15 Reasons Appalachia Might Not Exist One Day

We give all this money to other countries, and our own nation looks like this.
In the winter of 2023, I took a road trip through the Appalachia mountains. It was three weeks long. I wound through the turns and hollers across Kentucky, West Virginia and Tennessee.
This part of the country is the poorest, most drug addicted region in the country. The people who live here have been here for a long time, and most of them will never leave. They’ve seen the highs and lows of life just like you and I have. But the ups and downs for these people have been some really tough ones.
As you can tell, most of em are in a low right now. Really really low.
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The best video on this topic!

[@jimcav1013]

Every single Congressman, Senator and our President need to ride with you Nick to see what our country has become. I guarantee none of them have any idea that many parts of our country are worse than the third world. What a damned disgrace! Thank you Nick.

[@JAN70V]

I guarantee that mr.president would say: hey guys, I was sleeping, so we are finally visiting Congo?

[@Kite-te9km]

Watching from Africa....

[@engrishsheep]

I'm sure most politicians know many parts of the country are worst than the third world, but... they just DON'T CARE. 🤷‍♂ tbh, why would they? They just want your vote, aka power. All they promise is more "handout" to you to win your vote, so they can work in the system longer. "The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the Government, and I'm here to help." -Ronald Reagan

[@ajf5823]

They don’t care. All they care about is getting paid by their billionaire and corporate donors and sponsors and staying in power. People like this are merely insects.

[@warrenmcelroy4718]

You honestly think they aren’t aware of the conditions in some of our States?? Oh believe me they know, they just don’t Care, that’s the problem. If they’re not dealing with something that makes them money then they could t care less

[@nancysimpson4246]

I’m glad you do these videos because it shows the world how our countries are so so fallen apart absolutely falling apart to nothing left is so sad some of us wouldn’t know unless videos like this are out there

[@AliciaM5555]

Ikr, it's so shocking but true.

[@mariekatherine5238]

@@AliciaM5555Appalachia has always been dirt poor for most of her people. But people will be there unless we all get nuked or the Lord returns.

[@AliciaM5555]

@@mariekatherine5238 yes I'm fully aware.

[@kilroyjones7786]

Does it? Do you like being made fun of??

[@markboling7047]

@kilroyjones7786 only the rougher parts of places are being shown....not true Appalachian....notice he is very often slamming on the right....if it wasn't for the left, it would not be this way....

[@billfelsher5159]

The coal mining and drug companies have squeezed every last drop of money out Appalachia.

[@chk3700]

Yup

[@kenmows4u338]

Those companys would still be employing people there and elsewhere if they wern't hit with massive regulations, no?

[@chk3700]

@@kenmows4u338 massive regulations...you mean Stoopid and stoopider ( prez and second prez)

[@victor75208]

​@@kenmows4u338nope the coal and drug companies actually bled you dry. Simple as that

[@llorablan9588]

@@kenmows4u338 Yeah, like OSHA is a bad thing

[@tobiaskunterding5907]

"We give all this money to other countries, and our own nation looks like this. " I would like to add that the state governments and the local governments also have a responsibility about the situation in certain areas, if not even more than the federal government, who is responsible for the "big" topics like health care, defense and foreign policy. While i'm not living in the US (Germany), due to my personal engagement in local politics and my experience with federal states like Germany and the US, i can say that a lot of these problems can only be solved on a local level or by the state government. These people have to be hold accountable. It's a shame how local and state politicans have abandoned these places and towns and i feel sorry for everyone who trusted these incompetent people.

[@chk3700]

🧐🤔

[@maryatchison9056]

I totally agree

[@timothyroskie5742]

Agreed 💯 percent

[@Kurt1968]

Exactly...what has Mitch McConnell done for these folks? This is the result of corruption right here.

[@Mar-en6fe]

Thank your government

[@nbrown5907]

There was a problem, the young man could not speak his mind, he may have worried about retribution. That is a problem today. We need to be able to have civil discourse to solve problems.

[@alanbourne2332]

@@ptownRandy1Did you miss the part about Biden being in the White House might want to do a little research on the Biden Crime Family

[@gregadams6827]

Nick, from an extremely loyal subscriber in Livingston Parish Louisiana(county of about 100,000 folks)I have never seen such poverty in my life. However, if you are retired, want to buy 2 acres and a fully renovated house in the marshlands for $120,000 and retire like me, this is your destination. If you want to get out of New Orleans and Memphis (my crime ridden home town) this is for you. These are some of the greatest most compassionate people I have ever lived around. I realize money is not everything. Safety at night when you lie down for bed, never locking your doors and don't worry about your vehicle getting stolen is everything. Love you man to death, Greg Adams, Springfield, Louisiana. PS you must be heavily insured like I am due to the fact I live in a flood zone.

[@NickJohnson]

Hey Greg! Sounds like a plan!!

