BACKWOODS TOWN OF WEST HELENA, ARKANSAS

[@lafingas555]

Hey i live in Scotland and i love going in these wee drives with you around the neighbourhoods.

[@sweets6865]

I was born and raised in Helena graduated from Central high school in 87. Helena and West Helena was a great place in its heyday.

[@7791D]

Were keyword so not anymore I’m guessing?

[@marcosiification]

dragging cherry st was the funniest thing ever on a friday night

[@TeddyLovesAxl]

You graduated with my sister Betsy! I graduated in 85! I was in the band! Mr Balch was my band director! Go Cougars! ❤️💙

[@TeddyLovesAxl]

@@marcosiificationThose were the days! I stayed on Cherry every Friday and Saturday night! Circling around the doughboy statue. Hanging out on the slab fields under the bridge. Tryna get Messinas to sell us liquor 😂

[@manforddeisch9014]

Some of the best memories of my life were on those very streets. My Father being from West Helena on a farm ( Old Little Rock rd.) not far from Pillows addition. ( pillow hill ). Spent every summer there. Coming from Chicago it was like heaven on earth. It will always have a special place in my heart.

[@bear1245]

Aww the Christmas Decorations in the square at the end ❤ 🎄

[@DpayneThoughtsAndOpinions]

My Hometown!!!!! I attended the church shown at the end of the video as a kid!!!!

[@TeddyLovesAxl]

My hometown too! Go Cougars! 💙❤️ Class of 85

[@TeddyLovesAxl]

It doesn’t look the same does it? It was a great town to grow up in

[@DpayneThoughtsAndOpinions]

@@TeddyLovesAxl Facts. It's sad what has happened to that place. And I'm CHS class of 08. Go Cougars !!!!!

[@KINGSULLY870]

In my city. 💪🏾💯 Shoutout to HELLTOWN, Arkansas. The strong survive🐗🐗 Much love CharlieBo‼️

[@kristiemiller4752]

Can I ask you a question? Why is nobody investing in this town? I’m an outsider looking in. And I don’t understand. Everyone who I talk to says, stay away from certain cities (towns). Blytheville, Pine Bluff and Helena, West Helena. The only commonalities that I see is a higher population of black population. For me this doesn’t scare me, but is this the only reason people are telling me to stay away from these areas? Are people not welcoming? I would really love an honest answer from somebody who lives there. And I can’t keep scratching my head and getting answers from outsiders. When I see this drive of the town, I see a lot of potential I don’t see abandoned homes, or people even living in homes that need to be restored. I see a place that needs companies to invest in this area so that people can have better paying jobs. Assuming a community that’s been there for years and generations that have had no choice to leave because of the economy. I’m also assuming which assuming probably doesn’t get me anywhere, but I don’t have much to go on that if the finances were there for reunification this area would flourish.

[@DeJuanish]

Wow my dad is from Helena and moved to Flint in the late 50s as a child. The connection is wild!

[@julie.1081]

Helena to Flint?

[@bear1245]

Yeah, real wild

[@Matthew_Loutner]

I lived in Flint and now West Helena.

[@BattleOfBowties]

Seems gloomy there, damn shame how houses are left to rot away.

[@MeganDanee]

That’s projection. A lot of southern/country towns look like this. The people in these type of small towns are always so colorful and nice. May be run down on the outside, but the insides are usually nice.

[@TheloniousJackson]

@@MeganDaneeI doubt that

[@bookmagicroe9553]

A picture is worth a thousand words. I have sadness and fear seeing these poor neighborhoods: sadness for the poverty of the people and fear that our country is sliding downhill.

[@thesenuts603]

Wake up, if you want to change it then do something about it.

[@never2muchluther803]

You'd be amazed how comfortable these residence are with this type of environment? And if they're content with this existence, who are we to complain or put them down?

[@Matthew_Loutner]

The poverty in this town is because the railroad was closed down years ago and everyone moved to another town pursuing jobs. It is not indicative of the whole United States. There is nothing to be sad or fearful about. Time marches forward.

[@jeanmissud9582]

Do you have videos of Portland, OR? Thanks

[@jimmycain8669]

Great place to live compared to a big city. Been going there all my life got family over the bridge in Lula, Mississippi.

[@julie.1081]

I think this would be a great place to open a huge mental health hospital because I'm getting depressed just watching.

[@Matthew_Loutner]

😅😂😢

[@7791D]

Charlie finally exploring little towns and venturing further from the populated metro cities. So many ran down little towns across all 50 states. You gotta do Alaska or Hawaii for real.

[@성태김-c1w]

Malaysia 🇲🇾 Japan 🇯🇵

[@kingtatedontplay]

Home sweet home

[@wpds401]

fico besta, com tantas casas abandonadas e muitas famílias e mendigos sem um teto, cadê os políticos.

[@williebeamish5879]

They all live in gated communities.

