KANSAS: Forgotten Small Towns That Are Slowly Fading Away

I visited these very small, rural Kansas towns: Greeley, Blue Mound, Mound City & Pleasanton.
Joe's Instagram: / joeysroadtrip
Travel Vlog 327

[@lyndamarines3656]

Thanks for doing these videos. Always so interesting. 330 Spruce Street $99,000. 4 bed 1 1/2 bath Built 1880

[@georgeburns7251]

Thank you

[@mickaelwilliams6129]

termites

[@ganiwaseem9210]

I'm from a small town in India and really cannot afford to visit America. But I must say I've seen a lot more America sitting at my home in India thanks to your channel. I thought I'd never go to America but whenever I see your videos I feel like I'm living there. Thanks for bringing small town America to me❤

[@DustpanJoe]

What a cool comment. I'd love to hear some of your general thoughts on what you've seen through his videos? 99% of us never really see this part of our country. So his videos are super fascinating even for us.

[@shariberry3123]

In 2007, I drove from Colorado to Texas, via Kansas. I had a nice chat with a gas station clerk who told me about a recent tornado. She pointed out the area hit, it was leveled. I could not understand or comprehend that entire neighborhoods and schools once had recently stood, within the stark contrast of completely bare landscape that I was looking at. All I saw was dirt and the occasional tree stump or concrete steps where a home once stood. That clerk told me how helpless she felt, being at work and watching that tornado hit from a distance. I was so impressed with the people of Kansas to withstand such a horrific event so bravely and matter of fact. She just accepted it and the town around her was slowly rebuilding. I cannot say that I would be so cool and level headed had it happened where I live.

[@Mariel_Moon]

Wow! 😮

[@egbertandrew8435]

Disposable small towns

[@scottmoellendick4448]

It's the same way in West Virginia, only it's much more beautiful!

[@wrenchmantooly5169]

I live in a small Kansas town. Came out of the shop I worked at to watch a tornado from straight to the west of us. It zig zagged around then came straight at the shop. At one point my boss said it looks like it's right over your house. And I knew in my heart that it was. I had to at that point sign everything over to God. Cause there was nothing I could do. Called my wife's work and told them. They got inside a big walk in cooler. When it blew away I drove home. It came right through our yard. Pulled some tin up on a roof and that was all. Stuff was blown around in two different directions. It came back down right after our house sucked a door off a machine shed and roof off of a cattle sale barn. I went out later to help a neighbor that was sitting in his house when it formed right behind him. It ripped the entire roof off , rafters and all. And left the rest of the house untouched. He said guns were flying all over the house.

[@steveharris9861]

​@@wrenchmantooly51699

[@mz4999]

What a remarkable body of work you've created in a rather short time, documenting the country as seen and experienced by you guys, always with an open mind and always respectfull of your surroundings. There will be a time that people will reference your work as the Joe & Nic Libraries. Until that time, please keep up the good work. There are a lot of people enjoying what you're doing. Have a nice break, hope to see you soon!

[@Leonard-y7r]

Right! Unless KZbin ceases to exist and Joe and Nic's videos are lost, there is really a very good chance that in the future they will become teaching tools to show how Americans lived in the 21st Century!

[@jasonmelton9755]

The folks in Greeley drive about five miles west to Garnett for groceries and restaurants.

[@3rdFloorblog]

Or drive to Paola, of which most folks will do since that is the closest WalMart. Even though shopping sucks here, Greeley isn't bad to raise a family in a safe area...

[@NaomiWilson-sm9bo]

I live near Greeley. All of these towns have been on my Home Health route. I've seen a lot of very small villages while driving around. Thank you for doing this video!

[@cecoya]

What a beautiful home that Brook Mansion is sold in 2022 5bd 4 bath for 197.4k. It was built in 1886 and it still has alot of the original wood work and pocket doors. WOW what a gem. Have a great day and safe travels

[@dhjain7888]

Your videos give me a sense of calmness. Thank you for making these.

