And yet the people in those same sad towns believe that Sam Walton was just a good 'ol boy in his beat up Ford 150 pickup with his dog 'ol Roy riding shotgun. Lol. Walton of Wal-Mart fame was one of the biggest robber Barrons who ever lived.
I lived and grew up in Happy. Spent my childhood and adolescence there in the 1960's and 70's. In this video I saw one of the houses I grew up in. It was a busy place during the 1960's,1970's and 1980's. Those empty buildings downtown all had active businesses in them: a doctor's office in the post office building, a grocery store, an auto parts store, a barber shop, a hardware store, a clothing store, a Ford dealership with auto repair shop, a drug store and soda shop, a farm equipment store, a Lion's Club, and a hair salon. There was a lumber yard. There was even an active dirt strip airport for a crop dusting business and at one time a hotel. This video is all that I have seen of the town since leaving in 1984. Sad to see all that is lost. Thank you very much Lord Spoda for posting this.
It should give you a sense of why Rust Belt cities are called that. Once upon a time Detroit, for instance, was the 4th or 5th largest city. It will never be a top 10 city again.
My wife and I moved from the Dallas Ft. Worth area to Happy 23 years ago and love it! My in-laws moved up here two years later and used to live next door. Mom is in the Happy cemetery and dad is in assisted living.
My husband grew up in Happy, Texas. He really enjoyed this video. He knows all these towns. It kind of made him feel bad. Happy was such a nice town for a kid.
I took my husband to the little Panhandle town I grew up in until the end of my 5th grade year...Stinnett, Hutchinson Co., TX. He loves that town and calls it a "town lost in time". My two sisters and I continue to return there every few years just to remember our childhood. We left there in 1959. It really hasn't changed much, other than the school changing its name and enlarging. Living in a small town in the 1950s were good years in which to be a child.
You should come back to Happy and talk to people from our town. We actually have quite a few small businesses in town, 4 churches, funeral homes, and a very successful school. It's not a dying town at all. Houses sell quickly because so many are trying to move into town. We don't have a grocery store because there are two towns within 15 mins with grocery stores. Most people drive to those two towns for work. I encourage you to stop and talk to people in these towns you are going through. Also, look up the history of our grain elevators in town. The Grande theater in town is actually a store and museum of Happy.
I totally understand his drive through videos but you’re right that it would be nice to connect with locals. I know some towns in Wisconsin don’t look great to a passerby but are decent and have things going on.
I live in the UK, and up until Covid I travelled around America for about 1 month per year as I love the US. I love your videos as I can sit here, thousands of miles a way and enjoy exploring… Keep them coming!
One month per year, you say? I'm an older American and you have surely seen more of this country than I have. I do not think myself either deprived nor atypical.
His videos are descriptive detailed, and good camera work with fairly high quality video, stable shoots and wide angles, you get the feeling your there like GoogleEarth.
@David Garcia Am Irish and love travelling the US, not into big cities, just love travelling through small towns and countryside. Lovely people especially in the south, real salt of the earth people.
Beware that "Jon and Nic" give a very biased, cherry picked view of rural America, especially with Jon's low IQ commentary about "dying/declining" rural this or that. As commentator "jodibaggerman3796" said in response to this video: "You should come back to Happy and talk to people from our town. We actually have quite a few small businesses in town, 4 churches, funeral homes, and a very successful school. It's not a dying town at all. Houses sell quickly because so many are trying to move into town. We don't have a grocery store because there are two towns within 15 mins with grocery stores. Most people drive to those two towns for work. I encourage you to stop and talk to people in these towns you are going through. Also, look up the history of our grain elevators in town. The Grande theater in town is actually a store and museum of Happy." As someone who has lived in rural America all his life, I agree with "jodibaggerman3796" and add that "Jo and Nic" aren't to be trusted in their assessments and commentary.
4:48 Buddy Knox (in the 70's) toured in Canada and my Father got to know him and played guitar with him once in a while...in the 80's he lived in Manitoba...he was getting back into touring at those weekend jubilee's with 12 bands events...then just as he was getting started he passed away. He had a rough life in the 70's and 80's...had dinner with him a few times.
The windows on the courthouse are boarded up because of a bad hailstorm. So many windows were broken throughout town that they have been having a hard time getting them all repaired.
In the early 60's my uncle was farming cotton by Earth, Tx. his cotton was up about 8 inches and a hail storm wiped it out. he had time to replant and the crop got further along and it got hailed out. The following year my aunt came home from the grocery store and cooked our lunch, we setting at the table when it started to hail and my uncle ran to get the car in the garage. My aunt was screaming at him to not go outside. so we all sat in the window and watched that almost new chevy get beat to hell by hail.
I’ve grown up in the Texas Panhandle and my dad in the ag business and friends who owned grain elevators - I’ve never in my life over 50 years heard these referred to Prairie Skyscrapers … but I love it 🤣
The construction of I-27 between Amarillo and Lubbock hurt business in these small towns. Old Hwy 87, which pretty much parallels I-27, ran directly through these small towns.
This video really hit home for me. As someone who grew up in a small rural town in Texas, I've seen firsthand how difficult it can be for these communities to survive and thrive in the modern world. It's heartbreaking to see so many once-vibrant towns now struggling to stay afloat. I think one of the biggest challenges facing these communities is the lack of economic opportunities. Without businesses and industries to support them, it's hard for people to make a living and build a sustainable future. I also think there's a cultural divide between rural and urban areas that can make it hard for people in these towns to connect with the rest of society. But despite these challenges, I still have hope for the future of these towns. There's something special about rural communities that can't be replicated anywhere else. I believe that if we work together and invest in these towns, we can help them to thrive once again. Thank you for shining a light on this important issue.
Yep! The lives of these fading towns will be back when “corrupt, hypocrite, liar, fake democracy preacher and hegemonic ‘Fake Macho US Government’” stops “Illegal Wars, bombing other countries, close hundreds of military bases, not backing the thugs & criminal leaders around the Globe.” It will happens only when US starts spending Tax payers money on the infrastructure, medical facilities, education, research, helping needy people, the towns will definitely starts thriving again. Otherwise the future is hopeless not only for the beautiful towns but for the United States as well.
Here in Britain we are always told that Americans are very ambitious and live to work, and because of this Americans think nothing of moving from one side of the country to the other in search of the American Dream.
Regarding Happy's lack of a grocery store, I would think that Canyon would be the place to go. (speaking of Canyon, Palo Duro Canyon is right there, well worth a visit!) I'm always a bit surprised to see such nice murals in otherwise desolate-looking towns. It shows there's at least one person who's willing to do something positive for the community.
Also further south in Plainview as well for more Walmarts and grocery stores...you missed the Amigos United in Hereford, the Eagles Landing truck stop, Sonic, Pizza Hut, and the other Allsup's on the NORTH side of Tulia, and the Lowe's and Dollar General in Dimmitt as well...