[@ngugi7279]

Looks like S Sudan 🇸🇩

[@alexandrite1ocean]

No it doesn't lmfao

[@idagates7176]

i am from there to i Miss it some time

[@gregh4284]

At least they keep their yards trash free. Probably decent people if you talk to them.

[@danielterry6511]

There's a lot of good people here in West Helena. Some assholes but mostly nice decent. We're not big on taking shit either but hey , who is.

[@scottr3484]

I wonder if have hi speed internet three?

[@jimmycain8669]

They have everything this video shows the worst because people want to see it and gasp.

[@Matthew_Loutner]

Yes. I live in one of house like this. We get ATT&T cable internet and I have AT&T wireless cell phone.

[@Matthew_Loutner]

​@@jimmycain8669There is a lot of "worst" here. His other video is more average of the town.

[@c.l.9344]

Wow!

[@MsWittyReadz]

Just found out my grandfather was born in West Helena. I never knew him, but found him years later.

[@BeauQuillen]

MY NIGGA YOUR RUNNIG OUT OF HOODS💯💯💯💯💯💯

[@showmestatefinest5412]

Better Google this town

[@Von1994]

😂

[@kingtatedontplay]

@@showmestatefinest5412factz 😂🤝

[@TheCramunhao666]

muito bom .

[@rickrudd]

No matter how bad you think ramshackle country houses look, these kids are living a MUCH safer existence than any kid in Baltimore or inner-Philly. I grew up country poor. We may have had our share of meth heads, crack heads, and losers running around, but you still had to show up for school, had to be respectful to the teachers, and got in big trouble for effing up. None of that is true in the inner city. We had room to roam. So yeah, we didnt have 💩, and we didnt have much supervision, but we were relatively safe and much better off than city ghetto bull 💩.

[@estherepps6914]

i will admit you are so right, and i'm a blk woman

[@Too2Cold]

My grandparents was born in crawfordsville I got family in Helena

[@donnawentz2221]

Does it get hot and humid there?

[@Too2Cold]

@@donnawentz2221 hell yea it does but when it’s cold bruh that mf be cold 😂

[@jamesread9841]

Yes it really a shame that we as Americans can give billions of dollars to outher people and we have to see this in America damn

[@h3lltown1cy72]

💯

[@johnlove8163]

😮

[@quiksix25]

Funny how I don't see the commenters bashing the Arkansas government for how bad this is like in the NYC and Philly videos- pretending like they care about homelessness and addiction

[@LayzieJ]

Funny ain’t it

[@wise98]

Let's see the hoods in Idaho and Montana 😂😂

[@TeddyLovesAxl]

Born and raised in West Helena. This breaks my heart

[@Raanis-7]

Hi dud . It's really beautiful. But i hope you speak anything while you driving like a describe about the city or any other thing 😅

[@showmestatefinest5412]

Bankroll Freddie hometown

[@Kontroversial84]

Yep. That's my cousin.

[@ChopyTweaks]

@@Kontroversial84🧢 FREE BANK

[@janetl4]

Omg

[@hadleymanmusic]

Is walmart close by?

[@Matthew_Loutner]

Yes. This video is taken under 2 miles from the downtown area with Walmart and fast foods and dollar stores.

[@willmc6728]

streets and yards are clean. never been there but west helenians have pride

[@kauai5839]

2:46 that was a pretty damn nice house.Wat ching from da Island of Kauai.🤙🏼

[@bartenderzzz]

At least it looks peaceful.

[@corymartin9851]

Born and raised Class of 93..CHS

[@JeromeFoster-pk6zi]

That's street I grew up on 😢

[@twinpyramid5985]

Bro time traveling 🧭

[@itscloudstrife]

wonder what it looked like in the 1970s

[@Nautica_Gibson]

like New York City

[@boandjill]

I'd say it's heyday was in the 60's. Late 70's / early 80's is when the town started to fail due to loss of industry.

[@Roadtripmik]

The state of Arkansas has lots of these towns: pine bluff, blytheville, helena…

[@etheld6614]

Thank you

[@jukkas6807]

Now that what you call country corn Daaaam

[@rooseveltmason9379]

2 cities combined. Its Helena West Helena, Arkansas.

[@alexandercoffman8319]

VERY-TRUE.

[@Matthew_Loutner]

In this video, you came within less than a mile from my house. My house looks just like all of the others. 🦅 😎👍 🇺🇸 ✝️ 🗽

[@melissasmess2773]

Looks like the jobs all left. 😢

[@skellyman3285]

My family the Gilcrest’s from that town

[@135mickey5]

Yoooo broo I wish I would’ve known you was here 💯 I make music we can do a hood vlog

[@teflonthed0n]

Should’ve stopped and interviewed me😈

[@MrEvilWasp]

Do you think, because of all the empty decaying houses, there will be a lot of vermin such as rats and mice?

[@Nautica_Gibson]

Yes ofcourse, not to mention snakes.

