752 There are quotes around the gangs comment. It was not hers but from another source.
Car registration here is $85 for a car, Wisconsin
@@suehop1579 $151 in Illinois.
I'm not from the Delta but my family is from top to bottom starting with Holly Springs south east of Memphis to Greenville on what they call the ArkLaMiss.
The south in general is much more down trodden than the rest of the country and the reasons are vast. I love visiting the south regardless cause it's where my ancestors started their journey and it's beautiful I love nature and water. Was just in this area 2 days ago
Again, just love this channel. Feet up, relaxing and cruising America. We'll be touring the southern states next month for 4 weeks. This gives us an idea where we need to keep the doors locked and which motels not to book 😂
Dad is from Clarksdale and he loves his hometown. He's a true Delta Boy! I love the history and how he speaks about it. It's just not anywhere I could live. I enjoy visiting family though.
Great work! Thank you for sharing. If I may make a suggestion, there are nice parts of Mississippi as well. Many times only the run down, rural areas of Mississippi are shown. You would really enjoy viewing other towns and cities that have beautiful homes, schools, universities, etc. That would make for a great video as well - to show both sides of Mississippi 👍🏽😊
I have visited and done videos of Gulf Port, Biloxi and Tupelo - all beautiful Mississippi cities.Those videos are exactly what you suggested. Check them out, you might like them.
@@JoeandNicsRoadTrip Thanks! I sure will. Love your content 😊
Nice parts😅
I live in olive branch, MS... Desoto County is amazing, they show this part tho
@@marquezsmith8889 We’ve stayed in Olive Branch a couple times on our travels. It’s very nice there.
this year marks the 30th anniversary of my journey from Malaysia to Columbus airport, where I began my degree program at Mississippi State University in Starkville, located halfway across the globe. Fondly reminiscing about the charming town that I miss so dearly...
Great job LS! These videos are so informative about other parts of the country that most people didn't even realize existed.
Thanks, Jim!
Hello Mr Spoda. Great videos, once again.. And as usual, enjoying your videos, and thank you for providing lots of info about those Mississippi towns. I'm getting to know many places without leaving my home town. Greetings from Montebello, California
Amazing video. I love seeing things like this. Thank you
Thanks so much for that music history lesson!
I've been an amateur musical historian for much of my life, since high school. I always thought that the birthplace of rock 'n' roll was West Memphis, across the river from Tennessee, in Arkansas. (1947-1952).
But it sure makes sense that the Delta would have bred bigger things with the blues. I recall listening to old '78 records as a kid, in my next door neighbor's basement in the early 1960s. Vintage stuff. Worth its weight in gold.
Love your videos. Have watched many without commenting much. I am no longer able to ramble because of my health. But your windshield has become a window to a world that fascinates me. I grew up in small and middle sized towns. Those roots still run deep within me - even though I've spent my entire adult life in cities.
Much obliged for all your efforts!
Wow. Thank you for the really kind words. 😀
Love the stats, keep em coming
I was born in Clarksdale and I spent a good bit of my adolescence growing up in Crowder which is close to Lambert and Marks ( not much different). This video is a blast from the past but it also affirms my decision to make a geographical change was the right decision .
I know it could be a lot of research but it would be nice to hear about the dominant economic activity for some of these towns. Agriculture, mining, fishing, manufacturing, etc.
Thanks for your videos. I am Canadian but am fascinated by the US because you are our closest friends, our economies are closely tied. and I think it is our responsibly to know more about you. I also noticed the train was CN, interesting to see so far south. Sending you all love and respect.
I think he tries if there was one dominant industry for a city. The biggest problem for this region was stated at the beginning of the video. A arm that used to employ hundreds now rarely have even ten employees. With nothing else to fall back on these towns have been dwindling for years.
Interesting you say that, Octo. I am part Canadian and have always been touched by the fact that you know more about our country than we do yours. Sort of speaks to our arrogance.
yaaaaaaa first thing i notice was thye CN logo on the train
Lots of furniture factories in the state , tons
In reality there is no economy, and that is why almost everyone moved out. There used to be a lot of farm jobs, but automation eliminated almost all of them.
It's kind of weird, that you actually can't see any people walking around anywhere. Thanks for uploading - very interesting!