[@RealBobEvans]

We are living in the last days right before the rapture of the born-again Christian church. All the signs that the Lord Jesus Christ, who is God, predicted are coming to pass. “For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.” - Matthew 24:7-8 KJV “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy” - 2 Timothy 3:1-2 KJV The Holy Bible says you are a sinner headed for eternal, burning Hell. You will perish unless you repent to God and place your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ! Jesus shed his blood on the cross, died (and in doing so he paid for all your sins, reconciling you to God), and he rose from the dead on the 3rd day. Place your trust for salvation solely in Jesus Christ (who is God in the flesh) today and be saved! “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” - John 3:16 KJV “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus… Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” - Romans 3:23-26, 28 KJV “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” - John 14:6 KJV

[@phaecops]

@@RealBobEvans Hallelullya.

[@chk3700]

I like catching fishes and I clean up after myself ...can I come I have my own everything.🎉

[@AliciaM5555]

@realbobevans please. Give me a freaking break.

[@toddsmith293]

Thanks Nick. Appalachia is a region that stretches from Northern Alabama to the Southern Tier of New York State. There are most definitely variations within this region. Where I am located in Central PA is far more prosperous than most of West Virginia or Eastern Kentucky. Yes, we have closed mines but there is a thriving agricultural sector as well as Natural Gas, lumber, and a plethora of small industries. There are actually plenty of jobs available. A local paper mill starts at $17/hr. and cannot get people. My income is about $72k/yr. In Appalachia, you can live like a minor aristocrat with such an income. If you like the outdoors (Boating, hunting and fishing, or just hiking) the vast stretches of public land cannot be beat. There is so much state forest land in PA it is actually greater than Yellowstone NP in number of acres. It's not for everyone but.............. I would NEVER trade my current life for ANY amount of money to live in a major metro area. I know that there are those who sneer and laugh at the people of Appalachia........ that's ok, whatever makes them happy.

[@cynthiamurphy3669]

Amen. Google says Appalachia "spans 206,000 square miles, 423 counties and 13 states." History itself shows that things sooner or later go back to nature. I Peter 1:24 KJV: "For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:." no matter what mankind does or doesn't do.

[@Bornjamerican24]

I'd check it out

[@TheHamburgler123]

What are the public lands like? Mostly dense forest? Is there any good elevation you can hike? Nice to hear there's at least a solid amount of state land set aside in an Eastern state. I always feel bad for people who live in places like TX, which has so much land but less than 2% of it is public (state or federal).

[@russellseilhamer4552]

I live in Hollidaysburg, near Altoona. I tell ppl who aren’t from this area what a jewel it really is. Interstate 99 from Altoona to State College is beautiful because you can look down at the valley and other mountain peaks in the distance. My favorite place in the entire state is Greenwood Furnace SP in northern Huntingdon county. I also love Parker Dam in Clearfield and Black Moshannon near Phillipsburg. I’ve never been to Ohiopyle but I want to go. I’ve been to the PA Grand Canyon near Wellsboro, that’s pretty and Worlds End SP in Sullivan county. They have maybe the coldest spring fed watering hole I’ve ever been in. In the Loyalsock forest area north of Lock Haven and Williamsport is the little town of Waterville and that looks like a picture postcard in fall. I also love the drive on route 15 from Williamsport to Mansfield. There’s this restaurant in Steam Valley called Fryes Turkey Ranch off 15 between Wport and Mansfield and they have epic turkey dinners there. To the west, I’ve been up to the Cook Forest, these very tall trees and very dense and dark forests. The great thing is that I am probably 2 hours away at the most from a lot of these places. I like that the weather does not stay hot for most of the year, it is affordable, it is not crowded and I think the people for the most part are very down to earth and caring. I couldn’t ask for a better place in America to live than in central PA

[@russellseilhamer4552]

@@TheHamburgler123 - there are a ton of state parks that are well maintained and have hiking and you can see waterfalls like Ricketts Glen and Worlds End SP in NE PA. The elevation on hikes are not extreme maybe between 1000 to 2000 feet at the state parks. Most of the state parks have swimming areas some like Black Moshannon and Greenwood Furnace are spring fed so the water is cold. State Parks have no admission fees unlike NY state. There are a lot of state owned and privately owned game lands in PA where no development can happen. Ppl also don’t realize we have ski resorts and beaches. Presque Isle in Erie is a beautiful place worth checking out. The Poconos and Erie both have indoor water parks you can go to in winter. PA is well worth researching. You’ll find plenty to do here

[@brendaz9222]

The mountains of West Virginia are just gorgeous! Such a beautiful State!

[@bartolomeu6461]

As a Brazilian who has never been to the USA, but has watched many videos of Nick Johnson, Charliebo313, and similar channels, I honestly think that West Virginia is one of the best American states to travel by, yet, ironically, one of the worst to live in.

[@Winters_Folly]

​@@bartolomeu6461There's much worse states like California and Washington

[@appalachianhomegrown9207]

Being born & raised in Southern Appalachia (SW Virginia), all I wanted was to get away from here! Now at 53 years old I just can’t imagine living anywhere else! You’d have to be born & raised Appalachian to understand that. Thanks for a great video brother.

[@Zambineaux305]

Must be nice living with dirt cheap prices. I’m from Miami, born and raised. The inflation is insane.

[@1wesleydb]

​@Zambineaux305 socks. It takes more than what you can make to live. If you could make more it would cost more. Before the jobs were outsourced it was more expensive. If you could make Miami money and live in Welch,...you could be a Rockstar of the holler.

