The Kickapoo tribe, originally from the Great Lakes, is a Native American tribe and Indigenous people in Mexico. They have a settlement near Piedras Negras near the International Bridge leading to Eagle Pass, Texas, and a 125-acre reservation in El Indio, Texas. The Kickapoo Tribe of Texas (KTTT), originally the Texas Band of Traditional Kickapoo, is one of three federally recognized tribes in Texas.
The Kickapoo people, who came from the Great Lakes, speak Algonquian and still tell stories of French explorers who found them around Lake Michigan in the early 1600s. Dallas, the most populous city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, is home to the Kickapoo tribe. The tribe was on the east side of the Trinity River near the present-day junction of U.S. Highway 190 and Farm Road 3152.
Kickapoo was located on Kickapoo Creek twenty miles northeast of Palestine and ten miles north of Neches in northeastern Anderson County. The Kickapoo Tribe is known for its rich traditions, including the Caddo people, Wichita, Tawakoni, Kichai, Tonkawa, Waco, Cherokee, and the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas (KTTT).
The Kickapoo tribe has a history timeline that includes their settlement, gaming operations, and their famous landmarks. The Kickapoo Tribe uses revenue from gaming and business operations to provide housing and is recognized by Oklahoma and Kansas groups as the repository of all that is Kickapoo.
📹 Mysterious Marfa, a Unique Town in West Texas
Marfa is an ideal place to stay if you visit the mountain region of west Texas. It’s also close to various other tourist towns and …
What are Dallas natives called?
The term “Dallasite” is the most appropriate demonym for the city of Dallas. However, residents also utilize other designations, including “Dallassite,” “Dallasonian,” and “Dallas Native,” which vary depending on the context, whether at the country, state, or city level.
Is the Kickapoo tribe still around?
The Kickapoo tribe, first encountered in the Great Lakes, comprises four recognized bands: the Kickapoo Tribe of Indians in Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and the Mexican Kickapoo band in Coahuila. The number of Kickapoo people living in the area is difficult to determine due to migratory work patterns. In 1964, the Latorres counted 425 people in a village, but the 2000 Census recorded 3, 401 people reporting Kickapoo as their native heritage, excluding those in Mexico during the census recording.
What language did the Kickapoo tribe speak in Texas?
The Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas, based in Eagle Pass, is a federally recognized tribe that uses revenue from gaming and business operations to provide housing, education, and social services to its members. They are a Fox language and part of the Algonquian language family, and also use Kickapoo whistled speech. The tribe has been a model for other Native American tribes seeking to lift their members out of poverty, as they were living under the international bridge over the Rio Grande since the 1980s.
Are there any Indian reservations in TX?
Texas has only three federally recognized tribes with reservations: Alabama-Coushatta, Tigua, and Kickapoo, with the Lipan Apache Tribe of Texas headquartered in McAllen. The Caddo, Comanche, and Tonkawa tribes are headquartered in Oklahoma. Peoples settled in Texas thousands of years before European explorers arrived, with oral histories tracing their ancestors’ travels by water or land. A large amount of stone artifacts made at least 16, 000 years ago have been found in Central Texas, suggesting that humans arrived in the Americas earlier than previously believed.
What native tribes lived in Dallas?
The Bureau of Indian Affairs reports that there are 574 federally recognized Native American tribes across the US, with three in Texas: the Alabama-Coushatta, Tigua, and Kickapoo. North Texas was once home to many tribes, including the Caddo, Comanche, Kiowa, Tawakoni, and Wichita. The 1841 Battle of Village Creek marked the final removal of Native Americans in North Texas. The Indian Relocation Act in 1956 encouraged Native Americans to move into urban centers, including Dallas, and by 1983, half of Texas’ Native American population lived in West Oak Cliff and East Dallas.
Today, Native Americans and Alaska Natives make up about 1 of the total U. S. population, with the Dallas Region having a significant Native American population. National efforts to honor Native Americans began in 1914 when Red Fox Skiuhushu advocated for a dedicated day of observance.
What was the architecture of the Kickapoo tribe?
The northeastern region of Oklahoma has a rich history of Native American architecture, with tribes like the Seneca, Ottawa, and Cayuga constructing large, barrel-shaped “long houses” for extended families. Prairie tribes like the Sac and Fox, Kickapoo, Quapaw, Osage, and Otoe built domed-style homes covered with bark, woven mats, and bison hides. Many tribes used tipis and tent-like structures during buffalo hunts but lived in bark houses in their semipermanent villages.
The Pawnee and Kaw built impressive earth lodges on timber beam-and-post foundations. The Wichita lived in circular, peaked-roof houses covered with grass thatch when encountered by Spanish explorers in the sixteenth century.
U. S. Indian policy has also impacted American Indian architecture in Oklahoma. In the nineteenth century, assimilation programs introduced log cabins, stone settlement houses, boarding schools, and Indian agencies to reservations. Economic development and sovereignty initiatives in the twentieth century fostered new architectural features in Indian communities, including U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development homes, tribal headquarters, Indian Health Service clinics and hospitals, community halls, bingo parlors, and smoke shops.
