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I Found A Place In Alabama That's Actually Thriving
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- čas přidán 23. 05. 2023
- Who would have thought this was in Alabama? You might be surprised.
The whole area is really neat. The Shoals as it’s called is made up of four cities - Muscle Shoals, Florence, Sheffield and Tuscumbia. There’s close to 200,000 people here on the banks of the Tennessee River.
Most of Alabama is very wide and flat, and perfect for agriculture. Here, it’s kinda hilly. So the place has always had a unique culture to Alabama.
I think it feels more like Tennessee than Alabama. It’s a lot more progressive here than the rest of the state, although people here vote conservative in large numbers. To me, the Shoals doesn’t feel very southern, but there’s still a lot of charm.
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I just moved to Alabama from California! Big culture shock!!! Everyone is so kind here, and willing to help.
Welcome to the south
Many places in Alabama are thriving. Just moved to North Alabama from Alabama gulf coast and each have their own character. I love Alabama. Mountains in the north, beaches in the south. And so much in between.
Yep. Redstone Arsenal has a little over 700 Active Duty Soldiers and 50,000 plus civilian and contract employees. Not the only reason, but the biggest reason the Huntsville area is always thriving.
@@viceman8152 Thank goodness for the government investing in the area. Many small towns around the USA have died as job opportunities have dried up. Sometimes paying taxes helps.
I would love to see Syracuse have a College Football program like The University Of Alabama.. Until S.U. ponies up for a top notch coach that's highly unlikely to happen..
@@viceman8152 The Cold Winter Central New York climate doesn't seem to help either... Other than maybe Ohio State, Michigan,Notre Dame and Penn State the best High School talent tends to migrate to southern schools like Alabama, Georgia,L.S.U, Clemson, Florida State etc...
@@RoadRunnergarage8570 It takes a commitment to football to get a coach like Saban. You not only have to pay him, but keep him happy and that means investing in top notch everything. The advantage the state of Alabama has is actually in the culture. Since there are no NFL teams in Alabama, college is the highest level in the state and thus instead of many nfl fans, we have many college fans. Climate helps but in New York kids play football. In Alabama, they live it.
I will begin by admitting that I am biased, I grew up in the Shoals area and now live in the Huntsville area, I believe that the best parts of Alabama are in the northern third. However, the State in general is a surprise to visitors who have a 60-year-old view of us. It's still the South, but the new south that has done a pretty good job of ridding itself of the bad while holding on to our polite friendly culture. We're not perfect yet, but we're working on it. Oh, and don't let the accent fool you, there's some pretty smart people who have an accent.
I have always looked at the USA as such a cool country I'm from England but love the idea of living in America for town's like this and I love hunting and you guys have a great hunting seen over there in England we can't even hunt with a bow 👍✌
I lived in Muscle Shoals, Montgomery, Birmingham, and Mobile at various points of my life. Typical Alabama story: In 2005 my transmission failed 7 miles outside of Luverne and I didn't have a cell phone. I started hoofing it into town. Hadn't been walking 15 seconds before a black man pulled over and took me to the garage in town. By then I was driving with a Florida plate I thought it was going to be a rip off, with an out--of-state motorist stuck at the only garage within about 30 miles that could repair transmissions. It wasn't like that at all. The owner of Stephens Garage ordered a new transmission from Birmingham, which was better than the original. Installed it for $2,400, a great price. I had a good time in town for a couple days it took to get the factory order shipped, meeting people and just having a great time. An event that would have been terrible anywhere else turned out to be nice in Alabama. I remember "Stephens Garage" because a journalist from the Wall Street Journal broke down this year in similar circumstances and wrote them up as being a wonderful place to be broken down in, as they gave him the same courteous service and fair price they did me 18 years before. That's how Alabama is. The good things don't go away like they do in a lot of other places.
🎉Perception and reality are totally different about Alabama. It's true the majority of people in Alabama are nice and we do get along no matter the color .I guess morals are more important in the South than some other places.
Amen,,,,beautiful,,,place
Alabama is the best kept secret! Shhhhhh. It’s starting to get crowded.
One of my favorite things about Alabama is the adorable little towns throughout the state. So many of them have so much character. Historic buildings with modern updates.
God will not be mocked
@@andyusfca hhmm, ok. 👍
@@andyusfca true, but those liberals keep trying.
@@jimdep6542 I grew up north of Pittsburgh but I’ve lived in FL, WA, HI, AL, Italy, and currently live in Australia. I lived in Prattville while I was in AL. Plenty of charming towns in the area and headed toward FL.
