The fact that there are no bars open late is not a bad thing. It shows that the people in this town are responsible and need to get to bed so they can get up and be productive instead of being drunk in the bar playing pull tabs all night!
Nick, I wanna thank you for helping me decide to move to MN, I am from San Diego CA and your vids about the beautiful state of MN helped me to take this important decision, i dont regret it at all! CA is getting crazy expensive to live, now i live in ST Paul and paying half the rent i was paying back in San Diego and planning on going back to college for nursing. thank you again!
I am from Southern California and my mom was from a small town in Mn(Crookston) Mn is a beautiful state and I think of going there to live. I have so many fond memories of Mn. Enjoy ( :
I'm really glad to see this whole series. So many videos about the US are coast-centric, and many people don't even realize there's a whole world outside of NYC, LA, SF, and even Chicago. But most parts of the Midwest are still clean, safe, properties are maintained, have few issues with homelessness and general dysfunctional behavior, they have better schools, and they're generally affordable for people with median incomes. Not saying they're without issues, and not saying all parts of the Midwest are nice, especially some areas in the larger cities, and even smaller ones in some places (cough cough Illinois, my home state), but much of the Midwest is generally a better place to live than other parts of the country, if you can deal with the climactic extremes (hot, humid summers and cold, sometimes snowy winters). Remote work options should really make smaller cities and towns more appealing. Drive though rural California, it's dirty with garbage strewn everywhere along the roads. Drive through rural Iowa or Ohio, and it's usually immaculately clean and well kept.
Thank you from Minnesota. After moving to Florida, I miss living in the Midwest with all the poors you mentioned. I also miss people who are more likely to do their jobs, actually follow OSHA policies, clean bathrooms in businesses you shop at, not hearing about multiple restaurants getting shut down by health violations, and safer drivers (not just elderly people or out of state people who moved down there). Especially when Florida is ranked as one of the worst hit and run states. I guess living in the area with colder weather has more to look forward to for a safer, cleaner, quite lifestyle.
@@BrandonHanson I recently heard that in 25 years the lower 2/3 of Florida will resemble a single mega urban area. That's not for me. I'm sure millions will love that, but not myself.
Living in Japan for over 30 years and counting. No plans to leave but love to see this type of video of a small town in US. All the lawns are so green and cut and nice. Wow!!! What a great place to raise a couple of big dogs!! Anyway, thanks for the video.
@Concerned Individual Define boredom for yourself, what is boredom? To me boredom is to spend endless shopping lines on Black Fridays etc, if it's what drives you then yeah...better dont move to rural Japan😂
My daughter has nutcracker nightmares thanks to those large, non-graffiti'd cutouts you were curious about. She worked as a graphic designer in Luverne and was responsible for creating and designing almost 100 of them as part of a Christmas nutcracker museum promotion. Most of them appear at Christmas all over town, but some businesses obviously enjoy them year round. She has since moved from the big city of Luverne back to her home town 90 miles east (pop. 200), but visions of those nutcrackers still haunt her.:)
I'm originally from Lake Wilson, MN. I currently have been living in South Korea for 10 years. Thanks for videos like this, especially in detail. It's so nice. I miss back home life. Luverne should consider a Craft Brewery downtown.
This is my home town! I wish you would have shown the city park, the bike trail, the rock climbing/hiking trail, and the “beach”. I really enjoyed growing up here. Moved away about 7 years ago now, but still visit family often. They have fun events every year as well. “Hot dog night” makes downtown flooded with people eating hot dogs and watching wiener dog races 😂
A lot of history took place in that area. The U.S. Dakota war was centered just to north of that area. There are old native American schools and if you go to Mankato there is the place where a mass execution happened. New Ulm was like a German Alamo. They have places all over where you can learn about the Natives and the Soldier's that fought one another. That whole South West and South Central Minnesota is pock-marked with history that many people don't even know.
Yup and now the natives are destroying all of or most of the fishing in our lakes.....anyone wonder where walleye fillets and fingers come from......native American gill nets.....and they just toss the ones that are too small to die on shore.....only reason why you cannot legally keep walleyes in 2 of our biggest walleye lakes anymore ...... That and OUT OF TOWNERS...keeping too many fish....saw a Florida guy get his boat and gear confiscated last weekend by our DNR
Southern Minnesota is part of the food production center for the country. The people work hard and are industrious. Very rich soil. Cereals, grains, dairy, meat and vegetables. Green Giant, Malt O Meal, General Mills, Hormel, Pillsbury, Land O Lakes, Jennie O etc.
One of the things I really thought was cool about Minnesota was how tidy the little farms are. The people there really seem to take pride in their homesteads. As far as towns go, Winona, MN really had a lot to offer, in my opinion. Sorry, Winona, if that last comment puts too much of a spotlight on your town. 😊
What a lovely lady Betty Mann really is ... a real pleasure to hear someone who has lived a life and has knowledge about her town. Compared to some of the other mid-west towns / cities Luverne was so clean and really well kept ... no graffiti, trash along the streets, people slouched on street corners, never got the feeling your about to be jumped on or mugged. Sort of place where you could leave your door unlocked and not worry about it ... almost like going back in time 50 years ... I would happily live there and as you said the people are nice which makes it all that much a better place to live. Thanks for posting really enjoyed the video.
I was born in Virginia, Minn, just a stone's throw from Hibbing, Bob Dylan's hometown. It is the Messabi Iron Range, and quite close to Canada. Just west of Duluth we find Cloquet, hometown of Jessica Lange. To the West of Virginia/Hibbing we find Judy Garland's hometown, Grand Rapids
I’m from Pipestone, near Luverne. We took our kids to all those places! I’m a big Wizard of Oz fan so we enjoyed Grand Rapids as well! Iron range was SO diff and attractions well done!
Born in biwabik man has Virgina gone down hill growing up it was the place to go it seems to be getting better and worse as far as crime I guess growing up no crime besides for small time things left in 2003 just as the meth epidemic began and started to ruin things but it's still home and I love it more than ever
Thanks Nick and also to the ladies. I'm very favorably impressed with Luverne MN. Beautifully clean, a sensible population density, and well run. And appears to be a very safe place. I think the two ladies interviewed are a good representation for the decency and intelligence of people living there. Luverne is a beautiful representation of the best living there is in the USA. And it seems to be an excellent place to live for people that are emotionally shot. I'd say the worst thing about Luverne MN (not addressed) is that I expect it has a very long winter season.
