Here's A Small, Dying Community In Illinois. Will It Even Exist One Day?

[@NickJohnson]

Here's MY Illinois playlist! kzbin.info/aero/PLq-_cmf3H6yq2-zYXWw_avkmE-kFby9Sr

[@michaelguerin4618]

It's like Hollween 3 season of the witch , it's the town that's Creepy !

[@everettjantzen2339]

@@michaelguerin4618 )

[@murp61]

How come all the so-called dying towns are filled with such nice new cars?

[@gookawild5543]

If these places will never recover where are people moving to??

[@austinarvey2266]

you think this is bad???? look at Avon illinois

[@williampayne5028]

Agriculture has not vanished in the Midwest, rather, the family farms have mostly disappeared as large farms have bought up all the farmland. In the area where i grew up, today there are 3 large farms, each run by one family, where there used to be a dozen family farms, prosperously run by a dozen farm families, each sending their kids to university.

[@NickJohnson]

that's what i said. it's so sad.

[@nc4tn]

And this is happening all over the bread basket. Iowa, Kansas, eastern Colorado, and Nebraska. It’s a shame. Maybe when the suburban population begins to starve, things might change; or implode. The small farmers can’t even afford implement parts anymore.

[@belamoure]

@@nc4tn computer driven agricultural implements gigantic monsters always breaking up. Costing from 250,000$ to half a million! Nobody can afford that with climate change bursting average crop yields.

[@1020donny]

@@NickJohnson So what are you saying Nick, family farmers shouldn't be able sell their farms?

[@southernhometalk2465]

We have been loosing farmland in lower Alabama too, but its being done to create more housing for people moving here. I am a home inspector and I have inspected more houses from people out of state this past year, than the whole time I have been a home inspector. However, it appears most are coming here from New York and California. People are actually buying houses "Sight Un-Seen" . I am basically the only eyes they have. Crazy Times.

[@angellaholland7382]

I was born and raised in Illinois. I grew up in Chicago with a hardworking family. When I was a child I pictured living in Illinois forever, but now I'm exiting for good. I thought about living in the suburbs but the taxes are ridiculous and so are the politics. It's ridiculous how cook county effects the rest of Illinois. Chicago was once safe, we had communities that always helped each other, now it's just crime on crime and politricks (yes I said politricks instead of politics). I really wanted to see change but it's just not going to happen. I tried mentoring, speaking in communities to see if people would actually take back our communities and make it better but people just complain and do nothing. I wouldn't be surprised if Illinois is abandoned and gone soon. I'm on the hunt to find a new state to live in with a better quality of life, affordable taxes and to live in a safer neighborhood

[@bridgetlyons876]

Good for you! God bless you in your search.

[@imdva]

may I ask where you live now and is it better there?

[@anderander5662]

Consider Missouri ....especially the central/southern part. Low taxes, better weather, affordable housing and people who mind their own business.

[@bud8692]

Texas

[@angellaholland7382]

@@imdva I live in Chicago in the Hyde Park area. It's nice, but I want out of Chicago Illinois

[@ChrisHarden]

Great job illustrating what’s been happening in small town rural Illinois, Nick. Thanks for having me on!

[@NickJohnson]

Chris! Thanks for finally meeting up!

[@brianfuller757]

50 of Illinois' 102 counties are under 25,000 population. Ponder that. Crook County is about 5M

[@gus196666]

@@NickJohnson i enjoy it this videos grettings from Uruguay

[@kwhite7344]

We left Illinois almost 7 years ago and moved to Missouri. We certainly miss the family we left behind, but it was the right decision for us. Our real estate taxes in Illinois kept going up and we wouldn't have been able to retire. Also we have an adult son with autism who had been on a waiting list (for over 9 years) to get services in Illinois. As soon as we moved to Missouri he started receiving self-directed services and art and music therapy-- no waiting list. We should have moved to Missouri sooner!!

[@Elizabeth25038]

Whatever. I am a nurse and lived in MO. That state sucks when it comes to salaries and job benefits. I moved TO Illinois and even though taxes are more, my salary is so much higher that my standard of living is better. The jobs in Illinois have better benefits too. I think all you guys on here gripping are just in shitty jobs and think you shouldn't have to pay taxes. Get over yourselves!

[@cantiflascantiflas8460]

@@Elizabeth25038 did u not hear how it helped their kid, that alone is enough for them

[@ValiantVisions314]

@@cantiflascantiflas8460 She is a nurse. Imagine her being your nurse.... Most people in the medical field today don't actually care about people. They care about a paycheck.

[@bravobravoh1344]

My dad was born and raised in Illinois, I was born there as well, but we left in 1973.

[@ScorpioBornIn69]

Being adjacent to Illinois, Missouri will soon go on that same path as far left voters move there.

[@ManyHats-Woodshop]

Born and lived in IL from 1972-2018. We made the decision to vacate IL basically due to the taxing. We bought a house in 1995 and taxes were not horrible but around 2k (3bd/3ba on 1/3 acre). When we left they were around 5,400 a year. One year even spiked close to 6k. Couldn't afford that anymore. Throw in all the corrupt governors that seem to keep getting elected, the messed up state pension program, and the fact that Chicago runs the entire state just made it a crappy place to live in.

[@GenXfrom75]

6K for annual property tax?? Holy sh*t! That's insanity.

[@toribern419]

I’ve lived here since 1973 and planning my exit soon…. I’m currently renting a house in Dupage county 1300 a month and that’s only cuz we know the owner….. looking to go to Florida

[@DoubleDogDare54]

@@GenXfrom75 I can top that. Where I live, I moved into this house in '87. The property taxes then were $1300 a year. Last year the property taxes were $7,000. And as the town I live in is pretty much a bedroom community with a lot of new subdivisions of McMansions, $7,000 is viewed as cheap. I'm past 65 but still working full time. I plan on working for a few more years, then selling and moving a couple miles north, across the state line into Wisconsin. Not a perfect solution, but better than Illinois. I have a brother in Florida, he wants me to move there, but don't know with the hurricanes, alligators, bugs, humidity and iguanas falling out of trees I'd enjoy it down there.

[@brucehartman23]

same here trying to get out.

[@AaronSmith-xx5zb]

Agree 100%!! Can't wait to leave!!

[@uppitywoman3647]

I used to live in Illinois. Property taxes went sky high, cost of insurance went sky high, wages stagnated, and I moved away. Every small town has at least one bar, a dollar general, a caseys, and a church. Not even Walmart goes there. Those houses are more expensive than you think, and the taxes will get you.

[@davidlucasmachado2831]

Sounds like California

[@Fstop313]

I see

[@earljohnson2113]

Taxes ruined Illinois. Then money they got created the corruption. It's horrible.

[@shantereed]

Wow, thanks for sharing. I grew up in a rural town myself. I went back earlier this year after being away for six years and was saddened to see the stores and even the schools I went to are all gone. K-12 is now all in one building and watching this video really put that into perspective for me.

[@NickJohnson]

Ok Taye!

[@danielstarr8957]

It's so weird after living a bit in the UK i realize it's the opposite of the US. In the UK everyone is trying to move to the small towns so they are all growing and expensive. But in the US everyone is leaving the small towns and moving to the mega cities as they swell.

[@shantereed]

@@danielstarr8957 wow, definitely interesting. Do you all have pretty good public transportation in the rural areas as well. I have herald public transportation is better there as well. As someone who doesn’t drive that’s a big factor for myself.

[@danielstarr8957]

@@shantereed the small towns and villages all have old pathways that go through the villages independent of the streets so walkability and biking is really high pretty much every where in the UK. Public transportation is really great too especially compared to here in Texas, a place where you are completely dependent on a car unless you live in a big city. I miss walking everyday in the small village i was in.