[@myfuturepuglife]

Hey hey! That's two of us from SW Virginia in the house! ❤❤❤

[@eddie054]

@@Zambineaux305 Gotta learn to hunt and eat squirrel stew.

[@davestewart2067]

Am guessing property taxes are less in West Virginia compared to Pennsylvania and New York State. Looked at some properties online recently in Elmira (NY) and was shocked at how high property taxes were, even up there, away from the big cities. Crazy - high taxes, and probably no jobs.

[@heather957]

Loved what the coal miner had to say during your interview with him! I'm all for keeping as many jobs as we can in the US : )

[@ljhcmh614]

Sadly, the delusional belief that coal will someday make a comeback is part of what keeps this part of the country in poverty. They are always looking back to find prosperity rather than looking forward. They sneer at ideas like clean energy or eco-tourism because those are "liberal" ideas. So they sit on their hands and wait for a future that will never come.

[@cherylcook1942]

But its like he's never heard of battery storage. "Caint use solar because the sun dont shine but during the day".

[@elizabethlutrell8278]

Someone might want to inform that twit that the power doesn't just go out when it gets dark with solar, and uou don't "hand crank" turbines. Obviously education in WV is terrible. But this guy worships Massey Coal, all you really need to know😂😂😂😂😂

[@stadtbekanntertunichtgut]

This driving through America videos are so chill even if cities are poor and seem hopeless. I enjoy this content very much.

[@1776concernedcitizen]

I'm an East Tennessean eho is proud of my heritage. My family helped build America, from the early 1770s, coming from Alsace on the Robert and Alice to Philadelphia. They were poor German immigrants who have contributed as well as benefited from the liberty of our great country. Some think holding on to the values of faith in God and self reliance are backward. The drug addiction and poverty problems you see across America aren't a repudiation of traditional values. It's what happens when you abandon them.

[@TheSmittel]

Thank you. Nick asked if its cultural and I think its definitely the issue. It just goes WAAAY back where even drunkenness is somehow normalized in dry counties etc. But business wise you want restaurants they need to make some alcohol sales etc. NOW, thanks to internet access, and educating ourselves suburban and urban folk are like: “Our money’s basically unstable, we’re giving up food security, more functional farms, mineral rights, and all these things communities can develop out of ANYTHING that can hold value over a fiat currency.

[@tessa5234]

My father's family also immigrated from the Alsace region and my family tree has been traced back to the late 1600s! My heart is still in southeastern Kentucky even though I've resided in middle Tennessee for many years now.

[@b469b]

Drug addiction has nothing to do with your god!

[@douglasphillips24]

I moved away from my Appalachian mountains home at 18 and came back at 24 and it's been a struggle with addiction, low pay, but thank God I had a mother who prayed for few years ago her prayers were answered in 2020 and I gave my life to the Great God and Saviour Jesus Christ. The Lord hast delivered me from many addictions, lifted my health and countenance up through hiking these beautiful Appalachian mountains and studying God's Word. I now have peace beyond all understanding, joy and although I don't have much in this life I'm blessed in The ways of The Lord through Faith in the blood of Jesus Christ the Righteous.

[@archgaden]

I grew up middle class in WV, and there are plenty of nicer neighborhoods to. I had a wonderful childhood with a large park and endless forests to play around in. I don't think I could have asked for a better place to grow up, and schools I went to were pretty good. They didn't have the best facilities, but the teachers cared, and there was some sense of community. Poverty is a bigger problem in WV than most states, and that's really just the result of the world turning away from coal power and automation of those industries really. Coal was the one big thing that made WV, and as that declines, the state goes with it. WV doesn't have a lot of flat land, so it can't be agricultural powerhouse. Building on hills and mountains is more expensive in general, so there's a larger infrastructure cost to bare. Given the lack of opportunities, many young people leave for other states, leaving it with an older population, and a lack of people to even need to maintain what's already there. It's in a slow death spiral, which really wears on the morale of the population there in general. When you've got little to do and not much hope, I guess drugs would become a huge problem. I never saw much of the drug problem personally though. I don't know what could be done to bring WV back. You have some chemical industry along the river, where it's convenient for water access for transportation and use, as well as the rail that tends to follow the river. There's probably about as much of that as you can get though, and that with what's left of the coal mining is what keeps the state going. Coal power probably isn't going to see a resurgence. You could probably move in some more manufacturing, except we're mostly exporting that overseas these days. If you could keep the smarter youth around, you could move in some information industry, but that's a chicken and egg problem. It's a tough problem and a lot of the US is in the same boat. We're probably doomed until we decay enough to be cheap enough to bring back manufacturing or AI drives us to a post scarcity economy.

[@jimgiordano3613]

The whole area is a dump.

[@rebeccalindley153]

A great take on the situation.

[@gregorymoats4007]

Exactly. A death spiral indeed…and folks tend to cling to every last breath they can gasp

[@kevinsiler7185]

God bless Josh and all the Coal Miners Thanks for keeping the lights on.

[@renafielding945]

I have traveled the world in my life, and about thirty years ago I found my most beautiful home of my heart: Appalachia. I will never leave until I am put in the ground, in the little bitty cemetery just down the road.

[@robertmoore2049]

Thank you Nick for opening our eyes and minds to parts of America 🇺🇸 many of us may never see. Nice new profile picture, friend!