And if you have trouble cracking nuts... I think you don't have to worry. Seems like a pleasant enough place. I'll have to see a diner, maybe a doughnut shop. It might come up yet.
@@Micg51 Good reply. Folks who have never experienced dry sunny cold winters, vs miserable cloudy damp cold winters have no idea... Like night and day for your comfort and sanity.
Welcome to Minnesota. I’ve lived here my whole life. It’s pretty good. It gets cold in winter, but I’m used to that. I can’t handle cities. Minneapolis isn’t great. Thanks for visiting. Have a great trip.😊
I grew up in a small town in Iowa. This video Rings quite true. People stay busy with church, work, school activities, family and extended family, and then drive to the nearest city at least once a month. The quality of life is excellent, if you can get used to a slower pace.
It’s what you make it. After going to the city for college… it’s tough to go back to corn and beans, due to a sick Mother. Waited 28 years to get out again.
My husband and I really enjoyed this episode. You did a great job of covering the pace and lifestyle of Luverne. We each had different takes on it because he grew up in Fridley, a suburb north of the Twin Cities, while I was born and raised in the village of Ranier, MN. Ranier is a resort community in the International Falls area. I’m accustomed to the way everything is closed after 8 pm and all day Sunday. Same deal up in my hometown. I strongly encourage you to do an episode or two up there. International Falls exists because of two things: timber and a wide 12 foot waterfall. The falls was dammed in 1908 to provide electrical power to both the town and the substantial paper mill that employed both of my parents and most of the town. The sister community across the river is Fort Frances, Ontario, which is slightly larger and has a paper mill of its own, though neither is operating today. I would be remiss not to mention the intensely unpleasant odor from the paper-making process, thankfully no longer a concern. The Canadian border dominates the culture now. It was a great place to grow up. Of course now it suffers from all the ills that plague every little town like it but they have one ace up their sleeve: tourism. The border lakes and Voyageurs National Park draw thousands of people every summer. It’s a long drive up there but I believe you could do more than one episode and it is very unique. Anyway, we’re big fans - keep up the good work!
@@NickJohnson My daughter lives in International Falls. Because of "Lake of The Woods", Voyageur National Park, and Rainy Lake. It makes the place the best Walleye fishing areas in the USA.
Uhh the International Falls paper mill is still in operation only the fort Frances mill shut down. Otherwise I wouldn't be awake at 430 in the morning. Nothing is closed on Sundays up here and maybe Ranier once was a resort town but the resorts in kabetogama and ash river are far more prevalent. The smell is gone simply due to better EPA regulations.
@@ragingmoderate6791 ok, they make a tiny fraction of the paper they did when I lived there. Yup. One machine works. That’s why no smell. It has nothing whatsoever to do with any government limits or anything like it. Believe me, as a person who lives in the beating heart of a city 750x as populous, comparatively speaking, I. Falls is closed on Sunday. 😂
Ken Burns, the famous documentary director, made a series called “The War”. Luverne Mn was one of four towns that was featured in the series. It was about WW2.
I've not seen that one yet. I saw The Civil War and Wild West as well as The Dust Bowl one show and also his National Parks series. He did a Vietnam one but more into the 80s version narriated by The Frontline guy. That was from 1984. Stanley Kurnow wrote the companion book.
@@alanvallazza9781 The Ken Burns' Vietnam doc was much more recent, from 2017. I think you're thinking of "Korea: The Unknown War" which was a 1990 WGBH Boston remake of a 1988 Thames Television (Britain) doc. The British original was narrated by the guy that played Bilbo Baggins (Ian Holm), while the American version was narrated by an American, maybe that guy from Frontline? Or maybe you're thinking of Vietnam: A Television History or Vietnam: The Ten Thousand Day War? Those were both Vietnam docs from the 1980s...
The documentary you refer to also featured my hometown of Waterbury, Ct as well as Mobile, AL and Sacramento. Each city was chosen for its representative value and featured a single family's sacrifice, also representative. The Minnesota town had a heartland farm family, Waterbury was a manufacturing powerhouse of brass armaments and an Italian immigrant family who lost a son, Mobile for shipbuilding and a black man's patriotic contribution despite facing prejudice and Sacramento for a Japanese American family who despite their fealty to America suffered interrment in a concentration camp. It is one of his finest works imo.
My favorite Ken Burns documentary! Every time I hear the name Luverne, MN I think of that documentary. I like to watch that series at least one every 2-3 years.
Oh my word, I was laughing throughout this one! I am from a small MN northern town, so true! What a great place to raise a family! Would love for you to film a Duluth, MN, that would be more of a reality check on where not to move in MN.
Betty is amazing. I just wish I could travel to all these places and meet these wonderful characters. Thanks for providing us with the opportunity to see real life USA.
Nick, I really enjoyed this segment a lot! It gives us a glimpse of what a typical small American town or city looks like. I often wonder what the locals do, what places to go to, what hotels are nearby, where to eat and shop, and what the downtown looks like (at day and night). Please visit more small towns! 🚲
Minnesota is so beautiful but man those winters are absolutely brutal! Probably one of the top 3 coldest states in America! I would love to visit anywhere but Minneapolis
Nick, your videos are a breath of fresh air. Thanks for providing such fascinating travelogues. You are so America loving in your outlook that you could have been a U.S. Marine.
You could do a lot worse than Luverne, Mn. Safe, quiet and respectful to each other. A huge breath of fresh air to be found there, both literally and figuratively. Thanks Nick for the look around!😀👍
I live in a Minneapolis suburb, but my family roots are small town MN probably within 100 miles of Luverne and many still live in the area. I go to visit regularly and I can relate to a lot of what is presented here. A couple main sources of fun for people, at least the ones I know, are hanging out on the lake with family and friends... drinking and hanging out around a bonfire with family and friends... drinking. I suppose that doesn't sound all that exciting to the "big city folks", but the slower pace and friendly people leave me feeling calm and connected at the end of the day.