I did some Googling on the Hereford Court House. The magnificent building had a roof collapse in 2020 and court proceedings have been moved to a temporary premises. Hope they're able to save it, it's a beautiful building. Interestingly the temporary court arrangements are in a building built in the 1860's.
Modern day rural America can be depressing and even haunting. I imagine these desolate Texas towns were active farming communities in the 1940s and 50s.
As an American born in San Antonio who came from a career miltary\law enforcement family, I am not anti much, but I am pro America, but we continue to outsource our kids’ futures. First Manufacturing, now customer service for credit cards, cable tv, etc. What are we doing?! What’s next? America was built on Coal, Farming, Manufacturing, etc. Now that we turned a corner, we are outsourcing technology, customer service, solar and much more, while NOT helping farmers and lower\middle class Americans. This IS our future!? Our politicians better get their acts together, because this type of lobbying, in-fighting and stupidity is only helping our enemies. Wake up America! Wherever you live, help\support YOUR community. Peace. - Ron
Tikis does have some very nice homes. The famous western artist, Kenneth Wyatt, lived in Tulia and had his home there until he passed. His main gallery was in his home. That is the only grocery store there.
If you live in Happy, you usually go to either Tulia or Canyon to get groceries and stuff. I'm related to half of the people in Tulia, and that drug bust was trash. One of my cousins did five years, and she wasn't even dealing drugs or anything. They were just rounding people up left and right. Now, some of them were actually dealing and to this day are still doing it. I lived in Dimmitt for a year, and we used to play them in sports when I was in school. Matter of fact we, Abernathy, played them last Friday in a playoff game but lost to them. My step mom is from Hereford, and you can smell that town from ten miles away, farther than that when the wind is blowing from the north lol. Glad you came back up to around my area
I'm very familiar with Hereford. I hauled dairy milk out of there to the big cheese plant in Clovis. That dairy "fragrance" you speak of, made me a good living.
One thing I notice about Texas is their absolute worship of running, jumping and chasing a ball..... This may sound smarmy but I can't help but wonder if people spent less time on sports and more on education and economic development if things wouldn't be better..
And really Canyon is getting so big that Happy will eventually really get a growth spurt. It can easily turn into where folks live and work in the city.
The part of the Texas that is growing and becoming prosperous is the Texas triangle of the five largest cities of Dallas, Ft Worth, Houston, San Antonio and Austin. What Texas has is a divide between urban and rural and who's benefiting the most from all this prosperity coming to the state.
Amarillo has had big growth and that is continuing. Canyon used to be very very little now very fast-growing. Yes Texas is going thru what CA did in the 60’s - everyone moved there for good jobs, Repub good governance, warm weather and beauty. Prosperity yes but quality of live changing. Massive growth has its downside.
I didn’t notice a hospital, dentist, or pharmacy in this entire video. I guess the Walmart has the pharmacy, but my goodness, Walmart is part of the ruin of small town USA.
Lack of healthcare is a big issue in rural America. A lot of rural hospitals have shut down over the years and rural residents have to drive further and further for medical care.
It is sad what has happened to rural America. The MSM is laser focused on problems in the major cities but largely ignores what is happening to small towns.
Because American history is littered with ghost towns. It happened many times before, it will happen many times once more. Different name, different place, same story...
As an Australian, I live in a very small town. Less than 100 people. The town is in central Queensland and it is flat, dry for most of the year and has red dirt which we call Bull Dust when it is dusty or when it covers your vehicle etc. We have no crime and no Mao. Town center except for a bar and a rural fire brigade. My farm covers just on 50k acres which I run my beef cattle and sheep. Seeing the town in your videos when I get to watch them makes me wonder how they can get to the condition they are in considering america is meant to be rich and powerful. I either drive or fly a helicopter to the nearest big town which is over 300 kilometres away by road. My internet service is limited and my internet and phone antenna is on a tower 100 feet in the air. And as far as TV goes we don't get a good signal so basically we just watch DVDs and like I said, you tube when we get a decent signal. I really hope something can be done with those towns and things can improve. As for is, it looks like we are heading into another drought with LA Nina coming back sowe are preparing now. If its another 10 year drought, I don't know how we will get through it again if things get really bad cause there's only so much feed you can keep in stock for your livestock. It's tough on the land but we Australians are resilient. Good luck to you guys over there 👍
IMHO the Aussies I’ve had the honor to meet in my life have reminded me most of those where me and mine were raised. OK/TX Panhandles, Liberal KS in their spirit and wisdom. Thank you for your kind words.
I was driving from Albuquerque to Austin back in 2003, and badly misjudged my fuel and left Amarillo without a fill-up. Got the sweaty hands watching the tank hitting "E" and saw the "prairie skyscrapers" and took a chance and headed for them. Stopped at that very gas station with the mystery "credit card pump" which at the time was staffed (and full-serve) by an older gentleman. Put nearly 31 gallons into our 30 gallon tank. MAN was that close. Anyway, I was as happy to see Happy as any a happy person has been. Never forgot the name. Thx for the tour.
Thanks for sharing! I completed the first grade in Lela Junction Tx, a wide spot in the road, near Amarilla,1946. When my Dad returned from WW2 we moved to Oregon and in 1952 back to my birthplace, San Diego, Cal and finally moving to WA state in 1970 and here I remain, so far. Those days were a much different chapter in American History! Todays extremes began in the Early 1960's with a big bump in the early 1990's with Windows 3.0 and now pushing hard for A.I. The future is not the past repeated. The future will go from bad to worse and then Armageddon after which things will improve for the much-much better! See God's Love! Ron PTL USA
I'm from Plainview. You have a lot of farming and livestock on the plains. You should have stopped and had an Allsup's burrito and ate Taco Villa. It's a big thing in that area. Happy, TX used to have pig farms. You could always smell you were getting close to Happy. LOL! Hope you were able to see Palo Duro Canyon or Caprock Canyon while you were in the area. Nazareth used to be called the "holy city" and people would drive there to get alcohol, because all the other counties were dry. Brings back a lot of memories.
I'm really shocked at the level of poverty in parts of the u.s. , I was obsessed with the states when I was younger and always wanted to go we were always influenced by t.v. and film back then , but in the advent of the Internet etc it's easier to see the other side of America and American life . I'm in England and enjoy watching your videos . 🙂
@@PraiseDog I've never seen poverty this bad in the u.k. not even close , but yes I realise its not all of the u.s. and it is a vastly larger country than Britain .
You should see the U.S. and judge for yourself. It’s an extremely complex nation. One of the items that stands true with respect to these small towns is, the level of resentment existing within. They believe their values are being attacked and they are being made fun of by elitist city dwellers. 2:06
The deal with all the boarded windows and tore up houses in Hereford is a massive hail storm hit last year and devastated a big part of the town and even rural.
Once the interstate was finished outside of town it killed downtown Happy. I'm from another small panhandle town, Plainview, and traveled through, stopped to eat, many times on the way to Amarillo. My friends and I like to claim who's most successful by who moved the farthest away. I miss the small town feel I left behind for the larger urban environment I moved to, but that's all I miss. Thanks for the stroll down memory lane.
