When you say Bell Gardens, what is the first thing that comes to mind? It sounds like a paradise of a place; however, it is exactly the opposite. Bell Gardens does have a steady source of tax revenue. Unfortunately, it all comes from one source. In 2002, half the tax revenue of the entire city was attributed to one casino.
Since the city relies so heavily on one business, many services depend on how well the casino performs. Also, Bell Gardens struggles with overpopulation. There are too many people and not enough jobs, so 30% of the city’s population lives in poverty.
Harlingen, Texas
Through no fault of its own, the weather in Harlingen makes this city a difficult place to live. Harlingen is known to have very little rainfall and scorching temperatures for most of the year. Even summer lovers find this place impossible to cope with. Of the 65,000 residents in the city, only 56% have jobs. Thirty percent of the population lives in poverty.
Harlingen was put in an even worse position in 2019 when 2,000 immigrants were released into the city. The new residents strained an already struggling population as Harlingen tried to pull together some help for the immigrants using its limited resources.
Plainfield, New Jersey
Plainfield is not a place that used to be pleasant and gradually went downhill. It has been diagnosed as a violent city for decades. In 1990, 719 violent crimes were reported in Plainfield. Over the years, crime has decreased slowly, but it hasn’t disappeared altogether. The violence in the city might be partially attributed to the dismal conditions of its residents.
A fifth of the population lives in poverty, and many others try to survive without health insurance. Even if you do have a job, your average commute is roughly 31 minutes in Plainfield, making it difficult to find any enjoyment in your day.
Warren, Ohio
Warren, Ohio, heavily relied on a GM plant in town to create jobs for local workers. When the plant closed, a large chunk of the population lost their jobs. The closure marked a severe downturn for the entire city. Across the entire country, Warren has the second-highest rate of people struggling to find food.
Because of the many problems plaguing the city, the population has dropped by 7.7% since 2010. In 2020, almost 40 thousand people were living in Warren, Ohio, with an unemployment rate of almost 5%. This means that more than 2,000 people do not work and struggle on a day-to-day basis.
Union City, New Jersey
Union City is only comprised of 1.28 square miles. In that tiny chunk of space, 68,500 residents try to make a living. It is one of the most densely populated cities in the entire country, and the citizens feel the effects. It is crowded and unpleasant and has been experiencing negative migration for years.
In Union City, the average commute time is 33 minutes. While some residents spend a large chunk of their days on the road, 23% of the population lives in poverty. Imagine trying to make a living in a city where you barely have room to breathe. It’s no wonder that Union City is so miserable.