Exactly right! My bf and I live in the southwest suburbs but often travel up to see his family near Grand Rapids. Being out in the middle of nowhere up there you truly have to "create" your own good time. Nothing better than a bonfire with neighbors we consider family, big dinners/potlucks, and watching the stars out there. Not to mention the lakes and beaches up there, too! Unbelievably clean water! We love the small towns up there and I cannot wait for the day to move there! Hopefully soon. Chaska, Chanhassen, Victoria, Eden Prairie, etc aren't what they used to be. Traffic galore, new developments going up driving costs up, road rage, higher and higher taxes.. We've definitely lost that sense of community here in the cities
I lived in Bloomington MN for two years (1967-1968). The cultural thing that I notice from your videos that has not changes is -- NO FENCES in the residential areas. That in itself is a reflection of the friendly spirit of Minnesota. We would have large spontaneous neighborhood barbecues on summer afternoons. I didn't like the weather, but I surely did like the people and the community.
Been following you on UA-cam for over the past 2 years. First time i seen you in my home State of Minnesota. I've never even heard of that town before now. I am unfortunately in Minneapolis. Not safe
That and La Crescent, Minnesota. But I agree with you. When watching the UA-cam Channel Code Blue. You'll get enterinment from there and other towns in the area.
the farms in the south and west are the factory type and the dairy factories are heart breaking. the trees are gone along with the wet land from factory farms. a modern day dust bowl is in the making. the deer eat the field crops as there is little else for them in this area and a dnr report has stated that the animals have chemicals in their flesh as the crops are sprayed heavy with chemicals. at harvest time the air is dirty with dust. the native people are not respected and are forced to have oil pipelines go through their beautiful forest. i have lived here 65 years and am sad to see the factory farms that grow soy ,corn and sugar. there are few pastures for cattle and mostly the animals are forced to live crowed together sleeping in their poo. turkey factories are another place animals are crowed together and medicated. the small farm is gone as are barns. also our homeless are growing and wages are low for most people and rent is high. taxes are high as are electric.
That saloon is perfect here's the thing and I don't know if I said this on other videos I watched I was a metal guitarist that toward the country three times so I've been through pretty much every state at least twice some three times and I was originally from rural Florida now and suburbian Connecticut which I absolutely hate but small towns in America is what makes America America to me the people are so much better people out here where I am suck legitimately one out of every hundred people are decent I can't stand it here in Connecticut me and my wife are planning on moving somewhere Middle America and your videos are really helping us decide so thank you Nick
Nick you should do Minnesota North Shore. It's BEAUTIFUL up there. Make sure you stop and have breakfast or lunch at Betty's Pies and you will love the beautiful Lake Superior!
What a beautiful and special place!! Yes, indeed, I would love to live in a wonderful place like small town Minnesota! Maybe the winters would be a challenge but they'd be worth it!
We were driving through SE MN and happened on a small town. I think the sign on one end was 192, and 186 on the other. Apparently they don't know where 6 people are. Anyway, we were hungry and there was a cafe. It was empty, but then the church across the street let out, and the cafe was packed. Brunch was served buffet style and the tables were communal style. Of course we stuck out like sore thumbs, but people were friendly and had to know our stories and they told us theirs.
Just bought another piece of this heaven. Have land from grandpa from the 30’s. Hasn’t changed much, electricity came in the 1980s, standpoint water in the 90s, still using the outhouse while our neighbors have deep wells and septic, lots of family nearby and on a clean beautiful lake. You need to tour much further north, the range cities/lake country.
I love small towns. I left Chicago for forty acres near sun valley Arizona, which isn't really a town, but thirty miles away is Holbrook which has many small town charms. A city of any size is a hundred miles away east or west. Done with cities!
What looks boring to some is not to others. I was born in Blaine MN. Moved at age 32 to a small farming town, Carlsbad NM. I loved it here for about the first 15 years. Population was about 23,000. Then big oil came in. Population went above 100,000. Fracking ruined water tables. Crime, drugs, homeless and prostitutes are now very prevalent. It's a nasty place to now. Next spring I will be moving back to rural northern MN. I have no intention of ever going near Minneapolis or St. Paul. The twin cities is just disgusting to me.
I've never seen such a clean town in the US! All is neat, no hanging wires around, no criminality, good streets etc. It looks like many rural places in Switzerland
My Grandparents lived and died in a small western Minnesota town called Madison. As my Grandmother used to explain, "it's right under the hump in Minnesota". Laq Qua Parle country, last time I checked, it had a population of 2,000. I haven't been there in 40 years, but I've been thinking about it a lot lately, and may make a move there.
Love small town videos you're covering. Being born in Rochester, Minnesota I can confirm our accents will always be different. In fact, when going to different countries they think I'm Canadian. That's why Minnesota is called the Canadian state of America. Especially when you're in the most northern point of this state connected to Canada past Lake Of The Woods.
Ahh yeah Minnesota… been waiting for a video. You should check out Detroit lakes, Mn maybe sometime. It’s a interesting place in the summer. A lot of contrast amongst all the variables.
I moved from the west coast to Minnesota 4 years ago and I bought the only house in the neighborhood with a fenced backyard. I could never have a yard without a fence, creepy to think about strangers watching us in the backyard from their windows. A lot of homes here also don't have driveways and garages either and for a part of the country that has such atrocious winters so few homes have fireplaces or wood burning stoves, which is unsettling to think about if the power were to go out during sub zero temperatures. I threw in the towel and left the midwest after enduring 4 years of that. Never looking back.
This has cone at just the right time. It's a windy cold evening here in uk and hubbz and the cat are having boy time. This what I need to binge watch, snax and I'm a new sub. Perfect
I'm Indonesian, I live my whole life in Indonesia. My aunt live in Hallock, MN since 1988. I'm very pleased if you make documentary about Hallock. Thanks. 🇮🇩🇮🇩🇮🇩
The town being quite at night is what I grew up in while growing up in New York. Friday night and Saturday were more active. But the other day of the week were pretty dull. The Town I grew up in was Granville NY 12832 , I have not been back since May 1991, don't plan on going back either. Granville is a mile or so from the Vermont border, most of the Vermont town are really small. Wells, Palwett, Castleton, these close up really early, summer months see lots of tourists because of the lakes and in the Fall the changing of the colors. The biggest city in vt is Burlington, I used to spend lots of time their when I lived in Plattsburgh NY. But I like the pacific northwest now and would have no reason to move back East. Thanks very much for your videos.
It’s a great shame it’s so dead and quiet. They could do with a farmers market, outdoor eating, a cinema and bars. The town won’t attract anybody if there is nothing to do. Great docu Nick. Al from London UK
I grew up here and my parents still live here. There is a farmer’s market, cinema, and bars. There is a restaurant/bar on Main Street with outdoor dining and the brewery has outdoor seating. There are street festivals like Hot Dog Days, Buffalo Days, and Arts in the Park. There is a lot more to do than when I lived there, but it’s still pretty boring compared to a larger city.