In ex-Soviet Union it is about the same: the situation is created economically (or someone smart creates it for purpose) when villages and small towns are dying each year. Population is induced to herd in big cities. The reason is obvious - it is much more easier to control them there. No more individuals, just a faceless herd. As they say - cost optimization ☹
Very true! Greetings from Canada!
nah, in the US those places were settlet because the settlers were sold lies. Sometimes with slavery a few could make a living in other places mining or steel made a few decades a bit f money but now thats gone theres nothing left. Those places are too remote to commute to any work. The land is not furtile enough for agriculture and the people own their houses but wont get anything for selling so they're stuck. The young all leave or left already.
Dear Lord Spoda. Thanks once more for video. Heartbreaking. That this is possible in the USA. A friend of mine visited Mississippi in the 80s and confirms the poverty was already rife then.
Thanks again for another great and informative video
Thank you for a great tour. 👍 Blessings from South Africa 🇿🇦
Thanks for the opportunity to watch this types of towns, I take a kind of trip at another part of US in the news don´t see much times, greetings from Latin America.
Excellent video, great commentary. Keep up the good work !
@@SSNESS Spoda isn't looking for strays to help. What's your point ?
I loved seeing those loose dogs everywhere. When I lived down South I'd always keep a little something to toss out the window. Most are looking for any scrap of food they can find.
It is funny how two people can think opposite in they same scenario. I was thinking how many of these dogs were dumped on the side of the road because the people either could not afford them or they were not trained and turned into nuisances and people just dumped them. Every dog deserves a home and to be loved, and nice warm dry bed to sleep in. So for me it is sad.
@@miketybring4700 It's possible those dogs have a home to go to to eat and sleep. When I grew up in a small town in the South, our little dog wandered around free all day, but sure knew where home was. I hope that's still the case. I can't stand to think of unhappy animals.
Those stray dogs ,if they get together in a corner, they will attack any stranger whether another dog or human. They did happen every time in Detroit.
@@kerrynight3271 same I remember being a kid when I wanted to play with my dog I’d step out the door n yell his name and he’d come
Compound 1080 would be a good choice
Excellent job man, keep up the good work
Thanks, will do! :)
@@JoeandNicsRoadTrip when will you go to Indianola ms? That's where I was born and raised,
I can’t help but think that these are once beautiful and thriving towns. So sad and what a waste especially the old bldg architectures. I just found you and binge watching your videos. For some of us that cannot explore these cities like you do, this is an eye opener for sure and is greatly appreciated. Thank you for including their statistics as well 👍😁
Wow, it's sad seeing the decay of once thriving towns and communities. Sadly it appears to be this way all across the country.
It's great that you're capturing it in videos.👍
Same happens all over the world. In less and more extreme ways.
Back in the day when cotton was king, these were poor but thriving communities. When people could no longer depend on farming and factory work, they left. Even though there is now extreme blight, the land is very beautiful in the summer when everything is in full bloom. Such an extreme contradiction to the reality of life that most of the people of the communities must be living.
@@deehoward2351 that’s deep, I like it
MS is the poorest in the U.S., for those of you, keep saying this is happening across the country that makes it different already.
Nah not all across the country I beg to differ! We are booming around this part of the south
What I like about your channel, you show us more than the tourist areas and cities. You get to the heart of America.
Thank you, Aaron!
I have no idea why this is so entertaining. Good content
Love Your Video's you do a such good job, explaining about each town's history, record, and stats, you do well with your photography, and you show the good with the bad, and are honest, Thanks for showing us all these interesting towns and places, We love to watch your video's.
Thank you very much!
Breaks my heart seeing all the stray dogs especially the one running to you :(
Love watching your videos all the way from Serbia!
Awesome!!
Never been to Mississippi but I was always told about how beautiful the old homes were
Fascinating, yet so depressing. Thank you for uploading these videos, and including the information that you provide.
I live in Australia, and the same impacts have dramatically affected many country towns here. It's not quite as pronounced as the US, but we're definitely not far behind.
All the best, and I look forward to some more videos like this (with a sense of dread!)
Thanks, Danoz!
Looks like Africa. Beautiful😂
I predict that your masonry and tile roofed houses will look much better than our wood and asphalt roofed houses when they begin to deteriorate.
