Why So Few Americans Live In This HUGE Area In The Northern Part Of The Country

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There are a lot of Americans these days. But despite being the world's third largest country by population, there exists a huge area in the northern part of the contiguous USA that is pretty empty. And this is despite the fact that Canada has two major Canadian cities even farther north. So why don't more Americans live in the Empty North?
Stock footage is acquired from www.storyblocks.com.
Animation and production assistance provided by DH Designs (needahittman.com).

[@anonymouslyanonymous5987]

I live in Northwest Montana, and I don’t think I would ever leave Montana for any reasons. The isolation is what makes me love Montana so much.

[@roadwarrior1589]

I don't think of NW Montana being that rural. It is pretty developed between Missoula and Whitefish.

[@roberthall7419]

I live in NW Minnesota because no one else does 😂 it's not isolated or undeveloped just nobody lives here infrastructure is A+ tho.

[@user-kh1zo4sc9l]

Peace and quiet and all you hear is the wind and the coyotes. I hate living in town. Too many Karen's getting in your business trying to dictate your life for you.

[@tuckerbugeater]

@@user-kh1zo4sc9l I can't wait for the invasion to happen.

[@user-kh1zo4sc9l]

@@tuckerbugeater I just bought 40 acres in Los Animas County out in the middle of Comanche National Grasslands and the Pinyon Canyon Manuever Site. About a million acres of great big empty with La hunta or Trinidad both 45-50 miles away on either end.

[@francikeen]

Interesting note: The US Southwest only grew AFTER air conditioning was introduced. Hot & sunny regions are great IF you have AC!

[@mithos789]

absolutely. people cant even handle nyc heat.

[@mournblade1066]

@@mithos789 Yeah, the think about NYC heat (and heat in the northeast in general--I'm in Pennsylvania myself) is that the humidity can get obnoxious. Nothing worse than 90+ degrees Fahrenheit with 90%+ humidity. The absolute worst I ever experienced in Pennsylvania was back in July, 1995 when the temperature hit 106 or 107 degrees, and humidity was 99%. Going outdoors that day was literally like stepping into a sauna.

[@razor3106]

Yes, summers are absolutely miserable out here, especially because of the humidity. I've known a few Vietnam veterans who claim that summers in Vietnam were more bearable than here in the deep south.

[@francikeen]

@@razor3106 Interesting!

[@NuSuntSerb]

Sunny and hot regions, for some reason, tend to host the worst people and tend to have more crime than colder areas

[@morganvikings_]

I have grandparents who live in the black hills in South Dakota and I can confirm that the empty north is a beautiful place despite no one living there

[@K.O.Pro01]

Can't help but wonder if it's beautiful because no one is living there

[@insertedgynamehere2851]

@@K.O.Pro01 yes

[@jerylregina7392]

i cannot support my life,there,tho😮everythg was more exp😢

[@wutzittouya3765]

In Bismarck ND, we had 150+ consecutive days of having 8+” of snow on the ground this past winter. We nearly doubled the old record. Stay out!

[@WetHat42]

Yeah? How about this year? 🤙🏼North Dakota native 👈🏻

[@mariop3925]

Im jealous, we had only one single day of snow here in western germany. Guess i don't have to mention it was less then 3cm.

[@markw999]

Arizona didn't develop until air conditioning became common. Air conditioning actually changed a lot of settlement patterns in the South as well.

[@henryknox4511]

It was the water boom given by hoover dam dude.

[@robertgronewold3326]

@@henryknox4511 No, actually it was air conditioning. They had water in Arizona before that. Most of the cities there are built on rivers. People just could not handle the desert heat.

[@henryknox4511]

@@robertgronewold3326 Air conditioning wasn't common in houses until after the 50's dude. Cool story though. No water= no population growth. If you reference population charts from 1900-2022 Az, Nv, and Ca all 3 started a continuous increase in population starting after 1931 when the dam was built.

[@henryknox4511]

@@robertgronewold3326 And there's still plenty of old ass homes in east las vegas that don't have AC, I'm sure that's the case in a lot of Arizona cities too.

[@robertgronewold3326]

@@henryknox4511 The population boom in Arizona happened in the 60's.......

[@ryanwagner8409]

It's also important to note that many of the states in the Empty North have a lot of federal land in them, which dramatically reduces the area that people can settle in

[@answerman9933]

That is a fair point.

[@sethowens8762]

North and South Dakota average at about 93% privately owned across the states. More private in ND, with about 95-97% of our land being privately owned.

[@saschaschneider9157]

I've heard the US has the major part of their ICBM arsenal stationed in this area. And therefore this area is most likely a major target of the russians arsenal in the case of an nuclear exchange. But that's really hearsay, I have no evidence for that. - I live about 1 km (~0.6 miles) from the USEUCOM, the United States European Command, and actually got pretty jumpy since I know this. So I can relate to someone who don't wants to live near an possible ICBM target.

[@matthew6863]

Wyoming and Idaho, sure. But those are the only two that fall in the top 10, and they're up there with many other, much more populated western states such as Washington, Oregon, Colorado and of course, Arizona. I believe the points brought up in the video are much more relevant, especially considering they cover the area as a whole instead of just the mountains.

[@aliensoup2420]

A lot of Indian Reservations.

[@SkeetRadar]

I grew up in the empty north, and I'm still basically in it today. it's interesting to hear someone talk about this region, because we're often forgotten.

[@Jason-xr7fh]

I live in northwest Montana and i am in the construction industry. I can definitely say there has been a shift. We are absolutely booming in population. I think people will be migrating to places like Montana to get away from our cities.

[@willisswenson3843]

You are correct. They move from democrat run states because of the mismanagement. Then? The dumb F’s vote democrat.

[@celticfire9881]

Don’t tell too many people about it, keep it low key.

[@SuperAnimeking100]

@@DannyGreen-dl2be South Park talked about this really well

[@bobsacamano7653]

prices have skyrocketed

[@charleshoang7687]

I hope 10 million of people in california will move up here because it's too crowded here,it take me 1 hour to drive 30 miles to work .

