A College Town in the Middle of Nowhere: Macomb, Illinois 4K.

Macomb is home to Western Illinois University, and that's basically all the town is known for. It's one of the only places within the state of Illinois that you have to drive for an hour before you reach an interstate highway.
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[@ChrisHarden]

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[@tomhirtzel3851]

I grew up in Macomb and am a proud 1984 MHS alum, and my Dad taught at WIU. Thanks for taking me down memory lane. There are some obvious changes over the years, but it's fun to see how much has not changed. Great video!

[@colepilling9609]

My dads from there. He moved to West Virginia in 1968. I go with him to his high school reunions every 5 years. Getting ready to go this summer. I enjoy Illinois a lot

[@kiddtaak]

I graduated from WIU & lived in Macomb from my Sophomore year till I graduated. Macomb is a good place to live & has great locals as long as you aren't the typical "College kid". It's a ghost town when WIU is in break which gives people the chance to see what Macomb & neighboring towns are really like. Loved my time there

[@michigandersea3485]

To be honest, I think Macomb has huge potential, considering how cheap it is and what you get for the price. It has many things very few towns of 10-20k in Illinois have.

[@FumbleAIBO]

@@michigandersea3485 , very true! It has a best-in-state hospital that has won awards for its high-quality care and patient safety; all the cultural and educational opportunities that come from the university; excellent fiber internet available everywhere (that's unusual in a small town); three really beautiful large parks with recreational opportunities like hiking, boating, fishing, etc; and a great, very safe, community-oriented quality of life. It is a town with a lot to offer.

[@Blue71974]

I felt that it was really boring, I also graduated from WIU and if you wanted to do anything other than get s**t faced at the Ritz or the Forum you were out of luck, just one sad little theatre with like 4 old movies. Only thing worth it in Macomb is Lips.

[@injam_shawon]

Sir, is there any opportunity to get part time job?

[@marcyking7865]

I am from Macomb and loved my childhood growing up there! It was such a great time in Macomb with WIU growing as a result of the baby boomers starting to college. I graduated from Western in 1978. There were 15,000 students there during that time. It was a HUGE party school. One more thing I would like to add, the area is actually very wealthy. Our farmland is some of the best in the world, so the networth of the farmers in that area is impressive, but you would never know it by the way they act and live! 😉💙

[@mnoliberal7335]

Illinois has some of the highest taxes on the farmers' land, highest sales and State Income Taxes, and one of the most corrupt state & local Govt. Cultures. A Governor goes to prison every 12-20 years, along with mayors, city managers, etc. If it wasn't for the Leathernecks of WIU, Macomb would look like any other "downstate" community.

[@kmc1steelers998]

So refreshing to see this video. My son and a good friend of his will be possibly offered a job here, and needed to see the area. I see he will definitely need his car

[@davidstoneburner8725]

Thanks for showcasing Macomb. I am a WIU alumni. I could tell there seemed to be quite a few changes in businesses since I was there last. Macomb really is a nice town. Like others mentioned however it is pretty much a Ghost town when college is not in session. Even during summer session it is really quiet. Thanks for the video. You do a great job.

[@injam_shawon]

Sir, is there any opportunity to get part time job?

[@devinbiggs997]

I attended WIU starting in Fall 2013 and graduated in Spring 2017. Loved my time at the school and in the town. I usually tried to get to town during homecoming. Covid has messed that up. Can’t wait until I can visit the school and town again to not only see it, but also participate in homecoming festivities. Great job on this tour. It was great to see the stomping grounds virtually again!

[@injam_shawon]

Sir, is there any opportunity to get part time job?

[@philrickhurnes8408]

I myself is a WIU alum, 1995 graduate. Had the best time of my life as a student there. Made some life long friendships. Macomb will always hold a special place in my heart because of WIU……………

[@rocketmom60]

I graduated from WIU in 1973. Other than campus, I don't recognize very much shown in the video. Of course, things change over 50 years. Even campus is changed with a couple of dorms missing.

[@aprilclover2429]

I was there part of that time. I lived in Higgins Hall & then Thompson Hall. Wetzel was a brand new dorm then.

