I live in this area. You can talk to most of these people in the mornings at the local Hardee's, McDonald's, or local diners. They'd be happy to tell you about what happened. Also, the local mayor and town council would be great to talk to. You can get in touch with them if you just ask the people at town hall. I plan on doing this for the town of bladenboro soon.
While Fair Bluff did suffer significant damage from the hurricanes of 2016 and 2018, that was not what caused the demise of the town. Fair Bluff was a tobacco town just like several other towns in southeastern North Carolina and when the tobacco industry went away in 1990’s so did their economy. This was exasperated by NAFTA when the textile industry went to Mexico. The hurricanes were just the final nail in the coffin.
I was born and raised in eastern NC. Until 1998, one of the biggest cash crops was tobacco and unbeknownst to most, its price was subsidized be the US government. Buildings like the one at 18:50 were ubiquitous across the southern US. These tobacco warehouses, at the end of every growing season were arteries of cash into these communities. Now most of them stand empty of have been decayed by the elements over time. One would think that tobacco settlement dollars would have found its way to these communities for revitalization or switching to new crops... but much of those settlement dollars still seem to be tied up in the Golden Leaf Foundation.
Nice post! In Central NC a lot of them have been renovated into apartments, studios, and lofts....and they are very expensive to rent. 😥 So trendy! (jk) It's a shame that the poorer folks have been and are being forced out of the communities.
Over my way in NC tobacco is pretty much as profitable as it always was. I'm in my 50s and have family who owns tobacco fields that haven't changed since as far back as I can remember.
@@mbp7060 you’re crazy man. Not saying it’s not exceptions to all rules but NC farmers have been complaining for awhile now about the industry. From my understanding the peanut industry in NC has surpassed tobacco. Everything has been & is being monopolized. Once you add 2+2, you realize all over the US this is being done slowly but surely in preparation for a greater plan the Elites have.
Fair Bluff has huge obstacles to face, for sure. Having done some work down there, I was down there between Hurricanes Matthew and Florence, then afterward. What is startling is how close the river is to the town and, in 2019, three months after Florence, the water remained within a foot of the NC 904 roadbed. Some of the buildings in Fair Bluff may have been demolished as part of a disaster recovery program. I hope so. The citizens who remain have a passion for their town. There's just so many challenges.
Those empty buildings at 5:55 were either cattle, cotton , vegetables or lumber. Looked like their hey day was late 40s 50s. You see that with small medium sized businesses they started dying in the early 70s and large owners took over switching their base to more modern facilities. I was a small farmer in the early 80s and applied for a loan and the bank wouldn't loan citing precisely that large conglomerates were taking the heart out of middle America. Some people call it progress, I have other not so nice words for it
Thank you for sharing your road trip experience. My heart sunk when you described the peak population in 1980 and what it is today. It could have easily been our county seat at 11K in the early 90’s when factory jobs were shipped overseas. Opening many businesses along the interstate saved our county seat with more growth and more job opportunities. During the pandemic unemployment rate, it never exceeded 5%. They’re not the best paying jobs but even McDonald pays $15 per hour. Homes and rent rates are reasonable. It was the highways and roads that got us ahead of some very bad times. That’s all. However, more small towns in Ky have many community activities going on. It attracts out of town family members, people renting bed and breakfast, antique malls, you name it. Doing nothing gets nothing accomplished. It takes United communities to make businesses happen.
As a Charlotte, NC native all of my 40 years, I'm loving this one! I've been through Whiteville & Tabor City many times on the way to the beach. Thanks Lord Spoda!
@@JoeandNicsRoadTrip Yes! In my 40 years, I've seen every side of this city change drastically. I only have an issue with traffic sometimes; other than that, I LOVE my city & state!❤🤗💜
This is a great video. I’ve lived in NC since 1970 and I have spent a lot of time in the Cumberland and Robeson County areas. I’ve observed so many people move away from these areas during my lifetime because they were pursuing educational and employment opportunities in other places. The older people who stayed behind eventually passed away. So many of these small towns were incredibly lively during the 1970s and even into the late 1990s. But I noticed a lot of decline beginning in the early 2000s. Couple that with hurricanes and tornadoes that have hit these places and what you get is substantial neglect. New Subscriber!
Those businesses didn't just "leave", they were outsourced to other countries with cheaper labor. THIS is the real problem in America now. All of our manufacturing is being sent offshore, either due to high labor costs here, environmental "issues", or just plain GREED! And let's not forget the HUGE influx of "cheap" immigrant labor. Our borders are unsecured (regardless of what MajorDorkus says), and some of the folks "in control" seem to be just fine with this! Unless and until these practices stop, there will be NO recovery. Even if it stops now, it may be too late, sadly.
@@edgarburlyman738 at least there were jobs- now look at them. Sure, you don't want it to specifically be a company town, but once the main industries dry up because all of that got sent to China or something, the town just withers away and dies.
From what I understand, it's not the labor costs or even the insurance and benefits costs that drive companies away. It's actually corporate tax! Relocate to Mexico, avoid us corporate taxes and ship your products back into the US duty free? Sounds like a sweet deal!
Lived in NC for 40 years, and I've seen all the towns in this video. Good observations, BUT the question is "Why?" Once vibrant, these towns all began to decline in the 90's as North Carolina lost 3 major industries ... Tobacco, Furniture, and Textiles. Many reasons, but a major player was ""government policies".
Fair Bluff, former tobbaco town, those large "barn" style buildings were used for tobbaco drying and storage. Yes, 100% correct... the storm completed the job that the loss of tobacco started. Excellent video !!
I’ve just moved to NC from New York, I am fascinated with your exploration of small towns, and here you are, right in my own backyard…I don’t have to take a long road trip,it’s all here…..the neglect, the sadness, the blight, the ruins…the poverty…..
I've always wanted to drive that route from Columbia, SC to Wilmington, NC. The fire hydrants in Chadbourn were being used to flush the public water system to bring bacteria levels down. All the abandoned warehouse buildings were connected to tobacco farming, which went away some time ago. I'm thinking the courthouse building had some environmental problem, most likely mold, but that's a pure guess. Interstate 95 drained traffic that would have gone through these towns from central South Carolina to the Wilmington, NC area, along with the diminished agriculture business and the hurricane/flooding problems it's easy to see why they have gone down so much.