[@Hoovie9596]

As someone who lives in Calgary, we drive often into Montana and Idaho for the sheer tranquility and small population and wide open spaces. I love it. Wouldn’t trade it for anything. Big cities are stressful.

[@BigBri550]

But doesn't it bug you how we say CAL-grr- ee instead of Cal-GAIR-ee?

[@Hoovie9596]

@@BigBri550 I wasn’t born there. I could care less

[@microwaffles]

CAL-gary is correct

[@annoyed707]

Not a fan of the Deerfoot squeeze every morning?

[@M-D-]

Calgary is anything but stressful downtown is so dead

[@highway2heaven91]

The main reason why Canada has large population centers on this side of the border while America does not is because of the Aspen Parkland region that lies almost entirely on the Canadian side of the region. The Aspen Parkland was nicknamed “Palliser’s Triangle” (named for explorer John Palliser) and it forms a triangle that almost lines up with the locations of all of the Canadian Prairie cities (excluding Regina which was located in an isolated fertile valley). Inside of the triangle, the soil was much more fertile than the arid soil located inside of this triangle and to the south of it. The 49th parallel happened to be located south of this triangle and therefore all of Montana and most of North Dakota lie in the arid zone to the south of it. Only a small piece of the Aspen Parkland natural region stretches into the US, mainly in NW Minnesota and NE North Dakota. Coincidentally, this is where the city of Grand Forks is and it’s just to the North of Fargo/Moorhead. Because so little of this region is in the US, it is seldom referenced by Americans geographers. Now for the reason why Edmonton and Calgary got so big, large deposits of oil were discovered outside of both cities. Although Edmonton’s oil reserves were much larger, Calgary’s were discovered about 30 years earlier so the oil companies set up shop there and had already established a corporate hub by the time that the oil deposits were discovered near Edmonton. The fact that Calgary was closer to the other major cities of Canada and the US was a incredibly helpful coincidence. Thanks for posting this video. I was watching for a geography KZbinr to cover this geographic anomaly.

[@N.i.l]

thanks!

[@answerman9933]

I thought the main reason Canadians lived on the other side of the Empty North was because they not have much choice to live further south and still be in Canada.

[@michaelfox6820]

Palliser's Triangle is actually a semi-arid region, and most of it is, or at least was, prairie. At the time of Palliser's exploration, the Aspen Parkland was to the north of that designated area, although, thanks to the fighting of forest fires, aspen parkland has invaded to the south and east and now covers about half of Palliser's Triangle.

[@Kevin19700]

Excellent information! Thanks for sharing! I had no idea about any of this geography 😳

[@highway2heaven91]

@@michaelfox6820 Thanks for clearing that up. Most of the cities on the Canadian side are located in this thin strip of the Aspen Parkland which ends well before the US Border. Interestingly, places like Edmonton, Calgary and even Banff didn’t have a lot of trees until those areas got more populated (or in Banff’s case, became a National Park) and they started putting out the forest fires that maintained the semi-arid landscape that this area originally had. As far as I know, this is what caused the Parkland to swallow up some of the Palliser’s Triangle to the south.

[@xxkittnenxx]

I've lived in Montana my entire life (35 years) and I can't imagine living anywhere else. The winters can be rough, but it's worth it. I'm taking my kids to GNP this summer and I can't wait to show them the true beauty of our incredible state.

[@Somebody_i_used_2_know]

Ah the Far cry5 state😂

[@---bk2hj]

Excellent Thanks Again Take Care

[@williamhild1793]

I live in the empty north, in South Dakota. Thank you for mentioning the climate. This past winter, we once went 7 straight days (108 hours in a row) where the temperature did not get above zero. Daytime high of minus 4. That kind of stuff. That week was preceded by nearly 30 inches of snow in a week. After we finally got above zero in January, we had two straight weeks of fog. We had 14 inches of snow again a few weeks ago in April. And we always get a few days above 100 degrees each year. But take away the climate, and the fact that it's a zillion miles to any meaningful large city, and it's a pretty good life out here.

[@markpimlott2879]

With that kind of bragging about the extremes of your climate and weather.... you could secretly be Canadians! 🥶 🤠 😅 🇨🇦 🍁 🇨🇦

[@williammartin6872]

Only 7 days? During our last January in Grand Forks, North Dakota, we had three weeks where the temperature stayed around -40 F!

[@mrburns805]

@@williammartin6872 that’s just straight up not true. Coming from someone who lives in Minot. It’s cold, but it almost never gets -40°F. Maybe for a few hours with windchill. We still live in the coldest state in the contiguous US. I’ve talked to severe people who moved here from Alaska and they say ND is colder because of the wind so we might be 1st in terms of uncomfortable weather lol

[@drfuck]

Nah that sounds shitty

[@greenwave819]

east TN had similar weather this past winter, just no snow.

[@joedavenport934]

I live in Spokane and we like to call it the "sunny side of the state" becuase Seattle is so cloudy and grey. The snow here is rarely more than 6" and rarely dips below freezing for too long. Spokane is the biggest metro area between Seattle and Minneapolis and between Calgary and Salt Lake City which is basically the region you highlighted. So we have a very very far reaching influence on this entire area - roughly 20% of the entire United States like you said. For that reason Spokane is a major service oriented city with great hospitals and schools and a major hub for businesses who want to reach the region you highlighted.

[@ImtoPreppyForThisWorld]

I am here from Washington State, I lived in Walla Walla, Spokane, and many more area's its so peaceful!

[@davemiller6055]

When I was growing up in Spokane in the 70s, it was called the capitol of the Inland empire. It's the second largest city in Washington (sorry Tacoma) and you can drive to many different land forms in an hour or two.

[@watchmanonthewall14]

Spokane is a dump. Crime is a major problem. And I have noticed that the city is, more and more, going woke. Truth.

[@user-ps1ut8qn8i]

Agreed!! I've lived in the area for ten years, originally from Tacoma. I'm a fan of Skiing so I don't mind the harsher winters. It is drier on this side of the mountains, but we make up for it with all of the vineyards and hops that grow along the Columbia.

