Sadly I used to live in Alligator, MS. My family roots are from there. Those abandoned buildings downtown used to be stores. There were 2or 3 clubs (what we call "hole in a wall" or "juke joints") Even a gas station/plaza with a liquor store & pool hall called BRUNO'S on the main Hwy 61. The town used to be packed with ppl walking around town, children riding bikes & 4wheelers, families gathered in their yards BBQn, playing music, spades, and dominoes. Everyone was damn near related. Everybody knew everybody! Now, all of the store owners are dead. Everybody grew up & moved away to pursue better lives. As they should! Many are successful. Every year we have a TOWN'S REUNION. That's the ONLY time Alligator is packed with people. Most of them come back to visit. Some don't look back. There are good memories in this town. Now its a Ghost Town. See ya later Alligator 👋🐊❤
My husband is from Alligator, and I’m from down the road. Let me tell you about Mississippi folks: They don’t have money, but they are some of the richest people you will ever meet. The strong love for family and community they have is worth its weight in gold.
I am a hospice nurse who works a lot on the Mississippi Delta. One of the main reasons for the low median age is the very shortened life expectancy due to poverty and lack of access to quality healthcare.
Thank you for your care. It is shocking to me to see maternal mortality in Black women in the upstate . And the state closing clinics and hospitals. And not expanding Medicaid. Mississippi has a surplus. And children go to bed hungry. To me that represents a total failure of the State to provide the basic elements of life: food, water, housing, health care, education. Or offer opportunities for people to thrive. It does neither, and wins every election. I live on the coast and we do much better due to military bases, casinos and tourism. Not the high paying jobs but we get by. The Delta is still just barely in the 1900s, not close to 2000s.
Love from India Will never stop being amazed by the open stretches of land and rarely seeing persons moving around My country you can rarely go any place that doesn't have 10 ppl hanging around lol What a freaking vast streach of land your country is ! Blessed ppl you are !
As a Mississippian I thank you for your kind words. I remember the first Indian to come to my school and how excited we all were. He made fast friends with myself and the other boys.
I guess our slums are considered mansions by a lot of people in India. I have seen a lot of videos of big cities in India and I would not like to live there at all. To much trash and pollution and people everywhere and clean water is a luxury there and so are public bathrooms. I would not like to defecate into a hole in a floor over a river lol.. I guess I will take our slums before anyone else's. As bad as it is here in some places it is not as bad as other 3rd world countries. For all the bad we do have its still good here in the USA. If the republikunts ever take over completely in this country then we to will slip into a third world status...MAGATS will ruin America. Vote blue or get the screw.
@@akita96th in 1988 I visited my brother at Ft. Benning, GA in basic training and we went over a bridge and ended up in Phenix City, AL and I remember the shacks and clothes hanging from porches. The houses were shacks and were the same that are found in India so it wouldn’t be a step up.
@@CarsandCats Yes I have! It's just a shame there are empty homes. It would be nice if there was a solution. I know it would be hard for all those who wouldn't have access to drugs but surely their are some families out there that would be happy to have a roof over their heads even in a small town.
@@Crystl22 When the largest earners work for the government and with their town and county losing population reducing government employment, its a vicious circle... Unfortunately those working for Dollar General and Walmart don't earn as much as those working at a Tesla factory... And far too many major manufacturers have outsourced their production, surely not in the Mississippi River delta...
I grew up in Helena and still have family there. It breaks my heart to see how it has gone down. Helena was a beautiful, thriving city with big, beautiful historic homes. My dream is to help rebuild the city one day. 🙏🏾
Good luck with the rebuilding efforts, I hope you have some billionaire friends. Down is an understatement… it’s just gone. My grandparents were born there. I remember how it was when I was a kid. I remember visiting from Chicago and there were outhouses and gravel roads. It was traumatic. Who wants to go outside to use the toilet?
A lot of what is seen in this video, and others like it, is the result of the shift from small family farm agriculture to massive corporate agribusiness operations employing only a fraction of the people. The little towns all over the south and mid west that used to service the needs of the farming community have just dried up and blown away. Now we have cheap food and thousands of ghost towns.
Some say this was done by design. How do you control the masses? You congregate them geographically. You isolate them where the better jobs, schools, restaurants, options, etc you name the category. Why would they want a populous spread throughout? That would be vastly harder to control and manipulate. Food for thought. Good post.
@@heatherfulmore3412 Those that own homes can't sell them when there are no buyers willing to buy their homes. It is difficult to relocate for better opportunity without selling your home. In these old homes in small towns, most of these homes are paid for and only have to pay taxes to remain. So many are caught in a catch 22 situation. If they do sustain the financial lost leaving their home without selling it, they face significant housing cost increase either buying a home or renting a home...
It might be poor but it is clean. The street verges and vacant land appears mowed and cared for. From that I glean it is an honorable community doing it tough, but with dignity.
Being poor does not mean losing dignity Living in a clean area Putting on fresh but old clothes Washing daily Behaving in the best way That is called being rich
A positive spin on a cr@p hole. This is in the wealthiest country in the world. Time for the state government to do something for these people. But no, focus on nonsense.
im a retired nurse but i still work part time for a company that requires us to drive to all kinds of areas to see patients/ clients. i prefer these sweet little towns that are just a remnant of a former thriving area. there is such a difference in the people from big towns like dallas to small towns with 400 + people in them. so many homes are dilapidated and no way to actually repair due to lack of finances. but the people seem to be kinder, more laid back, happier and hold God at the top of thier world.. ill drive by sad for the state of the houses.. and my mind thinking.. if i ever win the lotto im coming back and fixing up these houses for folks... worry that they may be hungry or cold or too warm or whatever.. but they always smile and greet you like you are somebody.. yes. there are jewels that have fallen and tarnished..but the overall feeling i feel is just love for them...
Just a correction to how the town got its name. There are actually very few alligators in the lake we use to swim in almost daily. In fact, only about 4-5 gators have been seen in or near the town since I started visiting my grandparents in 1979 and actually moved there in 1983. It’s named Alligator because from an aerial view, the long and winding lake is shaped like an Alligator. I still have an aerial photo on the wall in my Alligator home from the 1960’s, showing the whole lake and town. And regardless of what statistics say, the most valuable home their right now, according to true market value (and not the number that the owner puts on it) is less than $200K
I myself have lived in 10,000 a year! And I was working 5 days a week!!! I thought I was actually doing well for my situation! I was a single Mom ! I knew we weren't living high, but we had food, a place to live, and clothes and shoes on our feet, and Hope for tomorrow!!!😊😊😊😊😊
It's funny how Alligator Mississippi is labeled as the poorest town but it is cleaner than most hoods in these popular urban cities....and 34% of folks are married.
Imagine being a teenager growing up there. Poverty, no shops and alligator infested lake. As a UK citizen I find your videos fascinating but it would be cool to see you chat with the locals.
Alligator steaks, soup, gumbo, goulash, deep fried, pit baked whole, and you can start a hand crafted boot company. They'll need to call the place "Opportunity" once yall find some cheap, mix and match, paint store returns to liven the place up. To,-- Wang Foo, "Thanks for everything." --Julie Newmar.
YOU GUYS DONT TALK TO LOCALS . LOCAL DONT KNOW THE PERCENTAGE OF THIS OR THAT ,THATS WHY WE WATCH HERE ITS DIFFERENT ..TALK TO LOCALS GO THERE AND TALK I WISH I COULD ..
@@p.s.7430 Don't act like growing up in poverty in a super rural area is the same for a kid as living in a place that has access to greater knowledge. How many piano teachers or math tutors do you think this town has?
@@JohnDoe-gy5dr I was talking about shops. In other countries, where people can live a decent life on the countryside like in Sweden, good schools and teachers are actually available. The US is not the role model.
There's no shame in being poor if you're a good and decent person. I've been poor all my adult life because of severe and chronic illness. God bless 🙌 🙏.
Absolutely! Of course there's no shame. If there's any shame involved it should start at the top where decisions on how to manage the resources of this very wealthy country are made, decisions that leave most people out in the cold on their own, especially the children. God Bless. 🙏
You are 100% correct and some of the best folks I know would be considered poor but they are great great people. I pray that you have great health moving forward.
My Dad was a minister which for us meant living in the south and traveling to some of the towns you video, during my youth in the 60's. As everyone from these places comments, they were different and thriving places with family and job connections that gave life to the town itself. Your videos chronicle the ebb and flow of fortune and circumstance, display the role of poverty and wealth while also demonstrating the capacity of humans to exist in all kinds of circumstances.
Someone mentioned a missed opportunity to interview a passerby. Honestly, I love your style of driving around & giving stats. You have a relaxing voice & these are really cool videos. I think you have a unique thing with these videos!!
