I visited these Nebraska towns: Humboldt - Median home value $48,600 Verdon - Median home value $32,400 Salem - Median home value $36,800 Falls City - Median home value $72,900 Joe's Instagram: / joeysroadtrip Travel Vlog 240
Maybe think about this... the tree at the beginning of this video will shed its leaves at some point and then someone somewhere will probably clear the leaves away. Or maybe the leaves will stay there and it won't look that bad. Then consider the fact that there are also so many other trees around there, and that they have all been there and will continue to be there and will grow and shed leaves for years, even if no one notices or pays attention to them. I imagine you'd be far less inclined to get bored living in that area if you actually think about these kinds of things. I would probably also look down at the grass in that area if I was there and see if there are different types of grass mixed in ☺️
Can't stand the slow pace. Well if you can find gainful employment it's probably affordable it's better than a tent in a criminal neighborhood and extremely unaffordable.
You find the coolest towns off the beaten path. People used to take photos of their towns to preserve history. You are recording videos that residents will be able to watch years from now. Good job !
I grew up in Falls City and found this tour of southeast Nebraska interesting and nostalgic. I want to try to address some of the comments. Where are all the people? If it's in the middle of the afternoon (it appeared like it was) then people are either working in town or working out on their farms. Are these towns dying? You could say that - they certainly don't have the population they used to but they'll be around for a long time yet. Many rural areas have regional centers - like Falls City - where people from the surrounding smaller towns go for shopping, gas, groceries, health care, etc. The distances aren't that great - 20 to 25 miles and very little traffic. All these towns have nice houses and houses that are dilapidated. If Joe & Nic had continued to the south side of Falls City they would have seen a lot more poor quality houses. Finally, these towns aren't for everyone. If you can't stand a slow pace or lack of instant entertainment options, then these towns aren't for you. BTW, I'm glad you took the back roads. That shows what this part of the country is really like - miles and miles of farms.
I Absolutely love it there so peaceful and quiet and leaves time to spend time on people you care about and not the insanity of the rest of the world and the nature is beautiful to me
Humboldt: A town of 800 people but with exceptional pride. The downtown memorial and band shell and the magnificent fairy gardens. Congrats people of Humboldt!
Only four hundred people it takes, to keep this town alive and proud. That's one hell of an accomplishment. It's not the quantity, is it? It's very definitely the quality. The whole town reads like the preservation of something that 90% of this nation needs and doesn't even know it's missing. Oh yes, congrats indeed, to the good people of Humboldt!
born in Falls City lived in Humboldt in magical early 50 s Mose and Evelyn’s Tavern with dad Gene Murray listening to juke box with Perry Como Hank Snow. Christmas decorations the music ! Names of people Rice , Studhihts(?) Costakas gridleys Massey, asa( girl ) dad owned a bank Any one class of 66. I’m am john murray. Please respond
Youve become my most anticipated uploader everyday. Excited for the potential q&a. Starting your stuff from the beginning but also keeping up with the new stuff. Keep up the good work, love what you guys do.
Imagine if everyone grew big, proud home gardens, canning their own food, raising chickens and rabbits. A small dairy/goat herd. This town could be repurposed to be a new home agriculture, where the residents are self sufficient.
@@al99795 How long would they stay? What if they need medical care? You're gonna need some help as time goes on and boredom could be a problem in a small town.
I’m originally from Petoskey Michigan and the sound of gravel under the car tires remind me of my childhood. You are astonishing in pointing out all the other things that most people would never take into consideration. I enjoy you and I thank you for everything that you do to bring these small towns life.
My great-grandfather, George Ferguson Work, a Civil War veteran and eventual Nebraska County judge, laid all of the county lines in Nebraska. My Mom was from Hastings, Nebraska.
@@doug132639 On my mother's side, we're Scotch/Irish. We believe "Work" was originally "O Rourke" on the Irish side. It became "Work" when the family, originally from County Cork, Ireland, migrated to America. The Scotch Fergusons have been in America since the 1600s. We still have a house standing from that period in the East (or did when I last researched this 25 years ago). My mother was a DAR member - Daughters of the American Revolution.
