I Visited 5 Forgotten, Backwoods Towns In The Poorest Area Of Mississippi

I visited Holmes County, Mississippi, including the towns of Pickens, Goodman, Durant, Lexington & Tchula.
Joe's Instagram: / joeysroadtrip
Travel Vlog 372

[@raymondwade7418]

So many memories - as you were riding through Pickens, Goodman, and Durant, I was literally calling out places and homes before they would appear seconds later on the screen. Holmes County was the backdrop of my childhood because my mother and father (and both sets of grandparents) were born and raised there, and this video just brought back so many memories, especially when you drove past my grandmother’s old house.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Nice!

[@DM5550Z]

What was it like over there in the old days?

[@wj1915]

Good memories?

[@yossarian6799]

Years ago, when I lived in New Orleans, there was an elderly lady from Tchula, Mississippi who every now and then, on a Sunday night, would accidentally call my phone, as my number was one digit off from her granddaughter's. She was overly apologetic and I couldn't make her understand that hearing her voice warmed my heart and I'd go to bed with a smile that night.

[@Theaddora]

You seem like a great person.

[@yossarian6799]

@@Theaddora I try to be

[@roberttriplett2869]

Did you happen to know her name ?

[@yossarian6799]

@@roberttriplett2869 I don't think I ever caught her name. Her granddaughter's name was Teesha (sp?).

[@BobbyCole-nu7tq]

I bet they vote no taxes

[@imwatchinberniemac]

It’s funny that Pickens is in shambles but the churches are pristine. There’s a lesson there but I cant really put it into words

[@MR-co2ti]

The lesson is with money and time you can fix anything up. The churches have money, tax free money.

[@NoSunshineMusic]

23:54 to the right in the grass is a monument that honors the men of the town who fought in world war 2. My grandfathers name is on that monument as he served on the Natoma Bay in the Pacific.

[@wj1915]

Salute

[@gregpies1649]

Love watching these videos showing life as it was in the past and how it is today. Really quite depressing how bad it's become as the years have passed.

[@healthyhabits3406]

It’s just people have moved away, if people brought warehouses jobs and amongst other things they would grow back up. Their about do this town not to far from their on a Louisiana side

[@bayoumanbryan]

Joe you missed the black cowboy at 3:33 that was riding a very, expensive and talented horse that was a Tennessee Walker. it prances when it trots, making the ride very smooth for the cowboy. its really an amazing thing to see.

[@johnolive3377]

That cowboy probably stole that house. To trot that horse in the ditch with broken beer bottles is insane.

[@clane1700]

@@johnolive3377cowboy? lol

[@GroceryBagAngler]

Interesting time there 333

[@SuperChicken666]

In my day, cowboys didn't own Tennessee Walking Horses. That would be the richest guy in town.

[@renegadetenor]

I noticed it too, even though I don't know anything about them. I did notice that the towns visited were located on two different Illinois Central RR lines, in different states of repair, reflecting their different levels of traffic they currently handle. The first tracks were right where Casey Jones made his infamous ride, the last set of tracks is where the current Amtrak version of the City of New Orleans runs. Any local railfans please correct, if needed, thanks!

[@patbrown463]

My Granny's where I spent my summers lived between Durant and Lexington. I spent time in both of those towns as a kid from (and still in) Memphis. Thanks for the memories!!!

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Awesome!

[@DebraPatterson-on7hf]

Tchula was mine

[@jenniebee5273]

I'm from CA, but my paternal Grandfather was born and raised in Durant. Didn't know anything about the town, so it was interesting to see it for the first time.

[@Aitch-qq6td]

My mother's side is from Holmes County. Mainly Lexington and Ebenezer.

[@dorisjones2300]

I don’t enjoy seeing the agony of fellow Americans,

[@blanton1624]

Piggly Wiggly began in 1916 as a curbside pickup store and was the first self-service store with checkout counters. There are currently around 500 Piggly Wiggly stores in the US with 108 located in Alabama and others scattered throughout 18 states! At one time Piggly Wiggly was a very big deal.

[@frederickmuhlbauer9477]

Same as HArris Teeter

[@TheeEggMan]

Our town in GA once had 4 Piggly Wiggly stores. Sadly they have all closed down.