He even waved these small towns are always so tight knitt. Im willing to bet the happiness of this town is above average just from knowledge of living in a small community like this
Hello Joe, watched your trip through Alligator, Mississippi. I was born and raised in Port Gibson, Mississippi. I have resided in the state of Oklahoma since 1978. I was one of about 20 people who worked out of Alligator when I was about 15 or 16 years old. We hauled pulp wood from that area. Traveled from there back to Port Gibson every two weeks for about two years. Often wondered what happened to the people I met in that little town. I am now subscribed to your channel. Enjoy your work, keep it up.
What a amazing portrait of these pockets of American towns, my heart breaks for all those gorgeous structures going derelict! Thank you for recording this moment in history
Thanks for the video of Alligator. It is a trip back in time for me. My grandparents had a cotton farm there. They passed in 60 and 62. Still remember the road trips from Seattle in the 50s and first of the 60s for summer visits and when they died.
@@cherrysmart3500 my uncle moved back and farmed for a few years after my grandfather died. 2 yrs later grandma died and he only farmed about 5 more years then left around the first of the 70s and none of the siblings wanted it so it was abandoned. My aunt told me after the bridge was rebuilt in became a hunting club.
This reminds me so much of my part of town where I grew up in Gary Indiana man it’s crazy how cities can go from the happiest place to the poorest and scariest I thank my Mother and Step Dad Loudly and greatly for working hard to get us out of there my mom and dad had to drive 45 min to another city just to work and save money to get us out crazy world we live in
The head of Dept of Human Services in Mississippi was jailed for stealing $75 million of the federal funds earmarked for TANF or welfare payments. He gave millions to friends to run scam agencies, or to Brett Favre for a volleyball court at USM.. Mississippi refuses to expand Medicaid which helps working families insure their kids. Not adults just kids. 99% of people who applied for TANF were denied. The poorest families in the poorest state are denied cash payments that cover hygiene products, utilities like water and sewage or heat. Black mothers die at a rate in Mississippi of 54/100,000. White women 21/100,000. Then the State closed the only OB?GYN clinic and a few rural hospitals. The State is crowing about the budget surplus. I don't know how others feel but if a child goes to bed hungry in Mississippi, then the State is not fulfilling its promise and purpose. When they have funding available to help improve children's lives and also has a surplus, how can they sleep at night? They call themselves Christians but I don't see a loving God in their actions. If that is their faith, I'll have nothing to do with that. It is so hurtful for Mississippians who see neighbors living in extreme deprivation. Bryant called Mississippi the "safest state for the unborn". But I say they care not a whit for a child after he arrives in the world!!
I was born and raised in Helena and in the 1950’s and 1960’s it was a great place to live in. It was at one time a very wealthy town, as demonstrated by the old homes that you showcased. Helena and West Helena were separate towns with a combined population over 25,000. There was a Mohawk tire factory, a Bobbie Brooks clothing factory, a Doughboy swimming pool factory. Wages were high and the economy, much revenue derived from industry and agriculture, had a reasonably high standard of living. But the factories closed and as someone else indicated the mechanization of farming caused the severe downturn of the economy. And on another note, during those times the black and white people lived together with little racial tension. I wish that your tour had allowed some time to showcase the nicer parts of the town, for example the area around the Phillips county college of the University of Arkansas. And there are others.
I lived on Caney Creek from 1969 to 1973 then we moved to Texas. I missed it very much. Its a very beautiful place. You are right about the economics of the area. Take it easy.
@@williamkelly6319 Thanks for your comment. I had already graduated from Central High during the years that you were there and was in the military. But I still have fond memories of my childhood there. And you’re right, it was a beautiful town.
I was paddling my canoe down the Mississippi River to New Orleans in 1989 and I stopped in Helena over Christmas and New Years. I made a few friends there and it was a busy and bustling town. The buildings that you showed downtown were all open and thriving businesses and there were even some nice restaurants and fast-food places in town. The streets had Christmas decorations and the town was a pretty and quaint place to live. It is so sad to see it now. I lost touch with my friends there around 2000, I don't know if they or any of their children still live there or are even alive.
Thank you for letting me take a ride with you! I appreciate your stats and the history of each town. I've never been in that part of the country before but was astounded by the poverty.
Unfortunately when small towns LOSE their major industry/business employer, another one doesn't pop up quickly like in major large cities, if not their suburbs. When that major job creator leaves, the small towns lose a significant percentage of their tax base with just the employees themselves. No jobs means workers leave. Not only is small town America hurting nationwide, some big cities are having difficulties when job creators close as well.. As FDR noted, the best social program is a JOB during the Depression...
Totally agrer, but I noticed Helena, AR has a pretty busy grain elevator but it doesn't seem to be helping the town any. It looks worse than the towns in MS.
This was an interesting town. And it was scary what the average person lives on. Even with a paid off house, I don't think I could live on that. It makes me think of the classic book "To Kill a Mockingbird" in which the author notes that nobody knew how poor they were. I do have to congratulate Alligator on one thing: towns that size where I live don't have paved streets. Narrow as they were, Alligator did have paved streets!
My income is pretty close to 15k in Florida and a paid off 43 year old MH and acre.......quadriplegic. I understand what living below the povert line is. But as you qouted from TKAMB........many of us here don't know we're poor,.... but just keep on living the best we can.
My daughter says now, "I didn't know we were poor cuz most of my friends were" But we were so rich in other ways. Living on the bayou, she grew up swimming, fishing, camping, and plenty of friends. We were demolished by Katrina then BP but we are people of resilience. Wish our leaders would expand Medicaid to help these kids.
You always had a way with words sis! I love your comment! ❤ Us city girls grew a true appreciation for this small town Alligator. I felt like it kept us humble to see the difference from city to country regularly. Our parents would send us to Alligator in the summertime with our elders, host of cousins, & childhood friends. I believe it gave us balance to our lives because we could separate & feel FREEEEE! We’d shuck corn, pick greens, clean fish, hang the clothes on the line, show the kids the dances we did back home (Milwaukee, WI) tell them about the city, etc. But to hear the statistics like this is very disheartening. Some of the most hospitable & loving folks I’ve ever known! 🐊 ❤
I love your town tours. It’s like I’m riding right along with you. The history lessons are a plus! I’ll be waiting on rural Alabama and Tennessee. Like Nutbush, TN and Pineapple, AL
My first time seeing the place of my mother's birth! . I was born in Friars Point add my grandma's house, but moved as a baby. I grew up in Chicago. I'm not surprised by the poverty.
That low crime rate just goes to show that poverty isn’t the motivation for crime. You raise your kids right and teach them to respect others, and you can be a dirt poor single mom, and still have kids that stay out of trouble. Good for that town for raising good kids.
It's really not that simple. Multiple factors influence the likelihood that someone will commit a crime. Poverty is one of them. Parenting, culture, population density, appropriate problem-solving skills, and mental health & substance use status are some other factors. Keep in mind also that crime rate statistics only reflect what is reported.
@@spookyvondoom4624Boy, it sounds like we need a multi billion dollar government program to fix it, huh? Oh, wait. That happened. Over and over and look at how much better… no, it’s actually worse. Hmmm.
mesmerizing video, with the actual fall weather it makes it even more depressing seeing the state of decay of some of the streets/down towns. The numbers were also kind of insane. Thanks for the great video as always.
It amazes me, when watching these videos , the absence of people out and about. Growing up in the 80's we weren't from money but we were always outside . No one wanted to be stuck in a house , especially the young ones. I know todays different. Probably home playing video games or on the interwebs.
I really enjoy Joe's non judgemental & non politicised style of videos. I've stopped watching a couple of the other UA-camrs who do these sort of videos because of their narrow minded judgemental opinions. Also not sure if you changed any of your kit recently (I know you got a new camera which was a big improvement) but the audio seems to have improved now also.
@@JohnLockesReflection The "truth" varies from person to person. It's best not to impose one's own. That's a primary reason I continue watching Joe's video tours.
I am from England and watch your videos ... it really wakes me up and many like me that have this picture of everyone living in the perfect home surrounded by a white picket fence etc. Clearly from many of your videos Nic its completely not the case especially in these rural areas ... hard to take those figures on poverty ... Alligator seems so quite so few people around ... hard to believe it was once really alive and busy with people and shops open. I really enjoy your videos as they show the REAL America ... thanks for posting.
Hey Joe, been watching your channel for years. I do have to point out that a lot of these towns have people who work "under the table" and get paid in cash so a lot pf these annual incomes are off but you are correct, these places are quite poor
100% correct, every time Joe says wow that's a lot of junk I see it as a cash only business, I spotted at least three in this video, the guy with all the pickups is the local mechanic and used car lot, there was the appliance repairman yard, the guy with the tractor with the box blade surely has a brush hog also. The statistics only include what's reported to the government and the less reported, the more aid a person is able to get, same goes for the marriage and head of household stats, why get married if it's going to lessen the amount of aid?