I prefer cloudy and overcast days over Southern California heat and baking sun! Minnesota, I will be there September 27! Two wonderful Buick LeSabres at 19:55. Nick, make sure you visit Lake City (in Goodhue and Wabasha counties).
I'm from southern California and I moved to Minnesota 4 years ago thinking the weather there would be more refreshing than in California, man was I wrong, the winters are extremely brutal, the summers are very hot and humid and the sun is pretty brutal as well, the only break from it being when a thunderstorm comes through and that mostly happens at night in that area. In the midwest the only truly "overcast" time of year is in the late fall and its already so cold and windy by then you don't want to see any cloud cover. As it turns out the summers in southern California are more cloudy and overcast than in the midwest. (At least on the coast where I'm from)
As someone who live in cramped country where average house is 72m2 and I literally share walls with my neighbors. How I wish I could live in this town like this and grow foods on my backyard. I literally grow my veggies in hydroponic and grow them in the rooftops.
Good job, Nick, actually talking to and listening to, a wonderful older lady like Mrs. Mann. So much wisdom there. It seems to me that, so many times, younger people dismiss anyone older than 35. I have to say, I find it hard to actually listen to, and enjoy the company of, people under 45. Their life experience(s) seems to be all inside their phones. How very uninteresting.
Thank you for this video. I was born & raised there & this video is a good way to visit without travelling & also a reminder of why I left, but the nutcracker lady is fascinating.
I believe that we are seeing a huge migration towards rural America. Many different reasoning but a much better quality of life is a big asset. Nothing is better than small town America.
The fact that there are no bars open late is not a bad thing. It shows that the people in this town are responsible and need to get to bed so they can get up and be productive instead of being drunk in the bar playing pull tabs all night!
Right, if there isn't a night life cool, then open a kickass breakfast joint
"being drunk in the bar playing pull tabs all night!"
Your average hourly 15ph worker cannot afford to do this, this behavior is govt worker fun.
That doesn't mean that they're not drinking at home. MN is number 6 in excessive drinking. WI is number 2, and ND is number 1.
Illinois is probably between MN and WI on that list.
Lol. You can't be serious.
Nick, I wanna thank you for helping me decide to move to MN, I am from San Diego CA and your vids about the beautiful state of MN helped me to take this important decision, i dont regret it at all! CA is getting crazy expensive to live, now i live in ST Paul and paying half the rent i was paying back in San Diego and planning on going back to college for nursing.
thank you again!
Good Guillermo!
And just let your CA ideas in CA or you'll just vote us into another dump.
@@deutzallis6497 im conservative, so dont worry :)
@@guillermorobles887 it must be crazy for a conservative living in commifornia
I am from Southern California and my mom was from a small town in Mn(Crookston) Mn is a beautiful state and I think of going there to live. I have so many fond memories of Mn. Enjoy ( :
At this point boring is safe from crimes, tent dwellers, blue hair crazies and greedy developers. I call this gold.
I 100% agree. I rather be bored than scared and angry
Eh developers are in every small town that has a decent economy. Depends on what you consider greedy ig.
Your right boring tends to be little more safe.
It won’t be safe for long the way you fools vote
Used to hate it before the country went to shit but now I love it
I'm really glad to see this whole series. So many videos about the US are coast-centric, and many people don't even realize there's a whole world outside of NYC, LA, SF, and even Chicago. But most parts of the Midwest are still clean, safe, properties are maintained, have few issues with homelessness and general dysfunctional behavior, they have better schools, and they're generally affordable for people with median incomes. Not saying they're without issues, and not saying all parts of the Midwest are nice, especially some areas in the larger cities, and even smaller ones in some places (cough cough Illinois, my home state), but much of the Midwest is generally a better place to live than other parts of the country, if you can deal with the climactic extremes (hot, humid summers and cold, sometimes snowy winters). Remote work options should really make smaller cities and towns more appealing. Drive though rural California, it's dirty with garbage strewn everywhere along the roads. Drive through rural Iowa or Ohio, and it's usually immaculately clean and well kept.
Thank you from Ohio 🙏
Thank you from Minnesota. After moving to Florida, I miss living in the Midwest with all the poors you mentioned. I also miss people who are more likely to do their jobs, actually follow OSHA policies, clean bathrooms in businesses you shop at, not hearing about multiple restaurants getting shut down by health violations, and safer drivers (not just elderly people or out of state people who moved down there). Especially when Florida is ranked as one of the worst hit and run states. I guess living in the area with colder weather has more to look forward to for a safer, cleaner, quite lifestyle.
@@BrandonHanson I recently heard that in 25 years the lower 2/3 of Florida will resemble a single mega urban area. That's not for me. I'm sure millions will love that, but not myself.
Minnesota is a beautiful state. I absolutely love the Duluth area, going north along Lake Superior one of my favorite drives.
Hoyt lakes is the best I live only one block away frome the lake love it
Living in Japan for over 30 years and counting. No plans to leave but love to see this type of video of a small town in US. All the lawns are so green and cut and nice. Wow!!! What a great place to raise a couple of big dogs!! Anyway, thanks for the video.
❤️ 🇯🇵
oh boy you should check out the iron range in northern MN. It's a beauty up there
Try visiting Canyon MN! Smallest town around!
@@NickJohnson Next time you're in that area, do a story on Worthington. Talk about a drastic change in the last 20yrs!!! Worthington...😂
@Concerned Individual Define boredom for yourself, what is boredom? To me boredom is to spend endless shopping lines on Black Fridays etc, if it's what drives you then yeah...better dont move to rural Japan😂
My daughter has nutcracker nightmares thanks to those large, non-graffiti'd cutouts you were curious about. She worked as a graphic designer in Luverne and was responsible for creating and designing almost 100 of them as part of a Christmas nutcracker museum promotion. Most of them appear at Christmas all over town, but some businesses obviously enjoy them year round. She has since moved from the big city of Luverne back to her home town 90 miles east (pop. 200), but visions of those nutcrackers still haunt her.:)
I'm originally from Lake Wilson, MN. I currently have been living in South Korea for 10 years. Thanks for videos like this, especially in detail. It's so nice. I miss back home life. Luverne should consider a Craft Brewery downtown.
They have one. It’s called take 16.