Yep that's how they die sometimes half the town wants the traffic out and peace and quiet and the other half wants the traffic through town. People stop, fill up, grab a bite and drink, stretch their legs, keeps the economy going . sad to see these places wither away.
I was born in Plainview, 1961. We lived in Dimmitt until I was 15, then moved to another small town in East Texas. We used to shop in Plainview, in Hereford and Amarillo. This video brought back memories. I would love to go back and look at some of the places we used to shop in Amarillo and Hereford.
You know these towns look almost indistinguishable from the wheatbelt towns here in Western Australia. Your courthouses being far, far, grander is the only real exception I could pick out. That & the fact we have no interstate, the highway just runs down main street. I had to cancel my planned trip to the US south east 2 years ago, so these vids are very much appreciated. Thank you.
Growing up in Galena Park, TX...there was a grain elevator on the Houston Ship Channel. I was in junior high school and out in the front yard of the friend...looking right at the point when the grain elevator exploded....grain dust is very volatile. Very real memory. The explosion shattered windows all around Galena Park and the school was closed the next few days, giving the school district time to replace the broken windows and clean up the shattered glass. I won't go into the loss of life. Most people my age remember this quite vividly. BTW, if you were to visit Galena Park, you would find a good solid community...city of its own, but surrounded by East Houston....but a community much different than the one in which I grew up.
Awesome , as always ! I find it reprehensible that Hereford is so productive and the average salary is only 21K . I grew up in Amarillo and never knew how Deaf Smith Co got it's name . I'm sure my old history teacher would be perturbed at that statement . I'm sure I was day dreaming or totally distracted when it was mentioned in Texas history class. That was 7th grade and hormones were just beginning to kick in ya know ! Those pony tails and hair ribbons frequently interrupted my education ! LOL ! Drive safe ! Enjoyed the video!
@@daviddecelles8714 We have long been dependent on them, except for America. But my people are hardworking and live by their own work. Now the outcome of the war will decide.
Brings back memories, Lord Spoda! Before commenters assume that the folks in Happy are miserable and trampled upon by other Americans allow me to disabuse you of that notion. Is the population dwindling? Absolutely. Folks who live in these towns don’t live in mansions-in fact many live nearby. Of course their annual income is less than the US avg. After all, the cost of living is likely 25% below that. Indeed, my family who were/are dry-land farmers worked the land for generations. Fortunately, there have been significant oil/gas findings and-more importantly-have set our parents and grandparents up for life. When you make it to the Oklahoma panhandle through Guymon, Hooker, Tyrone and 5 miles up the road to Liberal, KS we’ll discuss more.
Lots of different signs on this Journey! Love you showing us all these little Texas towns. Parents and us kids went to Texas for warmer many years ago. We got Snow that year in Port Arthur, Texas! First in Douglas,AZ.then in ElPaso. Back to Iowa.
Happy state bank was bought out by a big bank and they are horrible and quickly losing a lot of the banking customers. It’s no longer based in Happy - or even in the panhandle. They also had a murder about a year ago.
In Hereford....have you ever seen the hail they get...boarded up windows are a way of life. We replaced every window on one side of our home after one storm. There was a famous NFL player from Hereford that played for the Baltimore Ravens. I used to ride the VA bus from Lubbock to Amarillo and we'd stop in Happy to pickup/dropoff vets for care. And we'd always stop on the way up to Amarillo at the gas station in Trulia along the interstate. Trulia was nearly wiped out by a tornado a few years back. There's a big training center just outside of town that is used by federal law enforcement. Shame you didn't go look around more.
I really enjoy these tours around these small towns. Happy seemed so quiet, but so interesting. Nice old theatre there, and it was lovely that you found one "happy" cat !! Tulia was interesting to explore, too, and another cat, awesome !! You see some very odd and interesting things by the side of the road in rural Texas !! Dimmitt seemed to have a slightly different feel to the other towns, and I love a good garage sale !! Hereford seemed slightly more active, too. All of these towns are so fascinating, and each one is so different. I always look forward to your videos. Thank you so much.😊
Downtown "Happy" didn't look very happy but love those brick streets! Still some life in the "suburbs"! Buddy Knox - great R&R, have many of his vinyl records! Hey, there's a happy (?) cat! ...Tulia seems much more active. More brick streets downtown! Historically corrupt though! Two for two cats so far and cheap gas! ...Interesting but bizarre "junkyard" in Nazareth(?). ...Dimmit must be mainly a grain town. No cats in sight though. ...Hereford - more grain industry here - and brick streets in the "suburbs"! Here comes a train! Love the old windmill! ...and a dairy town for real! ...Once again, thanks for the tour!
Many of the people that still live in these towns are retired. That’s why the average age of most these towns is so high and why so many female residents are widows. But outside of cheap house prices there’s not much to lure retirees to these towns. I don’t see any medical facilities, assisted living homes, or senior centers in any of these towns. Cheap homes and peace and quiet but not much else to offer for retirees to move there.
I really loved this! The mural in Tulia was fabulous. Someone said in a comment that it was named after Cyd Charisse.. I loved that. Hereford was enchanting. I loved the history of Deaf Smith. I want to go there and get some of their cheese and see the beautiful courthouse. Thank you for our delightful journey today. I missed Nicole so please tell her I did! Love to you both always
I really appreciate all your videos - gives a good impression of different regions in the US, by your comments as also what you're showing - thank you - regards from Germany...
There is a certain solitude and peace with these towns despite the subtle sadness that is present. But paradoxically, it gives an aura of hope also as life goes in cycles and is ever changing. Good footage. Good job on your part filming and explaining things. Cheers from Ontario..
Happy reminds me of wheat towns in North Western Victoria, Australia. I always love to see a silo on the horizon. That's what we call them. The dirt and landscape colouring and vibe very relatable.
I love these panhandle tours, I've been through all of these towns. I'm waiting for you to tour my slowly dying small town of Slaton: current pop is about 5,800, I've seen varying figures on peak pop of about 7,500. Plenty of ruins for you to see, not a bad place actually.
My grandfather worked as an engineer for the Santa Fe Railroad in Slaton. He retired in the 1960s. I'm old enough to remember when the Slaton Bakery was located in a small building on Division Street before it moved up to the square.
Drove through Happy in Summer 2022 with my father on a long road trip! Honestly, this town was special to us because my grandfather, my father's father, was nicknamed "Happy:. Definitely seemed quiet but still, special for personal reasons.
Such a cool video! I a train foamed and loved the shot looking down the railroad tracks at the grain silos. Thank you for all your videos. Fun to hears all the facts and figures!😊
It is really sad how all over North America, these towns have died, and have for all practical purposes, become ghost towns. I own a small shack in a village about the same size as Happy in southern Mexico, about 800 or 900 inhabitants, but there are at least 9 small stores, at least 5 bars, at least 2 small restaurants, 1 tortillería, 1 veterinarian ( or feed store) and 4 small churches or chapels. But no fire department and no gas station( as seen in Happy Texas). I didn't see a single human being outside in Happy, whereas in my village there are kids, dogs, chickens, goats and quite a few adult humans, all over the place. Local public transportation passes on the main highway through town about every 10 minutes. My village, along with hundreds of thousands of similar small villages throughout Latin America, are what I call ""Living Towns"". It is nothing less than depressing and even scary, to see rural USA as such a dead place( but with about the same population hidden away in their houses and cars).
