The Truth About McKeesport, Pennsylvania: Is It Really That Bad?

I drove through the worst parts of McKeesport, Pennsylvania. This Rust Belt City is easily one of the poorest, most dilapidated, and dangerous places in America. With a violent crime rate 295% over the national average, and a poverty level over 30%, it is nothing short of tragic. So many abandoned homes, businesses, and broken dreams.
After the industrial decline decades ago, McKeesport, PA suffered dramatic economic collapse. With the combination of steel factories shutting down, a 1976 downtown fire, and major retail stores folding up, this city has never recovered from it. Jobs were gone and the people had to move away. The population was 55,355 in the 1950's, now down to 17,082 as of 2023. Let's take a drive and check some of the hardest hit parts!

[@dansteigerwald5677]

Very special thanks for your NOT having added music to your videos. That's good taste!

[@hoodsnhollers]

Thanks for watching!

[@cmdrdata]

I grew up here too, in its prime. Late 60s through the 70s was a great time to live here. Downtown looked like a scene from its a Wonderful Life. Department stores loaded with Christmas toys. People dressed to the nines. We would hang out on those porches, and talk with family all night. Such a far cry from its glory days now. So sad, it can almost bring you to tears. I have family there now, and they stay because its home.

[@edwardkrajewski5735]

My hometown. So sad what it has become.

[@JohnDorsey]

Could be used as a set for The Walking Dead

[@lisetteeliseparis7070]

The landscape is so beautiful and yet the ruins are scary at the same time.

[@janedoe5180]

Coming from Texas, I love the hills

[@Curlyloxau]

Beautiful and green, but destroyed.

[@TheCapBabe]

Soon as I seen the title I knew it was McKeesport… like many places in PA slowly crumbling with no help coming.. just sad

[@rbisme113]

I used to live very near there from the 80s thru 2009. That whole region suffered when the steel mills closed. They had a healthcare industry boom in the 90s, but that was short lived. A lack of jobs has forced many to relocate including myself. I miss the greater Pittsburgh area.

[@suzy259]

Wow...Back in the 70s when I was a teenager, it was my stomping ground. My older married sister (now passed) owned a house there in McKeesport, Pa. and I lived with her off+on, I'm shocked at the poor condition it's in!!!

[@knighttoking7926]

What a crying shame. This use to be a lovely city, I can see that. And what amazing, and beautiful, brick roads!

[@hoodsnhollers]

Those brick roads did major damage to the hood mobile lol I was literally hitting my head off the roof

[@deborahmacdonald9319]

❤

[@mohammadelbatniji4448]

@@hoodsnhollers is not brick its wood all the building i see wood

[@mohammadelbatniji4448]

the yard the pools small

[@athalyerajan2823]

How did this happen to my adopted home. As an immigrant who loves my country such videos make me think of an era long gone with prosperity and no moneychanging.

[@johnr.b.murray3417]

NO MONEYCHANGING. BINGO. YOU NAILED THE CULPRITS.

[@monsterglo]

Sadly when the steel mills, auto part manufacturers, textiles moved overseas and to Southern states for cheaper labor was the end for the areas, I grew up in PA, mom and dad moved to CA in the 70's thankfully

[@reggiedunlop2099]

For some reason I watch a lot of these "driving through the worst places" videos, and it never fails to amaze me how you see very decent or even expensive luxury vehicles parked in front of the most dilapidated run-down houses that you could ever imagine.

[@Chordonblue]

My mom's family was from this area. She told me about the trolleys that used to run into Pittsburgh and how busy the place was. Those brick roads you see were built over a 100 years ago. My parents were told that the city no longer has the 'institutional knowledge' to fix them, so when a few bricks come out, they simply fill it in with asphalt. The fact that so many remain is testament to how well-constructed they were. Well... Nothing lasts forever, but in a time where we have so many homeless, it's a shame these kinds of places can't be revitalized.

[@hoodsnhollers]

Been on a lot of terrible roads, but this place takes the win. If you notice at one point I almost dropped my camera. I literally hit the bottom of the frame on the car right there and had to get out and pop the bumper back in. Alignment was totally out, I remember letting the wheel go on the way out of there and it would just ghost turn it was so bad LOL

[@rayF4rio]

For some reason I always get a kick out of seeing the "Deaf Child Ahead" signs. The streets are a mess, houses destroyed, garbage everywhere, burned out buildings.....and the city still comes and puts up the sign, but I guess that's the limit of what they can do.