[@richardleiderman283]

Looks like a paradise to me. I grew up and still reside in Oregon. It's dirty and dangerous now but the housing prices keep going up, even in the small remote towns. I hope to retire one day in a small town like that where I could actually afford to buy a house and feel safe walking down the street. It's hard to find anything here under $500,000 and theres a huge 4 bedroom in Ridge Farm for $47,000. I wouldn't be surprised if more retirees and families moved to these places as high speed internet becomes more available, and as more people flee Chicago, Seattle, Portland, and California. I know that video made the town look boring, but I couldn't believe how clean and safe it looked. I've been in Portland too long.

[@mojomaxy]

Its so safe in Ridgefarm and the surrounding little towns,I live close by. If a person can afford the taxes its definatly a peaceful area to live.

[@obfuscated3090]

Move to the Southeast. Winter drives away businesses because however much fun snow may be it's pure social and logistics burden. There is plenty of "usable America" available for those not afraid of change.

[@leroylowe5921]

Paradise? The problem with hell is you think it's heaven when you first get there.

[@jomama5186]

Terrible

[@ManyHats-Woodshop]

That's not paradise but it will take people moving there to revitalize the area. While taxes are out of control in IL, house prices here in the greater PDX are are way out of control. We first visited the PNW around 2000 and decided we would move here after our son graduated HS. The mistake was waiting. Since we were dumb with money we didn't have it to buy property before moving here. 2018 I got an opportunity to move here and took it thinking we should be able to buy a house in a year as prices were not super horrible but pushing 2x what they were in IL. Now it looks like we will never be able to buy here. House that were at 300k are now pushing 500k in 3 years. This coupled with the homeless epidemic here is causing me to consider leaving here.

[@AllenRob87]

You nailed it. You summarized the feelings of every downstate Illinois resident in the first 5 minutes. I’m from rural north central Illinois. I’m lucky enough to have a job in the nuclear energy industry and my wife has a masters degree and makes good money. It’s quiet, safe, and for now we can still afford to live here. It’s honestly a pretty good life. The town in this video reminds me of the town near us, and believe it or not the people that live there are probably very proud to call it their home. It ain’t much but it’s an honest living.

[@ladymacbethofmtensk896]

I am a Downstater from Charleston, and over time, I have come to the conclusion that progressive intellectuals are the people constantly insisting that only government and government plans can solve society's woes. THEY advocate for more taxation to pay for plans that never deliver their promised results. Then the intellectuals push for more of the same, just to avoid acknowledging that they know nothing about it. It is to the point where I don't believe that they are capable of reason, and so we must round up progressive officials and intellectuals and KILL THEM! Progressives keep the death spiral going. Intellectuals are overwhelmingly progressive, and so they have to be destroyed to stop the cycle.

[@anderander5662]

I am hoping people being able to work from home and the increasing craziness in the cities will allow some of these small towns to survive. When I was in my twenties and thirties all I could think about was living in an urban environment….. now that I'm in my sixties it's the VERY LAST thing I want.

[@Tonymanero1960]

So true,....I recently retired at 60 (in Maryland with an almost 7 figure retirement nest egg) and would like to be able to move to a small town and support the local economy,.....unfortunately,....so many small towns are plagued by drugs and despair. Finding that ''sweet spot'' between the cesspool of major cities,..and the neglect of small town America is not easy to find.

[@anderander5662]

@@Tonymanero1960 There seemed to be some beautiful little historic towns that are still thriving in the Southwest part of Virginia.

[@Tonymanero1960]

@@anderander5662 About a year ago I spent 1 week driving all over southwestern Va (Danville, Roanoke, Martinsville, Lynchburg, Smith Mountain Lake..etc,etc looking at those areas as possible retirement.The whole Interstate 81corridor thru Va could be the next ''big thing'' as retirees escape DC, Northern Va,....and Maryland suburbs for cheaper living

[@jonlavezza2364]

@@Tonymanero1960 already is booming

[@drive-bychicago225]

That’s exactly what I’m looking for! I can work from home. And I would love to be in the country.

[@Jhihmoac]

I've been gone from Illinois for 16 years now, and even if I were filthy rich, I'd never go back now! This is not just happening in Illinois, nor just in Democratic strongholds, either... Quite a few American Cities and States, regardless of partisan standing are being run into the ground for the benefit of a privileged few... Only those that are part of the corporate hierarchy (or have their hands in the pockets of) are allowed to prosper...

[@seanphillips8560]

Get to work

[@Jhihmoac]

@@seanphillips8560 - _YOU_ get to work! Oh, wait! If I say that, I might get that cutesy Millennial or Gen Z complaint, _"Why should I work when the only one who benefits is some rich corporate type?"_

[@asimhusain8087]

Some republican states like Mississippi are losing population

[@Avo7bProject]

Nick could drive through so many parts of the central USA and see similar dying small towns. All the way from northern Texas to Minnesota, there are wide swaths of land that is flat and bleak that people are leaving. If there are no jobs anymore from mining, oil drilling or farming - then, what is there? It must be an isolating feeling, to grow old in a place that your relatives rarely come to visit, seeing all the empty storefronts, schools, and churches that you remember once being needed.

[@hoppes9658]

The county conservation districts should sell tree seedlings for all vacant non farmed land. White tail would bring in millions in revenue you would think.

[@brianmatthews4149]

Yep its sad.i the things we use to manufacture here now nothing. If those walls could talk.

[@johnnysalazar5163]

You can thank big democratic corporations, leaders, and you can thank the illegitimate president for this

[@anderander5662]

Can you really grow avocados in zone 7b?

[@dalegarringer6363]

@@johnnysalazar5163 Must be mistaken, or a Frumpy supporter. Democratic and business? The current repugnant party used to be Big Business and anti-people. It is STILL anti-people, but now anti-everything while pro-Russia. Dummycan'ts were pro-labor, pro-tax and spend. Now, just pro-communism. Folks, we are being screwed by both parties.

[@badguy1481]

I have to hand it to you. I've watched probably all of your videos. The service you're providing to all of us, showing us "American going bad".... is very important. Thank you MUCH!

[@bramlintrent1145]

A lot of smaller towns had a manufacturing facility (coat factory, glove factory, automotive parts factory) that provided dozens of jobs. All of that dried-up 20 years ago. Not just Illinois, but in small towns throughout the central US.

[@trevorjarvis3050]

This is the reason small town communities die off! Bean counters hired to build the wealth of the few at the expense of the many… and this started to be the norm 40+ years ago. All of our nations prosperity sent over seas to China. Look at us now…

[@davidswick8353]

I've been saying for the last decade, the only reason things have held up as well as they have, is money from Parents, Grand Parents, helping their Children and Grand Children with living expenses. When this money dries up, it's game over.

[@Bennysol]

Wow, I've thought this same thing as well. Scarey to see someone else think the same way. Dark future ahead. That's why independence is so important. The more strong independent individuals a country has the better society it. But right now everyone is looking to depend on corporations and governments

[@ToxicVaccines_HivHoax]

It would be much better videos if you stopped and interviewed any of the locals in these towns so we may hear their version of the story regarding the situation in town.

[@williamroutliffe9494]

Interview who? No people, no cars, no dogs, no cats. Saw one squirrel! ???

[@ejaiphoenix]

A person @ Casey's for one. You should interview the residents in those bad areas you travel in.

[@thisisme3238]

@@ejaiphoenix Great idea! Hope he does that in the future. 👍

[@JohnQ5]

@@ejaiphoenix can confirm that Casey's or Loves gas stations would be great places to find folks to interview.