[@glencurtis2761]

Seems like Spokane and maybe all of Washington should have been excluded from your definition of the empty north, the way Boise is.

[@johnhein2539]

Country driving during the summer and fall through those areas is an absolute dream! Beautiful states, not too much traffic. Great coffee shop towns as well! Will repeat.

[@0HARE]

Thanks for the information. It was interesting and useful.

[@newwaveinfantry8362]

Simple - Cold, dry and mountainous is the type of environment that people avoid worldwide. Also, the western half of the country was settled very recently. EDIT: It seems like my comment was less clear to people than I thought it would be. I want to clarify that I was not stating my opinion on which climate is best or worst - I was simply stating the objective reality that, historically, large settlements happened almost exclusively in low-lying, flat, wet lands near rivers and river deltas, often on coasts, because long-distance water-redirection technology simply didn't exist and people needed large bodies of water nearby and farmable land. This is why the US, Indian, European, African, etc. population distribution maps look the way they do. It's easy to see the strong correlation between high population and rivers, river deltas, coasts, lowlands, wetlands, flat land, as well as the corrolation between a lack of population and deserts, mountains, tundra areas, rugged terrain, lack of large rivers and lakes. And that's accounting for recent changes. Historically the population distribution was even more disproportionate than it is today. I didn't think this needed to be stated but here is your context for my comment.

[@jamescoulson7729]

The strangest part though is that in Canada just north there are massive urban areas like Calgary(with an urban population similar to Austin Texas) Edmonton(similar urban population to Nashville or Salt Lake City) or even Winnipeg (with a urban population and density similar to Honolulu) with cities like Saskatoon, or Regina also being larger than anywhere south of the border. But a lot of that is to do with climate and how the land is much more fertile in Canada and so that region has become a breadbasket of the world and is able to support a large and rising population while the land just directly south cannot

[@chinguunerdenebadrakh7022]

@@jamescoulson7729 it's also just consequence of an artificial border. From what I remember Angola's southern part is much more sparsely populated than namibia's northern part even though both are much more similar in climate. That's because angola's North is much more fertile while Namibia South is very very desolate, so "relative fertility" for soith Angola and north Namibia are different even if geographically they might be similar.

[@jamescoulson7729]

@@chinguunerdenebadrakh7022 sure that might play some role but Northern Alberta was seen as one of the most fertile land in the entire British empire, producing higher, wheat yields per acre than anything in India Australia, southern Ontario etc….So it’s a real agricultural region of the world. It’s in a different climate too and when you travel in Alberta it’s green and covered in farm fields while travelling through Montana is brown and covered in dried grasses. You can even go and look at satellite photos and see the difference as the border is artificial but still roughly follows different climate and hydrological and glacial zones

[@AngelicoCiudad]

You just skipped the part about Calgary and Edmonton.

[@deyoungyoung3059]

Agree

[@velodjk2975]

As a kid growing up in Spokane in the 70's and 80's, I remember local news stories about elderly residents who were born in "Washington Territory."

[@roadwarrior1589]

My grandfather was born in Spokane before Washington got statehood in 1889.

[@watchmanonthewall14]

Back in a time that people generally had good morals, unlike the crime-ridden, leaning woke city of Spokane today.

[@kaseywahl]

I grew up in Sioux Falls, South Dakota (kind of on the border of the populated/unpopulated area of the map). It was a really nice place to grow up in as a kid. Not much to offer as an adult. Very isolated from the rest of the country, but generally safe and a low cost of living. That said, I've seen my hometown grow from a large town of about 80k to a small city of about 200k (counting the metro area). As an adult, I'm thankful to have grown up on the border of urban and rural. It has afforded me the opportunity to see things from both sides of a lot of the cultural and political splits in the country.

[@zaiologyy]

Love these videos, they cut straight to the chase and have as much wisdom as quickly as can be :) Much appreciated

[@markrichards6863]

Montana is amazing. Everyone should visit, at least once. I'm from NYC. They have so much open space, amazing mountains and even the plains of Eastern Montana are more beautiful than the plains in other states. Go in spring or early summer. It's all breathtaking.

[@holla18atme]

Visiting is the way to go. Take it from someone who lives here.

[@slingerssecretlaboratory]

Please come visit! But you wouldn't want to live here for sure.

[@freewill1114]

Don't come here! It's horrible! If you don't die from freezing to death, you will almost certainly get eaten by a grizzly bear!

[@khz2172]

@@holla18atme you guys have a beautiful state. Every time I see any videos of Montana, I get so amazed, it's so awe-inspiring and I fall in love with the landscape. And I really want to live there but I know that as someone who has lived in a city all his life, reality might be different for me

[@porahi42nd]

I love Montana!! Gorgeous state indeed ❤❤

[@colbycharles52]

The winters in North Dakota can get pretty brutal but it’s true what they say about the winters keep the riff-raff out.

[@andre1987eph]

Certainly keeps homeless out

[@chrisjudd6]

That and the fact there no large cities.

[@johnarmstrong472]

It doesn't here (in Canada)

[@JWells-mz1jr]

Yes, the winters in Northern North Dakota are horribly cold. I am from the South, so the US Air Force, in its infinite wisdom, sent me to Minot, where I flew for nine years. Did I ever get used to the cold?? Only when I was deployed to Guam during the Vietnam War!!!!!

[@ifandwhen-kl2cr]

@@andre1987eph this is no longer true in Fargo.

[@mikemccormick8115]

I lived in Minot, ND for two years (for job). After that I moved to Fairbanks, Alaska because I wanted to live where the Winters were more mild.

[@jackychandler8594]

I can guess most people reading that thought U were joking. Well, I don't. Hell, I live in western Iowa about 60 miles south of the corner of S. Dakota. The windchill here can be horrible because of the wide open land in North and South Dakota pouring in at 40 to 60 mph in winter. I have seen what N Dakota gets because I watch the weather closely. Was -51 here in Feb. N.dakota was worse.