Oklahoma’s American Indians continue to design, construct, and maintain an array of traditional structures for recreational, social, ceremonial, and residential purposes. These structures exhibit innovative combinations of natural and manufactured materials and a blend of traditional and modern techniques.
What is the oldest tribe in Texas?
The Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas, the oldest reservation in the state, is located in the Big Thicket of Deep East Texas. With over 1, 300 members, half of whom live on the reservation, the tribe operates a fully functioning sovereign government with health and human services, including law enforcement and emergency services. The tribe is governed by an elected Tribal Council and advised by Principal Chief Donnis Battise, Mikko Choba, Chief Kanicu, and Second Chief Millie Thompson Williams, Mikko Istimatokla, and Chief Poliika Istaaya.
The tribes have a history of close association, with some differences but mostly identical cultures. During the Mexican War of Independence, the tribes fought with revolutionaries and contributed to the capture of San Antonio in the April 1, 1813 battle. The Mexican government recognized both tribes independently and offered them land for permanent settlement.
Are there many Indians in Dallas?
The Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) area has one of the largest Indian American populations in the United States, with over 235, 000 individuals, or roughly 3 of the metro area’s total population. The community initially settled as doctors, engineers, and skilled professionals in the medical field, but has expanded to include information-technology specialists and those in higher education. The Indian population in the DFW area has more than doubled from 2000 to 2010, with Asian Indians making up the majority in many subdivisions in Frisco.
Despite harsh immigration laws in the early and mid-1900s, Indian immigrants, mainly skilled farmers from North India, arrived in the region. After the 1965 Immigration Act and the removal of the quota system for immigrants based on country of origin, a swell of Indian immigration to Dallas ensued, with skilled workers clustering within Dallas county. In the late 1960s and 70s, an influx of Indian women immigrating to the city, particularly nurses from South India, followed a national shortage post the Vietnam War.
Where do most Indians live in Texas?
The Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) area has one of the largest Indian American populations in the United States, with over 235, 000 individuals, or roughly 3 of the metro area’s total population. The community initially settled as doctors, engineers, and skilled professionals in the medical field, but has expanded to include information-technology specialists and those in higher education. The Indian population in the DFW area has more than doubled from 2000 to 2010, with Asian Indians making up the majority in many subdivisions in Frisco.
Despite harsh immigration laws in the early and mid-1900s, Indian immigrants, mainly skilled farmers from North India, arrived in the region. After the 1965 Immigration Act and the removal of the quota system for immigrants based on country of origin, a swell of Indian immigration to Dallas ensued, with skilled workers clustering within Dallas county. In the late 1960s and 70s, an influx of Indian women immigrating to the city, particularly nurses from South India, followed a national shortage post the Vietnam War.
Is Kickapoo a real place?
The Kickapoo Indian Reservation of Texas is situated on the Rio Grande in western Maverick County, Texas, near Ciudad Acuña. It has a land area of 0. 4799 square kilometers and a 2000 census population of 420 people. The tribe was officially recognized by the Texas Indian Commission in 1977. The “South Texas Subgroup” of the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma also owns 917. 79 acres of non-reservation land in Maverick County.
After being expelled from the Republic of Texas, many Kickapoo moved south to Mexico, but two villages settled in Indian Territory. These Kickapoo were granted their own reservation in 1883 and became recognized as the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma.
How do you say thank you in Kickapoo?
The term “Ho” is a friendly greeting, while “Kepilhcihi” is an expression of gratitude. The Kickapoo children exhibit similarities to our own.
📹 10 Places in Illinois You Should NEVER Move To
Move to these places and you’re gonna regret it big time! If you haven’t heard the news, Illinois is kind of a sinking ship. A lot of …
I was born and raised in Illinois. Lived in this state my whole life, in the same town to be exact. I have watched the decline of other towns that were beautiful places to live. I have watched our government do absolutely nothing about it, but picking up and leaving doesn’t help. This sort of thing only stops when people stay…when they take a stand. I’m not giving up my hometown without a fight. I’m just not built that way.
My cat I adopted is from Kankakee, because of this we named her “Billie” short for hillbilly. the shelter in my town told me they loaded a bunch of strays onto a truck and brought her there. It’s funny because out of all our pets she is the only one who refuses to run outside when the door is open, methinks she had a hard life on the streets and enjoys her indoor life.
Other than the high taxes and high cost of living, I loved living in Illinois. DuPage and Cook Counties are very culturally diverse; great food; great parks and bike paths; lots of fairs, festivals and entertainment; great streets, sewers, and lighting; so much opportunity. Then I spent a few years in Sangamon County (Spfld) working for the State and saw all the corruption first-hand. When y’all say the state is corrupt, you have no idea how bad it really is. Y’all just see the tip of the iceberg. The corruption is unfathomable. I saw stuff that was so sickening and infuriating, I quit my cozy state job and state benefits and moved to Missouri. Turns out the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. The b.s. in Missouri is worse than Illinois. After two years in Missouri, I’m planning to move back to Illinois, or maybe try another state, or another country at this point 🤣
My wife and I were born and raised in Peoria and we moved away the day we married in 1986. For us it was 100% about the economics, but we were tired of the weather too even though we were just 21. By the mid 1980’s Peoria had been on a downward economic cycle for almost a decade with little job opportunities across the board. I watched my dad struggle for years to find any work after being laid off as a bank executive during the prolonged Cat strike and subsequent recession of the late 1970’s. He was unwilling to leave Peoria and I promised myself I would not limit myself professionally in that way. Though moving away from all family was difficult in some regards, (especially when we started having kids), moving south in the 1980’s was the best decision we ever made. My employer brought us to Georgia but I generally notice that employers here welcome you with open arms and there are abundant career opportunities in every direction, quickly appreciating property values, much lower taxation, better weather, 2 hours from the mountains and 4 hours from the coast. Our extended family still lives in Peoria and we try to visit 3-4 times a year. It’s not a bad place to be from and if you don’t like or are resistant to change, Peoria may be your place to be.