@@nicolerenee8402 You've been to a lot of places. I've been to those places too, except for FL and Australia. I have not been near the Florida border in AL, so maybe that area does have the charming towns that you speak of. I do like the villages and towns in north western PA and I love Upstate NY and New England., regarding the scenery. I spent my 7th birthday years ago in Florence, Italy and it was very beautiful there.
I was born and raised in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. We are a nice community and generally quiet. You must not have talked to a older southern lady or gentleman to get the southern vibes. The Shoals is rich in music and other things. There is no place in the US that don’t have issues.
I talked to everyone Nance
I didn't know u came here I live in Florence would of liked to meet u
I lived in the Birmingham area for 10 years but worked all over the state. Florence/Muscle Shoals was by far my favorite place to visit. I always say that if I had to move back to Alabama, I would definitely be moving to Florence.
Birmingham is shit Huntsville all the way
@@charliecfh I was there a few days ago. It was amazing. I live in Madison, which is also amazing.
Sweet home Alabama
Where the skies are so blue
Sweet home Alabama
Lord I'm comin' home to you
That song wasn't recorded at Muscle Shoals.
Such a cool state! Everyone was sooooo NICE! You definitely captured what makes this state great! Great vid Nick!
We had fun didn't we??
@@NickJohnson It’s been my lifelong dream since I was a small boy, to be able to visit the great state of Alabama. Thank you for taking me with you Nick.
Nice if you’re Christian, white and don’t support a woman’s right to make decisions about her own body.
You didn't mention that Sam Phillips, the first one to blend hillbilly bluegrass with the delta blues and created rock and roll, is a Florence native.
Allman Brothers recorded there. Beautiful little Southern town. Alabama is a beautiful state.
My wife is from Alabama and is deaf. Went to Helen Keller's home up in Tuscumbia. Very nice!
I loved this episode! I just love Alabama, and the people there. I feel like I was meant to live there, not up north where I'm from. Thank you Nick for showing us all of these places. 😊
I felt that way too. Moved there from Connecticut and could handle it for about 12 years before the rural-ness and the lack of anything to do got to me. I lived in the Shoals and I eventually couldn't handle being 2 hours plus away from a major city/airport.
Thanks for showing this. My grandparents lived in the shoals, Florence to be exact. My grandfather walked to work on a regular basis when the weather permitted. He was the town tailor. His favorite spot to eat is called Trowbridge's. Still there and famous today. My grandparents have been long gone from there. But I have wonderful memories of the community of the shoals. I'm 61 yrs of age now. . . . . thanks for sharing your videos.
Seems like years ago, most small towns were "boring", unless you lived in a tourist town. Even then, tourist attractions lose their appeal when you live near them.
That being said, there is something to be said about living in a quiet "boring" town. Quiet, peaceful, stable and affordable. I'll take that anyday over living in a big city.
i am just thinking; if i ever intend to migrate to America one day, it must somewhere peaceful, stable and affordable. I think i need to look at Alabama more.
Sounds like a nice place to raise a family?
i hope it wont change like California did. My first visit to the states was to California, was actually there for work in the semiconductor ind. It is a total dump nowadays. Made me glad that i didn't stay when offered the opportunity on days i regretted not taking the offer.
An advice give to me by a friend in San Francisco was, never live in any state run by liberals, it will go to hell and I think Alabama would never be anything like California. i hope.
@@MrNajibrazak Agreed
@@MrNajibrazak you bumpkins say anything to make yourselves feel better lol you guys flood the comments with bs red state good blue state bad your trying to justify being boring lol tell southern states to take their homeless population back
As a New Zealander I find Alabama fascinating, it has the same population as my entire country and yet somehow seems a lot smaller. Alabama largest city Huntsville is only around 30% of the population of our largest Auckland, and in fact is smaller than my city Christchurch the 2nd largest when factoring in metro areas for all. I would guess the US larger states have in a way have impacted Alabama and caused a urban brain drain of sorts, limiting urban growth.
It's more that Alabama has more evenly split "major" urban areas. Huntsville might be the largest city, but it's not the biggest urban area. That's be Birmingham (urban area pop is 774,956.). That's followed by Huntsville (329,066), Mobile (321,907) and Montgomery (254,348). Compare that to Auckland (1,440,300), Christchurch (377,900), Wellington (212,000) and Hamilton (179,900). Alabama's also not an island. The urban areas of Pensacola (390,172) and Columbus, GA (267,746) cross into the state, with Chattanooga (398,569) being separate by a single Georgia county.