This is my home town! I wish you would have shown the city park, the bike trail, the rock climbing/hiking trail, and the “beach”. I really enjoyed growing up here. Moved away about 7 years ago now, but still visit family often.
They have fun events every year as well. “Hot dog night” makes downtown flooded with people eating hot dogs and watching wiener dog races 😂
A lot of history took place in that area. The U.S. Dakota war was centered just to north of that area. There are old native American schools and if you go to Mankato there is the place where a mass execution happened. New Ulm was like a German Alamo. They have places all over where you can learn about the Natives and the Soldier's that fought one another. That whole South West and South Central Minnesota is pock-marked with history that many people don't even know.
The mass killing was of white people, women and children scalped and left to die in agony to please the egos of Sioux terrorists.
Yup and now the natives are destroying all of or most of the fishing in our lakes.....anyone wonder where walleye fillets and fingers come from......native American gill nets.....and they just toss the ones that are too small to die on shore.....only reason why you cannot legally keep walleyes in 2 of our biggest walleye lakes anymore ...... That and OUT OF TOWNERS...keeping too many fish....saw a Florida guy get his boat and gear confiscated last weekend by our DNR
You forgot the Pipestone National monument where Indians still quarry to make peacepipes
Southern Minnesota is part of the food production center for the country. The people work hard and are industrious. Very rich soil. Cereals, grains, dairy, meat and vegetables. Green Giant, Malt O Meal, General Mills, Hormel, Pillsbury, Land O Lakes, Jennie O etc.
I drove from Minneapolis to Mankato and the small towns with lakes and beautiful homes was such a surprise! Really cool during the summer
One of the things I really thought was cool about Minnesota was how tidy the little farms are. The people there really seem to take pride in their homesteads.
As far as towns go, Winona, MN really had a lot to offer, in my opinion. Sorry, Winona, if that last comment puts too much of a spotlight on your town. 😊
Ms Mann is an incredible lady and what an impact she’s had on that community.
Hey Nick...I love watching your videos, they are so fun to watch, especially your songs! I'm 2 hours and 30 minutes away from Luverne.
Yay paul!
What a lovely lady Betty Mann really is ... a real pleasure to hear someone who has lived a life and has knowledge about her town.
Compared to some of the other mid-west towns / cities Luverne was so clean and really well kept ... no graffiti, trash along the streets, people slouched on street corners, never got the feeling your about to be jumped on or mugged.
Sort of place where you could leave your door unlocked and not worry about it ... almost like going back in time 50 years ... I would happily live there and as you said the people are nice which makes it all that much a better place to live.
Thanks for posting really enjoyed the video.
I love her. Amazing place.
I was born in Virginia, Minn, just a stone's throw from Hibbing, Bob Dylan's hometown. It is the Messabi Iron Range, and quite close to Canada. Just west of Duluth we find Cloquet, hometown of Jessica Lange. To the West of Virginia/Hibbing we find Judy Garland's hometown, Grand Rapids
I’m from Pipestone, near Luverne. We took our kids to all those places! I’m a big Wizard of Oz fan so we enjoyed Grand Rapids as well! Iron range was SO diff and attractions well done!
Born in biwabik man has Virgina gone down hill growing up it was the place to go it seems to be getting better and worse as far as crime I guess growing up no crime besides for small time things left in 2003 just as the meth epidemic began and started to ruin things but it's still home and I love it more than ever
Thanks Nick and also to the ladies. I'm very favorably impressed with Luverne MN. Beautifully clean, a sensible population density, and well run. And appears to be a very safe place. I think the two ladies interviewed are a good representation for the decency and intelligence of people living there. Luverne is a beautiful representation of the best living there is in the USA. And it seems to be an excellent place to live for people that are emotionally shot. I'd say the worst thing about Luverne MN (not addressed) is that I expect it has a very long winter season.
And if you have trouble cracking nuts... I think you don't have to worry. Seems like a pleasant enough place. I'll have to see a diner, maybe a doughnut shop. It might come up yet.
It’s MN, the winter is cold. Not much we can do about that. Thankfully it’s sunnier in the winter vs the lower Midwest or east coast.
@@Micg51 Good reply. Folks who have never experienced dry sunny cold winters, vs miserable cloudy damp cold winters have no idea... Like night and day for your comfort and sanity.
It was the perfect time to be driving thru that area! It’s so green! Great vid Nick!
Welcome to Minnesota. I’ve lived here my whole life. It’s pretty good. It gets cold in winter, but I’m used to that. I can’t handle cities. Minneapolis isn’t great. Thanks for visiting. Have a great trip.😊
I grew up in a small town in Iowa. This video Rings quite true. People stay busy with church, work, school activities, family and extended family, and then drive to the nearest city at least once a month. The quality of life is excellent, if you can get used to a slower pace.
Iowa coming up. Lots and lots of Iowa.
It’s what you make it. After going to the city for college… it’s tough to go back to corn and beans, due to a sick Mother. Waited 28 years to get out again.
My husband and I really enjoyed this episode. You did a great job of covering the pace and lifestyle of Luverne. We each had different takes on it because he grew up in Fridley, a suburb north of the Twin Cities, while I was born and raised in the village of Ranier, MN. Ranier is a resort community in the International Falls area. I’m accustomed to the way everything is closed after 8 pm and all day Sunday. Same deal up in my hometown. I strongly encourage you to do an episode or two up there. International Falls exists because of two things: timber and a wide 12 foot waterfall. The falls was dammed in 1908 to provide electrical power to both the town and the substantial paper mill that employed both of my parents and most of the town. The sister community across the river is Fort Frances, Ontario, which is slightly larger and has a paper mill of its own, though neither is operating today. I would be remiss not to mention the intensely unpleasant odor from the paper-making process, thankfully no longer a concern. The Canadian border dominates the culture now. It was a great place to grow up. Of course now it suffers from all the ills that plague every little town like it but they have one ace up their sleeve: tourism. The border lakes and Voyageurs National Park draw thousands of people every summer. It’s a long drive up there but I believe you could do more than one episode and it is very unique. Anyway, we’re big fans - keep up the good work!
Ok Ron maybe I'll make it up there one day
@@NickJohnson My daughter lives in International Falls. Because of "Lake of The Woods", Voyageur National Park, and Rainy Lake. It makes the place the best Walleye fishing areas in the USA.
I think it's clueless, full of empty stereotypes and assumptions.
