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1. Detroit
2. Flint, Mich.
3. Rockford, Ill.
4. Chicago
5. Modesto, Calif.
6. Vallejo, Calif.
7. Warren, Mich.
8. Stockton, Calif.
9. Lake County, Ill.
10. New York
11. Toledo, Ohio
12. St. Louis
13. Camden, N.J.
14. Milwaukee
15. Atlantic City, N.J.
16. Atlanta
17. Cleveland
18. Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
19. Gary, Ind.
20. Youngstown, Ohio
Source: Forbes magazine
Happiest U.S. cities
1. Napa, Calif.
2. Idaho Falls, Idaho
3. Longmont, Colo.
4. Mission Viejo, Calif.
5. Simi Valley, Calif.
6. Santa Rosa, Calif.
7. Santa Cruz, Calif.
8 Lafayette, Colo.
9. Asheville, N.C.
10. Boulder, Colo.
Source: University of Vermont Computation Story Lab
Saddest U.S. cities
1. Beaumont, Texas
2. Albany, Ga.
3. Texas City, Texas
4. Shreveport, La.
5. Monroe, La.
6. Flint, Mich.
7. Memphis, Tenn.
8. Battle Creek, Mich.
9. Lima, Ohio
10. Houma, La.
Source: University of Vermont Computation Story Lab
Related:
Looking for a bad time? America's saddest, most miserable cities cluster in Michigan
Leave a Comment:
While the environment can contribute to a person's state of mind, I think happiness has more to do with the individual than the city they live in-and, no, I don't live in any of those cities.
I can't argue with the lists. It seems someone actually did their homework on this one. Of course, since these cities are in the US, there is nothing keeping the residents living in those cities, and all it takes is a bus fare to another city somewhere to start over. I've done that. You can, too.
I can't speak about any of the others on the list but I went through Gary indiana in 1974 after an epic road trip to the Yukon Territory and even then I found myself wondering, "why in the wold anyone would live here"...
Not really. As someone who lives in Idaho Falls, I can tell you it's certainly not the 2nd happiest city in the nation. We have one of the highest suicide rates in the US.
I grew up here in Idaho Falls, moved away to the "big city" for a number of years, then made my way back home. It's hard to see how great our small city is until you leave it. Yeah the winters are long, and the wind has never stopped blowing (seriously it has NEVER stopped blowing). That being said I have a really hard time imagining me leaving again. It's home, and I love it.
It figures that Obama's city, Chicago, is up at the top of miserable. The real bad news is that Obama is putting the entire country in the miserable area!
Oh geeze, shut the f*&k up already. Get a grip.
ridiculous and pathetic
Ok guy's your all making fine points, But lets consider the fact "That for political reasons only Mr. Obama stopped all buying of the F-22 Raptor! Its also stealth but one big difference its proven its self in the Gulf. Also as a strike fighter the f-15 or the f-16 can't hold ground to the F-18 super hornet and I'm not a Navy fan anyway. But back to the F-35 "WHY" build a plane and call it a "Joint Strike Fighter" when it has three different versions. That runs the costs way up! And with the way the World political problems are now the only sure and safe place t land any fighter is on a Super Carrier. but God forbid that the Air Force would have to relay on the Navy for anything. But for my tax Dollars I place my faith on the F-22 Raptor! Its faster its proven stealth, And far out maneuver's ALL the rest.
?????????
F-22 is in the $500 hammer category. yeah, it's a great aircraft (as long as they can figure out why the pilots suffer from lack of oxygen). Explain jut WHERE "stealth" capability is NECESSARY? None of our friends are concerned - the enemies don't have radar capability to be avoided (and certainly no missile interceptors either). it's an aircraft in search of a MISSION - too expensive for what it can do.
Wesley; The article is about happy, sad, and miserable cities. Where did the airplanes come from? O'well, this is the type of reasoning that you get from TEA GARBAGE.
The only stealth aircraft used in the gulf was the F-117A before it was retired and the B-2 bomber.
Idiot Flats is the second happiest US city? Must be all the radioactive contamination in the water. (Many years ago, the Navy stationed me there for 6 months; S5G crew D.)
Oh, I remember when the Navy had nukes stationed here. NRF has not operated in decades. IF has changed quite a bit from those days. It was pretty bleak and boring then, wasn't it? Might still be, if you're still a party animal.
I lived ( ? ) in Idaho Falls, Idaho for awhile. They have two seasons there, Winter and August, and you don't count on August. Just outside of I F is the town ( ? ) of Bone. It has been discribed as the Arm Pit of the World.
Idaho Falls is a beautiful town with some crazy long winters. But it is very family-friendly, low crime, and higher ed opportunities. It's not a town for a Navy seaman looking for "action."
What the hell? Why is Atlanta on the miserable list?
Poop holes are generally miserable.
Why is NEW YORK on the list?I've lived here 54years and enjoyed myself.
You need MONEY to do well in NYC. And lots of it.