Do you know why there is a difference? Factual reasons: end of Robinson Patman Act, SEC lack of enforcement, deregulation of banks, mechanization of farm machinery, neo conservatism and debt, neo liberalism and trade agreements. There has been a class war in the U.S. since the Tea Party years of Newt Gingrich and Ronald Reagan that has been continued by both political parties. Look at Bill Clinton and NAFTA, the WTO, and U.S. trade agreements. These small towns are abandoned because the people moved out to the Interstate Highways near Walmart, and the big box stores where new suburbs are built. As the towns died, the people also moved to the east and west coasts.
it's not economic breakdown in rural USA. it's an cultural breakdown. the soul is dying. so much land you can eat plentiful only from your backyard. still people leave for trashy town life.
In Australia, there is a law on the books known as "adverse possession". It basically means that if you go into an abandoned home or start taking care of an abandoned property, so long as you put a fence around it (and pay the property taxes), you can legally stay there, so long as the owner doesn't show up and kick you off. If you can do this for 20 years, the property becomes yours. There are currently two properties in my town that are under adverse possession right now. The legal owner is in an old folks home and has no family, so it's highly unlikely that anyone is going to kick the "new" owners out.
Canyon and Plainview are the most interesting of all the towns in the Panhandle of Texas.... Plainview was the home of Jimmy Dean (Country Music Icon, Actor and Sausage Maker) Indian Cultural Museum in Canyon and the Palo Duro Canyon are worth the trip.....
Almost every one has heard the song but almost no one has seen the mural, by-passed by the interstate and time. Prejudices are everywhere but never saw a mushroom tree before. Going to the panhandle along the Canadian River and then Caprock country soon. Stay safe and away from the interstates.
I'm originally from Borger. In the 70's my brother worked for Phillips petroleum. We moved in 1977. I live near Brownwood now. As a kid we spent a lot of time at the Palo Duro canyon. I miss those days.
I grew up in Perryton Texas. We have a grain elevator. I have never heard anyone in my 50 years refer to them as “prairie skyscrapers”. That’s dumb. Poor? Of course, oil drying up and factory farms have destroyed country life. However, to depict them as missable and destitute because it doesn’t look like a big city is a rotten thing to do. I currently live in a big city with all its bright lights, big shopping, bars on every corner, an entertainment district, tourism and steadily rising violent crime rates and let me tell you… I hate it. I can not wait to get back to a tiny “poor” town. Y’all can have your rich cities. You’re not far from Lubbock, Cayon, Amarillo, Plainview… all the shopping you need. There are plenty of resources and it’s sad the shops in Happy are closed down. But again, shopping is close by. You should definitely check out Palo Dura Canyon. Seriously beautiful place to see.
Love the Panhandle and the people there. I visited Palo Duro Canyon with a girlfriend at the time and was overwhelmed by it. It really is a mini Grand Canyon.
Keith I am glad you have visited the Texas Panhandle it is a great place to live I been here my whole life we recently have broken our drought with ten inch’s of rain. Come soon and see how green it is down in the Palo Duro Canyon!!!
I drive thru these town and can't help but think about all those empty storefronts were once someone's hope and dreams.
Yep it's sad.even harder for small businesses now.
And yet the people in those same sad towns believe that Sam Walton was just a good 'ol boy in his beat up Ford 150 pickup with his dog 'ol Roy riding shotgun. Lol. Walton of Wal-Mart fame was one of the biggest robber Barrons who ever lived.
Same.
Ymmv cry yuh bu
Its all about bad government
I lived and grew up in Happy. Spent my childhood and adolescence there in the 1960's and 70's. In this video I saw one of the houses I grew up in. It was a busy place during the 1960's,1970's and 1980's. Those empty buildings downtown all had active businesses in them: a doctor's office in the post office building, a grocery store, an auto parts store, a barber shop, a hardware store, a clothing store, a Ford dealership with auto repair shop, a drug store and soda shop, a farm equipment store, a Lion's Club, and a hair salon. There was a lumber yard. There was even an active dirt strip airport for a crop dusting business and at one time a hotel. This video is all that I have seen of the town since leaving in 1984. Sad to see all that is lost. Thank you very much Lord Spoda for posting this.
Thank you for the great comment. :)
Happy you have good memories...I'm not surprised that you do. It's a shame what we've done.
Case Power and Equipment after 1968, Happy Implement before that.
@@don66hotrod94 Been to fish fry's at the Case Barn
It should give you a sense of why Rust Belt cities are called that. Once upon a time Detroit, for instance, was the 4th or 5th largest city. It will never be a top 10 city again.
My wife and I moved from the Dallas Ft. Worth area to Happy 23 years ago and love it!
My in-laws moved up here two years later and used to live next door.
Mom is in the Happy cemetery and dad is in assisted living.
That is wonderful!!
My husband grew up in Happy, Texas. He really enjoyed this video. He knows all these towns. It kind of made him feel bad. Happy was such a nice town for a kid.
I took my husband to the little Panhandle town I grew up in until the end of my 5th grade year...Stinnett, Hutchinson Co., TX. He loves that town and calls it a "town lost in time". My two sisters and I continue to return there every few years just to remember our childhood. We left there in 1959. It really hasn't changed much, other than the school changing its name and enlarging. Living in a small town in the 1950s were good years in which to be a child.
Happy-Buddy Knox
Lubbock- Buddy Holly
Plainview-Jimmy Dean
Amarillo- Terry Stafford. Wrote Amarillo by Morning. He sounded like Elvis Presley.
Littlefield-Waylon Jennings
Fun Fact: Tulia Finklea was from Amarillo named after the town and her stage name was - Cyd Charisse.
You should come back to Happy and talk to people from our town. We actually have quite a few small businesses in town, 4 churches, funeral homes, and a very successful school. It's not a dying town at all. Houses sell quickly because so many are trying to move into town. We don't have a grocery store because there are two towns within 15 mins with grocery stores. Most people drive to those two towns for work. I encourage you to stop and talk to people in these towns you are going through. Also, look up the history of our grain elevators in town. The Grande theater in town is actually a store and museum of Happy.
I totally understand his drive through videos but you’re right that it would be nice to connect with locals. I know some towns in Wisconsin don’t look great to a passerby but are decent and have things going on.
I live in the UK, and up until Covid I travelled around America for about 1 month per year as I love the US. I love your videos as I can sit here, thousands of miles a way and enjoy exploring… Keep them coming!
One month per year, you say? I'm an older American and you have surely seen more of this country than I have. I do not think myself either deprived nor atypical.
His videos are descriptive detailed, and good camera work with fairly high quality video, stable shoots and wide angles, you get the feeling your there like GoogleEarth.
