The Empty Towns & Villages of Louisiana - Cross Country Road Trip Day Four / 9 States in 9 Days 

Instagram - AdamTheWooATW The continuing journey cross country , state by state . Who’s watched all the episodes of this series so far ?

In 2018 a poll came out that said that per capita, Louisiana was the poorest state of the Union and New York state was the richest. Conversely, Louisianans were the happiest of American citizens, while New Yorkers were by far the most unhappy with New Jerseyans a distant second. ...it tells you something perhaps?

I get a little sad watching this series. The blight and decay of small-town America is apparent. That way of life is dying and so are these towns.

This is my idea of a vacation - visit the unexpected on the route, rather than going to popular tourists places.

My wife is from Louisiana. It's funny that whenever we go to visit, I enjoy it more than she does.

I can just imagine how these little towns looked, say, back in the 1950's, all freshly painted with bustling activity all around. Vital! No longer....

YES BACK TO THE PAST THIS IS THE OLD WOO WE LOVE TKS ADAM

As a small boy in the 60's my little town had everything. Supermarkets, shoe stores, hardware, movie theater, you name it. Now all that is left is convenience store/ gas stations, PO, Dollar General, and various doctor/lawyer offices. Everyone drives outside the village and shops at the usual big box stores. Sad.

I live in Morehouse Parish and my mom was born in Tensas Parish. Anyone from Louisiana knows there's a world of difference between north and south.

i was born and raised in ferriday, la. i used to have a paper route that traveled all those towns.

The emptiness of the cities in this video is primarily due to the decline of cotton farming in the 80's and 90's (you may have noticed the remnants of old cotton gins in Clayton and Sicily Island, for example). As the price dropped due to foreign imports and synthetic polymers, many farms went bankrupt (eventually being bought by larger farmers). Those that have survived did so by changing what they farm (most often corn, thanks to the ethanol mandate) and by automating much of their work (which is also a natural outgrowth of a society becoming more advanced). What's left are a smattering of farm owners of varying wealth and clumps of impoverished living off social programs (because there's not enough new money being brought in by such a small handful of producers and little, if any, opportunities to learn skills) surrounding what used to be vibrant and growing municipalities. As farming dried up, farmers left (sold their farms, went bankrupt, got out of farming, etc). Without the foundational money coming into these areas from well-producing farms, those whose living came from ancillary businesses (dry cleaning, drug stores, etc) were forced to move as well. The one-two punches of these two aspects coming so close together ended up stranding many of the low and no-skilled workers who would traditionally have worked these farms in order to earn a living. They quickly found themselves in a situation where they either stayed and survived off the certainty of social programs or they moved to some place where there might only be the possibility of a job (and if there wasn't, they were truly hosed). As time has gone by many eventually did move (which is why places Wisner and Fort Necessity are so desolate) but others have stayed. Those staying often become trapped in generational dependence on the social system (see: Ferriday). These areas could be ripe for people whose definition of "getting away from it all" is defined by plenty of low-traffic highway infrastructure and zero commerce within over a dozen miles and they can be found all over the South to varying degrees. Safe travels!

I would like to thank you for this. While I live in California, I still appreciate that area of Northeast Louisiana, because that is where I an from. Ferriday and those town where busy areas back in the day. I am from Monroe, La. I can remember Friday night High School football games at Ferriday! They were in our district. Most people would laugh and poke fun, at least growing up we didn't lock our front doors at night! Great people also!

There has always been a "Push and Pull" on the young to leave the farm. Opportunity does not grow in the cotton fields, except for the owner. Individuality is not cherished in the hard labor necessary to seed, weed, and harvest the next crop. My mother lived on a farm outside Philadelphia; the big city was the Mecca drawing her from a life of dawn to dusk work. In 1918 her mother's body was thrown in the back of a horse drawn cart and buried in a common grave of Flu victims. That week her step father sent her to the the fine house of the county district attorney. Her wages were the property of her step father. Time passes. The city beckoned. She left with nothing and no one The empty streets and bedraggled stores are not romantic. Individuaity is not conducive to the farming community. The demise of these towns is due to many causes, from individual striving for a better position in society, as well as, outside forces, like the railroads, the world wars, military service, interstate highway system, the automobile, unsustainable small farms, and the more recent, big box stores, etc. Thus, the "Push and Pull" mechanisms are in motion.

