What Happened To Iaeger, West Virginia?

Iaeger, West Virginia...WOW!! Located in McDowell County, and having a population of only 257 people, it is one of the poorest and hardest hit towns in the state. After the coal mine industry came to an end, and dealing with floods, Iaeger has suffered immensely. Most people had to move to find jobs as the town has been just about wiped out. Those who remain deal with struggles daily, as poverty rates are over 34%. Median incomes are less than half of the national average. I barely seen anyone there, and downtown was empty as it gets. Quite sad, but amazing at the same time as it is such a beautiful place. Abandoned homes, buildings, and cars make it look as time has stood still for decades. Let's take a drive and check it out!

[@thejudgmentalcat]

What a cute town it probably was in its day. The kudzu is taking down the electric pole!

[@voodookitchenmama]

Places and vehicles look like people just got up and left. So hauntingly beautiful and sad at the same time.

[@brycewiborg8095]

The impressive thing is there isn't garbage scattered around, and the streets were reasonably well maintained. Never been there. Thank you.

[@terrylawson1946]

We all need to move their and bring the town back to life

[@BOZOSMITH-xw3ms]

Being retired I could do that

[@fortressgothika]

Maybe yes or maybe not this one but surely there could be a spot somewhere.

[@11mralman]

I'll come across similar looking videos, watch them, and as soon as some guy feels he has to narrate, I realize I picked a badie, and immediately look for one of yours! Thank you for not narrating and trying to be witty. That's what makes your videos superior. Thank you!

[@hoodsnhollers]

Thanks so much for watching!

[@rebeccareynolds5064]

I miss the way it use be. Everything changes with time. People move away for jobs like myself. I love my home town, I love the people and I do get homesick sometimes. Good people in Iaeger and it will always be home

[@johnmartin7182]

as always awesome content love this channel

[@hoodsnhollers]

Thank you John!!

[@1940limited]

This place doesn't look too bad. It's nice and neat with no trash thrown around. Not like the inner city hoods. The old commercial buildings look as if they could be fixed up and used again. Many of the houses are shot. Those dump trucks in the beginning of the video are expensive items. It's amazing people would park them and walk away. Poor little kitty at 1:30. Looking for a home, maybe?

[@johnlorrieboskovic2836]

Often people here acquire via trading back and forth multiples of the same vehicle. They may have been worth something at one time but my bet is that each is missing things like the engine or transmission or large amounts of the braking systems. The goal is often to have enough spare parts available to keep the truck that is still running in service.

[@1940limited]

These places always have a few churches well kept and obviously still in use. Then there's the railroad that looks as if it's in use, too, but no trains stop here anymore.

[@iansharp7422]

Another sign of the times with churches closing due to shrinking congregations. Sometimes they will be bought up and converted into houses. Some of them might look decent from the outside but probably just have a part time caretaker or such. Some probably get used as meeting halls.

[@vickisawyer7405]

Strange that the only living thing in this video was a kitty and he looked as if he was coming to you to say "hi". This is another town that looks like it could be a set for a Twilight Zone episode. Very beautiful countryside. Thank you!

[@hoodsnhollers]

I was trying to give him some food. He seen it coming I think lol

[@vickisawyer7405]

@@hoodsnhollers that is very nice of you, maybe better than the wildlife he might be eating...🐈‍⬛

[@williebeamish5879]

It's still so gorgeous there. Such a shame.

[@andrewbird57]

I am struck by the natural beauty of this place. It's perplexing that in so much of the nation - especially out here in California - homes are out of reach for middle class families, while places such is this are left abandoned and impoverished. What type of camera do you use? Thank you.

[@CJ-vj7pm]

Yeah, the nature in West Virginia is very pretty despite the dilapidated man-made infrastructure

[@bridgetmuehlberger5141]

Wow, that Montgomery Wards Catalog Store was definitely from a different time. It seems the kudzu is taking over this town. Fascinating and sad at the same time.

[@CJ-vj7pm]

I always find your videos interesting, so here's a question: do you ever have residents or cops in these locations look at you suspiciously or even threaten you, or do you mostly go unnoticed? Thanks, keep up the good work.

[@gailweikelcorrea]

COAL....thats what happened 😦😔

[@calamityjane7808]

What a beautiful place.... My heart breaks...

[@r.pres.4121]

What happened, this small mountain community was too dependent on one industry known as coal mining. When the market demand for coal collapsed, the mines closed and towns like this just deteriorated and died out. There is nothing left in this little town except boarded up brick buildings, discarded dump trucks, empty houses, and a mostly poor and aging population left behind.

[@gabe5946]

Thanks as always 👍🇺🇸

[@user-xl5hv2yg1x]

From iaeger just moved 2 months ago and already miss it so much just no work there

[@tanja6233]

Hello friend @0:20 was that a JAGUAR? All the greenery/ hills keeps it beautiful must say streets are fairly decent-looking ..It's the buildings left abandoned nor kept up 😢..Along side "FAMILIES THAT WILL NOT LEAVE HOME" no matter WHAT.. Stay safe in your travels friend 🤗

[@hoodsnhollers]

Yes that was a Jaguar lol

[@tanja6233]

@@hoodsnhollers WOW..not bad at all Jaguar in West Virginia.. Take care

[@johnlorrieboskovic2836]

It was a Jaguar from the days when Ford was reviving the marque. It's at least 25 years old and was worthless when new!