On top of that, Mobile's got a bit a sub-city in Fairhope (76,807) that a separate urban area across the bay (separate urban area due to the distance over the water). Huntsville's got that to a lesser degree with Decatur (60,458), a river city that tends to do a lot of the manufacturing tied to Huntsville's military research. Auburn (100,842) is similarly considered sorta tied to Columbus.
Nah, the towns are small because leaders want to keep them that way. It has very little to do with “urban brain drain”. Keep in mind that there are other states on every side of Alabama so there are lots and lots of living options. Many people in this area don’t want to live in larger cities.
You trying to compare a communist country like New Zealand to Alabama shame on you.
Birmingham is actually the largest city in Alabama
I lived in Australia, visited NZ, live in FL now and visit AL. It was difficult to explain to Australians but basically the whole eastern half of the US has a town at least every 10 miles. Farming or ranching is possible everywhere. There is no real wilderness. We don't have a huge mountain range that makes a huge part of this half of the country difficult to settle. What I'm trying to say is that there are people everywhere, even in the rural areas. Also, Birmingham and Huntsville, while quite different, are pretty cool towns.
I have just binged on all your CZcams videos and I love them. I'm from Australia so it's been a good way to see what's happening in your part of the world. Thank you.
I live in Decatur, al. near the Tennessee River It's a little diverse but clean and quiet, and it's about 45 minutes from Huntsville. there are little towns close by like Hartsville, Moulton, and Priceville.
Walmart falls. Amazon falls, the old mom and pop abandoned spots suddenly become an entrepreneurs gold mine. Long Live old school downtowns!
Blame falls on the the consumer mainly. Whenever I go out with folks its always "Why dont you just buy it from Amazon its X amount cheaper there". If we arent careful soon we wont have any thriving small businesses if the average american consumer values final sticker price above all else.
@Concerned Citizen I was a low earner for most of my 20's so I get where those people are coming from. When you have to make every dollar count, it's hard to justify paying more for the same exact product. Those little decisions can add up to thousands of dollars that you can't afford to let go of. Now that I'm a small business owner and have increased my earning power significantly, I do my part to shop local for almost everything.
Nick, you need to bring back the Unboxing theme song! Mappy said he agrees 🗺
Truly Correct 😍👍🏻⭐️
Those locals will want to keep it that way.
Amen ❤
I live here I enjoy it
I've been here for 20 years now .lived in other states. It's laid back ,I enjoy it
The entire US72 corridor across north Alabama is as good as it gets.
You stumbled upon one of the great music areas...thanks for showcasing the Shoals!
Hope to retire near Gulf Shores someday, vacation there for now, thanks for your videos
The Shoals area is great. I'm from Huntsville (which is also great), went to undergrad school at UNA, played music with great musicians from the area. I was blessed to have been in school during the 60's and early 70's when a lot of great music was being made in Muscle Shoals/Sheffield. Still spend a lot of time over there. Wouldn't trade that part of my life for anything. BTW, Nick, my degree was worth a bunch!
Good jim! Degrees used to mean something- not so much anymore
@@NickJohnson CNBC - "A bachelor's degree holder earns a median of $2.8 million - 75% more than if they had only a high school diploma"
Muscle Shoals rocked in those days.
Duane Allman and others recorded there.
@@JohnMoore-xf5wy I played in a lot of groups---folk, bluegrass, rock---based in the Shoals...got to play with some great studio musicians, including the guy who played the iconic piano intro to "Old Time Rock `N' Roll".... I was in school there when The Stones, Linda Ronstadt and Kenny Rogers recorded
@@jimaccardi1076
Cool.
Duane Allman did back-up there, but you know that.
If you’ve ever really listened to Hank Williams Jr. you definitely know about muscle shoals. You probably haven’t, but he’s one who really made that town known for music. A true icon.
I know Hank
He was born in Mt. Olive just a few miles away.
Great video! Thanks for highlighting the shoals! Sheffield is my mom’s (RIP) hometown! We still have property down there but I haven’t been since the 80s but planning to visit soon. 😊
Wow you have property you haven't been to since the 80's???
@@MX-CO nope! My brother and I inherited the property plus some land as well.
@@yapahkalayahkimberlym4448 Nice
It’s pretty much in between Nashville and Memphis. So it doesn’t surprise me artists record there.