[@zoidmo3388]

It's great, isn't it. Sure hope Joe & Nic realize the goodness & positive affects they have on so many ppl. 🥰 God Bless them

[@barbaramarkham4736]

I agree completely. I look forward to all of their travels. Love the statistics, so interesting. Great comment!

[@Sealight007]

Actually, it gives me a great sense of great sadness. I see our country dying from a cancer of hopelessness and despair generated by the policies of those leading our country. MAGA.

[@dhjain7888]

@@Sealight007 America reached its peak in the 70s through 2010, then it just changed.... we really need to MAGA

[@handsomeX]

Kansas is the epitome of "middle America". It's literally located smack dab in the middle of the country. Its one of my favorite states to drive through. So many American flags, i love it.

[@Leg239]

I’m driving through next week, can’t wait!

[@dakotanevada86]

Hi Joe and Nic! Just love your videos so much. You have such a comforting voice, Joe. Can't wait for all your new one's coming up.🤩xxooxx

[@thedappercook]

Loved my trip to Kansas city, MO in 2016. Beautiful city and people were very friendly and had not met many new Zealanders if any before, very cool. Drove from Kansas to Omaha, Nebraska, and stayed in Omaha for a few days and saw Warren Buffet! Then off to Vegas for a few days. Loved my trip. Amazing people. The most amazing thing to me is not seeing people walking in the cities and these beautiful streets, not a single soul. Does every single person drive? I live in Australia and go for 5am walks in the morning, it's glorious.

[@edlee2336]

Love seeing these small towns. Your videos have really changed the way I look at them and have inspired me to find my own!

[@annabelleb.8096]

I didn't realize towns in Kansas were so pretty. My father was born on a farm near Zurich Kansas. He and my aunts and uncles talked about the weather and living thru the dust bowl on a farm, long walks to the one room school house through deep snow. Sometimes the boys carried their youngest sister through the deep snow. They ended up selling the farm and moving to Chicago. Mound City looks like a nice place to live!

[@frequentfrenzied]

The eastern parts of Kansas near the Missouri border aren't what people typically envision when they think of Kansas. It is still rather hilly and wooded in that part of the state, as you see in this video. If you keep heading west though, the trees quickly disappear and you will go through the flint hills, which are mostly large rolling hills and otherwise featureless plains. West of that, you get what most people imagine when they think of Kansas. Barren, flat, dry grasslands that stretch west all the way to the rocky mountains half-way through Colorado.

[@teripittman]

Western KS is a lot higher altitude. And it's rolling hills. I'm in N central KS. Lots of small lakes. I moved here a couple of years ago and I'm happy with the cost of living and with my neighbors.

[@timothyglassel1239]

Kansas is beautiful! Not to be disrespectful but I would chose Kansas over Chicago any day.

[@annabelleb.8096]

@@timothyglassel1239 That's not disrespectful! I agree.

[@zoidmo3388]

Can't express how much I appreciate you & Nicole ; taking us along with you, I feel Blessed. Take care.

[@djr3386]

You said it first.

[@ammapuramsrinivasrao2249]

Very happy to see quite and lush green rural Kansas. Soothing and lovely. Your wonderful commentary brought double the happiness. A lot of thanks and eagerly looking forward for your next videos. God bless.

[@11UncleBooker22]

At one time I drove OTR and have been by or through all of these towns' multiple times. My thoughts of them are similar to most in that I think of the past and current residence. Driving OTR, as you can imagine, gave me the unique opportunity to stop in many or even stay overnight at a fuel stop. Iola, KS was a favorite of mine, I loved Iola, I was there so often the locals started thinking of me as a resident, lol. I drive local now, I miss the residence I met from the border towns in Texas to northern Washington, the mid-western states, the east coast and the south.

[@UncleSamuel1212]

I live in Spring Hill which is about an hour north of most of these towns. Ive been to all these towns before. Right now they might seem like they're fading but I tend to believe the populations will increase because Kansas City is moving further south and those who rent will be pushed further down south. Spring Hill about two decades ago looked like these towns in the video but now is the fastest growing town in the entire state going from 2,700 in 2000 to just under 10,000 right now. It might be another decade or two but I think these towns will grow again.