[@matjebonklumen147]

That is a big risk to take, with gun loaded behind those doors, you do not want to end life for that!

[@clubmike2910]

Land taxes in rural Missouri cost me 300 dollars last year for 2 acres and a small home. I used to live in Illinois but retirement drove me south to Mo.

[@clubmike2910]

@@TexasCountryRock Sounds awesome

[@snoopy5736]

@@TexasCountryRock You said Texas in the California video M.

[@uppitywoman3647]

Watch your speed going through those little towns, they're speed traps. Speed traps are a major source of income for those little towns and the police wear cameras and will do everything in their power to get you to confess to speeding, including making you wait as long as it takes, on the side of the road, for your license, registration, and insurance to clear.

[@karenmoor3767]

Ridgefarm is notorious for their speed traps around these parts. I live a few towns south of here in Paris, IL. We are moving to Florida in November.

[@wedp112]

In MD we had a town called Trappe that actually was a trap lol

[@MyerShift7]

Love the corruption

[@darlenebrewer6939]

Born and raised in Illinois moved to Florida 18 years ago from a huge family they all live there. It’s the Government and representatives of the state.. it’s all about Chicago and corruption.. it’s heartbreaking

[@stephenfletcher1579]

You left out one thing, it's the Demonrats that run the government, right out of Chicago. That's all they care about, the crooks in crook County. They are not only hard on the residents that call this state home, but are unfriendly to businesses as well. There's the Windy City, and then the rest of us. Most people, especially younger people would leave Hellinois at any given chance.The reason, you don't enjoy living here, you just try to survive.

[@joeandkerri]

We live in South Central Illinois and out of 51 years I've lived here 48. Our small town, Sumner, has an actual population of 1100 but our sign says 2800 due to the prison. You should come here and we'll show you around.

[@theblacksheep5226]

Nearly every small town in Illinois losing population. Some in the south of state have lost 70-80% but that's been over decades. All the money goes to Chicago while they look down upon us. And we hate Chicago as well.

[@timothykeith1367]

The high property taxes also occur here in Texas, but Texas has no state income tax, but the Texas p/t is about the same as Illinois. Local governments are voracious feeders of property taxes. When the Texas lottery was approved the revenue was supposed to be used to reduce school taxes, but that didn't happen.

[@timothykeith1367]

@@teatercannon6925 Texas has vast rural areas with strong disparities in the hinterlands but we don't blame Dallas or Houston like downstate Illinois feels crushed by regulations forced upon it by Democrats. Texans in the big cities seem to love visiting the Hill Country but most Chigoans don't have any interest in downstate.

[@timothykeith1367]

@Aaron I don't want "Chicago", or rather the state government to subsidize downstate. I would like downstate to be treated as if it is relevant. Stop the excessive regulations, stop taxing everything so much. The world is never going to become a utopia because of government programs. Keep a well trained police force, focus on the basics of government. I live in Bexar County Texas, with more than 2 million urban residents. The median household income in Bexar County is about the same as for Farm Ridge Illinois, the subject of this video. But, the most telling stat is the percentage of Bexar households under the federal poverty limit is twice as great as Farm Ridge ILL. I did an online real estate query and didn't see any pattern that suggested that folks in Farm Ridge are stampeding to get out of a dying town. I think most residents are planning to remain in their town. Rural people are accustomed to living with the limitations of their towns. Some will move away, some will move there, its never been a boom area.

[@mojomaxy]

@@timothykeith1367 thats true they say they dont like " the sticks', couldn't pay them to live in one of these small towns.

[@brianfuller757]

Illinois is mostly rural even in 2022. When I ask friends who still live in Illinois, they are not excited about the state's future. Long-term issues with taxes, corruption and loss of paying jobs remain. And let's mention Chicago. Illinois is Chicago and the rest of the state. While rural towns and townships have been losing opportunities and population for decades, its very obvious in some states. I love Caseys ❤

[@mrmaxcarter2306]

They're pizza is really good

[@CatholicNeil]

The cities in these states ruin it for everyone. New York has the same problem with the city

[@NSgeg765]

@@CatholicNeil NYC subsidies the rest of NY State. Cities and their immediate suburbs drive the economy of this country. It ain’t rural America in spite of of how much conservatives go on about Real America.

[@TL-wy1nk]

I live in New Lenox IL, I pay 833 dollars a month in real estate taxes. I am retired, and moving out of state. Too expensive to live here supporting all the expensive schools and bums.

[@conservativehippie9736]

I'm in Peoria County...taxes are $660 on 1 acre...not bad YET EVERYTHING else...I'm leaving too. Hopefully by March at latest. I just can't do it and the depressed feeling you get here.

[@conservativehippie9736]

Are/IL taxes go to pure evil bs tbh

[@conservativehippie9736]

@lol Yeah you could have worded that much more respectfully

[@mariooliveira6780]

You are paying for their million dollar pensions!!🤔

[@conservativehippie9736]

@@mariooliveira6780 yes we are 😡

[@reason1925]

Ex-IL too. Gone over 25 years. Miss my old hometown. Sometimes terribly. Don't miss what it has become. Each time I've gone back, it's like watching my Mother die all over again.

[@mitchwinder1204]

Great video. Born & raised in rural IL. Lived in the state from 1962 until 2010. Great video. The key thing that you’re missing is the why. At one point the State of IL had an employment problem. They simply couldn’t compete with private business. (I know this because my parents, and grandparents, all were State employees.) So in order to attract and keep workers they devised a very lucrative wage and benefit program, which was implemented in the early 1960s. If you were educated, and of working age in IL, in the early and mid 1960s chances are you left private business and became a State employee in a multitude of various agencies scattered around the state. So now you’re making a wage that’s equal to, or higher than, private business. You have the best benefits in the country, and your retirement pension is guaranteed by the state, which means you have forgone your right to Social Security…your entire pension will be covered by the State. Life is good in 1960s and ‘70s Illinois. In the late ‘70s there was some grumbling about a gradual rise in taxes. But things were well and it was just a small increase. Then the 1980s came and the tax hikes continued. Our elected leaders said we had a lot of employees on the payroll and we needed to take care them. That was about the time the EPA came of age and decided Illinois coal was too dirty to keep using. So it was outlawed. The was the first shot. Overnight tens of thousands of jobs were lost. The wealth that followed those jobs started drying up and that took out a huge number of communities and businesses in the far southern part of the state. As the 1980s ended IL all the jobs that thrived on coal were gone. And the tax revenue for the state followed. So another hike here and another hike there occurred. And it’s to the point now that businesses are moving out because IL has become too expensive. The ‘90s brought more tax hikes, as well as the discovery that the State’s retirement system was fast becoming insolvent. Remember all those people IL recruited? They are now a huge strain on the system. So in 1994 the state began a massive buy-out program for state employees that were approaching retirement, (My parents were each bought-out in that piece of legislature.) as well as a huge furlough settlement program. All of it took many thousands of people off the rolls, which some computer somewhere said was needed. The ‘90s also saw more businesses flee from the rising taxes needed to keep the State’s retirement system afloat. Enter the 2000s. Illinois’ largest group of retirees were set to leave the system by like 2000. (Translation; they’d be dead and benefits would cease.) Problem is, no one took life expectancy into account. Retirees were living longer. A LOT longer. (My parents are pushing 90 and each still getting fat retirement checks.) So let’s hike taxes to keep this thing afloat. Add Obama-era regulations on businesses (the likes which had never been seen) and couple that with the runaway tax increases, and now everyone is fleeing…businesses, people, etc. Until the State can get its retirement system under control so it can afford to make tax concessions to lure businesses back, it’s only going to get worse. Chicago keeps electing Left-wing state governments that were put into office so they would help Chicago and the collar counties. That’s also destroyed what’s known as Downstate. (The area of IL outside of Chicago.) No amount of legal weed, pawn shops, vape shops, or slot machines, is going to save the state. It’s going to take getting the retirement system back under control, solid state representation outside of Chicago, (good luck) and a list of freebies the likes no state has ever offered to corporations, in order to get jobs for people. I remember Illinois when it was a jewel, not a shithole. This whole thing has been sad to see from the comfort of my WI home.