Lots of crime goes unreported...especially in small towns. Often in really small towns they don't even have a local police department to call. Besides that they often know everyone and know who did them wrong...but if they were to get some distant authorities involved the perp would likely just get a slap on the wrist and return and give you more that just a slap for turning them in.
Most of the crimes in small times like this are petty crimes. They usually don't get reported because the victim usually knows the culprit so the crime usually gets handled face to face. Fighting in public is usually the number one crime in these towns followed by burglaries.
Really! Only 250 in a town? I can see why crime is low. Identifying the perps is easy when everyone knows each other and good number of them are kinfolks. 📺 🏃🏾 🏠🚶🏿♂️---“Hey! Unc’l Bill, what you mean by stealing my tv?”
This is truly heartbreaking 💔 so many people living in poverty in the American 🇺🇸 but yet sending billions to other countries make this make sense 🤦🏻♀️ the United States need to start helping our people and families first.
When I was in Helena, 22 years ago, it didn't look like that. In fact, some of the residential areas were idyllic. I even contemplated perhaps buying a home there when I retired. It was that nice. Also, it has some interesting Civil War history that involved U.S. Grant. And, some relationship with Iuka, Mississippi's Battle of Iuka. My great-grandfather fought in that battle and had part of his jaw blown off. I'm sorry to see this once great and beautiful Southern town go to hell.
@@BruceLee-fd7uwthat was so unnecessary, and you should have been raised much better. If you have children there’s no hope for them mentally either if you have a hand in raising them.
An interesting video, as always. Some shocking statistics, very eye-opening. It was so sad seeing that beautiful old church in Helena slowly disappearing, and the many beautiful old homes and buildings downtown sitting empty. Thank you so much for showing us around, Joe. 😊💚
These folks are not in the middle of nowhere. They are exactly in the place that THEY live. I’m willing to state that I believe they live and love as well as most and better than some.
Driving through town and reading off statistics doesn’t really tell you much. Being from Mississippi I often go through the Delta to travel and stop and talk to anybody that’s out and about. These are some of the best people in the world and will give you everything, even though they have nothing.
He's a critic. He forgot the crime rate is probably the lowest in the country. So what's his point? If you're not offering a solution or even willing to stop and meet anyone.
Post apocalyptic was a good description. Amazing how few people were on the streets. So sad how this has happened to many of these type of towns, which were no doubt once thriving communities. Great video. Best wishes from the UK. 🤗
I'm from MS and all these MS travel videos make me home sick no matter how much poverty they show. I might move back there but have absolutely no family left there, or job prospects. It's like looking at an old village thats all underwater now. The only things left there are memories, no space for building a future.
Come back when you retire, there is no future here. My 27 yo daughter is finally giving up. She said I've outgrown Mississippi and there's no future for me. WSe gave our blessing though it kills me.
I drove from Memphis to Clarksdale and then from Clarksdale to Jackson, MS. There is a lot of rural poverty, but on the other hand the town of Cleveland and others like it seem to be prospering. There is a large hospital there and I think it is a major source of employment.
You’re correct, the MS Delta is littered with poor rural towns. Cleveland has Delta State University and has always been the most prosperous & well maintained town in the area. Clarksdale used to be a close 2nd about 40 years ago but has since gone downhill
@@peregrino9154 I just back up to Memphis from North Texas. My business takes me into the Delta weekly. I have thought about buying a house either right outside Clarksdale in Lyon, or possibly Cleveland or Greenwood.
Seems to me all these towns are abandoned. They look haunted and not fit to live there. If another person doesn’t get you, then the zombies will. It looks scary. And lonely and sad.
I grew up in Helena, AR. We used to go to Friars Point for partying. That was 40 plus years ago. It's not the same for sure. I moved away from Helena at 17 and never looked back. Cherry Street was the main drag in Helena. Drive around the statue up and down strip. Blues Festival was fun.
Thank you for showing these towns. I hate to see beauty decay into a state of no repair. I imagine at one time, like some people have already commented on, that they use to be lively towns.
Thank you so much for your great videos! I have followed you from the beginning of your travels around the US and you keep getting better and better! But here is a tip that might be of use. Median is not average. A few million dollar houses do not necessarily raise the median home value in a town. Of course it would raise the average house value.
Thanks for these astonishing images and facts about the US in general; you would easily make a better reporter than any other census bureau agent out there: you are an innate filmmaker, and I appreciate and enjoy your great imagery and investigative travels. You remind me of myself, once upon a time! Bravo! Your fan from Hawaii. Aloha!
I live in the UK and I find this road trip fascinating...its almost like I'm travelling myself 😂. Mind you Im a big fan of the walking dead and I have to say some of these places remind me of some scenes x
The main reason for the population decrease is John Deere. Now we farm with a few tractor drivers instead of a community of field hands. My father and uncle farmed at Rena Lara. When the general store/gas station/post office at Rena Lara closed, our mailing address became Alligator. Many wonderful communities like Rena Lara--and one of my favorites, Avalon--have dried up and blown away. Poverty is not measured by annual dollars when you own your home without a mortgage, you have a garden, and there are chickens in the yard. We also had cattle and chickens so we never thought we were poor. Growing up in the delta was lovely. I am only sorry there is not much for our children to do here, and so they move away.
This is my fourth video I've watched of your content and it's actually really enjoyable. You're not promoting all this stupid adds and putting all these filters in with the annoying UA-cam music and stuff. It's just straight raw footage. It's so enjoyable so I subscribed. Thank you for your entertainment!
Wow. I live in Arkansas and had no idea Helena-West Helena is in this shape. It makes Pine Bluff look not so bad. One thing about these two towns and small city is there wasn't a lot of litter everywhere. That was good to see. I wanted you to go over the levee so I could see the river from ground level. Thanks for the tour.
A few years ago I traveled across the USA. We drove up from Mena, Arkansas towards Memphis, and I decided to cross the Mississippi at Helena, to say that we had visited the state of Mississippi. I thought we could get some groceries in Helena... 'Holy Cow' was my reaction also... So we drove across the Mississippi where we encountered some sobering tornado damage. All together a very sad area yet somehow very fascinating.
@@JustineWordThat's exactly what we discovered, too. 😅But since we came through West-Helena already and my motto is 'backtracking is not an option' (not always a good motto ...) we just crossed the river into Mississippi. And since that corner of the state isn't the most busy place either, we ended up shopping in Memphis...😑
I would definitely be intrigued by a town named Alligator. I like the old U-Haul and the triangle house. Love the view of the Mississippi on the way into Arkansas. I wish I could have seen Helena’s down down during good times. Some gorgeous home in Helena! Appreciate the great vlog!
Helena looked like a thriving beautiful town in1989. The downtown was all open businesses, there were even fast-food places in town. People walking the street, it was friendly and peaceful. BTW, Conway Twitty's family moved there because his father had taken the job of running the ferry back and forth across the river.
No cat sightings in a town called Alligator. A coincidence? I think not! Interesting to see the the obvious poverty next to some nicer homes with late model cars in the driveways. Always cool to see those giant barges making their way along the Mississippi.
@@stanislavkostarnov2157they are coming back. I have been involved in conservation since the 4th grade when my class got selected to do some kind of conservation project. Black bears are also making a comeback slowly but surely.
This was so disheartening to see. All I was thinking was how do they survive without the basics. Didn’t see a store/pharmacy or clinic. It breaks your heart to see people having to live under these conditions. Great videos.
You have to have a car which is another burden along with gas so you can drive to the closest big town that has those things . Which could be 30 miles away or more
Still better than 85% of the world too. People forget just how far ahead America is in the global scheme of things. Our lowest 10% makes more annually than 85% of the world
@@Just.A.T-Rex I was thinking the same thing. I saw a video of South Sudan where soldiers make around the equivalent of $10 dollars a month, the displaced refugees live on top of cemeteries, and abject poverty is simply a daily way of life among the chaos of unending strife. Looking at a place like Alligator is like looking at paradise compared to that horror...
Yeah I mean they are poor by our standards but they still own homes and many own multiple vehicles, a few which even looked nice. They likely all have electricity internet telephones running water and air conditioning, and no one is starving. And it wouldn't look nearly as bad if they just cleaned all the junk off their lawns
I wonder if you actually did the math, how "poor" those folks are...Assuming they own their trailer and land, there's a couple grand of scrap medal in the yard. That's a positive net worth. VS a cul-de-sac full of new cars with loans and houses with mortgages. Debtors who look wealthy vs people with no debt, thats what I see.