[@MrEvilWasp]

@@Nautica_Gibson I would have never thought about snakes.

[@Matthew_Loutner]

No. But I have thrown 2 snakes out of my house. 😅🤣😂

[@Null-o7j]

Needs a luxury apartment complex.

[@blacknight2149]

This is a town that I’ve never been to but I found because it has large homes for sale under $50,000. I found one giant home with 7 bedrooms and beautiful woodwork and historic facade -$200k. It’s unbelievable but obviously a very depressing town

[@Matthew_Loutner]

Currently, there is one house listed for $9,900 and a house listed for $20,500.

[@MMacAttack]

Sad to see boarded up homes Looks like homeowners care for their properties unlike some places USA giving away billions to foreign countries wars while towns & cities decline Infuriating

[@teresagoldberg5371]

This isn’t West Helena Ar! This is not Crowley’s Ridge.

[@jlindleywhite]

It is to West Helena!

[@teresagoldberg5371]

@@jlindleywhite nothing I recognized.

[@katreasejohnson5787]

Oh...yesss it is!!! Phillips County....not Crowley's Ridge...

[@Matthew_Loutner]

??????

[@Everclearfan86]

Delta poverty is just something else.

[@theprophetofputdowns8114]

Reading comments here, no one has a clue: There's trash everywhere here, dogs running loose, rampant crime, water pipes leaking everywhere, roads falling in, houses burned out... This video doesnt capture anything but the vibe.

[@markhayden1]

How much worse could the vibe be?

[@Matthew_Loutner]

Don't know what you are talking about. I never seen trash everywhere, roads crumbling, or water pipes leaking.

[@ChopyTweaks]

@@Matthew_Loutneryou are not from west helena thats why

[@Matthew_Loutner]

@Chopy18S Oh I am not? Where am I from?

[@Matthew_Loutner]

What is wrong with "dogs running loose" ?

[@Redman092000]

Place looks deserted. Why don’t they rebuild more houses there

[@Matthew_Loutner]

There is no economy after the railroad closed. People cannot rebuild their own house and there are no buyers to sell to.

[@ruaseparques2880]

🤔

[@wwrecords1]

🙋🏾‍♂️Ive been there. "West Helena" is where 👨🏾👩🏽 Black Folk live and is known for 🥷🏾robbing strangers. "Helena" is where👨🏻👩🏼White Folk live.

[@ggsuki627]

Is Arkansas really bad as far as racism?

[@trenaadams7880]

Please stop the passing false information about my city. Yes, we have problems just like every other city in this country. But this it was just a few minute video, of one part of the city. NOW!!!... I'm not going lie and act like it's the greatest city to live in, BUT it's not the worst either!

[@trenaadams7880]

Aaannddd!!! There some beautiful areas in Helena-West Helena!! And one thing for sure...the same roads that brought you in...take you out!🤷🏾‍♀️

[@wwrecords1]

@@trenaadams7880 Hwy 49 at Lula MS took me in and Hwy 49 at Lula MS took me out. ... I said Helena is 👨🏻👩🏻White Folk. I said West Helena is 👨🏽👩🏽Black Folk. And West Helena was known for Robbing Strangers, which is 100%true. 🙋🏾‍♂️Hey Lady either you been AWAY from W Helena for years or you simply live a Sheltered Life and don't know any better. Cause the TRUTH from the mouth of the real "Street" Dudes there is... If you're not from W Helena you better have a certified W Helena Dude with you if you plan to stop anywhere there! Otherwise, you are "On the Menu".

[@jlindleywhite]

​@@wwrecords1you must be either blind or ignorant one cause Helena and West Helena are not segregated!

[@autumnesparza7559]

Helena is not backwoods 😂

[@jukkas6807]

Still look better than philly

[@TheloniousJackson]

Very depressing place

[@Matthew_Loutner]

It is a state of mind . . .

[@ryanlacey1412]

you chose to ignore all the nice homes and areas. That town is on a major hwy 49; on the mississippi. You selling views not reality

[@Matthew_Loutner]

I live in this town and he has his video right. We have a few nicer houses. But he would not know where to find them.

[@mdmarko]

Nightmarish.

[@chination1796]

Arkansas ain't been relevant since Bangin' in Little Rock 🤣

[@donnawentz2221]

😢😂😂

[@StationaryRocketFlipChampion]

Chicago ain't been relevant since the Max Headroom incident 😅

[@chination1796]

@Al_Borland Huh? You lost me gang 😂

[@alexandercoffman8319]

AND CHICAGO HAS NOT BEEN RELEVANT SINCE MICHAEL JORDAN LAST PLAYED 4 THEE BULLS. AND GARY, IN DIANA GOES HARDER THAN CHICAGO TOO, SINCE YOU WANT 2 HATE ON ARK. ON EVERY ARKANSAS VIDEO.

[@chriskringle5191]