I Drove Through the WORST Place In Iowa

[@NickJohnson]

Here's the entire Midwest road trip playlist: kzbin.info/aero/PLq-_cmf3H6yreUhBrJwFhC9LeCYh1TvBL

[@frankiebowden2316]

Considering i live here in Keokuk I’m going to say you’ve only shown the bad about it. And a lot of your information is incorrect. Maybe next time before you post such a shitty video you’ll learn more about the town NOW instead of it’s history you apparently know so much about. And the clip about the person CLEANING up after their house caught on fire is disgusting. You assumed yet again and your slanging them all over the internet for gods sake. They just lost all of their belongings and you’re on KZbin posting it for content. Sicko🤢

[@luckyistJsilt]

Quincy il is 45 minutes from keokuk. Quincy is going down hill. They have kept jobs out because the rich don’t want labor competition. That’s changed but where in Illinois so where screwed.

[@davidstaudohar6733]

Hello NICK 👋👋 it's your buddy Diamond Dave , it's always good to watch the footage 🎥🎞️🎞️🎬 U send me 🖤🖤🖤‼️

[@davidstaudohar6733]

@@luckyistJsilt I'm originally from the Midwest and I've been to this town, and it's certainly not the same that it was in 1967, believe you me my brother it was a little slice of Heaven 👍 ♦️ and those Days are gone

[@aadynknowles3886]

hey mf the bowling alley is still open

[@amberdewitt7293]

Just wanting to state that the girl you spotted on camera "stealing" next to the burnt down home? That is actually the home owner who had her home set on fire by one of the unstable drug addicts in this town

[@stephaniedresden3742]

we get a lot of those types of fires here. It's sad people sink so low to do something like that. my neighbors ex wife set his house on fire when he was out of town. Poor guy came home to a burnt down house.

[@dawnkinateder9617]

Kind of like the unstable drug addict that hit us while visiting one year on Main going way too fast. My son was in his car seat in back. The unstable drug addict had totalled her car the week before. She had no insurance. No registration or license. Somehow my husband got the ticket. We also can't forget the police who took compromising photos of girls on cop cars and developed the film at the police station! Or Kimmie Hardy who killed Theresa Lund to steal her baby and pass him off as her own. Oh boy, Chintz's closed? My horrible in-laws favorite bar!!!

[@Nope2022HugeTheWarningFan]

It's too bad some have to just assume that someone is stealing something when they actually live there. I suppose we would probably all say the same thing, though.

[@gabrieljordan8015]

I've lived in Iowa for 40 years and it seems like a lot of our small towns are being economically slaughtered one by one.

[@llisa3976]

USA

[@dominickjustave3558]

Good

[@markstewart4501]

So you got see the actor Ronald Reagan deregulate protections for small town America and let Multi National companies gut and "out compete" your friends, family, and neighbors, so you could buy cheaper plastic goods....Nice. Reagan sure was a "great communicator". He even got recorded reading the bible and put it on vinyl records...just neat-oh.

[@dawggonevidz9140]

So Iowa got woke and went broke, did it? or was it rich business owners deciding it would be better to ship jobs offshore and pay a chink a fish head and a bowl of rice a day to do your dad's old job? you played yourselves, and you won't admit what you did wrong so you'll never fix it.

[@arlisshuston4203]

alot of these older towns were really something in the early 1900s and even in the 60s,but there are places that only bad changes happen,i come from a town where there isnt even a mayor anymore,not a store,not a gas station,nope not even a caseys,,same zip code as the next town over

[@FTBFHRITP]

See this doesn’t really do our town justice. You only really showed the bad parts of town, there are still some lovely buildings and businesses. It might not be what it once was, but I can tell you there are worse places to be than Keokuk, IA

[@Neill2019]

FYI, the bowling alley is very much open and in full operation.

[@angeliabroadwell7621]

I came to say this. I was watching the video in the bowling alley parking lot right before we were heading in for league 😂

[@princessunicorn669]

LIES 😤!!! All Lies…🤬🤬🤬

[@codyandjessisalazar3429]

Dubuque is one of the most beautiful cities in Iowa so I don’t know why you listed that in your depressing cities!! The rest are probably pretty accurate as I hate Iowa, but Dubuque reminds me of my southern Hometown a little bit and is gorgeous because of all the hills and curves!!!

[@jerilynn871]

what a shame, looks like it could be a pretty little town

[@cloydpage621]

The city is corrupt. They get money and pass it around to city officials. I’m from Keokuk.

[@trkrjim]

It is a decent place. Very peaceful and the river is gorgeous. Bald Eagle central during the winter with literally hundreds of them there

[@Smileymetalhead]

I live only about 15 Miles away in a nearby town and I have worked in Keokuk for a number of years in the past and let me tell you each and every officer is extremely purchasable every business owner is into some sort of drug and the air is terribly polluted from a nearby Factory. It used to be the methamphetamine capital of the United States if I remember correctly

[@johndong7524]

Americans have too much land they can't utilize properly, which results in places like this. Lease it to Asians like Japanese and see them make it flourish and prosper. They desperately need land and Americans have too much.

[@herrgodfrey9563]

It used to be, between the 1920s-1960s.

[@dasia4]

If keokuk is so depressing and trashy why didn’t you show the high school? They’re rebuilding it. Show rand park, show chief keokuk statue. Anyone from keokuk would know you’re just showing the bad parts of keokuk, and abandoned houses. That school hasn’t been used in years. We have new school, the crime and drugs is bad, but it’s really not that bad of a town

[@joshuapruett1238]

It has always bothered me that the Keokuk statue says that he was a war chief.He was actually the peace chief at the same time that Black Hawk was the war chief.The Illini always had a Chief for each purpose.

[@Twistedstreams-b7d]

YEAH EXACTLY

[@celticsfaninthedesert4778]

The grammar used by many of you in this area shows the local education system in all its glory

[@Thekendallwatson]

As a resident of Keokuk who lives in Iowa City for college, this makes me so sad! I appreciate my small town more and more every time I visit home, and the small business economy is booming, as well as the culture being so tight-knit and unique. Our high school facilities are incredible compared to any other small town in Iowa, especially the gym, our local businesses care so much about the people of this town, and we have an incredible Sonic drive-in which you can’t find anywhere near Iowa City area! I have grown up boating on the river with family and friends every summer, driving through one of the best City of Christmas light displays in the park in all of Iowa, and winning state and national dance competitions with the high school dance team, the Little Feathers. I appreciate the honest look at Keokuk’s past, but I dislike the omission of very distinctive parts of our town!

[@I_sew_slow]

As someone that lives in Keokuk, this is misleading. Keokuk is part of the Tri-States, this video looks like it was filmed on a Sunday night (when they still roll up the streets), that school was sold years ago for the new school. The bowling alley is open on weekends, and he declined to mention the Two Mexican Restaurants on Main Street. This is a very bias video.