I didnt wanna say anything but coming from England... if they own that property, all it needs is maintenance and they have a pretty sweet deal going on. I saw 3 story homes with 360 degree yards, peace and quiet, lush greenery all over... not too shabby in that context. But unless I ask someone I'll never know for sure. It just looks a bit nicer than your typical british working class life shoved in a shoebox of a home wall-to-wall with every other home, renting til death
@ABombs1 I know an investor with 100s of properties. He owns a few beautiful old Victorian homes near downtown. They look derelict and abandoned from the outside. I asked him why one time. He told me, the value was the land, and he would never sell and would only do a 99yr lease to some chain franchise. If he made the houses nice, his taxes would skyrocket. So, let them fall into disrepair until CVS or McDonald's needs a new location. And save on taxes in the meantime. Many places that look abandoned, trashed etc are owned by wealthy investors playing the long game. Never judge a book by its cover.
Born, raised and still stay in Helena-West Helena 28 years old. The town hasn’t always been this rundown and crime ridden. It’s one of these towns where everyone knows everyone, yet they grow up killing each other 😔.
I was raised on the MS coast. I went to college in East Central-ish Mississippi. At the beginning of my sophomore year, I asked the 2 girls in the room next to me where they lived. They said: "Duncan, MS". I asked: "where is Duncan?" They both responded: "Half way between Hushpuckena and Alligator." I thought they were kidding. This was almost 60 years ago! It wasn't until I watched your video that I understood what that meant. I have never been to the Mississippi Delta. It's sad how hopeful young families and beautiful old buildings are negatively affected by changing times. It's a shame that nothing can be done to turn the clock back. I found it interesting how clean most of these towns are and how low the crime rate is. Thank you for your calm narration of these tours. New subscriber...
I do not know why the USA federal government having so much land and empty town; does not offer the urban poor and homeless opportunity to relocate and populate this areas
The town is old and abandoned but clean. 250 people. $11k per year, I wish you could have gone to the nearest grocery store, first, I wonder if it’s a food desert and what the produce costs are.
Another great video. It is such a shame to see people having to live in such poverty and blight. I have seen som sad towns in Oklahoma, but nothing compared to these. Will be looking forward to the next video. Until then stay safe and God bless. Steve in Oklahoma
Joe, brother, if I had money I would pay you $1,000 to go to Wilson, and Victoria, Arkansas. I can barely pay bills. All I can say is that I love your channel, and I love that you went to Lepanto, Arkansas, my home town. I hope you will consider a deep trip to Wilson, especially, as I think it will be one of the best videos of your journey. A surprise for all who view it. Love, always, from New Orleans!
So very sad. Love to see your numbers and your appreciation of buildings. Do you guys ever ask questions of the citizens of any of these towns to see what their take is on why some of your stats are they way they are???...Stay well and safe you two.
My favorite sign too see going to my family's hometown, because I don't have long to get to my peaceful place. I enjoyed all my summers in the Delta and still go once a year.❤
In the early 70s, I was traveling one night and spent about 45 minutes in Alligator MS, hiding under an awning at a gas station from a coming tornado! Exciting😂 But, hey, I can say I’ve been there! Lol! Btw, over by the river, it’s called a levee, not a flood wall.
35:48 on Miller Street was one of the last places my grandmother stayed and she passed on in 2019. Her neighbor across the street was her good friend. 35:56 That family moved out once the mothwr passed and just let it rot. Used to be apartments next to Grandma's house but its completely gone. Don't even see it in the video. Goes to show how fast my hometown went down. Born and raised in Helena -West Helltown. That church was also historic. Caught fire. My cousin who just recently A FEW MONTHS AGO, lived across from that church. Ebenezer something was the name if it. I was just back home this past July. It's definitely a Ghost town. It was also a bit sad to see the life that has left that place. No one outside. No cops. Nothing. Only time people come back home is to bury their loved ones. Basically everyone there is family. But the heart of my hometown is gone😢. They have a Delta Blues Festival every October. But that in a sense has gone down as well. But they keep it afloat. Great video 👍🏾. The nostalgia was mind blowing. 🩵
Sadly I used to live in Alligator, MS. My family roots are from there. Those abandoned buildings downtown used to be stores. There were 2or 3 clubs (what we call "hole in a wall" or "juke joints") Even a gas station/plaza with a liquor store & pool hall called BRUNO'S on the main Hwy 61. The town used to be packed with ppl walking around town, children riding bikes & 4wheelers, families gathered in their yards BBQn, playing music, spades, and dominoes. Everyone was damn near related. Everybody knew everybody! Now, all of the store owners are dead. Everybody grew up & moved away to pursue better lives. As they should! Many are successful. Every year we have a TOWN'S REUNION. That's the ONLY time Alligator is packed with people. Most of them come back to visit. Some don't look back. There are good memories in this town. Now its a Ghost Town. See ya later Alligator 👋🐊❤
blessings sis.
This was beautifully written💯
Where do people buy groceries or get gas?
Damn, that's both sad and beautiful
Thanks for sharing.
My husband is from Alligator, and I’m from down the road. Let me tell you about Mississippi folks: They don’t have money, but they are some of the richest people you will ever meet. The strong love for family and community they have is worth its weight in gold.
Sad 😢
They are some of the nicest people who will give yout he shirt off their backs.
don't see any. stores
Where do they buy their food?
@@1928jazz
or anything ?
I am a hospice nurse who works a lot on the Mississippi Delta. One of the main reasons for the low median age is the very shortened life expectancy due to poverty and lack of access to quality healthcare.
Thank you for all you do for Hospice patients and their families 💙
Thank you for your care. It is shocking to me to see maternal mortality in Black women in the upstate . And the state closing clinics and hospitals. And not expanding Medicaid. Mississippi has a surplus. And children go to bed hungry. To me that represents a total failure of the State to provide the basic elements of life: food, water, housing, health care, education. Or offer opportunities for people to thrive. It does neither, and wins every election. I live on the coast and we do much better due to military bases, casinos and tourism. Not the high paying jobs but we get by. The Delta is still just barely in the 1900s, not close to 2000s.
So sad
OMG that is shocking and deplorable. The United States should do better with health care. EVEN IF IT MEANS CUTTING FORIEGN AID.
@@sharronlee4641 we should stop all foreign aid
Love from India
Will never stop being amazed by the open stretches of land and rarely seeing persons moving around
My country you can rarely go any place that doesn't have 10 ppl hanging around lol
What a freaking vast streach of land your country is ! Blessed ppl you are !
As a Mississippian I thank you for your kind words. I remember the first Indian to come to my school and how excited we all were. He made fast friends with myself and the other boys.
That is why I love my country. Humans are cockroach like and I’m glad I can go to any National Park to escape infestation.
U are from India - Caste system- holds your people down- but BLESSINGS TO THEM!
I guess our slums are considered mansions by a lot of people in India. I have seen a lot of videos of big cities in India and I would not like to live there at all. To much trash and pollution and people everywhere and clean water is a luxury there and so are public bathrooms. I would not like to defecate into a hole in a floor over a river lol.. I guess I will take our slums before anyone else's. As bad as it is here in some places it is not as bad as other 3rd world countries. For all the bad we do have its still good here in the USA. If the republikunts ever take over completely in this country then we to will slip into a third world status...MAGATS will ruin America. Vote blue or get the screw.
@@akita96th in 1988 I visited my brother at Ft. Benning, GA in basic training and we went over a bridge and ended up in Phenix City, AL and I remember the shacks and clothes hanging from porches. The houses were shacks and were the same that are found in India so it wouldn’t be a step up.
It amazes me that we have so many homeless people sleeping on the streets yet there are so many abandoned houses everywhere.
Have you ever given thought as to why homeless people choose large metropolitan areas and a sidewalk or under a bridge instead of the countryside?
@@CarsandCats Yes I have! It's just a shame there are empty homes. It would be nice if there was a solution. I know it would be hard for all those who wouldn't have access to drugs but surely their are some families out there that would be happy to have a roof over their heads even in a small town.
@@Crystl22 When the largest earners work for the government and with their town and county losing population reducing government employment, its a vicious circle... Unfortunately those working for Dollar General and Walmart don't earn as much as those working at a Tesla factory... And far too many major manufacturers have outsourced their production, surely not in the Mississippi River delta...
It amazes me that there are so many homeless people and yet so many advertisements for jobs.
it amazes me that so many people work 40hr+ a week jobs and are homeless...
I grew up in Helena and still have family there. It breaks my heart to see how it has gone down. Helena was a beautiful, thriving city with big, beautiful historic homes. My dream is to help rebuild the city one day. 🙏🏾
My family is from Helena, AR
Grundy was my grandmother's maiden name.
Good luck with the rebuilding efforts, I hope you have some billionaire friends. Down is an understatement… it’s just gone. My grandparents were born there. I remember how it was when I was a kid. I remember visiting from Chicago and there were outhouses and gravel roads. It was traumatic. Who wants to go outside to use the toilet?
My daddy was from Helena!❤
@@tarnishermack94 what’s your dad’s name?
A lot of what is seen in this video, and others like it, is the result of the shift from small family farm agriculture to massive corporate agribusiness operations employing only a fraction of the people. The little towns all over the south and mid west that used to service the needs of the farming community have just dried up and blown away. Now we have cheap food and thousands of ghost towns.