I've worked many years at the TVA power plant in Tuscumbia and yes, the Muscle Shoals area is really a nice place to work and live while raising a family.
Good thing the Federal government invested there. (Same here in East Tennessee with the TVA and ORNL). Getting real tired of folks demonizing the government when they help these areas tremendously
@@concernedcitizen6572 I've also worked at the TVA Kingston, TN and it's tragic about the disaster that happened there several years back with the flyash sludge. I hope everything has been cleaned up and the locals compensated. TVA has created so many good paying jobs for so many families and I was one of them. I will always be grateful for the opportunity given to me from TVA. They even put my kids through college. The ORNL is also a great area to raise a family. I left out the Bull Run fossil plant.
I love the Bull Run plant. I drive by there otw home from work. I dont know what they do but it looks super cool! ❤
@@concernedcitizen6572 Bull Run is a coal power plant. I used to work as a union boilermaker and worked the entire Tennessee Valley region which includes Knoxville, Chattanooga, and Muscle Shoals, AL.
@@frednugent2310 I wonder if the plant will stay open with this worldwide push away from coal. Maybe they will retrofit it as best they can. Or maybe we will keep some plants open always. Probably a good idea to have access to a variety of power sources.
There is another place thriving in Alabama. It's Huntsville, it's upscale and lots of local businesses, and I even visited there. You should look into doing a video on this city as well.
I did already
Known as rocket city, USA, lots of engineering,, resistancxxxxgoofed, Redstone arsenal, army,, nasal,, etc,, lots of traffic, we hav mtmountaind,, mtns,, foothills of Appalachia mtn end near anniston..Birmingham, chaytanooga tn not far ftm huntsville,,Bama has bches, mtns,, all of it,,
Yeah I live In Huntsville, I love it. It’s a great place to live, and raise a family.
I was born and raised in Sheffield, lived away for a while, but came back home. Nowhere like it! Although you showed some nice places, you missed many beautiful areas, homes, neighborhoods and great restaurants. Also, most weekends downtown Florence is covered up with people and music. So many festivals, parks, fairs, shows and more to do! The Shoals Theatre is no longer a movie theatre but holds many other events. I have fond memories of my mother taking my friends and I to see Disney movies there, when it still was a theatre. Just a wonderful, beautiful, magical place to grow up!
I've been missing out for awhile. Glad you're still going Nick.
Where have you been??
I was born in Ala-Damn-Bama, but I fled the state when I was two years old. Anybody ever hear of Piedmont, Al? That's where I dove head first into this reality! Moved to Georgia and grew up here. Few regrets.....
Haven't watched the video yet (I'll come back to it in a few hours) but I can say that Alabama has profoundly improved since 1960, when I was born. I look forward to it!
So what did you think of the towns we saw in this video, Science Cowboy? 🔬🤠
@@websurfer5772 I think they are generic, boring Alabama towns. Here's the thing though: With all the crap going on in America's large cities nowadays, BORING IS GOOD!
I live in a small, boring Georgia town, and all things being equal, I'm deliriously happy to live in such a way. You can have the big cities! I'll take boring any day of the week!
@@cowboyofscience7611 I hear you and I get it. Glad to know you're living a good life. I'm actually happy in my small town in CA too, but I'm very upset with what's happening in the cities all around us and what's going on in the world.
@@websurfer5772 Yes, its bad everywhere but it seems particularly bad in California cities---at least according to media reports!
Glad you're happy in small town California. That state is too beautiful to be treated like a trash pile! I've been to many parts of California. It is a fine place.
Been to Piedmont many times. Born in Gadsden.
I worked the toy section at a nice department store back in the 80s. It was one of my first jobs. Definitely an experience and probably why I never had kids lol. Watching these kids carry on over not getting a toy, when they probably were getting it for Xmas. Lucky for me it was part time and no Sundays.
This is where im from my house is Only a couple of blocks down from the Jackson studio in Sheffield. I tell my daughter all the time famous ppl are around us all the time and we dont even know it. 😂 I live on one of the sides of that graveyard across from the studio on Jackson hwy. I also have a house in the country side of Muscle Shoals. Its beautiful here!! I moved from Franklin county (neighboring county) to Colbert County about 20 years ago. Im 36 now. Alabama has beautiful lands. I couldn't see myself living any where else in the states. Y'all have a blessed day now.