[@illinoisdriver2685]

Was just about to ask if you were going to Macomb 😆 thank you for uploading this!!! I went to WIU and I absolutely loved every second of Macomb! 💜💛💜💛

[@garywhite3264]

Hey, thanks for inserting direction of travel! BTW, Macomb is one of many college towns where I participated in criterium (bicycle) races back in the mid 70's. Fun times. Pleasant town.

[@ChrisHarden]

Nice!

[@michaelallison6075]

WIU '76 graduate. WIU has the name Letherneck as a copyright. Rock Hansen, the long-time athletic director, was a Marine. Great college in the 1970s. Attendance has dropped significantly in recent times.

[@johnniezimmerman7540]

Okay I've watched this video 3 times now and haven't commented so here it goes. My wife is from Macomb and now that we're retired. Last week I bought a house in Macomb. And will be saying goodbye to the eastern suburbs of Cleveland real soon.

[@ChrisHarden]

Good luck on the move!

[@mauidemigodofthewindandsea456]

Awesome video! I think the Morris-Minooka area or the Oswego-Yorkville area by the Fox River would make good videos when you get a little more north into Illinois.

[@Fresh2Death84]

I enjoy these videos! Awesome work! 🤗

[@ChrisHarden]

Thanks so much!

[@jonnydanger7181]

Reading the comments, I actually like seeing the sunset as you drive west it reminded me of those beautiful flat plain sunsets (usually I was driving south and looking west) making my way into MaComb 👍

[@MrPhotodoc]

Nice shout out to CT Vivian as an MHS alumni. He also attended WIU and was an editor for the Sports section of the Western Courier newspaper.

[@angelaloof852]

My mom went to school with him!

[@mattwagner6105]

Will go to college here in a year or two.

[@injam_shawon]

Sir, is there any opportunity to get part time job?

[@jeffreycrawford376]

I’m a lifelong Macomby Homie! Love the video. I’d watched a few different ones previously from this channel. My Only gripe here, and honestly w/Any vid moving forward would be to Not b driving west while the sun is setting.. Couldn’t read any store signs at beginning due to glare, brah

[@jazzagerecords7932]

Used to come from Monmouth/Galesburg to go to the record stores back in my late highschool/early college days, but now that they all closed/left, Macomb feels so empty to me. RIP Bad Kitty Records.

[@johnsmallberries3476]

One of my sisters went to school at WIU....had some great times down there 🍺🍺🍺🍺👍

[@royfugate]

All you forgot was our medical center - McDonough District Hospital.

[@erikmcc804]

Thanks Nostalgia, i ever seen Macomb, only on the Map. Hey Buddy i understand about college it is totally Cresent fresh lol but its pretty there thanks again and please stay safe :-) PEACE!!!

[@PappuVet]

Needed more videos of Macomb city

[@paddyotable]

I used to spend the night with my future wife in the WIU Thompson dorm...floor 5 in 1978.

[@michaelallison6075]

Mike Wagner, defensive back and 4 time Superbowl champion should have been noted. He also is a Theta Chi

[@baymaxc1647]

Totally agree!

[@monicafox7472]

Yk as some who graduated high school there and live in Macomb all my life we use to be call the mustang and have the wild cats at Edison school but it all changed when was in 6th grade cause Lincoln school was the bitty bomber so now the hole district the Macomb bombers beside the college like wiu and spoon river

[@CJColvin]

Macomb Illinois is where my sister Jessie when to collage there.

[@brainerdboy1177]

Another outstanding video here. So how long did it take you to familiarize yourself with Macomb? I only ask because it seems like you knew exactly where you were headed and you never seemed lost as to where you were. Well, I hope this insightful comment will help to put a dent in that dang algorithm thing. 😆 Seriously, I enjoy all your videos and look forward to more from our fair state. I have lived in Illinois all my life, but I have not been to half the places you have gone to. So thank you again, sir.

[@popper1772]

I lived there as a youth. They busted my ass for a tiny bit of weed and put me in jail and gave me 10 years probation!

[@tellurye]

You forgot to mention, Rev. Dr. C.T. Vivian is also a graduate Alumni of Western Illinois University, as well as Macomb High School. They named the High School library after him.