Some say this was done by design. How do you control the masses? You congregate them geographically. You isolate them where the better jobs, schools, restaurants, options, etc you name the category. Why would they want a populous spread throughout? That would be vastly harder to control and manipulate. Food for thought. Good post.
Yes it seems as if a lot of people there are unemployed. There are no businesses nearby.. Maybe people aren't allowed to plant their own food.
People can plant their own food no issue. I don’t think that’s really the issue. Good comment 😊
@@heatherfulmore3412 Those that own homes can't sell them when there are no buyers willing to buy their homes. It is difficult to relocate for better opportunity without selling your home. In these old homes in small towns, most of these homes are paid for and only have to pay taxes to remain. So many are caught in a catch 22 situation. If they do sustain the financial lost leaving their home without selling it, they face significant housing cost increase either buying a home or renting a home...
Same goes for the rust belt towns all along the railroad.
It might be poor but it is clean. The street verges and vacant land appears mowed and cared for. From that I glean it is an honorable community doing it tough, but with dignity.
Its a beautiful area❤
I see that as well.
I agree. Nothing to be ashamed of.
Being poor does not mean losing dignity
Living in a clean area
Putting on fresh but old clothes
Washing daily
Behaving in the best way
That is called being rich
A positive spin on a cr@p hole. This is in the wealthiest country in the world. Time for the state government to do something for these people. But no, focus on nonsense.
im a retired nurse but i still work part time for a company that requires us to drive to all kinds of areas to see patients/ clients. i prefer these sweet little towns that are just a remnant of a former thriving area. there is such a difference in the people from big towns like dallas to small towns with 400 + people in them. so many homes are dilapidated and no way to actually repair due to lack of finances. but the people seem to be kinder, more laid back, happier and hold God at the top of thier world.. ill drive by sad for the state of the houses.. and my mind thinking.. if i ever win the lotto im coming back and fixing up these houses for folks... worry that they may be hungry or cold or too warm or whatever.. but they always smile and greet you like you are somebody.. yes. there are jewels that have fallen and tarnished..but the overall feeling i feel is just love for them...
Such a great comment, 👍so sweet and humane, it made me cry 😢
❤ LOVE ONE ANOTHER. ❤ LOVE THE TOWN YOU WAS BORN. TRY TO HELP YOUR NEIGHBORS...DO NOT LET THEM DOWN...HELP, PLEASE 🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺
That's a beautiful thought! Jobs would be fabulous 🎉
that’s how god treats his greatest fans
I totally get it.
Just a correction to how the town got its name. There are actually very few alligators in the lake we use to swim in almost daily. In fact, only about 4-5 gators have been seen in or near the town since I started visiting my grandparents in 1979 and actually moved there in 1983.
It’s named Alligator because from an aerial view, the long and winding lake is shaped like an Alligator.
I still have an aerial photo on the wall in my Alligator home from the 1960’s, showing the whole lake and town.
And regardless of what statistics say, the most valuable home their right now, according to true market value (and not the number that the owner puts on it) is less than $200K
Looks like a snake, not an alligator.
I myself have lived in 10,000 a year! And I was working 5 days a week!!! I thought I was actually doing well for my situation! I was a single Mom ! I knew we weren't living high, but we had food, a place to live, and clothes and shoes on our feet, and Hope for tomorrow!!!😊😊😊😊😊
This couldn’t have been recently. My stupid rent alone is 25K a year.
And how long ago was that?
It's funny how Alligator Mississippi is labeled as the poorest town but it is cleaner than most hoods in these popular urban cities....and 34% of folks are married.
Very good points that u make.
Yall love bringing implicit racism into this
The poor are closer to God than the wealthy or money chasers AMEN
Imagine being a teenager growing up there. Poverty, no shops and alligator infested lake. As a UK citizen I find your videos fascinating but it would be cool to see you chat with the locals.
Kids need shops? That's important?
Alligator steaks, soup, gumbo, goulash, deep fried, pit baked whole, and you can start a hand crafted boot company.
They'll need to call the place "Opportunity" once yall find some cheap, mix and match, paint store returns to liven the place up.
To,-- Wang Foo, "Thanks for everything." --Julie Newmar.
YOU GUYS DONT TALK TO LOCALS . LOCAL DONT KNOW THE PERCENTAGE OF THIS OR THAT ,THATS WHY WE WATCH HERE ITS DIFFERENT ..TALK TO LOCALS GO THERE AND TALK I WISH I COULD ..
@@p.s.7430 Don't act like growing up in poverty in a super rural area is the same for a kid as living in a place that has access to greater knowledge. How many piano teachers or math tutors do you think this town has?
@@JohnDoe-gy5dr I was talking about shops. In other countries, where people can live a decent life on the countryside like in Sweden, good schools and teachers are actually available. The US is not the role model.
There's no shame in being poor if you're a good and decent person. I've been poor all my adult life because of severe and chronic illness. God bless 🙌 🙏.
Absolutely! Of course there's no shame. If there's any shame involved it should start at the top where decisions on how to manage the resources of this very wealthy country are made, decisions that leave most people out in the cold on their own, especially the children. God Bless. 🙏
You are 100% correct and some of the best folks I know would be considered poor but they are great great people. I pray that you have great health moving forward.
@bigtee4690 that's sweet. Thank you so much. God bless. 🥰
@redlipstickmafia that's so true. I live in Canada, but we're poor up here, too.
At least it’s clean. Looks way better than a lot of other places. 😢🙏🏾
There's also lots of green on there
My Dad was a minister which for us meant living in the south and traveling to some of the towns you video, during my youth in the 60's. As everyone from these places comments, they were different and thriving places with family and job connections that gave life to the town itself. Your videos chronicle the ebb and flow of fortune and circumstance, display the role of poverty and wealth while also demonstrating the capacity of humans to exist in all kinds of circumstances.
Amazing to see such small towns in this country that are still barely hanging on . Eye opening. Thanks for the insight.
I wonder how these poor towns keep the lights on and pick up the trash.
Yes, where is the infrastructure and facilities. Do they go down to a local creek and see if they can catch some fish?
Tornado alley, the people stiil living there are of a special kind, ver rare community spirit, rich in virtues and vallues, great !
At least you don't see homeless people living on the streets.
Someone mentioned a missed opportunity to interview a passerby. Honestly, I love your style of driving around & giving stats. You have a relaxing voice & these are really cool videos. I think you have a unique thing with these videos!!
Wow, thank you!
I agree!
YEP
He even waved these small towns are always so tight knitt.
Im willing to bet the happiness of this town is above average just from knowledge of living in a small community like this
Hello Joe, watched your trip through Alligator, Mississippi. I was born and raised in Port Gibson, Mississippi. I have resided in the state of Oklahoma since 1978. I was one of about 20 people who worked out of Alligator when I was about 15 or 16 years old. We hauled pulp wood from that area. Traveled from there back to Port Gibson every two weeks for about two years. Often wondered what happened to the people I met in that little town. I am now subscribed to your channel. Enjoy your work, keep it up.
Awesome!
@@JoeandNicsRoadTripAny idea on how many blacks occupy this area?
You have such a calm and interesting way of explaining... love it.
What a amazing portrait of these pockets of American towns, my heart breaks for all those gorgeous structures going derelict! Thank you for recording this moment in history
I heard George Strait is from here
@@chrishamilton1189 He Is from rural Texas south of San Antonio...
Thanks for the video of Alligator. It is a trip back in time for me. My grandparents had a cotton farm there. They passed in 60 and 62. Still remember the road trips from Seattle in the 50s and first of the 60s for summer visits and when they died.
What became of their land?
@@cherrysmart3500 my uncle moved back and farmed for a few years after my grandfather died. 2 yrs later grandma died and he only farmed about 5 more years then left around the first of the 70s and none of the siblings wanted it so it was abandoned. My aunt told me after the bridge was rebuilt in became a hunting club.
Cotton farm?
Your grandparents contributed to this issue bye John!
Stop @@DJLisha
My grandmother was born in Alligator, Mississippi in 1905. This is the closest I will get to where she's from.
Was she buried there? Might be interesting to see the family cemetery?
Thanks for letting me tag along It’s been interesting, I’m already looking forward to the next video. Safe travels, my friend!! 🌼
Enjoyed watching from Yorkshire England. Thank you
This reminds me so much of my part of town where I grew up in Gary Indiana man it’s crazy how cities can go from the happiest place to the poorest and scariest I thank my Mother and Step Dad Loudly and greatly for working hard to get us out of there my mom and dad had to drive 45 min to another city just to work and save money to get us out crazy world we live in
The head of Dept of Human Services in Mississippi was jailed for stealing $75 million of the federal funds earmarked for TANF or welfare payments. He gave millions to friends to run scam agencies, or to Brett Favre for a volleyball court at USM.. Mississippi refuses to expand Medicaid which helps working families insure their kids. Not adults just kids. 99% of people who applied for TANF were denied. The poorest families in the poorest state are denied cash payments that cover hygiene products, utilities like water and sewage or heat. Black mothers die at a rate in Mississippi of 54/100,000. White women 21/100,000. Then the State closed the only OB?GYN clinic and a few rural hospitals.