[@Lamostevo]

I mean lets not mention this town is full of horrible beings. Look Kendall you were a nice person. But dont make keokuk seem like booming when everything that comes to that town has to close due to the rent being so high. Of course this video was very honest and alot of it is so true. The bad parts of town are so run down, the people ruined it. As for the school hahaha the school did nothing for me as i was bullyed for yesrs... yes we have some good academic experience but as for the school teachers, principles, counseling treating students with respect its non existing if you dont have money. Im sorry but there isnt really good things in that town unless you are made of money... thats the truth sorry not sorry 🤌💅 but dont mislead people thinking this town is something special when its been going down hill thanks to the city going to poop for years lol

[@qualitativeresearcher]

thank you for sharing this. I was hoping to know someone's real perspective, as I did not like the tone of this video. Calling it a terrible place, pointing to individual houses (where real families live) and basically saying "look at this ugly house", making lots of assumptions about the local people.. Yes I can see it is deprived, but it takes more than just a quick drive through a town to be in a position to comment on what the actual life looks like in a town

[@faethe000]

If it were so wonderful, you wouldn't have had to go live somewhere else. You guys even gutted your only hospital and closed it.

[@tina74166]

@@qualitativeresearcher 👍Thanks, you took the words out of my mouth. It's downright mean to do what he does on this channel. I've only watched about 4 vids, (to make sure I gave him a chance. I wanted to know more about the midwest areas, and I can't even get through listening to them till the end. Too Negative, and mean!

[@morblo4210]

Hi, I live in Keokuk. Your video is (unfortunately) very accurate. I actually do enjoy living here, but it is very run down and depressed. The Keokuk hospital has also just closed down. Now the nearest hospital is in Fort Madison, a 30 minute drive away. I worry about the effect that'll have on this town especially considering the rampant drug abuse here. Tiny correction: Republican and Democrat groups have both been recently putting up banners for the upcoming election in November, and the banner you showed in the video has actually only been up for about a month.

[@skyler6175]

It wasn't accurate though. Arrowhead is still open. There are addiction centers, at least two of which are associated with churches. This was filmed on a Sunday, so no duh the bars weren't open. There are numerous restaurants, Sonic, pizza hut, Hawkeye, Beef Bread and Brew, the brand new Arby's. No mention of the current, very nice school when showing the one that hasn't been used for years. Also, maybe it's just me, but I don't like how he just records a stranger as he's driving by and accused them of being a petty thief with no context, especially with him being on shaking trespassing laws as is.

[@morblo4210]

@@skyler6175 Yeah, good point. He should have done better research on the businesses we do have open here. I also agree that it was not okay to film a random woman like that.

[@celticsfaninthedesert4778]

@@skyler6175 wow a brand new Arby’s. I hope one day you realize how sad that sounds

[@aquatichighs]

@@celticsfaninthedesert4778I hope on day you realize how sad your comment is.

[@celticsfaninthedesert4778]

@@aquatichighs it’s not my fault you live in a terrible little town

[@daryl4841]

That large tudor style house at 8:45 is beautiful. Its too bad most of the town is so rundown. Still, theres something charming about these forgotten little old cities.

[@isaacspeake9905]

That’s on Grand Avenue and they do have really nice houses. It connects to River Road, which is a beautiful drive along the Mississippi. Even in Keokuk, you’re not far away from some really great views 😁

[@pennygallagher4103]

I grew up in Keokuk during the 1960's and 1970's. It was a beautiful, thriving town then. Main Street was full of a variety of businesses. When the mall opened it was exciting. We finally got a Pizza Hut! It was full of stores and we all loved it so much. I was very sad to see this video. The last time I was in Keokuk was about 10 years ago and it looked bad then. I hate seeing such a historical town wither and die.

[@deusperposterus1209]

yup. Had relatives in Fort Madison and we'd go to Keokuk often. The mall was great and was built before the West Burlington Mall if I recall. My mom loved to shop at the mall and go to Bergners (if I recall the name that was associated with Carson Pierre Scott of Chicago). Yea, Keokuk was a happening place as I recall back in the 70s. Sad to see the blight their now.

[@chrispickerel2034]

@@deusperposterus1209 I grew up in FM in the 60's and 70's. I do not recall a Bergner's in the Keosippi Mall. There was a nice JC Penney's and a Montgomery Ward and a big Woolco store in that mall. The only place I recall a Bergner's was in Quincy. But that mall there went down the tubes too. When I grew up, Burlington, Fort Madison and Keokuk all had thriving downtowns. No more, I am sad to say.

[@RedDogMom1]

There are incredible mansions along the river in Keokuk. Architectural gems. Should be saved.

[@CherylBepis]

I was born in Keokuk, and visited my grandparents there many times a year throughout my childhood. I loved Keokuk… going to the locks to see a barge come through, roller blading on the old ice skating rink, hunting for geodes, driving through the Christmas lights display in the park, the incredible Civil War Reenactment event in the summer… it’s so sad that is all gone now. This makes me feel so… old.

[@psychoshrugs932]

We still have the lights it’s about all we got

[@playhooky]

Those things aren't all gone - the Christmas light display in the park is better than ever!, you can definitely still go down & watch barges pass through the locks - even on the old bridge with the lookout point, & you can still hunt for Geodes although I'm told the Geode hunting is better across the river/on the IL side.

[@5230shorty]

Corruption, and greed are the biggest issue that many of these towns face and it has distroyed a few of them

[@arandomuserofinternet]

It sucks that all these little towns everywhere get shot down by economies one by one. Make sure to support little buisnesses in Iowa, it would help people.

[@EricPS]

I really liked that closing music. Very somber, but yet mysteriously hopeful. On that note, let's hope for the best for this neglected town.

[@NickJohnson]

Yes!

[@KennyDresden98]

I’ve lived in this town for all 24 years of my life. Sure it may have it’s dark points, and may not always have the best people sometimes, but that’s only a minor part of the population. Everyone that I’ve known including my whole family lives in this town. And not to get too off track, but when live music comes through Keokuk, that’s when I see the best of the townspeople come out. We are an overlooked, yet underestimated town in a number of ways. But I am proud to call Keokuk, Iowa my hometown.

[@dominickjustave3558]

Meth Capitol

[@megspotions2012]

My family and I have lived all over, we constantly moved for my husband's job. We've lived along the ocean and in the mountains. About 6 years ago we decided to move back to Keokuk, my husband's home town. Almost everything you said is true. The town is rapidly declining, and we just lost the hospital too. There's politics are play that I couldn't begin to understand. But like other small towns that have fallen into disrepair, there's hope and a community of people that love and support each other.

[@nathanielovaughn2145]

will that make any difference?

[@ppicaso1458]

You must love Iowa by the amount of videos you've given it.

[@julieshepard3409]

I live in a mississppi river town in Iowa and our town is also dying. All the towns along the river were highly Industrialized. Factories liked to build along the river for different reasons. When all the companies in the USA decided to move to Mexico and China and closed these companies it devastated the area. I am old now but in my young days people had good jobs here and lived good lives.

