Nick ~ hi there, I moved to Redfield, South Dakota, this summer from California after watching your South Dakota video. Are you still in the area? I'd love to show you around. Michele
Its also safe. This place reminds me of my family's island in Greece, which is in the middle of nowhere in the South Aegean Sea. Safe, quiet, cheap, no protesters, no riots, no crime....
If you think that SD is boring you should go to New Hampshire. My auntie lives in a small town there. She told me that a cat got stuck on a tree once and the police has rushed on sirens and blocked the road. It was some big time action for them.
Small town/rural SD and small town/rural NH aren't that similar. Small town NH the homes and taxes are a lot more expensive. Plus it doesnt look as poor and run down. Its more single family homes than trailer parks. In small town NH you arent far from Boston while in SD its much bigger land so you have to drive a lot more to get to the big cities. The rural Northeast/New England in general is a higher standard of living than in the rural south and midwest. Theres far less rural land available after all so its at more of a premium.
@@Chaz4543 Thanks for explaining me that. Besides the bigger cities near Boston, NH is a rural state. It is mostly covered by forests and there is no major urban development. Because of that there is not much to do there. Police does not have to deal with crime so there is not much going on for them too.
I know this is a year old but you made me laugh and remembered my kids telling me about finding a big snapping turtle on the road in town of De Smet we and there were many people surrounding around while some couple went got a tub to transport it away, big time excitement in these small towns.
My mom grew up in South Dakota, as most of her relatives still live there. This video PERFECTLY represents the life she grew up with, and the life her relatives live considering they grew up on farms and ranches far away from the city. South Dakota has always been my home away from state, and favorite state besides Texas.
Tragically, you really wonder. It's hard to believe that in the 1930's nearly half of all Americans lived on farms or in communities of less than 3K people. Small communities certainly have their drawbacks but overall what a beautiful way to live and wonderful community to be a part of! Actually, watching a thunderstorm roll in sounds rather beautiful, especially when you live in the drought-ravaged west coast!!
Its a sad story...The lure of a better way in a city took many people there..Then, neo-liberal hive mindset ruined them.. Heres what also wrecked the very small towns in Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska etc etc....1. Tearing out the short line railroads 60's 70's 80's 2.The 1980's farm crisis did many farm families in 3. Meth came to town in the mid 90's and never left then fentanl came in late 2000's......
@@davehughesfarm7983 Id rather have the rural life anyday. I dont like cities, have to live in one currently but given the choice id be somewhere remote.
I enjoy getting out of town to a rural location on occasion. After being there a week I get bored, and start missing the big city conveniences. One of the many reasons, Small towns have been dying for decades , is because younger people want a more fulfilling, and exciting life. There may come a time when most towns with a population under 100K become ghost towns.
I grew up in a city. It was wretched, I guess because I have no heart for it. I hung out with small town friends and brought up my kids in the country. They learned to drive manual transmissions bombing around on dirt roads in trucks. Only a snowmobile could get down our road when it snowed. They have life-long friendships with kids who attended elementary school with them. Graduating classes were about 60 kids. They had farm animals and all kinds of pets. They learned about love, loyalty and loss. As they grew older they spent time in bigger cities, but as adults they went right back to country life.
I grew up in Cali, unfortunately. I wasn't in a city but the suburbs I grew up in were larger than many states biggest cities. My graduating class had 98 kids, I don't know a single one of them any more. Miss some of them for sure, but life moves on. Still in this wretched state but I'm dying to make it out of here. I want to get away from all the people and, surprisingly to some people, the weather. If anyone knows a good way to uproot your life and move, let me know. XD
I liked your video series Nick. I am not from SD, but I appreciate the town and their people with the values of mid-America. It's amazing that most have never traveled through the Midwest areas that are not populated. I thank you for being respectful to the community and you being insightful to ask questions to the town's people.
@@NickJohnson hi nick how are you … ? Thanks for your video , I’m from the island of Puerto Rico , and. It’s painfull to hear this , I’m tired out of living in the island and cities with Excessive Loud lives and Ruckus of people … Never was my place , Beach life is ok , but one needs a place of Peace … this painfull to see this , I LOVE THE U.S. soo much and it’s been hard to find work and cheap suitable rent but also a type of community of respect and honor .. Wish things can get better for this town .
There’s not “little” healthcare in SD. Most of these towns have hospitals called critical access hospitals. South Dakota has one of the best nurse/bed to patient ratios in the country.
@@NickJohnson Small hospitals, but a lot of them. Like I mentioned, SD ranks number 1 in available hospital beds for patients. Even a little town like you visited had a hospital. That’s common in SD.
Thank goodness small-town rural America still exists, traditions,, wholesomeness, and grit, are all important parts of this part of America, very nice series.
Wholesomeness??? Grit? Lol. Why does this only apply to rural America? I'm from rural South dakota and many people were mean, petty, selfish, etc. People gossiped like crazy and drama with neighbors was commonplace. There are also plenty of lazy folks living off the government. Plenty of good folk who work hard live in rural America, but that also applies to people in large cities.
I used to watch a TV show from the 1950s and 1960s called Route 66 where two young men drove all over the country in their Corvette. They went through countless towns, some very small and got involved with the locals and staying for a time getting jobs in each town or small city. It was like a tour of the US but with drama everywhere.
That sounds like an amazing series and something like that needs to be done again now! We need things in the media that allow us to appreciate and cherish the good things about our country and being an American. I think most of my generation (20s-30s) in more congested cities have a negative world view on what it means to be an American and what American values actually are.