@David Garcia Am Irish and love travelling the US, not into big cities, just love travelling through small towns and countryside. Lovely people especially in the south, real salt of the earth people.
Beware that "Jon and Nic" give a very biased, cherry picked view of rural America, especially with Jon's low IQ commentary about "dying/declining" rural this or that.
As commentator "jodibaggerman3796" said in response to this video:
"You should come back to Happy and talk to people from our town. We actually have quite a few small businesses in town, 4 churches, funeral homes, and a very successful school. It's not a dying town at all. Houses sell quickly because so many are trying to move into town. We don't have a grocery store because there are two towns within 15 mins with grocery stores. Most people drive to those two towns for work. I encourage you to stop and talk to people in these towns you are going through. Also, look up the history of our grain elevators in town. The Grande theater in town is actually a store and museum of Happy."
As someone who has lived in rural America all his life, I agree with "jodibaggerman3796" and add that "Jo and Nic" aren't to be trusted in their assessments and commentary.
4:48 Buddy Knox (in the 70's) toured in Canada and my Father got to know him and played guitar with him once in a while...in the 80's he lived in Manitoba...he was getting back into touring at those weekend jubilee's with 12 bands events...then just as he was getting started he passed away.
He had a rough life in the 70's and 80's...had dinner with him a few times.
The windows on the courthouse are boarded up because of a bad hailstorm. So many windows were broken throughout town that they have been having a hard time getting them all repaired.
In the early 60's my uncle was farming cotton by Earth, Tx. his cotton was up about 8 inches and a hail storm wiped it out. he had time to replant and the crop got further along and it got hailed out. The following year my aunt came home from the grocery store and cooked our lunch, we setting at the table when it started to hail and my uncle ran to get the car in the garage. My aunt was screaming at him to not go outside. so we all sat in the window and watched that almost new chevy get beat to hell by hail.
I’ve grown up in the Texas Panhandle and my dad in the ag business and friends who owned grain elevators - I’ve never in my life over 50 years heard these referred to Prairie Skyscrapers … but I love it 🤣
It's a great name for them, I think. :)
@@JoeandNicsRoadTripAs you are finding out, Texas is big that even natives opinionated with each other and disagree! 🤠
The construction of I-27 between Amarillo and Lubbock hurt business in these small towns. Old Hwy 87, which pretty much parallels I-27, ran directly through these small towns.
Yea, the same thing happened to all those businesses along route 66 when I 80 was born...
This video really hit home for me. As someone who grew up in a small rural town in Texas, I've seen firsthand how difficult it can be for these communities to survive and thrive in the modern world. It's heartbreaking to see so many once-vibrant towns now struggling to stay afloat.
I think one of the biggest challenges facing these communities is the lack of economic opportunities. Without businesses and industries to support them, it's hard for people to make a living and build a sustainable future. I also think there's a cultural divide between rural and urban areas that can make it hard for people in these towns to connect with the rest of society.
But despite these challenges, I still have hope for the future of these towns. There's something special about rural communities that can't be replicated anywhere else. I believe that if we work together and invest in these towns, we can help them to thrive once again.
Thank you for shining a light on this important issue.
I agree.
Yep! The lives of these fading towns will be back when “corrupt, hypocrite, liar, fake democracy preacher and hegemonic ‘Fake Macho US Government’” stops “Illegal Wars, bombing other countries, close hundreds of military bases, not backing the thugs & criminal leaders around the Globe.” It will happens only when US starts spending Tax payers money on the infrastructure, medical facilities, education, research, helping needy people, the towns will definitely starts thriving again. Otherwise the future is hopeless not only for the beautiful towns but for the United States as well.
So sad!!
Here in Britain we are always told that Americans are very ambitious and live to work, and because of this Americans think nothing of moving from one side of the country to the other in search of the American Dream.
@@StephanieG1 That is true for most Americans, but most people have flocked to the bigger cities.
Grew up in Tulia, Swisher, Texas. Was once a thriving town. I27 killed it.😢😢
God bless Texas.
Regarding Happy's lack of a grocery store, I would think that Canyon would be the place to go. (speaking of Canyon, Palo Duro Canyon is right there, well worth a visit!) I'm always a bit surprised to see such nice murals in otherwise desolate-looking towns. It shows there's at least one person who's willing to do something positive for the community.
I wonder how people would survive without cars
Also further south in Plainview as well for more Walmarts and grocery stores...you missed the Amigos United in Hereford, the Eagles Landing truck stop, Sonic, Pizza Hut, and the other Allsup's on the NORTH side of Tulia, and the Lowe's and Dollar General in Dimmitt as well...
I love Canyon TX and their HUGE 4th of July Parade.
Sexton's Grocery was downtown at one time.
And a video picture of the giant cement cowboy on the west side of town leading towards Hereford
I did some Googling on the Hereford Court House. The magnificent building had a roof collapse in 2020 and court proceedings have been moved to a temporary premises. Hope they're able to save it, it's a beautiful building. Interestingly the temporary court arrangements are in a building built in the 1860's.
I'm 22 and lived in Amarillo most of my life, I moved to El Paso last summer. These little towns are something special.
How does El Paso compare to Amarillo?
hope you’re enjoying El Paso! i love my hometown ❤
@andrewstinson3284 well el paso is border and more big than Amarillo.I prefer my Amarillo
Modern day rural America can be depressing and even haunting. I imagine these desolate Texas towns were active farming communities in the 1940s and 50s.
As an American born in San Antonio who came from a career miltary\law enforcement family, I am not anti much, but I am pro America, but we continue to outsource our kids’ futures. First Manufacturing, now customer service for credit cards, cable tv, etc. What are we doing?! What’s next? America was built on Coal, Farming, Manufacturing, etc. Now that we turned a corner, we are outsourcing technology, customer service, solar and much more, while NOT helping farmers and lower\middle class Americans. This IS our future!? Our politicians better get their acts together, because this type of lobbying, in-fighting and stupidity is only helping our enemies. Wake up America! Wherever you live, help\support YOUR community. Peace. - Ron
Back when taxes were high little towns thrived. No economy at all now and no social programs to try again. The Interstate ate.
Thank you. The cats always make me smile.
I always ask him to be on the look out for them.
Yeah,...that obelisk in the middle of the street/square is pretty cool.
Tikis does have some very nice homes. The famous western artist, Kenneth Wyatt, lived in Tulia and had his home there until he passed. His main gallery was in his home. That is the only grocery store there.
If you live in Happy, you usually go to either Tulia or Canyon to get groceries and stuff. I'm related to half of the people in Tulia, and that drug bust was trash. One of my cousins did five years, and she wasn't even dealing drugs or anything. They were just rounding people up left and right. Now, some of them were actually dealing and to this day are still doing it. I lived in Dimmitt for a year, and we used to play them in sports when I was in school. Matter of fact we, Abernathy, played them last Friday in a playoff game but lost to them. My step mom is from Hereford, and you can smell that town from ten miles away, farther than that when the wind is blowing from the north lol. Glad you came back up to around my area
I'm very familiar with Hereford. I hauled dairy milk out of there to the big cheese plant in Clovis. That dairy "fragrance" you speak of, made me a good living.