[@thatguyisbackagain]

It doesn’t help that Illinois has seen something like the last seven successive governors go to Federal prison for corruption…

[@actionsub]

@@thatguyisbackagain Quinn and Rauner seem to have dodged this fate so far...

[@billpilling5725]

Born and raised in IL. Finally got the hell out over a year ago. All $ goes to shitcaghole and springfield. No jobs, no hope, no help. If youre in IL right now you need to move like yesterday.

[@unicorn1420]

😂 omg 🤣 the "yesterday" part

[@utahnick]

You ain't kidding. I'm here and wonder what it's gong to take to get outta here.

[@billpilling5725]

@@utahnick just head to the nearest state from where you live. As soon as all people living in IL are in chicago, rockford and springfield the sooner the state falls.

[@kevinkiss3340]

What is Illinois doing with the tax dollars?

[@theamerican7131]

@@unicorn1420 lol

[@mattl1758]

You right. Illinois sucks! Taxes and politicians are killing us. It was a great place to raise a family and now my wife and I are looking outside the state for after the the kids leave. Damn man spot on review. Next time stop by LaMoille.

[@EliteAmmunition]

Same here, we are in Harvard. As soon as the youngest finishes HS we are outa here.

[@bmjv77]

I grew up in Kankakee, IL, along with my entire extended family. My French-Canadian ancestors on my father's side were some of the original settlers in the area, so my family has been there for about 200 years. In the last 20, almost all of my family has moved elsewhere, including myself. As much as I want to see my home state succeed, every time I go back to Illinois it gets worse and worse. I hate to say it, but Illinois is screwed for the foreseeable future.

[@garydownes1594]

As a trucker I drive through Kankakee twice a week. It's dying.

[@gavinmcinally8442]

@Bojan V who lived there before the Indians?

[@woodpeckery]

@@gavinmcinally8442... The deer and the antelope played there while seldom hearing a discouraging word and the skies were not cloudy all the doo dah day! ⛅

[@woodpeckery]

... because of all the truckers driving through day after day!

[@bmjv77]

@Bojan V sure, no one would deny that the first people in Illinois were Native Americans. But they had nothing to do with the formation and building of my town. That was the European settlers who did that (mostly French). I'm sure that in Slovenia you probably got a crash course in U.S. history, but let's face it, you probably couldn't point to my town on a map, let alone know anything about its history.

[@ScottMcCulloughBmax419]

No discussion of midwest decline is complete without looking at how meth has hollowed out the souls of the communities. I'm originally from central Illinois, and I now live in central Missouri. A couple of years ago I worked as a research assistant for a drug treatment program, interviewing clients in small towns all over a three-county region of the state. I knew meth was prevalent, but I had no idea just how widespread it was until I started talking to recovering addicts. It's everywhere. Clients said they were basically prisoners in their own homes, because wherever they went people were offering them meth. You see tweakers doing the herky-jerky dance all over town. It's an American tragedy.

[@C12BrianStenger]

One time I saw at least 2 maybe 3 users doing the "herky-jerky" dance right outside of a McDonald's in Manassas, VA.

[@susansollars7376]

I grew up in RidgeFarm. It used to be a thriving town. When GM shut their plant down in Danville and when the coal mine shut down. People left to follow the jobs. I have very fond memories of the old grade school in the center of town. I still have family and friends that live in RidgeFarm.

[@weareorigin]

The sad part is seeing so many young, educated, open-minded adults leave the Midwest over the years. They move to big cities or cities out west. The ones left are the ones who don't have the ability to move out of the Midwest.

[@mikekeeler6362]

Yeah they moved to those cities out west with 60% tax rate yeah you work hard to get your money and then you have nothing left and that's sad don't think I would move out west maybe Montana that's a good state don't know about the jobs though

[@dfiniin6820]

Yep. Lots of small towns like this will be just about empty in 10 - 20 years. Old people die off and many young won't move there. There will be many towns like this. They need to get more manufacturing in these kind of towns to keep people. Not going to happen

[@jkell2888]

I live in a town in Illinois with 2 Casey’s. I’m not joking. Your remark about “who wants to work at the hardware store or Casey’s” is SO accurate.

[@asimhusain8087]

I would love to work in a hardware store when I I was a kid all our parents had a shop in the basement

[@Arctic5fox]

My property tax is close to $1,000 a month and I'm 60 miles west of the Chicago. On top of that they shipped tons of people in the last 10 years from Cabrini Greens in Chicago to our area. No skills no work so the crime went up.

[@martiwaterman1437]

@Arctic5Fox: Saw CG when upon first visit to Chicago and found those buildings absolutely hideous. Glad they were torn down but wondered where residents moved to.

[@ulucio86]

$1000 a month? What are you living in a mansion. My property tax is $3400 a year and I live 30 minutes south of Chicago

[@Arctic5fox]

@@ulucio86 my respond with a link(real estate link) was removed. I live around DeKalb/sycamore area.

[@tededdington5084]

Same here in Danville

[@DoubleDogDare54]

@@ulucio86 40 years ago I lived on the far south side of Chicago. Little bit farther south than you appear to be. Based on my experience back around 1980, I'd say your taxes are lower because of the neighborhood you live in and the ones surrounding it. I know the area I left 40 years ago I wouldn't dare drive into now for fear of being carjacked or shot in a drive-by. I had a lot of family that lived in that same area and had lived there for generations. Within a five year span they all bailed because they saw what was coming. I'd say if you are 30 minutes south of the Loop, eh, that's not a neighborhood likely to have high taxes.

[@lucastheivagt4798]

Living in a small town, it's incredibly sad to literally watch my towns and sorrounding towns wither away slowly as businesses are closing one by one

[@reecee2941]

That town looks quite large and has a lot more business than we have here in a rural town near McLeansboro, IL. The property taxes on our family farm aren’t too bad and Mt. Vernon has a lot of new businesses and new restaurants just a short drive away.

[@turtles9048]

I grew up in central Illinois and it’s sad to see how much it has gone downhill. It was never particularly prosperous but now it looks like all of the life was sucked out of the region.

[@hellbythedashboardlight1730]

No children no families

[@Yandel21ableify]

Illinois will look like Detroit

[@talleman1]

@@Yandel21ableify Detroit is always making a comeback, just was there and it is doing OK considering.

[@talleman1]

Seems people who can work from home in expensive states need to take that money and repopulate these places.

[@hellbythedashboardlight1730]

@@talleman1 why would people want to live in a place with nothing to do and nothing but old dying ppl?

[@elpatriotaLX]

The problem in Illinois is that Chicago elects the governors and senators. On top of that, it sucks all the taxes from the state.

[@SelfEmpoweredJD]

Its legit the place you govern to fill your pockets. Notice Obama came out of left field then became president within 4 years. Most corrupt state in the country.

[@1020donny]

So what do you propose? Aren't you actually objecting to democracy? I'm sure those who pay taxes in Cook County ask themselves why down State residents get $2.88 back in tax dollars for every $1.00 they pay in taxes.

[@Peachcreekmedia]

The smaller cities have failed to consolidate around another economic engine city. This whole situation is based on the perpetual White flight away from cities. The population has literally diffused itself to extinction.