When I was a kid in 1954, my 3rd grade civics book was titled Our Town, and it was based on Hastings, Nebraska. According to the 1950 Census, It was in the middle of the 48 states, it had the median population and it was representative of small town America. I never forgot the book or the friendly little town it represented.
My father was born, given up for adoption, adopted by evil pious people in Nebraska. Neither he, nor I, will ever set foot there again.. That .. thanks to the CHILD SAVING INSTITUTE in Omaha.
@@jeffhildreth9244 I’ve seen videos on here from a retired FBI agent about the child trafficking that occurred in the Omaha area, back in the day. I am from rural nebraska, and neither Omaha or Lincoln represents the rest of the state. I have owned a successful small business since 1999, and was offered a VERY handsome price to move my business to Omaha. It would have required me to move my family and I there, and I quickly decided that nobody could pay me enough to give up my “small town” lifestyle to live in or near Omaha.
Visiting these places, even if it's only via your respectful videos, is like being magically transported to another time. Many of the homes we see range from the functional and unpretentious to some that are more architecturally interesting through to some that are run-down and in obvious need of attention but still have a poignant beauty about them. Thanks very much for showing us a side of the U.S. many of us who live in other countries seldom get to see in this way - it's greatly appreciated!
Salem. Nebraska where I was born (1956) and lived till 10 yrs old when dad moved us to Oregon. I walked those streets and caught crawdads and (non-poisonous) snakes by the creeks. We were dirt poor but it was good times. Thanks for nostalgia overload. 🥰
@@bobklk51 Hi Bob, I am familiar with Hermiston. Great territory and wonderful people out there. Anything East or the Cascades and south of Eugene is fantastic. Anything from Eugene north to Salem, Portland is managed by the wrong people. Oregon at its best is the lower third and the Eastern Half.
As a European this is so cool to watch. Makes me dream about living in a place like that, and being super happy living where I live, both at the same time :) Nice vids!!
I like your comment “that’s a lot of stuff” when looking at trashy yards! Falls City looked like a really nice small town and I am glad you got out and walked the downtown
The first town looked OK, all that artwork was impressive. If a few dozen comfortable retirees moved there it might bring it back to life. Falls city also looks really good
The funny thing about that abandoned house with the abandoned Ford truck in the yard is that the lawn was still mowed. I'm glad you went to Falls City, I was looking on the map following along and noticed a bigger town in the area and was curious to see what it looked like.
Actually the well kept landscaping and mowed lawns and roadsides were remarkable and really stood out to me. Pretty area with clear pride and there must be some helpful people helping with those chores.
That first town named Humboldt was like a movie set where they aren't filming. In your drive around town I didn't see a living thing, not even a moving car.
Lots of people may mock and make fun of nebraska but moving here has been the best decision of my life. People are super friendly, theres plenty of work, and you can make a good living anywhere in the state just about. I would honestly recommend it to anyone
It's now official. The middle of nowhere is southeast Nebraska. But that park with the statues was so beautiful. Someone put a lot of time, effort and money into beautifying their town. That very narrow road looked like you were driving on a sidewalk. I would move there for the cheap houses but again, it's the middle of nowhere. Thanks for the trip Joe.
This is the area of Nebraska where my mother grew up. I still family in the area. It is a beautiful area of the country with clean air, low crime and access to the Kansas City International Airport- just 90 minutes away. Many jobs are remote- with internet you don't have to live next to the office.
Just been watching 80s adverts, so already feeling pretty nostalgic and when I look at these rural towns it absolutely feels like going back in time. Did not help my nostalgia. Lovely.
Nebraska native here. A lot of us around here have jokingly called it "Falls Shitty" but dang, in comparison to the one-street dying ghost towns, it doesn't look half bad for once 😂 I'm from Omaha and Lincoln, but I've traveled around southern Nebraska and there's good people. Just a shame most of them have to leave their towns to move to Omaha or Lincoln for opportunities.
Thank you. I'm unable to travel as I have a sickly old dog and 2 elderly cats. Your wonderful videos satisfy my wanderlust. You have shown me places I would otherwise never see.
We went to a family reunion years ago in a very small town called Shickley, Nebraska. At the time around 250 people. What a change from how I grew up. But oh such an amazing way to live. I can see why people would stay.