Just found your channel today. Enjoy your videos, I live in the small NC community of Autryville, east of Fayetteville. Viewed your videos of Wilmington & Wrightsville beach. I have spent some time in that area as well as the other nearby beaches. Looking forward to seeing more of your videos.
The thing with rural towns is, they aren't at all welcoming. It's not like they're trying to attract new people, because when you go there they're all hostile and look at you like an alien.
As a North Carolinian, I try to stay away from the border of South Carolina/North Carolina when driving to the beach, because it's like a shit bomb went off and the town never left the 1960's. Couldn't imagine living in a spot where your only culture is a church, a McDonalds, and a Dollar Tree.
I've spent a huge part of my life in southeastern NC. Aside from the immediate coastal towns, this is typical throughout the region. Unless you're a big-time farmer or government employee, there's literally nothing.
A year ago or so, I read some interesting labor statistics regarding NC. In order, the costs of labor based on pay rates showed that in order, from high-to-low was: 1. hiring illegals, 2. Prison labor, 3. North Carolina. The people have ALWAYS been poor. Then, the government killed the tobacco industry. Then Clinton signed NAFTA and destroyed the furniture and textile industries in the state. There really isn't much left in NC other than a few pockets of new tech parks and some factory jobs. The average person didn't earn enough money to even have insurance so when the storms come through, they're just out of luck. Thanks for the tour.
Nafta was actually a campaign promise of reagan called the north American fair trade. George h w bush negotiated nafta in 1988 was ratified in late 1992 signed by Clinton in 1993.
My family owns 600 acres of productive NC farm land. I looked up the value of the property and it is worth well over a million dollars. Imagine my surprise when I found out that for the area we live in that's considered poor.
I love visiting the Carolina 's this is a great video..thanks. The fire hydrants were being "flushed". Part of maintaining the system and finding anything that needs repair or replacement.
Hi Joe. I just love these small towns. No matter what their circumstance or condition, They still have their own character & charm in my mind. Keep them coming mate. Once again, G'day from Australia.
My daily route I use . I go to Morehead city MWF and Wilmington Tues and Thursday from lake city . Love the empty country roads. Had a lot of flooding on that side of NC last couple of years
I binge watch your videos and I’m new to your channel and absolutely obsessed with your content. I’m from North Carolina so this video is close to home!
I used to go on Myrtle Beach golf trips and we'd pass thru Garland, Clinton, Whiteville, Elizabethtown, and Tabor City on 701. Some of the spots werent too bad......but definitely some zones where you do n NOT want to break down.
That's true here in the UK. Manufacturing, mining and steel towns had been in decline, but the late 1970s and early 80s saw the end of a lot of working towns as overseas production bit hard. Some managed to reinvent themselves, many did not and high streets are boarded up and populations dwindle. For those who remember such places as thriving centres with good pay and opportunities to spend it, it's sad to see their present state.
A lot of these towns have been in decline for decades! I've traveled through many of them on the way to Myrtle Beach from NC. Doesn't look like much has changed from the 80's or 90's. For the most part NC is booming!!! Major population growth. The area I live in is seeing a very large influx of people from all over the country!!! Also more military families moving into the area. The metro areas of Raleigh, and Charlotte are turning into major metropolises!!! This video is very misleading!
Not from that particular area of NC but I would speculate that the destroyed buildings were a combination of hurricane damage and the effect of the loss of revenue from the destruction of the Tobacco business.
Fort Bragg, Fayetteville, N.C., is the first place were moved to , when I came to the States. I always have fond memories of this State. Beautiful beaches and mountains. A lot of visits were made to Myrtle Beach, driving through Lumberton, N.C... Thank you for visiting this great State !
I was born in Shelby, N.C. and spent my first 6 years in Forrest City before moving to Memphis. Memphis was a great place to raise a family in the 50s to the mid-60s, but then in the late years of that decade, things went downhill in a big hurry. In 1993 my elderly parents moved back to NC, Tryon, which was a great little community near Hendersonville.
From Scotland, its utterly amazing to see all the abandoned houses in your videos. If you could only find out why some have been left, especially the ones that once were great abodes.
Threats of many hurricanes every year, hot + very humid summers, freezing winters " sometimes down to 0 degrees " many of those old homes you see are infested with BLACK MOLD, ( cant live in them ) a silent killer!😭🧙♂️yes sure re bob!
Can't wait for the Wilmington adventure I want to see if everyone is still as friendly there.Just a Smiling and Waving at almost everyone passing Bye - Hi !
God bless you mister, I found your channel recently, and I can't tell you how much I enjoy your videos, you are my tour guide i never knew I needed. I am watching from North Macedonia (Europe) with mixed feelings, because I worked on a cruise ship one contract only for x reasons, it was 7 day cruise from the port in Miami. Good times. I don't watch these videos for the numbers only, I feel like I'm exploring America on my own, so thank you.
I lived in FairBluff, had to leave after Matthew and Florence... Very sad situation there..as for the Columbus County Courthouse.. It was found to have loads of asbestos.. So they closed it to gut it, I heard they are trying to refurbish it.
Those are the places I plan on moving too simply because I've lived my whole life around the triangle and it's being overrun with transplants and developments and horrible traffic.
The Hydrants are open to clean the system . If their is a Fire , there will be better Pressure. The Town I live in does that Occasionally . West Suburban Chicago
Back in the 70's, many industries left the north for the south, looking for cheaper labor and taxes, when that wasn't working out, they moved abroad for even cheaper labor and costs. This is the result.
Lack of education and dependence on religion also plays a large part. The lack of education plays an integral role in how people interpret (their) religion. Those folks put all their trust in a "god", coupled with lack of education and high income skills just do not exist.