These towns are still fairly clean and wouldn’t be bad if you wanted a quiet life. I’ll bet a small house wouldn’t cost very much!

I love these videos. There really is so much to see on the back roads. Do a lot more.

I love Louisiana very much! The small towns are still thriving! Just because some of the buildings aren't there anymore/closed down and doesn't mean nobody lives there anymore! I have family still living throughout Louisiana even now! Beautiful cats! I love the Bridges!

love seeing these old small towns. memories as a child in the 60's

Ahhh, a paper map... You're the last of a dying breed my friend.

These little, old towns are much more interesting than a big city!

Precious lives were here, and must be remembered.

One interesting thing I've noticed is that all of the grass is not overgrown and seems to be maintained.

After spending 23years in the Navy, 1st thing I did was to move back to my small town. Kids loved it and it's both me and my wife's hometown. We love it!

Ferriday was the home of the three cousins, Jerry Lee Lewis. Jimmy Swaggart, and Mickey Gilley.

Gilbert Louisiana, home of Claire Chennault, founder of the Flying Tigers

You know ya in Louisiana when somebody says Hello to you when you least expect it! Southern hospitality!

Village of Gilbert sign mentioned it was the home of Claire Chennault. He started & commanded the famous WW2 fighter squadron The Flying Tigers.

Some of these towns remind me of the town in Stand By Me. They harken back to simpler times. It makes you wonder about all the different kinds of folks who lived out their quiet lives here! Thanks for sharing, I can’t get enough of these quaint older towns!

the ghost towns look 100% better than Los Angeles. my view

In Ferriday, that street was named for Mickey Gilley who owned a famous night club in Houston, TX. He also had two cousins, one Jimmy Swaggert, a preacher of a large church in Baton Rouge, and of course, famous rock and roller Jerry Lee Lewis. All three are from Ferriday.

There’s lots of cool stuff here in Louisiana

Definitely going to travel the back roads more often, I'm really fascinated with the history of small towns and the people that lived in them.

I was born in Louisiana and have always loved visiting these rusty little towns Thanks for doing this ... it was lovely

Thank you; this was fantastic. I grew-up in Louisiana, and have now lived in NYC for 20 years; and boy this took me back to the small town days of the 1970's to late 80's. I do miss those stretches of seemingly endless road while driving, where it was just me, open fields and the occasional passing train. Great post!

These videos really need to be preserved on the Internet Archive.

These nostalga videos are my favorite. Ty adam.

Your musings about the people in these small towns is exactly what I imagine when I go through small towns, and watching your videos. I imagine an imaginary person living out their lives, making choices, with their hopes and dreams, and then disappearing, leaving everything behind.

These videos are so inspiring. I'm gonna buy me an abandoned town! Tired of city life and it's concrete jungles.

The Sicily Island watertower looked like a hidden Mickey! I'm loving this back road series!

This is what I look forward to every morning this week so far.

My wife and I are from this area of North Louisiana. I grew up in Mangham and my wife in Winnsboro. She was born in Gilbert. These were bustling little towns when cotton was king but there were no plans for the future. I have a few good memories and not-so-good ones too.

This man is beautiful human being. Takes me back to our sweeter kinder times👍

Ah yes, Highway 15. I traveled that road many times going from Monroe to Baton Rouge when I was at LSU. Mangham and Sicily Island were and are notorious speed traps. My mom was born and raised in Sicily Island.

So sad to see these small towns with the old businesses boarded up. Life has changed for better or for worse. I am part of it, ordering this and that thru Amazon Prime.

"How you doing this morning" from a stranger, you will never hear that in any big city.

The thing is, being from Georgia. There is real magic in these small towns that can only be truly felt if you grew up in one. Nostalgia and the quiet can be nice. Very nice.

I’m loving this series!! I hope one day you do a lengthy journey. These are the videos that made me a fan of yours. Have a safe journey sir.

i'm Scottish and i love seeing old America like this,thanks for the videos,wishing you all the best from Scotland

You should have met a gentleman named Harold Stephens while in Wisner. He has a scale model of the entire town of it's heyday.. When it had 3 car dealerships, several clothing stores, movie theater, etc.. Even over my 46 years of love I've seen our little town go from a thriving, bustling community to what it is today. But the one constant is and always will be the close knit people who still call it home.

the dude who built or owns that very unique vehicle knows exactly what days we are living. Praise God!