[@RonLaw82]

I’m born and raised in Memphis Tn where piggly wiggly was founded. Growing up there were other grocery stores (Kroger has always been here) but 9 times out of 10 your family shopped at piggly wiggly. I haven’t seen one since maybe the mid 90s and figured they just went out of business altogether. Glad to see they’re still around I’m some fashion

[@gatorgogo2742]

In the next 50 years these towns will be gone except for ruins. Sad to think about. Glad to see the kitties. Some of the churches were so pretty. Thanks.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

I think you're right about that.

[@tringuyen7519]

Mississippi would need a change in government to prevent such a loss. Why is Alabama & Louisiana economies so much better than Mississippi?

[@squeekycat]

@@tringuyen7519 Corruption on the part of the politicians is the most likely cause.

[@cecoya]

For being so poor I didn't see nearly the trashy street as the last video. These people atleast care about the town and neighborhoods. These were some nice small towns that could use some help. Someone could start up a business and really a good go at it. Thanks for sharing and you have a great day and safe travels

[@johnnyteague3407]

I tip my hat to him, when I go to Holmes county,I go directly where I need to go because in the blink of a d eye you can disappear, even the Jackson Mississippi criminals fear the criminals from Holmes county. When Attala county went from dry to selling liquor, the first thing we said was thank God we don't have to go to Holmes county to get our liquor...

[@adriennekierdak8507]

You are my lunchtime getaway! I love this kind of stuff and enjoying sitting back and watching these videos! We have lots of dead and dying in Pennsylvania, and I take a lot of road trips to see it! I enjoy seeing these parts of the country that I have never seen! It's like being there myself. Thank you!

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thank you, Adrienne!!

[@SeeDeeJay72]

Joe, that building that you're curious about in Lexington use to be a jail. I'm from Durant.

[@jkeys08]

The old jail house. I live in Lexington

[@MsDurant12]

thanks for cruising through my childhood memories ........remember when we use to go to the Amtrak train station in downtown Durant, to wait for my mother's siblings, there were 12 of them, coming back south from visits UP NORTH!!!!!

[@JMcK-ge6vv]

That's the train station I went to when I spent my summers in Lexington while I was growing up. Do you remember the small restaurant that had the best hotdogs near the station?

[@jeanniemariejames89]

So did we! The Amtrak station was a staple in Holmes County.

[@lisadobbie7109]

These videos provide a window into forgotten areas of America. I wouldn't mind if they were longer they are so interesting.

[@TheJulebrusHorror]

Im sitting in Norway, watching every video you put out (at least I try to). They are so damned interesting! Thanks for the great work you do

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

I hope to visit Norway within the next year or two. :)

[@JKwakulla]

Hayden Bluegrass Orchestra 👍👍👍 Norway's best export!

[@alexandralovesgoats3360]

Beautiful opening. Love the horse. Some lovely old homes in Pickens. That fallen light pole is really a symbol of the state of the town. 😢. I definitely would find it challenging to live on less than $13k a year. Lexington courthouse is gorgeous ! I’ve never been to Mississippi. Appreciate seeing some of the state. Thank you for the tour!

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thank you, Alexandra!!

[@TheRedDevil_NC]

love this channel. Puts things in perspective and keeps me thankful for my blessings

[@baileydute1]

It's amazing how much of rural America is slowly dying away. My moms hometown, Maud, Texas, which is about 20 miles west of Texarkana on U.S.67 is slowly, but surely, being returned to nature. The "downtown" there is not much more than old concrete foundations.

[@sheilafelton9957]

Same for my mom's hometown of Schwab City, Texas

[@curtiseggemeyer5681]

Automation and big business both destroyed jobs for the average man which built this nation , big business is not set on family values but profits. People are the root of good communities. I feel we are over 40 years too late to turn anythng around .

[@Reese8531]

We need to get these companies to start building facilities in these areas instead of building facilities in Mexico and China!!