The State is crowing about the budget surplus. I don't know how others feel but if a child goes to bed hungry in Mississippi, then the State is not fulfilling its promise and purpose. When they have funding available to help improve children's lives and also has a surplus, how can they sleep at night? They call themselves Christians but I don't see a loving God in their actions. If that is their faith, I'll have nothing to do with that. It is so hurtful for Mississippians who see neighbors living in extreme deprivation. Bryant called Mississippi the "safest state for the unborn". But I say they care not a whit for a child after he arrives in the world!!
Everything you said is definitely true.
I like that you usually find at least a thing or two nice to say about even the poorest towns.
I was born and raised in Helena and in the 1950’s and 1960’s it was a great place to live in. It was at one time a very wealthy town, as demonstrated by the old homes that you showcased. Helena and West Helena were separate towns with a combined population over 25,000. There was a Mohawk tire factory, a Bobbie Brooks clothing factory, a Doughboy swimming pool factory. Wages were high and the economy, much revenue derived from industry and agriculture, had a reasonably high standard of living. But the factories closed and as someone else indicated the mechanization of farming caused the severe downturn of the economy. And on another note, during those times the black and white people lived together with little racial tension. I wish that your tour had allowed some time to showcase the nicer parts of the town, for example the area around the Phillips county college of the University of Arkansas. And there are others.
I lived on Caney Creek from 1969 to 1973 then we moved to Texas. I missed it very much. Its a very beautiful place. You are right about the economics of the area. Take it easy.
@@williamkelly6319 Thanks for your comment. I had already graduated from Central High during the years that you were there and was in the military. But I still have fond memories of my childhood there. And you’re right, it was a beautiful town.
❤
It appears totally empty now 😢
@@laralaralara7335 It’s not he just highlights the worst parts of the towns that he visits.
Joe you have such a lovely calming voice, a pleasure to listen to! Best wishes to you both from the UK!
I was paddling my canoe down the Mississippi River to New Orleans in 1989 and I stopped in Helena over Christmas and New Years. I made a few friends there and it was a busy and bustling town. The buildings that you showed downtown were all open and thriving businesses and there were even some nice restaurants and fast-food places in town. The streets had Christmas decorations and the town was a pretty and quaint place to live. It is so sad to see it now. I lost touch with my friends there around 2000, I don't know if they or any of their children still live there or are even alive.
Wow!
Thank you for letting me take a ride with you! I appreciate your stats and the history of each town. I've never been in that part of the country before but was astounded by the poverty.
Unfortunately when small towns LOSE their major industry/business employer, another one doesn't pop up quickly like in major large cities, if not their suburbs. When that major job creator leaves, the small towns lose a significant percentage of their tax base with just the employees themselves. No jobs means workers leave. Not only is small town America hurting nationwide, some big cities are having difficulties when job creators close as well.. As FDR noted, the best social program is a JOB during the Depression...
Totally agrer, but I noticed Helena, AR has a pretty busy grain elevator but it doesn't seem to be helping the town any. It looks worse than the towns in MS.
This was an interesting town. And it was scary what the average person lives on. Even with a paid off house, I don't think I could live on that. It makes me think of the classic book "To Kill a Mockingbird" in which the author notes that nobody knew how poor they were.
I do have to congratulate Alligator on one thing: towns that size where I live don't have paved streets. Narrow as they were, Alligator did have paved streets!
My income is pretty close to 15k in Florida and a paid off 43 year old MH and acre.......quadriplegic. I understand what living below the povert line is. But as you qouted from TKAMB........many of us here don't know we're poor,.... but just keep on living the best we can.
yup...disabled and this is automatically your life :( @@dawnklug6986
I’m sure most are on benefits
My daughter says now, "I didn't know we were poor cuz most of my friends were" But we were so rich in other ways. Living on the bayou, she grew up swimming, fishing, camping, and plenty of friends. We were demolished by Katrina then BP but we are people of resilience. Wish our leaders would expand Medicaid to help these kids.
@@libertyhawkins875Yes and choosing to have children.
You always had a way with words sis! I love your comment! ❤
Us city girls grew a true appreciation for this small town Alligator. I felt like it kept us humble to see the difference from city to country regularly. Our parents would send us to Alligator in the summertime with our elders, host of cousins, & childhood friends. I believe it gave us balance to our lives because we could separate & feel FREEEEE!
We’d shuck corn, pick greens, clean fish, hang the clothes on the line, show the kids the dances we did back home (Milwaukee, WI)
tell them about the city, etc.
But to hear the statistics like this is very disheartening. Some of the most hospitable & loving folks I’ve ever known! 🐊 ❤
Lol aww thanks sis, I'm just now seeing this 🤣🥰
I love your town tours. It’s like I’m riding right along with you. The history lessons are a plus! I’ll be waiting on rural Alabama and Tennessee. Like Nutbush, TN and Pineapple, AL
That’s the goal! Thank you!
Would love to see Nutbush, home of Tina Turner.
I’ll work on it. I am a huge Tina Turner fan. 👍
My first time seeing the place of my mother's birth! . I was born in Friars Point add my grandma's house, but moved as a baby. I grew up in Chicago. I'm not surprised by the poverty.
That low crime rate just goes to show that poverty isn’t the motivation for crime. You raise your kids right and teach them to respect others, and you can be a dirt poor single mom, and still have kids that stay out of trouble.
Good for that town for raising good kids.
It's really not that simple. Multiple factors influence the likelihood that someone will commit a crime. Poverty is one of them. Parenting, culture, population density, appropriate problem-solving skills, and mental health & substance use status are some other factors. Keep in mind also that crime rate statistics only reflect what is reported.
Nothing from Nothing leaves Nothing
@@spookyvondoom4624Boy, it sounds like we need a multi billion dollar government program to fix it, huh? Oh, wait. That happened. Over and over and look at how much better… no, it’s actually worse. Hmmm.
@@spookyvondoom4624 What are you going to steal from poor people!
mesmerizing video, with the actual fall weather it makes it even more depressing seeing the state of decay of some of the streets/down towns. The numbers were also kind of insane. Thanks for the great video as always.
I’ve been watching your channel for years now and I’ve never seen a struggling town as bad as Alligator, MS! That is devastating
Hello how are you doing?
Ought to see my po dunk town. The houses here look good yards are clean. Not like here
It amazes me, when watching these videos , the absence of people out and about. Growing up in the 80's we weren't from money but we were always outside . No one wanted to be stuck in a house , especially the young ones. I know todays different. Probably home playing video games or on the interwebs.
Plus if it's summer time it's to hot to go outside now
I really enjoy Joe's non judgemental & non politicised style of videos.
I've stopped watching a couple of the other UA-camrs who do these sort of videos because of their narrow minded judgemental opinions.
Also not sure if you changed any of your kit recently (I know you got a new camera which was a big improvement) but the audio seems to have improved now also.
wonder how they manage to maintain those cars....cars break down and/or need gas
@@maewebster9377
So in other words, you dislike the truth
I agree wholeheartedly with you, this channel just describes the way these places are, no finger-pointing
@@hilarybramley7529
So who IS to blame? The people that live there and keep voting for the same people who created the situation?
@@JohnLockesReflection The "truth" varies from person to person. It's best not to impose one's own. That's a primary reason I continue watching Joe's video tours.
I've just watched your videos and I must say how I enjoyed them ..your voice is very good too.from England 🇬🇧
Joe, I watch, re-watch and watch your videos again. Thank you for sharing them with us. Blessings from Michigan.
Wow, thank you!!
Enjoy the unbiased view of these small towns. Many of the other UA-cam creators interject their tribal politics.
It’s a damn shame that children and seniors live in poverty. If it’s political, so f*cking what?
@qwerty1131
This👍
I absolutely agree with you
Their all in the alligator infested water. I can just imagine all the bones in that waters foundation
@qwerty1131still looks better than anywhere in rural West Virginia
I am from England and watch your videos ... it really wakes me up and many like me that have this picture of everyone living in the perfect home surrounded by a white picket fence etc.
Clearly from many of your videos Nic its completely not the case especially in these rural areas ... hard to take those figures on poverty ... Alligator seems so quite so few people around ... hard to believe it was once really alive and busy with people and shops open.
I really enjoy your videos as they show the REAL America ... thanks for posting.
But in the UK we are on the flip side. Stupidly high rents and house prices, taxes and food prices.
Love your videos. I would recommend you never stop making these until you run out of cities.