I’ve lived in Danville for two years, I can agree. I am happy this was made for the right reasons because officials may, just may hear about this or we spread awareness about this so we can make a change. My hopes are very low, close to 0, but it is still there. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for making this article.
I found many faults in Illinois and planned on moving from a very young age. I moved to a southern state and now miss Illinois very much. I miss the flat lands, plentiful sidewalks, and change of seasons. The economy in Illinois is healthier than the economy of the state I’m currently residing in as well. While Illinois definitely has its faults, it’s not all bad and certainly not the worst state in the USA.
I am from Blue Island, IL. When I was little and moved to Illinois, my parents wanted to buy a house so they were actually looking for ones they could afford in Harvey, where my dad still works. But after learning about how bad Harvey was, my dad decided to rent a small apartment in Blue Island. And boy was that the right move
Great article my friend, I was born in Chicago in 1969 and grew up in Joliet, I moved to east Tennessee in 2015 after my dad died, I miss what used to be my home and still struggle with the culture shock here, I’m always missing something that doesn’t exist anymore and its hard to feel like im at home in a place i have no history.
I grew up in LaSalle /Peru area in a little village called Jonesville ( pop 200 ) near the town of Oglesby ( pop 3500). Starved Rock state park was nearby. I couldn’t wait to move!!! I lived in Peoria too and got my home robbed. I now live in Hawaii 🙂 My dad still lives in Illinois in Morris. I haven’t been back there in over 25 yrs
I moved to Peoria Illinois from the south west where I lived for much of my life. I love it here! It’s green, there are streams and lakes and the Illinois river and little ponds in this town that was founded in woodland. Every where you drive there are gorgeous trees and grassy fields to see, and I mean in the city. Peoria is still a woodland area. There are gorgeous parks, and nature preserves in and around Peoria. The cost of living is lower than many parts of the country. Housing prices are low compared to many parts of the country. What I paid for a house here, a two-story house with partially completed basement would be little more than a down payment elsewhere. We have seasons unlike in the southwest. The woodlands abandon a riot of cover as the trees change in autumn. In the spring there are that feels of glorious flowers. I can grow fruit trees here that would die in the southwest. My neighbors are all pleasant people, which I could not say and any number of other places I’ve lived in my life in the United States. The healthcare system is excellent here. There are also wonderful places to eat here, including the kind of places you would expect in the heartland of the country. Good old fashion diners that serve things like bisqiuts and sausage gravy, excellent steakhouses, several excellent mini breweries, and foods that I used to eat as a boy that have disappeared in the Southwest. I love the architecture here too. It reminds me a bit of a 1950s town. Zoning is different here.
I was born and raised in Peoria until the age of 14 when my mom moved all of my siblings and I to Daytona Beach 11 years ago. Probably the best thing she could’ve done for us, Daytona is garbage too but at least the cities surrounding it have potential. I didn’t know Peoria was so awful and if we stayed I probably wouldn’t be on such a positive and productive life path
I lived in Rockford when I was able to afford my own place when I was 20. Almost got stabbed by a junkie 2 weeks in, saw meth heads all the time tweaking, and the cops are no better. I was constantly harrases by them even though I never committed crimes. Was more afraid of the police than the junkies. That city is legit fucked.
I live in Blue Island IL and work for a contractor. Ive worked on 2 houses in Harvey and it always Amazes me that we are supposed to be a 1st world country one of the greatest and yet there are places like this that look like scenes from some apocalyptic movie. Dixmoor and Robin’s are some other examples.
What you don’t know about Chicago is a lot. Seriously, you should come and experience who we are and how we are. We are quite friendly and love to show strangers around the non-touristy areas. We’re neighborhood people with working class values. We love to picnic in the spacious parks; play softball on saloon leagues and sit on the front porch with a cold one and chat with our neighbors. Come and see!
I moved to rockford a year and a half ago. One of the biggest mistakes of my life. For those of you that grew up here and love it…im sorry because this should be a beautiful city. The trees and the seasons are beautiful…theres a river running through it. Thats it. I have never incountered such rudeness anywhere on a consistent everyday basis. Although to be fair, i have experienced the so called midwest niceness in some of the rural towns. Trash and garbage everywhere. Sound of gunshots on the daily. Home invasions, pedos and a serial rapist that they stopped reporting on in the local news. Crazy drivers, as if its chicago and not a town of of less than 200000 ppl.. For the people who live here that i have heard say “yeah its bad everywhere” um yeah….no…. there is a very special black cloud here thats has literally affected the mentality of the community…..its really sad. Anyone sending a child to school here should have their head examined. Its literally worth living in your car for a month if you need to, to get out and move to a city with an acual economy. That is my advice to any young people that live here. Get out while you can, before your stuck!