[@koolxxxyear]

Yes. I recognize that. I like a quiet neighborhood myself. I just need a good diner, grocery store and a gas station nearby. Thank you.

[@kariduff651]

A few years ago, while my husband was working in Oklahoma, on a film, I drove up from Bartlesville to Kansas City, to meet my cousin who was coming from Iowa. At one point, I hit a road closure on a “highway”. With no clue where to go, I found myself lost in the tiny town of Garland, Kansas, with a population of 31. I was still able to find a local couple and get directions to Kansas City.

[@VagabondVideoss]

As someone from India, I can assure you that this video gives me an eerie feeling. I'm accustomed to living amidst hundreds of people, surrounded by the chaos and vibrancy of life. I could never imagine wanting to find myself in a situation where I'd have to live in such desolate towns, devoid of any signs of life. It is depressing and gloomy ! It may be green all around yet so lonely !!

[@ganiwaseem9210]

There's something about these smaller towns that gives me so much sense of peace and comfort. I just love small town America and like you said "all that rust and overgrowth" has something about it..

[@NativeNYer]

Toto I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore 😂! Ty Nicole and Joe 4 this great road trip and all that great narrating u did, just amazing! U guys rock this channel 4 sure! B safe and c ya in Hawaii. Unless u have more 4 us in Texas! Thanx again!

[@stevek4654]

Greeley and Mound City are beautiful. Nice, quite living.

[@jamesmyers9285]

Everything is so green!

[@johnmiller3186]

My ancestors moved from Brooklyn to Greeley in 1901. My brother still lives on the same farm. The stone church (not shown in the video but it is next to the little store) where US 169 skirts the town all the truckers know that landmark, we were baptized, schooled, married and such. The last 40 years have really taken its toll.

[@warwickkeene363]

Go home, rest up and then please go on the road. Enjoy the series enormously.

[@Loren_Vosser]

Greetings from the UK Love your videos Joe they're so relaxing and informative I'm really excited to see your tour of Alaska one of bucket list places to visit!! Get some videos of bears 🐻!!

[@spaceman7832]

Absolutely love your channel. Good stuff, man.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thank you!

[@harrybrown4296]

I am a huge fan, what I like the most is 1. You find every little (and grand) house interesting., no matter how poor it is. 2. You have a knowledge of Architecture styles. 3. Your driver thought of neighborhoods.

[@MissteriousOne]

I’ve lived here all my life and there are soooo many places I haven’t been! I’ve been everywhere in South Central and a little bit elsewhere. Thank you for sharing.

[@warbirdwf]

What a road warrior. 2 months of hotels and eating out? Oh yell no. Most folks don't take longer than a week for a vacation and then can't wait to get back home to their beds and home cooked meals. You guys are hardcore! Thanks for the great content.

[@andrewward5891]

I don’t think Joe and Nic even have a home in Dallas. They’re full time wanderers.

[@todddunn945]

My step-dad was born and raised in eastern Colorado just a few miles from Kansas. He had a lot of relatives in Kansas. I remember going on a family vacation in the mid 60s during which we visited his relatives in Colorado, Kansas and northern Oklahoma. I remember going up in the local grain elevator in several of those towns and having the grain elevator in the next town pointed out. Other than that the terrain was dead flat with a very gradual slope up from east to west. Also the farther west you went the fewer trees there were. The towns looked pretty much the same almost 60 years ago.

[@grape196]

Greetings from Russia! 👏❤️ Some places remind me our country,few people,abandoned towns,houses.. Thank you for video ! 👏 Take care! ❤️

[@plinker439]

what about getting out of ukraine?

[@Happychaos71]

Yeah because im sure he's in charge of that....

[@jimkelly4214]

​@@plinker439What about telling NATO to stop It's eastward expansion to Russian borders!