Loved the video. I too grew up in a real small town in Minnesota but the whole time I was growing up there it didn't feel like a good "fit" for me so I left there right after High School. I'm glad to see that people that DO live in these rural areas are perfectly content. This country needs more people like these genuine people as they are real "salt of the earth".
I grew up in western South Dakota and can say that our work ethic is rooted in the understanding that there will always work that needs to be done. "The fields that need to be plowed are endless. Just do what you can and rest. Don't worry about finishing it all because it's never going to be finished." --Ian Mackaye
Maybe it’s because I’m a bit of an introvert but I’d love to live in a place like This where you know all your neighbors and it’s not busy all the time.
I'd like to take this time to thank all these small farm towns for feeding America.everone plays a part in the forward progress of America,you provide are energy.im truly grateful
I grew up in a small town in Michigan that has grown to be a corporate city. Crime, drug use is up, quality of life is going down. I have desperately been searching for a place that is like the city I grew up in, and these are it! Thank you so much for all your videos. My family will be leaving Michigan for South Dakota because of your work!
Too many small towns "sold out" and were incorporated into neighboring small towns that a few annexes later, voila! A city is born! I grew up in a poor backwoods farm town that exploded into an expensive city starting with a golf course lined with mini-mansions. The suburbs, shopping malls, gas stations attached from there. The small lake was/is no longer fit to swim in, the local mini airport - closed. Left in 1982 and I'll never be back.
Well done again Nick, South Dakota looks lovely, when you get to my ripe age one seeks peaceful surroundings away from the traffic, pollution and the masses of people..less drama and less sirens is good medicine ..👍🐝🌞🙂🌲🐄
Westinghouse Springs was hit by a tornado not too many years ago which I'm sure contributed to it's drastic population decline. It is a great place to live. I grew up about 70 miles north of there. It's a lifestyle change for sure. A better one, I think.
Your so funny my friend moved to Sioux Falls South Dakota from Marquette Michigan where we both became friends I still live in Michigan but she wants me to move out there think I'll stay in Michigan .
Welcome to South Dakota 😊 No, We don't eat the Casey's pizza. Pizza Ranch and Pizza Hut seems to be the preference for most Native South Dakotans. I'm just one of the many thousands of transplants that's migrated here for a better and quieter lifestyle. Twelve good years and counting in the Southern Black Hills 😊. Probably didn't expect such a response from a highly melanated fellow human being. 😊
I don't know what Casey's in sd yall go to but i think anyone from sioux falls who likes quick gas station pizza knows caseys dominates. Plus be honest they're all going to get their dough and other products from the same place so really in the end this is a my dad could beat up your dad argument. I think Casey's pizza almost everywhere there is a Casey's (as a driver) and its all pretty consistent Casey's sausage pizza is my preference when it comes to gas station Pizza you have to get it while it's fresh before the grease starts to congeal
Once again my friend, you're not disappointed us. Great video one more of the many times. I am seriously considering getting the heck out of Illinois (Northwestern Suburbs) about 90 minutes from the down town area. But, ideally would be a small town like this one you are featuring specifically in this video. Thanks again buddy for taking us for the ride.
Good man! Thank you, your videos are amazing. I've never been to USA, but your videos are quite educative and down on earth ! Cheers man, greetings from Yugoslavia!
South Dakota perfectly illustrates the conservative vs. liberal divide in America's political ideologies. To call South Dakota a red state is an understatement. Unfortunately, South Dakota's ingrained conservative values can sometimes be it's own worst enemy. South Dakotan's often forget that for all practical purposes, we are a welfare state in that we receive more in federal benefits than we pay in in taxes. When I was a kid growing up in Sioux Falls, you could take a short drive and still see small 160 acre farms dotting the landscape everywhere. Small town American was still alive and well. After Reagan came into office in 1981, and the effects of his conservative agriculture policies and supply side economics set in, the population of South Dakota began dropping as small farms got swallowed up by big farms. Of course, this also decimated small towns and rural communities. This consolidation continues to this day. Wessington Springs is a rare survivor. It's now rare to see a farm that isn't at least several sections. And beyond the west river divide where ranching is king, the ranches are huge. Family-own and operated farms and ranches have to be big efficient corporate-style operations or they will not survive. Talk to any South Dakota farmer or rancher and you'll likely find a bright individual with an agriculture degree, as it takes a sophisticated skill set to navigate throw the plethora of issues surrounding crop and livestock management, financing and loans, government programs, etc. The days of the hillbilly farmer are long gone. Although I lean conservative myself, I can see how earlier policies that were more progressive benefited South Dakota more than they hurt. And let's not forget that South Dakota is the home of Democrat Senators George McGovern, Tom Daschle, and Tim Johnson, as well as a few democrat representatives here and there. The future of South Dakota and it's small towns is quite uncertain. The trend is toward more consolidation and the slow dismantling of a way of life that was quintessential American. Both liberalism and right-wing conservatism have the potential to destroy rural South Dakota. Let's hope we can strike a balance that will preserve rural America and our traditional American values.
Make that "Stratford-upon-Avon" as in the hometown of Shakespeare in Warwickshire, England, UK. Avon is the river that Stratford is upon. Lol. (Not Stratford, Oklahoma which is near where I grew up.) Still loving these small town videos. Thanks Nick
Again, you made a place I’d never think of going to interesting. We just did western South Dakota in June. We got as Far East as Wall (Wall Drugs) and the Badlands. You consistently have nice guests, Loree included (with her accent, she’d fit right into the Chicago area). Looking forward to your next video - seems like half the state of South Dakota is a ‘Native American Reservation’.