[@mikemccormick8115]

Minot, ND is very very cold in Winter where wind chill factor can get to -50 easy. I saw -90 once when I was there. The jet stream dips into the top of North Dakota (over Minot) during Winter. It can literally be as cold as the North Pole. But good, wholesome people there. I have family in Rapid City and it can be bitter cold there too. But Minot is at another level🥶🥶🥶

[@woodrewwilson1327]

You really made me laugh. Yup...Minot is COLD in the winter!

[@Chimp_No_1]

Incredibly interesting ! Thanks !

[@steveevans3753]

Do a video on the Great Basin. I used to drive from Salt Lake City, UT to Klamath Falls, OR once a month for work. It's scary how desolate and barren it is.

[@henryknox4511]

Don't run out of gas between towns in NV.

[@RomanVarl]

And it's a wonderful thing. To have a place without hordes of people, in such a populous and prosperous country

[@the_expidition427]

It's big enough

[@normanclatcher]

Big Sky country

[@salkoharper2908]

@@73v99 If your definition of overcrowded is that 17 new people moved to town then yeah i guess. Although from the population numbers he quotes in the video it seems as empty as Siberia. You probably just don't like outsiders of any number, even 1 or 2 new people. I'd be happy for some new settlers if my state was so empty of young people, jobs and opportunities.

[@John3.36]

@@73v99 Not true, eventually people will move out. People are cyclic in Montana, they come and go. After the TV show ends, people will forget it again. After a few cold winters, no jobs, etc., they will go back to CA or wherever.

[@John3.36]

@@73v99 It is sad, but it is reality. Honestly, if you lived in CA you would probably want to go to MT too. I imagine 150 years ago the Indians felt the same way when those from the east started coming. Then 100 years ago, and 50 years ago, etc. Every era changes, population increases, new problems arise, etc. Still that region is a nicer place to live than most of the rest of the USA.

[@mehmetvural3128]

Very nice Informative video

[@Hime519]

Great tutorial video!!! 👍👍👍

[@hullsome]

Boise, Idaho is right on the border and if it were included, the metro population would add nearly 1 Million people… and it’s still booming here! I think other metros nearby will share similar experiences soon. I believe, specifically Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming will be among the fastest growing states over the next 30 years. Boise’s mild climate is so moderate due to the low elevation. Bozeman, Missoula, Coeur D’alene and Jackson are some really cool cities to check out!

[@timdaugherty7612]

I think you could be right. The long running pattern of moving to the sun belt is going to start shifting northwards and summers get longer and hotter. I know two people planning on making the jump soon!

[@hullsome]

@@timdaugherty7612 that, combined with the exodus of California and the progressive expansion out west! ☝🏼

[@timothykeith1367]

​@@timdaugherty7612 Much of the Sunbelt isn't doing great. The regions that are drawing many cause some to think everybody has gone south. Metro Atlanta, Charlotte, Nashville, the Texas triangle cities and South Florida are booming. Other parts of the sunbelt are not doing so well: Memphis, New Orleans, nearly all of Mississippi and most of Alabama aren't booming. - NAFTA and Asian outsourcing walloped blue collar regions.

[@williammartin6872]

Shh!!!! Don't tell any more people about Coeur d'Alene! It's already too crowded in the summer already!

[@twostop6895]

Lol

[@carsonworoniecki9342]

I’ve lived my whole life ranching and working archaeology in the empty north. Life can be difficult here sometimes but my family, friends, and lifestyle are all rooted here. The life I live here could not be lived anywhere else. Although I’ve visited over half the country along with several others worldwide, I don’t see myself ever moving from this region. Edit: I live in North Dakota not Montana lol most folks commenting assume I’m from Montana haha but I get it. It’s the biggest state in the region

[@John3.36]

Montana's #1 export is its people.

[@legion_prex3650]

sounds nice! I would love to live in Montana and have a peaceful life.

[@virginiahunt357]

It's a beautiful area.

[@user-kh1zo4sc9l]

Good for you. I say people leaving makes it better. Peace and quiet and wide open spaces.

[@BigBri550]

@@John3.36 Montana's people are all imported. hardly anyone is from here anymore.

[@miles2928]

Great information. I enjoy your videos. Thanks!

[@MrHotlipsholohan]

Very informative , thought it was just the climate , tks

[@jackattack8661]

There’s really nothing more lovely than the northern Rockies! Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana will always be my homeland. A harsh climate for sure but the best region of the entire country imo.

[@NYCDurrani]

Umm maybe worth visiting but the best part of the US? Stop it man. Being in Montana or Wyoming probably isn't much different from living on the moon. Aint nobody trying to walk around in steel toed boots, with a sheepskin jacket and raccoon hat. Plus, there's no diversity in regards to women there.

[@andre1987eph]

Nothing beats the Eastern Sierras (Inyo County California) sorry

[@RoCK3rAD]

Nothing beats Appalachia the last of real American values.

[@Phantom121904]

Lets just agree that mountains are awesome

[@dananorth895]

Lol....your all right!

[@classic.cameras]

As someone who was raised in Edmonton and later moved to Calgary I can say that, while winters suck the summers are nice (minus smoke from forest fires). Montana is so similar and just saying "IF" say Alberta bought Montana from the USA I believe the next boom towns of North America would be Billings and Helena. We Canadians seem ONLY to be drawn to "big cities" and that is evident at how much Edm and Cgy have exploded in the last 30 years. I'd move to Billings or Helena in a heartbeat if I did not have to immigrate.

[@tuckerstewart5138]

as someone from Billings and who has spent a ton of time in Helena - I can say I REALLY wanted to move to Calgary. Billings is a pretty miserable place to live, but Helena is pretty nice!

[@jamescoulson7729]

Only problem is Montana doesn’t have good farmland while Alberta does but it is very pretty

[@radiofreeacab]

Canadians stick to "big cities" 😂 because there's LITERALLY NOTHING outside of the cities. ALL of Canada is vast, terrifying wilderness.

[@montanaman2439]

Billings sucks 😂

[@jamescoulson7729]

@@radiofreeacab I mean where all the big cities are have climates comparable to Eastern Europe except for costal bc which has a climate similar to Western Europe. Toronto has the climate and temperature or Warsaw Poland, Montreal has the climate and temperature of Saint Petersburg. Vancouver has a climate similar to Paris etc…. It’s colder than average yah but not horrifyingly cold

[@ranchomega966]

Great Video

[@ron.mexico.]