[@gustavogomez7331]

@@SelfEmpoweredJD They have these proof of vaccine mandates now in cook county. Restaurants have said business is down 50-80%. Although i heard several municipalities and suburbs like Orland park and others are defying the mandate. But i don't see how they thought it was a good idea to do that. The state lost over 100k residents last year. Meanwhile Indiana grew by 37k. It seems like people are voting with their feet like the saying goes.

[@SelfEmpoweredJD]

@@gustavogomez7331 My mom was telling me that, she lives near Midway. Scary to kill what little business is left. Sound like there is a plan in place. Most of the city is foreign owned now (Japanese/Chinese) Most important element/asset is water. They maybe trying to run people away to be able to sell off water supply to foreign nation which would become a very wealthy revenue driven asset.

[@junkie3110]

It offers a lot of peace and serenity. I wouldn't mind living out there and working from home. Great place to hide away from all the hectic crowds. No traffic. What a dream. I would just work (from home), eat ice cream and Caseys pizza and watch lots of cable TV.

[@TheInsuranceAndTaxGuy]

I would too!

[@timothykeith1367]

@lol One good thing about Illinois for retirees is there is no tax on retirement income - unless you have a job pensions, 401K and the like are not taxed. Although property tax rates are high you can find decent low valued rural houses that won't have a lot of property taxes. But don't expect to find good internet for working remote.

[@davidbea3711]

me to0 !!# sounds like a GREAT place to live cheap quiet safe lets DO THIS

[@robertpace901]

You have to think about services available? Ambulance, Fire, Police, distance to nearest Hospital and Medical Office,

[@hipchecker2063]

Sounds good. But make sure there is internet and a super market to drive to. Just stay in and watch Chicago be destroyed.

[@0fficialdregs]

born in chicago and lived in illinois until 2002. i love my state and i love my city. there's good and bad things about illinois but that wont stop me from loving the positive things

[@NickJohnson]

Good!

[@0fficialdregs]

@@NickJohnson thank you. the only reason it's bad to be in illinois is chicago. remove the corruption and lower certain taxes then people wouldnt be moving so fast and in large amounts

[@Masterbaiter1000]

Move back then it's 2022 lmao

[@nicolewembley3093]

A really good video. You explained it very well Nick. Our family left Illinois in 1968 from the crappy weather, loss of factory jobs etc. Moved to Florida in our first winter, my Mom only had to turn the heat on once for a few hours. The change of scenery was immense from grey cold dreary skies in Illinois to all the sunshine and warmth of Florida, goodbye to the crappy roads in Illinois to nice modern smooth asphalt roads, in Florida. A night and day difference on everything. We all still live here to. My Dad always said when going to visit family, how depressing the area looked, run down older homes etc. I have checked prices on homes in some small towns in Illinois and they are not worth what they are asking especially after you see the property taxes. Again a very well explained video for those that don't know about the decline of small town Illinois.

[@bicybic]

I live in a small town in Kansas. Its well kept streets are great people are friendly. Past that though in terms of work it's like small retail stores and factorys. Relationships are very hard to find as well. I miss the day before technically was so big. Seemed people could appreciate there small towns more. Because compared to other countries. They really can be nice if you make it nice

[@LatestSquash]

Humans are designed to live in small tightly nit communities. The big cities are why so many people are depressed and hopeless.

[@neillist5517]

Small towns are small because nobody wants to live in them. Yawnsville.

[@bicybic]

@@neillist5517 🤷

[@fivehundrediq5212]

@@TexasCountryRock There's a reason small towns are Small, & it's not good

[@fivehundrediq5212]

@@LatestSquash Historically that's false

[@rofyle]

I deliver food in the southern Ohio region. Rural areas out here are exploding with new population and construction. It's not just residential either. New businesses are pouring in. It's not just some states that are dying, but also the big cities in every state. Cincinnati and Cleveland are hemorrhaging population to the rural areas. People are just fed up with the crime and high taxes

[@voorhees7692]

I'm in Ohio as well, and you're definitely right about Cleveland and Cincinnati populations declining, I once saw a road atlas from decades earlier and when you looked at the population of both cities, Cleveland was actually the largest city here with over 800,000 people, I forget what Cincinnati's was, but they too were larger than Columbus. For as long as I can remember in my lifetime Columbus has always been our biggest city, but now its approaching 1,000,000 while Cleveland is now under half of what it once was. Which is sad. But its cool to hear about the towns in your area doing well, that would be interesting to see!👍

[@voorhees7692]

@Drazenko I sure hope that the construction and crowds of people are a good sign of a turnaround for Cleveland. By the way, where is little Italy? I've never been there, but I was told that its actually in Cleveland Heights, is that true?

[@voorhees7692]

@Drazenko thanks, if I'm ever in the Cleveland area in the near future little Italy is one spot I'd like to check out.👍

[@uppitywoman3647]

Btw, Champaign/Urbana has a population increase due to flight from Chicago. Chicago closed some of their public housing and sent the people down state to Champaign, Urbana, Danville, Decateur, and Springfield.

[@twikirobot6897]

Unfortunately.

[@waleyefish9026]

The baby Mommas and children were sent there by the Governor.

[@crystianalee3976]

This is my home town and it will forever hold a piece of my heart! It may not look like much but it really is a special place!!!!

[@valerieanderson3833]

I was born just down the road in Paris Illinois. Grew up across the state line in Indiana. Lived in Chrisman Illinois for a few years and went to and through Ridge Farm often. I live in West Texas now, and we don't have Casey's here. Sure do miss their pizza. Awesome video, man.

[@NickJohnson]

🍕

[@NickJohnson]

Hi Valerie! I have friends in Danville

[@MonkDave666]

To be honest, once all those murders happened in Haddonfield small town Illinois never stood a chance. People got spooked and started leaving en mass. No one wants to deal with that.

[@manictiger]

Sounds like a garbage community. So much for the idea of small towns banding together and protecting each other.

[@MonkDave666]

@@manictiger You can't really blame them though, the murders went on for almost 40 years.

[@danielplainview2360]

If the cops paid more attention to that therapist, none of that would've happened to begin with.

[@MonkDave666]

@@danielplainview2360 Couldn't agree more. Absolutely despicable behaviour on their part.

[@JohnQ5]

Ay... ;D

[@maril1379]

Middle class has really been screwed. If you are illegal you get help - totally unfair system which helps scammers and lazy people. Thumbs up !

[@brianmatthews4149]

Go Brandon.

[@jjuanmarin]

do you really believe an illegal some how has it easier than you please explain how people like you never made sense to me

[@Shirl67]

@@jjuanmarin ok, let's start with the word illegal.. meaning they broke laws to be here in order to get a 'better life' and instead of facing criminal charges for breaking the law they are rewarded with money,food,housing,education all from a system they haven't paid a dime to. Meanwhile immigrants that went through proper channels and came here legally are given a slap in the face by now having to share the cost for people that broke the law. With BS system like that where is the incentive for anyone to go through proper channels?

[@richarddavis1646]

@@RatatRatR Illegals game the system by using stone Social Security numbers for employment and collecting food stamps and other social benefits WHICH THEY ARE ELIGIBLE for.

[@chazl9531]

@@richarddavis1646 all illegals should be arrested and deported. We need a president that is not scared to get things done ! The current American government will collapse if politicians continue to make dangerous decisions that will hurt our way of life !

[@piquat1]

It all depends on internet access. It really does. I'm moving to an acreage over an hour away from any large town. The small town next to me... growing. Why? The county invested in fiber internet a few years back. Even the farm houses have it. Young people can move here, still afford to buy a house (that will change) and work from home. I don't tell people where this is at. I don't tell people in my own state what county did this. It's a little slice of Mayberry. I'd like to keep it that way. Isn't much of that left.