Joe & Nic, Great Tour. Falls City over the decades had 5 Movie Theaters & Opera/Movie Theater that could seat 710 people. Tthe Ace Hardward you drove by is in 1st floor. When they put on the Historical Registry the 2nd Floor was as it was many decades ago. The Projectors were like it was only needing dust'n off. Seating was fully intac & stage. Ghosty. always, Tommy
I am hoping that some of these towns will get a little bit revitalized, or at least not fade away since there are so many jobs that can be done remotely nowadays.
Cool little 75 mm pack howitzer at Humboldt and that gazebo could have been set down yesterday. The garden is drop dead amazing. More cool railroad towns with Falls City hosting a Herzog facility. Herzog is one of the largest railroad right of way contractors in the industry. Another excellent video, thanks much!
Thanks for another awesome video. You really memorized those national crime averages! With your great personality, it just gives the impression somebody is usually in the vehicle with you. Versus just us being the audience when you talk in many of them. Before being semi-nomadic myself in San Antonio these days, I was living in western Connecticut. I will be curious what towns/cities you will look at while there and eastern NY state.
My brother was stationed at SAC back in 1980's; he said just stand on the side of road and you can see for miles & miles. Now I understand what he meant. Thanks for another great video; I'm hooked on your channel.
America only got one way to revive an area. Tourism from elites who will get bored of your spot rather quickly then leave it abandonned. Or starting a factory..oh wait those are all overseas now. Nevermind.
Thank you , really enjoyed these "middle of nowhere" portraits of Kansas and Nebraska. There is a simplistic beauty to the landscape and some of the towns . Yes , it would be culture shock for anyone that spent their entire life in a major metropolitan area to move to those very rural parts of America, almost like moving to a different country!
Can't have enough of this videos. I digest them by section 😃 makes you realize that this country is big with options not only 405 free way here in CA 😃
My wife and I are both proud Nebraska natives. We left 25 years ago and often talk of moving back when we retire but the hang up is the weather. But you never know, we do love going home to visit.
In my younger years living in Saskatchewan, Canada...we used to travel around the province's back roads and vosit all the little old towns, this is like doing it all over again, but we also get the insight and stats about them. It's great ! Count me in as a new subscriber ! 👍 🇨🇦 ✌️
Probably a good percentage that live in these areas are truck drivers or whatever and aren't there a lot of the time, a very quiet towns there. Just not a lot there as far as commerce but great if you can sustain and like it there.
Another great video Joe. Yep, I have trouble with what day it is, since retirement 😂 Nice little cental square in Humboldt. Love the statues in the memorial gardens ❤ The ubiquitous Dollar General. $32,000 average house prices in Verdon 😮. What no DG!! In Verdon 😮 Salem is definitely a ghost town 👻 🦋🦋🦋🦋. Looks like they just walked away in that house with the truck. Falls city, looks quite nice, the country court house is impressive. Its nicely kept little town, good to see open stores. The residential are was very impressive, lovely houses. Thanks for sharing Joe👍
I used to have family in Salem, Nebraska. Spent summer of 1979 doing farming/dairy work there. Salem had an old bar back then called the Red Dog Saloon if my memory is right.
humbolt memorial gardens are incredible, obviously a local sculpture comes in handy, but still amazing memorial gardens...also salem and those amazing butterflies....amazing that when the population of humans moves on, wildlife moves in...
Many of these towns are quite beautiful. I love that the lawns aren't manicured and the traditional architecture is charming. I'd live in one of those houses any day over a McMansion, especially for that price!
Thank you for the tour Joe,.so peaceful to do a ride around of a town that is slowly leaving us. The stories it could tell over the years. I really enjoy your channel. Thank you.