[@curtiseggemeyer5681]

@@Reese8531 Foget that follow the money , the only thing that matters is " HOW MUCH MONEY DID WE MAKE " Paying someone 9 dollars a day with no health care beats the heck out of 15 to 20 an hour wages , plus workmans comp plus health care plus vacation time, sick days etc. Had the U.S got a national health care like 14 other countries did and some for over 70 years these companies would never have left. The reason GM moved car operations to Canada was the socialist health care saved them 2500 per car.

[@Curtiz2008]

NAFTA killed a lot of small towns. You can be sure the vacant factory buildings lost their tenants to Mexico or points south,

[@tinyhauslife]

As always, thank you Nic & Joe! CONGRATS ON 500k subscribers! I've been watching for a long time now!

[@lauriehill9933]

you always seemed so shocked by the low income numbers, but let me tell you American seniors are living on way less than some of these quoted incomes. I make 1050 a month from social security and yes I am living off that. I worked for over 50 years single mom and this is all the government says I'm worth I worked right up until last summer 50 to 60 hours a week at 71 years old until my heart said wow you need to slow down or Im gonna stop on you. That might of been best because living on what the government gives me isn't living!! Yes I managed to put a very little away but that is enough if I'm very frugal to supplement my joke of ss for maybe 3 years. Most seniors don't have anything to fall back on So before you go all shocked on the low incomes you report maybe take a moment and step into some of our realities. Sorry didnt mean to rant but I am so frustrated by how our seniors and veterans are treated in the greatest country in the world.

[@ianstuart5660]

That's definitely a struggle! Blessings from Canada! ❤❤

[@frankintx699]

I worked for over 50 years and had to go on disability in 2010. Luckily I did because that allowed me to get the full amount of SSI which was around $980 for what I paid in. This puts in the full amount of $1445 a month at 71 years of age that I receive. I get by but just barely. It is the medical costs that really create a hardship for seniors, especially those who are unable to afford private Insurance. I believe the poverty rate is unjustly configured.

[@zoidmo3388]

Your comment is reality. I relate. The talk about depopulation & replacement in North America. It's not conspiracy. God Bless. from Canada.

[@cea5er]

Maybe if the government stops spending billions and billions of dollars on international wars and focus on uplifting normal Citizen's living standards, i think scenario would be different

[@umfilhodedeustotalmenteama5522]

In USA richs pay less taxes than midlle class and poors! How an broke government can spend with the poors? Its is a shame!

[@cherienafo7676]

Thanks U2 ! Cheers from Sth Australia.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thank you!

[@Kathyrnsorensen]

@@cherienafo7676 Australia must be beautiful

[@Bareego]

@@Kathyrnsorensen it sure is, come and visit us !

[@Kathyrnsorensen]

@@Bareego definitily Austraila and New Zealand the ones i would love

[@TheChristen96]

Still absolutely love these videos. So addictive. Love to have them on while I'm chilling around the house or playing games on my computer. The narration and ambience is so nice.

[@dougsmith1721]

The painful slow death of America is on full display. I have seen those towns when they were alive with activity, fifty or so years ago. It's not just Mississippi either as you can find these towns everywhere. We all know the reasons so there is no sense in even discussing them. I am glad that I am on the tail end of life because the beautiful memories of a wonderful America haunt me daily.

[@Ceeboo13]

Oh brother...🙄

[@ArmySigs]

Doug there are plenty of new areas around the US with vast wealth and prosperity on display. America has not died or is it dying - it has just changed. Wealth is being generated in different ways in different parts of the country.

[@blue-vu1ek]

dude, if you had not voted against your best interests, things would be better.

[@RobOlgatree]

Hi Joe&Nicole, Farmers were the life line of our communities. Modernization can be so cruel. Thanks for making this video.

[@redrebels24]

The back stories of these clips are ABSOLUTELY CLUTCH! Preciate it

[@catlover614]

These old towns are so fascinating! Some gorgeous old homes, and I love the church converted into a library, a wonderful idea! A great video as always! Thanks so much, Joe and Nic.😊💚

[@adamterry550]

I went to Holmes community college back in 2004. It’s wild seeing how much has changed with the campus.