[@bridgetmuehlberger5141]

Wow. I’m gobsmacked. I can’t imagine what life is like for the remaining 17K+ people who still live there. Gotta admit, my heart was in my throat a little when you decided it was “time for a quick walk….” 😳 You’re a much braver person than I. The saddest part for me was seeing the two young girls on theirs scooters, outside “playing.” This is what they will remember as their childhood. 😢

[@billwilson6096]

I see many abandoned decaying buildings but I also notice many shiny late model SUV’s.

[@malcontender6319]

I wonder why so many of these abandoned homes have been torched? Also, notice the sat dishes on some of these buildings? I'd bet most of these neighborhoods were inhabited only 20 years ago.

[@kristinadospoy7347]

Imagine how many towns like McKeesport are in ruins throughout the entire country.

[@johnlocke6506]

Adds a whole new meaning to urban decay but the dates you quote indicate that much of this has happened over many decades as witnessed by some of the collapsed houses being completely overcome by nature.

[@ronb8052]

I was born in McKeesport hospital in 1946. As a kid from West Mifflin, I would take the bus every Saturday morning an go to McKeesport...Memorial Theater, Army and Navy Store....lots of fun. I went back for my 20th reunion....everyone told me "don't go to McKeesport or Duquesne"...I now know why.

[@HackHunter1835]

Its unreal how much it cost to demolish a house. The removal / clearing of the lot and so forth.

[@s5adventures]

I didn't think I could see a worse place then your last....but I was so wrong!

[@jennylynn9835]

Grew up in McKeesport, Fawcett Plan. Moved in ‘97 out west. It breaks my heart of what my hometown has become. I have so many great memories there and still so many great people live there. 💜

[@leaf1131]

One of my aunts lived in E. McKeesport. I remember visiting her, with my parents,sitting on her porch and watching the lightening bugs; I was around 5 years old. I’m 85 now.

[@deborahmacdonald9319]

How many homeless and how many destroyed homes.

[@GK-ku3zv]

There shouldn't be any property taxes for anyone still there.

[@Pasmith95621]

I grew up in Highland Grove in McKeesport, it was rough the last time I was through there but this is so sad.

[@Ligalyt]

It looks like it was abandoned for years

[@lisachurchill1185]

two years ago I thought about moving to McKeesport area because there's homes really cheap. I decided on an area closer to Johnstown, PA where homes are also cheap and dont look anything like McKeesport. Great video.

[@lovemusic1963ify]

Former president John F. Kennedy made a stop in McKeesport on October 13th, 1962and gave a speech if anyone wants to google that.

[@Danbertex]

Really enjoy your clips. Take it to the next level and explore the insides of some of these abandoned homes. That would be fascinating.

[@josephinemiller4780]

Agree!

[@lindapietrasz8070]

Are you guys trying to unalive him?

[@lindapietrasz8070]

08:37 just as you mention the bumpy roads, a slew of destroyed tires appear!

[@hoodsnhollers]

I felt like the inside of a pinball machine for a good while! I should have brought my rzr and filmed instead!

[@lindapietrasz8070]

@@hoodsnhollers I'll bet!

[@litaheffley6990]

Great 👍 video 👌 thanks sad to see 👀 all the decay

[@hoodsnhollers]

Thank you for watching!

[@marial8235]

Sadly, most of that housing is too far gone to be rehabbed. I don’t know what you do with the main street section. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@monsterglo]

Sadly this is happening all over our country, I was born and raised near Reading, PA , mom and dad thankfully moved in the 70's , I have cousins who still reside there, they told me it's sad 😢😢

[@deborahmacdonald9319]

❤🙏 it has to get better as I can't imagine worse

[@follyfour506]

We are visiting Philadelphia in September a place called Lansdale . It's nothing like this , what I don't get is how this is allowed to happen.

[@shirleygiordano7627]

I live near Reading. It's very dangerous. Don't go out after dark. I'm 5 miles away from Reading.