[@brianmatthews4149]

Aunt bee just put some pies out to cool.

[@manictiger]

Internet speed and reliability is definitely crucial. So much of the economy is now dependent on it.

[@alanlight7740]

Starlink will soon provide good internet access pretty much anywhere, though fiber is still preferable if you can get it.

[@piquat1]

@@alanlight7740 I love Starlink but I'm also an amateur astronomer. There are about 2000 sats up now and the full system is 40,000 satellites! There is starting to be some political resistance to finishing it, from more than just star watchers too, NASA has voiced concerns about that number lately. I think it will still get bigger but I have doubts that the entire system will ever be completed.

[@shawnmcgill1900]

As a rural Illinois resident a good example of how the rural areas in Illinois are shrinking, is the fact our local school district students are from ten different villages (Bradford, Buda, Harmon, Manlius, New Bedford, Normandy, Sheffield, Thomas, Walnut, Wyanet), within three different area codes (815, 309, 779), and four separate counties (Bureau, Stark, Lee, and Whiteside). Despite that geographical size, there are only 341 students in the entire district. I can’t imagine not living in a small countryside town, but yes the taxes are ridiculous and we talk about moving all the time.

[@NickJohnson]

Wow Shawn. Maybe one day they'll be virtual

[@robbiem4624]

Where too.

[@hellbythedashboardlight1730]

@@NickJohnson the transition to remote learning is to mask declining enrollments and shrinking populations

[@wyattmosier7500]

Im 22, I grew up in ridge farm. Father worked in the pallet factory just north of town. I feel that the coal mines closing is a big part of why these central Illinois towns are dying. My grandfather was a coal miner and had to move to Pickneyville, Illinois in order to provide for the family. He was from Georgetown, just up the road from ridge farm. Ridge Farm is a spooky charming place that was my home for so long. It will always be my comfort place.

[@NickBernzz]

I live in and have lived in suburban cook/will counties in illinois all 27 years of my life. Leaving this summer, heading west, and never looking back!

[@ed777tx-edward8]

Property taxes in El Paso Tx are 3.25%. We pay $6,000 per year or &500.00 per month. My basic mortgage is less than $650.00 per month. The property taxes and insurance are more than the basic mortgage. Nice video thank you.

[@ulucio86]

That’s more then I pay in Illinois. Don’t believe everything you see on KZbin

[@brianmatthews4149]

Dam I am at 3000.00 and that's ca for tax and insurance.

[@ulucio86]

@@brianmatthews4149 I live in the Chicago Area and my taxes are $2700 a year. People like making shit up about liberal states just to build their ego.

[@alanlight7740]

Of course, Texas has high property tax but no income tax.

[@ed777tx-edward8]

@@alanlight7740 we’re living on SS $6,000.00 per year is killing us. If we had an income tax we probably wouldn’t owe any on $30,000.00 per year

[@tgoods5049]

Born and raised and went to college in downstate Illinois. Moved to another state for a job. Sad to see 😢

[@cheechalker8430]

As someone who has lived in Illinois my entire life (Chicago) I can vouch for the truthfulness of this video. Our entire state government is corrupt and Chicago is about 10 years away from being the next Detroit. We’re just waiting for our youngest to graduate from high school, then we are headed to Florida

[@cheechalker8430]

@@r.mariano8118 from your keypad to God’s ears …… I hope it doesn’t happen Detroit was definitely at a disadvantage with the auto industry being such a large piece of their economy. However, Chicago is starting to lose business. For example, Boeing just left Chicago for Virginia (IIRC). The taxes are insane and the crime is out of control. And our states attorney Kim Foxx refuses to prosecute anyone. Well, not “anyone” Only people she can use as useful idiots later on

[@jeepgirl6225]

Nick, thank you for your video. With Illinois' housing laws, even if a once small town grows, it easily becomes a place hard working people want to leave. This is because once a community reaches 10,000 housing units, they must allow low-income housing. Then the pain begins........

[@lorirobertson643]

👋 Hi, Nick! Sad to see - not just small town Illinois - small town USA dying out. These places used to be called the backbone of America. Just look at what 'progress' has done. Very sad indeed. Hugs from Arkansas 💜

[@life5161]

RIGHT!!! "PROGRESS" INDEED

[@plutobills5359]

Lol if you ride a motorcycle in this town the old people will get you banned and kicked out I wouldn't stay there if they paid the rent and bills

[@NickJohnson]

Lori! Take care!

[@8Jah]

@@NickJohnson Can you please cover German In Venice latest youtube video about the derailed train in LA due to all the stolen packages and empty boxes, 1,000's left on the tracks. Just when I thought I had seen it all between living in So Cal and Chi.

[@ronaldhadley7129]

This is a precious film in the form of a time capsule Nice job

[@rockandrollwillneverdie4840]

No problems with bare shelves in that Casey's!

[@NickJohnson]

Nope

[@ronaldhall9701]

Yea no one to buy anything and no money to buy anything with. Keep on voting for democrats and raising taxes

[@viennperidot1119]

Everything that isn't mountain dew, energy drinks, fountain soda or tums expired in 2016 XD

[@mattmalloy2572]

monsanto!!!

[@rockandrollwillneverdie4840]

@@mattmalloy2572 Then God Bless Monsanto

[@Gawdrek]

Yeah this is super sad. I live in a smaller Illinois Rural town in West Central Illinois and it's basically the same. The town I live in doesn't have a Casey's or a Dollar store. I just don't understand how Illinois politicians can continue the tax hikes and ignore the mass exodus from the State without thinking somethings up. We'll get by like we always have but something has to change.

[@rebeccasiegel3709]

I moved away from Illinois in 2019 and it was the worst decision I ever made. I moved to minnesota and it’s just the worst. I can’t understand why everyone hates on Illinois I grew up in chicago and can’t wait to move back home

[@rp8114]

If u arent reading the room its bc all the $ goes to Chicago & everyome living in rural il isnt getting the same benefits & help as Chicago so theyre dying out. So if u lived in Chicago ofc u loved it compared to someone who lived in farm ridge for example. Different experience unfortunately. Il had so much potential & i was so close to moving there w my bf bu so glad i didnt

[@earljohnson2113]

Yes, Minnesota has really gotten horrible. Now,you even see it playing out on TV. George Floyd, Somali give aways...etc. it's really sad what happened to my wonderful rural NORDIC Minnesota...😥

[@elbertmoreno2159]

Texas has entered the chat... Texas has left the chat...

[@frederickmuhlbauer9477]

Warsaw Poland is where I chose aftet living in NY for over 50 years Low crime great liveable city with s booming economy

[@rosannemassman4560]

This truly breaks my heart. I lost my McHenry County, Illinois home (that would've been paid in full in 2026), and I've had to resort to living (surviving) life in my vehicle. God help us all. 😞💕

[@frederickmuhlbauer9477]

How did you “ lose” it ?

[@thisisme3238]

Sorry for your loss, hope things change for the better for you. 🤔

[@leerothman7570]

I remember way back when McHenry was a sweet little rural town. Now it's yet another libtard soaked overpriced location like so many in northern Illinois. Part of the Shitcargo metro

[@randallmunson2098]

@@frederickmuhlbauer9477 She just came home from shopping one day and the home was gone, just gone! McHenry County Illinois is like that ……. I’ve lost golf balls, fishing lures, but never an entire house. I imagine it’s the same feeling I would get living in “Twin Peaks” or hanging out with agent Mulder in X-Files.

[@zhengxu4464]

Love your videos, very relaxing watching you drive.

[@dave3657]

I moved from Kansas to Illinois a few years ago and my taxes are three times what they were there. After I retire I’m seriously considering moving back.