This article is a joke, even a high schooler can give a better representation of our state. Illinois is great, and remember that EVERY STATE HAS CRIME! Illinois isn’t even in the top ten for most dangerous. Chicago itself is a beautiful city, don’t let this clearly biased information tell you otherwise.
Part of the problem is that when Mayor Daley the Junior decided to get room for his failed bid to get the Olympics he decided to do it by scattering the residents of the various public housing developments into the suburbs, thus doing away with the perennial problems of locating scattered site housing, so he sent his minions in the CHA out into towns as far away as Dekalb, and Rockford to locate apartment complexes, and bu lly their managers and owners into renting the CHA large blocks of apartments under threat of federal fair housing lawsuits, then he moved the residents of the projects to the burbs taking their crime problems with.
I’m surprised he never mentioned downtown DeKalb, which is probably one of the most ghetto and crime littered cities in Illinois. One day I was passing by NIU (Northern Illinois University) at around 10pm and I witnessed a young adult fling himself in front of a van at near 40mph. I also witnessed an older guy hopped up on something throwing stones and screaming at cars passing by in the middle of the road. The town is unhinged and poor. There’s nothing more unsettling than taking a stroll around DeKalb at night.
I’m from the South Chicago Suburbs, I love Illinois!! I recently moved to a suburb of Nashville only for the reason I couldn’t find work in Chicago Land (even before COVID). Hoping to one day go back after resume improves. Went to school in Kankakee county, the city has some bad areas but it also has some really great spots. Peoria is very much not worse then Kankakee, it’s crazy that it would be above the Kank on this list. Chicago Heights and Ford Heights are both pretty bad, I would say Ford is worse between the two but both bad. Chicago really shouldn’t be on a list like this. Chicago has 9 very different areas (77 total communities), and when Chicago is put on list like this it doesn’t mean much because of how different they are from each other.
My brother and his family just moved out of the Chicago area to Pennsylvania. I’m a big Frank Lloyd Wright fan and have visited several of his homes in Illinois, Wisconsin, NY, Pennsylvania and Taliesin West outside of Phoenix. There’s a new place near Wright’s Falling Water in western PA that has several Wright homes, including a few that were relocated there, one from Minnesota and, when my wife and I visited, we were surprised to find that another of the houses was relocated from none other than my childhood hometown in Illinois (Lisle, near Naperville). Even the houses are moving out of Illinois. Best farmland in the world though so maybe there should be less people living there. Mo people, mo problems.
I lived in Decatur for a few years in the early 1980’s, and am still in touch with a few people there. The city was declining when I lived there and has been on a gradual downhill slide since then. One thing you didn’t show is old neighborhoods on the north side where a lot of houses were abandoned, and later torn down by the city. Very strange to drive through there to see only a few houses on a large overgrown block. Check a satellite view if you want, north of Eldorado, and west of N. Main. Most people who work in Decatur, if they can afford it, live in neighboring towns like Forsyth or Mt. Zion. Most Decatur residents send their kids to private schools, if they can afford it, or live in a neighboring town with a better school system. There are jobs here, and many places are hiring. However, they have a tough time finding applicants that can pass a drug test or have a driver’s license. If you are employable and want to work, you can make a decent living for yourself in this area.
hi Nik I just stumbled onto your article and I’m going to watch it… My very first question is do you live in Illinois? And secondly where did you get your rankings what was your reference/ credentials?…. please don’t think I’m being nasty I just need to be educated on where you’re getting your information
I grew up in Rockford in the 2000’s during the worst economic situation the city has ever seen. Left in 2011, and now it is 2022 and I moved back to Rockford because of how much I missed it and love it. My parents live out of state but want to return…the city has been revitalized and while it has its many problems, every city and state has problems. It is a completely different Rockford than I grew up in, in a good way. The crime honestly isn’t nearly as bad as it was and the people here are wanting there to be change. I love my city and the people of my city.
Yep! Saw the writing on the wall in 1991 when Caterpillar started leaving. I knew my children wouldn’t have a pray of success if we stayed in “Piss”oria, IL. Got the hell out. Looking back, I’ve always known without a doubt, it was the best decision of my entire life! 🙌 for me! Do whatever it takes, and pack your family up and leave for higher ground. There are better places to live!