@@jonbennett62 Physical labor jobs don't require as much education as office-type jobs do. Southern States tend to have more physical labor jobs - or they did before they were shipped overseas. The South has always concentrated on physical labor industries, such as: agriculture, forestry, mining, fishing, etc. Even its manufacturing was based on many of those resources. For a while, the textile industry was gaining in the South (based on cotton agriculture), but then it got shipped overseas. Paper production was another major industry (based on forestry), but then computers and the internet caused it to take a hit. Of course, we all know what happened to the coal industry, which many of the Southern States were involved with. The people of the South aren't really into the types of jobs that require higher education. I tried working an office job, myself, and couldn't stomach it. I had to get out and get a more physically intensive job in which I spent a lot of time outdoors. That is just how some of us are - and I'm college educated. That was a waste of good money on my part. I decided that I hated office work and will never go back to it again. Religion isn't even a factor in my life as I'm an Atheist and always have been.
@@laurie7689 I am a licensed engineer and work outside at least 50% of the time and in an office the remaining. There are a lot of high paying, high education jobs that are outdoor focused, you just need to find one you like and make a career out of it. Or not, your choice, but they are there if you look. You also need to find a career that cannot be outsourced like the service industry, rail or trucking or other types that are similar. What I do cannot be outsourced. Peace.
@@dcola123 I'm already too old and out of the workplace now. It is the younger generation (the GenZ's, such as my Daughter's), that I'm concerned about. I had her a bit late in life, so she is GenZ and not GenY like many of the children of my generation. She is nearly finished with uni and will have to get a job afterwards. She may be able to handle working in an office though. I couldn't do it. My last job had me in an office for a couple of hours, but out of the office for the rest of the day. THAT was good. THAT I could handle. There was a lot more physical labor involved, but it felt good to get outside and move my body.
Fairbluff was one of the hardest hit towns after Hurricane Florence. The Lumber River normally sits at around 8-10' in Fairbluff. It hit almost 30' in Fairbluff a week after Florence and stayed at that level for almost 3 weeks. So imagine that road you were traveling on at the 9:00 mark, that was under about 15'+ of water for almost 3 weeks.
Wow!! Hard to imagine that depth of water, whew! What an absolute disaster for any town, but especially for a small, relatively low income town, such as this. Thanks for the info. neighbor!
Yeah, there are some nice photos online of the town being underwater. It is doubtful that insurance covered much of the loss, if folks even had insurance in the first place. That's when you call it quits in a place and just abandon it. It's not worth it to rebuild there in case the flooding ever returns. Unfortunately, the remaining folks probably can't afford to leave or they are old and just want to live out the remainder of their lives in a place that they are familiar with.
Thanks for sharing this video with us. This is so heartbreaking to see a city/town so devastated by the elements but, it's the impact upon the lives of the residents that is so troubling to me. I've lived in poor neighborhoods but never any like you've portrayed here. I truly feel for the folks back there. I ask the question, "Why hasn't there been any aid designated to areas such as this? Why isn't America given aid before other countries? Sorry for the rant but, seeing this gets my blood pressure up. Stan
As usual another good video. I really feel bad for some of those communities. They are just on their way to being ghost towns. Hey, my roommate in the Air Force barracks at Minot AFB was from that part of North Carolina. Not too far from Fayetteville. He got out of the Air Force and worked for the North Carolina State Prison System. Sounds like he lives in that area.
Lots of towns like this in Eastern NC. I've traveled around that area a few times. Really flat part of the state. It gets hit by hurricanes Simi often. Thanks for another great video!
We go through that town a lot going to North Myrtle. The hurricanes were bad but the real devastation came from the flooding of the Lumbar River right next to downtown in 2016 and again in 2018. You can see the water lines in the downtown buildings reaching up to 4 feet high.
Fair Bluff really took it on the Chin during Florence in 2018. That entire strip of downtown was underwater and obviously has not recovered. The first time I drove through there..... it really was a moving experience! Such a cool strip of downtown area that is deserted!
The tale of two North Carolinas. On one hand you have these dying small manufacturing towns and on the other you have booming tech and finance metros like Raleigh and Charlotte. Looking at this video you wouldn’t think NC is the fourth fastest growing state in the country.
They go to n.c. and not long after they go back to where they came from once they realize what a BIG mistake it was moving down SOUTH was in the first place!😭🧙♂️< ya darn tootin > dont ya worry none too much ya heer!?
A lot of European streets were built around people walking or the horse. Much of North America's streets were built around the horse-pulled wagon/carriage or the automobile.
Yes, of course; but there are far narrower and more crowded roads as one proceeds further North and Easterly. Be reminded that'Lord Spoda' is from Oklahoma!
I was born and raised in small town NC in 1945 , about 10 miles out in the country. and that area looks the same today 2023 as it did when i was a kid, maybe some new houses but most of the old ones are still there.
Lots of old unused tobacco warehouses looks to me. Don't miss the "freight" depot in Whiteville with more abandoned warehouses. I'm guessing the downturn of the agricultural economy has as much to do with the devastation of this region as did hurricanes.
Another great video. Surely is amazing that towns have really gone to the ruins, unlike here in Australia or even the UK where you'll see some sort of life around the most deserted town. You are creating some inspiration for a road trip to the US one day. Keep up the great work.
Awesome video. It's sad to see towns like that. The running water from the hydrant's is to flush out chlorine build up. Cities are required to flush out every month are so.
Excellent video again. It seems to prove that wherever you are in the world, when Interstates, Freeways, Motorways, By-passes, call them what you may are built then there are consequences and the results are dying towns, poverty, crime and population movement. So sad, but unfortunately inevitable. Already looking forward to another video. Take care. Brynn Welch -- Stafford -- UK.
At 14:40 or so, you noticed some of the hydrants running slowly. It is most likely a "flush of the system" where they get rid of sediment and rust,etc., from the water otherwise standing in the hydrant pipes. It is usually done every 5 years or so. It is to make sure that in an emergency, the hydrants will flow as designed. THANK YOU for another great video !
I agree. It’s sad to see such a beautiful building not being used. I’m referring to the Columbus County Court House. I think the preservation of the railroad cars and tracks is cool. I love some of the old houses. The houses that are falling down are an attractive nuisance in legal terms. Falls under tort law and theoretically owner should be liable for children getting injured on the property. Appreciate your video.