[@craighoward4446]

I enjoy traveling with you & Nic. Thank you. I love all your videos.Great job

[@lucyhallis9814]

Greetings from Florida Joe & Nic. Just want to say that I enjoy watching your videos. If you ever get down to Florida again, I would recommend that you visit Mt. Dora. Very interesting town.

[@dorothyball6003]

So good of you to share. Thanks!!

[@alexandralovesgoats3360]

Really enjoyed the tour of these rural Kansas towns. It’s beautiful in the area you visited. Some great buildings! Looks so peaceful. Amazed the first few towns had higher crime. Looking forward to seeing Hawaii. Hope TX provides a nice break for you.

[@shred1]

Looking forward to your videos. Alaska and Hawaii will be incredible. Im jealous.

[@DKTYY]

Bless you both for sharing your road trip with us. I fully enjoyed seeing every town and city. I am in Western Canada and could never do the trip myself, so Thank-You both. When you get home and have spare time, may I suggest you do a little research on these old buildings. They are much older than the MSM is telling us and there is usually much more underground. They were not built with horse, donkey and buggy in the late 1800's. Here's a few good channels on utube to get you started, Jon Levi, Jarid Booster and My Lunch Breck. Much Love from Canada I am patiently waiting to see Dallas, Texas

[@rajeevdeshpande7666]

Hi Joe Quiet accompanying, greenary abound, deserted roads, empty houses, chirping of birds throughout in the background it was a great drive offering solace to body, mind and soul. It seems to be like a live demo of 'Niksen' : Dutch art of doing nothing, a relaxation technic simply 'looking out of window'! Thanks a lot for this wonderful and relaxing video. I was wondering about 2 states Alaska and Hawaii and at the end of the video you made it clear. Best of wishes for the journey ahead! Thanks once again.

[@SajjadKhan-jn7cw]

beautiful thanks for sharing joe and Nik 👍

[@motowngirl5891]

The real “America” Just beautiful

[@jilliansergy7597]

I live in a rural Kansas town of about 900 people called Kiowa. Located in South Central Kansas right at the Oklahoma border. I'm originally from Los Angeles....Beverly Hills to be exact. I grew up in what was once a small town in Monterey Bay California called Pacific Grove. I absolutely love the small town charm of Kiowa Kansas. It may be small and rural but not fading.

[@Victory1981]

Looking forward to your future videos

[@charlottekerns5633]

That house on 330 Spruce st, Mound City is 99,9K and is pending. I am in Annapolis, MD ...when do you plan to be here?

[@billstill1794]

...I'm in my early 70's - and also pending!

[@rhondatanner1157]

Wow! Look at that grainery

[@JHixon-bi8ok]

Kansas has a special place in my heart. I appreciate that you toured through part of KS.

[@AndrewJacobsmusic]

Watching from australia, love seeing all the small towns and the houses etc, if you get to southern Illinois go to fairfield, garden of the gods which is awesome and cave in rock where pirates used to hide out

[@alexandrastratanphotographer]

what a charming little town, quiet and peaceful, -Greenley-to die for, brings one thought to mind: America The Beautiful

[@renegadetenor]

I want to find out about Ellsworth, KS., as a possible relocation for me..

[@apaulsen88]

If you are wanting small and rural. I grew up in garden city and it’s a nice city. Lots of culture, very diverse population because of the packing plant. Otherwise Lakin, sublette, Ulysses, Scott city, Deerfield are all nice small towns in western Kansas.

[@renegadetenor]

@@apaulsen88 Thanks!

[@Neilsowards]

I saw a library sign in Blue Mound. Yayyyyyy!

[@Jorma-e4t]

I love the stories, so relaxing way you do it. Thanks

[@1020donny]

I like riding a motorcycle through rural Kansas. Many small town allow free camping in their City parks and several even have showers. There isn't much for young folks and their laws are strict for a West Coast guy, but it's what it is. I like most of the people I've met. Changes in Agriculture eliminated many jobs that sustained rural local economies are long gone. Corporate mega farming only accelerates the decline of rural Kansas. It's unfortunate that Kansas is one of those States where there are the rich and the poor and no real in between. Young Kansans flee the State for better opportunities and a more responsive government. Even young people in Nebraska think Kansas is run by out of touch reactionary wealthy interest. Climate change and the depletion of the Ogallala Aquifer is only going to worsen the outlook for rural Kansas. All this being said I've tried to convince my wife to move there.