Uhh the International Falls paper mill is still in operation only the fort Frances mill shut down. Otherwise I wouldn't be awake at 430 in the morning. Nothing is closed on Sundays up here and maybe Ranier once was a resort town but the resorts in kabetogama and ash river are far more prevalent. The smell is gone simply due to better EPA regulations.
@@ragingmoderate6791 ok, they make a tiny fraction of the paper they did when I lived there. Yup. One machine works. That’s why no smell. It has nothing whatsoever to do with any government limits or anything like it. Believe me, as a person who lives in the beating heart of a city 750x as populous, comparatively speaking, I. Falls is closed on Sunday. 😂
Ken Burns, the famous documentary director, made a series called “The War”. Luverne Mn was one of four towns that was featured in the series. It was about WW2.
I've not seen that one yet. I saw The Civil War and Wild West as well as The Dust Bowl one show and also his National Parks series. He did a Vietnam one but more into the 80s version narriated by The Frontline guy. That was from 1984. Stanley Kurnow wrote the companion book.
@@alanvallazza9781 The Ken Burns' Vietnam doc was much more recent, from 2017. I think you're thinking of "Korea: The Unknown War" which was a 1990 WGBH Boston remake of a 1988 Thames Television (Britain) doc. The British original was narrated by the guy that played Bilbo Baggins (Ian Holm), while the American version was narrated by an American, maybe that guy from Frontline? Or maybe you're thinking of Vietnam: A Television History or Vietnam: The Ten Thousand Day War? Those were both Vietnam docs from the 1980s...
The documentary you refer to also featured my hometown of Waterbury, Ct as well as Mobile, AL and Sacramento. Each city was chosen for its representative value and featured a single family's sacrifice, also representative. The Minnesota town had a heartland farm family, Waterbury was a manufacturing powerhouse of brass armaments and an Italian immigrant family who lost a son, Mobile for shipbuilding and a black man's patriotic contribution despite facing prejudice and Sacramento for a Japanese American family who despite their fealty to America suffered interrment in a concentration camp. It is one of his finest works imo.
I remember that! I lived 25 miles away from Luverne, in Pipestone, when it was filmed.
My favorite Ken Burns documentary! Every time I hear the name Luverne, MN I think of that documentary. I like to watch that series at least one every 2-3 years.
Oh my word, I was laughing throughout this one! I am from a small MN northern town, so true! What a great place to raise a family! Would love for you to film a Duluth, MN, that would be more of a reality check on where not to move in MN.
Duluth proctor Carlton way to crooked and corrupt
I'm from Ashland lol enough said but duluth harbor cam feeds are nice to see the boats . One of his past videos he did touch on duluth for few minutes
What’s wrong with Duluth, just curious?
@@Max-bi8fn I'm from there very crooked and corrupt the fishing is great the skiing might be great but the government is so crooked I can't go into it
@@Max-bi8fn I hear it is growing bur superior is still bad crap
Betty is amazing. I just wish I could travel to all these places and meet these wonderful characters. Thanks for providing us with the opportunity to see real life USA.
She is a sweet lady :)
Nick, I really enjoyed this segment a lot! It gives us a glimpse of what a typical small American town or city looks like. I often wonder what the locals do, what places to go to, what hotels are nearby, where to eat and shop, and what the downtown looks like (at day and night). Please visit more small towns! 🚲
Many residents are snowbirds when they retire . They get a taste of elsewhere and are happy to return home
@@timothykeith1367 "Elsewhere" is not always a better move.....coming home is a special feeling after being away for some time!
This is my absolute favorite UA-cam channel! I look forward to every single video Nick posts!
Maybe I'll come to your town one day Phil
I’ve been watching since his “worst cities in…” series and I gotta say his channel has definitely improved lol
@@NickJohnson Cullman Alabama!
Minnesota is so beautiful but man those winters are absolutely brutal! Probably one of the top 3 coldest states in America! I would love to visit anywhere but Minneapolis
Minneapolis ain’t that bad. There’s just more areas now that you have to avoid. But yes, winters are cold lol.
@@Micg51 Minneapolis is that bad.
Nice skiing and no crime it's like the 50s nice good nambers
Minneapolis is pretty bad. I’ve lived in Minnesota all of my 54 years.
Well, that's Why I love it. I'm very adaptable to it, and isn't boring cause of it.
Nick, your videos are a breath of fresh air. Thanks for providing such fascinating travelogues. You are so America loving in your outlook that you could have been a U.S. Marine.
You could do a lot worse than Luverne, Mn.
Safe, quiet and respectful to each other.
A huge breath of fresh air to be found there, both literally and figuratively.
Thanks Nick for the look around!😀👍
I live in a Minneapolis suburb, but my family roots are small town MN probably within 100 miles of Luverne and many still live in the area. I go to visit regularly and I can relate to a lot of what is presented here. A couple main sources of fun for people, at least the ones I know, are hanging out on the lake with family and friends... drinking and hanging out around a bonfire with family and friends... drinking. I suppose that doesn't sound all that exciting to the "big city folks", but the slower pace and friendly people leave me feeling calm and connected at the end of the day.
Exactly right! My bf and I live in the southwest suburbs but often travel up to see his family near Grand Rapids. Being out in the middle of nowhere up there you truly have to "create" your own good time. Nothing better than a bonfire with neighbors we consider family, big dinners/potlucks, and watching the stars out there. Not to mention the lakes and beaches up there, too! Unbelievably clean water! We love the small towns up there and I cannot wait for the day to move there! Hopefully soon. Chaska, Chanhassen, Victoria, Eden Prairie, etc aren't what they used to be. Traffic galore, new developments going up driving costs up, road rage, higher and higher taxes.. We've definitely lost that sense of community here in the cities
I lived in Bloomington MN for two years (1967-1968). The cultural thing that I notice from your videos that has not changes is -- NO FENCES in the residential areas. That in itself is a reflection of the friendly spirit of Minnesota. We would have large spontaneous neighborhood barbecues on summer afternoons. I didn't like the weather, but I surely did like the people and the community.
Been following you on UA-cam for over the past 2 years. First time i seen you in my home State of Minnesota. I've never even heard of that town before now. I am unfortunately in Minneapolis. Not safe
Minneapolis has to be the worst city in America right now! You should consider relocating
holy shit thats my hometown, i really apprecieate this thank you, i grew up here, i spent most of my childhood years here up until 12
Look how neat and clean the streets look. No graffiti, no trash, stray dogs, etc. I would feel safe walking down those streets at night. Bravo !