I grew up on east side of Bloomington. Glad to see it not on the list. Some people think it’s a boring town but it’s not too bad. The neighbor city normal is a fairly fun college town. There’s some solid job opportunities in Bloomington as well. It’s quiet, no traffic, spread out, schools are good. It’s not too bad imo. Not everyone’s cup of tea but I don’t mind living in Illinois, I do want to try out other places tho
Illinois needs split into two States, Northern Illinois and Southern Illinois. I was born and raised in Southern Illinois in a small town close to Carbondale, Illinois. I’ve lived in Iowa for three decades but my entire family still lives in Southern Illinois. Here’s a few things I’ve learned in my years traveling back and forth from Des Moines to Southern Illinois: #1 Depending on which route you’re taking; You don’t ever want to stop in East St. Louis. Make it on down the road to Belleville or that general area to make a pit stop or get gasoline. #2 If taking the interstate, don’t stop in Decatur or surrounding area, try to make it to Vandalia. It’s a small town but you can get gasoline, use the restroom and get a sweet tea. #3 Pana is a nice little town and the folks are quite friendly plus it has a McDonald’s. #4 Mt. Vernon is a nice small city with a few really decent hotels and quite a few good places to eat. #5 Du Quoin has a beautiful Fairgrounds but they need to work on their Fair. Plus, why do they call it the State Fair when Springfield has the State Fair there? #6 Carbondale mall is pretty much none existent. Don’t expect to be able to run to the mall to pick up something to wear that you forgot at home. Don’t know why all the stores left the mall. It’s actually a nice facility. There are quite a few good eating places in Carbondale, like Quatro’s pizza. Definitely Chicago style! 😋 SIU is in Carbondale, so yes, there are a lot of college students. #7 Murphysboro, IL has some great barbecue.
How depressing. I was born in a suburb of Chicago 74 years ago and lived in the suburbs until I was 14, when we moved to the southwest US. For the last 40-some years I’ve lived in Texas a — Houston, College Station, Kingwood, Kingsland, Bandera, Rockport … and everything looks spacious, clean, not run-down,. Always something being built or renovated. I’d go crazy living in the 10 worst cities as you captured on film.
I am 54 and have lived on the South Side of Chicago my entire life. Chicago has good and bad areas just like any large city, but I cannot think of any other place within the US that I would want to live. If I were to leave the area, I would probably just leave the country. My neighborhood is an extremely diverse middle class working community. The children ride bikes together, play on sports teams together, and the parents and neighbors all know each other and cheer on the kids. I have never been the victim of a crime. I am a white woman who has spent her life here taking public transportation and who has friends all over the Cook County area. Tomorrow night my husband and I are going to the Chicago Theater to see Neil deGrasse Tyson. Before we go downtown, we will be visiting Ricobene’s on 26th street for what has been voted the Best Sandwich in the Universe. I live here for the diversity, the people, the culture, the food, and the beautiful parks and lakefront.
everyone is talking about how illinois is some wasteland poor place outside of chicago, but has anyone seen the natural beauty of illinois? it is awesome in the summer you get that early 2000’s feeling in winter you feel more creative and maybe build something if its snowing .so outside of all the political problems,illinois will always be my home
Oh how utterly sad about Peoria! My mother was born there, her mother was born there, my great grandfather was born there. I spent many weekends visiting the family of my mom’s childhood bestie. Her childhood home was across the street from Bradley University. Her house was still there in 1985, but torn down and replaced with a parking lot when I visited in 2006. Rockford used to be a furniture manufacturing center. The dining room set my mother grew up with an now in my dining room was made in Rockford.
I think the people of Chicagoland and Springfield want us to leave so they can turn some if not all the smaller cities back into farm ground. In Galesburg we had 2 factories with around 2,000 plus people employed and they left town. 1 of the better places to work is Wal-Mart and that is all I’m saying about that. Have a great day everyone and farm on.
Honestly I don’t care about the decline about these Illinois towns, there are actually millions of good and nice people that that live here and the fact that he put Waukegan in the list makes me feel depressed because I spent almost 20 years of my life there. he’s wrong he look down at everything Illinois is beautiful and perfect.
I lived in the Greater St. Louis area for about 6 years. I went to college in the area too. I had a group project once and one of the students was a middle aged african america man from East St. Louis. He didn’t show up to a group meeting so I texted him to see where he was at. He said he would be there in an hour. So we all met back up together and he apologized for being late, and the reason was he dropped his girlfriend off at her house in ESTL and as he was driving off he was shot at. He showed me the bullets on his new car he had worked so hard to get. I asked if he had called the police, he just looked at me, laughed and said “of course I didn’t, I got off easy.”
I live in Lincoln IL and believe me it’s a quickly dying town as well. In the span of about 5 or 6 years we lost at least that many businesses! Yes we have factories but one pays crap, one works you to death and one could care less about the employees. So far the only good thing we have going is the local pot factory. I can’t wait to move out of the state but I do have family here right now. Sad to say, once they are gone, so am I!
Born and grew up in northern Illinois. Iowa Illinois border. My Dad had a good ( management ) factory job with a pension – good benefits etc . . and a side business. Parents divorced when I was 11. And so I had a good 11 years. Then it was basically poverty and a nightmare. As soon as I was 19 or so – I woke up one day – went outside to the grey gloomy COMPLETELY overcast sky – ( that would last for weeks / months straight ) – as well as the bitter cold and the local economy that had nothing to offer and no jobs other than minimum wage – and I asked myself “why do I live here ?” and MOVED to Florida. That was 32 years ago. It was absolutely the best decision I ever made. SUNNY and 82 TODAY ( Feb 2021 ). Have been enjoying the SUN and balmy temps for 32 years.