[@algee8415]

Only life was the kitty at 1:25 and a car in the last four seconds

[@bobkirk942]

Definitely can find a house there for under $20000

[@williebeamish5879]

Yeh, just surprised with all this "back to nature", homesteading, and flight from the cities that folks don't consider this state. Not enough amenities close by I guess.

[@tom2698]

Haunting....

[@carolyneredic2149]

How many people live here? It’s not over til God say it is done beautiful city love West Virginia

[@drummersagainstitk]

I love your work Thank you.

[@hoodsnhollers]

Thanks for watching!

[@ricardoenriquevasquezsola5586]

El paisaje se parece al cantón General António Elizalde, en la provincia del Guayas, República del Ecuador

[@Sir_Sway]

looks nice to me

[@lindapietrasz8070]

05:38 I swear that looks like a Kudzu Big Bird.

[@ElenorNailsArt]

Яка надзвичайна природа! Казкова краса

[@msmedved_]

I see nothing wrong with this town, it's really quite beautiful, vintage America !

[@lindapietrasz8070]

That city has some weird road designs. 🤔

[@bobkirk942]

1810's-1830's homes maybe some late 1700's

[@robinsmith8252]

Some of these towns still have a chance. I would love to see some footage of train traffic. Wonder is it commercial only or Amtrack also? Rhank you for doing these.

[@sknowman1424]

Looks like the Logan video you posted last week. Pretty much how WV looks except for a few small areas in the 4 or 5 growing counties in the state. Maybe it is a WV thing but virtually all these abandoned and run down towns have a Dollar General.

[@countrifried]

Still got family that lives there in Ritter holler.

[@lindapietrasz8070]

01:27 🐾🐾 meow 🐱

[@christinabator5705]

Peaceful

[@HackHunter1835]

McDowell county. They can give these towns different names, but they all mirror each other with the destruction of the coal industry. I feel fortunate being able to move away from the great state of Wva at the age of 21. I will never forget when my boss said " would you like to transfer to the big City?" I never looked back but feel for the people who never left.

[@laretdenton9768]

Good grief Main Street is empty except for the cat that is wondering which way to go.

[@rosiemcnaughton9933]

Empty buildings and kudzu...

[@Enemiesexposed]

What happened to the whole dang country?

[@tentigers7335]

Looks like it could be a nice place fallen on hard times. Mostly no litter with streets and sidewalks looking okay. Even a lot of the run down buildings had the weeds cut. Probably better than most of these sad locations in the US.

[@lindapietrasz8070]

Thanks! Here's $5 to buy some Kudzu to plant at where you live. 🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿

[@hoodsnhollers]

Thanks so much again Linda! The kudzu is the new paint for the south!

[@hartmutlorentzen9659]

Much better than Kensington!

[@anjachan2]

So spooky!

[@janeentumbao8690]

I bet some of the reasons you like driving through WV is because there's no one there to bother you, the peace and quiet, the fresh air and it's dirt cheap to shop. Side note... I think Hollywood should move more movies here to WV to put some people to work and bring money. They could build the biggest sets there!

[@R0ttenGear]

Thanks for your Videos 👍🏼 Grüße aus Deutschland 🇩🇪

[@hoodsnhollers]

Thanks so much for watching!

[@curlyyhair777]

❤

[@user-rq9ql1co2n]

What happened was everyone got tiered and went to other places it used be like a little Paris but now people have went and annoyed more stuff and I live in iaeger

[@simpledan850]

Use to live there and I'll tell ya why....there is nothing there even Walmart left.

[@cherrylove3656]

shame I love Virginia doesn't surprise me the whole countries seems to be going in this direction.

[@christinepowers8013]

What’s that close to?

[@frankwoods4532]

Where are the people?

[@robertsole9970]

Stop and smell the Kudzu

[@lindapietrasz8070]

🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿

[@bettyacosta1136]

I WAS BORN IN IAEGAR IN THE HPLLERS

[@jimgomez5396]

What's for sale that's not in a flood plain??

[@gailweikelcorrea]

We all know what happened to all the town's in WV so why ask...it was coal, and we all know it...company's move in, then they move out once the coal is gone...and so are the JOBS !!!

[@wanderlore8875]

Dollar General.

[@user-vo5jl6nh2l]

Пустые города а где люди?

[@lindapietrasz8070]

01:06 that cop was hoping to give you a ticket...HnH go buy some tickets for tonight's drawing! $1.55 billion 🤑 Remember your supporters! 😂

[@hoodsnhollers]

Lol! You’ll be the first I tell if we win!

[@lindapietrasz8070]

@@hoodsnhollers Tell? You mean "share with." LOL

[@bettyacosta1136]

Oops I mean hollers lol

[@davidjanson7982]

Looks like a third world country