[@A0F25]

Annoying Teacher Pet here: 18 century is from 1. January 1701 till 31. December 1800. So all the Houses are from the 19 century. ;) sorry for interrupting… btw. nice Video

[@RichardFelstead1949]

Very enjoyable. I'm looking forward to you next lot of videos. Greetings from Australia.

[@cherienafo7676]

OZ// Hey Joey, another good one !! Glad U2 are taking a break. I,m looking forward to all the future journeys you will take me /us on !! Great work Joey and Hi to Nicole. 💖 🙃

[@buzzsah]

If you guys are going to be in CT. check out a few shoreline towns. Guilford, Branford, Yale, Milford.

[@usmcmos0317]

Little late getting to check this one out and it didn’t disappoint at all. Great video. Love those small towns. As I’ve said not one to live in town but those real small ones could be an exception. I’m sure by now it’s safe to say… Toto I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore. LoL 😂 course I know you knew it was coming sometime. LoL. I tell ya Joe with all this trip and all the others you would have made a great long haul driving buddy. LoL. And with your easy and original commentary style I could have listened to you narrate the whole run. I have been to Greely once took a load of tractor implements around 2009 I think was a beautiful laid back place, appears to still be. I’m really sorry that you and Nicole have to suffer the trip to Hawaii , but I know you’re suffering for your faithful viewers. LoL 😂. I have always said I could watch Robert Duvall paint a fence white and he’d make it interesting i now truthfully can say you could narrate the painting and make it even more interesting. Safe travels my friend, keep filming and I’ll keep watching.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thanks, man!! :)

[@silvanski]

Love those small downtown areas

[@motowngirl5891]

Beautiful neighborhood

[@haroldseattle1488]

Hawaii sounds fun and be interesting to see the small communities there. Thinking you will have some fabulous drone shots. Every time I see one of those I think wow what a great camera and what a great drone.

[@TheAsif5182]

always love to learn english . and this time i learned one phrase . this town "bucks the trend" of other town .❤

[@Eric777-71]

You never know, I might see some little town to move to sometime in the future.

[@garys-little-corner]

Other small towns, which are in SE Kansas, include Cherokee, Ks, Scammon, Ks, and West mineral.

[@ganiwaseem9210]

These towns aren't dying, these towns are preserving the glory of America that some folks like myself love.

[@briannave7326]

Another interesting video of small town America, I live on a farm near one, Gilmore City Iowa.

[@Victory1981]

Nice place to live with the exception of monster tornados and bitter-cold winters. Better have a good storm cellar

[@colinl9018]

Amazes me that some of those old houses are still standing.

[@michaelvrooman5681]

Most of the small town grocery stores are served by the same warehouse suppliers and that will be included in the name of the store. Around North Central Kansas it is Thrift way stores a little south is Apple Market.

[@jennylynn82173]

How fun is this! I’m in KC! Grew up in Manhattan, KS 🥰

[@davewinter2688]

My wife went to grad school at KSU in the days (middle 1970’s) before the football team was any good. Great basketball teams in those days. The town was pretty quiet in the summer then. I rode a bicycle with out danger of getting run over. Massive growth since then. Lots of traffic and not enough housing.

[@ZeCabreira]

I like Linn. I can live in Linn. Watching from the Philippines.

[@payson1]

When you visit Albany New York make sure you go through Schenectady. Love your videos.

[@shannonholtgraver6776]

I enjoyed this video. Wish that you would have shown The Battle of Mine Creek visitor center outside of Pleasanton on 52 HWY. Fort Scott 25 miles south of Pleasanton has the Fort Scott National Historical Site. Very interesting sites for those interested in the Civil War. The architecture of the historic homes in Fort Scott is BEAUTIFUL. Check out the Lyons Twin Mansions.