[@rlbrown-js9ns]

Born in West Texas Odessa 1962. Piggly Wiggly was the store my mother would always go shopping at. And there was another store called Gibsons. I still remember going shopping in both of them❤

[@CanadaSno]

That building in Lexington, MS you were asking about used to be a jail. I used to live in Durant 30 years ago. Thank you for doing this video. It brought back so many memories. I just ran across your page tonight and subscribed.

[@Reese8531]

You can tell they take pride in the little they got down there!

[@TheNesa67]

And this is true!! I'm from Durant, and although some of the occupied homes look a bit tattered on the outside, once you're inside, they're clean and well kept. Gotta love the people!! They're so friendly. I've been away now for over 20 years, and the towns have changed quite a bit. But it always feels good going back to visit where I started ❤

[@Deathdealer4L]

My family is from Durant and Guages Springs. You exactly went past my uncle's home. When I was younger, in the 80s, it was a pretty nice place to live

[@bdgies2721]

The Pickens Presbyterian church looks like an amazing structure. I’d love to see inside it. Thank you as always for the interesting journeys.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

I agree.

[@gregwyatt9840]

EXCELLENT Please don't change your style. You are unique and don't go the route of modern city prosperity and restaurant reviews. This is what your viewers want!

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thank you for this, Greg!

[@shanewoods1980]

I’m an army combat veteran with 7 deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, coming back home to Mississippi was all I thought about. Coming back to my beautiful wife and handsome sons. That thought kept me going, no matter what anyone else thinks of my hometown or home state. It’s home to me, I’ll never try to persuade anyone to my way of thinking

[@victoriaanderson863]

Thank you for your service 🙏 🇺🇸

[@desdicadoric]

Your family is worth more than any other thing sir 😊God bless

[@virgowoman1973]

Right on, home is where the heart is. ❤

[@marthawalton8370]

Our piggly wiggly in Union, ms is a great store. During pandemic they still had toilet paper. They have great barbecue, everything you need for picnic!!

[@Margot_est_douce.]

Definitely one of your best uploads yet!

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thank you!!

[@Kira-g5s]

True!🎉❤

[@ronniekubin1992]

Great video I feel like I'm there in person. Thank you for letting me come along.

[@Wisznuification]

It never ceases to amaze me, that in US, even in poorest regions, you see all those trucks everywhere. Meanwhile, they are mostly owned by wealthy folks here in Europe.

[@jimmyday9536]

The trucks are worth more than the houses.

[@user-vr3mr5eu7y]

They'll all be empty in 15 years. A few will rejuvenate n lure in people n business maybe 15 percent of em but

[@larrycurley5581]

It's called credit. The banks own these trucks.

[@mashton6631]

I was noticing that too! I live in Australia and it’s very common to see 30 year old cars on the road or parked in the drive of +million dollar home. I love watching these and marvel that the cars are all newer and lots of newer pick up trucks

[@Broncort1]

Yeah, American love us some trucks and SUV’s! We don’t even have regular cars here anymore…and what’s a manual transmission???

[@cometman100]

There use to be an old motel on the south end of Pickens called the Grape Motel, Pickens Grape Motel. It was in the 1973 movie "Thieves Like Us"

[@almoore7420]

Thank you for the tour. Many friend and some family in a Holmes county, MS. The railroad was somewhat important in the past. Cotton was King.

[@kirktinsley]

Wow, those median household incomes are brutal! My heart goes out to those folks.

[@doneladams9911]

People live off that, cost of living I guess is low in Mississippi not everyone is making big money 🤑💰

[@Rainy_Day12234]

Houses are also $80k

[@keithhudson6777]

My dad's family is from Durant.. my grandmother had a house right next to the tracks

[@joek511]

Just goes to show, it's not how much you earn, it's how you use it. You set your priority on what you NEED and forget about looking good. I live just fine in Ms on 24k a year, house paid for, no car note. I got my phone 6 years ago, 200 bucks, no contract 52 dollars a month for unlimited service. A simple life, good freinds, food and shelter. If you chase all the world has to offer you'll be in debt to the world and never seem to make, or have enough money.