Come to la crosse, wi. Super interesting place and beautiful nature
That and La Crescent, Minnesota. But I agree with you. When watching the UA-cam Channel Code Blue. You'll get enterinment from there and other towns in the area.
I live in a small tourist town in northern Minnesota and love it !!!
Me too!
I watched your video a few months ago. I loved what luverne had and offered so I decided to move. I’ve now been in luverne 2 months and I love it.
Are you still enjoying your new home?
the farms in the south and west are the factory type and the dairy factories are heart breaking. the trees are gone along with the wet land from factory farms. a modern day dust bowl is in the making. the deer eat the field crops as there is little else for them in this area and a dnr report has stated that the animals have chemicals in their flesh as the crops are sprayed heavy with chemicals. at harvest time the air is dirty with dust. the native people are not respected and are forced to have oil pipelines go through their beautiful forest.
i have lived here 65 years and am sad to see the factory farms that grow soy ,corn and sugar. there are few pastures for cattle and mostly the animals are forced to live crowed together sleeping in their poo. turkey factories are another place animals are crowed together and medicated. the small farm is gone as are barns. also our homeless are growing and wages are low for most people and rent is high. taxes are high as are electric.
I lived in Oakland, CA, San Francisco, all over the bay area...and now I live in small town Minnesota. Years being here, it's still a culture shock.
Nice to see that you passed through Minnesota! Epic Video Nick!
That saloon is perfect here's the thing and I don't know if I said this on other videos I watched I was a metal guitarist that toward the country three times so I've been through pretty much every state at least twice some three times and I was originally from rural Florida now and suburbian Connecticut which I absolutely hate but small towns in America is what makes America America to me the people are so much better people out here where I am suck legitimately one out of every hundred people are decent I can't stand it here in Connecticut me and my wife are planning on moving somewhere Middle America and your videos are really helping us decide so thank you Nick
Nick you should do Minnesota North Shore. It's BEAUTIFUL up there. Make sure you stop and have breakfast or lunch at Betty's Pies and you will love the beautiful Lake Superior!
Have a friend that grew up in Lake Benton area and this town has always been sleepy but awesome....great video! Love from Minnesota
Hi Nick! Great series. Keep safe on your travels through these remote places.
Lol he's fine just stay off the rez is my advice
Rez coming up
Well that's cool which one I can tell you which ones are worse I'm the state there all good but just some are worse than other with poverty
Luverne, MN is beautiful Nick. You do realize what Bars and Restaurants could and will do to a place like Luverne!
What a beautiful and special place!! Yes, indeed, I would love to live in a wonderful place like small town Minnesota! Maybe the winters would be a challenge but they'd be worth it!
We were driving through SE MN and happened on a small town. I think the sign on one end was 192, and 186 on the other. Apparently they don't know where 6 people are. Anyway, we were hungry and there was a cafe. It was empty, but then the church across the street let out, and the cafe was packed. Brunch was served buffet style and the tables were communal style. Of course we stuck out like sore thumbs, but people were friendly and had to know our stories and they told us theirs.
Great rural town. America still has hope.
Thank you Betty for sharing your little town with us
Just bought another piece of this heaven. Have land from grandpa from the 30’s. Hasn’t changed much, electricity came in the 1980s, standpoint water in the 90s, still using the outhouse while our neighbors have deep wells and septic, lots of family nearby and on a clean beautiful lake. You need to tour much further north, the range cities/lake country.
4:25 holy shit that’s me in red on the bike. Lived here my whole live and this place is paradise.
Awesome content and your humor makes it so much fun!!
Exactly. Love it.
I bought a tractor Farmall super H early stage 2 in rural lurvern and visited the TRI state border. Good day sir
I love small towns.
I left Chicago for forty acres near sun valley Arizona, which isn't really a town, but thirty miles away is Holbrook which has many small town charms. A city of any size is a hundred miles away east or west.
Done with cities!
I watched this with the sound turned off. It brought back old memories of when I was a child there in the 50’s and 60’s. Thanks for the memories.
Bettie is 92, Wow!! She looks great❤
Binge watching these. Thanks for your work Nick!. Love from Canada
I hope one day I will have the chance to visit Minnesota it's my dream❤
I been living in the Great State OF Minnesota for the pass 22 years and I really love everything about my state
Is Mankato a good City to move ?
@Dawn King how long Mankato have Winter ?
@@koushiro6833 from around November to late March early April.
@@koushiro6833 wouldn’t choose mankato specifically, some surrounding areas are nice though
What looks boring to some is not to others. I was born in Blaine MN. Moved at age 32 to a small farming town, Carlsbad NM. I loved it here for about the first 15 years. Population was about 23,000. Then big oil came in. Population went above 100,000. Fracking ruined water tables. Crime, drugs, homeless and prostitutes are now very prevalent. It's a nasty place to now. Next spring I will be moving back to rural northern MN. I have no intention of ever going near Minneapolis or St. Paul. The twin cities is just disgusting to me.
Once again great video, love the interviews with the locals!
I've never seen such a clean town in the US! All is neat, no hanging wires around, no criminality, good streets etc. It looks like many rural places in Switzerland
except flat... very very flat
Take a look at the demographics and it explains itself.
OK! @@Logan_93
The nutcracker lady is a star !!! 🌏🌻🏕🦊🌳🐴🍋
She is!!
My Grandparents lived and died in a small western Minnesota town called Madison. As my Grandmother used to explain, "it's right under the hump in Minnesota". Laq Qua Parle country, last time I checked, it had a population of 2,000. I haven't been there in 40 years, but I've been thinking about it a lot lately, and may make a move there.
Love small town videos you're covering. Being born in Rochester, Minnesota I can confirm our accents will always be different. In fact, when going to different countries they think I'm Canadian. That's why Minnesota is called the Canadian state of America. Especially when you're in the most northern point of this state connected to Canada past Lake Of The Woods.
My late Dad grew up in Ely. You're so right!
Yes. I've been accused of being from Canada.
Luverne, lived there meny years back, Worthington too, great place's...or were
You can't help but love the Luverne lady!
This was excellent. Thank you for sharing this.
Ahh yeah Minnesota… been waiting for a video. You should check out Detroit lakes, Mn maybe sometime. It’s a interesting place in the summer. A lot of contrast amongst all the variables.