One thing I notice about Texas is their absolute worship of running, jumping and chasing a ball..... This may sound smarmy but I can't help but wonder if people spent less time on sports and more on education and economic development if things wouldn't be better..
And really Canyon is getting so big that Happy will eventually really get a growth spurt. It can easily turn into where folks live and work in the city.
@@MTknitter22 Yea I heard it's getting bigger. Haven't been there in a couple of years
The part of the Texas that is growing and becoming prosperous is the Texas triangle of the five largest cities of Dallas, Ft Worth, Houston, San Antonio and Austin. What Texas has is a divide between urban and rural and who's benefiting the most from all this prosperity coming to the state.
Amarillo has had big growth and that is continuing. Canyon used to be very very little now very fast-growing. Yes Texas is going thru what CA did in the 60’s - everyone moved there for good jobs, Repub good governance, warm weather and beauty. Prosperity yes but quality of live changing. Massive growth has its downside.
Dumas also growing
I didn’t notice a hospital, dentist, or pharmacy in this entire video. I guess the Walmart has the pharmacy, but my goodness, Walmart is part of the ruin of small town USA.
Lack of healthcare is a big issue in rural America. A lot of rural hospitals have shut down over the years and rural residents have to drive further and further for medical care.
Folks just go to Amarillo for that stuff
It is sad what has happened to rural America. The MSM is laser focused on problems in the major cities but largely ignores what is happening to small towns.
The MSM is only focused on what there handlers tell them to focus on.
Ignored by many national politicians because it lacks electoral density.
Because American history is littered with ghost towns. It happened many times before, it will happen many times once more. Different name, different place, same story...
Love this channel. To me, this shows the true America
Thanks, Pat!
As an Australian, I live in a very small town. Less than 100 people. The town is in central Queensland and it is flat, dry for most of the year and has red dirt which we call Bull Dust when it is dusty or when it covers your vehicle etc. We have no crime and no Mao. Town center except for a bar and a rural fire brigade. My farm covers just on 50k acres which I run my beef cattle and sheep. Seeing the town in your videos when I get to watch them makes me wonder how they can get to the condition they are in considering america is meant to be rich and powerful. I either drive or fly a helicopter to the nearest big town which is over 300 kilometres away by road. My internet service is limited and my internet and phone antenna is on a tower 100 feet in the air. And as far as TV goes we don't get a good signal so basically we just watch DVDs and like I said, you tube when we get a decent signal. I really hope something can be done with those towns and things can improve. As for is, it looks like we are heading into another drought with LA Nina coming back sowe are preparing now. If its another 10 year drought, I don't know how we will get through it again if things get really bad cause there's only so much feed you can keep in stock for your livestock. It's tough on the land but we Australians are resilient. Good luck to you guys over there 👍
IMHO the Aussies I’ve had the honor to meet in my life have reminded me most of those where me and mine were raised. OK/TX Panhandles, Liberal KS in their spirit and wisdom.
Thank you for your kind words.
I was driving from Albuquerque to Austin back in 2003, and badly misjudged my fuel and left Amarillo without a fill-up. Got the sweaty hands watching the tank hitting "E" and saw the "prairie skyscrapers" and took a chance and headed for them. Stopped at that very gas station with the mystery "credit card pump" which at the time was staffed (and full-serve) by an older gentleman. Put nearly 31 gallons into our 30 gallon tank. MAN was that close. Anyway, I was as happy to see Happy as any a happy person has been. Never forgot the name. Thx for the tour.
Thanks for sharing! I completed the first grade in Lela Junction Tx, a wide spot in the road, near Amarilla,1946. When my Dad returned from WW2 we moved to Oregon and in 1952 back to my birthplace, San Diego, Cal and finally moving to WA state in 1970 and here I remain, so far. Those days were a much different chapter in American History! Todays extremes began in the Early 1960's with a big bump in the early 1990's with Windows 3.0 and now pushing hard for A.I. The future is not the past repeated. The future will go from bad to worse and then Armageddon after which things will improve for the much-much better! See God's Love! Ron PTL USA
I'm from Plainview. You have a lot of farming and livestock on the plains. You should have stopped and had an Allsup's burrito and ate Taco Villa. It's a big thing in that area. Happy, TX used to have pig farms. You could always smell you were getting close to Happy. LOL! Hope you were able to see Palo Duro Canyon or Caprock Canyon while you were in the area. Nazareth used to be called the "holy city" and people would drive there to get alcohol, because all the other counties were dry. Brings back a lot of memories.
I'm really shocked at the level of poverty in parts of the u.s. , I was obsessed with the states when I was younger and always wanted to go we were always influenced by t.v. and film back then , but in the advent of the Internet etc it's easier to see the other side of America and American life . I'm in England and enjoy watching your videos . 🙂
There is vast and complex poverty in the U.S, not commonly understood or appreciated by non-Americans.
@@daviddecelles8714 it's such a shame I really feel for the people in these areas , very much forgotten bless them .
@@PraiseDog I've never seen poverty this bad in the u.k. not even close , but yes I realise its not all of the u.s. and it is a vastly larger country than Britain .
@@daviddecelles8714 Wait till you live there , then you will begin to believe in how Micky mouse the USA is .Tv and Hollywood made it all an illusion
You should see the U.S. and judge for yourself.
It’s an extremely complex nation.
One of the items that stands true with respect to these small towns is, the level of resentment existing within. They believe their values are being attacked and they are being made fun of by elitist city dwellers. 2:06
Prairie Skyscrapers, haha, never heard that one, I learn something new everyday, good stuff, as always.
Things of beauty.i like them 💫🌟😽
Watching your channel really shows how fast some of these little towns have degraded.
The deal with all the boarded windows and tore up houses in Hereford is a massive hail storm hit last year and devastated a big part of the town and even rural.
How Horrible! I hope no one was injured or killed.
The old buildings are beautiful
Muleshoe and Lazbuddie are other great towns to visit in the Caprock.
Once the interstate was finished outside of town it killed downtown Happy. I'm from another small panhandle town, Plainview, and traveled through, stopped to eat, many times on the way to Amarillo. My friends and I like to claim who's most successful by who moved the farthest away. I miss the small town feel I left behind for the larger urban environment I moved to, but that's all I miss. Thanks for the stroll down memory lane.
Yep that's how they die sometimes half the town wants the traffic out and peace and quiet and the other half wants the traffic through town.
People stop, fill up, grab a bite and drink, stretch their legs, keeps the economy going .
sad to see these places wither away.
I was born in Plainview, 1961. We lived in Dimmitt until I was 15, then moved to another small town in East Texas. We used to shop in Plainview, in Hereford and Amarillo. This video brought back memories. I would love to go back and look at some of the places we used to shop in Amarillo and Hereford.