[@darksceptile6682]

I grew up in Bushnell, Illinois a town 20 minutes away from Macomb and Macomb is the only reason you should come to this county

[@AlanElBee]

Hey Chris, I love your videos and they sure make a good case to get a GoPro Hero 9! Where do you get the town and county crime statistics from? thanks!

[@ChrisHarden]

Thanks! These videos are actually from a GoPro hero 7 black. I only have a few videos uploaded so far that are shot from the hero 9 black which has nicer footage (Ann Arbor, Dexter MI, M-22, Michigan Tunnel of Trees, Traverse City, Charlevoix/Petoskey, I-255 St. Louis.) Soon you’ll see that my uploads will all be from the hero 9 black. The crime stats are official from the FBI, most other stats are from the official US census site.

[@Nyquil614]

I used to live there back in 91-92. My father was teaching ROTC at WIU.

[@dougarnold7955]

Thanks.

[@erinharrison5067]

Small correction... Borphy Hall doesn't exist. But Brophy Hall sits across the street from WIU's basketball arena, called Western Hall.

[@ChrisHarden]

Hmm someone should update that on google maps 😬

[@jongdokim7840]

I graduated from WIU and got a master degree in1994.1~1995.12 as a foreign student. It was nice place to study and living. Thanks~~~^^

[@glennso47]

Will you be doing a video on Morrison,Illinois? It’s the county seat of Whiteside county.

[@ChrisHarden]

Not sure if I'll do one on Morrison, but I plan on doing one on Savanna and I'll include your beloved Mount Carroll. Those two towns have enough interesting things about it. Can't promise when I'll be able to upload videos on those places but I do plan on it.

[@jonathanappleseed5896]

When you going to do Jacksonville?

[@kimberlymichael8992]

Driving into town from the east, you turned north before getting to the square, though the county courthouse was perfectly framed in the sunset. Oops. Missed it again driving around the square. Macomb has a vibrant downtown area, in spite of the Walmart, and because of the uni internet access can be fiber to your house excellent.

[@ChrisHarden]

I was playing a game called dodge the courthouse, I just didn’t tell anyone in the video.

[@kimberlymichael8992]

@@ChrisHarden the things we do to stay awake in the car. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@michigandersea3485]

Wow, that "fiber to your house" service is actually really outstanding for an isolated rural town. What a serious positive, in a place that already has a lot going for it compared to most rural IL towns of 10-20k.

[@markz6676]

I haven't been to Macomb in 30 years, rather nice to see. But - more time devoted to a classic, historic Public Square was necessary, and more points of WIU could have been explained. Approaching the town SOUTH on US 67 would have been a bit more scenic, less time on a generic high school was unnecessary. WGEM-TV has a studio in Macomb? Who knew?

[@emmacat3202]

I heard this town is pretty. You should go to DeKalb, Illinois next.

[@ChrisHarden]

Stay tuned

[@KevinNguyen-ko2zn]

@@ChrisHarden Can you try forbidden towns in Kentucky and Wisconsin?

[@glennso47]

He did a video on Dekalb recently.

[@albertsancho5909]

You'll visit Wisconsin next like cities of Milwaukee Madison Green Bay Eau Claire and the Dells soon?

[@ChrisHarden]

Can’t tell you when but I’ll get there one day. I’ve only been to the very southern part of Milwaukee once. Last Great Lakes major city that I’ve never explored much of yet.

[@barrywright3670]

It is good place for a University to be

[@jodimcdaniel1143]

I lived in Macomb IL for 18 years it's not really all that great they don't really have a lot of places to go and shop as far as restaurants they don't have a lot of real sit-down family restaurants they mostly have bar and grill type restaurants and fast food places some of the places lay off local residents and hire college kids so there really there really isn't many jobs either.

[@michigandersea3485]

That's cool and everything, I understand it may not be exciting, but you have to recognize how cheap and safe it is compared to most US cities, and what it does have, considering how cheap and safe it is. Rent and home prices start at least 3x higher in the Chicago metro area, but minimum wage is only slightly higher there.

[@jodimcdaniel7224]

@@michigandersea3485 I moved back to Macomb back in January and I saw that the town has shrunk I was back in Macomb for about 9 months I moved back up by the Chicago area back in September

[@michigandersea3485]

@@jodimcdaniel7224 Well, I decided not to move there myself. But the main reason is because my job requires me to be in Cook County. I'm originally from central IL and like the area, but it's also far from anyone my wife and I know. Otherwise we would have bought a house there debt free and raised our kids there.