Unreal video. Glad I found this channel. Thank you

[@chrisdorst9387]

Empty North: 500,000 sq mi and 5,000,000 people. Alaska: Hold my ice cubes.

[@Redfour5]

Canadians say the same thing...

[@bloodymary3008]

Because it's too cold 🥶🥶

[@classic.cameras]

Cold is natures free air condition. Just buy a parka and some gloves. 😀

[@ombudsmanGhana]

Awesome new stuff i just learned !!! Nice

[@mikemanjo2458]

Hey Geoff! Great video. Well researched and presented. Two other reasons might be that when originally settled, there were the Plains Indians already living there and secondly, there were and still are some pretty fierce natural preditors to deal with (bears, cougars, wolves and others that might fight you for the territory). Enjoying your work, Jane

[@miles4270]

One thing id like to pt out is that the part of minnesota included is mostly dense forest and lakes (including the great lake region) which is vastly different than the great plains.

[@PoliceBlot]

Very similar to western MT

[@BadgerCheese94]

​@@PoliceBlotNahh its more like Maine

[@sloppy1512]

I recently moved to South Dakota, just north of Sioux Falls, and I love it! Growing up in the Eastern part of Washington State, the weather was not enough of a detraction to keep me away from this absolute gem of a state! Small town rural living is just what I was looking for in a state with VERY friendly tax laws and freedom that some people only dream about.

[@josephdonais4778]

More power to ya man. I am glad ya like it. I spent 22yrs in WY running big rigs, oil, coal, molten sulfur... I am now in my 8th year in the Columbia River Valley, (west) with weather that even Georgians might dream about... and no flipping chiggers either, ya hear that Texas?

[@slingerssecretlaboratory]

Moved to NW Montana 5 years ago. Love it and wish I would have made the jump sooner.

[@kkarllwt]

15 years ago I spent a few days in Madison SD. with the intent of moving there. It is more expensive than northern Ill. and everything is a 40 mile drive. Walmart? Brookings or souiox falls. Office depot, menards, home depot. everything is a one hour drive.

[@twostop6895]

@@slingerssecretlaboratory lol

[@Originalman144]

I saw cows and horses in Eastern Washington living 10x better than people in a lot of US cities. I drove from Spokane down to Pullman, Lewiston, and into Oregon and was amazed at the beauty

[@rothtrader2722]

I appreciate the way that you insert ads into your videos. You do it in a very respectful way and that is very admirable. It's okay that you announce your sponsors because everybody needs get paid for their work, including you, you deserve to get paid for the good work that you do for all of us. You announce ads in a way that is subtle and not pushy which is more than can be said about many KZbin content creators. I also really appreciate your video content 👍

[@ConradSpoke]

Your perspective is breathtaking.

[@jonathanbowers8964]

This is why we really arent going to colonize Mars anytime soon. There is so much of this planet that is barely settled with a much milder climate than Mars. Even Antarctica is balmy and inviting compared to Mars. That and a general decline of the human population in the coming two centuries mean that is highly unlikely that Mars will be a sensible economic investment for a few centuries or more.

[@AnneEloiseOfCNY]

Thanks so for this information. I have always believed geography has a great influence on why and how history developed. I just found your channel, and I subscribed. Be well! 🌹

[@daleparker4207]

Very cool video

[@jtinsfo]

Nice work Geoff. I grew up in North Dakota, pre Bakken oil boom. Clean, safe, and very sparsely populated. Somewhat limited options for land use in terms of revenue creation and brutally cold winters may always inhabit the population of this region.

[@jegm1118]

6:00 those are NOT the only two reasons why AZ is much more populated. Migration from Mexico has a lot to do with it too.

[@jean-claudelol563]

I lived in Montana for a while, back in the mid/late 1990's. Took some graduate courses there. Finding a job was difficult and after a couple of years I left for work in another state. It was a great place to live but without work... Couldn't stay. I still miss it some 20+ years later.

[@SurferJoe46]

C'mon back --- wages are up now to $15/hr after a couple of years of probationary internship.

[@anitakristensen4679]

@@SurferJoe46 good luck finding a place to live. Rent prices are sky high.

[@anonymouslyanonymous5987]

It’s what happened when rich out of staters buy properties in Montana without any intention to stay in Montana and contribute to the local economy! It’s happening right now in Bozeman. They simply buy these properties to live in during the summer and that’s it. Those Californians and New Yorkers are mainly to be blamed.

[@anitakristensen4679]

@@anonymouslyanonymous5987 same thing in Livingston. But we also became a bedroom for Bozeman.

[@jamesbell7220]

Been following you recently. Very interesting. And illuminating graphics.

[@Tbird1549]

A guy I used to work with moved back to his family home in Montana. Their home is 60 miles from the closest airport. Everything closes at 6pm but boy is it beautiful!

[@mh0862]

I've lived in that north country. Cold as hell and blizzards you'd have to see to believe. Yes, oil in Edmonton, but Calgary has a climate similar to Denver. Those Chinook winds can bring springtime temperatures in January.

[@classic.cameras]

They should live in Montana. I live in Alberta and it is BEAUTIFUL just like Montana. Montana is a wonderful state.

[@jamescoulson7729]

Alberta isn’t arid Montana is. Despite being really close they actually have very different climates that make the agricultural situation very different

[@hoopty.]

Is black people allowed in Montana?

[@SamsungS23Ultr]

​@@hoopty. NO. NEVER. MAUAHHAHAHAHAH. This isn't the 1860s my guy

[@hoopty.]

@@SamsungS23Ultr yes I'm just saying, it's a really white state and I'm afraid to come up missing

[@colbycharles52]

@@hoopty.black people get treated pretty darn good up here. Sorta like a novelty because there just aren’t very many around.

[@pw4g492]

I live in Montana. The weather is crazy! Some winters are mild others are hard. This last winter was very long. It started the first week in November and snow finally melted in April. 6 months of rain. May gave us a lot of rain it’s the 1st of June and it’s still cloudy.