I'm so glad that you did a video about The Shoals! I work in college admissions, and in early December 2019, I was in the Huntsville-area recruiting students. On December 3rd, I had a mid-day appointment at Florence High School. On my drive from Huntsville to Florence, I passed through Muscle Shoals and then saw some highway signs for the recording studios in the area. I had heard a little bit about Muscle Shoals in the past and that Lynyrd Skynyrd had recorded there. But, that was about the extent of what I knew.
I thought to myself, "I'll have to stop by the studios on my way back to Huntsville." I had a little downtime in the early afternoon and followed the road signs on my way back.
I came to the Muscle Shoals Sound Studios first. The place looked abandoned. But, there was one car in the gravel parking lot. Also, I did hear someone playing piano inside. I wasn't sure if the place was open to the public, but I decided to go to the front door to inquire.
As I walked to the front door, I noticed two banners hanging on both sides of the building's facade of the Rolling Stones/Andy Warhol lips and tongue icon with "December 2-4, 1969" underneath. As I walked in the front door, a lady working the counter welcomed me and let me know that there would be a tour in just a few moments. I was the only person in the place until a couple that appeared to be about 10 years older than me. I was 52 at the time in 2019.
When we were taken on the tour, I learned that the banners were up to celebrate the 50th anniversary of The Rolling Stones recording there. Through sheer happenstance, I just happened to drive through that area on the 50th anniversary of the Stones recording "Brown Sugar" there. Also, Keith Richards came up with the melody for "Wild Horses" in the bathroom on that same day, and they would record it the next day. I got goosebumps on the back of my neck!
You should have visited the Coon Dog Cemetery and Rattlesnake Saloon while you were over that way.
Hey Nick! You & your wife were just about 3 blocks from my house that was built in 1901 in this video. I wish I had known you were going to be in the area. I grew up meeting famous singers. You didnt mention that Elvis was at the Sound which was a big deal for folks here! Just like Aretha, Otis Redding, Alabama, & many more! Most of your info was pretty accurate. I really am enjoying your deep south series of videos! Thanks! 😊
Lived here in Alabama for the last 10 years and everywhere I’ve seen outside of a few Birmingham neighborhoods has been very nice. I work in a little town called Trussville which is very attractive and they have a community called the projects which is a nice historic area despite the name. I live in a town 20 minutes away where most of the communities are 15 years old or less. We have 3 coffee shops and what’s considered the best pizza in the state. I’ve lived in several states before moving here and consider this a nice, friendly, clean area. The population is diverse and there are plenty of jobs. It’s cheaper to buy a house here than rent as rent is around 1400 for an average place.
What pizza place? Davenport's and Post Office Pies are all I can think of as being considered the best in the state and they are not in new neighborhoods.
Are tornadoes a real risk if you are a home owner?
@@Tama31 I live in St Claire County and the pizza place is a little hole in the wall called Carpenettis. Family run place that serves New York style pizza. It was named Alabama’s best pizza and I agree.
@@onespeedlite it is not called tornado alley for nothing. Yes they are a real threat but it is a small risk for such aesome living.
@@carolyndavis6657 I will have to check it out. Thanks
Sweet home Alabama ! I really loved this video. Your work is incredible.
🎼
Muscle Shoals has got The Swampers. And they’ve been known to pick a song or two.
Heard Briggs talk about this area too, sounds like a chill place off the beaten path
I've lived here all my life & love it, nice & quiet also BEAUTIFUL💙
Hope you liked your stay in Alabama. If you are looking for more places to visit in Alabama. Come on over to Fort Payne. Where the group Alabama is from.
My father was born and raised across the mountain from Ft. Payne near the Broomtown community, a few miles from the Georgia state line.
Im from this area , moved to pensacola a few years back .I recognized Gary Nichols at the 21:50 mark ,who was with the Steeldrivers a few years back
Thanks for visiting our area and most stuff was fairly accurate. Didn’t drive thru the rich neighborhoods, and you missed out on multiple homeless that we are pretty sure gets bused into our area. Really good place to live though.
State Symbols: Alabama's state bird is the Northern Flicker, the state flower is the Camellia, the state tree is the Longleaf Pine, and the state mammal is the Black Bear.
Space Exploration: Huntsville, Alabama is known as the "Rocket City" because it played a crucial role in the development of space technology. It was the birthplace of the Saturn V rocket, which powered the Apollo missions to the moon.
Civil Rights Movement: Alabama holds significant historical importance in the Civil Rights Movement. The city of Montgomery was the birthplace of the Montgomery Bus Boycott, a major catalyst for the movement, and was also where Rosa Parks famously refused to give up her seat on a bus.