[@michaelbrinks8089]

I grew up & went to grade school in Monmouth then started HS in Peoria & lived there off & on for many years. Growing up I always went to Burlington, Galesburg, quad cities often but only been to Macomb once. 🤷‍♂️

[@cosmosbeing2103]

You didn't go onto the campus. That's what I was waiting for.

[@skliros9235]

He drove on the main roads next to the school. It was just closed and nobody around

[@injam_shawon]

Sir, is there any opportunity to get part time job?

[@davisdurand]

It wasn't a bad video, but shooting into the sun at the beginning is a cardinal sin for a videographer. Also, he did not show the old original buildings, such as Sherman Hall. It's architecture is far and away better than those other blah, modern, campus buildings. Sherman Hall is the center piece of the entire campus!!!

[@nathantex3119]

This is one of the worst places on earth. It is a literal hellscape.

[@glennso47]

Destroying the algorithm for this video. 😁

[@ericgallahan3856]

6:58 The enrollment is way less than that. It’s more around 6,500. That data was from 2017.

[@ChrisHarden]

I guess what I saw was the 2017 enrollment numbers. It looks like the 2021 spring enrollment numbers are down to just below 7,000. Quite a big drop off!

[@skliros9235]

Enrollment is really bad now. It's sad.

[@ericgallahan3856]

@@skliros9235 This past fall there was an enrollment increase from the spring, so that's a positive. 6,994 in the spring 2020 to 7,490 in the Fall 2020.

[@miguelleanos11]

Do some of Northern IN

[@ChrisHarden]

One day I will

[@tellurye]

I went there and hated it. There was TONS of crime, they treated students like crap, and the cops were podunk big shot wanna be psychos. The teachers were actually cool. We called it the Sherman Shuffle because Sherman hall was where you did your student business, and they would send you from room to room, no one knowing their job. Even the teachers would say they felt sorry for us. Sad because WIU really did have some awesome stuff but was over shadowed by the bad stuff. Even visiting comedians made fun of it. That was 30 years ago, so sounds like from the comments below, a ton of change has happened for the better, which Im glad.

[@slechtajames53]

Why video with the sun at such a low angle?

[@ChrisHarden]

Why not?

[@Aekross1]

I´m from Germany and I´m thinking about doing a year/semester abroad in WIU. Can anyone who went there maybe tell me a little bit about the University (Everyday life and also nightlife since frat parties etc. are such a big cliche here in Europe ;))?

[@skliros9235]

Macomb used to be considered a big party town for college kids. I was there around 2000. But school enrollment is way down lately. Plus with covid, things are worse. I would not recommend coming now. This town is in the middle of nowhere, and there is not much nearby.

[@kimberlymichael8992]

It’s still a bit rowdy at the college. The town has a very healthy social life outside the school, and accessibility is excellent due to Amtrak to Chicago twice a day.

[@freedomfighter2417]

Do mt Carmel Illinois

[@darkagen5046]

I just deleted the app because they want us to pay their drivers they want us to tip the drivers before we can used it back to request another ride

[@stevegeorge961]

Do Carbondale

[@FumbleAIBO]

Aww, if you'd turned right at 12:05 instead of left, you would have passed my house!

[@glennso47]

One of my granddaughters did not get a real high school graduation because she graduated in 2020. A sick country did that to everyone who finished their education in 2020, 😡

[@jerryfriday8619]

Thats the trouble you get on the college and keep at it.

[@michigandersea3485]

Ok, so Macomb has --a very low cost of living and low home prices. Seriously, you can pick up houses for $50k that you could move into. --decent schools, but not really outstanding --lower crime than the state average --thanks to the college it has more educated and hopefully more open-minded people than most affordable small towns --a train that gets you to Chicago in 3.5 hours. --fiber internet (unheard of in a town of 20,000 people) --about 20% of the permanent population is university faculty and their families What's not to like for remote workers with families who want to live somewhere peaceful and safe? (Of course, you don't want to live near campus if you want peace and quiet.)