Looking at the Grand Weaver Hotel on Google maps. Looks like a very charming place from another era. Did you know that 3 of Nebraska’s governors were from Falls City? They must have a good political science program in their high school :)
What a beautiful place. And with their house prices, it's almost free to live there. The cancer garden is unbelievably beautiful. What a treasure. I can easily imagine an awful lot of people drifting in to contemplate life, death, love, loss, and a thousand other profound things that make and keep us human. I'd move here in a heartbeat. Nebraska isn't so very exotic or strange to me. I spent a lot of good time in Iowa almost twenty years ago. Places where prairie towns sprout like oases on the plains. Something about these towns. Walking down quiet streets and just drinking in the peace. And although often you don't notice an evidence of their presence, you can feel the people, in the air. What they leave out there on the roads and sidewalks, back alleys, and other places. Perhaps that is the magic of the mid west blending into the west. So all right. I admit it. I'm a writer with the soul of a gypsy who never stays, but never goes away, either. I missed my calling in life. I was probably born to have been a lonesome Main Street editor for a local newspaper in a small town just like this. With slightly ink-stained Rockwells on the wall behind my desk, an old Remington on a low oak table that I still can't part with, and family photos almost but not quite buried by manuscript. Dreams of the great novel spilling to the floor like paper snowflakes. This is a town to walk a good dog in. Right at twilight. After a good dinner. Damn. If I knew that editor by name, I might just add another thousand words and send this in. But not tonight. Many thanks, again, for inviting me on your astounding travels. By proxy, I satisfy just a little bit of that gypsy.
Only a conceited snob would insult farming states like Nebraska, Iowa and Kansas. They say those places are "boring." But, hey: no FARMS, no FOOD. Those college educated fools can go to their trendy, upscale restaurants. They can have their stupid Ben & Jerry's ice cream. But they never stop to think that those "boring" and "uneducated" farmers are the ones who really make it possible. If they had to make their own food, they'd be dead.
Very enjoyable. I used to get out and drive the back roads through small towns but I can't do that anymore, so I appreciate your posts very much. Keep 'em comin 😊
Excellent view of the small cities/towns of rural NE! Does seem many of the small towns have a Lady Liberty.. wish I had that contract back in the day. Thanks and safe travels... Cheers!
I grew up in a Nebraska town about a hundred miles north of Falls City on the other side of Omaha. It was apparent to me even in grade school there was nothing here for me. Or even the whole state of Nebraska. It was so insular that even Catholics were eyed with suspicion. "My Little Town" by Paul Simon summed it all up perfectly. Maybe things have changed but looking around I don't think so. So get my degree/meal ticket and go. Good place to grow up, a great place to leave" And for all ot its apparent charms people in Falls City feel the same way. Every decade since 1950 the town has lost about 5% of its population. The high school graduates go to college and they never return. The retired die off and no new blood moves in. Pretty much the story in small towns all over the country. And those remaining feel more and more left out of the modern times so they are frightened and lash out at anyhing or anybody new. Its kinda sad..sometimes I miss "Back Home" but a return of even a few hours emphasize why I left.
Stunning statue garden! Verdon looks so empty. Salem looks desolate. Falls City is nice. I like the city hall. Thank you for letting us know about the movie connection! I’d live in Falls City. Appreciate your video!
Kiaora from New Zealand! It's so sad to see old towns dying, nevertheless it's someone's home. Incidentally you mentioned the Brethren church which I'm a member here in New Zealand. Thank you so much for sharing.
A wonderful video, as always. I loved the display towards the beginning with the statues, beautiful !! Lovely Summer days for driving around over there !! Thanks so much.😊
Love watching your videos from here in NZ. The South Island here is very similar in many ways . Have decided on a few places I’d like to visit just by watching your great videos . Love the stats breakdowns 👍
One thing to remember re: rural town populations .... 100 years ago when these town's population peaked, there were many more people that lived on farms outside of these towns than in the towns themselves. These people all had large families, because children were free labor on the farm, and 1/2 of them wouldn't live to reach adulthood. The people in the towns had businesses that were needed by the people that lived on the surrounding farms. Every little town had an elevator to store grain and load it on wagons, trucks or rail cars. They had a high school and a post office and at least one grocery store, usually 2, a butcher and a bakery ... a hardware store.... there was always a creamery that bought and sold milk and eggs and made cheese... and a lumber yard that would buy trees and mill it into lumber... there was usually an automotive garage and gas station, which had replaced the stable and blacksmith of generations before... when mechanization allowed more acres to be farmed with fewer people and fewer of those acres were required to be used to feed draft animals and the people working the farm, while at the same time declining childhood mortality, and birth control availability increased .... there were ever fewer people that needed to come to town to buy things, or go to school.