[@cowboyofscience7611]

You were in my neighborhood when you were in Chattanooga. I live around 20-25 miles south of there in Georgia. That man was right about the place: There are two strata in "The Noog," The well-off and the poor, and there's not much in between! It's a very nice town--although not as nice as Nashville. I've lived here in Appalachia all but 20 years of my life (I was an archaeologist in those years, and traveled pretty much the entire time) and I've seen the poverty levels go from being everywhere in the 60's, to being almost eradicated in the area I'm from in North Georgia. Great video! Thanks...

[@MikeRuh01]

Oh, I remember watching this one before. And the pist-off guy that kicked ya out didn't even want to hear why ya were grabbing an extra blanket. It was probably best ya left Nick, It kept ya from catching something

[@livinginmayvillewi2628]

Love the Appalachia videos, Nick! This guy never fails to put a smile on our face ❤

[@livinginmayvillewi2628]

Nick, I have to ask. What are the names of the songs/sounds you use in your videos? Always stuck in my head!

[@tm100pct7]

Nick you are probably the one Yankee who gets it. You grow up like this and you never get over it. It's like you are from another world when you go down the mountain.

[@acf894]

He's from Southern California...

[@tm100pct7]

@@acf894 That ain't the South.

[@conservativehippie9736]

Not a "Yankee" he's a westerner...BIG difference. My entire family is from the South...TN, AR & MO...Hillbillies fs born and raised for generations and I love them so much yet they don't really use the term Yankees etc. They state the appropriate states tho lol!

[@infinitycosmos4723]

He grew up in a place like the desolate places in this video??

[@tm100pct7]

@conservativehippie9736 You ain't though. You don't know what you are talking about. My grandpa was in the Second World War but I don't know shit from shinola about fighting the Japanese. What your family did or knows or says don't make no difference.

[@LostinMIA]

If we can stop the drug addiction plague and get people back to working hard with pride as well as caring for each other we would be so much better!

[@NeftyPR]

greetings from Puerto Rico 🇵🇷

[@Sebastian16753]

Cool, I lived in Aguadilla on the western side of PR

[@NickJohnson]

❤️ 🇵🇷

[@LAVirgo67]

I've been working on my husband's genealogy dating back to the 1700s. His ancestors landed in Boston, MA when they could not make a living in Ireland. Then they moved to Kentucky when his people saw better opportunities out there. Right about the time of the Civil War, many of his ancestors made their way out of Kentucky and out to Missouri. When they weren't cutting it in Missouri, they moved to California in the 1920s. Most of his ancestors stayed in the South & Mid-west no more than a generation or two, but not more. It's the great American migration story. Most Americans have had to stay on the move for survival. Some have been able to stay put by connecting to bigger communities or cities. Rural living is brutal, unless you have a means to support yourself independently. Sadly, many of those living in the Appalachian area are still waiting for coal mining to return, but the reality is that it won't ever come back. They need to accept & move on just like their ancestors.

[@danielmiller1753]

what do you think is going to power this all electric transportation future they want to build.maybe potatoes?😂coal is coming back

[@amberkat8147]

@@danielmiller1753 Solar, wind, water, geothermal, lots of combinations.

[@whopper5150209]

@@amberkat8147Do some research most of those besides water and geothermal are highly cost prohibitive. Solar panels need cleaning are expensive and they wear out for example they are currently tearing down a lot of the windmills here in California for multiple reasons.

[@danielmiller1753]

@@amberkat8147 🤣🤣🤣 be realistic

[@iridescentsea3730]

You know, I've been reading comments lately on all sorts of websites, from youngish people (in their 20s and 30s) complaining that they don't want to have to leave their birth place to find gainful employment and opportunity. They say it's not fair that bad leadership means they must leave behind everything and everyone they ever knew and travel hundreds of miles away just to have the quality of life they feel they deserve. I can empathize with that, and I think it's a valid position to hold. However, I don't think it's realistic to expect that to be the default. People of all races and nationalities throughout all of human history have migrated around seeking better opportunity, or perhaps forced out against their will by terrible weather, natural disasters, or a stronger group of people. Nobody is really so special or blessed that they have a guarantee of never needing to uproot their lives in order to achieve what they want to achieve and attain what they want to attain.

[@anastasiakakoulidou-karama4569]

What touches me the most is, if you noticed, the American flags everywhere! Someone should care for these people! Don't you think? Anastasia from Greece🇬🇷 God bless America and Greece.

[@scottandcoke1342]

America is a plutocracy. They don't give a shit about the poor and no amount of American flags or bible bashing is going to change that.

[@kenhofer8063]

Nobody forced them to live that way

[@sookietrueblood-gp4sd]

Hello to you in beautiful Greece ! Thank you for caring about the USA! Are you near the fire areas there? How sad, God bless all in Greece and especially those in the fire zone. Stay safe my friend❤.

[@DeanDewnuffun]

​@kenhofer8063 these people have been abandoned for a century or longer. American government has promised Appalachian people help for decades. Instead the coal mines have been shut down, and that was the only industry in the region to provide employment for many. No libraries with free internet, no public transportation, no fast food, no Wal mart for employment. No social services. The further off highway you travel, the less roads are maintained. Locals paint big rocks orange to mark the biggest potholes. Meanwhile, look to cities where all manner of infrastructure is provided. Social service offices, employment, public transportation.

