This Sad Town Used To Be The Capital Of Illinois: Vandalia, IL 5K. 

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Great video shows well the description above about the economics and history. The town has however a nicely rolling appearance with pretty older homes many of which need some sprucing up. I have always wanted to see this place because one of my favorite hiking biking trails is the Vandalia Trail which follows a former railroad going from Indianapolis to Vandalia. Note this trail is present in Greencastle Indiana which has a great Chris Harden video. I so hope things turn around for Vandalia because it's looks and feels special. Thanks so much for posting this.

When it's declined to where the prison and the hospital are the two largest employers, you know it's gone.

My step Dad was from this town but moved to Texas and met my mother when I was 5. I started calling him dad and soon they married. He took us up there every year to his parents 500acre farm and old homestead. Have so many childhood memories like getting pulled behind the Chevy blazer when it snowed on a tube down the mile long driveway, watching grandpa feed his catfish dogfood at the pond when they heard the vibration of his 3 wheeler and knocking down a patch in the middle of endless corn fields with my cousins and pretended it to be our club hangout. Had to comment before I watch because I got flooded with immediate memories which are too many to mention. My grandparents also in their later years had a restaurant in this town. WOW thank you for this video and thank God it just appeared in my feed

Both sides of my family are from Vandalia, luckily my parents left in the 1960's. I've been there a million times, especially as a child. It's really not that bad, just always seemed 20 years behind the times. Does anybody remember the old skating rink with the orange concrete floor? Me and my cousin were there for its opening night back in 1982-ish. Good times

Lived in Vandalia, IL for 6 years now. It's not sad. It is small. And quaint. And a little lost in time. And I love it. They put a Christmas tree in the center of the main downtown street in early November. It's Hallmarkesque. Maybe nothing to write to friends about, but it's not as depressing as this video makes it sound either.

My step father -Straub family. I spent an entire summer there in 1983 and had a blast. It was a very small, older homes and business. The country is beautiful. Lots of great memories.

Weird to see this on RU-vid, live in Washington State now. Was born in Vandalia. Pretty sure I was born in that hospital…too many years ago. Think they took my tonsils out there too. So were my two sisters and mom born there too. My dad was born nearby in his parents home. We lived in even a smaller town, St Elmo, that was a few miles away. Mostly beautiful farm land in this county. We moved to California when I was 5. When we visited St Elmo and my grandparents in the summertime from California, there would be a write up in the town newspaper that we were “visiting all the way from California”…now that’s a small town! My grandma had a beauty salon in her home, and my grandpa sold antiques there, also. They did not graduate from high school, but were very proud of my dad and his brother, both somehow with PHD’s. My dad was a veterinarian and his brother was one of the best dermatologists in Chicago. The following two generations and their spouses all also have college degrees. Things would have likely been much different for all if we would have not moved away. H.L. Hunt was born on a small farm nearby in Ramsey. He did not make it through school either. My grandfather lived on the next farm over and played with the Hunt’s as a child. H.L. later stuck oil and became one of the richest men in the world. Probably the most famous person from the area. I think his heirs still own the Chiefs. Thanks for the video. I will show it to my 85 year old dad! He won’t like the town being labeled down and out, though most of these towns have gone way downhill in the last 50 years. These Midwest towns and people are the faces of those that were Walmartized and sold out for globalization. They were the places where things were “Made in America”, but not anymore.

I've only known about this channel for three minutes and I'm already hooked.

Great video Great history wonderful information amazing work 👍👍👍

Videos never disappoint!

One problem in town is that US 40 was by passed by the newer interstate and a lot on US 40 died. It had a huge prison so might be recession proof.

Raised here and still here, I don't fit in due to the fact that im so awesome, however let's not forget, Vandalia Wrestling is number one, our crime rate had dropped since I quit drinking

Born and raised here! Old money chased most of all the production jobs over to Effingham way back before I knew anything! As I got older I learned about all that! Now that all the old money is dead and gone Vandalia is stuck with very little and living with what happens when old greed rules your community!