[@rexoliver7780]

Keokuk used to be famous for their geode rock formations that were popular with rock and mineral collectors. The town was. Featured in some lapidary and mineral magazines. There were ads in the magazines where you could order they famous geodes.

[@davidstaudohar6733]

Man I remember when you get a beer and a A sausage sandwich for $ 1.50 At the bar 😰😰‼️

[@CLHSbandgeek]

Still has geode fests

[@jessicaquick6411]

we go to the festival every year mt daughters loves geodes and other rocks

[@likesanddislikesetc]

What’s wrong with religion?

[@Amann0407]

@Dawn King Err, we still have geode fests. We are still the geode capital of the world. Hell, I sell plenty of them when I do antique shows. Even in places as far away as Ohio where I set up, people come there just to buy them. I'll sell well over half my stock, and I bring hundreds of geodes when I do setup there.

[@Selvain_]

Former resident of Keokuk, its where I was born even. Unfortunately its been destroyed by the very rich manufacturing companies, a lot of these guys didnt have unions too, and then it was left abandoned once it had no REAL use. It is unfortunately a very dangerous place now, but there are still amazing people there. I love how we talk about "all the wealth our economic system brings" but refuse to acknowledge any of its many many objective failures for rural communities.

[@kasey7525]

I’m sorry you couldn’t find someone to talk to about our small town. You pointed out all the bad and left out all the good 💔. We just got a new kid splash pad park new dog park. Yes that school did closed but now has a new buyer that been working in and around it. It was closed when a bigger school was built. We have tons of new small town owner stores that’s open in the last year. We have small town love. Beautiful parks fun festival’s bowling alley is open just not that day 😔 our yearly Christmas lights are a must see

[@NickJohnson]

Good! I tried and no one would talk. Nobody from the city, no residents. I mean I tried.

[@adamdavis5646]

@@NickJohnson I'm sure you did.....while there is truth.....there are many lies in this video.

[@Ccconvict72]

@@NickJohnson I have lived around Keokuk all my life but never in Keokuk, I have a few friends that live there, if you want I can try to get them in touch with you

[@davidallan2615]

@@NickJohnson I don't think I'd want to talk to you either.

[@girlmom5580]

Sounds like a great little town Kasey :)

[@Aztecs911]

Looks cleaner and safer than San Francisco or Los Angeles or New York or Chicago. or ..........you get the idea .

[@princessunicorn669]

THATS RAYCYST 😤!!! 😡🤬😡

[@Vhvjdow0ajsbcdhcuei3o22-om4sm]

It's because there's no black people

[@jaimecarter1094]

Our little city has lost a lot over time and does look run down. But there is so much more to Keokuk than what’s shown in this video. So much, it’s really too bad you missed.

[@fredjones7705]

I absolutely agree. I spent a month there a year ago and loved every minute. Downtown is dead...so what? Turn it into a giant park.

[@serasee7872]

Can tell the truth..many many drug busts a lot of spousal abuse cases and a city council that cares more about " prettying up Main Street" than getting programs started for at risk families. I unfortunately have to shop at the local stores and I have never been happier to have a CCW and I never go alone. I used to work at the one hospital in that town and we had several homeless people come in on psych watches so they'd have a free warm place to stay and get fed. It's all very sad

[@johnshultz8003]

I live in Dubuque. Dubuque is a thriving town and is doing a lot to keep this original river town growing and improving.

[@UntitledShorts]

the quad cities are the same. I have no clue why he said Davenport. the riverfront is great

[@IAMNLady]

Agreed about Dubuque. Keep Dubuque out of your mouth 🤣

[@jessicaquick6411]

Dubuque has exploded since Imoved here in 1996 tripled in size

[@timnewman1172]

Dubuque used to be more like this, but it did turn around... Burlington is decent, too.

[@alexanderjamieson7971]

Everytime we drive through Dubuque we are amazed at how steep some of the streets are.

[@nengthao5618]

Well...at least there's no homeless tents everywhere!

[@laurawolfchambers6904]

Well you don't need tents when you have your choice of abandoned houses to squat in

[@timmyo3162]

@@laurawolfchambers6904 🤣😂🤣

[@honkycat5442]

Go to the only store in town, the WalMart, and tell me how homeless free Keokuk is. Believe me, it gets bad.

[@jessicaquick6411]

@@laurawolfchambers6904 nope that is illegal in Iowa and heavily enforced youdie trying to live in abandon homes here in Winter

[@laurawolfchambers6904]

@@jessicaquick6411 I live in Burlington Iowa, grew up in Fort Madison. I'm quite familiar with Keokuk, and that it's illegal to squat, and freezing in the winter

[@jensabaduquia1156]

It’s sad. I have family there and I remember as a kid back in the 1990’s going to the Keokuk mall and at that time several restaurants. I went there a few months ago for a funeral and the town has severely declined. My grandmother was from there and she would be rolling in her grave to see what it has become.

[@rileyfairchild6873]

I too went through Keokuk recently Sadly, you are not incorrect. I was stationed there while in the Coast Guard in 1976. Then it was a lively town and the main drag remained me of the movie American Grafetti. You also mentioned Dubuque. Have you been there? It's a very nice tourist town with a redeveloped riverside. Keokuk could try for this as well.

[@chancleggett5334]

I grew up in Keokuk iowa, it used to be a beautiful place. I now live in Minneapolis Minnesota, I visit family there once a year and yes it's truly sad to see what the city has become

[@clearlynotwoke4929]

Minneapolis is also well on its way…

[@freedomthoughts9591]

@@indycharlie it was minor league baseball. The Keokuk Indians I believe. They were there from like the 1870s all the way up until the 1960s I believe.

[@thomaskendall452]

@@freedomthoughts9591 There was also the Keokuk Westerners, which were part of the National Association back in the 1870's. They played the Chicago White Stockings (now the Chicago Cubs), in addition to the other National Association (now the National League) teams.

[@indycharlie]

@@freedomthoughts9591 Thanks FT . I'll have to check out the K- Indians .

[@joshmccormick770]

Lol.. yeah Keokuk looks much better than the aftermath of antifa and thugs in Minneapolis! I've seen footage.. ghetto ghost town

[@leadapickles1549]

I grew up in Hamilton, Illinois right across the bridge from Keokuk and have many different family members who still to this day live in keokuk. I moved to Arizona after living in Hamilton for the first 15 years of my life and I always wanted to go back and live there but after watching this video I realize how many more opportunities I have out here. I will always cherish the memories I have of keokuk and Hamilton but I think I need to move on and stop trying to hold onto what once was and focus on what can be instead.