Great informative video Nick! Except for the population of Wessington Springs, my hometown in southeast Iowa is similar other than we have about 7300 people in my hometown. I didn’t see quite as much crop land there but I know it exists. I would definitely like to visit the Corn Palace one day! I do have a very good friend living in Hot Springs South Dakota who is from our hometown. This was just really good! Hope your week goes well! Mark in southeast Iowa.
I am one year into my SD residency. Last September I made the trip to Rapid City to get my SD license and register and title my van. Earlier in the year I had established my domicile by getting a legally recognized address. No state income tax, just renewed my registration for 50 bucks less than it would have cost me where I “lived” prior to last September. Only am required to physically return to the state once every 5 years to renew my driver’s license. At that time I have to prove I spent one night in SD recently. My mail, which I have very little of is forwarded to me to any address I want by simply arranging it online. Now, I saw a few things I want to actually spend time exploring in SD. Did drive through Badlands National Park on my way to Illinois to visit a friend. Took a different route after Illinois in order to visit relatives in Kansas. A lot of nomads use SD as a domicile. Along with Texas, Nevada, and Florida, SD is a state you can be a resident of but not necessarily live there full time.
Nick I'm really impressed sir. I've been following you for quite some time. You are literally making history. I was in South Dakota at the same time you were you.Traveling thru for an install job in Nebraska.We threw a serpentine belt and had to wait a few hours to get new part delivered. What a great town and great state. We thank all of you for being such genuine fine people. I was shocked. I live in North Dakota and knew had ND had changed since the " oil boom". I now know the accurate term to describe ND " progress" is actually the word " decline" and finally almost everything that made North Dakota one of the best states I ever been too or lived. Ruined. Totally. Used to be had vehicle issues here folks would be fistfighting to HELP you. Now in ND ,more likely they call cops on you or worse. Big oil has destroyed North Dakota,they sold their soul. People still work hard in ND,they need to put more work into getting back too the values that made it such an amazing place. North Dakota broke my ❤️,South Dakota thank you so much and God bless you. I thought America was dead. You are still beating strong in the heartland. Don't ever change and fight big oil to the death if need be. if oil industry takes hold in your state,everything that makes your state so amazing will be dead anyway. Oil money prosperity lol. Misery is what that black poop really brings you. However the Lord works in mysterious ways. A few miles outside of De Lacs due to scheduling conflict and sheer boredom I decided to walk a few miles down the road to look at some new equipment. One of the finest young men I have met stopped to askif I needed a ride. It was raining and decided to take offer. He will be entering US ARMY upon graduation this year. The North Dakota spirit is not completely dead. Thank you Nick and thank you Conner. May God continue to bless you both.
I live near Wessington. There are definitely places for sale for prices you won't find anywhere else. We moved to rural South Dakota by choice in 2015 and LOVE IT. It's a great place to raise kids and fishing is amazing! I live closer to the river though.
I loved this video and presentation , The people seems to be nice and natural and take care of each other....it was lovely to hear Nick and the Lady talking humble mature manner of her own town. love and greetings from Europe.
Nick, A bit harsh on our Hummdinger coffee... don't you think? and yes... we do have parades.. 😉 But thank you for showcasing rural South Dakota in a realistic light and giving us a voice in a society that thinks we don't exist anymore. Please do come back .. we'd love to see you again :)
Great video, really interesting. I am in England and just had a look on the map to see where this is, and its very remote, I cant believe how far it is to the nearest cities. Looks a nice place to live, safe, friendly, away from all the crap in todays society. Not sure what the ideal car would be living there. Im guessing a Ford pickup or a Subaru. Thank you
The idea of having a casino and slot machines inside a convenience store is so foreign and bizarre to me and I live in the US. We cant even buy alcohol in our convenience stores in my state.
Have been enjoying your trips across America. My dream of travelling across America has not been achieved though, somehow has been compensated by watching your trips.
What's stopping you? You don't have to see the whole country in one trip. I take a couple of one week road trips a year to different parts of the country. Bring a tent or fold the back seats down and sleep in the back of the car on a mat. Makes travel a lot cheaper.
@@alk3078 I have paranoia and OCD about my car breaking down in some strange place in the middle of nowhere where I have no idea how to get help. Sleep in the back of the car on a mat, where ? In some Walmart parking lot in bumfuck nowhere USA where I have no idea about the crime there ? No thanks.
Lots of small towns in South Dakota have huge community pride. It really shows. In Revillo you can see it in their park, streets, and properties. The whole community builds and maintains these.
I live in Sioux City where the corn palace used to be born in sd tho there’s some pictures of the old palace here my dad is from Mitchell where the new one is played some basketball games there in high school even scored 35 in a game there 10 threes
Many want to farm, but the startup costs are prohibitive. There should be a video on centennial farms - multi-generational farms of 4 or more generations. I'd like to know how some manage to keep the farms in the same family.
Yeah, farming is not something you just start up doing because you want to. Either born into it or have a ridiculous amount of money. Land is the key factor.
Nick, check out communities along the river. The MO. river communities and the reservoirs are destinations for people all the way to Wisconsin. There's a lot of fishing tourism all up and down the river, Lake Oahe is king. From Pierre to Bismarck are a bunch of little towns and fishing villages.
