Worst city in Iowa?

[mramseyISU]

Keokuk is deep-fried azz, though being from Fort Madison, we're not much better.

But Fort Madison has Amigos which might be the best Mexican Restaurant not in Mexico.

 

[Mr Janny]

Trying not to derail the thread - but if someone I know is planning to visit Yosemite and King's Canyon this year, I should tell them to avoid staying in Fresno? Maybe get a nice airbnb in one of the smaller towns?

If you're going to Yosemite, stay in Mariposa or Oakhurst. Smaller towns but much nicer. Picturesque as well

 

[Cfinnerty16]

Mason City deserves partial credit for being known colloquially as Mason Sh***y

Speaking of nicknames for disliked cities in Iowa. This is what I’ve heard before.
Sewer City, Duh-puke, Dirty Dodge, Council-Tucky, Cedar Crapids, Keosuck, Muscastink, O-scumwa.
That’s all I’ve got lol

 

[Saul_T]

My answer is not because of the poster on here...Riceville. One of so many dying towns dotting rural Iowa that I'm blown away still exists. Nice people, sure, but they all look dead. Remove Riceville and insert Dedham, Iowa or any other town you probably haven't heard of and it's true across the board. It's unfortunate and sad driving across the state and seeing all these dying communities.

 

[BACyclone]

If you are from Fort Dodge, we wear this kind of thing with pride. It keeps out the riff-raff. Sure, Fort Dodge has its own riff-raff. But it's our riff-raff, dammit.

I used to live near the Dodge ~15 years ago. It's actually improved quite a bit since then.

 

[Cfinnerty16]

I think Waterloo deserves a mention as well.

 

[mkadl]

It seems the older the towns, the reasons that made it needed originally are gone. City Clerks run these towns and they are part time in most of the cities in Iowa. That is calling all incorporated areas cities. Use Des Moines, it was at a branch in the river. Handy place to have to stop. That need is now gone but others needs have grown. Take a small town that used to be on a railroad and had a school. Those needs are gone. All there is is housing and a bar or three.

 

[mramseyISU]

Trying not to derail the thread - but if someone I know is planning to visit Yosemite and King's Canyon this year, I should tell them to avoid staying in Fresno? Maybe get a nice airbnb in one of the smaller towns?

I fly in and out of Fresno pretty regularly for work and it's not all that different than any other city it's size. There are good areas and bad areas. If I was going to be hitting up Yosemite and Kings Canyon it's pretty centrally located for doing that. Maybe though you could look at a little town just North East of Fresno I'm just not that familiar with what's going on north of Fresno since I spend all my time around Hanford when I'm there.

 

[CYphyllis]

If you're going to Yosemite, stay in Mariposa or Oakhurst. Smaller towns but much nicer. Picturesque as well

Did a couple nights in Mariposa. Had no idea before getting there but it was their annual fair - that was an experience. Nice enough little town, but they could put your average redneck to shame when they get after it.

 

[jcyclonee]

Speaking of nicknames for disliked cities in Iowa. This is what I’ve heard before.
Sewer City, Duh-puke, Dirty Dodge, Council-Tucky, Cedar Crapids, Keosuck, Muscastink, O-scumwa.
That’s all I’ve got lol

There's several sh/ties. I've heard Iowas Sh/ty, Mason Sh/ty and Rockwell Sh/ty. You can credit our friends in the east for LAmes.


On the flip side, what is a city that nobody dislikes? Maybe Decorah?

 

[mramseyISU]

Did a couple nights in Mariposa. Had no idea before getting there but it was their annual fair - that was an experience. Nice enough little town, but they could put your average redneck to shame when they get after it.

So there is a surprisingly big Portuguese population in the central valley and backyard bullfights on a Saturday night are a thing you can do there if you're so inclined.

 

[jcyclonee]

But Fort Madison has Amigos which might be the best Mexican Restaurant not in Mexico.

I assume it has the cuisine of Mexico, Missouri, not the real Mexico.

 

[Cfinnerty16]

There's several sh/ties. I've heard Iowas Sh/ty, Mason Sh/ty and Rockwell Sh/ty. You can credit our friends in the east for LAmes.


On the flip side, what is a city that nobody dislikes? Maybe Decorah?

I was just thinking Decorah. Probably the prettiest city/town in Iowa

 

[CycloneDaddy]

My answer is not because of the poster on here...Riceville. One of so many dying towns dotting rural Iowa that I'm blown away still exists. Nice people, sure, but they all look dead. Remove Riceville and insert Dedham, Iowa or any other town you probably haven't heard of and it's true across the board. It's unfortunate and sad driving across the state and seeing all these dying communities.

Does Dedham have more cows or people?

 

[CYCLNST8]

We all forgot Iowa Shi##y.

Post #2, actually.

 

[michaelrr1]

On the topic of what you would expect from a town if you just go by the name I would throw Pleasantville on the list. Drive through it on the way to lake Red Rock, it's a nice enough town but talk about expectations when you name a town Pleasantville, jeesh.

I felt the same way about Cumming.

 

[jaj040]

Speaking of nicknames for disliked cities in Iowa. This is what I’ve heard before.
Sewer City, Duh-puke, Dirty Dodge, Council-Tucky, Cedar Crapids, Keosuck, Muscastink, O-scumwa.
That’s all I’ve got lol

Don't forget the Loo

 

[Die4Cy]

There'


On the flip side, what is a city that nobody dislikes? Maybe Decorah?

Dyersville?

Parkersburg?

Grinnell?

Sioux Center?

 

[somecyguy]

From a midwest perspective this is cities that others in your state hate. Everyone in Minnesota hates all the richy-rich Edina folks. That's what the list appears to be getting at.

If that's the beef, Wayzata should probably the one listed.

 

[AgronAlum]

Tell me you’ve never been to Amarillo or College Station without telling me.

I interviewed for a job down in Plainview which is halfway between Lubbock and Amarillo. I knew within an hour it wasn’t happening but had to spend the entire weekend there because the company flew me down.

It’s cheap as **** to live there but holy hell there’s a reason for that.