[@jkell2888]

I would. Illinois is a trap my family has been stuck in for over a century. If you can leave, LEAVE. Illinois just sucks all our money away and leaves us in an unbreakable poverty loop. I’m actively trying to figure out how to leave.

[@aaronclover825]

@@jkell2888 well agreed

[@gwgux]

Seeing stuff like this reminds me that we probably put too much emphasis in national government and politics. It's not that what happens at the national level isn't important, it's that it's too far away from folks for effective change for local communities. Many folks don't even know how their local and state governments work or even who is in office. As a result, they make policies that cause towns like these to die out.

[@Paulscottrock]

Most people pay zero attention to local politics. Many communities are run by the same families that have been in office since 200 years ago. They are little fiefdoms The sherif and the local politicians are entrenched. If anything new tries to be in office, they all work to attack the new guy. So new people are second class citizens in these small towns.

[@hithere5553]

People are much more atomized from each other these days thanks to the internet. I have completely different politics from my community, and local governments tend to be much more corrupt and nepotistic, further alienating people from trying to get involved.

[@praetorianstride5948]

It’s so crazy to think about how the American heartland is literally dissolving. If only the government hadn’t taken its citizens for granted.

[@susanm7925]

One positive aspect...low crime, peace, and ennui! And I love all three!

[@717790]

Yup. I moved out of state from a town in southern Illinois with a population of 6600 in 2012. I wouldn’t be surprised if they’ve lost 1000 people in my time away.

[@bobby8474]

Thanks, I was thinking about becoming a 'Sun Bird' and moving to Illinois for the summer months to get away from the south FL riff raff and humidity.

[@bobby8474]

@Veteran of the Pyschic Wars How about Waterloo? Isn't it near the. Indian casino?

[@bobby8474]

@Aaron I'mma check it out. Thanks 👍

[@2thesunwo]

I'm a Englishman and would be very happy to live in Illinois. It looks so peaceful and quiet. Wow no traffic on the road and no motorway?

[@doneown503]

You could be the : mayor, garbage company , landscape arch. , & city council all wrapped in one tidy package!

[@2thesunwo]

Understandably I see that people move home for employment. In England 🇬🇧 it's so different we move out of the cities and move to village's for peace and quiet.

[@Oumegi]

@@2thesunwo Very similar trends in the Czech republic. I haven't seen a rural town die out since the German expulsion after WWII. Quite the opposite - my hometown has grown, as many others around the country, and the quality of life improved drastically.

[@lenchenes]

Ehem... but how bout jobs.... duh

[@fivehundrediq5212]

@@Oumegi Stop lying

[@markmcgowan9081]

Please do a bit on the Southern part of Illinois like West Frankfort, Marion, Herrin, Carterville

[@patricialynn6280]

What a great gig you have traveling the world and sharing great needed information for us!! I'd love to do that..it's a win! Win!

[@jeffsea6490]

Actually enjoyed the scenery,reminds me of the small town in Kansas where I grew up. I believe the future of the small town will be incorporated by a larger city nearby in the same county. Thanks for sharing a beautiful scenery video Nick n Sage 👍🇺🇲

[@NickJohnson]

OK JEFF!

[@scwaty180]

Left Illinois over ten years ago. Lived there all my life up until then. Definitely miss family, friends, and the old stomping grounds but I'm done with the corruption, greed, and dictators in Chicago that run the state. The cost of living, license and registration fees, along with yearly taxes are three times what we pay in my new state. I couldn't afford living there now even if I wanted to

[@thisisme3238]

What State did you move to? I am an Illinoisan and thinking of going somewhere more affordable too.

[@scwaty180]

@@thisisme3238 Southern Missouri

[@thisisme3238]

@@scwaty180 ty

[@seththomas9105]

This is most all of the Midwest and plains from North Texas to Canada; Ohio Valley to the Front Range. I'm a lifelong small town Iowan and the last 40 years has just "gut shot" most small Midwestern towns.Iowa is a little better off than Illinois as we don't have a Chicago to contend with, so the population is more diverse through the state. I.E. the large population centers are Des Moines Metro/Ames (The 50 mile "Golden Circle") Cedar Rapids/Iowa City, Waterloo/Cedar Falls, Council Bluffs, Quad Cities, Sioux City, Dubuque, Mason City, Marshaltown etc. The state population of Iowa has virtually been stagnet since about 1910 but the demographic shift is what has emptied the small towns out. It's a long story but needs to be told, and I think it could/may reverse in the future. BTW Caseys is like a plague on Iowa, the pizza is dreck and they USED to make the donuts fresh in store and now it's just trucked in crapola. Give it up, Casey's.

[@JamesTyreeII]

Yay! Mapei! I have missed your conversations with Mapei! Your earlier videos where you would do that regularly were really fun so I requested that become part of your videos again because it’s very fun and entertaining

[@EllieM_Travels]

You are absolutely right, warmer and cheaper! People aren’t loyal to one town anymore, just like we don’t work for one employer for 30 years and then retire. As people move, they look for warmer climate, more activity, beautiful scenery and lower taxes. There are so many beautiful towns in America, there’s no reason to suffer bipolar weather in tornado alley.

[@NickJohnson]

Yep

[@commo_dore6492]

Great video! Could you maybe do a video on Rockford Illinois? I think out of all the places in Illinois, Rockford really best represents the decline of the state. A once booming city now being reduced to nothing.

[@jupin1960]

That isn't entirely true. There is a thriving business in greed and corruption in Rockford. If you are in the drug trafficking or welfare racket Rockford is your place. If you want to live in a nice community with jobs and security move to another state. The once proud home of Amerock, National Lock, dozens of furniture manufacturers and really prosperous job opportunities is dead and gone.

[@patrickhundley1203]

You should visit Cairo Illinois, it’s lost most of its population and is filled with abandoned and run down buildings

[@MrJestyler]

Mother, grandmother and aunt are from cairo. Visited there over 20 yrs ago. I don’t even know how it survives. The race riots there in late 60’s destroyed the small downtown area and it never recovered. It is surreal.

[@tjj6362]

Lol, no thanks! Not a good place for black people. Negative.

[@doctormcboy5009]

@@tjj6362 black lies matter

[@muffs55mercury61]

I went thru it once but that was 20+ years ago and it was depressing. It was once a bustling industrial town.

[@mikekeeler6362]

Yeah it's like East St Louis back in the sixties Cairo was a big city had a lot going on '70s rolled around and it started falling apart now it's run by the state and as you can tell the state of Illinois can't run anything

[@Hutch76k]

I lived in west central Illinois from 2002-2005 when I was coaching at MacMurray College in Jacksonville. I’ve literally been almost everywhere in that state recruiting. It’s sad because it’s naturally very pretty and there are some really nice small towns with good, salt of the earth people. “The state of Chicago” has fucked the entire state. Illinois was the first place where I saw that they put the population of the town in the sign when you would drive into the town. Some were 200-300 people. It was also the first place where schools co-op. There weren’t enough kids to form a football team so Georgetown would co-op with Ridge Farm. The Buffalos. Sad that a lot of these towns will cease to exist

[@maryturner3473]

@hutch76k MacMurray is no more

[@Hutch76k]

@@maryturner3473 Yup, sadly it is no more. But they can’t take the memories. And I’ll always have the 2002 Illini Badger football conference championship ring

[@johnblansit5457]

I moved from Illinois where things went from bad to worse. I now live in a suburb of Dallas, Texas and the weather and life is much better. Texas is the last of two free states in the union

[@danaoo6272]

thanks for the dose of reality, the far and the few. Keep up the good work!