[@lindapietrasz8070]

Absolutely hate brick and cobblestone roads.

[@lindapietrasz8070]

Thanks! Down payment for some struts. This will be last donation for June.

[@hoodsnhollers]

Thank you so much Linda! After that ride there its definitely getting some upgrades to the hood mobile LOL

[@bettybrigance6784]

The stories that those walls hold......

[@wendym.7648]

This entire country is crumbling.

[@littlepump-j2r]

And why do you think that is?

[@brokenglass849]

It's a shame these towns have fallen into ruin. The high crime will keep it from ever being turned around.

[@Coffee240]

😱😱😱 some of those run down house's look like ghost lives in them. Scary .

[@cutty6764]

This is mind-blowing to see.

[@lol_05.76]

Thank god for public housing (the projects)... @ 3.24 marker.

[@jayjaynella4539]

Never seen a city with so many paver base roads. What a shame that the city has gone to the dogs.

[@tyronebiggims1613]

Im from over the hill in turtlecreek its looking the same in spots . loved the porch awnings ,the old italian's awalys had them..

[@banana_jam_86]

Зато учат остальной мир, как жить и что делать.

[@rwl8150]

It would be great if you could do these videos in a 360 cam. A magnetic mount on the roof would capture so much more content.

[@nikasmith206]

Wow another city left to desolation. Thanks for the video

[@hoodsnhollers]

Thank you for watching!

[@deborahmacdonald9319]

❤

[@effie924]

Why isn't the state or county in there cleaning this up? It looks like a beautiful area and the need for housing in any state this would be perfect.

[@richardblayneamerican8149]

Nice thought, but it would take a lot of money to do so. Imagine the cost of tearing down and removing just one of those abandoned buildings or homes.

[@deborahmacdonald9319]

I can just imagine the great men who built those great homes to have a generation destroy them.

[@ElenorNailsArt]

Міста як люди, народжуються, живуть, квітнуть, старіють і помирають. Природа забирає своє

[@UmberMalik707]

Why people left? What about city management ...what its doing ?... It feels haunted ...

[@jamesjenkins3384]

Readymade movie set for a walking dead movie.

[@BobRooney290]

i feel sad for all the people that were forced to abandon their homes. it is not an easy thing to lose. and it's not that far from a major city. not sure why the downfall.

[@julianaanderson4855]

Breaks my heart as I grew up in this town.

[@frankwoods4532]

wow, this is sad. I noticed they have decent cars.

[@michaelwhite2823]

Exactly

[@hellsbellez]

Well I imagine the remaining folks try and live normally still...

[@jamesyman007]

That was pretty much uninhabited. Are they packing people in the bigger cities? Nice footage. God Bless.

[@michaeljcurry]

So many formerly grand homes.

[@greg2976]

Who owns all these properties?

[@hellsbellez]

Nature 🌱

[@Curlyloxau]

Exactly what I am thinking. The land the house stood on, did they sell and move? Who moved in to destroy the place.

[@horlos7175]

What is your camera ? Keep up the good work.

[@thejudgmentalcat]

If this was on the East Coast I'd wonder if I was in Innsmouth 😮

[@UQRXD]

What happened. Bad government. They should all be torn down.

[@gabe5946]

So sad, that looks like you are in some other country, but nope that is our 🇺🇸 , just unreal

[@MrTopanga44]

I was born in McK and left (escaped) to California. There were about 55k people there in 1961. I was a fun place to grow up then.

[@hellsbellez]

Y'all, we are seeing what the rest of our country will soon become as wages stagnant and jobs keep moving overseas.

[@mohammadelbatniji4448]

the wooded houses by the road too close

[@TJ-xs5bn]

There must have been a lot of money in this city at one time in the past. Just look at the sizes of some of those abandoned houses. They're huge and most are single family homes or duplexes. So sad to see what must have been a thriving city at one time suffering from the effects of the de-industrialization of America.

[@thoughtprovoker7728]

I use to live there in the 90s. It didn't seem that bad at the time. I wasn't even from McKeesport originally. Graduated high school there an everything.

[@omenoflaherty1294]

Michael Myers in the window at 7:00.