[@pw4g492]

Sorry I can’t edit. 6 months of snow not rain.

[@estelle3005]

With such an in depth knowledge of most places I often wonder where Geoff lives!!

[@Z3N1TY0]

Thank you for using my state as an example more than once :) My mom used to live in cold, rural Iowa but she’s since left and moved here

[@jackychandler8594]

Yes. I live in western Iowa a few miles from the Missouri River. If people think Iowa doesn't get bad cold, they should try winter here once. Although I'm originally from Mississippi, I've been over most of the land mass in the country. Not only does it get bad cold in western Iowa, but the wind can be horrendous dropping the windchill very low. Windchill last Feb was 51 below and 45 below the same week. That's cold no matter where U are. Actual air temp 1st yr I moved here was -32. No not in Montana. IOWA.

[@Z3N1TY0]

@@jackychandler8594 Jesus Christ. So the wind could’ve been -80… THAT ANTARCTICA SH!T. (Also my mom lived in northeast Iowa)

[@jackychandler8594]

@@Z3N1TY0 no. This past Feb we had 2 nights with horrible windchill. -51 and - 45. Those were windchill. 6 years ago it was -31 air temp without the wind, but that's bad cold either way. Western Iowa gets artic wind sometimes over 50mph. Just brutal.

[@Z3N1TY0]

@@jackychandler8594 Iowa sounds like brutal hell oh my god .

[@MartinMcMartin]

Geoff, somehow you have made geography both educational and interesting, well done.

[@Rubbernecker]

Great video! I've watched a few so far and they are clear, interesting and well explained. New sub!!!

[@mattslaboratory5996]

The Canadian cities you mention are also just east of the Rockies. But note that there are other big cities in the Canadian Prairies: Regina, Saskatoon, and, biggest of all, Winnipeg. Surely transportation issues and history are important.

[@whysskrilm8049]

as a Winnipegger myself, I was pretty insulted by the omission. I can understand leaving out Regina and Saskatoon since they're fairly comparable to the biggest cities on the American side. But Winnipeg's metro area isn't much smaller than Edmonton's, and is almost twice that of Spokane.

[@ToddSauve]

@@whysskrilm8049 Both Calgary and Edmonton are bigger than Winnipeg. Sorry.

[@whysskrilm8049]

@@ToddSauve and?

[@ToddSauve]

@@whysskrilm8049 And what?

[@johnarmstrong472]

​@@whysskrilm8049Yes, Winterpeg was an omission, but is about the same as Spokane and not near the size of Cowtown or Oilerton. Just because you got an NHL team... I should know, I'm from Toronto and I know everything 😊

[@martasplace6414]

I subbed to your channel because I love this video and I am looking forward to watching many more! 👍

[@opticalbeast4947]

This video was so informational that it has given me good ideas of places to move so I dont have to worry about hot summers, Like Cooke City in Montana seems amazing. While its over 100f right now in Mississippi, its only 78f in Cooke City.

[@itzamia]

No Oceans, no ports, long winding rivers, coldest places to live in the contiguous 48, flat with a high chances of major tornado outbreaks in the Spring and Fall, or mountainous snowy terrain. Just wanted to see if any of these reasons made the list before I press play from the start.

[@mithos789]

tornados? thats a dealbreaker.

[@itzamia]

@@mithos789 All along the East side of the Rockies, all that cold air mixes with the warm Southern air and now all it needs is a flat plain to form on.

[@Wtf.IDontWantAHandle.]

Exactly

[@TrentJonas]

Northeastern Minnesota is not the Great Plains, rather it’s a forest/boreal forest ecosystem. There are at least 6 national parks - Glacier, Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Wind Cave, Badlands, and Voyageurs (and possibly North Cascades) in the shaded area. And what about Winnipeg as a population center in Canada?

[@tomfields3682]

Yes👍 Also, NE Minnesota Did attract many immigrants back in the day, when the iron mines were producing! Same thing with Butte MT with the copper mines.

[@toddspringett7547]

Don't forget Theodore Roosevelt national park

[@toddspringett7547]

Don't forget Theodore Roosevelt national park

[@TrentJonas]

@@toddspringett7547 Totally missed it - and it’s such an awesome park, too!!

[@lightningfantb3824]

The cold up there is no joke. I'm from Florida, and I had to fuel my semi truck in Montana this past winter. -35 outside with 40 MPH winds is no joke. I love Montana, but I don't think I could do winters up there.

[@crg233]

All you have to do is pick a random town in this area, check out the job and housing situation, and then think: "Do I really want to pull up stakes and move there?" That's why it will always be relatively empty. The few places attracting new people can't keep up with housing, which is another impediment to anyone wanting to relocate out there.

[@xlerb2286]

North Dakotan here. Yup, winters are long and cold. But it's not that big a deal so long as you don't do stupid things like go for a road trip assuming you don't need seasonal clothing along because the car has a good heater. And for me the plusses far outweigh the negatives. I'm sitting here at my second home. It's a nice old farmhouse located on a quarter of land so plenty of room for a hobby farm if I wanted, I've got fiber internet right to the house, there's rural water, and the electricity is super reliable. A town of several thousand people is just a couple miles away so shopping for basics isn't an issue. Draw a circle with a half mile radius centered on my house, count the number of people within the circle that aren't me and the answer is zero. My main home is in one of the larger towns in ND. And all that is affordable without being wealthy. So why so few people around here? The weather isn't for everyone and until recently with telecommuting being an option there weren't that many well paying jobs here. Some yes certainly. But no big manufacturing operations. Agriculture is big here but is also highly mechanized and increasingly automated so it's not a big employer and hasn't been for years. And if you like the entertainment opportunities in a large city you're going to be bored here. So it's hard for us to keep or attract younger folk. So be it, that just means more peace and quiet for those of us that are here :)

[@karens1967]

So...what you're saying is that I could have two homes, a quarter of land (whatever that is), a hobby farm, and internet fiber right up to my second home out there in the middle of nowhere, without being wealthy? Wow.