[@andyl2221]

John Deere is basically forcing the small one or two store family dealerships into selling to one of a few mega dealerships.

[@jamessurratt55]

Unfortunately, Illinois has been dominated by Chicago Democrats for decades that keep passing a lot of social wellfare programs but no way to pay for them. They kept kicking the can down the road untill the can got too heavy to kick it any further. So up, up, up up the taxes.

[@Hutch76k]

It’s the democrat way. The solution to every issue or problem is more of other peoples money 💰

[@franciscouderq1100]

If you gov mismanaged the social system or if the people don’t want to contribute then it’s a dead end. Don’t blame the idea but blame the lack of will to make it work particularly at grassroots level. Americans generally do not understand the aim goals and how to get there unlike in Europe and therefore block any attempt to succeed.

[@ariamcsrm1902]

@@Hutch76k its the political machine it is necessary democrats . all political parties have their own agendas no matter what . some will mess with u one way and others another way.. no trust in any political party period.

[@roynoccorina5022]

At least that little town you’re driving through doesn’t have to worry about a homeless problem.

[@hotmess7846]

It's a peopleless problem, lots of homes

[@dudeman4184]

Because rural areas are shit at giving basic services to homeless people.

[@actionsub]

@@dudeman4184 Sad but true, but with 800 people in a small town, there's probably nowhere near the necessary tax base to provide such services. There's less than 80000 people in the whole county.

[@zubairrazzaq6271]

Always lived in Illinois there are some amazing places in Illinois near some work in the state in Chicagoland 👍👍👌👌

[@caboose.adventures]

Very interesting video! Loved the Pizza Song! Sad to see what’s happening to Illinois.

[@Thesaltymedic36]

You can’t even sell your home and move. Who’s going to buy it? Just take what you want and might as well leave the door open and leave.

[@jamesjenkins3384]

At a certain point property taxes will get so high that people realize that they no longer own the property they bought and paid for.

[@brianmatthews4149]

What do they get for places.80.000 to 100.000 ?

[@roynoccorina5022]

You can find these same kinds of towns in the so called tax havens of Iowa,Wisconsin and Indiana too.

[@guernseygoodness]

You are 100% correct about modern farming killing small towns. I see the same thing in eastern Washington.

[@reneeleegreco1603]

This is a reflection of our Governor who only cares about his own wallet. High taxes, outrageous crime, ridiculous mandates etc.

[@rickhammond2473]

NJ no better my parents pay 14,000 a year where in 1975 they were paying 1,400 a year and they now are 80.Old timer would always say only in America.

[@carlaallen4398]

I totally agree and all of the other politicians are assisting. Murder called suicide is out of control in this area and none of those cases are ever re-opened and solved as the murder they are. You just don’t know anymore who is moving across the road or Nextdoor.

[@underground9260]

Illinois isn’t the only state that it’s small towns are in decline. Here in Mississippi, most of our small towns are declining. More people move to the suburbs than the rural areas. But that’s happening in almost every state.

[@alanwilson2073]

I don't know man, I'm with some of the people down below. I visited Chicago back in '16 and fell in love with it. That town looks small and dead but as long as there are resources like gas, Sam's Club, Costco or a Walmart even a town or two over, I see it as doable. House prices must be cheap there thus bringing down the tax burden. Then too, there's always Indiana. I'm looking for some place cheap to retire. Live and work In Hawaii now and at 64, this IS NOT doable!!! Did check out a house in Mokena and thought the price was good but the property taxes, whoa nelly, watch out!!!

[@tfries72]

Look at Iowa much better in every way

[@alanwilson2073]

@@tfries72 I'll check things out on Zillow, thanks for the help, I could use it!!!

[@hellraiserx9490]

What a damn shame it looks like a pretty nice little town. I live in New Jersey where property taxes are way more than $5000 a year more like $10,000 a year for your average house. Just a damn shame of these little towns going belly up.

[@adambuesser6264]

I live in North Jersey for most of my life It is a really nice state. Just avoid the bad neighborhoods. We do pay a lot more taxes in the state but their is a benefit why people are choosing to stay rather moving to other state with similar benefits.

[@hellraiserx9490]

@@adambuesser6264 Well until I was in my 20s I lived in what I would figure would be considered north jersey “Cranford“ it was nice there but I could not afford the property taxes the house I was in that I moved out of up there the taxes are $20,000 a year now forget that! Now I’m down in South Jersey in my taxes are about 6000 a year for a really nice size house

[@highlymedicated2438]

@@adambuesser6264 I'm from the Midwest. Why does Jersey retain their people a lot better than New York? You go to Florida NYers own that place lol

[@manfredmann2766]

Moved out of Readington Twp/Whitehouse Station in Hunterdon County in the early 90s and subsequently found a house in eastern Nebraska near Omaha for a fourth of the price. Live in AZ, now, but those NJ taxes were a nightmare 30 years ago.

[@brianmatthews4149]

I am sure everyone could agree on one thing that is killing america .greed.

[@galecreek]

I watch all of your videos because they are interesting and informative. This time I see you put these small towns on equal with the dumps you usually drive through. Theses towns are clean and tidy. All of the lawns are mowed and trimmed, including the abandon schools and churches. The quality of the people in; and from, those small towns are not in the same league as the residents in the scummy, crime ridden ghettos in the other videos. No graffiti and no hoarding trash in mounds like it was golden treasure. Ugh. Proof that you don't have to have a lot of money to have a sense of responsibility and integrity. Very depressing to think about.

[@NickJohnson]

Yep

[@jkell2888]

Here in Illinois a lot of people don’t have anything better to do with their time. People mow the lawn like 2x a week, and if their neighbor does not mow for whatever reason, they’ll call the city. People really don’t have anything better to do than call the city on their neighbors, make their yard pristine, and go to church.

[@bobross4886]

@@jkell2888 Hancock/Henderson county?

[@hellbythedashboardlight1730]

what's the point of cutting grass on an abandoned building? neurotic whyte ppl ... maybe u should have had more children

[@ryanalopez3078]

One more comment I actually was born and raised in Cook County as well but it's come to Central Illinois since I was around 1:00 as we always liked rural areas in my family to come to I somehow ended up here.. I guess all the stars aligned LOL. I actually traveled all around the United States extensively pre-pandemic for almost the whole year of 2019 going to Big metropolitan areas like Detroit all the way to fort Wayne Indiana to end up living in North Carolina which I highly recommend you look into Asheville and Greenville and just look around for what you need in life. The times are definitely a changing good luck in your search

[@NickJohnson]

Oh I know North Carolina

[@kylec4858]

I’m from a town an hour west of Chicago, so many people I know from my high school have moved out to Colorado, Florida, Tennessee, etc (I am 22)… everyone who is still here plans on leaving or talks about it. Only reason anyone stays it for family. People of my generation know if you don’t leave young you’ll end up here forever like others. Sad

[@antoniobonebeatz]

must be from rockford yeah its not worth liv8ng there the city is not what it use to be

[@56cadd]

​@antoniobonebeatz Its definitely a dump , always has been.

[@mnoliberal7335]

I lived near Ridge Farm in 1980, when the population was 1250+. Chicago and Springfield are bleeding the rest of the state dry.

[@EyeConsmb1]

I grew up in Danville Ill. Born in 1953, graduated 1971 left right after grad. Finally ended up in Ojai CA. Glad to be here. Danville used to be a nice place between 1953 - 1975 then it went south. I left in 1971, heading to Indiana, Florida, Tennessee and California. My 2nd hubby and I bought a house in California in 2003.

[@markinnes4264]

I really like small towns. This place looks like it could still be a happy place to live if you're self sufficient. .

[@TomMcBoston]

Glad you are back in small town Midwest.