[@emilyoglesby9973]

Hi Nick, I grew up in SE Iowa in a town north of Keokuk called Fort Madison. You probably didn’t even drive through it when coming here since they built a road around FM so no one has to drive through it. Both cities, and really all of SE Iowa looks like this. 20 years ago, Fort Madison and Burlington (40miles north of here) used to look at least semi pretty. Now all three cities are hurting. The factories that closed are right between Fort Madison and Keokuk. Both cities employed those factories and now both cities are hurting since all but one have closed. It’s truly devastation. I moved away from here in 2016, and all of my family has now successfully moved away as of this year. As a small town born n’ raised girl, my “hometown” and the surrounding communities are now places I would never want to visit again. These towns used to be family after family continuing to plant roots here, and now 70% of my graduating class have moved away. Back 20 years ago that was unheard of. Today it’s reality, no one wants to live or stay in these places.

[@NickJohnson]

It's really sad but it's the reality now Emily

[@greyeaglem]

My aunt used to live in La Harpe, IL. It used to be a bustling small town with a lot of the residents working in Burlington or farming in the area. Now it's pretty much a ghost town since the munitions plant in Burlington closed and and corporations took over most of the farms. Really sad to see.

[@danielrobey1759]

I was a machinist for bnsf back in the 90’s until I got laid off and they eventually closed the west Burlington shop. It’s sad that so much industry has been lost in that area… towns can’t thrive if there’s no good paying jobs and sadly that’s the case these days.

[@ryang2573]

I was born and raised in Iowa and I love my state. I've been all over the world and have lived in a lot of different parts of the country. So, I think I speak with some authority when I say I'd rather live nowhere else. We have some problem spots, like Keokuk, but I reckon so does every other state.

[@author]

Wow! When I was a boy in the 1960's, our family took a few trips to Keokuk since we had some relatives that lived there. In 1968, Keokuk was a fairly lively little town. The main thoroughfare through town that ran northwest & southeast (possibly US 218?) was full of prosperous businesses of various kinds - I never recalled seeing any empty buildings. There were plenty of places around town were our family could find a decent meal. The residential streets in town were full of shade trees, and after getting a tour of Keokuk in 1968, I recall seeing only one dilapidated house - the rest of the homes, old & new, were well taken care of by owners who probably made a decent living at their day-jobs. Sadly, now Keokuk is beginning to remind me of Cairo, Illinois - also the southernmost city in that state, although Keokuk never had the racial problems that Cairo had, which fueled part of Cairo's downfall. Perhaps with the right entrepreneur(s) and or visionaries, Keokuk could be a decent comeback town, and a great place to invest and rebuild, and develop some decent industry. Unfortunately for Keokuk, I don't know whom that might be, or where to find them. 😥 It's is so sad to see what has happened to this once neat little river town.

[@torybrecht7279]

"The Mississippi River is commercially irrelevant these days." Uh, say what? 😂 😂 😂 😂 I mean, unless you like to eat food or drive cars, I guess.

[@Van-..-z._-_z.-._-._.-z.]

2:07 river is irrelevant.. A single barge has a carrying capacity equivalent to 60-70 semi trucks. They don't use barges on the Mississippi anymore?

[@mmm7m672]

Jobs need to come back to America 🇺🇸 not China or Mexico

[@blucheer8743]

Some day America might wake up but it’s get to the point it’s like waking up with stage 4 cancer!

[@loisaustin6200]

I blame the Democrat politicians, like Clinton. Sorry.

[@mmm7m672]

@@loisaustin6200 me too.

[@sproutscout]

@@Leg239 Hurts to see that people now don't understand what compassion is. Not everyones situation is the same, and everyone deserves help sometimes. Praying for you.

[@geraldburmeister9637]

@@sproutscout Way to many people living above their means and having no priorities. Most of us don't mind helping people but getting used sucks. I know and love some hispanic folks where I live but when someone comes to the local grocery store purchasing food on their welfare card, then whips out a roll of hundreds to purchase a couple hundred dollars worth of booze somethings wrong. Then what really takes the cake is they go out and load their goods into a $70k escalade I don't feel all warm and fuzzy inside. About 4 years ago the company I worked for employed 13 hispanic people who were all checked out through E verify. We got notice ICE was coming to town and the next day 12 of them didn't show up for work. People may want to feel all warm and compassionate for them but what about our kids and grandkids. Besides we have 30 trillion dollars debt who in the heck can we truly afford to help?

[@freedomthoughts9591]

Like most rural towns, Keokuk is a story of the past. It, along with its surrounding small towns in Iowa, Illinois, and Missouri, all used to be very nice little towns. Maybe they could be again someday. I’m from Missouri but Keokuk is still a big part of my life. I work there and I do enjoy it. Some people are very nice and some aren’t like everywhere. Sometimes statistics give off a different feeling than what the town is.

[@NickJohnson]

I agree. Iowa is way better than most places!

[@danielrobey1759]

In its heyday it was a spectacular town

[@cheshire_skatkat9093]

Missouri sucks. I'm from there. Grew up some in Callaway county. Just a bunch of satellite towns that probably don't even exist anymore.

[@Maxwell1989]

@@NickJohnson can you please review Conway South Carolina I'm looking to move there it's 15 miles from Myrtle Beach

[@joshuapruett1238]

I most definently look odd when I walk around town and randomly pick up nails and screws out of the street.Nobody can tell that I am actually saving random people tires that average $100 a piece.The nails and screws are around because there are actually carpenters trying to save the town,one house at a time.We are all just trying to survive what the Democrats took from us and gave to the Communist Chinese.Yes.I just said that. 🤯

[@amyavani7017]

I just moved to Keokuk, from St. Louis, where I was born. Why would I do such a thing, you ask? Well, because depending on what you value, Keokuk has some great things to offer. Peace and quiet. Respite from big city noises-- no sirens, no gunshots. Space. Yes, the housing obviously needs renovation, but if willing to put in the work, you've got the amount of space that would cost you a million dollars at least in a metropolis. I was able to buy an almost 4 thousand square foot house for 60 grand. Where else can you do that? Also the crime is not that bad. But I'm from St. Louis. Perspective on crime is completely relative. Oh, and Midwest charm is well and alive here. People stop and talk to each other at length. People hold doors open for you. People are overall very friendly and the pace of life is slower. Of course, the trade-off is that there isn't much to do, or eat. But that doesn't matter that much to me because I have plenty of space for hobbies in my big house, and I cook my own meals mostly anyway. I believe in this place getting better, not worse. You ask who will invest in such a dilapidated place? I am. And I hope others do too. Because that is going to be the thing that saves this beautiful town.

[@NickJohnson]

Yay! ❤️❤️

[@sarahhollandsworth3695]

Hi neighbor! I know we're really glad you bought the house next door. We can't wait to see you make it into a home. I do agree this article cherry picked the bad stuff because it's easy to see. Like a burn scar on a face. However, if you get out of the car and look for the good stuff you'll see our heart of gold. Sunday is a bad time to find things to do because for many residents, the Sunday after church big meal with family and friends is still a thing. Statistics are one thing, life is another. Is there bad stuff? Yes. What town doesn't have problems? We aren't quite ready to gasp our last breath yet though. I challenge the OP to come back when the arcade is open, or when the bands play in the park or to at least stop by the library to see all the stuff they help people do.