The difference in Australia is there isn't a huge gap between rich and poor. The poorest parts of Australia are typically the areas which would be considered almost 90%+ indigenous. Its a different issue here, but IMO its still mostly politicians filtering money to the wealthy (Very easy to do, distract people with social issues then screw the people over who vote for you).
Dude, your videos are cool, it would be really interesting if you interviewed some of the locals too
Wow, what a great video joe!
Thank you! :)
I’ve never been to the Mississippi Delta. Thank you for the tour. Some of these towns appear as if a tragedy occurred and the residents vanished. Some gems in these towns nonetheless.
The Rice Bowl Chinese takeaway in Clarksdale had the best Chicken Curry I have ever eaten. I was in Marks for the 2016 Mules and Blues Festival.
It's still open and booming 😂😂 everybody love the rice bowl
Thanks Joe!
i really appreciate your history facts and other data
Just a heads up on the Delta region of Arkansas. You may have already filmed it but I am looking forward to your thoughts of the area. I lived in Helena-West Helena for 3 yrs. 2012-2015. I had remarried and moved there from beautiful Hot Springs, Arkansas. My husband died suddenly so I moved back home. He was a Funeral Director and also pastor of a small church. I saw so much crime (mainly drug busts and homicides) every time I left the house. State Troopers had to raid the town and sweep up all the drug dealers on a regular basis. So I just wanted to warn you of the danger there. Safe travels and prayers for your safety!
Thank you, Patricia! That video will be up Wednesday. An eye opening area, for sure. I went to Hughes, Marianna, Brinkley & Forrest City. I'll be visiting the area around Helena in a future video.
Side note: We visited Hot Springs and had a great time, including getting a good soak in a bath house! The video is on the channel! :)
If you think it was bad in 2015 dont go now. Helena West Helena looks like someone dropped napalm on it now. It's a place to pass threw and dont think about stopping. They drop folks in broad daylight now.
Hi, how do i find the delta area on a map? We are spending a month touring the southern states soon 😮. Not sure whether by motor home or car yet.... Motels.
@@tomf4547 Hey back at you! I am basically mostly familiar with Arkansas. But the Delta region consists mainly of 100 mile radius closest to the Mississippi River in Southeast Arkansas, Northwest Mississippi, and Northeast Louisiana. Be aware this is not ideal tourist area as there are miles and miles of commercial farmland there. But you may find something of interest the closer you stay to the mighty Mississippi River. Stay far far away from Memphis, Tennessee. That’s a high crime area, though there is many things to see there. Not sure what your interests are but I hope this helps. Good luck on your trip!
@@patriciawilhite7038 ooh Memphis Tennessee is/was high on the list. Maybe have a quick look n keep driving!
I was a Bobby for 22 years so have a tenancy for curiosity, but that killed the cat didn't it 😂🇬🇧
The USA always had dying towns since the Revolutionary War. Some never recovered after a major flood or fire, some were abandoned by merchants that relocated to where a canal or railroad line was coming thru. Some withered away after the region's soils played out with the farmers, tradesmen and merchants leaving where virgin land was available.
respect to u- but u are mistakenly - overlooking - RACISTISM.
Thanks for the opportunity to see the real inside part of the good old states of the Mississippi river! I've never been to the US and my vision of the old Mississippi was drawn for the most part from Huck Finns story by Mark Twain. To see the country for yourself is such a brilliant opportunity, especially considering that I am not planning to travel across the Atlantic. Such a contrast to what I had in my imagination! Lost for words
@Dale Gribble I kind of imagined these small towns aging, picturesque and a bit nostalgic ))) I've had no idea about the US rural life (no more than the city life either)
all i know from the south is from movies and youtube i watched, allways tought america was so beautiful although ive never been there and im surprised to see it like this
Same here ))
DOMESTIC APARTHAID- VOTER SUPPRESSION
Wow thank you for sharing this information 🙏🙏
As someone who’s from MS, this is such a sad sight to see. Thankfully I’ve grown up in the Jackson metro, so I’ve lived in a good area and have always advocated that MS overall isn’t as bad as people make it to be. This, however, is so hard to watch. Such a shame that so many historical towns like this are disappearing
As someone who grew up in the Jackson Metro,I'm trying to figure out what area of it is good anymore
He said Jackson and good in the same sentence 😂😂😂
@@fiyaondatrack just because Jackson itself sucks doesn’t mean all the suburbs do lol
@@fiyaondatrack😂😂 I'm trying to figure out where the good part is at in Jackson
@@thrillermiller7301yeah of course the sneaky one. Thrrow a rock & hide their hands😂😂😂 oh & lets not forget, The biggest criminals of all criminals.