I grew up in nearby Brownstown and spent a lot of time in Vandalia growing up. I remember seeing the old Michael Keaton Batman movies at the Liberty, many trips to the old Wal-Mart before the new location was built and doing various other activities around town (soccer league, skating rink, etc). My dad and I would visit Michael's Feed Store just about every Saturday morning and I would rent video games from C&M Video over by the Aldi/McDonalds. I live in the Chicago burbs now but when I visit my family I will still sometimes use the DMV in Vandalia if I need a new sticker or license renewal because it's much faster than what we have up north. I still miss the easy pace of life down there. I know enough people that still live down there to know that it's not that bad.

Really like all your videos and do appreciate the time and research you do to tell us of all the history of every town you drive through

You passed right by my mom’s house. Vandalia really is “where the hopes of the future look really bleak.” I grew up in this town and couldn’t wait to get out. I left in 2009 and never looked back.

Good video with interesting history. I'm an Illinoisan, but gave a like because I love the background music.

Wow,Really appreciate this History lesson, learned more here, closest I been in Illinois is Chicago, even thought very busy, Loved it

That abandoned building is the old shoe factory well several people worked at very young age to support their family. My aunt was 13 when she started there.

First time viewing this site, found while wondering how a young man from this town died in my town, without comment. I have a clearer idea now. Fascinating concept to take a more in-depth drive through small towns that no one sees or knows anything about, largely because they stay on interstates whenever possible, even if it is an equal or shorter time taking the back roads. From your narrative and the comments here, there is a common thread. There is history. There is pride. There are great memories and lots of love and affection. Usually some number of residents say, this is where I live, and we may not be what we were or could be, but we're going to do what we can to make our little corner of the world as good as we can. It's so admirable and it's seen in so many 'sad" or "dying" towns. Bloom where you're planted. Thanks for the extensive history and data, so interesting as well. Looking forward to seeing more of your excellent work.

Years ago the Vandalia Correctional Center had acres and acres of beautiful vegetable gardens. The inmates would work in the gardens and grow produce that was served in the prison and other prisons in the state.

the building across from the train engine used to be a restaurant/train station, but it burnt down in 2007, and has not been changed since

I went to SIU-C. I love videos of small Illinois towns. I remember either driving past these towns or knew people from them.

We were just there today for our grandson's first birthday!🎉 There's no T at the end of across. It's cool to see where we just were.

As an Illinois escapee, I'd prefer corrupted buildings in Vandalia to corrupt politicians in Springfield.

I'm from Decatur Illinois and lived most of my life here in Vandalia! No one has believed me in Decatur that Illinois has two capitals. Then coming to find out we have three! Kaskaskia was the original place they had the capital! Moved to Vandalia when Abraham came through. Abraham Lincoln house is still standing! So much history! Should come to a little park in Harristown where Mary Todd and Abraham once had a cabin on this land!

The correctional center in Thomson Illinois is a large employer for the economically depressed area of Carroll County Illinois

My mom was born next door to Vandalia in Farina . I still have a bunch of rels in Vandalia and Effingham. Sadly i was born in another garbage town Harvey Illinois which is slowly rotting away just south of Chicago.

we had friends who used to live in Centralia, seeing the gigantic cross in Effingham was cool, and i would always see signs for Vandalia, and thank you for the history info.

Grew up in Vandalia,… the town is far past its golden days , but I wouldn’t say it’s centralia level… yet

There's a lot of towns in the Midwest like this. Do Streator Illinois and Vincennes Indiana

Automatic like and comment. Thank you for everything you do.

NOOOOO! You drove almost right past my old house twice, but you turned about a block too soon! Anyway, I was cool to see my old town again

I stayed for an entire weekend in Vandalia in July 2021. Great town. Very nice. Great history. Easy to pick on a few bad spots that every town has. How about trying to focus on positive features of towns.