Thank you for your videos. A great deal of information is shared to us. I'm fascinated and my curiosity increases with every video. History and Geography is my subject. I have subscribed to your channel.From Pune City India.
Didn’t like the “virtual jobs” and don’t really know how to get into it but if I ever did I would move to small town, maybe around 5k population more ideal…. Living in busy New Jersey it flat out sucks and it’s expensive I want quiet place and cleaner air. Don’t really go out much anyway rather enjoy nature and get to know people and have an actual community….
The problem is the job situation. I did my time in a large city (DC) and hated it but I came out with a pension and investments. Cities are terrible places, taxes, crime, disease, crowding, traffic etc. Where I live the towns are filling with illegals and recent immigrants, the beautiful old homes are now hatcheries for the third world.
It’s a double edge sword having out of staters move here. They can sell their homes for a good price and come out here were they think real estate is cheap. Like out in the black hills area. Gotten untouchable for locals who typically make low wages in South Dakota. Prices of real estate go up with demand. Same thing is happening where I live. Like a buddy of mine told an out of starter that moved in that’s fine just do not bring your friends along. Getting much tougher for locals to purchase a home where people are moving to from out of state. No South Dakotans do not like change.
Here's the Entire Midwest Road Trip Playlist here: ua-cam.com/play/PLq-_cmf3H6yreUhBrJwFhC9LeCYh1TvBL.html
Nick ~ hi there, I moved to Redfield, South Dakota, this summer from California after watching your South Dakota video. Are you still in the area? I'd love to show you around.
Michele
Its also safe. This place reminds me of my family's island in Greece, which is in the middle of nowhere in the South Aegean Sea. Safe, quiet, cheap, no protesters, no riots, no crime....
If you think that SD is boring you should go to New Hampshire. My auntie lives in a small town there. She told me that a cat got stuck on a tree once and the police has rushed on sirens and blocked the road. It was some big time action for them.
Small town/rural SD and small town/rural NH aren't that similar. Small town NH the homes and taxes are a lot more expensive. Plus it doesnt look as poor and run down. Its more single family homes than trailer parks. In small town NH you arent far from Boston while in SD its much bigger land so you have to drive a lot more to get to the big cities. The rural Northeast/New England in general is a higher standard of living than in the rural south and midwest. Theres far less rural land available after all so its at more of a premium.
@@Chaz4543 Thanks for explaining me that. Besides the bigger cities near Boston, NH is a rural state. It is mostly covered by forests and there is no major urban development. Because of that there is not much to do there. Police does not have to deal with crime so there is not much going on for them too.
Try N Dakota blahhh...
@@robson2939 less crime is ALWAYS great.
I know this is a year old but you made me laugh and remembered my kids telling me about finding a big snapping turtle on the road in town of De Smet we and there were many people surrounding around while some couple went got a tub to transport it away, big time excitement in these small towns.
My mom grew up in South Dakota, as most of her relatives still live there. This video PERFECTLY represents the life she grew up with, and the life her relatives live considering they grew up on farms and ranches far away from the city. South Dakota has always been my home away from state, and favorite state besides Texas.
Tragically, you really wonder. It's hard to believe that in the 1930's nearly half of all Americans lived on farms or in communities of less than 3K people. Small communities certainly have their drawbacks but overall what a beautiful way to live and wonderful community to be a part of! Actually, watching a thunderstorm roll in sounds rather beautiful, especially when you live in the drought-ravaged west coast!!
Beautiful small towns in sd. Greetings from germany.😊
Its a sad story...The lure of a better way in a city took many people there..Then, neo-liberal hive mindset ruined them..
Heres what also wrecked the very small towns in Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska etc etc....1. Tearing out the short line railroads 60's 70's 80's 2.The 1980's farm crisis did many farm families in 3. Meth came to town in the mid 90's and never left then fentanl came in late 2000's......
@@davehughesfarm7983 Id rather have the rural life anyday. I dont like cities, have to live in one currently but given the choice id be somewhere remote.
I enjoy getting out of town to a rural location on occasion. After being there a week I get bored, and start missing the big city conveniences. One of the many reasons, Small towns have been dying for decades , is because younger people want a more fulfilling, and exciting life. There may come a time when most towns with a population under 100K become ghost towns.
I love the Midwest....my family is in Illinois. Great rural lifestyle. There is nothing better.
I’m incredibly proud to be from South Dakota ❤
Can we have a date? :)
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😅
I grew up in a city. It was wretched, I guess because I have no heart for it. I hung out with small town friends and brought up my kids in the country. They learned to drive manual transmissions bombing around on dirt roads in trucks. Only a snowmobile could get down our road when it snowed.
They have life-long friendships with kids who attended elementary school with them. Graduating classes were about 60 kids. They had farm animals and all kinds of pets. They learned about love, loyalty and loss. As they grew older they spent time in bigger cities, but as adults they went right back to country life.
Where in the US? And what city did you grow up in?
Thank you for giving your children a childhood like that! I wish I had that. My dad never taught me how to drive a manual
@@SlapStyleAnims Thank you 😊
I grew up in Cali, unfortunately. I wasn't in a city but the suburbs I grew up in were larger than many states biggest cities. My graduating class had 98 kids, I don't know a single one of them any more. Miss some of them for sure, but life moves on. Still in this wretched state but I'm dying to make it out of here. I want to get away from all the people and, surprisingly to some people, the weather. If anyone knows a good way to uproot your life and move, let me know. XD
I liked your video series Nick. I am not from SD, but I appreciate the town and their people with the values of mid-America. It's amazing that most have never traveled through the Midwest areas that are not populated. I thank you for being respectful to the community and you being insightful to ask questions to the town's people.