[@anastasiakakoulidou-karama4569]

@@sookietrueblood-gp4sd ⚘️

[@russellseilhamer4552]

I’ve been to West Virginia and I’ve noticed that the first 30 to 50 miles just south of the PA border are thriving. A lot of ppl who live in northwest West Virginia particularly on the I-79 corridor work in Pennsylvania. The far southern suburbs of Pittsburgh are only 35 miles south of Morgantown. That part of WVA is growing and since Morgantown is a college town it is not surprising that it would be more liberal. In central PA where I live all of the counties are conservative ( Blair, Bedford, Huntingdon, Mifflin, Cambria, Clinton, Lycoming) The only county that is liberal in our part of the state is Centre; that’s where Penn State is in State College. I still think Nick you should do a tour of central PA. I don’t think you’ll see the crazy poverty here that you saw in Southern Appalachia but it is beautiful up here and the ppl are definitely interesting

[@NickJohnson]

I have a central PA video coming out at some point!

[@user-od5fh3gn4d]

I agree

[@Zambineaux305]

Nick, congrats on the road to 1 million. Hard work doesn’t go unnoticed.

[@Vader1957]

"Try that in a small town" I have had the opportunity to drive coast to coast a few times. For every nice small town, there are 10 that are just dead or dying. It's sad to see. Both parties have given up on the small towns. Rust in peace.

[@TheHamburgler123]

Same as it ever was. Town gets settled and there's enough opportunity to support livelihoods and families. Then opportunities become more scarce and young people leave in droves to seek out work elsewhere. The older people are left behind, with very few young people to replace them. Old people start to die off and so does the town. Lather, rinse, repeat.

[@maybenot1234]

Love your videos - Especially the modulation of your voice. It's like we're friends chillin' and cruising around touring and commentating. Thanks for showing us parts of the country we're likely to never visit ❤

[@cindakellogg1307]

It's GOOD for me to see this...reminds me just how BLESSED I am.

[@Jacktors]

Thanks for the videos. Very informative Nick. I like when you interview the locals so as to get the feel of the culture. Please do more of that. You look sincere in your approach to enlightening and try to bring positive change. Thanks

[@vivekvicky2595]

Thanks for showing us rural US. Love from India.

[@rvk8991]

just be glad you don't have a bunch of drug addicted hillbillies in your country.

[@marktwaine9344]

this is some, but yes, rural US is the poorer sections of our country...

[@nicolen.9642]

Pretty desolate. Some of my friends live in WV: Summersville, Craigsville, Webster Springs. They're aware but they're really fond of WV and the Appalachian culture (music). Thanks Nick !

[@thegingerfanman92]

Absolutely love your videos you pretty much explained everything in Appalachia quite well when I lived in Virginia in that region is like that especially in the coalfields it’s crazy on how many of these places were huge at one time and now it’s almost abandoned

[@vintageintheraw7730]

The old mining towns of Colorado were almost as bad in the 1950-65 era, UNTIL the grifter mafia decided that skiing was the most wonderful thing in the world.

[@TheHamburgler123]

I'm no fan of the big ski conglomerates, but isn't it a good thing that skiing has revived and completely transformed these towns? Or would you prefer they remained poor and destitute?

[@bethrains3105]

@@TheHamburgler123 They underpay the employees so badly that they can't live in the towns where they work, so maybe they shouldn't exist at all.

[@TheHamburgler123]

@bethrains3105 I understand that but would you rather have a town that at least employs some people, including upper management and skilled tradesmen that are actually paid well, or would you prefer another derelict town with no income coming in?

[@vintageintheraw7730]

@@TheHamburgler123 I would prefer living as this country was founded, without .gov lying and stealing; without locals allowing BS corps to run roughshod because of shiny propaganda and false promises. Life is no picnic and the lies have led us to this crap.

[@AnaJimenez-to5km]

Hi, Nick.I love the work you do.I feel like going right next to you while you are driving throughout the 🇺🇸 .I, personally, have learned many things.So sad for those places that are dying.

[@danimalman3]

Growing up in rural Alaska there's something oddly comfortable about these places even though they've mostly been abandoned. Where I'm from its not too different from some of these towns as far as having people that just don't want to move out. However we have places to hunt and gather so it's absolutely viable to live here.

[@clonetrooper8883]

I lived all my life in the county north of McCreary County. Believe it or not, McCreary County has a lot of tourist attractions that the county could potentially build off of. Cumberland Falls State Park, which has one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the region among hiking trails and white water rafting, The Blue Heron recreated mining town, The Big South Fork River Recreation Area which has several horseback trails, hiking trails, campgrounds, shooting ranges, and boat ramps to the Cumberland River, and The Daniel Boone National Forest to name a few. It's baffling that they are unable to capture the economic benefits of its tourism there. I think a lot of it has to do with the local government and the state of mind of its people.

[@deniseshephard3347]

Thank you Nick for these videos the places you travel it’s rather interesting to see how the other people and struggle and survive but also the dangers

[@nbrown5907]

John Denver - Country Roads is going through my head as I watch this. Things change the old fades and there is new birth and rebirth in a few areas.