I was born in Decatur and I live in Virginia now. I only visit for family now and we lived in a bad neighborhood and got robbed once before getting a security system and afterwards got broken into twice. It was fun to watch the security footage of our back door when they opened the door and the look on the intruders faces when they realize the alarm is blaring and the passcode is wrong. I’m happy to live elsewhere now.
I’m honestly surprised by Rockford. One of my aunts lives there and visiting is always fun. Though really, I guess she lives in a much better part. I still think fondly of my hometown of Schaumburg. I left in 2011 due to job offers out of state. Honestly, the only thing I don’t miss is the lousy winter. I love the Pacific Northwest. 😉
Literally just moved from Chillicothe, IL to Washington state. I was born and raised in Peoria and I loved my city, but when I had my own children I quickly realized I needed to move to protect them. So, we moved to Chillicothe which honestly has an amazing community and that small town wholesome feeling. Sadly, the taxes and lack of employment opportunities was precisely the c reason why we moved. Wish all Illinoisans the best ❤️
I lived in the Charleston area my whole life, and when we visited my grandparents in Illinois, it seemed peaceful compared to the never ending traffic, crime, tropical storms that Charleston had. In the area I live in Illinois, it’s nothing like these places and the people are so nice compared to the hateful people that were taking over my old home. The population of the city I used to live in was less than 10,000 20 years ago. Now it’s 70,000 plus, and there is not enough space there, hints why we moved.
I want to leave this place so f**** bad but my family is here and I really have nowhere else to go and no money to start. It’s funny though when you live in one of these City places you start taking pride in it it’ll even argue over the fact that your town is worse than some other town what has more crime and take pride in that fact. Obviously I don’t do this and I passed this but it’s something I did do when I was younger. it’s just crazy
I have left Illinois many times but keep coming back. I’m from the suburbs, which I think makes a big difference. I grew up going into the city all the time and have lived there recently. As bad and as expensive as people make it out to be, don’t forget Chicago is the third largest city in the US. And depending on how you look at the cost of living, Chicago is often ranked out of the top 10 (I’ve seen it even ranked into the 20s). Big cities are not cheap, so a high cost of living should not be part of the discussion there. As for the rest of the state, sorry, you’re stuck with big city costs even though you live in little towns with nothing to offer. I’ve lived in other places where those little towns at least have something to attract people to live there. Our state economy has improved over the past few years, even if you refuse to look at it. And if you have complaints about the government, then why aren’t you running for office? Take a stand and work towards change. But I guess fleeing the state makes the problems disappear, right? I love this state and I’m working to make it the best state it can be. I refuse to sit and whine when I don’t get my way. State election is June 28th, are you going to vote or stay home and throw a fit?
We moved from Illinois 8 years ago. It was easy to see the downward trend and the cesspool that Kankakee was becoming. My immediate family was smart enough to move out also. There are still many extended family members there and half of them are now looking to move. The only ones staying have good careers and homes on the outskirts of the city in gated communities.
I can admit that the taxes suck in Illinois, but there is crime everywhere out side the state. As a person of color it would be tough to move to any town with lack of diversity, because they are not very welcoming, if you know what I mean. I honestly like living in places where there is way more diversity.
In the 60’s and 70’s, I grew about 15 miles from Kankakee. Even then it was a sad place with gang, race and crime issues. Up until 1970, though, it had a lot of significant industry with union factory jobs, which then left for cheaper, non-union labor in the Bible belt. BTW, my parents lived in the Chicago Heights area in the 30’s and 40’s, and in the city proper from 1986-96. Again, the heavily Italian-heritage families left in the 50’s and 60’s after union manufacturing jobs moved out, mainly going south. Ford Heights used to be a busy place with a large Ford body stamping plant there, but it would seem that has left town. Seems to be a consistent theme to the reasons behind the demise of these communities.
After living in Illinois for the 22 years of my life, I never knew how bored I truly was. No real elevation or that great of nature (you can find all of Illinois nature scattered across other states), and the price is insane! The literal only reason people stay is FAMILY. I ranked all 50 states on where I want to live in the future and Illinois is one of the lowest (maybe only beat by New Mexico)
I’m born and raised in Chicago. Grew up in the Southside, then moved to the southwest and now he Northside. It’s one of the best cities you can live in. I’ve been all over, Paris, London, New York, Houston, Los Angeles, Berlin, Mexico City and so many more and this truly is the best, most diverse place to live. If course Chicago has more power in Illinois!! Everyone lives here. Power to the people not corn.
IL is best avoided altogether. Living in adjacent MO I travel into IL all the time and have been across the state many times. Down South, there are more nice places generally then up towards the north; its much more quiet and rural for the most part. The college town of Carbondale is fairly nice; the state’s capital of Springfield not too bad. Quincy is a very nice town, and there are some IL suburbs of St Louis like O’Fallon, Shiloh, and Highland that are all decent. Belleville and Alton would have both been good candidates as many small villages like Brooklyn, Sauget, and Washington Park near St Louis. Granite City is also a nasty place.
The brother of my Grandfather emigrated to Bloomington Illinois from Krempe in Germany with his family (Kelting) around 1880. He was a successful master carpenter there. He came to catch up with his brother, but he stayed. Unfortunately, their sons were probably enemies in two wars. The traces have been lost.