[@xlerb2286]

@@karens1967 Yes, if you make it a priority. I'm not saying you can do it with pocket change but I've got less in both places combined than the median home price in NYC. (A quarter of land is 160 acres, or put another way it's a square plot of land that is half a mile on each side. ) Now a lot of people don't like the "middle of nowhere" bit of course. That's a lifestyle decision. For me I like it quiet.

[@janetd5317]

Sounds wonderful. Wish I could do that. Happy life !

[@brettelizabethspore]

Excellent video. Firs5 one I have watched. Looking forward to sharing your channel with our homeschooler.

[@sarcastichistoryoftheworld]

Great video. Can you let us know how you create your maps or maybe do a short tutorial? They are awesome.

[@DarleneMurphy774]

At this moment, it is crucial for individuals to prioritize investing in alternative streams of income that are not reliant on the government, particularly with the existing worldwide economic crisis. Investing in stocks, gold, silver, and digital currencies can still be profitable during this period. Therefore, it is advisable to explore these investment options to secure one's financial future.

[@Adukwulukman859]

You're correct!! I make a lot of money without relying on the government. Investing in stocks and digital currencies is beneficial at this moment.

[@MalindaDeleon]

@@Adukwulukman859 I'm new to crypto and stock investing; My $200k portfolio is now down to $55k. "How can I profit from the current market?" I mean, I've heard of folks getting up to $250k in a couple weeks during this downturn, and I'd like to know how.

[@Adukwulukman859]

@@MalindaDeleon I diversified my $400K portfolio across multiple market with the aid of an investment advisor, I have been able to generate over $900k in net profit across high dividend yield stocks, ETF and bonds in few months.

[@MalindaDeleon]

@@Adukwulukman859 Please can you leave the info of your investment advisor here?

[@ZITABELCOMEDY-xf1ws]

@@Adukwulukman859 who is this individual guiding you? I lost over $9000 just last week, so I’m in dire need of a broker who can manage my portfolio

[@glennaolsen9765]

I lived 20 years in the rural area south of Calgary. We always got at least -40 to -50 for 2 weeks in the winter. Summer could get hot but it is not humid so was easier to take. Often, in January or February the Chinook winds would blow off the Rockies and it could warm up from -30 to +40 in less than an hour. You have to be rugged to take the erratic weather. I realized quickly that being unprepared for cold weather could kill you. Every car had sleeping bags and candles during the winter. Candles can make enough heat to keep you from freezing if you were unlucky enough to have car or snowdrift trouble. I was born and raised in Spokane, Washington where the weather isn’t so extreme. They get -20 only rarely, not too much snow and beautiful summers. This area has lots of recreational perks. Many lakes, including Pend’Orielle and Coeur’de Alene, for swimming, boating, fishing. There are many ski resorts and cultural attractions. Spokane is a great place to live. Not too hot or too cold, No hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, or earthquakes.

[@jackychandler8594]

Although I don't want to live in a city as big as Spokane, I have done my research for yrs on that exact area in N.East Washington and panhandle of Idaho. U are correct with the facts U stated. I retire next spring and that area is in my sights. I'm an outdoor person , who loves mountains, hunting and fishing. All of that is fantastic there.👍

[@selohcin]

I like that you summarized the key points at the end, but it would be even more helpful if you also stated them at the beginning as a sort of Table of Contents so that people could prime their minds to focus on what is about to come.

[@rosalindabarrett7508]

Thanks

[@Sacto1654]

The fact there are actually settlements in this region comes down to one person: James Jerome HIll. Reason: he led companies that built railroads across this region at the end of the 19th Century, and as a result many farms and ranches in this region owe their very existance to towns built along the rail lines, especially the Great Northern Railway.

[@mpetersen6]

Plus the Milwaukee Road. The MR was one of the few railroads (1) in the US that put massive investment in electrification of its mainline. 1) Aside from interurbans

[@dongrainer6405]

Don't forget the Northern Pacific RR which built a southern route earlier.

[@iboKirby]

Hey. That’s where I live. I live in North Dakota. It was the weirdest experience when I first drove up to Winnipeg. It blows my mind that North Dakota can be so empty but drive an hour North from the border and there’s a city whose population is significantly bigger than the whole state of North Dakota. Granted, if say Fargo, ND had the same percentage of North Dakota’s population as Winnipeg does for Manitoba, Fargo would be a fairly big city.

[@AliceJLiddell]

Does Moorhead get any love here?

[@iboKirby]

@@AliceJLiddell haha. There’s a reason no one talks about Moorhead. I kid. I kid. I used to work at the Hjemkomst Center in Moorhead. It’s alright.

[@robertgronewold3326]

I remember this from when I lived in Bemidji Minnesota. Barely anyone outside of the city area, but then you would cross the border into Canada and it was practically a suburban sprawl. So many more people.

[@jje8182]

@AliceJLiddell lol. If I give you love will you me moorhead?🤭

[@johnarmstrong472]

Haha, glad you came up. Winnipeg is also quite multicultural, such as the significant Filipino community. Why they would settle in Winterpeg is beyond me...

[@JackDogSteve-jr9js]

You seem like a Cool Person! Thanks, that was interesting like All Your videos...

[@thistamndypo]

This channel is so underrated

[@alison-ip8ky]

My nephew works in the oil industry in North Dakota but his family lives outside of Denver. He spends two weeks in North Dakota and then a week back in Denver. There simply isn't enough housing for him to move his family to North Dakota and his wife doesn't want to live there even if they did build housing.

[@wonderwhy2335]

Have lived on the west coast, in the southeast, south, lower Midwest, and upper Great Plains. Worked too much to fully explore anywhere. All places have pluses and minuses. Winters in the upper Great Plains are unquestionably brutal but at times, unforgettably beautiful.