[@HighLordBlazeReborn]

The problem is that this isn't necessarily something that you know from birth. If you have been raised that way and in an environment where you understand that, sure. If you've known nothing but a race for appearances, then that's what you'll do. People get stuck in these cycles. Now this isn't me doing the usual "but it's not their fault!" thing, but I think your way of simplifying this doesn't actually help make a difference. All it does is let those that have your POV to continue with life in the satisfaction that you're not like THOSE people. This is why you'll see people with very little money buying designer clothing. If you live in a certain environment, you don't have the luxury of keeping your head down and being happy with what you have. You either participate in displays of wealth or you get shunned. People that think like you and have the luck to act on it don't stay in these places, they leave. It's easy to judge people and call them lazy, vain or stupid if you haven't actually been born and raised in those environments. The trick here isn't to lecture them: that does nothing, tomorrow they still have to go live in that society where lectures won't help stop them being a pariah.

[@joek511]

@@HighLordBlazeReborn I'm not lecturing , ridiculing , criticizing or any other negative term you might imply. I was raised 28 miles from New York City, a rat race. I'm a Vet, I've traveled all over the world. Seen all kinds of things and made friends within every race

[@HighLordBlazeReborn]

@@joek511 I'm not implying that you ridiculed them. I'm just saying that that's the typical response to this kind of thing.

[@joek511]

@@HighLordBlazeReborn Thank you for clarifying that. I've been on both sides of the fence. for a time i earned 9k a month. Paid of my house, and decided no more. gone from home for months on end. The most miserable times in my life. Yet I thank God

[@addrakettp]

There's so much more in the world to see and do than just sit 50 mi from the town you were born in. I think it's a very sheltered and unfulfilling life myself

[@thomasfranco5997]

I really love the old 2 story homes that are upkept. They are beautiful and I live in Los Angeles, and it reminds me of Riverside where they have beautiful old homes that some owners have kept up the property. Really Nice!

[@ammapuramsrinivasrao2249]

Sad to see some of the poorest dying towns of south. Your narration is very good. Thank you.

[@madrabbit9007]

An old man I worked with 20 years ago in Jackson lived there in Goodman and commuted to Jackson to work for Advance Autoparts. At one time he owned that old Parts Plus but sold out when he got an offer he couldn't refuse. Seeing it now I'm glad he got out when he did. After his wife passed he moved to Arkansas with his daughter and grand kids where he passed away about ten or so years ago. Kept hoping I'd see his house.

[@LyleFrancisDelp]

A new Joe and Nic video. You just made my day.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thanks, Lyle!!

[@jimjordon9841]

My wife and I spent about a year and a half out on Castilian Springs Rd right next to I-55 back in the late 1970's Bought a fair amount of groceries at Piggly Wiggly. Back in the day there was quite a draw to the mineral springs west of town.

[@ToxicSont]

16:40 and 16:50 are my family’s properties! Excited to see they caught some attention

[@TruPreacher]

If you ever travel to southwest Mississippi, you should check out Roxie, Mississippi in Franklin County. Be sure to drive Whiteapple Road from Hwy 98 to Hwy 33. Fun fact: The logs on the truck you saw is referred to as “puckwood” in most places in Mississippi.

[@patm5594]

It's hard to believe that these were thriving communities at one time.

[@tew1947]

Thanks!

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thank you!!

[@emilyhubbard1510]

Love mississippi 💕 so sad to see the state of small town america. Thanks for another awesome vid 🎉

[@elsierodgers4874]

My Mom was born in 1919 in Scooba, Mississippi. She always talked about Pickens Mississippi. It was the big town back then.

[@zekrk504]

Great stream Joe & Nic!! Thank you!

[@virgilkennedy6692]

Good to see you back on the road again, Enjoy as I do watching you.

[@nagone11]

These uploads are ridiculously awesome! Some very interesting info gets dropped in these videos giving some insights, a lot can be learned.

[@colindodd2862]

Some how in Canada I lost you guys for a long time after Covid load out . Couldn’t find you for the life of me . And poof your back ! So happy . Love this drive thru you do !

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

@@colindodd2862 Awesome!

[@erobinson988]

I hope you got to swing by Houston Al old jail. Built 1868. Oldest such structure in the state,second oldest in the US.