It looked to me like the downtown streets in Falls City were the old brick streets. They look cool but when you get a little snow or ice on them they can be incredibly slippery to drive on. Sadly, a lot of the old towns are getting rid or them.
@@BirdDogey1 for a miserable job that actually pays kinda good did you try detasseling? A lot of the families I grew up with counted on the detasseling money to pay summer bills but the mud, bugs, heat and occasional center pivot made for a miserable job.
I would love to hear stories from people that are living in this towns, It would be a nice video, I would like to see something like this in your channel, people sharing stories and showing the town
Similar country town stories here in Western Australia. Most are well past their glory days. Some are determined to keep their civic pride alive, many simply surviving, some sliding into dereliction and others reduced to empty townsites with a few stone ruins and a decaying cemetery.
I thoroughly enjoyed the Nebraska tour, especially the portion about Falls City. While not seen in your video, did you happen upon the John Falter museum? Mr. Falter was an artist who created 129 covers for Post magazine. Thanks for a great tour!
OZ here// Thanks Joey- again for a lovely journey. Hello to Nicolle !. Humbolt Park is gorgeous! love the statues. Its maybe the loveliest park I,ve ever seen. If I lived there, I,d offer to mow the grass for free ! - well, if on a ride-on mower ! LOL. There is certainly nothing like a little of - Back in Time ! Love all the big old trees in these towns.
Hi Joe and Nic I'm from India and do see your uploads regarding various cities, towns which are indeed very informative and a bit of shocking. I mentioned shocking because what I've witnessed through your videos the places shown by you are quite nice, properties are well spaced and reflect good ambience yet so desolate. Means just by my perspective living in India the most populated nation such properties will definitely be viewed nice one. It is just a query that people there are development centric or some other factors. Seeing your vlogs has really updated me about scenarios that I never expected about U. S.
In America, I like to say that we're a rich country in many things, but very poor when it comes to public or street life. Poorer than almost any other country on Earth in the area. Yes, we have a few big cities with decent street life. But most streets in America are absolutely desolate, unless you enjoy the company of cars.
I notice many times people from other countries think everybody is rich in America. That has never been true. We are struggling with the migration issue and also post covid. We are a nation in decline.
@@georgevieira6686 Those small towns wouldn't have any street life but I will guarantee they have garage life where a few of the guys gather for beers and the wives sit inside having some drinks.
A lot of these towns eventually become abandoned because there are very few jobs to be had locally. In many of them even the farming business has been taken over by agricultural corporations and they use more and more machinery to run the business (instead of people). It is difficult for younger people to stay in these towns unless they continue to work in whatever business their parents have - so most leave for the city. I am sure that even in India people leave their villages to find employment in the larger cities. Of course, India has 4 times as many people as the US and a smaller land area, so no matter what there are people everywhere it seems.
You get way more bang for your buck buying a home in NE than WI. Taxes are cheaper there too. I hope you stop in at more towns in that State. Would love what else you travel to. Thanks for sharing!
My Family is from that part of Nebraska (Gage, Pawnee, Johnson and Richardson Counties), and seeing Your Video brings back a few good memories! Keep Up The Good Work!!!!
My daughter used to live in Fairbanks, Ak. I noticed a lot of second story doors with no way to access them. I was told they were used when the snow got too deep.
Sorry but I think someone was playing with you, the same snow that blocks your front door is going to block the second story balcony, in fact it may be worse as the balcony covers the front doorway.
Every day I look for the dot on the menu that says a new video from you is up, and it still says Lord Spoda. I save it until evening when it is dark and a bit cooler, this heatwave is dreadful. I have seen all your videos and I'm retired now so I look at you and Nicole as friends. Silly, I know, but still. Many years ago I used to drive around my country filming and taking pictures of interesting buildings. That was way before RU-vid and I had to give it up because my car was useless. But I loved driving around in Sweden looking for old petrol stations and industry buildings of red brick. Look forward to your next adventure.
I've been in 44 of the 50 states and you simply will not find nicer people than in Nebraska. They even have Louisiana beat on the friendliness scale and that is no easy task.
What I find most remarkable about these towns is the near total absence of people moving about. One sees signs of life but no actual living beings. Quite ghostly.