Ok Stuart!
@@NickJohnson your welcome would suffice 😛
@@NickJohnson hi nick how are you … ? Thanks for your video , I’m from the island of Puerto Rico , and. It’s painfull to hear this , I’m tired out of living in the island and cities with Excessive Loud lives and Ruckus of people … Never was my place , Beach life is ok , but one needs a place of Peace … this painfull to see this , I LOVE THE U.S. soo much and it’s been hard to find work and cheap suitable rent but also a type of community of respect and honor .. Wish things can get better for this town .
THIS is him being respectful?!?!?!
Why do u think there's hardly no crime in south Dakota I know what u would think but u can't say it.l @NickJohnson
There’s not “little” healthcare in SD. Most of these towns have hospitals called critical access hospitals. South Dakota has one of the best nurse/bed to patient ratios in the country.
They're small
@@NickJohnson Small hospitals, but a lot of them. Like I mentioned, SD ranks number 1 in available hospital beds for patients. Even a little town like you visited had a hospital. That’s common in SD.
So glad I grew up in South Dakota. I know exactly what she’s trying to say about small town wholesomeness
Thank goodness small-town rural America still exists, traditions,, wholesomeness, and grit, are all important parts of this part of America, very nice series.
You forgot BORRING! 😆
@@standunitedorfall1863 True that! 😆
@@Zazz_Blammymatazz I’ll take boring any day over crime.
Wholesomeness??? Grit? Lol. Why does this only apply to rural America?
I'm from rural South dakota and many people were mean, petty, selfish, etc. People gossiped like crazy and drama with neighbors was commonplace. There are also plenty of lazy folks living off the government. Plenty of good folk who work hard live in rural America, but that also applies to people in large cities.
@@Wolff13I grew up in rural south dakota in the 90s and theft was extremely common, especially on farms.
I used to watch a TV show from the 1950s and 1960s called Route 66 where two young men drove all over the country in their Corvette. They went through countless towns, some very small and got involved with the locals and staying for a time getting jobs in each town or small city. It was like a tour of the US but with drama everywhere.
I have that series on DVD.
That sounds like an amazing series and something like that needs to be done again now! We need things in the media that allow us to appreciate and cherish the good things about our country and being an American. I think most of my generation (20s-30s) in more congested cities have a negative world view on what it means to be an American and what American values actually are.
@@martiniangoldberg What's the name of the series?
@@potatoes1234 he said it’s called Route 66
Loved the video. I too grew up in a real small town in Minnesota but the whole time I was growing up there it didn't feel like a good "fit" for me so I left there right after High School. I'm glad to see that people that DO live in these rural areas are perfectly content. This country needs more people like these genuine people as they are real "salt of the earth".
I grew up in western South Dakota and can say that our work ethic is rooted in the understanding that there will always work that needs to be done. "The fields that need to be plowed are endless. Just do what you can and rest. Don't worry about finishing it all because it's never going to be finished." --Ian Mackaye
Maybe it’s because I’m a bit of an introvert but I’d love to live in a place like This where you know all your neighbors and it’s not busy all the time.
Same
I seen your older UA-cam videos, you have evolved to make your videos a lot better, I’m impressed how accurate your information is , thank you.
Ok Nolan
Nick just keeps getting better and better at these videos. Hilarious! I absolutely love em
Me too! 😄 He killed it with that white mustache.
I'd like to take this time to thank all these small farm towns for feeding America.everone plays a part in the forward progress of America,you provide are energy.im truly grateful
I grew up in a small town in Michigan that has grown to be a corporate city. Crime, drug use is up, quality of life is going down.
I have desperately been searching for a place that is like the city I grew up in, and these are it!
Thank you so much for all your videos. My family will be leaving Michigan for South Dakota because of your work!
No homeless camps here. Crime low. Schools good. The bitter cold drive out the rift raft. No graffiti.
Except Eagle Butte.
The people in Wessington Springs are some of the nicest people I have met!
Too many small towns "sold out" and were incorporated into neighboring small towns that a few annexes later, voila! A city is born! I grew up in a poor backwoods farm town that exploded into an expensive city starting with a golf course lined with mini-mansions. The suburbs, shopping malls, gas stations attached from there. The small lake was/is no longer fit to swim in, the local mini airport - closed. Left in 1982 and I'll never be back.
and where would that be?
Circa 1967 unincorporated Snohomish County, aka Alderwood Manor-Martha Lake-Mill Creek, Wa.
Ive lived in Fargo for 39 years ,i couldnt imagine living anywhere else,its a big city but a small town feel
Well done again Nick, South Dakota looks lovely, when you get to my ripe age one seeks peaceful surroundings away from the traffic, pollution and the masses of people..less drama and less sirens is good medicine ..👍🐝🌞🙂🌲🐄
Westinghouse Springs was hit by a tornado not too many years ago which I'm sure contributed to it's drastic population decline. It is a great place to live. I grew up about 70 miles north of there. It's a lifestyle change for sure. A better one, I think.
Nice !! That " Corn Palace " was really cools IMO .
Another awesome video, such good format and enjoyable to watch
Aww hey guys! Your video is coming up in TWO more videos!
If you want to see a sad town go to Spencer, SD or Manchester, SD. After a tornado hit them they never where the same.
Your so funny my friend moved to Sioux Falls South Dakota from Marquette Michigan where we both became friends I still live in Michigan but she wants me to move out there think I'll stay in Michigan .
