[kneebonian]

I'm curious have you been to many of these areas or are you just repeating the things you've read on reddit?

[seanmcdirmid]

I lived in Vicksburg MS for four years. Mississippi is as bad as everyone says it is, at least. No idea about the other states.

[prottog]

I'd wager that most rural places about the size of Vicksburg (~20k population) are "bad" in that same way. I'm sure there are a few exceptions, but none come to the top of my head.

[seanmcdirmid]

I really wouldn't call Vicksburg rural, it is actually small town urban serving a county with around 50k people (outside of Vicksburg like in Bovina is rural, however). Also, Vicksburg is fairly close to Jackson (40 minute drive?), but we all know things are much better over there.