[@amyavani7017]

@@dmac-gs3ri thank you! Come on back!

[@mikejohn0088]

wow.

[@scarab944]

For some reason, the musical montage at the end was so moving and melancholy in contrast with the narrated video. It's sad to see such lovely places languish in decay without much hope for the future. I hope that Keokuk and places like it have better days ahead.

[@IndianaCrane]

the park overlooking the Mississippi River is super cool! the river is beautiful at this spot-the town, however, could use some work

[@saraclay3638]

The bowling alley is still open in the evenings, Keokuk still has a school bowling league and the political flyers at the mall were just put up not long ago.

[@drzelensky4547]

damage control, you're a single mother of a black kid

[@thethomasmontgomery]

It's only depressing if you get your value from crap my dude. You know, like the values that would lead you to have a youtube where you judge towns based on building quality, housing, and statistics that don't favor working class communities.

[@jlassie]

You must have finished this video right before the hospital in Keokuk closed - a couple of months ago, right around the same time that ADM closed its factory, which was basically because it made more financial sense for them to close that plant than spend the money necessary to bring it up to code.

[@mikehilbert9349]

The hospital closed? I worked there back in 05 06.

[@GregAkers]

@@mikehilbert9349 Also, we don't have a movie theater anymore...they've closed down too !

[@chloeew4627]

Jeez this is a sad one . Once was a great working town , sold out by the powers that be.😢 cheers mate

[@bhair50]

Chloee: Yes. Cheers then!

[@lillieth5918]

As someone who lives here it's boring but i love it here 😭

[@ameg2707]

Depressing 😢, btw what a shame that old school building is such a Beaty.

[@pineapplewarriorz]

I’m from Keokuk! I went to Hawthorne and KCA! It makes me super sad to see a video so negative about my hometown, but I couldn’t refute much of what he said.

[@tylerwinters3501]

I mean there is Des Moines, Iowa City, Ames, Sioux City and multiple others that are far worse places to live in.

[@docbradleydc]

Agree to disagree.

[@gravefields]

Be literally so for real

[@DivineFellowship]

Very well done. Loved the musical part near end, too.

[@tyyy4681]

I think your information is usually reliable, but I suggest you read more into the Mississippi River. It certainly isn’t a polluted useless river, and still has a MASSIVE amount of commercial use. Also offers some of the best nature this country has to offer (especially driftless region)

[@LostintheTangle]

Anyone who watches the railcam live from Fort Madison can see that! Trains, barges, cruise ships (there are very luxurious cruise ships that can go from New Orleans to St. Paul, I'd love to do that!), pleasure boats, and Keokuk has a live cam too! Just looked at it tonight and it was busy there.

[@alphacapo]

Pool 13 and up offer some of the best fishing in the whole country.. this guy just drives through places and thinks he knows everything off of his first impression.

[@jimlambrick4642]

I live up in British Columbia, Canada and even I know that and agree with you. The river is still a real big deal commercially. Check out the Keokuk Lock and Dam live cam.

[@timothykeith1367]

@jimlambrick4642 The tonnage transported on the river is as great as ever, but it is bulk material like grain, cement, oil, scrap metal and gravel

[@peteragnew2224]

Sorry guys,. but you are wrong about the Mississippi. .I've lived on the Mississippi most of my life. The river is horribly polluted with forever chemicals, raw sewage, hundreds of prescription drugs that have been flushed into it, and many other disgusting things. Recently, I read a report from the federal government that ranked the Mississippi River as the second worst polluted body of water in the entire country. The absolutely best thing about Keokuk and Iowa is the people who live here

[@NDubyahG]

If you had driven through Keokuk about 15-20 years ago, this video would be a lot different. Lots of buildings have fallen into disrepair and have been torn down in the past few years. The thumbnail you have for this video shows the intersection of 7th and Main where it’s just a couple big empty lots which used to be big buildings and businesses open until the early 2010’s that unfortunately caught on fire and were torn down. There have been so many buildings destroyed by fire here, almost like a curse. The Wells Carey Elementary building is where I went to school from 97-02 and it closed in 2013. The mall was full of stores until the late 2000’s, and many other businesses that were shown in this video have closed just in the past few years. The last decade or so has not been too kind to Keokuk, but in some places things have improved. I lived in Keokuk my whole life until about three years ago when I moved downriver to Quincy, IL but I still go there every other weekend or so. It has changed a lot but it will always be home to me. There are lots of good people and good times still had here which this video doesn’t capture, but from an outside perspective, I can understand some of your points. However, worst place in Iowa? You’ll have to visit a few places and talk to the many people that love this town before you can make that assumption.

[@timothykeith1367]

The medical college that was in Keokuk still exists. The AMA required the medical school be attached to a four year college so the school moved, I think to Drake University in Des Moines. River towns that lack a major east-west highway have declined. U.S. 61 from St. Louis to the Twin Cities has been upgraded through Keokuk and should help,, but connections to major western destinations is the key to river towns. Rand Park is evidence of the town's better past. Howard Hughes had family roots from Keokuk.

[@sexytimes123]

The only real md medical school is in Iowa City at the University of Iowa. You might be thinking of the osteopathic medical school, which confers the DO degree; that is in Des Moines. However, it is not attached to Drake. It is independent. Drake does have a law school but no medical school. I hope this helps.

[@timothykeith1367]

@@sexytimes123 I read that the AMA forced the medical school at Keokuk to relocate, it was the first in Iowa, that happened in the early 1900s.

[@sexytimes123]

@@timothykeith1367 The one in Iowa City pre-dates that by many many years. You might be referring to what's now the Des Moines osteopathic school. I work at the medical school here so I'm fairly familiar with its lineage.

[@janiceriter5500]

In the early 1900 Keokuk did have a medical college and my grandfather I never knew was Doctor A.C Gray MD and was the Doctor over the School of nursing. He also had a practice in Keokuk and also was the anesthesiologist for his uncle who was the surgeon at the time in Keokuk. For his private practice he also had his own compounding pharmacy for his patients. He passed away when my mother was 12 and I think it would have been around 1939. So this is the accurate information that Keokuk did have a medical college and they used to have two hospitals. It's so sad that they can't even have one hospital now.

[@sexytimes123]

@@janiceriter5500 Do you have a name for this college?

[@kevinahlberg3961]

Sad to see. In the early 80s on any given Saturday night Main St would be bumper to bumper from the river to the car wash on the hill! The Palace is now just an empty lot. Glad to have the memories at least.

[@Love4Lavender]

It's a beautiful town! If only the artists could find it, it would be something special.