I remember when I was a kid and we would drive through Arkansas to visit relatives. It seemed so run down and depressed. Now I drive through central Illinois and it reminds me of the way Arkansas used to be. Run down and depressed. And that’s only if I can make the drive safely because the all the roads are nearly impassable. Thanks priztger.
*after investigation you definitely meant Aurora not Peoria. There were riots and fires there during the time you’re talking about, never happened here. You actually did a article on it. But wasn’t Peoria and you’ve never done a true article on Peoria at least not lately, were thriving baby. America’s best kept secret and I don’t want you doing a new article on it. Lol I’m from peoria and we definitely didn’t have riots, and city’s actually gotten alot better and downtowns full of new businesses and art. I think our tiniest Walmart got a few TV stolen and a couple small businesses next to it but the cops were there quick and our whole city was on watch for thieves and burglars. People are actually still pretty respectable here even if we don’t have the most money. I live up the street from the break-ins and I posted on Facebook if I see anybody disrespecting our neighborhood I’ll be knocking people out from behind with a baseball bat. We will get Gangstar if we have to but have respect for the most part. Yeah I don’t know why people leave so much they always end up coming back my friends always move back my brother Dan just moved back and the cities always getting better and evolving when other people are bouncing around not gaining any stability from not sticking to one place.
Having lived many places in Illinois, I must say the eastern side (of the river) of Rockford is so much nicer! Much higher property value with upstanding citizens. Lived there for a year with no problems. The Anderson Japanese Gardens are gorgeous, having went there multiple times. But yes, the western side is atrocious.
Pretty spot on. Governor pritzker doesn’t make the state better lol it’s worse but yes people think here that nothing is wrong and just go with the flow cause people are too comfortable and jus keep paying more and more tax money for nothing and deal with it. I’ll be moving to Indiana in a few months to get out of this tax hell hole. It’s not worth it to live in the state literally.
I used to live in Waukegan. It’s so sad because Waukegan apparently used to be a happening place. John’s Manville, Johnson Motors and other high paying factory jobs all went away in the late 70s early 80s. Which probably caused most to move away. Waukegan is definitely not a good place to live anymore.
I was born on the South East side of Chicago, raised on the South side; when I moved out the house my first and current home is still on the south side! Where I was raised was a street most will call a “Grandma Block” meaning all the families knew each other, all the kids played together! My 15+ years living on that street no gun violence ever took place!! So I was shocked to learn someone this year 2022 was shot and killed on the same street I grew up on!! Our city needs prayer!! I believe things will get better…but as the saying goes things will get worse before they get better!! 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾 P.S. I’m suppose to inherit that house in the near future 🥺🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
I don’t blame people for leaving. I left NY State in 1986 because of high taxes, crappy pay, crappy winters, $600 a month electric bills in winter for a 600 sf apartment. Yes rent in upstate NY in 1984 was $550 month. Electric bill was an extra $600. I was making $2.65 an hour. Do the math. Why do you think NY is going to force all electric. Politicians get kick backs from power company. Glad to had moved to a warm climate with no state income tax and plenty of sunshine.
I was born and raised in Illinois. After I took early retirement I stayed three more years. THEN I moved out of the shithole state. I moved to the tip of the mitt in michigan. Real Forests; Crystal Clear Lakes and Creeks; Less people; Less stress; Surrounded by the Great Lakes with beautiful beaches; Many Ski Resorts & Golf Resorts; Wonderful Wineries; Great State Forests & National Forest; Nice boat Marinas; Great Lake Fishing.
A couple of good things concerning Illinois is the Great River Road ( Grafton and Hardin ) and Lake Shore Drive. I have been to the suburbs and actually happened to like Naperville, West Chicago, Plainfield, and Tinley Park. Personally, I’m more afraid of weight restricted roads and low overhead clearances than crime . The traffic a person gets used to after awhile. I have lived in Illinois for 40 years between Effingham and St Louis but have basically been all over.
I lived in Palos – Burbank – Evergreen Park (just not Oak Lawn, the ring around it essentially) my whole life. This area is just completely untouched so far when it comes to the negatives of Illinois. It is starting to get a little rough though due to spillover from the hood and illegal immigrants from Texas. Beyond that, it’s stable. The avoidance of annexation by the city of Chicago did these places VERY well in the long run!
I have been here in Illinois for 57 years. Grew up in Crete and Monee. But Monee is crap now. My family was one of the first to live there. One of my great, great grandfathers drew up the roads and stuff. I miss what it was. But now I live in Joliet which is the Will County seat. It’s large and fairly ok. Been here for 23 years. If I could I would leave but since I’ve been here all my life it will be very hard to find a place to go to. So I am stuck here. Got a broken back in 1997. So I don’t have a great income anymore. So I just have to hang on and survive. I miss how my home town and what a great place it was.