Good Morning Adam I have to tell you I love your backroads tours so much I have been finding myself looking forward to them and going straight to YT to log in and watch before starting my days They are over too quickly though IMO Seeing small town America is just wonderful, thank you for your tours

Farrrrr Out ! Did not know anyone else appreciates these places, the presents, the geist of time.

This i exactly what i want. Quiet ,slowly strolling around places. Observing even the smallest things, Almost therapeutic. I do this in every place i visit around in India.

There's nothing like taking back roads.

The Sicily Island water tower reminded me of the old Tower at Disney MGM Studios!

Sam Kinison (comedian) said it all in one word, "Samsonite!". "Get a Samsonite suitcase and move!" I grew up in one of those dying towns and I hated it.

I’m an Aussie and i love these videos man I’d really love to see your beautiful country . Watchin these makes me realise the age difference and size of population between our countries thanks so much

My Columbo like skills tell me that Mr Woo's Christmas gifts this year were a long sleeved stripey top, new sunglasses and new sneakers. Am I right? Lol

Like all the water towers. Seems like every town has one.

Very interesting. While a bit depressing... the beautiful sunny weather on this day helped. One nice thing is that the places shown here were very clean as if everything had been swept before making the video. And thumbs up to the cheery guy riding that bicycle who gave you a warm greeting!

I'm in Long Beach Calif. I find these videos fascinating. It's hard to believe these towns still exist. I would like to actually live in one of these towns. Thanks again for your amazing videos

Last September, my sis whom I haven't seen in 10 years, showed up at my door with her new vehicle she flew to CA. to get and said "pack light, we're taking the back roads back to my place in Wisconsin! " 😳 I live in the West! She drove and all I saw was moo cows, more moo cows, and ancient gas stations and cafe's. Couldn't convince her to stop in the off the path towns. I will tell you, I loved the fact there were hardly any vehicles and was amazed at how some pavement was actually a light shade of pink. Thanks sis for my last roadtrip. I'M GOING WITH ADAM FROM NOW ON!

I've been watching you for years. Discovered through the horror movie locations. These past few videos of deserted areas is by far my favorite thing you've done. Keep it up, Woo!

my dad introduced me to an Atlas. People forgot about those too.

Imagine find someone you love living here, … happily ever after.

Thanks for documenting these little towns before they disappear.

I've talked to so many people that think America is crowded and unsustainable crop-wise. I tell them travel by car and bypass Interstates and see that just aint so. I love my road trips some very much into the past. You cannot know where you are until you know where you've been. Nice Vids-Well Done!

Don't know if I have watched all of the states but it is inspiring that even in the evacuation or transformation that the Flag still flies proud everywhere. God Bless America .

When True Values ruled, those cities were calmly thriving.

Adam, thank you for giving an un-opinionated view of parts of our country people in metro areas never get to experience. After moving from a large city in Louisiana, I graduated high school in a town in Alabama that didn't even have a stop light. The relatives on my Dad's side of the family in Mississippi, their towns didn't even have paved roads growing up and still don't to this day. The interstate highway system caused the deaths of all these small towns.

I bet it is nice and relaxing out on the open road, meandering through those small towns! There sure are a lot of old buildings I would love to own, maybe one day!

About 40 years ago I went to USL( Now UL) in Lafayette. I took a Greyhound from New Orleans . I paid a visit recently. Driving this time. One of the most fascinating observation that I made was that time has stood still for some of the places in Louisiana .Some places were abandoned and yet others renewed . But some things stayed the same.I love LA.

Absolutely love your videos. No trendiness no bull no silly loud music, just showing us as it is, extremely watchable. I'm from London & I travel to the states twice a year, mostly visit National Parks. Your videos have given me some great ideas for some Road trips. Thank you very much.