[@popecash1480]

I live here, ALL MY LIFE..I don't feel threatened like if I were in Des Moines Iowa... I been all over big cities.. every city has a trashy side.. this town, is safe. And anyone with beef.. is NORMALLY personal disputes.. people work and also alot of retired folks live here.. it's as whole as it gets. We have new NICE schools.. FOR ALL GRADES AND OUR SCHOOLS ARE NICE A/C SCHOOLS. THE old schools got torn down OR USED FOR STORAGE. LINCOLN SCHOOL IS NEW PORT OF THE WATER COMPANY..and the school he posted WELL CARRY SCHOOL was bought by CCS CONSTRUCTION WHO FIXED THE BUILDING FOR PERSONAL USE ATM. THE HOUSES U POSTED BURNT DOWN, A GIRL ON METH IS SITTING IN JAIL FOR HER CRIMES , FOR HER PYRO ACTIONS.. SO THAT CAN HAPPEN IN ANY TOWN. SO BEFORE U ACT LIKE THIS PLACE IS SH*TTY.. ACT LIKE WE'RE LESS, GO SOMEPACE LIKE BURLINGTON IOWA/ THOSE FOLKS WHO ARE BROKE ROB EACHOTHER IN BURLINGTON AND BRANG ABOUT IT..AND BURLINGTON, ACTS A DAM FOOL CAUSE OF THE INNER CITY THUGS COME FROM THE BIG CITYS ADDING THEIR CRIME WEIGHT TO THAT TOWN.. I DONT SEE CITY THUGS WANTING THIS TOWN.. WERE TOO LOST AS THIS GUY PUTS IT.. AND BY THE WAY..THE RICH FOLKS STILL LIVE ON GRAND AVENUE PLUS WE HAVE A NICE SUBURBAN SUB SECTION OFF OF RAND PARK.. WOW.. LIKE ISEE WHY NOBODY WANTED TO TALK TO U..U DEGRADED OUR TOWN..ID RATHER MY KIDS GO TO SCHOOL HERE IN KEOKUK IOWA THAN IN THE CITY WHERE KIDS ARE SHOT UP IN CLASSES..ITS SAFE..AND TBATS WHY I STAYED HERE. .IM FASE IN MY HOME TOWN.. AND I DO LOVE MY CITY!!!! PLUS OUR POLICE FORCE IS RESPECTFUL...WHEN U ACT AND TALK POLITE! 👄

[@africanwidow]

Midwestern living at its best. This is how life is supposed to be. From the houses on the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River to the beautiful and historic homes along Grand Avenue, life in Keokuk is full of beauty and promise.

[@seanm3ify]

You’re joking right? If you think this is living at its best, you must be on meth.

[@africanwidow]

@@seanm3ify Ha ha. That was on the City of Keokuk's website. Maybe the city is on meth. Still love Nick's reviews of things!

[@dominickjustave3558]

Highest crime rate in the city,

[@Wyoming_Cowboy]

Part of the reason I moved from my small rural Iowa hometown is the wages just weren't rising with the cost of living. That's why I moved to Wyoming a few years ago. Low cost of living and good wages

[@tylerewart8643]

This is what happens when all the jobs leave and the people that run the place are more interested in tourism than industry

[@kendalldad]

A change in generations too. Young people overwhelmingly want to live in urban areas with culture and diversity not to mention milder winters. This exodus from the Midwest, especially small towns, will continue.

[@joshuamilligan7545]

Ohhhh you mean a place being embezzled by councilmen and the wealthy for political gains

[@artbyty]

Really well done musical theme at the end. Bitter sweet.

[@isaacspeake9905]

I lived in and around Keokuk from 1984-2010 and go back to visit family once or twice every year. I am literally one of the ones that left for a "better job and more entertainment" lol. As a child, I remember it very differently, the mall had lots of stores and the movie theater was always busy, there were multiple restaurants on Main, and huge street fair on Main. As far as the decline of Main Street goes, Wal Mart had a large hand in that. It was built in around 1995, and ever since stores on Main have slowly closed their doors. The working situation there is terrible, you're cornered into working a 12 hours a day, 5-7 day a week job, that will likely be back breaking labor or you're stuck with a part time job barely able to scrape together ends meet. Who can afford or have time/energy for productive entertainment in an environment like that? It's absolutely criminal how bad a business owner on Main Street can let their buildings fall apart to such disrepair, nobody will ever purchase them (those kind of ppl should be in jail for the damage they've caused the community). Good luck getting an outside investor. Too many of my friends in Keokuk, I've lost to suicide. I blame that on the lack of opportunity and general despair that can be felt by being there for any period of time. The worst part is to see how this has affected by friends and family through the years. 10/10 would not recommend

[@RealFatKratos]

Bro never for the rest of my life will i forget the day me you and keke was cruising Ktown in your ride and you burned that huge peel out coming out of somewhere like behind wendy's I think and it was like INSTANTLY all the sudden we realize there's a cop RIGHT there hahahahaha. By the way this is JD if you didn't already know haha.

[@isaacspeake9905]

@@RealFatKratos bahahaha! What’s up dude, glad to hear from u! Good times in Keokuk man 😆 I hope I didn’t do Keokuk dirty by my comment. I’d way rather grow up in the “worst part of Iowa” than some boring suburb. We got funner stories

[@tammyhavlik1015]

Bellvue, IA is a sweet town on the Mississppi. The residents came together an made a river walk. Really cool.

[@tapatimcdaniels3277]

There is a National Cemetery in Keokuk because Union soldiers were brought up the river for medical care. We used to have two hospitals. I wonder how our fortunes would have changed if, seeing other transportation leaving, we had expanded our little airport and become another Midwestern hub. I moved away in the mid-eighties and only visited in 2004. I saw deterioration then but nothing like THIS. I hadn't realized that even the businesses I saw downtown then were gone. The library is unique and very active with programs. There are still signs of life. But major jobs would have to come back to the area. I'd love to see commuter rail connect it with other cities.

[@llisa3976]

EVERYONE NEEDS TO GET HOME, GET RURAL, GROW FOOD Union soldiers and England and hired immigrant soldiers fought for strong central government in USA bringing slavery into the war because they were wrong and were losing. So they exploited the slaves. Sadly they never got to go home cuz they killed Lincoln cuz he signed a bill sending them home. Now African Africans are being used as NWO, Obama pawns to destroy US so evil can bully and genocide everywhere. Just grow food . Get home, get land, THINK GOD!!

[@gasm1100]

Great video Nick, this one hits close to my heart👍

[@austinmoore9849]

I’m laughing so hard, I’ve lived here all my life😂😂😂😭 I can’t wait to move

[@janeysiegrist5061]

I lived here in my younger years "the 80's" when it was still alive..makes my tummy hurt to see it😭

[@bethmartin3574]

You missed a lot of the improvements and people who value our community. Some of this is true, some misguided

[@NickJohnson]

Okay

[@denisecaringer4726]

I've never seen Keokuk. So sad. My husband and I chose to move to Iowa after college, and we love our life here. Great careers. In mine, I travelled the country and sometimes Europe, which was great, but I always loved coming "home" to my adopted state and our peaceful woods. We retired early and enjoy our homes in the city and on the lake. Winter's my favorite season, so, with the exception of this mild winter, I'm happy year round! I haven't seen an Iowa town like Keokuk, fortunately.