[@lithron]

The guest during your interview is knowledgeable and relatable. I really enjoyed this part the most of the whole video

[@maxhatty]

The gentleman that mentioned his side of Chattanooga didn't have a grocery store within 5 miles. My guess is theft drove retailers out. It's happening as we speak in CA. Oakland and San Francisco are losing retailers due to theft like crazy.

[@damonmelendez856]

I don’t think there’s many blacks in Appalachia?

[@maxhatty]

@@damonmelendez856 did I say black? What are you getting at?

[@jeffharris8166]

​@@maxhattyThat's usually who does the crime.... especially in that area. Fyi

[@jeffharris8166]

​@@maxhattySimply open your eyes.... it's actually really easy.

[@markgordon8146]

Black people steal???.nooo...loot????...noooo...get a job?? noooooo

[@CBBC435]

It has always been like that. I drove through rural Kentucky in the mountains, and mules were hitched to a hitching post in front of a small wooden provisions store. This was back in the 90s.

[@JJA_88]

I just stumbled across this video and I watched all of it. This is an EXCELLENT VIDEO!

[@decacards5250]

Keep up the good work, Nick. I've been to Appalachia too.

[@michaelholt8590]

I live in Carter County in Tennessee and its not all this bad. Most of the agriculture jobs are gone but many places have good manufacturing facilities that pay well. You can make a good living on the same money that you would be homeless with in many other places. Yes many of us never leave. I only left when i joined the Army and once my enlistment was over i came back. The mountains call to me and i plan on being laid to rest here

[@durelltrago62]

Your videos are awesome! Thank you so much. I enjoy them all.

[@rogerburn5132]

Brilliant Very Professional Video From Nick Very informative. NICK BIG THANKS 👍👍👍👍👍

[@happydays2300]

Well, at around @32:22 I really got interested. I have viewed your well narrated, well reported, interestingly videoed travels for a while for reasons that will be revealed later, but , I too come from a mining state. And I sat right up and listened to that erudite gentleman you were interviewing. Thank You Both Very Much For You Time. Great conversation.

[@NickJohnson]

👍 ok!

[@KLGB420]

A lot of us here already know how to live without help and or money so if SHTF we know how to survive because we're doing it already.

[@katherinehardesty2876]

What I gather from your videos, alot of this "decay" happens when our nation goes through a transition, ie industrial revolution, etc ..... and towns/cities don't adapt. With our present economic situation and what's to come, I hate to see what more and more of our country's going to look like ....... :/ Great videos and alot of learning! Thank you

[@1776concernedcitizen]

Why can't they just move? Well if you've noticed, almost everyone is poor, on federal assistance or drugs, or just old. The problem across America isn't confined to rural southern cities. E.G. San Francisco, Los Angeles. It's cultural decay, loss of values and family ties. The Judeo-Christian values that underpin our nation have been undermined by wickedness and depravity. Get off your high horse. Making fun of those less well off is wrong.

[@kenthespeaker6901]

Hey Nick.This just may be your best video yet.I think that I watched them all.Maybe I'm just over fascinated with West Virginia,out of all 50 states.Been in Indiana all my life,68 years now.Still close to my birth place of Gary In. You drove thru that charming city.lol.Oh yea,Josh is one of your best guest speakers,in my humble opinion.He sounds very intelligent.BIG thumbs up on this one.👍✌

[@NickJohnson]

I like josh a lot.

[@AdakStillStands]

Today I found out my mortgage company raised my payment $200/mo more than my social security income. After 65 years in Seattle-area Washington, a lifetime, Appalachia (or Oklahoma panhandle) here I come! I've been priced out...

[@NickJohnson]

Do it! ❤️❤️❤️

[@KCFromTheIE]

Love your videos Nick! Keep crushing it!

[@NickJohnson]

You too! Let's ride a plane today!

[@hillbillyheaven9508]

Really enjoy your videos, my family is from Pike county KY , the same is happening there also ,sad

[@PWPeteW1]

Great content as usual. Nick, you deserve to have 1M subscribers. Also, you should have a T-shirt that says, "What the d--n hell!" with it spelled out (though I think the platform wouldn't allow it in the store). You're one of my favorite channels.

[@mikerenningersr7664]

here in SW PA, we have our mountain people and hollars too. We're so close to WV, sometimes its tough for it to not drift across the border

[@uuaa9482]

Loyal subscriber here. I really enjoy your videos and seeing different parts of the country. I grew up not too far from Chattanooga. I hope you were able to stop at the Mayfield creamery between Chattanooga and Knoxville.

[@NickJohnson]

I was not able to 😢

[@adammyford]

Nick! Love your videos man! I live 30 miles north of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania in the southern part of Butler County. If you're ever out near Pittsburgh doing a tour, here's a treat: there's a small town named Saxonburg l think you'd love a few miles from where l live in Sarver. From Saxonburg take Bonnie Brook Road to route 422 West and check out Butler Pa, get back on rt 422 and head East and you'll pass Kittanning, Pa and if you stay on Rt 422 east you'll go to Indiana, Pa an awesome college town, recommend Hoss's Seafood & Steakhouse. Continue on Rt 422 and you'll pass towns like Nanty Glo and Ebensburg, which you'll really like Ebensburg, you'll eventually merge onto rt 22 east and that will take you on a 7 mile scenic downhill drive into Altoona Pa, another awesome town with sights ( Horseshoe Curve ), shopping, restaurants, Canoe Creek State Park is nearby. Other great small towns near Altoona are Hollidaysburg ( another small town with charm ) Very scenic drive. I really think you'd fall in love with seeing these towns! Thank you and take care!