[@hoodsnhollers]

I seen that!

[@MrHorse-by3mp]

If you can believe it President Kennedy stopped here to make a speech during his 1960 election campaign.

[@glenngeeful]

What's so dangerous? That something might collapse on you or .....

[@hoodsnhollers]

Violent crime is 295% over the national average Property crime is 40% over the national average Robbery/Burglary is 2x higher than the national average It has a crime index of 2, which means 98% of other US cities are safer It was ranked #4 Most dangerous city in America a few years ago

[@Earl_Richter]

@@hoodsnhollers This is the information I was looking for. Thanks! Hard to believe such a quiet (seemingly) place has such an issue with crime. Almost seemed ideal if someone could move into one of the few remaining nice areas but not with that kind of crime around them. New subscriber here. Really enjoying your videos.

[@dennisherskowitz773]

My family left in 1970, just before the decline started. Saw so many homes I used to pass and so many empty lots that had homes on them at one time. Sure the reasons and blame can go around but McKeesport is dead and it isn't coming back. There are a few nice sections, Myer Park, Christy Park, and White Oak (not part of the city) but I don't see it coming back. Life is great here in ATL with lots of jobs, homes, apartments, traffic, lots of stuff to do and many sports teams. But we do not have affordable housing or a good mass transit system; but we have the world's busiest airport.

[@vadimkorotaev6161]

lovely places, really inspiring

[@Bleu-en2bf]

Modern ghost town.

[@teresaallen3045]

What town is this I western pa

[@hoodsnhollers]

McKeesport

[@savykoshy4511]

I wonder where all the people are gone.

[@billstill1794]

Yep, McKeesport - one of our worst cities - slowly dying.

[@lybra175]

Well,the trees should be cut in many places.

[@ckzf1842]

OMG !! How did this happen?!😮

[@itiswhatitis7639]

If those old houses could talk…

[@groofoot]

0:19 = Ohh no, Kitties!! 8,-(

[@almarowley2370]

Lot of the houses got X on and what's that mean

[@UmberMalik707]

...haunted

[@mchume65]

They had brick paving I noticed.

[@lydonwilson5081]

Lived there from 1940 to 1960. Fantastic. Then joined the Navy for 20 years. Ŵent back to see it, unreal. Now live in RI state. The best.

[@shellybliese9610]

This is heartbreaking to see. 😢

[@Zodemus]

Oh this is out in western PA, that part of the state doesn't even matter.

[@steveverdoo1859]

dam, I guess Braddock ain't so bad after all.

[@nancywysemen7196]

where do collapsing homes go? landfill.....up in smoke....

[@joeyDi8764]

A lot more hoods worse in Pittsburgh.. Northside, Hill Homewood, Southside Eastside Westside Northside

[@hoodsnhollers]

I did those. I’ll have it uploaded in a week or two

[@adileddhbi3683]

Are abandoned homes possible for anyone to own?

[@johngreen3543]

The banks probably own the property.

[@lindapietrasz8070]

I'm moving the end of August. Maybe I should consider moving back to Pennsylvania. 🙄

[@peterveldman9498]

Behind the Church was a giant Aldi supermarket

[@CynthiaWerner-l5j]

Actually, I enjoyed there was no commentary or music. It was straight video and I enjoyed it for once without music or someone talking.

[@Livingdeadinnz]

That would have been a gorgeous once 10:52

[@amandahudson431]

So take a ride around kennsington st

[@hoodsnhollers]

I have a few uploaded on the channel check em out!

[@gillc9773]

Tax the super rich properly and get these places regenerated. Its time this poverty was transformed and investment sunk into them.

[@deborahmacdonald9319]

❤️

[@hoodsnhollers]

Thank you Deborah! Youre awesome I appreciate it so much! I hope youre ok up there in Canada, its a little smokey here over 2000 Miles away from ya!

[@prestonforayter2584]

It looks just like Folsom California.

[@deborahmacdonald9319]

🙏 you are so brave 😳

[@hoodsnhollers]

Thank you so much Deborah!

[@deborahmacdonald9319]

❤

[@smorgasbroad1132]

Possibly one of the worst towns you've shown us. IMO. Just sad & ugly. 😞