I'm in St. Louis and a lot of folks Here are living on about 14k a Year and even less on SSI . It's a Sad state of affairs' It's a full time Job keeping benefits , Staying Honest just to break even each year , failure to stay on your toes about your EBT "food stamps" , any Circuit breakers , Help with Gas Heating , Will put you in poverty . a Woman who wants to keep her benefits can't have no Man around , They make the families separate and the children fatherless .
I like the idea that a lot of small towns over the next couple of decades will either pop up or comeback as remote work becomes more and more common place. Once we get more reliable high speed internet then people will want to leave high price high crime cities. I don’t think towns put too far will come back but towns and cities within an hour of a high population center could have a chance.
From Marks...Graduated HS 1957..thriving town of 2500..Great place to grow up in 50's..live @511 oak st..Good homes this area. Show the good areas next time..Enjoyed this.. Brings back memories...
My children's father is from Greenville, his dad worked on Tacket farms, and it's still full of cotton fields, soy bean, rice, the catfish pond were converted into feilds.
I am relatedto Tackeys from VA. You have any related people there?
Born in Clarksdale, because that's where the only hospital in Cohoma County is. Raised in Jonestown, and on occasion I stayed in Marks with my sister. Very hard life being raised in the Delta. We moved to the coast in 90-91, and it was like being in an entirely different state.
My friends are from Coahoma County. The Taylors, Martins, Towners,and Stuckeys. Coahoma County high had a good basketball team this year, 30-2.
A few decades ago, I drove from Vancouver BC to Palm Beach Flordia. We drove for 56 hours straight on the way, and hit some small towns like these that were really sad to see. We had a CB in the Jeep and stoped for food with a few truckers that we spoke with along the way. It was really eye opening to see the changes in towns across the drive, and made me realize just how fortunate that I am.
how posh of you, lol. Vancity to Palm Beach city - cliché funny
fortunate- yes do something about it- VOTE BLUE- democracy is in PERIL
Makes me appreciate my little NH. So depressing and u know it will never turn around. Amazed people even stay.
Its very depressing to see the loss & decay of small villages & towns in rural America. We all can expect to see change as time moves along ( some positive , some negative ) but not at these levels. All very sad for those that live there.
This isn't a "rural America" problem.. it's a problem where the demographic skews a certain way.
I think people should just move out of these towns and find opportunity elsewhere rather than try to revive a place with no jobs or industry. Sometimes it's just better to let a dying town die and return to nature. There just aren't enough people to support such a town.
I live in the "Golden Triangle" of Mississippi.. which would be the Northeast area to those not familiar with the state..
Finding a good job is nearly impossible & even harder in smaller towns, like mine. Unless you're related, friend of a friend, it's all about who you know, who you are, your parents, etc.. Pretty much the same "Good Ole Boys" system seen in the Murdaugh saga..
If you're looking for a church though, you're in luck! There's one on every corner, but again, if you don't carry that "NAME" you'll feel very uncomfortable.
Mississippi is the #1 poorest state, but let's pass the lottery so the poor can spend their last dollar on the hopes of hitting it big..
EDIT: Those who felt the unwelcome feelings in church decided to come together & form their own church & welcome everyone, no matter who they are..
I live in the Golden triangle too. Clay county to be exact. And in most cases your right.... it is all about who you know. They will pass up the perfect person for the job or contract, only to give their aunt's husband's brother in law. Who could be a terrible worker,the opportunity. It's a buddy system. And lately alot of high ranking ppl have been getting charged with embezzlement.
The need to have connections to get a decent job in small towns is to be expected.
Come to Union County ,MS NA
😬 Delta isn’t only spot in MS..
Thang is from the outside the makeup looks pretty but the inner is shattered..
How would an interracial couple be received in that church?
@@nelsonmcatee3721 they'd be received & welcomed just like the other couples that attend. Believe it or not, you wouldn't see the racism that most think about MS. As a matter of fact, my new interracial neighbors are the best neighbors I've had so far.