So sad to see all that decay. I'd much rather live somewhere like that (Fair Bluff) than in the city, I really hate living near cities. Thanks for sharing this!
@@williebeamish5879 I grew up in a very small town like that. Have wanted nothing more than to be back in a small town again. I know, ya don't have access to the convenient things in life, I don't care. City life sucks, my small town became a concrete jungle, I'm sick to death of it.
The richer people that have some way to buy up these properties could come in and buy up these old abandoned house and tear them down and clean up the lot probably could get several of them cheap then build some duplexes on them and build some small stores or get DG to move into these towns and some speedway or five stars and put people back to work so they could pay their bills and bring these town back to life.
I agree, with all the billionaires and millionaires you would think that they could do that.But they are too greedy and do not care about the poor in this country.Bill Gates does more for African countries than he does for poor Americans.@@annajohnson3309
Hello again! Seeing you enter the town over the creek or river, I bet Fair Bluff flooded too. I guess it's wasn't enough of a "fair bluff"? Like all the RR crossings there! And there is something oddly beautiful about decay. ...Chadbourne interesting also, especially the RR station/depot! Most of these dying towns were built along the RR tracks for rail service - or was it vice versa? ...At Tabor City they might have just torn down an abandoned building or complex and were burning off the excess vegetation.
Whiteville has one of the busiest downtowns on all of your videos I have been watching! Nice to see considering most of the other towns are being reclaimed by nature. 😳😢
So sad all the homeless crowding into Seattle and tons of room in this town , same goes for LA and other big towns, People could grow veggies , I love your video s keep doing this
I live in Fair Bluff just moved here 3 months ago. I live right across from the American legion across from the river. I'm widowed 61 female. I've not even driven around the town I live on the corner main highway have no reason to but seeing your video I think I might.
Yea I was going to say that about the crime in Whiteville. Do they have any nice home area's? You need to check out Southport NC about 40 minutes from Wilmington. Real neat little town especial close to the water way down town an the marina, the beach is also close. I enjoyed the vidio and subscribed.
No matter how dead the town, there's a Dollar General.
They have been in every small town I have visited.
Dollar general’s are an indicator of blight and decay. They thrive on it.
So true
And a post office.
@@dougdupuis6305 actually in some really small towns the post office is subbed out to a third party like a small business. No delivery, just boxes.
Water Districts periodically flush the hydrants to clean out the sediment. Its actually a sign of good maintenance.
I think it would be interesting if you stopped and talked with some of the locals and get them to tell the stories of what happened there.
Right get out and talk to the community to me would make more sense than doing a drive thru.
I live in this area. You can talk to most of these people in the mornings at the local Hardee's, McDonald's, or local diners. They'd be happy to tell you about what happened. Also, the local mayor and town council would be great to talk to. You can get in touch with them if you just ask the people at town hall. I plan on doing this for the town of bladenboro soon.
While Fair Bluff did suffer significant damage from the hurricanes of 2016 and 2018, that was not what caused the demise of the town. Fair Bluff was a tobacco town just like several other towns in southeastern North Carolina and when the tobacco industry went away in 1990’s so did their economy. This was exasperated by NAFTA when the textile industry went to Mexico. The hurricanes were just the final nail in the coffin.
I was born and raised in eastern NC. Until 1998, one of the biggest cash crops was tobacco and unbeknownst to most, its price was subsidized be the US government. Buildings like the one at 18:50 were ubiquitous across the southern US. These tobacco warehouses, at the end of every growing season were arteries of cash into these communities. Now most of them stand empty of have been decayed by the elements over time. One would think that tobacco settlement dollars would have found its way to these communities for revitalization or switching to new crops... but much of those settlement dollars still seem to be tied up in the Golden Leaf Foundation.
Nice post! In Central NC a lot of them have been renovated into apartments, studios, and lofts....and they are very expensive to rent. 😥 So trendy! (jk) It's a shame that the poorer folks have been and are being forced out of the communities.
Over my way in NC tobacco is pretty much as profitable as it always was. I'm in my 50s and have family who owns tobacco fields that haven't changed since as far back as I can remember.
@@mbp7060 you’re crazy man. Not saying it’s not exceptions to all rules but NC farmers have been complaining for awhile now about the industry. From my understanding the peanut industry in NC has surpassed tobacco. Everything has been & is being monopolized. Once you add 2+2, you realize all over the US this is being done slowly but surely in preparation for a greater plan the Elites have.
Fair Bluff has huge obstacles to face, for sure. Having done some work down there, I was down there between Hurricanes Matthew and Florence, then afterward. What is startling is how close the river is to the town and, in 2019, three months after Florence, the water remained within a foot of the NC 904 roadbed. Some of the buildings in Fair Bluff may have been demolished as part of a disaster recovery program. I hope so. The citizens who remain have a passion for their town. There's just so many challenges.
Those empty buildings at 5:55 were either cattle, cotton , vegetables or lumber. Looked like their hey day was late 40s 50s. You see that with small medium sized businesses they started dying in the early 70s and large owners took over switching their base to more modern facilities. I was a small farmer in the early 80s and applied for a loan and the bank wouldn't loan citing precisely that large conglomerates were taking the heart out of middle America.
Some people call it progress, I have other not so nice words for it
Thank you for sharing your road trip experience. My heart sunk when you described the peak population in 1980 and what it is today. It could have easily been our county seat at 11K in the early 90’s when factory jobs were shipped overseas. Opening many businesses along the interstate saved our county seat with more growth and more job opportunities. During the pandemic unemployment rate, it never exceeded 5%. They’re not the best paying jobs but even McDonald pays $15 per hour. Homes and rent rates are reasonable. It was the highways and roads that got us ahead of some very bad times. That’s all. However, more small towns in Ky have many community activities going on. It attracts out of town family members, people renting bed and breakfast, antique malls, you name it. Doing nothing gets nothing accomplished. It takes United communities to make businesses happen.