I lived in Peoria my whole life and it’s true. My brother is a paramedic out here and he tells me it’s a weird occurrence to not have a gunshot victim during a shift. There is work out here, like I have a decent job but I understand why no one wants to work out here. The management sucks and once my company gets caught up everyone is gonna be laid off. I literally haven’t had a single good boss out here and I’m in a skilled trade. Once you think you made it to the middle class here the prices go up and you’re even closer to the streets making 25 an hour. Nothing to do here either unless you have money to burn or if you depend on drugs to be happy.
Lots of my friends are dipping but I say screw that I am staying. Born and raised. We got no hurricanes no tornadoes where I am no major flooding. I am 45 min from downtown or 20 min during the night and in just an hour I can be in Wisconsin! Also West IL is really cool, kind of like Wisconsin lite. Just recently visited Ohio, IL. Absolutely rural!
Every time I drive through Cairo, the sadder it is. In 2011, the Corps of Engineers blew the levee on the other side of the river. They flooded the agricultural land on the other side of the river in MO to save Cairo. Nothing against the folks in Cairo, but the economics would have worked out better to have blown the levee on the other side.
I grew up in the suburbs far south, not much problem their but as i had children, i started to see the decline not to mention the terrible weather, the gloomy days almost daily and high taxes, not many nice homes to buy and The towns were becoming dirty and un appealing. I picked up and moved 5 yrs ago to the west coast and LOVE IT. Sunshine every single day . It May rain once every 5 months. Best decision ever. My adult kids moved too. They said they will never look back! I love Chicago but man oh man…
It’s sad because Illinois has a lot of rich history and some of the most amazing landmarks in the country. I remember Chicago being one of the greatest places in America when I was a kid; it was a pizza lovers’ playground, but now it has a high crime rate (no really, people say NYC has a really bad crime rate, but they have seriously NEVER been here), and you have a 4 out of 5 chance of getting shot and possibly killed. I’m just glad I left Illinois.
I live in San Diego, California. It sucks here, unless you’re wealthy. It’s extremely difficult to live here because it’s very expensive. More people in percentage leave here than Illinois. Remember the guy, Randall, from the honey badger article that went viral 12 years ago? That’s what this guy sounds like. Danville sucks and always has for 40 years. Peoria too. Aurora. Decatur. Rockford. East St. Louis is a shit hole, equal to Tijuana. The problem with Illinois is it’s stuck in the 1980s. Chicago needs to regularly invest in infrastructure and not prisons. Illinois likes to build prisons, decrease police, budget cuts, Cairo used to have 6,000 people. Chicago has been horrible since 1987. So horrible is Chicago that probably 1/50 people I meet elsewhere are from Chicago. Chicago needs 10 billion in infrastructure remodeling. It looks like Chicago froze in time. I left and came back 15 years later and it looked exactly the same. Air is horrible in Chicago, too. People are proud to murder and rape in Chicago. They are also passive and complacent. That’s why it sucks there. Nothing gets done. It slowly dies and deteriorates. I used to live in Lincoln. Lincoln is a dying, old, decrepit city. It used to have so many nice stores and was clean. The streets were newly resurfaced and paved. It was new almost everywhere. Now, it’s old and faded. 1/4 of the stores left. It looks like a 1800s cemetery. Cars are old. Everything is old now
I have a story to tell about “wonderful” Illinois. I was born in Chicago at Michael Reese Hospital to a father whom was a teacher, and of Greek descent. He was the first kid born in America to both his parents from Greece. and a mother whom immigrated from Greece to Chicago. My parents had moved out of Chicago to Arlington Heights IL in the late 60s and where at least married 10 yrs before they had me. So I grew up in Arlington heights, a northwest suburb of Chicago very similar to the “North Shore” where it was considered an middle-upper class neighborhood. Of course everyone was better off than us and to me even just growing up and being in school I noticed just that. Anyway once I started ” coming of age” I started hanging out in “the city” which is considered Chicago. To me 😂the city was cool. I hung out at places like The Metro, Neos, Club 950, Medusas etc etc. Most my friends were musicians and they were always playing around thÊe city. Also it was very much NOT politically correct (Thank God for most of that). I started at 14 going to the “all ages” shows and like all my friends went down to Maxwell Street to buy a fake ID at that point we started going to the bars. My parents did not know because I was that good. I lied to most guys in their late teens and early 20s and always said I was the age on my fake ID. ALL the girls did this. I bought a condo on Lake Shore Drive right next to Wrigley Field when I was truly 18yrs old. At 18 literally ALL my friends had moved to LA and some to NYC and I was a model at an agency based out of LA and had shoots in Chicago but jumped at a chance to work in LA or NYC .
I moved away from Illinois its the best thing I ever did. People move away can’t sell there house so they abandon it. Old people die children don’t want the house so its abandon too. Houses fall down the city cleans up the mess now its an empty lot. The town I lived in was 12,000. people now its 6200. people. Factories all closed. Lots of retired people live there now.
IL is broken and there is no end in sight, a solid blue state. Over my life I’ve watched this state go from great, when dozens and dozens of Fortune 500 companies were headquartered here and jobs were plentiful, to a place where I feel I’d better get out or I’ll be the last taxpayer standing. Many of my friends and family have left for anywhere but here. Separately, it’s hard to image a top 10 worst that doesn’t include Joliet or Waukegan, but there’s a lot of tough competition in this race for the bottom.