[@tysonsmartialarts]

Traveled with my parents who are from Louisiana traveling US 51 in the 60’s & 70’s while I-55 to Chicago. My mom has passed and dad is almost 90 retired decades ago then moved back to St Tammany Parish. I now take my son on a scenic route thru US 51 heading south to St Tammany, La. Met an African American man from Chicago who moved to Pickens and had an ice cream, dry cleaner & medical building. Was there just before Covid. Went back in 21 or 22 and the businesses seemed closed. Parts of US 51 in that area seems the same as it was in the late 60’s!

[@lizinwisconsin6728]

Was having a very bad day with a migraine but started to feel better after seeing you made a new post and watching it Your voice is somehow comforting . Thanks Joe! 🐱🐱🐱

[@jasonjason9866]

No music or yelling.

[@lizinwisconsin6728]

@@jasonjason9866 HUH???

[@jasonjason9866]

@@lizinwisconsin6728 there is no music or yelling. Just normal talking.

[@lizinwisconsin6728]

@@jasonjason9866 I have no idea what you're talking about.

[@Jabotank1]

I grew up around these places. Havent been around there in years. From a small town called French Camp, MS. Crazy thing is I miss it. Lol. Thank you for the view .

[@cliftonatkinson9696]

I have a buddy that went to French camp academy

[@nicolasss]

Thanks Lord Spoda for sharing with us these locations ! Interesting ! Greetings from the other part of the world...

[@klwthe3rd]

Lord Spoda lives on!

[@stevetessier8532]

Lord Spoda, thank you for another great video..Happy Holidays to you and Nicole..!!

[@blackhawku]

I’m from newton Mississippi, 25 miles from meridian and about 45-50 miles from Jackson Ms. Small town so when I was in highschool when had to play Lexington in football for the first time ever! I remember we all pulled out a map search on the internet computer at school. Remind you this 2002-03, so we all thinking nice town more like a city, but when we got there we was in shock! The field stands everything barley holding on, the players uniforms where like mix match in a sense or just old changing colors. It was sad and made me angry 😡! It’s not my school or town but I love the whole state of Mississippi and our governor needs to do better!

[@geraldinetavares3332]

Thank you, I enjoyed our tour of Miss., those homes are gorgeous.

[@brenttoman5485]

Good looking guy/girl at 6:00 ! Your footage and editing is top drawer Joe! Just love the architecture of the homes you show! That house @6:24 ( we call them Savanna porches ) ( semi wrap around with a curve. Just gorgeous! Thank you again for this wonderful video!

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thanks Brent, and I'll remember that about the porch!

[@jeanniemariejames89]

My home…Holmes County. Yes, so many memories growing up and attending school in Tchula. Thank you, Lord.🙏🏾

[@everydaypresent444]

Fascinating as are all your videos, and your style is all about it! Looks like Durant is way ahead of the curve with their Christmas decorations on the lamp posts! LOL Overall it’s great to get a glimpse of parts of the country that we would likely never have opportunity or reason to visit. It’s encouraging to see all the pretty churches in each of these towns, for the spiritual aspects but just as much for the community foundations that they may help to foster.

[@Yawndave]

Looking at the map it's interesting to see your route runs parallel to the Natchez trace, one of the nicest drives in the country. The Piggly Wiggly Icon would make a nice addition to the man cave.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

You're right, YD, that would be a great man cave addition!

[@curtiseggemeyer5681]

Joe Thankyou, I just cannot help but feel for those people . I grew up a 5th generation cotton farmer. Now with machines , modules etc, one harvester and one module builder can do the work of 100 people hand picking or pulling. From slave days , to post civil war then not much of an education the people more or less got left behind when a lack of manufacturing jobs was the main course and agriculture diminishing. Sometimes I wish I had a magic wand and could fix it all. the people deserve a lively place to live.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

I totally agree.

[@Reese8531]

Hopefully Trump can force some of these companies to put Manufacturing jobs here instead of China and Mexico!! If anybody will do it it’ll probably be trump 🤷🏿‍♂️!