Sioux Falls had 50,000 people when I was born there. Now it’s over 200,000 and growing faster.
Welcome to South Dakota 😊 No, We don't eat the Casey's pizza. Pizza Ranch and Pizza Hut seems to be the preference for most Native South Dakotans. I'm just one of the many thousands of transplants that's migrated here for a better and quieter lifestyle. Twelve good years and counting in the Southern Black Hills 😊. Probably didn't expect such a response from a highly melanated fellow human being. 😊
I can tell you guys don't eat Casey's - they make it terrible up there
I don't know what Casey's in sd yall go to but i think anyone from sioux falls who likes quick gas station pizza knows caseys dominates. Plus be honest they're all going to get their dough and other products from the same place so really in the end this is a my dad could beat up your dad argument. I think Casey's pizza almost everywhere there is a Casey's (as a driver) and its all pretty consistent Casey's sausage pizza is my preference when it comes to gas station Pizza you have to get it while it's fresh before the grease starts to congeal
Tell that to Huron... burnt down and got built over by a car rental.
Once again my friend, you're not disappointed us. Great video one more of the many times. I am seriously considering getting the heck out of Illinois (Northwestern Suburbs) about 90 minutes from the down town area. But, ideally would be a small town like this one you are featuring specifically in this video. Thanks again buddy for taking us for the ride.
Go see it - it's great!
@@NickJohnson Thanks for replying buddy. I am almost a 100% that I will check it out. Thanks again for one of the many great videos.
Good man! Thank you, your videos are amazing. I've never been to USA, but your videos are quite educative and down on earth ! Cheers man, greetings from Yugoslavia!
Yugoslavia has no flag emoji??
There’s no more Yugoslavia.
You make my day 💜
What a nostalgic trip 💚
Thank ya 🤍
South Dakota perfectly illustrates the conservative vs. liberal divide in America's political ideologies. To call South Dakota a red state is an understatement. Unfortunately, South Dakota's ingrained conservative values can sometimes be it's own worst enemy. South Dakotan's often forget that for all practical purposes, we are a welfare state in that we receive more in federal benefits than we pay in in taxes. When I was a kid growing up in Sioux Falls, you could take a short drive and still see small 160 acre farms dotting the landscape everywhere. Small town American was still alive and well. After Reagan came into office in 1981, and the effects of his conservative agriculture policies and supply side economics set in, the population of South Dakota began dropping as small farms got swallowed up by big farms. Of course, this also decimated small towns and rural communities. This consolidation continues to this day. Wessington Springs is a rare survivor. It's now rare to see a farm that isn't at least several sections. And beyond the west river divide where ranching is king, the ranches are huge. Family-own and operated farms and ranches have to be big efficient corporate-style operations or they will not survive. Talk to any South Dakota farmer or rancher and you'll likely find a bright individual with an agriculture degree, as it takes a sophisticated skill set to navigate throw the plethora of issues surrounding crop and livestock management, financing and loans, government programs, etc. The days of the hillbilly farmer are long gone. Although I lean conservative myself, I can see how earlier policies that were more progressive benefited South Dakota more than they hurt. And let's not forget that South Dakota is the home of Democrat Senators George McGovern, Tom Daschle, and Tim Johnson, as well as a few democrat representatives here and there. The future of South Dakota and it's small towns is quite uncertain. The trend is toward more consolidation and the slow dismantling of a way of life that was quintessential American. Both liberalism and right-wing conservatism have the potential to destroy rural South Dakota. Let's hope we can strike a balance that will preserve rural America and our traditional American values.
I’m from that type of town and moved to Houston for 35 years. I moved back to my roots.
Make that "Stratford-upon-Avon" as in the hometown of Shakespeare in Warwickshire, England, UK. Avon is the river that Stratford is upon. Lol. (Not Stratford, Oklahoma which is near where I grew up.) Still loving these small town videos. Thanks Nick
Again, you made a place I’d never think of going to interesting. We just did western South Dakota in June. We got as Far East as Wall (Wall Drugs) and the Badlands. You consistently have nice guests, Loree included (with her accent, she’d fit right into the Chicago area). Looking forward to your next video - seems like half the state of South Dakota is a ‘Native American Reservation’.
Yes Bill!
Hi Bill! What accent? LOL... Didn't realize I had one! :)
Great informative video Nick! Except for the population of Wessington Springs, my hometown in southeast Iowa is similar other than we have about 7300 people in my hometown. I didn’t see quite as much crop land there but I know it exists. I would definitely like to visit the Corn Palace one day! I do have a very good friend living in Hot Springs South Dakota who is from our hometown. This was just really good! Hope your week goes well! Mark in southeast Iowa.
Where in Iowa, Mark? I have relatives in SE Iowa!
@@QueenB572 South of Iowa City. Washington.
I love this channel! I also wish there was a Canadian version! I think Canada's closest thing to nice places to live would be Nova Scotia?
I am one year into my SD residency. Last September I made the trip to Rapid City to get my SD license and register and title my van. Earlier in the year I had established my domicile by getting a legally recognized address. No state income tax, just renewed my registration for 50 bucks less than it would have cost me where I “lived” prior to last September. Only am required to physically return to the state once every 5 years to renew my driver’s license. At that time I have to prove I spent one night in SD recently. My mail, which I have very little of is forwarded to me to any address I want by simply arranging it online. Now, I saw a few things I want to actually spend time exploring in SD. Did drive through Badlands National Park on my way to Illinois to visit a friend. Took a different route after Illinois in order to visit relatives in Kansas. A lot of nomads use SD as a domicile. Along with Texas, Nevada, and Florida, SD is a state you can be a resident of but not necessarily live there full time.