[@anthonyencarnacion7203]

I love the part where you talk about the hunten, fishen and four wheelen.. flying a drone would help give us a view of the topography and it's streams,creeks and tributaries.. plus the elevation that make it interesting..

[@thomasdeanda2360]

The thumbnail is the quintessential question in this moment of history.

[@tomgray3804]

I'm from Cinci. One of my fav things to do is take backroads and look at towns like these. Most of Kentucky outside of the greater cinci area, Frankfort, and Louisville and lexington looks like this. A lot of places in Indiana too. We were a first world country at one time. These towns, the state of our infrastructure, and our hospitals proves we are anything but that now. Our only real export at this point is american culture, that can't last forever.

[@BranBlogs]

Dude only shows the bad not the good 😂of McCreary I promise you McCreary not bad as this man showed I the video he showed known druggie hot spots not actually civil ppl homes are actually nice and clean

[@Mustang5458]

I'm also from Cincinnati. I don't think Louisville looks like these videos only down by the river. My daughter lives there in a $475,000 home..Cinti also looks like this downtown and in certain areas..Most are upper class here. Indian Hill is an area by where I live. Plenty green here. Parks, bike trails, shopping, churches, grocery stores. I believe there isn't a town in America that doesn't have alittle bit of these videos in them..Thanks to our president, companies closed, people laid off, malls closed, oil companies shut down, coal shut down.

[@BranBlogs]

@@Mustang5458 like the car wash part that wasn't even in McCreary it was in Oneida Tennessee

[@l.ls.8890]

These are always very sobering video Nick, keep up the good work. Perhaps one day America will make it back.

[@holland9199]

I find this very intriguing 😮 I’m glad we have NJ to walk us through 😆 From a Distance … 😹 thank you Nick

[@faustwatsche]

Again an awesome Video!

[@charlesmcclarty3054]

Seeing those places Nick makes me a little glad that I am still in Jacksonville, Florida. I visited Columbus Ohio in April 2023 and besides student protests on a regular basis there was extreme price gouging on hotels, some restaurants and most businesses. ex. being charged $220 plus a security deposit of $150 for one night with a return of deposit on your card if you are lucky in 2 weeks. It is bad to worse in all of the the U.S. now. Just have to pick what bad you are willing to accept. Thank you Nick for all you do.

[@searchingthetrails795]

If you don't mind me asking, how is the cost of living there in Jacksonville. I know central and south Florida are becoming unaffordable for a lot of people. I've heard northern Florida is still pretty affordable. What's your assessment?

[@charlesmcclarty3054]

@@searchingthetrails795 it is approaching more than the national average on cost of living, however, there are still plenty affordable options just got to really search to find them. Ex. Craig's list, local city publications, word of mouth and underground sources not known to the public. 🙂

[@Expinupgirl]

I lived in Columbus, Ohio 3 years and Jacksonville, Florida 12 years. So glad to be back home in Nevada.

[@muckylady]

What an eye opener. Thanks 👍 xx

[@Rjisawake]

Love how you starting the video with the sign swinging lol very creative

[@nickivy9758]

Love your videos keep at it

[@WubiWatkins]

When the TVA came into the Tennessee and West Virginia and all of that those people got lied to for 50 years by the representatives kept telling him those coal mining jobs were coming back many of these people use their savings to get by until it was too late to move come on Nick tell the whole story of why these people are so down and out and if everybody's so down and out where do you get the money for the drugs

[@rodpatterson9731]

TVA in West Virginia? NOT!

[@WubiWatkins]

@@rodpatterson9731 not that name but the same type of organization and all your leaders I've been watching it for 40 years they keep telling you that coal mining is coming back

[@BRILIANT660]

Terima kasih sudah diajak ketempat yang indah dan pemandangan yang mempesona

[@btetschner]

A+ video! Great Appalachia collection of videos! It's so mindbending!

[@NickJohnson]

I wish you weee my college professor

[@btetschner]

@@NickJohnson Did you go to college at Stanford?

[@JAN70V]

Nick, you are great presenter, you show the truth as is. The truth that many people won´t see. You should have an own tv series. But I am sure that recent politics would ban it immediately due to obvious reasons.. Thank you Nick for showing the truth. Keep up your fantastic work!

[@tudo8412]

100/100…👏👏👏 👍

[@NickJohnson]

I'm glad people are happy with this

[@annamaria-of3rm]

Annamaria : The civilization of a people is measured by the way it treats the poor .