[@curtiseggemeyer5681]

@@Reese8531 Fore companies to operate here and close down multi million dollar money making factories to come back here, Trump has never had a successful business all bankrupt dream on ok

[@admandrums]

Don’t feel bad for them. They constantly vote for it

[@curtiseggemeyer5681]

@@Reese8531 Why would any company want to do that???? Trumps neckties and shirts with Trump on the label were all made in China, his daughter invested heavy in an electronics company in China and Trump had to revamp his tariffs and exclude ZTE electronics. His bibles are priinted in China why doesn't he put his money where his mouth is. THIS WHOLE THING OF COMPANIES LEAVING SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED IN 1980 44 YEARS AGO NOT NOW The party is over here due to rich capitalists for over 40 years making tens of billions in profits. Sit back and watch the show ok.

[@ByJimineeItsBREXIT-z2k]

@ 3-35....WHOOA JOE! Driving far too fast for that horse and rider. I'm in UK, rural Gloucestershire....on country lanes, I would slow to a crawl, even stand still...so as not to spook the horse.

[@JKwakulla]

Good for you. That's something I would never expect to see in the US.

[@lindadavis1631]

Thanks for the ride . Loved the beautiful buildings . See you soon 👍👍👍💕💕💕

[@78chevyboi]

21:36 That’s the old Jailhouse. I’m from Holmes County, but I’m from the town you missed “Cruger Ms” it’s north of Tchula before you go into Leflore County on Highway 49

[@bagerklestyne]

If you google streetview it you can rewind and see the country jail sign quite clearly, though it's boarded up it still had barbwire fencing around it in the 2010's

[@bertphillips550]

Pickens 3:41 Goodman 8:56 Durant 12:40 Lexington 19:18 Tchula 23:37

[@diasporareturnee]

Thanks!

[@maryflaherty7096]

Thank you for another ride. Hard to believe some are so poor and not much to live on.

[@DUMPSTERDIVINGADELAIDE123]

Thanks for the video.....i love J. J. Cale's song about some little towns, I'm a huge fan 😊

[@MENFUSSMIKE]

JJ was The Breeze

[@ArmySigs]

There are some big beautiful old houses in these towns!

[@newdefsys]

I lived in Mississippi for 18 years and I saw first hand the poverty of the state. I dont miss it, but I do miss the food, and one of the best little spots in the world is on the left @ 19:24 the Southern Barrel Restaurant.

[@ghtaboma]

The young people can’t wait to leave these small towns for the bright lights and big cities! These towns will fade away like old soldiers.

[@artarius369]

I stay Holme county

[@gloriacarter5410]

Love watching your videos one day you should visit Canton, Mississippi beautiful town.

[@Theaddora]

Went to a craft show there about 30 years ago. The Courthouse square area where I was was beautiful.

[@DreBailey-s8x]

Dat abandoned grey building in Lexington use to be a jail and the neighborhood it sats in calls mulberry

[@barryzbornik634]

As usual, I say, keep up the great work so I can travel along into the 'unknown.' :)

[@nickyd922]

Moral of the story - everything changes and if you don't change you get left behind

[@lolitawallace7277]

Grew up in Durant. Seeing these towns now is so sad.😢 But, some amazing people came out of these parts - if I say so myself😂 Low income, low economy, and little to no government assistance. A lot of the structures were damaged by tornadoes with little to no relief fund to repair.

[@usmcmos0317]

Great job Joe. Like the low crime at all but one of these towns, and who knows why it works that way just does sometimes I guess. This area I grew up in had several these pretty poor towns in them as well as some of the counties also. But it’s been my personal experience that in most of the poorest places you find some of the friendliest, helpful and unselfish people you will ever meet. Just my personal experience!! Some really nice looking neighborhoods in the last town there, and they do look like fairly new construction. Thanks for the ride along I would have probably never saw them otherwise. Great job as usual, safe travels my friend, keep filming and I’ll keep watching.

There's probably lots of crime but people don't bother to report it.