Nick, how soon before you can help people in Puerto Rico find property in PR ??
Im looking for a rural small farm property in the mountains
Nick I'm really impressed sir. I've been following you for quite some time. You are literally making history. I was in South Dakota at the same time you were you.Traveling thru for an install job in Nebraska.We threw a serpentine belt and had to wait a few hours to get new part delivered. What a great town and great state. We thank all of you for being such genuine fine people. I was shocked. I live in North Dakota and knew had ND had changed since the " oil boom". I now know the accurate term to describe ND " progress" is actually the word " decline" and finally almost everything that made North Dakota one of the best states I ever been too or lived. Ruined. Totally. Used to be had vehicle issues here folks would be fistfighting to HELP you. Now in ND ,more likely they call cops on you or worse. Big oil has destroyed North Dakota,they sold their soul. People still work hard in ND,they need to put more work into getting back too the values that made it such an amazing place. North Dakota broke my ❤️,South Dakota thank you so much and God bless you. I thought America was dead. You are still beating strong in the heartland. Don't ever change and fight big oil to the death if need be. if oil industry takes hold in your state,everything that makes your state so amazing will be dead anyway. Oil money prosperity lol. Misery is what that black poop really brings you. However the Lord works in mysterious ways. A few miles outside of De Lacs due to scheduling conflict and sheer boredom I decided to walk a few miles down the road to look at some new equipment. One of the finest young men I have met stopped to askif I needed a ride. It was raining and decided to take offer. He will be entering US ARMY upon graduation this year. The North Dakota spirit is not completely dead. Thank you Nick and thank you Conner. May God continue to bless you both.
did you hear about that crazy liberal man in ND that killed a teenager for being a conservative?
How does the oil industry destroy a state?
Nick, did you encounter any homes for sale in this cute place? I need some peace and quiet! Love this place! No traffic is a win win!
I live near Wessington. There are definitely places for sale for prices you won't find anywhere else. We moved to rural South Dakota by choice in 2015 and LOVE IT. It's a great place to raise kids and fishing is amazing! I live closer to the river though.
Becky Williams... Contact me.. I'd love to help you find a place :)
Really enjoy your talk track and delivery!
I loved this video and presentation , The people seems to be nice and natural and take care of each other....it was lovely to hear Nick and the Lady talking humble mature manner of her own town. love and greetings from Europe.
This is my dream! True rural life.
Nick,
A bit harsh on our Hummdinger coffee... don't you think? and yes... we do have parades.. 😉 But thank you for showcasing rural South Dakota in a realistic light and giving us a voice in a society that thinks we don't exist anymore. Please do come back .. we'd love to see you again :)
Pure peace and serenity absolutely beautiful ❤️
and Boredom
@@msway836 Lol 😂 compared to the noise of NYC I prefer the boredom
I'm guessing you haven't travelled much if you call that beautiful. This is the most depressing-looking place I think I've ever seen.
@@williamjameslehy1341 LOL 🤣🤣🤣 no I just enjoy the peace of mind I get whenever I get out NYC so places such south Dakota is absolutely amazing to me
South Dakota is the best, as long as you can entertain yourself. Ive lived in SD most of my life.
Looks quiet and peaceful
Cool, I enjoy your videos and like the one you just did on my hometown, Luverne Minnesota. Keep me in mind if you are going through Gillette, Wyoming.
Ok!
Wait. The Corn Palace has audience seating to watch people shop for items? GENIUS!!! 👍
No silly. It is the GYM with audience seating.
Great video, really interesting. I am in England and just had a look on the map to see where this is, and its very remote, I cant believe how far it is to the nearest cities. Looks a nice place to live, safe, friendly, away from all the crap in todays society. Not sure what the ideal car would be living there. Im guessing a Ford pickup or a Subaru. Thank you
You definitely need a truck or at least a SUV.
@@Chaz4543 cheers. Id love the lifestyle there with my girlfriend and she likes proper utility 4x4s, not shite Range Rovers 😁
Ford Pick Up. A Crown Vic works well over potholes and the long drives to get anywhere.
@@oddities-whatnot not as far away from the crap as you might think tho. It all gets down there eventually.
A Subaru would be hard to get worked on out here
I’m laughing ..you are the King of Snark.
You should go to Fairburn! Go collect Fairburn agate hunting in the agate beds! Now that’s a small town!
The idea of having a casino and slot machines inside a convenience store is so foreign and bizarre to me and I live in the US. We cant even buy alcohol in our convenience stores in my state.
Dang it, South Dakota has liquor and beer and casinos in the convenience stores😅😅😅😅 and chips
Video lottery no slot machines... Sad hole on the wall casinos. We don't pay state income taxes because of it tho
Have been enjoying your trips across America. My dream of travelling across America has not been achieved though, somehow has been compensated by watching your trips.
What's stopping you? You don't have to see the whole country in one trip. I take a couple of one week road trips a year to different parts of the country. Bring a tent or fold the back seats down and sleep in the back of the car on a mat. Makes travel a lot cheaper.
@@alk3078 I have paranoia and OCD about my car breaking down in some strange place in the middle of nowhere where I have no idea how to get help. Sleep in the back of the car on a mat, where ? In some Walmart parking lot in bumfuck nowhere USA where I have no idea about the crime there ? No thanks.