[@mylittlescienceproject]

I just came back from a 5 month driving road trip around the eastern side of the states. SO MANY cities are empty now. Akron Ohio broke my heart because it had so much potential, and beauty. It's so empty now

[@apocyldoomer]

Build a 40 foot wall, fill with concrete, Akron, it’s over, been over! Democrats destroy cities, as they lay in waste.

[@apocyldoomer]

@@mylittlescienceproject It’s too late, nothing is there.

[@jessicaquick6411]

Manufactoring jobs and plants moved oversees all across the midwest ,that is what is killing towns

[@apocyldoomer]

@@jessicaquick6411 Democrats destroy cities.

[@jikook7457]

I live a couple hrs from there and Akron is so dangerous. This country going to hell and no one seems to care enough to do anything about it

[@joe7324]

Davenport is crumbling. Great Job Kimmi. Destroying everything

[@olivevintage8622]

I recently moved from the dc area to a town about an hour from keokuk and I would have to agree with this video as keokuk is definitely the worst place I’ve been since moving here. However, I wouldn’t say all of the river towns are depressing. I truly enjoy where I moved to (Burlington). It’s a big change from where I’m from but there’s a lot of positives about moving here from a financial standpoint especially. People here are also quite friendly.

[@eddieafterburner]

That is interesting. I am DC born and bred but have had enough of the east coast after 50 years. Other than the cost of living, what else do you like about Burlington?

[@bloodyblade916]

Hey Nick good job as usual people need to see what's happened to the U.S.

[@tammybartels7550]

Um, I live here, and a lot of these places are still open. 😂

[@luckyistJsilt]

I live in Quincy.

[@AB-bb8jv]

2:10 “the Mississippi River is irrelevant these days,” There’s 500 million tons of shipped goods a year (that’s 12,000,000,000,000 pounds of commercial goods,) and 175 million tons of freight on the upper part. Come tf on bro.

[@mr.b3168]

I enjoyed these type of towns when I went on motorcycle trips through the midwest.

[@jeepurz57]

its plenty safe here, I go thru daily and never have I had a problem, there are a few street peeps like anywhere that look scary but I've never been bothered. River roads on IA and IL side are great rides.

[@SoCal9705]

@@jeepurz57 So what are the grim statistics he cites about? Is that the drug culture? Because from the video it did not look like a dangerous place.

[@mr.b3168]

@@SoCal9705 yeah it's just people with no jobs sitting on the porch all day with no prosperity in the future, no goals

[@celiamalm129]

The amount of crime a person is subject to here is usually connected to the type of friends they have. If you hang out with violent people or thieves, chances are much, much higher that you will become a crime victim. Most murders here are committed by family members or exes.

[@lexiberry2247]

Have you even talked to a soul that lives here?! I've been a couple times and it's nothing like what you talked about. Did you even see their high school? The new fine arts wing they're currently building? You say the bars are closed?? During the day?? When they're open at night?? Because they're bars??? Wow... almost like you didn't read their hours. There are places you can go to during the day on Main St. One being Lost Canvas, which is a really nice coffee shop that has artwork from the locals on their walls and has art classes on their 2nd level. Don't say shit about a place you've only been to once and for what? A couple hours max? You should know the saying never judge a book by its cover, but here you are spewing false information to the internet.

[@NESHAMA73]

Your cognitive dissonance is of epic proportion

[@Lamostevo]

As someone who lived there for so long sadly... this place is toxic... alot of it is so true. If you actually lived in keokuk, rather than visiting a few times you would know how run down and awful this place can be... the people ruined it, well alot of it is the city council, nothing is left really other than a few select business. Living in this town has made me have such terrible trauma. Nothing really good about it other than watching the barges or maybe a few historical places.. nothing really exciting when i was kid maybe a few things they had such as music in the mall, etc. But it all went away.. nothing left for teens or kids to have an outlet, if your rich they treat you amazingly but if you come from not so wealthy they treat you like pure scum (the school and certain people) its such a awful tragedy really. But i wish my oarents moved... i feel like no child should grow up with such toxicity:/

[@nickelsworth7097]

That ceiling fan at 5:10 looks like it just gave up on life.

[@SuV33358]

😆

[@stephaniesmith9982]

😂😂🤣😭😭

[@godsson7787]

Loving the mellow piano.

[@johnnymidas5879]

THANKS NICK LOVE YOUR CHANNEL BROTHER. 👍

[@boosternet8785]

Nick your video is amazing. Keep it up bro

[@richardkut3976]

Great musical solemnity while driving till end.

[@julieanne7098]

Hi Nick I live in the uk and watch your channel i find it fascinating. Its sad to see so many beautiful buildings left derelict in these once thriving communities.

[@LadyAdakStillStands]

🇺🇸 here. I could say the same for the number of beautiful yet crumbling castles in the UK and Europe. It seems a sin to let it fall apart yet these days, it's so expensive to put just one back together.

[@godsson7787]

@@LadyAdakStillStands I agree with you both. It's sad ...

[@davidstaudohar6733]

I went through this town when I was a teenager back in the early 1970's on a weekend Road Trip , It's not the same , That's so Obvious ♦️♦️♦️‼️

[@dbauer1014]

Our family frequently likes to take weekend trips to various river towns in IA, MO, and IL and we spent a weekend in Keokuk back in 2021, and I have to say it was a lot of fun. The hotel was nice. Saw the Bridge observation desk, the lock and dam, the union station, walking along the river and downtown including the museum downtown. Rand Park is surrounded by these huge mansions. We had a great time.

[@lorainestjames4181]

This video was very well done , insightful and emotional to journey with you on your adventures especially this one. As you travel through these states I appreciate your work more and more and have learned much as you cover all the political , historical and social aspects of each town and city. Also seeing it live confirms what is currently happening in these places and consequentely what things are like in America. . Thanks again Nick.

[@carriganmorris2264]

He lied a lot he showed all the bad and none of the good we have million doller homes big Walmarts restaurants food places all over and the bowling alley is open every day he just showed before they opend

[@lorainestjames4181]

@@carriganmorris2264 million dollar homes and lots of walmarts while half or more of the population are left with low incomes and in poverty only shows how bad inequality it getting mostly due to global corporate powers who have created severe deterioration of communites . The Future (Nick suggests as well) will be hopeful when it is in the hands of the many rather then the hands of the very few.

[@AshHendley]

@@carriganmorris2264 every tiny area has a Walmart lol. That means nothing.