As a Charlotte, NC native all of my 40 years, I'm loving this one! I've been through Whiteville & Tabor City many times on the way to the beach. Thanks Lord Spoda!
Very cool!!! :)
We visited Charlotte months ago. That town is exploding! New buildings under construction everywhere!!
@@JoeandNicsRoadTrip Yes! In my 40 years, I've seen every side of this city change drastically. I only have an issue with traffic sometimes; other than that, I LOVE my city & state!❤🤗💜
BTW, I'm hooked on your channel since finding it in November! And btw, I think your wife is gorgeous.😁 You two make a great couple!!
I live in Whiteville
I moved to Horry Co SC a few years ago and when I saw this town, I cried. This sort of decay is all over the South.
This is a great video. I’ve lived in NC since 1970 and I have spent a lot of time in the Cumberland and Robeson County areas. I’ve observed so many people move away from these areas during my lifetime because they were pursuing educational and employment opportunities in other places. The older people who stayed behind eventually passed away. So many of these small towns were incredibly lively during the 1970s and even into the late 1990s. But I noticed a lot of decline beginning in the early 2000s. Couple that with hurricanes and tornadoes that have hit these places and what you get is substantial neglect. New Subscriber!
Awesome, AW!
Those businesses didn't just "leave", they were outsourced to other countries with cheaper labor. THIS is the real problem in America now. All of our manufacturing is being sent offshore, either due to high labor costs here, environmental "issues", or just plain GREED! And let's not forget the HUGE influx of "cheap" immigrant labor. Our borders are unsecured (regardless of what MajorDorkus says), and some of the folks "in control" seem to be just fine with this! Unless and until these practices stop, there will be NO recovery. Even if it stops now, it may be too late, sadly.
Oh the towns built around 1 or 3 factories were depressing anyway. I grew up in one.
@@edgarburlyman738 at least there were jobs- now look at them. Sure, you don't want it to specifically be a company town, but once the main industries dry up because all of that got sent to China or something, the town just withers away and dies.
@@N0sf3r4tuR1s3n People could do remote work and small businesses, do business with the whole world but still live in a small town.
From what I understand, it's not the labor costs or even the insurance and benefits costs that drive companies away. It's actually corporate tax! Relocate to Mexico, avoid us corporate taxes and ship your products back into the US duty free? Sounds like a sweet deal!
@@rusty9129 Yes, probably a combination of everything....
Why does every dying town seem to have a Dollar General for a tombstone? Excellent video.
annnd the only really nice building is any church.
The fire hydrants were probably open to flush the water lines. They do that here in my town in Southern Minnesota.
Yep , they do the same where we live .
What rural towns need is services other than fast food and gas stations. Services that include real STORES where a person can buy stuff.
and jobs so they can afford to buy stuff
Yup no jobs means most of the young people move out and most of the businesses close because there’s nobody in town to spend money
Lived in NC for 40 years, and I've seen all the towns in this video. Good observations, BUT the question is "Why?" Once vibrant, these towns all began to decline in the 90's as North Carolina lost 3 major industries ... Tobacco, Furniture, and Textiles. Many reasons, but a major player was ""government policies".
Because Democrats run the state
Bill Clinton
NAFTA
Yep Clinton and his NAFTA BS.
I really feel it will be beautiful to talk to the locals or even the Mayors of these towns if possible
I was born and raised in Charlotte NC. I love my state & would love to see it start to flourish everywhere.
The house for sale in Chadville is a 972 sqft, 2 bedroom 1 bath, vacant fixer upper and there asking $63,000 it has been available for 162 days..
Fair Bluff, former tobbaco town, those large "barn" style buildings were used for tobbaco drying and storage. Yes, 100% correct... the storm completed the job that the loss of tobacco started. Excellent video !!
Yes, now Isee the resemblance with the long shed like buildings found in that part of Connecticut where tobacco had been grown for generations.
When a city is letting the hydrants run. Usually that is either water dept flushing the lines or fire dept running test.
That's exactly what I was going to say!
I’ve just moved to NC from New York, I am fascinated with your exploration of small towns, and here you are, right in my own backyard…I don’t have to take a long road trip,it’s all here…..the neglect, the sadness, the blight, the ruins…the poverty…..
Not all bad! Good weather ( if not hurricaning!) Nice and quiet. Low cost of housing.
Did you moved to one of these towns?
@@joanbelmont5450 Hi ….no I am further north; are you from NC?
We wish new yorkers would stop moving to NC
@@truthbetoldineverwasyours8576 I lived in Charlotte. If someone was new Id say “let me guess you’re from New York?! 9/10.
I've always wanted to drive that route from Columbia, SC to Wilmington, NC. The fire hydrants in Chadbourn were being used to flush the public water system to bring bacteria levels down. All the abandoned warehouse buildings were connected to tobacco farming, which went away some time ago. I'm thinking the courthouse building had some environmental problem, most likely mold, but that's a pure guess. Interstate 95 drained traffic that would have gone through these towns from central South Carolina to the Wilmington, NC area, along with the diminished agriculture business and the hurricane/flooding problems it's easy to see why they have gone down so much.
Just found your channel today. Enjoy your videos, I live in the small NC community of Autryville, east of Fayetteville. Viewed your videos of Wilmington & Wrightsville beach. I have spent some time in that area as well as the other nearby beaches. Looking forward to seeing more of your videos.
Thanks for watching!
Good vid. Nature reclaiming her turf. Makes me think of the line from the Carl Sandburg poem: "I am the grass.; I cover all."
The thing with rural towns is, they aren't at all welcoming. It's not like they're trying to attract new people, because when you go there they're all hostile and look at you like an alien.
That’s not true for many small towns
As a North Carolinian, I try to stay away from the border of South Carolina/North Carolina when driving to the beach, because it's like a shit bomb went off and the town never left the 1960's.
Couldn't imagine living in a spot where your only culture is a church, a McDonalds, and a Dollar Tree.