5000 people is pretty big for minnesota
And 20 minutes is short and there is a lot of town near me with less then 100 people
Thing about the midwest is people keep their yards clean and don't have backyard fences.
I moved from the west coast to Minnesota 4 years ago and I bought the only house in the neighborhood with a fenced backyard. I could never have a yard without a fence, creepy to think about strangers watching us in the backyard from their windows. A lot of homes here also don't have driveways and garages either and for a part of the country that has such atrocious winters so few homes have fireplaces or wood burning stoves, which is unsettling to think about if the power were to go out during sub zero temperatures. I threw in the towel and left the midwest after enduring 4 years of that. Never looking back.
This has cone at just the right time.
It's a windy cold evening here in uk and hubbz and the cat are having boy time.
This what I need to binge watch, snax and I'm a new sub.
Perfect
Yay! There's like 600 more of these haha
Thank f for that. At one point 8 thought I would have to talk to them. 🙃😄
thanks for showing us the 'real' America! very interesting also for us non-Americans :) love from Sweden.
And ironically, I'm sure a fair number of people in Luverne probably have Swedish ancestors.
One of my 10 favorite UA-cam channels, funny and informative
I'm Indonesian, I live my whole life in Indonesia. My aunt live in Hallock, MN since 1988. I'm very pleased if you make documentary about Hallock. Thanks. 🇮🇩🇮🇩🇮🇩
I interviewed for a teaching job in Hallock in the 1980's. They didn't want me!
Oh, you poor dear. How do you survive the winter? 😱😱
It was indian land but they live in reservation. Farm lands owned by Germans and northern Europeans. They got them cheap or free.
Drive in theater in Tulsa has been running for a long time. I always felt lucky to have one of these around growing up
We had couple I think Fayetteville ar just closed in last two years.
The town being quite at night is what I grew up in while growing up in New York. Friday night and Saturday were more active. But the other day of the week were pretty dull. The Town I grew up in was Granville NY 12832 , I have not been back since May 1991, don't plan on going back either. Granville is a mile or so from the Vermont border, most of the Vermont town are really small. Wells, Palwett, Castleton, these close up really early, summer months see lots of tourists because of the lakes and in the Fall the changing of the colors. The biggest city in vt is Burlington, I used to spend lots of time their when I lived in Plattsburgh NY. But I like the pacific northwest now and would have no reason to move back East. Thanks very much for your videos.
This was a very enjoyable video to watch. It’s been almost 20 years since I’ve been to Minnesota. I’m due for another trip up.
Nick always can’t wait for your new videos. MN is a good one. When are you doing Alaska and RI, Maine, VT? And please go back to NE.
No idea! We'll see!
As there's a Luverne MN is there also a Shirley MN?
The movie Fargo was largely based in Brainerd MN, quite a bit north of Luverne.
It’s a great shame it’s so dead and quiet. They could do with a farmers market, outdoor eating, a cinema and bars. The town won’t attract anybody if there is nothing to do. Great docu Nick. Al from London UK
I grew up here and my parents still live here. There is a farmer’s market, cinema, and bars. There is a restaurant/bar on Main Street with outdoor dining and the brewery has outdoor seating. There are street festivals like Hot Dog Days, Buffalo Days, and Arts in the Park. There is a lot more to do than when I lived there, but it’s still pretty boring compared to a larger city.
I prefer cloudy and overcast days over Southern California heat and baking sun! Minnesota, I will be there September 27!
Two wonderful Buick LeSabres at 19:55. Nick, make sure you visit Lake City (in Goodhue and Wabasha counties).
The humidity makes the heat way worse and it is sunny most summer days in minnesota
I'm from southern California and I moved to Minnesota 4 years ago thinking the weather there would be more refreshing than in California, man was I wrong, the winters are extremely brutal, the summers are very hot and humid and the sun is pretty brutal as well, the only break from it being when a thunderstorm comes through and that mostly happens at night in that area. In the midwest the only truly "overcast" time of year is in the late fall and its already so cold and windy by then you don't want to see any cloud cover. As it turns out the summers in southern California are more cloudy and overcast than in the midwest. (At least on the coast where I'm from)
The original FARGO feature was shot in Minnesota. The TV series is shot in Alberta, Canada.
Season 2
Good Morning Nick!!
From Colorado 💜
Hi rosemary!
Me too! Northern Front Range!!
Thanks for the video.....Quite humorous and enjoyable. I am Minnesotan born and raised in St Paul, now live in Minneapolis.
I am from San Diego, CA and I look forward to retiring in a small town in Minnesota.
As someone who live in cramped country where average house is 72m2 and I literally share walls with my neighbors. How I wish I could live in this town like this and grow foods on my backyard. I literally grow my veggies in hydroponic and grow them in the rooftops.
How old are you, ayina.
You can move somewhere new once you are ready.
Love small towns that are close to small cities or small cities that have the small town feel with the big city amenities. Reporting from Ames, IA 👍
Iowan here, too. Won’t leave either. 🌽🚜
@@tmusa2002 we got it good! Been around the US been around the world could it be better? Sure but there is a balance and Iowa is a great balance
@@tfries72 My sister lives in Marshalltown, not too far from Ames. I’m from eastern Iowa. The more you travel, the better home feels. 😊
Regards from Brazil.
Nice, cool and green....clean town 😌
Good job, Nick, actually talking to and listening to, a wonderful older lady like Mrs. Mann. So much wisdom there. It seems to me that, so many times, younger people dismiss anyone older than 35. I have to say, I find it hard to actually listen to, and enjoy the company of, people under 45. Their life experience(s) seems to be all inside their phones. How very uninteresting.
Thank you for this. I am going to visit Luverne in a couple of weeks and will consider making the move.
Nice clean looking town well-kept yards👍
I love your videos man. I can tell you really care about this country. It's admirable.
I loved the video Nick. Could you do one on Theif River Falls? 👍
I was born in Mankato and my parents are from Fairmont and Sleepy Eye. My roots are in Southern Minnesota. May retire to Sioux Falls.
Drive around Bud Lake much?
@@wandacarr668 Yes, whenever I'm there. All the lakes.
Thank you for this video. I was born & raised there & this video is a good way to visit without travelling & also a reminder of why I left, but the nutcracker lady is fascinating.
She's wonderful!
I believe that we are seeing a huge migration towards rural America. Many different reasoning but a much better quality of life is a big asset. Nothing is better than small town America.
I hope it doesn’t happen….we don’t want overpopulation over here