[@usmcmos0317]

Could very well be true. Or like it’s done around here take care of it yourself. Especially in a really small place where everyone knows everyone else. And a lot are related. Just saying

[@shanewoods1980]

I live in Lee County in a small town/community named Nettleton about 13 miles south of Tupelo. I honestly wouldn’t take anything for my home/land to move somewhere else. My neighbors have keys to my shop, home, and vehicles. I have keys to theirs as well. That’s living in my opinion

[@trentgilliam5192]

I was raised in Nettleton, just out of town on Hwy 6. I’ve been gone a long time now but still have family, friends and great memories there.

[@ritafoster4958]

I think part of the reason the crime rate is so low in some of these dying towns, is because everyone is so poor that there is literally nothing of much value to steal. Plus you might be related to a lot of the people in the town. Shoplifting is pretty slim pickings when 95% of the stores are long deserted. These towns are sad to see. Every who could pack up and leave has done so, and these are the survivors who are too poor to afford to move somewhere else with more potential.

[@ScottDLR]

Great vid! After much research (too much time on our hands..) my wife and I were able to zoom in from a google Maps street view and see "County Jail" above the entrance of that ominous building at 21:42. It looks like a court house was to the left of it and the jail was built later on the right. This was hard to find because there were no tax records and the actual location was hard to track down given your route and our difficulty distinguishing street names - but we love this stuff!

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Interesting!

I doubt that was its original purpose. That looks like an old factory to me. Note the large chimney.

[@ScottDLR]

From records, it has never been and still isn't owned by anyone except the county. It has no tax records or deeds. Also, "County Jail" is molded into the concrete structure and looks to have been there since it was built. But it would be very interesting if you could find anything else. It's at 107 College St IIRC.

[@traveladdict196]

I appreciate going down memory lane. I can still smell the inside of those old houses, and the smell of the pine trees. I want to go back but there is really nothing to offer there.

[@kwjuanedwards8518]

At 21:48 you asked what that building was and it used to be the city police station and jail. This is my home town and I still live here currently.

[@edkiess6953]

In Pickens, I noticed the shuttered Piggly Wiggly on the far north side of town. Until as late as 2016, Dollar General shared the north half of that building with PW. It looks like $Gen moved south, closer to town center and left PW literally "holding the bag."

[@cliftonatkinson9696]

Dollar general moved to were the old John Deere implement was located

[@cliftonatkinson9696]

Only moved half a mile south

[@redrebels24]

The old coca cola building is a sign of once upon a time...love the front logo

[@TheeEggMan]

The building at 21:40 appears to have barred windows. I can barely make out lthe words ____JAIL above the entrance. Had to rewind and pause three times. Our town of Rome, GA was once a major Coca-cola bottler as well. The old bottling plant is a high end loft neighborhood now. Great video as usual!

[@thomasw4550]

JOE AND NICK, BEEN FOLLOWING YOU FOR YEARS AND ENJOY THE TRAVELS. STARKVILLE IS A COLLEGE TOWN IN MISSISSIPPI THAT I KEEP THINKING YOU GUYS WOULD COVER BUT HAVE YET TO SEE ANYTHING ABOUT THE SCHOOL OR THE TOWN?

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

I'll put it on my list!

[@RobOlgatree]

@@JoeandNicsRoadTrip that would be interesting for sure.

[@redrebels24]

Random dude on horse 🐎 STELLAR!

[@casenshurden4065]

I go to Holmes community college great college we had just left for break when you made this vid

[@mamasinger49]

Wow, you packed a lot into this video. So interesting and as someone mentioned in the comments, they are all clean, no trash anywhere which is great to see.

[@kabaduck]

Ours out there walking through a field and there was like a wetland that we stumbled across and we found that we were actually on a peninsula shutting out into a swamp. We had swamp to the left and the right and we walked right into an alligator pit.

[@TheBrain_66]

Hey Joe great video. I would love to see some of the historical markers as you drive by. It may be too much trouble to stop but would be interesting I think. Nice work and thanks so much for the entertainment.

[@Missangie827]

this proves poor is a state of mind - lots of elders live on very little money- their modest homes and cars are paid for and they try to keep their places clean - we don't waste money on extras and in our minds we are rich in what matters-

[@driftwood5551]

Well said!

[@zacharyspinner3314]

Poor is poor you just make due thats about it you struggle and just be content with it you settle for whatever you can get...