That's the plan! :)
Hey Joe, been watching your channel for years. I do have to point out that a lot of these towns have people who work "under the table" and get paid in cash so a lot pf these annual incomes are off but you are correct, these places are quite poor
100% correct, every time Joe says wow that's a lot of junk I see it as a cash only business, I spotted at least three in this video, the guy with all the pickups is the local mechanic and used car lot, there was the appliance repairman yard, the guy with the tractor with the box blade surely has a brush hog also. The statistics only include what's reported to the government and the less reported, the more aid a person is able to get, same goes for the marriage and head of household stats, why get married if it's going to lessen the amount of aid?
Add to that fact the reality that a lot of people will barter services to keep their costs down.
Lots of crime goes unreported...especially in small towns. Often in really small towns they don't even have a local police department to call. Besides that they often know everyone and know who did them wrong...but if they were to get some distant authorities involved the perp would likely just get a slap on the wrist and return and give you more that just a slap for turning them in.
Explain better
Most of the crimes in small times like this are petty crimes. They usually don't get reported because the victim usually knows the culprit so the crime usually gets handled face to face. Fighting in public is usually the number one crime in these towns followed by burglaries.
Towns like this with no police dept usually rely on the county sheriff's dept.
This guy knows what he's talking about, police nowadays are worthless, crime rates only tell half the story
Really! Only 250 in a town? I can see why crime is low. Identifying the perps is easy when everyone knows each other and good number of them are kinfolks.
📺 🏃🏾 🏠🚶🏿♂️---“Hey! Unc’l Bill, what you mean by stealing my tv?”
I love your videos. Information and Kindness.
This is truly heartbreaking 💔 so many people living in poverty in the American 🇺🇸 but yet sending billions to other countries make this make sense 🤦🏻♀️ the United States need to start helping our people and families first.
I agree with you completely! 💯 All of Congress have stocks that make money from war.
Tell that to your politicians!
@@tshavfengvang7831 MY THOUGHTS EXACTLY! They get elected, work up to Congress or... paid $174k for yrs [folks at home forgotten] . Retire w/millions!
When I was in Helena, 22 years ago, it didn't look like that. In fact, some of the residential areas were idyllic. I even contemplated perhaps buying a home there when I retired. It was that nice. Also, it has some interesting Civil War history that involved U.S. Grant. And, some relationship with Iuka, Mississippi's Battle of Iuka. My great-grandfather fought in that battle and had part of his jaw blown off. I'm sorry to see this once great and beautiful Southern town go to hell.
@@vinezero That's a shame. It really was a special place.
@@vinezero Old white politicians have done far more damage than all the gangs put together. Vote blue in 24.
Well it's mostly black, so what do you expect 😅
@@BruceLee-fd7uwmost of their families were probably getting off of their feet from the oppression of white people. What do you expect 😅
@@BruceLee-fd7uwthat was so unnecessary, and you should have been raised much better. If you have children there’s no hope for them mentally either if you have a hand in raising them.
Fascinating videos! The story about the famous blues guitar players playing in this town was also great to hear!
An interesting video, as always. Some shocking statistics, very eye-opening. It was so sad seeing that beautiful old church in Helena slowly disappearing, and the many beautiful old homes and buildings downtown sitting empty. Thank you so much for showing us around, Joe. 😊💚
Regarding the church - The Lord shall provide - not!
Thanks, CL!!
Wow
The road almost look as of they are unpaved. Some of these people in the place might not have any transportation to even go to work
These folks are not in the middle of nowhere. They are exactly in the place that THEY live. I’m willing to state that I believe they live and love as well as most and better than some.
Shame we never get interviews with residents in these types of videos, and find out first hand how happy and content they are.
Driving through town and reading off statistics doesn’t really tell you much. Being from Mississippi I often go through the Delta to travel and stop and talk to anybody that’s out and about. These are some of the best people in the world and will give you everything, even though they have nothing.
He's a critic. He forgot the crime rate is probably the lowest in the country.
So what's his point? If you're not offering a solution or even willing to stop and meet anyone.
Nope they just for drugs and have sex
Post apocalyptic was a good description. Amazing how few people were on the streets. So sad how this has happened to many of these type of towns, which were no doubt once thriving communities. Great video. Best wishes from the UK. 🤗
I'm from MS and all these MS travel videos make me home sick no matter how much poverty they show. I might move back there but have absolutely no family left there, or job prospects. It's like looking at an old village thats all underwater now. The only things left there are memories, no space for building a future.
I get u that's Ur home, all Ur best memories r fm there
Watching that stupid vid I noticed loads of opportunities 4 growth Nd happiness in gator, I know I'd luv 2 improve my old community
Come back when you retire, there is no future here. My 27 yo daughter is finally giving up. She said I've outgrown Mississippi and there's no future for me. WSe gave our blessing though it kills me.
That state is cursed all the wrongdoings of the past Mississippi has never been a decent state for EVERYONE.
Good stuff, I like visiting small towns. Great stuff very informative!!
My mom is from Vicksburg, MS and I am so grateful for what I’ve been blessed with.
I drove from Memphis to Clarksdale and then from Clarksdale to Jackson, MS. There is a lot of rural poverty, but on the other hand the town of Cleveland and others like it seem to be prospering. There is a large hospital there and I think it is a major source of employment.
Yes, it is also a University town, which helps a great deal.
You’re correct, the MS Delta is littered with poor rural towns. Cleveland has Delta State University and has always been the most prosperous & well maintained town in the area. Clarksdale used to be a close 2nd about 40 years ago but has since gone downhill
Clarksdale is great. I love staying at the Shack Up Inn and going to listen to live blues at the blues clubs.
@@peregrino9154 I just back up to Memphis from North Texas. My business takes me into the Delta weekly. I have thought about buying a house either right outside Clarksdale in Lyon, or possibly Cleveland or Greenwood.
Seems to me all these towns are abandoned. They look haunted and not fit to live there. If another person doesn’t get you, then the zombies will. It looks scary. And lonely and sad.
Fascinating: the America most Americans don't see!!
I like watching your enlightening videos!!
EXCELLENT series...I really enjoyed your series and analysis on the small Mississippi towns.
I grew up in Helena, AR. We used to go to Friars Point for partying. That was 40 plus years ago. It's not the same for sure. I moved away from Helena at 17 and never looked back. Cherry Street was the main drag in Helena. Drive around the statue up and down strip. Blues Festival was fun.
Very sad and eye opening video ! Incredible poverty rates and I feel for people living there. Thanks as always Joe and Nic
Why? They have homes, not terrible traffic, no trash everywhere.
Thank you for showing these towns. I hate to see beauty decay into a state of no repair. I imagine at one time, like some people have already commented on, that they use to be lively towns.
Thank you so much for your great videos! I have followed you from the beginning of your travels around the US and you keep getting better and better! But here is a tip that might be of use. Median is not average. A few million dollar houses do not necessarily raise the median home value in a town. Of course it would raise the average house value.
Thanks for these astonishing images and facts about the US in general; you would easily make a better reporter than any other census bureau agent out there: you are an innate filmmaker, and I appreciate and enjoy your great imagery and investigative travels. You remind me of myself, once upon a time! Bravo! Your fan from Hawaii. Aloha!
Wow, thank you!
I live in the UK and I find this road trip fascinating...its almost like I'm travelling myself 😂. Mind you Im a big fan of the walking dead and I have to say some of these places remind me of some scenes x
Ovo jest planet X;dok ga ne izbrišu s karte jer više ne postoji .
The roads are just amazing
The main reason for the population decrease is John Deere. Now we farm with a few tractor drivers instead of a community of field hands. My father and uncle farmed at Rena Lara. When the general store/gas station/post office at Rena Lara closed, our mailing address became Alligator. Many wonderful communities like Rena Lara--and one of my favorites, Avalon--have dried up and blown away. Poverty is not measured by annual dollars when you own your home without a mortgage, you have a garden, and there are chickens in the yard. We also had cattle and chickens so we never thought we were poor. Growing up in the delta was lovely. I am only sorry there is not much for our children to do here, and so they move away.
I moved to Central America ... it's like you were back in the good days ...hope the economy never goes centralized
@@rogdog3373 Now THAT is a faraway move!😮
This is my fourth video I've watched of your content and it's actually really enjoyable. You're not promoting all this stupid adds and putting all these filters in with the annoying UA-cam music and stuff. It's just straight raw footage. It's so enjoyable so I subscribed. Thank you for your entertainment!
Thank you! :)
Saddened to see such a poor town in America. Joe, thanks for another admirable job and video!
Wow. I live in Arkansas and had no idea Helena-West Helena is in this shape. It makes Pine Bluff look not so bad. One thing about these two towns and small city is there wasn't a lot of litter everywhere. That was good to see. I wanted you to go over the levee so I could see the river from ground level. Thanks for the tour.