What part of North Carolina are you from I’m from Charlotte
@@KingCapone704I’m in the 336
@@ZackTaylor1992 nice, Winston/greensboro/high point area or a little bit further
@@KingCapone704 I’m in Greensboro, my guy
@@ZackTaylor1992 I was supposed to move up there with my uncle when I was younger but it ain’t fall through
I've spent a huge part of my life in southeastern NC. Aside from the immediate coastal towns, this is typical throughout the region. Unless you're a big-time farmer or government employee, there's literally nothing.
A year ago or so, I read some interesting labor statistics regarding NC. In order, the costs of labor based on pay rates showed that in order, from high-to-low was: 1. hiring illegals, 2. Prison labor, 3. North Carolina. The people have ALWAYS been poor. Then, the government killed the tobacco industry. Then Clinton signed NAFTA and destroyed the furniture and textile industries in the state. There really isn't much left in NC other than a few pockets of new tech parks and some factory jobs. The average person didn't earn enough money to even have insurance so when the storms come through, they're just out of luck. Thanks for the tour.
NC resident and your information is mostly incorrect however pay is lower
Nafta was actually a campaign promise of reagan called the north American fair trade. George h w bush negotiated nafta in 1988 was ratified in late 1992 signed by Clinton in 1993.
Your info is a bit exaggerated. NC has some major job magnets in at least 3 metros.
Nonsense
My family owns 600 acres of productive NC farm land. I looked up the value of the property and it is worth well over a million dollars. Imagine my surprise when I found out that for the area we live in that's considered poor.
So far we have had tomato capital, strawberry capital, yam capital, and several others! Nice to have something to be proud of!
Yep!! :)
Thank you so much Lord Spoda for uploading this great video, I appreciate it!
Thanks, Michael!
I love visiting the Carolina 's this is a great video..thanks. The fire hydrants were being "flushed". Part of maintaining the system and finding anything that needs repair or replacement.
Hi Joe. I just love these small towns. No matter what their circumstance or condition, They still have their own character & charm in my mind. Keep them coming mate. Once again, G'day from Australia.
Absolutely, Greg!
We'd have a lot more charm if you'd send us some wombats. :-)
My daily route I use . I go to Morehead city MWF and Wilmington Tues and Thursday from lake city . Love the empty country roads. Had a lot of flooding on that side of NC last couple of years
Yes! Please cover North Carolina!
I binge watch your videos and I’m new to your channel and absolutely obsessed with your content. I’m from North Carolina so this video is close to home!
Welcome!! :)
I used to go on Myrtle Beach golf trips and we'd pass thru Garland, Clinton, Whiteville, Elizabethtown, and Tabor City on 701. Some of the spots werent too bad......but definitely some zones where you do n
NOT want to break down.
I lived Jacksonville for 13 years. Loved every minute of it.
Me 2
There is a common denominator in a lot of these towns in the southeast, 1980 is a peak year for population and then, it declines from there.
That's true here in the UK. Manufacturing, mining and steel towns had been in decline, but the late 1970s and early 80s saw the end of a lot of working towns as overseas production bit hard. Some managed to reinvent themselves, many did not and high streets are boarded up and populations dwindle. For those who remember such places as thriving centres with good pay and opportunities to spend it, it's sad to see their present state.
A lot of these towns have been in decline for decades! I've traveled through many of them on the way to Myrtle Beach from NC. Doesn't look like much has changed from the 80's or 90's.
For the most part NC is booming!!!
Major population growth. The area I live in is seeing a very large influx of people from all over the country!!! Also more military families moving into the area. The metro areas of Raleigh, and Charlotte are turning into major metropolises!!! This video is very misleading!
Not from that particular area of NC but I would speculate that the destroyed buildings were a combination of hurricane damage and the effect of the loss of revenue from the destruction of the Tobacco business.
I've lived in North Carolina for 30 years and never been to one of these towns.
I always loved joyrides and Lord Spoda loves to take us to places we've never been before. Thanks for the rides.
Fort Bragg, Fayetteville, N.C., is the first place were moved to , when I came to the States. I always have fond memories of this State. Beautiful beaches and mountains. A lot of visits were made to Myrtle Beach, driving through Lumberton, N.C... Thank you for visiting this great State !
I was born in Shelby, N.C. and spent my first 6 years in Forrest City before moving to Memphis. Memphis was a great place to raise a family in the 50s to the mid-60s, but then in the late years of that decade, things went downhill in a big hurry. In 1993 my elderly parents moved back to NC, Tryon, which was a great little community near Hendersonville.
Hi, I'm from originally from Shelby too.
How are the people there with other race living in that city?
From Scotland, its utterly amazing to see all the abandoned houses in your videos. If you could only find out why some have been left, especially the ones that once were great abodes.
No jobs.
Two massive hurricanes and related flooding. Most people who could leave have done so.
Threats of many hurricanes every year, hot + very humid summers, freezing winters " sometimes down to 0 degrees " many of those old homes you see are infested with BLACK MOLD, ( cant live in them )
a silent killer!😭🧙♂️yes sure re bob!
Can't wait for the Wilmington adventure I want to see if everyone is still as friendly there.Just a Smiling and Waving at almost everyone passing Bye - Hi !
Another outstanding video Thank you. Be careful on your travels.
Thank you, Gary. :)
God bless you mister, I found your channel recently, and I can't tell you how much I enjoy your videos, you are my tour guide i never knew I needed. I am watching from North Macedonia (Europe) with mixed feelings, because I worked on a cruise ship one contract only for x reasons, it was 7 day cruise from the port in Miami. Good times. I don't watch these videos for the numbers only, I feel like I'm exploring America on my own, so thank you.
Wow, thank you!! :)
I lived in FairBluff, had to leave after Matthew and Florence... Very sad situation there..as for the Columbus County Courthouse.. It was found to have loads of asbestos.. So they closed it to gut it, I heard they are trying to refurbish it.
Thank for the Ride
The courthouse is closed for restoration...apparently they're demolishing the interior for redesign.
That's good news. It's a beautiful building.
Ty for telling him
Those are the places I plan on moving too simply because I've lived my whole life around the triangle and it's being overrun with transplants and developments and horrible traffic.