[@richardm3023]

Why don't you just stay in the utopia of Chicago that you and the other "progressive minded" people have created? Why do you insist on ruining a place, and then moving someplace else to ruin that with your "progressiveness"? The place you live is not the problem. YOU are the problem.

[@albertmartin6298]

Macomb is not too far from where I live at

[@injam_shawon]

Sir, is there any opportunity to get part time job?

[@tonisams6902]

I live in Macomb and dislike the area intensely. The people are friendly, but services are lacking here. Businesses have gone out and there is not much here.

[@michigandersea3485]

You have to weigh the cost of living vs the amenities. Many other places have way more amenities and services, but they are almost always 1) higher crime or 2) much more costly to live in. Macomb has more culture than most towns its size in Illinois, and lower crime than many as well. Housing costs start at 3x higher in Chicagoland than in Macomb.

[@rosalindgibbs2980]

Do most of the people who live in Malcomb, IL have to have a car to get around.

[@ChrisHarden]

I’m sure that if you live in the blocks near downtown that there are plenty of places that you can walk to.

[@ChrisHarden]

It looks like the city has a bus system in place.

[@skliros9235]

You need a car pretty much everywhere in the US. Unless you're in a very large city.

[@rockyzman]

@@ChrisHarden I'm watching all your videos again and start to read all the comments this time. I just moved to Macomb to a house I bought to live in now that I'm retired. Housing is cheap here as is just about everything else. Macomb not only has a bus service, it's free.

[@kimberlymichael8992]

City bus service is good, and free in Macomb.

[@Zero.freingetei]

6767

[@MohammadAlshahrani]

I am WIU alumni

[@injam_shawon]

Sir, is there any opportunity to get part time job?

[@flexjay87]

Maybe, just maybe, you should not drive West at sunset, and film, just sayin.

[@ChrisHarden]

Not sure if you've heard, but some people like looking at the sunset.

[@yousefsehwell5200]

Bro I love living here but the people are kinda weird and getto...

[@michigandersea3485]

Even the 500 college professors and their families? That's probably like 20% or more of the permanent non-student population.

[@rosalindgibbs2980]

hahaha...

[@dickiegreenleaf750]

Lived in Macomb 1994-1997. The glory days before ghetto took over. Don’t send your kids here.

[@valwolff551]

Graduated in 1980. Where are all the bars?

[@kimberlymichael8992]

What does “ghetto” mean in this context?

[@jorge.2614]

Ghetto?

[@jorge.2614]

@@kimberlymichael8992 I hope he doesn’t mean what I think he does🤦‍♂️

[@michigandersea3485]

If you look at crime statistics and school statistics it does pretty well today, especially considering the very low cost of housing.

[@glennso47]

That was sad that campuses were closed, especially for elementary and high schools. Anthony Fauci needs a good dose of Nuremberg.

[@Bigpunstacostand420]

Too many cops they mess with anyone cheap rent thou 450 a month no jobs 1 job round the area smithfeild 45 min away

[@michigandersea3485]

You have to understand just how amazing $450/month rent is in a town with a below average crime rate, and free buses... That is essentially tied for the lowest rent in the USA. Plus, if you do get a job, you get the high Illinois minimum wage.

[@jerryfriday8619]

Too bad you missed most of the city.

[@ChrisHarden]

And if I don’t take the “long way” like you commented previously, then I’ll “miss” even more of these places.

[@richardm3023]

18:21 Changing lanes in an intersection!!! Shame on you for such a flagrant moving violation.

[@jerryfriday8619]

You sure go the long way to anythkng.

[@ChrisHarden]

Yes. Always.

[@theproject568]

Thanks...for showing me definitely where not to live.

[@skliros9235]

Lol

[@michaelbrinks8089]

It's not that bad but not that great either......The crazy thing is, a $75k home in Macomb that's 1/2 way decent looking will be $275k in Bozeman Montana pop 54K or $175k in Wallace Idaho pop 900 in remote area. About the plus is beautiful scenery.

[@jerryfriday8619]

I was not impressed by the names you mentioned just dissapointed ,just a lot of overpaid stiffs.

[@jlw596]

I'm particularly fond of nearby Blandinsville, IL. It's the childhood home of KZbin.com/watch?v=qpMOx2Ul9RA

[@deepfidemilk]

Blandinsville sucks ass