I believe you said you video this in 2020! You didn’t show how by Walmart there’s a brand new theater. We have several nice restaurants up town, a Distillery! By interstate several restaurants! New grade and Middle schools! You seemed to flyby all this! You seem to like to just pick out abandoned buildings! Not impressed with your video!

This place isn’t all as bad as it seems. We have more than just rundown places and old buildings. When you nitpick and put down every little spot in Vandalia you are not spotlighting the wonderful things that this town also has to offer. (This was also filmed last year in 2020 during Christmas time so a lot has changed since then!)

This was a lovely story about a sad little town. I live here and the truth is, this is not a sad little town. Does it have issues, yes, like most cities do. I've never been to a city that doesn't have all the things you mentioned and more. Heres what it does have. It has a beautiful city park with a 2 mile walking trail, kids playgrounds, ball fields and pavilions, and a public swimming pool. We have a wonderful YMCA that has plans to expand even further. We have a new movie theater, and a bowling alley. We have a downtown patio open to the public that hosts entertainment and food trucks. As far as industry we have some large company's that employ several people from the community and surrounding smaller communities. We also have a newer middle school and have improvements to the high school and sports fields. To say we are sad, well, that's your opinion that you have a right too, but maybe you just like the big city life. I can't speak for everyone in town but I'd say most live here because we like our small town, sad as it may seem to some.

I know these streets like the back of my hand

The burned-out building across from the track tower was the vandaila train depot it was turned into a very popular bar and grill but it suspiciously burnt down 3 times. There are other historic building that burned down every so often another mysteriously

I live in Ramsey, just North of Vandalia. Vandalia isn't the world's greatest town but it sure isn't the worst either. Fayette County is working on trying to get better.

Wow, cool! I lived in Vandalia at one time. Then moved to Shoboneier just 14 miles southeast from Vandalia and lived in a house that was quite literally the last house on the left in Fayette County in the country, I loved it except all the tornados. I knew exactly where you were the whole time in your video!

Vandalia is gorgeous imo. Just drove thru there 2 weeks ago, got some amazing night pics of the town. The train depo and burnt-out bar at 5:04 almost glow at night.

Wow didn't know it use to be the capital

Mount Carroll Illinois used to have a movie theater which was years ago turned into a bowling alley. Other places, old movie theaters have been turned into all sorts of things. Or simply abandoned.

I went through second grade in that abandoned school.

As the responsible persons in Vandalia,I would have changed the name of the town, cause it sounded strange like:"The name is program".The pictures and informations about the real Americana, great and👍up.No Hollywood and candy pictures.Greatings from a German fan.

Witness The glory of globalism

Dope videos!

Thanks Chris 😊

4:06 the other day I saw a squeaking dog toy pig at the broken building. Also a house just recently exploded it was near the vandaila lake

beautiful history

The "run down building" that you say has been the same since 2013 was a steak house it burned down was repaired and reopened then it burned down again

So the first abandoned building in not sure what it's initial use was but I know at one point they used it as a haunted house. The second abandoned building used to be a train depot originally. Then after train travel died down out the building want used for awhile but was then turned into a restaurant but then it burned down and stayed that way since.

Having traveled through small towns from the east coast of Maine to Key West and to the Midwest for a survey company, this town looks like small town, USA. Downtown is nearly empty, and retail is outside along the major highway. Lots of old homes probably built by the local banker, store owner and other businessmen. Now all the local business are gone, gobbled up by Walmart, and chain restaurants, etc. I grew up in a large old Victorian home that was built by the then local banker. The bank now is just part of a chain of banks. 3 supermarkets replaced by now a Dollar General. Movie theater is an antique store, so it goes.

8:00 The Old Presbyterian Church has a Lincoln funny story. During the building of the new Statehouse, the Legislature met there temporarily. Lincoln got upset one day and to avoid a quorum that would lead to the vote of a bill he didn't approve, he JUMPED out of the window.