Football Tradition: Alabama is known for its passionate football culture. The University of Alabama's Crimson Tide and Auburn University's Tigers have a long-standing rivalry and are two of the most successful college football programs in the country.
Natural Beauty: Alabama is home to diverse landscapes, including beautiful beaches along the Gulf of Mexico, scenic mountains in the northern part of the state, and extensive forests and waterways. The state has several national parks and natural attractions, such as Little River Canyon National Preserve and Gulf Shores.
Music Heritage: Besides Muscle Shoals, Alabama has made notable contributions to the music world. It is the birthplace of many influential musicians, including Hank Williams, Nat King Cole, W.C. Handy (known as the "Father of the Blues"), and Lionel Richie.
Mardi Gras Celebration: Mobile, Alabama is recognized as the birthplace of Mardi Gras in the United States. The city hosts vibrant parades and festivities every year, showcasing its unique cultural heritage.
Southern Cuisine: Alabama is known for its delicious Southern cuisine. Some popular regional dishes include barbecue, fried chicken, fried green tomatoes, collard greens, and banana pudding.
Natural Wonders: Alabama is home to several natural wonders, including the "Natural Bridge," a natural rock bridge that is the longest natural bridge east of the Rockies, and the "Neversink Pit," one of the deepest and most picturesque sinkholes in the United States.
Historic Sites: Alabama has numerous historic sites, including the historic city of Mobile, the Battleship Memorial Park in Mobile, the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma (a significant site during the Civil Rights Movement), and the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville.
Alabama sounds like a desirable place to live.
No one calls the state bird the Northern Flicker, we all know those birds by the more common label of "yellow hammer" , after all, Alabama is The Yellow Hammer State.
@@LisaDurhamRammer Jammer Yellow Hammer Give Um Hell Alabama. ROLL TIDE!
Finally a video showing a nice pleasant town without poverty-stricken people, sooo refreshing to see, thanks Nick, good to see the middle class Americans 😊!
You just don't see the poverty. I live in Florence. Trust me... It's here too... The stores might be thriving but the people aren't..
@@lashayaenlow7829 hi. I'm really sorry to hear that, I was hoping that maybe, just maybe there wd be a place that people didn't have to suffer. Take care.
@@sookietrueblood-gp4sd There will always be more suffering in the USA than in the rest of the developed world. Much higher murder rate and since we dont have universal healthcare millions are drowning in medical debt. Leading cause of bankruptcy in the US is medical costs. This is easily found information just google it. Crazy how all of my friends in other countries dont have to worry about this but sadly we are so stubborn in the USA.
@@lashayaenlow7829 Yeah the fetishization of rural america among so many conservatives is fascinating and strange to me. There are many problems (maybe more) in the average small town that the average big city doesnt have to worry about.
No trash, nobody hanging out in the street. No blasting music. Not bad.
Nice video. My grandmother and aunts were from Sheffield, AL and growing up we would visit cousins down there sometimes. I remember when you crossed that bridge you were in Florence.
One of the best things about small town life, is how quiet and peaceful it is, and one of the hardest things about small town life, is trying to keep the outside world from finding out how nice it is, so they wont move here and f*ck it up
@Ayo People work. The town does business like any other town does.
The locals likely don't want the explosion of people, and pricing, that Huntsville is going through right now.
I really am trying to understand your comment. Who exactly is "the outside world". What evidence do you have they will "f*ck it up"? Are people from out of town not welcome? And for your ideology to be consistent, why dont people like you get mad at CZcamsrs like @Nick Johnson for exposing your town to the outside world and increasing the likelihood undesirables find out about it?
@Ayo Theres typically not much work. Most small towns are dying. Some small towns and mid-sized cities are seeing a resugrance thanks to work from policy from all those big city companies.
Your production techniques have really improved. Good work!
One of my favorite movies is a documentary called "Muscle Shoals" 2013 about all the famous music made here. Thanks for the video.
Rick Hall was a great guy. His wife still works at FAME and she's a lovely lady.
P. S. didn't mean to be so negative. You're very good at what you do. I am a fan. ✌🏾✌🏾✌🏾
Thanks for the video, I have lived here all of my 71 years on earth.
I live in Florence and it is pretty laid back and very southern. The people here are so nice. It’s also a very religious Christian place. Maybe that’s why it’s a great place to live ❤
Great area! I'm through there fairly often. They have one of the best nature preserves I've ever been to off of hwy 72 of about 700 acres and lots of great waterfalls.