[@Denusa]

I agree we visited here spring 2023 and Battle of Mine creek was worth the time to stop.

[@igavehimadollar3354]

Really enjoying these videos from Australia hope you guys are doing great

[@RiisPark99]

Like your videos but I wish in the future you’d slow down when in the downtown area so we can see what kind of businesses operate there.

[@MM-ks7vs]

Hey Joe, no cats, no dogs? Well... no people too. But you found a cookie 🍪 shop with promotions for the next Christmas! 😂

[@Victory1981]

I’ve been to Kansas across from St. Joseph, Mo. It was a border town. I think it was called Elwood. Nice trees in Kansas

[@beesmith9508]

When u live in a small town like this you live the country ways.U cook biscuits gravy, not a lot out of the box.U enjoy the simple things, lot less stress than city living.Neighbors help neighbors.I live in a small town an enjoy the quietness.

[@dewalt10-2-4]

Greeley looks to be a Zero Turn mower town, Wow..Cutting grass around there.

[@Mariel_Moon]

It's very expensive in Hawaii. I hope you find decent hotel who doesn't cost a fortune. 🙏🏻 Thank you for this relaxing video. Allways make my day. Take care ❤

[@peterbryda5153]

I love that old building at 25:55 too. Another fantastic video as always, thank you. Enjoy your time back home ❤

[@tripresidue]

So many singing birds. Or, the same 2 or 3 following you around.

[@Marvel-Rogue]

@JoeyandNicsRoadTrip Truly sadness 😔 that these towns cities or fading dying out. Can anyone buy the Brooke Manion, or is it on the Nationale Registry ya 🤔. Huge yards and no gates nor fences at they have sheds. Damn Joey, what are you trying to do blow a tire 😳 freaking potholes? you have to watch that, bro . This road trip was very nice and quiet, 👍

[@USAcntryTX1]

$99k it’s pending…. The description said is ready for someone to move in. However it’s dirty very old carpet, old wood paneling from early 1900’s kitchen you don’t want to know. I think they should wrote ready for investor to come in and update it.

[@mikemoore2995]

Thanks!

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thank you, Mike!

[@scubastevesdestiny]

I have an advertising sign here in the house from the First National Bank of Blue Mound. It would have hung roughly 2 mi out of town as it is a mile marker.

[@BrianMurfitt]

Thanks Nic & Joe, another great drive through Kansas. I liked Mound City the best, it had character and it was the most interesting, typically mid-Western, it looked great. Why are you utilities so expensive in the mid-West? Is it because the weather's unpredictable and the winters are harsh?! 👍🚙🤗

[@garymcintosh8340]

Graduated from Blue Mound High School in 1961.

[@americanliberty4898]

I have a thousand things to do, I don't appreciate Joe & Nic's Road Trip making it a thousand and one!

[@senzanome8294]

Love seeing all these small towns. Too bad you did not do Eureka, Kansas in Greenwood County. Some day some one will do this town.

[@MylesNewman-cc1tx]

Some towns that aren’t ghost towns yet, are already auditioning for the part.

[@maribethspence9458]

99,900 is what they are asking for that house on 330 Spruce Street, in Mound City Kansas.

[@Eric777-71]

I enjoy your videos! What a great couple you guys are! 👍

[@marktevault57]

Kansas is declining in population. Biggest reason is terribly high taxes.

[@Eric777-71]

When you go to Delaware check out the towns around Wilmington! Like my old hometown 😁

[@cindyconner7733]

Love it

[@MrJacMac1968]

Util are high because of the cold winters.Heating costs

[@craigdavies9500]

Mound City looks really nice, I'd love to live there.

[@walterkoons9899]

Very interesting.

[@johnfitzpatrick2469]

G,day Nic and Joe from Sydney Australia. Those small towns need some primary industries to simulate their economy. Then, health care, roofing, plumbing, electrical and paint. 🌏🇦🇺

[@JJJBRICE]

Happy Trails to all capital cities !