[@iowapanner2223]

Calling it another small town short sheets it's amazing past. When I was there in the 50's and 60's it was kicking it. The biggest event of the year was the street fair, where main street was closed and a large carnival set up. In the winter there was the lights and sledding on a street by the park they would close. Afterwards you could warm up with a bowl of chili at the Grand Lunch or hit Tipenbud's for a tenderloin. Opportunities abounded and I've known successful businessmen and a psychiatrist that started from humble beginnings in Keokuk. It is sad to see a once thriving town (Even had a professional baseball team) abandoned by the industries that it's residents helped thrive.

[@TheToso13]

Your narrative is absolutely poetry in motion, thanks for the entertainment Nick!

[@evilchaperone]

I just broke down in tears. In my 52 years I've seen the heart and soul of our country torn out. I'm from Flint and had to move away decades ago. I go back now to visit and it's just failed society. Luckily enough there were grants from the feds to have all of the factories removed after they were shut down. Now there are only 3 things you can see from space. The great wall of China, pyramids and the burnt out concrete brown pads of Flint. Dystopian zombie land.

[@jimhurlbut3649]

It really is. I share that sentiment. They're draining the last little bit of wealth out of this country, crash the markets and the Dollar and bring in programmable money, and from what I can tell everybody is going to start getting sick and dying--it appears to be an extermination agenda--and they seem intent on starting a nuclear war. There's thousands of 101st Airborne troops in Romania now, 5 miles from the Uke border doing live fire drills. Just utterly mind-bending shit and as monumentally fucked-up as possible, all thanks to Klaus and his billionaire and trillionaire club. This is quite likely the end of the American empire, imo. What do you think?

[@pj6787]

Sad. I lived in Creston Iowa for a time during elementary school. It was a small but growing community in the 60’s. It looks like this now.

[@chuckinhouston9952]

Keokuk looks very much like Creston. That was the first thing I thought of when I saw this video. I spent about 18 months in Creston - 2019-2020 - two winters!

[@manfredmann2766]

Times have changed, I have not been to Crestón since 2000, and it seemed ok back then.

[@pj6787]

@@chuckinhouston9952 very sad. It was a nice railroad town in the 60’s. Great for kids then.

[@etho14]

i live in keokuk and the bowling alley is still open, just mainly poppin on weekends at night. the mall is most definitely run down… pretty sad tbh

[@dasia4]

I live in keokuk too 😢

[@janeysiegrist5061]

Sad to see after being gone for so many years

[@toddfoster828]

Wow, at 7:55. I remember when life was in that brick house at 14th & Franklin. My grandparents lived two houses up from that.

[@wow4everyo]

I grew up in this town, you're absolutely right when you say the city not responding to you might be for a reason. The city actively works against people trying to make the city a better place. they funnel money into "up-town" and leave all of the historical buildings to rot. they have city ordinances that make it almost impossible to renovate these buildings. my dad tried to buy a building to renovate and the city basically told him you need to make ridiculously expensive alterations $1mil+ type requirements before they even let people in the building legally. No assistance offered. The building ended up rubble about a year later because nobody was taking care of it another example, there was a beautiful old church a few blocks from main Street, that had a whole devoted team to restoring it. but the city didn't like the "aesthetic direction" and change their mind on how safe it was to restore and tore it down not even a month later. the man who was in charge of it is extremely passionate about architecture and bringing culture to the community, something city officials find to be unacceptable. I could probably think of more specific examples but honestly it's just a continuous problem. even the more modern buildings usually end up empty and water damaged within a couple years because of ridiculous demands from the city. there is a fair number of community events during the year, but the city has also made hosting these more difficult in many ways. I'm glad to live in a more lively area now but I still feel bitter about the state of my childhood town. Even 15 years ago the mall was at least full. :(

[@NickJohnson]

Wow I wish I knew that!

[@KristinWilliams-r2x]

Yall had an amazing civil war reenactment when i was a teen in iowa... I believe it was the battle at pea ridge

[@BocephusWayne]

I can’t stand Keokuk, I live right across the river In Illinois. That being said, I am in Keokuk every day, and this video was a pretty bad misrepresentation of Keokuk. He got a lot of things wrong. Again, I hate to stick up for Keokuk here but I’ve never seen it look that dead.

[@cindyallison2528]

I remember growing up in Illinois. We used to go to Keokuk for dancing. The drinking age was 19, it was 21 in Il. Was a fun place in the 80s.

[@phillipallendreher6726]

Davenport Iowa is a wonderful big city of over 100 thousand!

[@THEGIGLITE]

I Appreciate you taking us to see every corner of America Nick..✊🏼

[@krisgreenwood5173]

The big box stores and Amazon have really put the hurt on small town iowa. The jobs went away and so did the young people. Go up the Des Moines river to Keosaqua. There are some small towns that look as bad as Keokuk. Try Muscatine. It's not far from Keokuk.

[@jackwilson8051]

Muscatine is nothing like Keokuk

[@RealFatKratos]

Despite the harsh truths and reality of this video, I honestly really enjoyed watching this and I can't say anything you said was out of line or misportraying in any way. I'm from Montrose, Iowa which is a small little blip of a town directly north of Keokuk. I both lived in and grew up with some great friends in Keokuk as well. I saw so much in this video that I had personal experiences with and recognized. 2:30 The courthouse where I defended myself and won on two different cases of being falsely arrested once by the Keokuk Police Department and another by the Lee County Sheriff's Department 2:48 The bank my uncle Tom worked at and on a few occasions when I was a very young child got to see and explore a lot of the "off limits" areas while being looked after with my cousin after school 3:58 The mall I spent a huge amount of time at growing up, especially at a time between middle school and high school when they used to host a monthly "Music at the Mall" concert where local bands and musicians would literally perform in the common hall area's of the mall and many of my friends performed there. 6:18 The Henniges plant where my mom has previously worked and several of my close friends currently work at 6:35 The yellow house where my friends used to live and I would hang out regularly. 6:45 The house with the porch another friend of mine lived where we would hang out and drink on the porch 7:00 The steel castings plant my uncle worked at until cancer took him and many of my friends had worked at for many years when they first closed down 10:42 The Farm and Home that I was falsely arrested at and hauled out in cuffs by nearly half the police force. My favorite memory of that was one wisecracking cop telling me "yeah everybody's a lawyer aren't they?" when I was trying my best to explain to them that they were falsely arrested me. The reason why it's my best memory is because I ended up beating the case without an attorney and without even going to trial and had the whole thing dismissed at the STATE'S cost. The irony of that cop not knowing the law even as good as the non lawyer he was wisecracking to is just gold. 11:12 Basically the very first daycare my son attended regularly while I was working and getting my degree. 11:25 My dear friend Robert's house, who sadly passed away about a year ago, and is now owned by his brother, another dear friend of mine. 11:45 Wells Carey school where my son's older cousins attended school long ago when I lived literally right around the corner and down to the other end of the block

[@hollybelan4240]

You should check Davenport out before including it in "dead river towns". The Quad Cities are not dead!

[@JennR323]

I lived there for about 4 years. Loved it. Miss living there more than I thought I would.