It looks nice. I like the hills and greenery.
Hello from Kansas 🇺🇸 great content!
Hi Janice! I ❤️ your state too!
I LOVE South Dakota so was looking forward to a small town SD video lol
Yay
Hey, it's chris. Thanks for the call. Nice editing on your videos. Really enjoyed them, can't wait to see your future videos.
Your videos are great! I was inspired to visit mt. Rushmore and devils tower this weekend! Me! A complete couch potato!
Yay!
So funny Nick!!! Did you notice the lack of Litter?
I hope you hit Pierre and Spearfish,loved those towns. Had a great time in Deadwood at the Casino.
I didnt 😢
Hahah. Nick. It’s Stratford upon Avon. I’ve been there. It’s lovely. I’m Canadian
Lots of small towns in South Dakota have huge community pride. It really shows. In Revillo you can see it in their park, streets, and properties. The whole community builds and maintains these.
tornado warning dinner time lights out love it :)
I grew up in the 70s in Mobridge SD. The whistle blew at 6 and 10. Kids high tailed it home when it blew.
Looks like all the yards are maintained. Kind of says a lot about a town. I'd live there for sure.
I noticed that too
I find it so interesting for some reason seeing and learning the lesser known states even though I've never been to America
Visit Winner, two hours to the SW. It’s a bigger small town, with just over 2,800.
Great video. Thanks for your travels, dude.
I live in Sioux City where the corn palace used to be born in sd tho there’s some pictures of the old palace here my dad is from Mitchell where the new one is played some basketball games there in high school even scored 35 in a game there 10 threes
Yay!!! ❤️❤️❤️
This lady explained the best how its like to live in small town or better word is little village.
Many want to farm, but the startup costs are prohibitive. There should be a video on centennial farms - multi-generational farms of 4 or more generations. I'd like to know how some manage to keep the farms in the same family.
Now Bill Gates and China own billions of dollars of farmland in the US. They want us to starve or get sick on their GMO food.
Yeah, farming is not something you just start up doing because you want to. Either born into it or have a ridiculous amount of money. Land is the key factor.
4th generation sd farmer here :)
Nick, check out communities along the river. The MO. river communities and the reservoirs are destinations for people all the way to Wisconsin. There's a lot of fishing tourism all up and down the river, Lake Oahe is king. From Pierre to Bismarck are a bunch of little towns and fishing villages.
Thank you for your videos. A great deal of information is shared to us. I'm fascinated and my curiosity increases with every video. History and Geography is my subject. I have subscribed to your channel.From Pune City India.
🇮🇳
I’ll be visiting South Dakota this August, I can’t wait!
Thanks Nick great information as usual
Love your videos, we have a great state
Yesterday was my birthday party how is your weekend going so far Nick&Mappy. 💖🎂😉😇😍💓
WHAT DID YOU DO FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY JOSH??
A Pizza Party @ my favorite Pizza place Nick & Mappy. 🍕🍕💖💓😋
I used to live near Stratford Upon Avon in England (Shakespeare) it's a lovely place but gets so crowded with tourists 😂
Sounds like heaven.
I’m from Hill City South Dakota. My Dad co-owns the Black Hills Institute on main st. You should go see some dinosaurs!
Should one move into South Dakota or Wyoming? Which one has lower taxes overall, and is cheaper than the other?
The small town I went to in S. Dakota didn't have paved roads.
I grew up in Wessington Springs. It has changed a lot over the last few decades as a result of some pretty significant tragedies .
What tragedies?
Over the last 50 (?) years there have been 2 tornadoes and I believe 4 devastating fires on main street.
Steve Higgins I'm from Woonsocket! 😊
Thanks for that Casey's update;I'm genuinely curious as to how each rates. LOL
How long before we get that "worse places in SD" vid? LOL
🍕 and the worst place is coming up next
This is a great video thanks
👍😊 thanks Nick
we will see, now with the proliferation of WFH (work from home), we may see a reversion of folks going BACK to smaller towns. to be determined.
Didn’t like the “virtual jobs” and don’t really know how to get into it but if I ever did I would move to small town, maybe around 5k population more ideal…. Living in busy New Jersey it flat out sucks and it’s expensive I want quiet place and cleaner air. Don’t really go out much anyway rather enjoy nature and get to know people and have an actual community….
Are you coming to Idaho?
They don't show you the cold harsh wind that blows on your face for 10 months a year
Looks like a good community.
Vehicles in front of the Humm Dinger:
Pickup, pickup, pickup, pickup, pickup, pickup...
The problem is the job situation. I did my time in a large city (DC) and hated it but I came out with a pension and investments. Cities are terrible places, taxes, crime, disease, crowding, traffic etc. Where I live the towns are filling with illegals and recent immigrants, the beautiful old homes are now hatcheries for the third world.
Cry about it you're getting conquered
Exactly. Colusa CA.
That's very interesting images.
I don't think small towns in the West in particular are going to ever come back. It's sad, but I'm afraid I'm right.
Hey Nick! Aberdeen checking in. ( ;;
It’s a double edge sword having out of staters move here. They can sell their homes for a good price and come out here were they think real estate is cheap. Like out in the black hills area. Gotten untouchable for locals who typically make low wages in South Dakota. Prices of real estate go up with demand. Same thing is happening where I live. Like a buddy of mine told an out of starter that moved in that’s fine just do not bring your friends along. Getting much tougher for locals to purchase a home where people are moving to from out of state. No South Dakotans do not like change.