Forgotten Rural America: I Visited A Dying County In The Poorest Area Of Mississippi

[@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.

[@Margot_est_douce.]

Definitely one of your best uploads yet!

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thank you!!

[@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!

[@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 🤷🏿‍♂️!

[@tinyhauslife]

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

[@TheRedDevil_NC]

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

[@ammapuramsrinivasrao2249]

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

[@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

[@RobOlgatree]

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

[@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!

[@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!!

[@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!

[@kirktinsley5397]

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 🤑💰

[@emilyhubbard1510]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@ronniekubin1992]

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

[@zekrk504]

Great stream Joe & Nic!! Thank you!

[@dalefutrelle1441]

Love these southern towns especially the weather at this time of year.

[@HalinMississippi]

It is a shame what has happened to small town America. 😢

[@Reese8531]

Right instead of sending jobs to China and Mexico making them richer, why not put the jobs in these areas, and other places in the country that need them

[@TheCapn23]

Why do the politicians they vote for continue to only advocate for tax cuts while rural America continues to be hollowed out?

[@JimPippin-wc7fq]

​@@Reese8531That is what Mr. Trump hopes to accomplish by his use of tariffs on Chinese and Canadian goods being imported. I hope this tactic is successful and works the way he is hoping.

[@ricklatouch2263]

Big city America too. Corporate greed has taken its toll.

[@Reese8531]

@@JimPippin-wc7fq I’m definitely hoping so!! Trump normally does what he says he’s going to do 🤷🏿‍♂️!!

[@redrebels24]

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

[@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!!

[@LyleFrancisDelp]

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

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thanks, Lyle!!

[@nicolasss]

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

[@klwthe3rd]

Lord Spoda lives on!

[@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.

[@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.

[@lindadavis1631]

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

[@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

[@RobinGerhart]

Thank you, this is everywhere but not always seen.

[@tatsf]

Thank you for giving all the stats on each place that you pass through! Your narration overall is great, and makes the videos for me. I love seeing all of these parts of the country that I'd probably never get to see otherwise. Even if I drove through I wouldn't get as good of a perspective as you give us!

[@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!

[@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.

[@catlover614]

A great video, as always. These old towns are so fascinating to explore. Some gorgeous old homes, and I love the church converted into a library, a wonderful idea! Another good cat day! Thanks so much, Joe and Nic.❤

[@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!

[@marywalker2896]

Wow Joe excellent job…

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thank you for the kind words, Mary!

[@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.

[@Reese8531]

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

[@jaccexx7565]

A lot of abandoned homes. Greetings from Finland

[@maryflaherty7096]

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

[@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!

[@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

[@ednorton47]

It looks like there are slim pickings in Pickens.

[@gdroege44]

Guessing trickle down economics didn’t work for those towns.

[@HeinrichFeldmeyer]

Trickle down economics work perfectly fine - from the ordinary citizen to the neocon elites that is😊

[@peternagy-im4be]

Trickling down from where though?

[@TheCapn23]

And rural people keep voting for the same people

[@michaelmilitello5644]

That economic modality doesn’t work when the economy is based on something that doesn’t need many humans and is fully mechanized. The economy is not diversified enough to sustain the population.

[@sird2333]

@@TheCapn23 Democrats

[@patm5594]

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

[@12wingwfetech]

Nice roads around Pickens

[@willythewave]

I love you two, thank you for sharing your lives and adventures with us. I hope you had a good thanksgiving and I wish you both a very merry christmas. :)

[@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! 🐱🐱🐱

[@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!

[@redrebels24]

Great clip guys!!! Thanks

[@Civicfk8-oq3vk]

Mississippi is a great state gets a bad wrap

[@SteveAustin-jp3ev]

Thanks for you hard work 😊

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thanks, Steve!!

[@lisadobbie7109]

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

[@catherinefrancis5827]

Thank you so much for y your videos❤🙏

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thank you, Catherine!!

[@nancysimpson4246]

Like always I enjoy your videos thank you

[@cherienafo7676]

Thanks U2 ! Cheers from Sth Australia.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thank you!

[@barryzbornik634]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@eLegend_24]

I'd love to save the house at 17:54. From what I can see, it still has good bones. I'd clear the land around it and make that a great place to live. The churches in the area all look Immaculate. There is hope for this county 🙏 🙏🙏

[@frederickmuhlbauer9477]

No reason to renovate it given the location It would be a losing deal

[@stephenbush7200]

Pickens and Holmes must have been the big men in that area back when. I saw their names on buildings in at least 2 towns.

[@peternagy-im4be]

Slim Pickens

[@lb5428]

Love y’all videos. Can you do rural and middle Georgia and more South Carolina??

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Possibly.... :)

[@lb5428]

@ I think we have watched all of your videos minus a few of the super early ones!!! Keep up the great work!!!

[@johnboggan4390]

Good video and thank you much. 😊

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thank you, John!!

[@User7336John]

If I could come to the America, with my family, would stay and spend the rest of my life, in the forgotten Rural, and deliver around nature and abandoned houses, 🏘️ I'm a hard worker and struggle man , from Afghanistan ❤❤❤ God bless you bro , I always watching your videos are perfect.

[@redrebels24]

Random dude on horse 🐎 STELLAR!