You know these towns look almost indistinguishable from the wheatbelt towns here in Western Australia.
Your courthouses being far, far, grander is the only real exception I could pick out. That & the fact we have no interstate, the highway just runs down main street.
I had to cancel my planned trip to the US south east 2 years ago, so these vids are very much appreciated. Thank you.
2 videos to catch up on this monday. Thanks always.
Growing up in Galena Park, TX...there was a grain elevator on the Houston Ship Channel. I was in junior high school and out in the front yard of the friend...looking right at the point when the grain elevator exploded....grain dust is very volatile. Very real memory. The explosion shattered windows all around Galena Park and the school was closed the next few days, giving the school district time to replace the broken windows and clean up the shattered glass. I won't go into the loss of life. Most people my age remember this quite vividly. BTW, if you were to visit Galena Park, you would find a good solid community...city of its own, but surrounded by East Houston....but a community much different than the one in which I grew up.
Wow a fellow Yellowjacket class of 2002 for me
Awesome , as always ! I find it reprehensible that Hereford is so productive and the average salary is only 21K . I grew up in Amarillo and never knew how Deaf Smith Co got it's name . I'm sure my old history teacher would be perturbed at that statement . I'm sure I was day dreaming or totally distracted when it was mentioned in Texas history class. That was 7th grade and hormones were just beginning to kick in ya know ! Those pony tails and hair ribbons frequently interrupted my education ! LOL ! Drive safe ! Enjoyed the video!
I love this show and all the stats that are given. Keep up the good work. X
Perfect way to start the morning. Thanks much
Good video once again, Joe. Thanks.
Quitaque,Turkey,Flomot,Gasolibe,Matador,Spur
It is interesting to watch and listen about the country while sitting in your car, thanks for the fascinating video. From Kyrgyzstan, Central Asia.
From Kyrgyztan? Beware the Russian Bear, the Chinese Panda and Uncle Sam bearing gifts. Stand on your own two feet.
@@daviddecelles8714
We have long been dependent on them, except for America. But my people are hardworking and live by their own work. Now the outcome of the war will decide.
Awesome seeing these small towns again, grew up in Amarillo and have family in both Dimmit, and Tulia.
The Otwell Twins from the Lawrence Welk Show - 1977-1982 - were born in Tulia, Texas on August 2, 1956.
Had to look up Buddy Knox. Party Doll is a great song. Haven't heard that in decades!
Brings back memories, Lord Spoda!
Before commenters assume that the folks in Happy are miserable and trampled upon by other Americans allow me to disabuse you of that notion. Is the population dwindling? Absolutely. Folks who live in these towns don’t live in mansions-in fact many live nearby. Of course their annual income is less than the US avg. After all, the cost of living is likely 25% below that. Indeed, my family who were/are dry-land farmers worked the land for generations. Fortunately, there have been significant oil/gas findings and-more importantly-have set our parents and grandparents up for life.
When you make it to the Oklahoma panhandle through Guymon, Hooker, Tyrone and 5 miles up the road to Liberal, KS we’ll discuss more.
Lots of different signs on this Journey! Love you showing us all these little Texas towns. Parents and us kids went to Texas for warmer many years ago. We got Snow that year in Port Arthur, Texas! First in Douglas,AZ.then in ElPaso. Back to Iowa.
Thank you for showing your beautiful Texas
Happy state bank was bought out by a big bank and they are horrible and quickly losing a lot of the banking customers. It’s no longer based in Happy - or even in the panhandle. They also had a murder about a year ago.
Yes sad
In Hereford....have you ever seen the hail they get...boarded up windows are a way of life. We replaced every window on one side of our home after one storm. There was a famous NFL player from Hereford that played for the Baltimore Ravens.
I used to ride the VA bus from Lubbock to Amarillo and we'd stop in Happy to pickup/dropoff vets for care. And we'd always stop on the way up to Amarillo at the gas station in Trulia along the interstate. Trulia was nearly wiped out by a tornado a few years back. There's a big training center just outside of town that is used by federal law enforcement. Shame you didn't go look around more.
Thank you for your video. I really enjoy watching them. It gives me the opportunity to see the world.
I grew up in Hereford in 60’s to 70’s. Hard to recognize - so sad to see surrounding towns on the decline - thanks for this video! 😊
Got any pictures of the town from back then?
Don’t underestimate income related to oil/gas that generational natives have been blessed with. 🙋🏼♀️
I actually love seeing these small towns. I hope to visit some of them.
I watch utube for free tv. And stream my news free. Thanks Lord Spoda for my entertainment. Another good tour.
Cool!
I really enjoy these tours around these small towns. Happy seemed so quiet, but so interesting. Nice old theatre there, and it was lovely that you found one "happy" cat !! Tulia was interesting to explore, too, and another cat, awesome !! You see some very odd and interesting things by the side of the road in rural Texas !! Dimmitt seemed to have a slightly different feel to the other towns, and I love a good garage sale !! Hereford seemed slightly more active, too. All of these towns are so fascinating, and each one is so different. I always look forward to your videos. Thank you so much.😊
Excellent video! Thanks for posting it.
Downtown "Happy" didn't look very happy but love those brick streets! Still some life in the "suburbs"! Buddy Knox - great R&R, have many of his vinyl records! Hey, there's a happy (?) cat! ...Tulia seems much more active. More brick streets downtown! Historically corrupt though! Two for two cats so far and cheap gas! ...Interesting but bizarre "junkyard" in Nazareth(?). ...Dimmit must be mainly a grain town. No cats in sight though. ...Hereford - more grain industry here - and brick streets in the "suburbs"! Here comes a train! Love the old windmill! ...and a dairy town for real! ...Once again, thanks for the tour!
Thanks for the great comment, Bill!
I would think these small towns would be great for retired people. Those abandoned storefronts could be revitalized for a cafe or NAPA Auto Parts, etc
Many of the people that still live in these towns are retired. That’s why the average age of most these towns is so high and why so many female residents are widows. But outside of cheap house prices there’s not much to lure retirees to these towns. I don’t see any medical facilities, assisted living homes, or senior centers in any of these towns. Cheap homes and peace and quiet but not much else to offer for retirees to move there.
The cats are jockeying for starring roles in your videos!😄😺
I LOVE Traveling The Country With You! I'm Enjoying It! ♥️♥️♥️
I love your videos ❤️ thank you for taking me every where you go.Thats my only way out.🙏🙏🙏🙏🏡🏡🏡
I really loved this! The mural in Tulia was fabulous. Someone said in a comment that it was named after Cyd Charisse.. I loved that. Hereford was enchanting. I loved the history of Deaf Smith. I want to go there and get some of their cheese and see the beautiful courthouse. Thank you for our delightful journey today. I missed Nicole so please tell her I did! Love to you both always
Thanks Denise! We love you back. :)
Enjoyed your tour of the panhandle of Texas...
This was cool watching this bc I grew up all around these areas and drive through them all the time
Cool video as usual, thank you.
But i would have checked out the yard sale 🙂
The grease and 2 trash dumpsters at them Happy Cafe suggests it is in operation. The garbage Co. would only leave them at a going business.