So you mean to tell me the researchers asked every citizen living in those cities if they were happy or not. Or did they make up a bunch of selling points that are supposed to make people happy ?
I wonder how many of these cities are steel towns. Youngstown, Gary, Cleveland, Beaumont, Flint. Are any of these other cities steel centers?
I was a little happy when my hometown wasn't on the miserable list. Then I scrolled down and it was on the saddest list....
Hard to believe California has 5 of the 10 happiest cities.
It is fascinating to live in California.
The weather alone makes this state happier than most.
However,the local zoning activists,the food police,and the various animal rights groups create a horrible political environment. One would think we faced the end of the world each and every week.
One fatal flaw in the happiness index lies in the two largest urban areas--San Francisco and Los Angeles.
These two metropolitan areas probably have the worst traffic and drivers in the US,including Boston and DC.
Did they even take a step in the state of Washington? Super happy happy happy.
particularly with legalized POT...
Seriously??? Washington has one of the highest suicide rates! It's miserable there.
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Seattle, home to the passive agressives of the world.
Something to take into account: How many of these saddest cities have been reelecting the same liberal political hacks for years? Is there a connection? It's like buying back the same dog that keeps biting you. I've always believed that we get the kind of government we deserve. It's hard for me to feel sorry for a Detroit or Chicago which keeps the same repressive politics in power year after year then wonder why things keep getting worse. These cities and the liberals they reelect deserve each other. Let 'em alone.
It's actually obvious by looking at all the lists ... that liberals or conservatives have nothing to do with it. The "conservative" south is just as highly represented on the "bad lists" as are the "liberal" northern cities.
So Harold, before you start assigning blame to liberals (or other folks to conservatives), realize that these reflect a NATIONAL problem and until we cut the extremist cr** out, nothing will improve.
i live not to far from Beaumont texas.It is not a sadd town its just a town with a lot of businesses and lots of traffic myself i prefer to live away from that . I like the rural area where i can bigg dogs and my neighbors are not within earshot
Totally agree with Colorado with two of happiest cities. Recently relocated to Fort Collins and have never seen a city better planned or managed. College town and yet some of the nicest kids you've ever met. (Two days ago saw an senior citizen get stuck in snow and EVERY car behind him got out to help).
Educated population and government that is accountable to the public = happy city.
I Grew up long ago in Atlantic City, NJ on the miserable list and now live in Santa Rosa, CA on the happy list. I've been to Houma, LA and had a great time, didn't notice many sad people there.
i wonder why so many happy people in california. maybe they'll all have big smiles on their faces as they're sliding into the ocean after the next big earthquake:)
The failure of local industry and real estate can be directly traced to crime control.How can anyone invest in building or supporting businesses if you have theft,murder,rape,burglary rampant around the clock?Without control over the drug trade few if any progress can be made.This is also true of each and every nation which seeks to improve the tourist trade.
If your children are not safe going to or inside the schools,then what does this tell you about the local police forces,the judicial system,and the legal profession?
Bringing order to the streets and neighborhoods will help raise the standard of living and improve the quality of life for everyone.
One might look at the herculean efforts made in DC to recover once ravaged crime ridden areas.Or, one might examine the amazing improvements made in Brooklyn over the past decade.
Please NO , not Milwaukee on the miserable list. They make Harleys there.
Sounds like some stoned idiot from Cali came up with this list after all all the facts indicate California to be a 3rd world country in the near future.
So tell me HOW MUCH DID NEWARK NEW JERSEY PAY to stay off the worst list??!! Newark makes Atlantic City seem Innocent!!
I have lived in many cities. Minneapolis made me the most miserable...WHY? Because I didi not know anyone, and I grew up on the beach and missed it terribly. But the people there were fine and maybe if I had a touch more money at the time I would have liked it better.
I grew up in Charleston SC...A nice place to grow up if you did not look for culture (And as a kid I did't) they have greatly improved in that area now.
I now live in Manhattan with the world at my feet, every kind of cultural and dining experience you can imagine, I have a lot of great friends who know how to discuss significant things. Yes it has its miserable moments but I know I am lucky to be living here and doing so well.
Orlando was great for a while, especially for a Disney fan like me--but I did not find much in the way of intellectual stimulation.
Point is miserable comes mostly from within and the criteria one sets for one's own happiness. There is a big world out there, it is what you make it.
I hope the University of Vermont upgraded their email server for the soon deluge of hate mails. ^)
Hmm, the writer has never been to Utica?
My husband went to college there and we drove through it a few years ago. I couldn't believe how really horrible it had become (not that it wasn't horrible to begin with). I live and grew up in/near Poughkeepsie and it doesn't hold a candle to the miserableness of Utica.
I wonder what the correlation is for position on this list against percentage of the working population that is unionized, both public employees and private employees?
I would of thought under one of the saddest and most miserable cities we would find Washington D.C. Specifically the Capitol Hill district. More specifically wherever members of our congress congregate.
Probably one of the more intelligent comments on this thread!