[@chucklima4763]

keep up the great work you and Briggs to a great job

[@benjaminmendenhall4497]

You did a great job for talking about the history of wv and this is very cool that you went through the all the cole towns out there and this is very cool and very interesting to me Nick

[@suemccord2633]

That's exactly what I saw when traveling to an inspection job in Pennsylvania way up on Arnott Mountain. I live in small town Oregon. It was shocking to say the least. I've traveled this whole country doing Industrial Radiography. Pipelines, refineries, new facilities and old. I have never seen poverty on the scale of W. VIRGINIA, Kentucky. Devastating 😢😢

[@dougi1967]

Those gas pumps at the beginning remind me of all the old gas stations in the Midwest we always stopped at. When the gas cap was behind the rear license plate!

[@kandycepeterson2482]

Great video Nick!

[@bw33X]

Thank you, Josh, for sharing your information about the state. I hope and pray everything goes right for all the struggling states. We need to do more. My belief is that people coming together can better their communities. I don't believe in politicians anymore.

[@stevesyverson8625]

As always another introspective glance at the state of affairs in America. Well done.

[@glen46823]

These look like people who have only seen the lows of life, not the highs.

[@sbrazwell42]

Very good interview.

[@tcwhite0104]

Love the video brother..States with the infamous ground cover Kudzo vine.. lol I'm from Chattanooga, you need to get over to Cleveland, Ooltewah and Collegedale.. I never remember Chattanooga being bad born and raised there. 59-88

[@Winters_Folly]

Appalachia will never die

[@midcenturymodern9330]

Things in town are unwell when even Walmart and 99-cent stores can't keep the lights on. One thing I noticed when I traveled through those poorer states is that the people are genuinely friendly and kind. I don't see that in my home state of (what's left of) California anymore. I guess it's a proof that money doesn't buy happiness. I've met many happy poorer people and I also met quite a few wealthy, but mean and miserable people. One last thing, it is clear to me now that our "elected representatives" do not represent us at all.

[@JesusChrist-Gives-Eternal-Life]

These videos were instrumental in helping me make the decision to avoid WV and continue looking into the Oregon Coast region for my future move. God bless you! Thank you!

[@NickJohnson]

Coos Bay

[@cherylcook1942]

Solid decision.

[@damonhill7159]

Another great video.

[@Ekkis25]

..."better not try and change any of that, you've been warned" How very Jason Aldean of you!

[@Walter-ox7rc]

Its illegal to fight roosters. Even in Kentucky. Be careful!

[@annhowcroft9493]

Great video

[@bookbm]

Morgantown! WVU graduate. The street you went down with the houses is Grant Street. About 30 years ago there was an annual block party. Needless to say, lighting couches on fire was the norm Huge party school back then (took me 5 years to graduate, don’t judge) A lot of folks who work in Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania live in WV and commute Beautiful state with lots of outdoor activities . Unfortunately, pain clinics ushered in the Opioid epidemic

[@user-iw9lb9uz1u]

This breaks my heart, that we have so many homeless

[@cyberdel]

This is by far one of your best videos.

[@JuanMedina-jn6wb]

I am a follower of your channel, great videos

[@user-zm6yh3ux7l]

I grew up in Appalachia. Moved away for awhile and came back. Got a lot of land here, got a place to stay and I can go hours without seeing anybody come down my driveway. That's kind of life I want. I can get on my porch, play my guitar and be left alone. Can't do that in the big city. Any of you guys that are from the city knows that. It's a trade-off you make. Want peace and quiet or you want a hectic lifestyle? Nobody really gives a crap down here about the poverty. We know we don't make a whole lot of money. We don't really care. We get left alone and not bother bother people. You don't see protests and the country. You don't have people knocking on your door selling this stuff and you don't have people trying to tell you what to do out here. And since you keep asking, no we don't expect the government to come save us. This is nothing new. It's been like this since I was a kid. We vote based on what benefits us just like everyone else. When gas prices go up or something like the coal industry gets shut down, We vote with our wallet just like the rest of America. Kentucky for example has a Democratic Governor. But we usually vote Republican for president. It's just about who says the things that we think are going to help us most.

[@NickJohnson]

Wow 👍

[@jim2791]

Thanks, Nick. I don't actually want to travel but I want to see the country you know?

[@NickJohnson]

I understand

[@aNYCdj]

Great show, i am shocked at how few cars are in these videos, i would have expected living in hollers and back in the words people would have beaters cars just to get around...

[@scottc.5142]

Nick, you have the perfect voice for this...

[@williambush7971]

Just a couple of comments. I grew up in East TN. My mom always told me there is nothing wrong with being poor but you don't have to be dirty. Seeing those houses and trailers doesn't really make me want to help them. They are just nasty people. I'm also surprised you didn't mention the federal prison in McCreary Ky.

[@franwex]

Your mom is wise. Nothing wrong with being poor. No excuse to be dirty.

[@CarversFieldbook]

I gotta say, as much as I hear about how desperately poor Appalachia is, in all of my trips to east TN it seems way more tidy and clean than most places I've seen.

[@kptamc]

Exactly my sentiments. These people need to clean up a little bit. Its hard for someone to respect you when you don't have any self respect or respect for your surroundings.

[@pearlcahoon3484]

Your mom probably should of taught you about people with poor mental health and poor physical health. No one starts out living like that, and no one wants to live like that. Life happens. Most importantly, your mom should have taught you if you have nothing nice to say, say nothing at all.