I couldn't help noticing at 10:24 that The Village of Gilbert was the Home of Claire Chennault. Most folks nowadays don't recall that name, but if I were to say "Flying Tigers", some would remember. Claire Lee Chennault, though born in Commerce, Texas, grew up in Louisiana before joining the Army. He went on to be the founder and leader of the American Volunteer Group (AVG), which consisted of pilots flying in a war we had not yet entered, that being the Japanese conquest of much of the Far East prior to World War II being declared. Aside from cargo planes, the AVG flew mainly the P-40 Warhawk fighter planes, with that now famous shark mouth design on the nose of the planes. Although the Japanese airplanes, particularly the Zero, were superior in capability, the Flying Tigers were able to wreak significant damage and losses on the Japanese. Seems somewhat poignant that General Chennault is acknowledged on a little sign in a little town; one dead and the other dying. At least through the efforts and adventures of Adam the Woo, some of us are able to notice and pay tribute.

You should’ve grabbed that fella and asked what he was doing. You never know, he might’ve invited you to eat supper with his family and they stories we’d hear!

You summed up my thoughts exactly. Sad but also fascinating at the same time. Loving the series. Keep up the good work

I grew up in Winnsboro in the 70s and 80s. Great small town to grow up in. I shopped in some of those buildings particularly Wisner and Gilbert, along with Winnsboro of course. Many a movie at the Princess Theater on Main Street. I have been gone for years, but whenever I go back, it just feels like home and that time has stood still. Thank you for being respectful of the area.

Makes me wonder if overcrowding, lack of affordable housing, and desire for higher quality of life will one day motivate Millinials to revitalize and gentrify these towns to former glory as they work online anywhere...

A National Food Store,, Havent seen one of them since I was a kid in Il,, 1964

I have really enjoyed your visits on the different communities you traveled thru. Brings back memories thank you.

I was born in Louisiana and lived here all my life. At 66 and all the vacations I've taken all over the country it's about time I visit my own back yard. Thanks for the video and the interest you sparked in me to check out my own state's past and forgotten.

Loved the old Coke ad on the building, at the end!

Nothing quite like small town America.

It’s always nice to see other’s reactions to my state.

Been through this area many times while working in Baton Rouge and traveling back home.

While the world hustles and bustles....Time Stands Still in these small towns.....

Loved this! Simpler times. Would love to slip back in time for a bit! 🌷

I really love watching this kind of traveling clip to somewhere old town that used to be a nice community for old times people that friendly and care of each other This is something that's true documentary and are to be kept in the library of the town for new generation to learn what had happened in their home town long .long time ago.💕👌👍

I grew up about 8 miles east of Ferriday. I graduated from Ferriday High School.

It almost seems like people disappeared from these little towns.

Adam, as you go through these small towns I have always had the same though as you. These stores were someone's dream, business, legacy etc. I always think " what would they think if you told them that in the future it would be this state" My grandfather ran a general store in a tiny community for 40 years from the 40's to the 80's when he sold it. It eventually closed after the building burned to the ground one cold morning. I have pictures and memories of it.

Omgosh.. My grandfather owned a store in Sicily Island in the 60’s and early seventies. I can see it on the strip. Brings back so many memories.

I am with you 100% on the nostalgia and have those same wonderings and thoughts. Glad to see I am not alone in trying to imagine what it was like in these old towns and the folks who lived lives there and made it a thriving area once upon a time.

This is what happens when Walmart moves in..

A slow drive thru of the whole village before showing more detail would be interesting. It's just so fascinating. Thanks for sharing.

This is very well done, with a degree of reverence and respectful dignity. Two thumbs up. 👍🏻 👍🏻 And don’t forget: Make America great again.

I’m enjoying these series, they’re great & the ones with your Dad, hearing him reminisce ..fascinating buildings & vehicles from another time & place..sadly long gone 😎👍

Ferriday, Louisiana - Home of Jerry Lee Lewis (Musician), Jimmy Swaggart TV Evangelist, Mickey Gilley (Musician) & Howard K. Smith (Newsman)

God, I love this series when you do it! Find myself “Jonesing” for the next video! It’s a legitimate excitement. Just like someone waiting on baited breath, for the next episode of whatever their favorite show is. Great work Adam! Love, love, love this series! 👍👌

Awesome tour! Lived in LA 20 yrs. You really captured the essence of bypassed small town Louisiana.

That truck looks like one of those DIY armored humvees that some rightwing radical is tooling up for the revolution.