[@elvingichongedrent]

Had to subscribe. Hes too good at what he does😎

[@DrinkingArt]

Wonderful discussion. Hope you could discuss (or maybe have done so? I just subscribed) the heat waves and extreme temps happening worldwide from climate changr, and in unexpected times of the year. Would this reverse or slow the movement to warmer states? And, what are your insights on how remote work has sort of dispersed people away from historical centers of work? Great content, glad I discovered this channel

[@dogvom]

When talking about Canadian prairie cities with large populations, you should also have mentioned Winnipeg, which has about 750,000 people, surrounded by virtual emptiness. It got big because it was a rail hub for the entire country. And taken together, the cities of Regina and Saskatoon have about 600,000 people; at one time, Saskatchewan used to the the 3rd-most-populous province in Canada due to massive immigration. And then the Great Depression and dustbowl hit at about the same time.

[@Tonyx.yt.]

Im quite sure Manitoba used to be the 3rd most populated province back in early 1900s not Saskatchewan

[@tomfields3682]

Love Corner Gas!

[@fuerimmer9627]

@@Tonyx.yt. In 1911, Saskatchewan had a population of about 490,000 people and was the 3rd most populous province. Manitoba had about 460,000 people at that time and was in fifth. Saskatchewan was the 3rd most populous province from the 1911 census up until the 1941 census while Manitoba‘s highest position was fourth (in the 1921 census).

[@Tonyx.yt.]

@@fuerimmer9627 ok, then so close

[@fuerimmer9627]

@@Tonyx.yt. Yes, at that time their populations where quite similar.

[@deborahnelson7907]

I live in Missoula, Montana. I moved here from Memphis, Tennessee, where the climate is very different: hot and humid. Summers here are incredible. Elevation should be considered when you discuss regions of the country, as Missoula is in a valley, and we're still about 3,400 feet above sea level. Montana is quite large, and you must cover a tremendous distance to travel anywhere or to network with those in other towns/cities. Supply chains are affected! Also travel is impacted by the mountains because most highways follow rivers around mountains, adding distance. Nothing is "as the crow flies," which describes the flat parts of the country.

[@toirmetalshaping]

Missoula is beautiful. Driving there from Calgary was an experience. You'll drive off the road looking at the beautiful landscape. Same as going through the Canadian Rockies. . . . Missoula was alot of fun.

[@jeffvanderwerf3391]

Montana is definitely gorgeous.

[@cutehumor]

im from Memphis tn. live near Nashville TN. i bet its a culture shock to be in Montana

[@anonymouslyanonymous5987]

I live in Missoula as well. Hi neighbor! Missoula is a true mountain city. How it’s able to develop to where it is today is insane to think about considering how inaccessible it seems! All of cities in Montana are so far apart just like you said. Butte is 2 hours away. Kalispell is 2 hours away. Bozeman is 4-5 hours away I can’t even remember! Luckily, everything we need is in Missoula anyway.

[@anonymouslyanonymous5987]

I live in Missoula as well. Hi neighbor! Missoula is a true mountain city. How it’s able to develop to where it is today is insane to think about considering how inaccessible it seems! All of cities in Montana are so far apart just like you said. Butte is 2 hours away. Kalispell is 2 hours away. Bozeman is 4-5 hours away I can’t even remember! Luckily, everything we need is in Missoula anyway.

[@1stMarDiv4341]

Clicked this video on a whim and really glad I did. Some fascinating content and done very well, consider me subscribed 👍

[@arnoldmayii3563]

Fascinating

[@johnb5254]

A city like Spokane has a milder climate than say Chicago or Boston with millions of people so it's funny when people complain about it being too cold.

[@morgandixon8995]

I’ve lived in Rapid City, SD the vast majority of my life. I love it here and honestly don’t think the winter weather is that bad at all. Our climate is way better than Minneapolis and very similar to Denver’s weather.

[@rogerpr364]

heating bills! take my word! I live near Montréal! a few times I've gone down south for hollidays near the worm beach, but gotten homesick so for the last three decades in winter we go spend a couple of weeks in Québec city! it's much colder but it's fun!

[@littlemas2]

This is my home! I love my western South Dakota. I just spent 2 weeks driving through much of this area, from Eastern Nebraska all the way to Washington. Then on to the Oregon coast, and then home through southern Idaho, Wyoming and all of Nebraska.

[@anthsallwonky]

This was one of my favorite areas to drive when I did my 48 states tour last year. North Dakota had some cool road side art and oddities. Montana was wild and gorgeous. Idaho. and Washington State with the contrast of the scab lands with its desert and canyon features to the towering cascades. I am glad you made a video on this area. Your channel is great and I just subscribed to your podcast too. Do you have any videos focusing on the Appalachian range. Thank you for the informative content.

[@FettiMagazine]

All of this open land and everybody wants to crowd into a few cities in America.

[@the_expidition427]

Peculiar

[@tyronejackson6593]

I live in that portion of Oregon and we’re planning to move to Montana. I absolutely love my big Empty North.

[@dcstrng1]

Excellent video -- my wife and I grew up in North Dakota, and have lived all over from Asia to Europe, from California to the Gulf states to the eastern megalopolis... but although I work much of the year on the east coast, we still call NoDak home and maintain a house there in a town of less than a hundred folks (and, now you know why...)

[@philbrooks5979]

Montana is like the Alaska of the lower 48.

[@prof.badfellow9868]

The cold winters definitely keep most people away. But the quality of life is good, the opportunities are ample and the land itself is vastly beautiful. My backyard is a literally a state forest and I wouldn’t trade it for anything

[@GB-ez6ge]

"Quality of life is good"? I guess we have different metrics.

[@prof.badfellow9868]

@@GB-ez6ge Or different attitudes

[@Robb-jf7vg]

I've always thought I'd enjoy a "Summer Home" in this region! But big enough to spend the occasional Winter there too! My personal Airstrip would be a huge help!

[@weezerwookie]

Gee-ing Off with Geoff

[@RossSpeirs]

I was born and raised in the prairies in Canada, but I’ve lived in British Columbia on the coast now for almost a decade! It’s overpriced here and I could handle Alberta winters again if had to, but I love Vancouver Island.

[@sharcon3891]

I'm from Canada and we often travelled thru this area heading for the west coast. It's VERY beautiful. In South Dakota, Sioux Falls opened more lax divorce rules to get people to flock there.

[@ildiko1vt]

Very interesting! Wonder if the climate will make a shift north?