The Hydrants are open to clean the system . If their is a Fire , there will be better Pressure. The Town I live in does that Occasionally . West Suburban Chicago
Oh, Feb 1 starts an extensive renovation of the Columbus County courthouse, hence the closure.
I see. Good.
I have seen that with the fire hydrants before. Cities flush their water lines when they open up the hydrants like that.
Back in the 70's, many industries left the north for the south, looking for cheaper labor and taxes, when that wasn't working out, they moved abroad for even cheaper labor and costs. This is the result.
Lack of education and dependence on religion also plays a large part. The lack of education plays an integral role in how people interpret (their) religion. Those folks put all their trust in a "god", coupled with lack of education and high income skills just do not exist.
@@jonbennett62 Physical labor jobs don't require as much education as office-type jobs do. Southern States tend to have more physical labor jobs - or they did before they were shipped overseas. The South has always concentrated on physical labor industries, such as: agriculture, forestry, mining, fishing, etc. Even its manufacturing was based on many of those resources. For a while, the textile industry was gaining in the South (based on cotton agriculture), but then it got shipped overseas. Paper production was another major industry (based on forestry), but then computers and the internet caused it to take a hit. Of course, we all know what happened to the coal industry, which many of the Southern States were involved with. The people of the South aren't really into the types of jobs that require higher education. I tried working an office job, myself, and couldn't stomach it. I had to get out and get a more physically intensive job in which I spent a lot of time outdoors. That is just how some of us are - and I'm college educated. That was a waste of good money on my part. I decided that I hated office work and will never go back to it again. Religion isn't even a factor in my life as I'm an Atheist and always have been.
Maybe The Chinese will buy large areas of declining towns and take over America without a shot.
@@laurie7689 I am a licensed engineer and work outside at least 50% of the time and in an office the remaining. There are a lot of high paying, high education jobs that are outdoor focused, you just need to find one you like and make a career out of it. Or not, your choice, but they are there if you look. You also need to find a career that cannot be outsourced like the service industry, rail or trucking or other types that are similar. What I do cannot be outsourced. Peace.
@@dcola123 I'm already too old and out of the workplace now. It is the younger generation (the GenZ's, such as my Daughter's), that I'm concerned about. I had her a bit late in life, so she is GenZ and not GenY like many of the children of my generation. She is nearly finished with uni and will have to get a job afterwards. She may be able to handle working in an office though. I couldn't do it. My last job had me in an office for a couple of hours, but out of the office for the rest of the day. THAT was good. THAT I could handle. There was a lot more physical labor involved, but it felt good to get outside and move my body.
Fairbluff was one of the hardest hit towns after Hurricane Florence. The Lumber River normally sits at around 8-10' in Fairbluff. It hit almost 30' in Fairbluff a week after Florence and stayed at that level for almost 3 weeks. So imagine that road you were traveling on at the 9:00 mark, that was under about 15'+ of water for almost 3 weeks.
Wow!! Hard to imagine that depth of water, whew! What an absolute disaster for any town, but especially for a small, relatively low income town, such as this. Thanks for the info. neighbor!
Yeah, there are some nice photos online of the town being underwater. It is doubtful that insurance covered much of the loss, if folks even had insurance in the first place. That's when you call it quits in a place and just abandon it. It's not worth it to rebuild there in case the flooding ever returns. Unfortunately, the remaining folks probably can't afford to leave or they are old and just want to live out the remainder of their lives in a place that they are familiar with.
Wow, that's tough.
Yeah I just bought a house here 3 months ago across from American legion it didn't flood & hasn't been here since 1920.
Thanks for sharing this video with us. This is so heartbreaking to see a city/town so devastated by the elements but, it's the impact upon the lives of the residents that is so troubling to me. I've lived in poor neighborhoods but never any like you've portrayed here.
I truly feel for the folks back there.
I ask the question, "Why hasn't there been any aid designated to areas such as this? Why isn't America given aid before other countries?
Sorry for the rant but, seeing this gets my blood pressure up.
Stan
Poverty in rural America has long been ignored by politicians. Not a large enough voting block.
You do a great job, what an interesting informative job!
Thank you!
Thank you for sharing! This reminds me of the Carolina Chocolate Drops song, "Leaving Eden", which is about Eden and Rockingham, NC. So interesting!
Hello from Gatlinburg Tennessee Great Smoky mountains national park... Great job! I do Vlogs here in Gatlinburg..I'm binge watching now 🌄🏞️🦌
As usual another good video. I really feel bad for some of those communities. They are just on their way to being ghost towns. Hey, my roommate in the Air Force barracks at Minot AFB was from that part of North Carolina. Not too far from Fayetteville. He got out of the Air Force and worked for the North Carolina State Prison System. Sounds like he lives in that area.
Lots of towns like this in Eastern NC. I've traveled around that area a few times. Really flat part of the state. It gets hit by hurricanes Simi often. Thanks for another great video!
We go through that town a lot going to North Myrtle. The hurricanes were bad but the real devastation came from the flooding of the Lumbar River right next to downtown in 2016 and again in 2018. You can see the water lines in the downtown buildings reaching up to 4 feet high.
Thanks for showing the churches.
Thank you.
Fantastic ride today Lord Spoda. I think 70 and sunny is beautiful as well. I am glad you and Nicole are doing good. Have fun and safe travels ahead.
Thanks, Jonathon!
This is my favourite series on TH-cam
Thank you for that, Alfonso!
Classic southeastern North Carolina. I know whiteville very well. Grew up about 20min east of there.
Is there a HISPANIC population there ?
Wow. Sad town. Great video. My grandpa was from Chadbourn and my grandma was from Cerro Gordo.
I do like what you are doing for sure. We have been seeing this thing that you are documenting, happening since 1950 at least
Fair Bluff really took it on the Chin during Florence in 2018. That entire strip of downtown was underwater and obviously has not recovered. The first time I drove through there..... it really was a moving experience! Such a cool strip of downtown area that is deserted!
Thank you for sharing your amazing video's.👍👍👍
Thanks, Annie!!
The tale of two North Carolinas. On one hand you have these dying small manufacturing towns and on the other you have booming tech and finance metros like Raleigh and Charlotte. Looking at this video you wouldn’t think NC is the fourth fastest growing state in the country.