Most of Southern Illinois is this way now. 😥

I was in vandalia for a week over the winter period on a job installing a vapour reduction system in a metal cutting factory and man that town has nothing going for it but they had a cool sign that stated they were illinois' oldest capital. a decent pizza place by the hotel I stayed at tho

I know vandalia as the home of a prison,

You're seriously going to drive by a Big pine tree in the middle of the street and not tell us about it?

Downtown is actually starting to clean up a lot of the abandoned/destroyed buildings into a small business district

Shame. It looks alot like my rural town except our rural town is expanding ATM. For example we also have an old timey theater but unlike theirs ours has been completely restored and is still operating

I live here. Oh and btw half of that old storage warehouse was a haunted house for a bit. And you can still find Halloween stuff in it, and that old school is still being used as a haunted house

The town looks nice enough if you ask me.

I grew up in vandalia I currently live in Effingham and I am actually moving back to vandalia the town has changed the old depot is not a run down building anymore it really isn’t that bad of town to live in yes drugs are a problem but that is everywhere in this nation

Can you tell me where Vandalia corr. center is located. and direction to get there from Harrisburg,ill. ?

Is there a reason why you film things and don't upload the video for months after? Just curious to what your process is. Thanks. Also, great videos,

Come on now bud, you didn't even go by the kings house.. "Hank Stout", or by McDonald's

Awesome

No businesses to speak of. What besides nursing at the hospital is there to do for work? Man.

They were going to close that down but the state kept the prison open . That is a nice town if you have a job .

Why the name change for your channel?

Do joliet illinois its like 40 mins outside of Chicago off of the i55 Stevenson. I believe its 4th biggest city in Illinois

DID YOU ENJOY LISTENING TO THIS CHATTERING MAGPIE, WHILE AIMLESSLY CRUISING EMPTY STREETS ???????

I was in the prison there twice. Released the second time in December 2021. Can't say I'm surprised Vandalia doesn't have much to offer. The officer's at the faculty are in their own world there. Good Ol' Boys to say the least. Very Conservative, Trump loving folk.

I like the background music, very 80's synth feel. On another note, you are very adventurous. I never would venture to these far flung towns not because of any crime but I wouldn't know what to do if my car broke down in that area. I suppose I could find a mechanic shop but this place looks like it doesn't have any.

What is the name of song in this video when you talk about the Vandalia railroad terminal? Enjoy your videos so much

POV you live there:

Effingham I think is on two interstates, so that might help them that much more. The lake is pretty, but 'Alcohol Prohibited', I think lots of folks would go camp elsewhere.

The National Road preceded Route 66? Or was it in addition to US 66? Thanks

Lincoln was not we’ll liked in lots of places I understand.

would this be a good cheap place to retire?

No doubt Walmart gave you several up votes.🤑

HEY! I LIVE HERE

They should have about 5 million from covid funds to spend , pry go to the prison

20:39 is the tower a microwave relay tower or cell phone tower? Or something else? Where I am in Rockford there is such a tower not far away from me.

I live there

What? No Mt. Dew?

There is another RU-vid channel from Nick Johnson who has a series on places in the USA you should never move to. I think he has an episode for about every state of 10 places in the respective state you should not move to.

Would many of the residents with Bachelors Degrees be residents of the correctional center? Seems like a prison would be a great place to study for a college degree since you don’t have much else to do. 🥴

There is not a single town in illinois worth moving to.

Visit eastern ky and WV to see real poverty.

Looks like a town that in Ohio lol.on ho houses and long grassy space,

F'ing ham

Democrats policy. This world should be only for ppl who are responsible and pitch in. No freeloaders. Also the rich should treat their workers well . and the government should stay out of ppls business

Would many of the residents with Bachelors Degrees be residents of the correctional center? Seems like a prison would be a great place to study for a college degree since you don’t have much else to do. 🥴