A few years ago I traveled across the USA. We drove up from Mena, Arkansas towards Memphis, and I decided to cross the Mississippi at Helena, to say that we had visited the state of Mississippi. I thought we could get some groceries in Helena... 'Holy Cow' was my reaction also... So we drove across the Mississippi where we encountered some sobering tornado damage. All together a very sad area yet somehow very fascinating.
ALL grocery stores & Walmart are in West Helena.
@@JustineWordThat's exactly what we discovered, too. 😅But since we came through West-Helena already and my motto is 'backtracking is not an option' (not always a good motto ...) we just crossed the river into Mississippi. And since that corner of the state isn't the most busy place either, we ended up shopping in Memphis...😑
I would definitely be intrigued by a town named Alligator. I like the old U-Haul and the triangle house. Love the view of the Mississippi on the way into Arkansas. I wish I could have seen Helena’s down down during good times. Some gorgeous home in Helena! Appreciate the great vlog!
Thanks, Alexandra!
Helena looked like a thriving beautiful town in1989. The downtown was all open businesses, there were even fast-food places in town. People walking the street, it was friendly and peaceful. BTW, Conway Twitty's family moved there because his father had taken the job of running the ferry back and forth across the river.
@@jamesadams2334
Appreciate you’re reply!
No cat sightings in a town called Alligator. A coincidence? I think not! Interesting to see the the obvious poverty next to some nicer homes with late model cars in the driveways. Always cool to see those giant barges making their way along the Mississippi.
no alligator sightings either though...
in that region, I would have expected to see them in abandoned carparks and stuff.
@@stanislavkostarnov2157they are coming back. I have been involved in conservation since the 4th grade when my class got selected to do some kind of conservation project. Black bears are also making a comeback slowly but surely.
And, Your Point Is?😅
It's always like that
@@geraldsmith7240 Alligators!
If you are seeking more happiness in your life, doing one small thing a day to help others in need may help.
This was so disheartening to see. All I was thinking was how do they survive without the basics. Didn’t see a store/pharmacy or clinic. It breaks your heart to see people having to live under these conditions. Great videos.
You have to have a car which is another burden along with gas so you can drive to the closest big town that has those things . Which could be 30 miles away or more
Still better than 85% of the world too. People forget just how far ahead America is in the global scheme of things. Our lowest 10% makes more annually than 85% of the world
@@Just.A.T-Rex I was thinking the same thing. I saw a video of South Sudan where soldiers make around the equivalent of $10 dollars a month, the displaced refugees live on top of cemeteries, and abject poverty is simply a daily way of life among the chaos of unending strife. Looking at a place like Alligator is like looking at paradise compared to that horror...
Yeah I mean they are poor by our standards but they still own homes and many own multiple vehicles, a few which even looked nice. They likely all have electricity internet telephones running water and air conditioning, and no one is starving.
And it wouldn't look nearly as bad if they just cleaned all the junk off their lawns
In small communities like that people look out for each other and neighbors help neighbors.
I wonder if you actually did the math, how "poor" those folks are...Assuming they own their trailer and land, there's a couple grand of scrap medal in the yard. That's a positive net worth. VS a cul-de-sac full of new cars with loans and houses with mortgages. Debtors who look wealthy vs people with no debt, thats what I see.
Interesting point
I didnt wanna say anything but coming from England... if they own that property, all it needs is maintenance and they have a pretty sweet deal going on. I saw 3 story homes with 360 degree yards, peace and quiet, lush greenery all over... not too shabby in that context. But unless I ask someone I'll never know for sure. It just looks a bit nicer than your typical british working class life shoved in a shoebox of a home wall-to-wall with every other home, renting til death
Indeed true. Thx for the insight.
@ABombs1
I know an investor with 100s of properties. He owns a few beautiful old Victorian homes near downtown. They look derelict and abandoned from the outside.
I asked him why one time. He told me, the value was the land, and he would never sell and would only do a 99yr lease to some chain franchise. If he made the houses nice, his taxes would skyrocket. So, let them fall into disrepair until CVS or McDonald's needs a new location. And save on taxes in the meantime.
Many places that look abandoned, trashed etc are owned by wealthy investors playing the long game. Never judge a book by its cover.
Yes, but you're describing the urban poor in the U.K.
Mississippi committed some of the most brutal Civil Rights violations of any Southern state.
What? No dollar stores? Really sad 2 c these towns in bad shape. Thanks 4 the vid. Stay safe out there.
No dolla store is a bad sign,
Born, raised and still stay in Helena-West Helena 28 years old. The town hasn’t always been this rundown and crime ridden. It’s one of these towns where everyone knows everyone, yet they grow up killing each other 😔.
I was raised on the MS coast. I went to college in East Central-ish Mississippi. At the beginning of my sophomore year, I asked the 2 girls in the room next to me where they lived. They said: "Duncan, MS". I asked: "where is Duncan?" They both responded: "Half way between Hushpuckena and Alligator." I thought they were kidding. This was almost 60 years ago! It wasn't until I watched your video that I understood what that meant. I have never been to the Mississippi Delta. It's sad how hopeful young families and beautiful old buildings are negatively affected by changing times. It's a shame that nothing can be done to turn the clock back. I found it interesting how clean most of these towns are and how low the crime rate is. Thank you for your calm narration of these tours. New subscriber...
Aww heck Joe, Who amongst us do you think didnt want to see that Alligator infested lake?
With that many, surprised we didn't see them roaming the streets!
I do not know why the USA federal government having so much land and empty town; does not offer the urban poor and homeless opportunity to relocate and populate this areas
This is America. The government isn’t stopping anyone from relocating.
I keep thinking about it myself.
It’s crazy here in California
I do love America. Thank you for the informative video 🎉
The town is old and abandoned but clean. 250 people. $11k per year, I wish you could have gone to the nearest grocery store, first, I wonder if it’s a food desert and what the produce costs are.
For the ones that work, what is the industry and job? What is the percent of hs diploma?
Thanks for mentioning the Blues connection to Alligator, passing on this kind of history is important and makes a connection to real Americans past.
Some places look nice 😊
Thankyou for your time today And have a nice day 😊
Massachusetts 😊
Superb video as always mate… As a Brit it always amazes me at some of the abject poverty in these rural towns… 👏👏👍🇺🇸🇬🇧
Thanks 👍
Another great video. It is such a shame to see people having to live in such poverty and blight. I have seen som sad towns in Oklahoma, but nothing compared to these. Will be looking forward to the next video. Until then stay safe and God bless.
Steve in Oklahoma
Thanks, Steve!
Being from The Netherlands I really like these video's , I can never come tour the US but this is a great alternative Thank you
Joe, brother, if I had money I would pay you $1,000 to go to Wilson, and Victoria, Arkansas. I can barely pay bills. All I can say is that I love your channel, and I love that you went to Lepanto, Arkansas, my home town.
I hope you will consider a deep trip to Wilson, especially, as I think it will be one of the best videos of your journey. A surprise for all who view it.
Love, always, from New Orleans!
We do plan on going into Arkansas in late November, so I’ll see what I can do. I think it can be done, though. 👍
So very sad. Love to see your numbers and your appreciation of buildings. Do you guys ever ask questions of the citizens of any of these towns to see what their take is on why some of your stats are they way they are???...Stay well and safe you two.
My favorite sign too see going to my family's hometown, because I don't have long to get to my peaceful place. I enjoyed all my summers in the Delta and still go once a year.❤
In the early 70s, I was traveling one night and spent about 45 minutes in Alligator MS, hiding under an awning at a gas station from a coming tornado!
Exciting😂 But, hey, I can say I’ve been there! Lol!
Btw, over by the river, it’s called a levee, not a flood wall.
That's cool and terrifying at the same time
35:48 on Miller Street was one of the last places my grandmother stayed and she passed on in 2019. Her neighbor across the street was her good friend. 35:56 That family moved out once the mothwr passed and just let it rot. Used to be apartments next to Grandma's house but its completely gone. Don't even see it in the video. Goes to show how fast my hometown went down. Born and raised in Helena -West Helltown. That church was also historic. Caught fire. My cousin who just recently A FEW MONTHS AGO, lived across from that church. Ebenezer something was the name if it. I was just back home this past July. It's definitely a Ghost town. It was also a bit sad to see the life that has left that place. No one outside. No cops. Nothing. Only time people come back home is to bury their loved ones. Basically everyone there is family. But the heart of my hometown is gone😢. They have a Delta Blues Festival every October. But that in a sense has gone down as well. But they keep it afloat. Great video 👍🏾. The nostalgia was mind blowing. 🩵
Looks like a lot of structure fires arson perhaps
Blessing my brother love what you doing keeping we enlightening loving it ❤blessing
Loved Conway Twitty! He and Loretta Lynn made a great duo. You're right about Helena, Holy cow!
Was his bar in that town? I grew up in Mark's, ms