You talkin bout Bankhead National Forest?
@@concernedcitizen6572 Cane Creek Canyon is the one I've been to.
Both are beautiful! That view at Cane Creek is a breathtaking surprise the first time you see it. ... Then of course, so is the hike uphill to see it depending on which way you got to the lookout😆.
Such a treasure.
I grew up here and I love it. I still visit it every few months and it still feels just as relaxed as when I left a few years ago. Though it's sad you didn't get to try any of the better truly local restaurants. Any plans on visiting the Huntsville/Madison area? They're also a pretty interesting location to visit in Alabama. They're a completely different vibe imo.
Your Karen and Mappy characters are an ingenious concept you got going 👍
A+ video!
Great to see a piece of Alabama (never been to that state before) and get an overview of what it is like living in the area.
Do you ever give me an A-?
@@NickJohnson I only give A+ or no rating at all! I suppose not all the videos can be the best....but this is certainly the most realistic and fair one of an Alabama region I have ever seen. I remember watching a couple videos from some other channels years ago and both of them made fun of Alabama the entire time.
North Alabama is nice, lots of rolling hills and lakes.
Love the area, move to Alabama 3 years ago and don’t regret it purchas 78 acres of land for the price of 2 acres in Florida and you can’t bet the property tax. You can defenetly retire here.
Nick, this video had me laughing all the way through!!!!😂 Love the comments you make. You are really funny 🤣! ❤
I live in Huntsville(north Alabama) and I have never heard anyone call it Scheffganistan or Tuscompton. Idk what that lady was smoking lol
My old stomping grounds back in the day! Florence is a great city!
I'm a J. J. Cale fan, the king of laid back, his 1982 song, "Downtown LA" - from the "Grasshopper" album, it's excellent 😊
I was able to visit the studio/the Shoals and met Gary Baker who gave us an amazing tour. He wrote I Swear, I'm Already There, lots more hits. Really cool building & vibe. Mappy would fit right in...
Mappy says that's AMAZING!
I’ve passed through, visited cousins in Huntsville back in 2004. I thought it was beautiful country. Now that I’m living in Arkansas I need to go visit again. ❤
Love the narrative presentation.Great video as always.Can't believe that basement bowling alley.
I remember seeing the sign on I 65 Muscle Shoals and thought that sounds like a good name
So happy to see this review. I just got accepted to their remote schools program and wanted to get a feel for the area. Thanks 😊
We would like to keep it this way!
That studio does not look like any other studio. Take that from a guy that runs a small studio.
That place is magic.
I have heard of this region! My Dad was born in Tuscumbia...and raised in Muscle Shoals. He knew the founder of Fame Studios...and played drums for my cousin....Percy Sledge. I spent a lot of time each summer in this area growing up!
Cool LaShonda!!
Bro i love your channel and this one gives me so much hope! Well done Alabama:) on my bicket list for sure :)
Bucket
Thanks Nick.
Great job Nick.
My daughter and I go to the Renaissance Festival in Florence every year. Always a great time.
Love small town Main Street America. We need more of it.
Born in Alex City, raised in Tallassee. Basically right near Tuskegee and right in the middle of Montgomery and Auburn. Love my beautiful state.... Roll Tide🐘
I have travelled quite a lot inside the US, all of Europe except Belgium, Middle East, Russia, some Asia, Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica. In my travels I went to observe and take note of what fosters prosperity and a general good social condition. The most apparent of all was the initiative people collectively take to organize, clean, improve, enhance, build, maintain their local environment. No matter how the culture was in terms of attitude, hospitality, joyful, conservative, more liberal, open, closed, smiling, stern, quiet or talkative.... No matter what the economic status of middle income, high income and in Austria/ Swiss/ Germany even the low income areas, the people's standards they set for themselves in their living space was the key ingredient of successful and vibrant or a dying deluge of degradation and decay. Poverty is about mindset, mental health, and spiritual health. Poverty is a result, an outcome of a poor input and lackluster effort to correct course. I'd say poverty is a result of a ruminating troubled soul. Money has little to do with the cause of poverty. And so, America and her split personality between decent, honorable, moral, honest and righteousness vs the vulgar, vile, violent, contemptuous, corrupt, perversion is a half and half division that is waning on her potential. A nation cannot afford to tolerate the latter in any greater percentage than maybe 10% of the population, if it wishes to survive and prosper. Evil has a way of destroying itself and much of everything it touches, and whether quickly or slowly - the result is always destruction.