[@CultofGood]

Hey Joe - the interesting structure @21:39 is located at 107 College St - can't find any info at this point as to what it was - google maps going back to 2014 show it boarded up and empty. So it's been sitting for 10+ years. I agree tho, very intriguing building.

[@redrebels24]

Love the old all glass store front!

[@redrebels24]

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

[@alankirkby465]

Im English, I live in England, UK. These places you visit In USA. Nevertheless somehow have a Interesting beauty about them + your statistics I find Interesting. concerning these places. Anyway, Peace to all.

[@Reese8531]

Yeah the little that they got down there you can tell they take pride in it!!

[@Reese8531]

Some people still catch there food in Mississippi!!

[@razorready]

Great video as always. The grey building @29:07 looks like a very old hospital to me. Just a guess.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

That's a good guess.

[@58jennypenny]

Some of these houses are very grand for the price they are fetching aren't they.

[@frederickmuhlbauer9477]

Location

[@tudo8412]

Okay ! See you next Video in Alabama. Thanks Joe & Nic.

[@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.

[@Reese8531]

Hopefully after Alabama, you’ll go through Georgia,South Carolina,North Carolina and Virginia!!

[@marcomcdowell8861]

Poor towns can never afford infrastructure, but the reverends will sure to heck get the people to open up their wallets for the church.

[@harveybc]

Dang, when you panned the camera to the left just when the white care was passing, in the town, it made me jump. It kind of looked like you were turning right into its side. 😬 Really been enjoying your trips.

[@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.

[@vontaylor472]

Good morning❤❤❤

[@louisskulnik7390]

Lord, have mercy, Joe. Y’all should go stay at the beautiful BnB in Wilson, Arkansas. Mississippi County has a lot of interesting places. Victoria, Arkansas where the heir to Smith and Wesson married into the Wilson family fortune (biggest land holding in the USA in its day.) The whole city of Wilson is under new ownership and has become one of the premier spots in the region. Lot of beautiful houses, but also a lot of poverty in the county.

[@juliusmilo5959]

Good video...Thank You...

[@Kathyrnsorensen]

Good morning Valley of the Sun, I can't imagine, I have been watching like Mt St Helens is recharging after 35 years, it's steam and earthquake going on like before, yes I was i lived in Redmond WA....yes been on KZbin all about bigger eruption... live in Phoenix Arizona now

[@coolmanfoo2407]

Couldn't have said it better myself. Cheers!

[@diegosilang4823]

It's such a waste of habitable space. All these places need is bring back manufacturing to America.

[@Reese8531]

💯!! Instead of sending the jobs to Mexico and China they should put them here 🤦🏾‍♂️!! Hopefully trump is planning on doing something about this!!

[@davidabernathy4553]

Well now this was an interesting video and it looks like to me that it is really slim Pickens in the town of Pickens. I am surprised that the annual income is as high as it is as well as the average price of a home there. Excellent video and enjoyed it very much.

[@AFRAKER1]

6:05 The steps up to nothing left…sadly symbolic.

[@edwardweisenburg6585]

I would really like to hear the property tax rates in these towns !❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@bayoumanbryan]

idk about Ms but here in La we have a homestead exemption up to 250,000 if its your primary residence.

[@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

[@klwthe3rd]

It's hard for me to believe this is the POOREST county in the state. 35% poverty is not nearly as high as other cities/towns on your channel. If you remember Rosedale, MS was like 56% to 60% poverty which was the highest i've seen yet. Yes these are county numbers but those areas around Clarksdale, Rosedale, Belzoni seem to be far worse.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Some lists have it #1, some 2nd or third. There's a lot of factors to consider.

[@motowngirl5891]

Thanks from Detroit

[@skeletor9121]

Joe looks like you will need new shocks for the Jeep after all those pot holes.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

You ain't kidding. A lot of rough roads over the past couple videos.

[@philo5096]

Great vid, thanx.

[@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.

[@lisadobbie7109]

Textile industry didn't have to all move overseas. Value added cotton jobs were plentiful at one time and was backbone of rural south. This country has abandoned its people through predatory corporate practices that only looks at profit.

[@redrebels24]

The church is an awesome town entrance.

[@Kathyrnsorensen]

I can't imagine hours so cheap and living on cheap, that last house house I bought was Tacoma WA , I paid $67K now $450K , and now Tacoma WA is #1 FBI Crime in USA City

[@curtiseggemeyer5681]

Tri Cities is awesome has grown is beautiful and cheap to live in. Thankful I moved here 33 years ago.

[@kabaduck]

A lot of that area of floods, you're driving in those roads but often times those are water sinks in your car could be up to the top of the door to the bottom of your window on your car and there are alligators in those woods.

[@robertkeller5930]

Maybe tour towns that tornadoes hit?

[@davianoinglesias5030]

It's the same story across the world, in my country Kenya we used to have thriving rural towns but then with the collspse of tea, coffee, pyrethrum and cotton industries these towns are a shell of their former selves

[@bobby9195]

Pretty houses

[@redrebels24]

This piggly wiggly DIDN'T GO TO THE MARKET!! 😂 I know horrible 😅

[@shibui99]

Bldg. in Lexington looks like an abandoned apartment complex.

[@scaredy-cat]

I doubt anyone eats at expensive restaurants