I love cruising small towns when I travel. Always try to stop and visit a while if I can. Get lots of good info and local gossip !
Thanks for the ride, soo nice too see👍☀️
Only 600 people in Happy, that's really sad. I'm loving your channel.
I really appreciate all your videos - gives a good impression of different regions in the US, by your comments as also what you're showing - thank you - regards from Germany...
Thank you very much!
There is a certain solitude and peace with these towns despite the subtle sadness that is present. But paradoxically, it gives an aura of hope also as life goes in cycles and is ever changing. Good footage. Good job on your part filming and explaining things. Cheers from Ontario..
Happy reminds me of wheat towns in North Western Victoria, Australia. I always love to see a silo on the horizon. That's what we call them. The dirt and landscape colouring and vibe very relatable.
Good morning sir. As always I love watching your tours of small towns in. USA. Love always from Jamaica 🇯🇲.
Thank you, Sheron!
When seeing that beautiful mural I was surprised there’s no graffiti all over it. Thank goodness.
Doing great! Love your videos🤘🏼
I love these videos. They satisfy my basic urge to see how other people live, not "important" types, but ordinary people. Keep up the good work!
I love these panhandle tours, I've been through all of these towns. I'm waiting for you to tour my slowly dying small town of Slaton: current pop is about 5,800, I've seen varying figures on peak pop of about 7,500. Plenty of ruins for you to see, not a bad place actually.
My grandfather worked as an engineer for the Santa Fe Railroad in Slaton. He retired in the 1960s. I'm old enough to remember when the Slaton Bakery was located in a small building on Division Street before it moved up to the square.
Hi Lord Spoda
Thanks for this interesting and informatie video. Enjoyed rural Texas ride. Mural @13:50 is beautiful.
Thanks, Rajeev!
Drove through Happy in Summer 2022 with my father on a long road trip! Honestly, this town was special to us because my grandfather, my father's father, was nicknamed "Happy:. Definitely seemed quiet but still, special for personal reasons.
Such a cool video! I a train foamed and loved the shot looking down the railroad tracks at the grain silos. Thank you for all your videos. Fun to hears all the facts and figures!😊
It is really sad how all over North America, these towns have died, and have for all practical purposes, become ghost towns. I own a small shack in a village about the same size as Happy in southern Mexico, about 800 or 900 inhabitants, but there are at least 9 small stores, at least 5 bars, at least 2 small restaurants, 1 tortillería, 1 veterinarian ( or feed store) and 4 small churches or chapels. But no fire department and no gas station( as seen in Happy Texas). I didn't see a single human being outside in Happy, whereas in my village there are kids, dogs, chickens, goats and quite a few adult humans, all over the place. Local public transportation passes on the main highway through town about every 10 minutes. My village, along with hundreds of thousands of similar small villages throughout Latin America, are what I call ""Living Towns"". It is nothing less than depressing and even scary, to see rural USA as such a dead place( but with about the same population hidden away in their houses and cars).
Sounds pretty cool
I've been to many towns like yours in Mexico and so very enjoyed all my experiences. Thanks for your comment. Saludos desde SF CA
The same applies to Central Europe, even small places have restaurants, real churches and small grocery stores. It's up to the Americans...
Do you know why there is a difference? Factual reasons: end of Robinson Patman Act, SEC lack of enforcement, deregulation of banks, mechanization of farm machinery, neo conservatism and debt, neo liberalism and trade agreements. There has been a class war in the U.S. since the Tea Party years of Newt Gingrich and Ronald Reagan that has been continued by both political parties. Look at Bill Clinton and NAFTA, the WTO, and U.S. trade agreements. These small towns are abandoned because the people moved out to the Interstate Highways near Walmart, and the big box stores where new suburbs are built. As the towns died, the people also moved to the east and west coasts.
it's not economic breakdown in rural USA. it's an cultural breakdown. the soul is dying. so much land you can eat plentiful only from your backyard. still people leave for trashy town life.
Great video! 👍 Thanks for the tour.
Happy town, wow that's the cleanest and tidiest disappearing town I've seen so far.
In Australia, there is a law on the books known as "adverse possession". It basically means that if you go into an abandoned home or start taking care of an abandoned property, so long as you put a fence around it (and pay the property taxes), you can legally stay there, so long as the owner doesn't show up and kick you off. If you can do this for 20 years, the property becomes yours. There are currently two properties in my town that are under adverse possession right now. The legal owner is in an old folks home and has no family, so it's highly unlikely that anyone is going to kick the "new" owners out.
Canyon and Plainview are the most interesting of all the towns in the Panhandle of Texas.... Plainview was the home of Jimmy Dean (Country Music Icon, Actor and Sausage Maker) Indian Cultural Museum in Canyon and the Palo Duro Canyon are worth the trip.....
Will be visiting them next time.
The old west museum is the best . And don’t forget the giant cowboy statue heading west out of town toward Hereford
Almost every one has heard the song but almost no one has seen the mural, by-passed by the interstate and time. Prejudices are everywhere but never saw a mushroom tree before. Going to the panhandle along the Canadian River and then Caprock country soon. Stay safe and away from the interstates.
Incredible places ...thanks for sharing !!! Ciao from Italy !!!
You finally made it to my hometown of Dimmitt, thank you so much
It's been said Tulia was a busy place until I-27 bypassed it.
God Bless Texas
I'm originally from Borger. In the 70's my brother worked for Phillips petroleum. We moved in 1977. I live near Brownwood now. As a kid we spent a lot of time at the Palo Duro canyon. I miss those days.
Traveled through here several times and it had an eerie vibe.
I grew up in Perryton Texas. We have a grain elevator. I have never heard anyone in my 50 years refer to them as “prairie skyscrapers”. That’s dumb.
Poor? Of course, oil drying up and factory farms have destroyed country life. However, to depict them as missable and destitute because it doesn’t look like a big city is a rotten thing to do. I currently live in a big city with all its bright lights, big shopping, bars on every corner, an entertainment district, tourism and steadily rising violent crime rates and let me tell you… I hate it. I can not wait to get back to a tiny “poor” town. Y’all can have your rich cities.
You’re not far from Lubbock, Cayon, Amarillo, Plainview… all the shopping you need. There are plenty of resources and it’s sad the shops in Happy are closed down. But again, shopping is close by.
You should definitely check out Palo Dura Canyon. Seriously beautiful place to see.
I've heard them called prairie skyscrapers numerous times. I think it's a great description.
Love the Panhandle and the people there. I visited Palo Duro Canyon with a girlfriend at the time and was overwhelmed by it. It really is a mini Grand Canyon.
Keith I am glad you have visited the Texas Panhandle it is a great place to live I been here my whole life we recently have broken our drought with ten inch’s of rain. Come soon and see how green it is down in the Palo Duro Canyon!!!
"Prairie Skyscraper" is probably the smartest thing to come out of Texas since NASA
Mikki how about the shopping in Liberal?!? 😉