This world's Yin and Yang; it's always been that way, and it's always going to be.
However, I appreciate your observations about what prosperity looks like.
Love your. video's Nick soooooo love your humer hahaha
I would move to any of those places in a heartbeat with my family! We live in SF Bay Area. No way affordable.
Theres aways pros/cons. Typically southern states strip social services so it can be much harder for elderly/impoverished to get care they need. Also if you arent part of the very specific dominant culture (White, Anglo-Saxon, Evangelical Christian) you will likely feel like an outsider. Go to any local church in these areas and dont be surprised to hear 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 preached at you.
I appreciate this look at the northwest corner of Alabama. I grew up 50 miles east of here in Decatur, Alabama. As a child I would occasionally visit this area as my dad was an insurance claims adjuster and worked this territory and he would sometimes let us ride with him. When he would have a lot of work in this area and be here for 2 days, he would get a hotel and leave me, my siblings and my mother at the hotel while he worked. It was sort of a mini vacation as while we were at the motel we would swim in the pool during the day. In the late 70’s I attended the University of North Alabama graduating in December of 1980. It was a nice place to go to school and even cooler in the fact we do have a live lion as our mascot. I can’t say that I’ve really used my degree from UNA, but it did help me get my foot in the door at a couple of jobs I’ve worked over the years. My brother attended UNA for a while and met and married a lady from Sheffield and he resided there near the river until they divorced a few years ago. His now ex wife is a real estate agent in “the Shoals”. They have 2 sons, my nephews who also reside in the area. One thing I will say good about UNA is when I was a student there we actually had some really good concerts on campus from big name musical artists. Many times when they would come to “the Shoals” to record, they would combine it with a concert on campus. I now reside in Southeast Georgia and miss my roots in North Alabama. My 3 siblings and many friends are still in my hometown of Decatur, so I do get back to visit from time to time. Thanks again for an awesome video of the area that brought back memories of my past times of being there.
I've been living in northeast Alabama for 26 years now. I've lived in other states but Alabama feels like "home" to me. I moved here and bloomed where I was planted. All my dreams have come true. Right now I live in a little bitty town with less than 700 people. This is the life!
Great video! These are some sweet little towns! Love the charm of them. As an artist I’ve been seeking funky little towns to relocate, meet fellow artists and have a charmed, relaxed life. I love the way you narrate. I started following you after you did a show on Centralia PA. Thanks so much for expanding your horizons 🙏
I live in Hamilton, AL. My granddaughter and I were in Florence yesterday and she was looking for a place to shoot photos. There's an alley called Graffiti Alley that's cool. They allow the artists to show off their talents. One was a really good likeness of Betty White.
I believe that's part of the North Alabama Mural Trail.
Thank you NICK. You did a great job with this. Awesome.
Alabama, worth taking a look at for down sizing….quiet, inexpensive, and Nick likes it. I trust Nicks perspective 😊
Some parts are wonderful
Its cool seeing others make videos about florence, and muscle shoals... live in florence all my life
Another great video. Thanks Nick
Now Muscle Shoals has got the Swampers
And they've been known to pick a song or two (yes they do)
Lord they get me off so much
They pick me up when I'm feelin' blue
Now how about you?
There's definitely a homeless population downtown, one man died out there a few winters ago just off Court Street, the street you drove down.
Shhhh you are messing with the "City Bad, Small Town Good" narrative. Lol
Its so weird to me this dichotomy even exists. It leaves out the huge chunk of Americans (the majority maybe) who live in NEITHER small towns or big cities but live in a third place. The Suburbs.
Great video, sometimes boring is good, no problems. Nick , to be from Cali, you speak just like a Southerner, twang included. You are pushing 1 million Subs keep them coming..
Really appreciate your priceless tours!
I love what you do, and your humor is killer 😂 What company was paying to relocate? Thanks for being you!
Make My Move is the company
Thanks so much friend! Hope to see you in Alpine Wy!
All my favorite music was produced at Muscle Shoals!
As a singer song writer I can really appreciate this studio !! 👍👏👏👏😊🎸🎤
Hey Nick. I enjoyed this video. I liked the history you included and the quiet, easygoing, safe areas. I loved the little movie theater and places to dream and enjoy life without the tents, homeless, druggies, and crime that is increasing everywhere! Thank you for a nice look at the calming rivers and small-town charm.
Ok Jean :)
Really enjoyed this video. And, you're so much fun, Nick. 😁
Cute little southern bell!
I go to college in the shoals region but after the school year the area is more empty