That’s the way it is in most of the country. Metro areas are growing and rural areas losing people
They go to n.c. and not long after they go back to where they came from once they realize what a BIG mistake it was moving down SOUTH was in the first place!😭🧙♂️< ya darn tootin > dont ya worry none too much ya heer!?
Compared to towns in ireland, that 'tight' main street is very wide🤭
A lot of European streets were built around people walking or the horse. Much of North America's streets were built around the horse-pulled wagon/carriage or the automobile.
Yes, of course; but there are far narrower and more crowded roads as one proceeds further North and Easterly. Be reminded that'Lord Spoda' is from Oklahoma!
I was born and raised in small town NC in 1945 , about 10 miles out in the country. and that area looks the same today 2023 as it did when i was a kid, maybe some new houses but most of the old ones are still there.
I live in northernmost Maine and my wife is from Whiteville. Great little town that has seen better days.
Terima kasih atas cerita kemiskinan di North Carolina
The big buildings are tobacco warehouses.
Lots of old unused tobacco warehouses looks to me. Don't miss the "freight" depot in Whiteville with more abandoned warehouses. I'm guessing the downturn of the agricultural economy has as much to do with the devastation of this region as did hurricanes.
They are flushing fire hydrants. It's done to test them and keep them from seizing up.
Another great video. Surely is amazing that towns have really gone to the ruins, unlike here in Australia or even the UK where you'll see some sort of life around the most deserted town.
You are creating some inspiration for a road trip to the US one day.
Keep up the great work.
Cool, Jason, thank you!
I live in NC. That's a very poor part of the state hes in. In my area we are a fast growing city (Raleigh-Cary). We are an oasis country.
Awesome video. It's sad to see towns like that. The running water from the hydrant's is to flush out chlorine build up. Cities are required to flush out every month are so.
Excellent video again. It seems to prove that wherever you are in the world, when Interstates, Freeways, Motorways, By-passes, call them what you may are built then there are consequences and the results are dying towns, poverty, crime and population movement. So sad, but unfortunately inevitable. Already looking forward to another video. Take care. Brynn Welch -- Stafford -- UK.
Yes! Always looking forward to the next video. Both soothing and informative!
At 14:40 or so, you noticed some of the hydrants running slowly. It is most likely a "flush of the system" where they get rid of sediment and rust,etc., from the water otherwise standing in the hydrant pipes. It is usually done every 5 years or so. It is to make sure that in an emergency, the hydrants will flow as designed. THANK YOU for another great video !
lot of towns just off the coast in both nc and sc are like this
I agree. It’s sad to see such a beautiful building not being used. I’m referring to the Columbus County Court House. I think the preservation of the railroad cars and tracks is cool. I love some of the old houses. The houses that are falling down are an attractive nuisance in legal terms. Falls under tort law and theoretically owner should be liable for children getting injured on the property. Appreciate your video.
You need to do Loris SC and Tabor city, NC. These small town were Tobacco Farming towns and have los population and picked back up.
So sad to see. These towns once thrived. Progress isn't always good...these forgotten towns are proof.
So sad to see all that decay. I'd much rather live somewhere like that (Fair Bluff) than in the city, I really hate living near cities. Thanks for sharing this!
This country is peppered with little dying towns. No jobs. No money. Move there and find out why everyone's leaving.
@@williebeamish5879 A sad fact which is being replicated throughout Europe
@@williebeamish5879 I grew up in a very small town like that. Have wanted nothing more than to be back in a small town again. I know, ya don't have access to the convenient things in life, I don't care. City life sucks, my small town became a concrete jungle, I'm sick to death of it.
The richer people that have some way to buy up these properties could come in and buy up these old abandoned house and tear them down and clean up the lot probably could get several of them cheap then build some duplexes on them and build some small stores or get DG to move into these towns and some speedway or five stars and put people back to work so they could pay their bills and bring these town back to life.
I agree, with all the billionaires and millionaires you would think that they could do that.But they are too greedy and do not care about the poor in this country.Bill Gates does more for African countries than he does for poor Americans.@@annajohnson3309
i found your channel a literal minuet ago and searched my home state, didnt expect you to have just posted lol
Will be posting Wilmington next. Beautiful city. We were really impressed. :)
Hello again! Seeing you enter the town over the creek or river, I bet Fair Bluff flooded too. I guess it's wasn't enough of a "fair bluff"? Like all the RR crossings there! And there is something oddly beautiful about decay. ...Chadbourne interesting also, especially the RR station/depot! Most of these dying towns were built along the RR tracks for rail service - or was it vice versa? ...At Tabor City they might have just torn down an abandoned building or complex and were burning off the excess vegetation.
Interesting analysis, Bill. I think you are probably correct on all accounts.
Or maybe they were clearing the land to build new construction?
Next time your in Colorado go to Greenland Colorado, Colorado springs, and Burlington Colorado has a pretty cool old care-a-sale too.
Interesting that home I wonder what its insides look like , I love your videos thank you
I think your theme song should be "On the Road Again"!
Whiteville has one of the busiest downtowns on all of your videos I have been watching! Nice to see considering most of the other towns are being reclaimed by nature. 😳😢
So sad all the homeless crowding into Seattle and tons of room in this town , same goes for LA and other big towns, People could grow veggies , I love your video s keep doing this
Whiteville is a very nice lil town,populations go up/down in every town,jobs will come and go too,njoy the small towns,take beauty of it!!
Oh dear. Not a person in sight. But the amount of American flags is incredible. Don't people know where they are? (Rhetorical question!)
I live in Fair Bluff just moved here 3 months ago. I live right across from the American legion across from the river. I'm widowed 61 female. I've not even driven around the town I live on the corner main highway have no reason to but seeing your video I think I might.
Yea I was going to say that about the crime in Whiteville. Do they have any nice home area's? You need to check out Southport NC about 40 minutes from Wilmington. Real neat little town especial close to the water way down town an the marina, the beach is also close. I enjoyed the vidio and subscribed.