Huntington, West Virginia
SperlingViews

Probably the worst city (in the worst state): Data - 11/8/2012

I'll provide a mix of data (i.e., fact) and opinion. I moved here about two years ago to work as a scientist in the medical industry, and I'm *hoping* to take a pay cut to leave. The sad part: I love my job, but I find the area completely unbearable. Over 35 years, I have lived in seven states, visited every state in the contiguous US, and I'm perfectly confident stating that Huntington, WV is -by far- the worst city (i.e., pop. 50,000+) in the worst state... and I've lived in Arkansas. My evidence: The 2012 Gallup Poll (best places to live in the US) ranks states according to 13 indexes. WV not only ranks as the worst state overall, it also ranks *last* in five of the 13 indexes: "economic confidence index," "learned something new yesterday," "easy to find a safe place to exercise," "obesity rate," and "smoking rate." WV ranks 2nd-to-last in the US for "employed full time," 3rd worst in the US for "standard of living," "city/area getting better," "easy to find clean, safe water," and 4th worst in the US for "visited a dentist in the last 12 months." Thus, to sum it up, out of 13 indexes, WV ranks in the bottom 8% for 10 of 13 of them!!! That's simultaneously impressive and depressive... (these are facts, not my opinion, and the 2009 Gallup poll provided very similar findings). However, that's not the worst of it: WV claims to be "wild and wonderful," and that might be true of the northern and eastern parts of the state near national forest land (especially Morgantown, which is semi-tolerable and "only" about an hour from Pittsburgh). However, Huntington is more than three hours' drive from Morgantown, and Huntington's closest larger city is Lexington, KY (more than two hours' drive). If you want to see a "nationally known" concert (other than country music 1-2 times per year), buy organic produce, visit a Whole Foods Market (or similar), frequent a brewery/brewpub, or go to a nice museum (that actually occasionally changes its content and pertains to something other than coal mining or coal trains), be prepared to drive to Columbus, OH (3 hours' drive). That's right... Huntington, WV and Charleston, WV: Two cities with pop. 50,000+, and not a single brewery, brewpub, or museum worth visiting. It's the same boring life -day after day- (to echo an earlier comment on this thread). Notably, I'm not an alcoholic, but I feel that brewery presence is an appropriate indicator of 'quality of life' provided that most cities in the temperate climate world have had a brewery since about 1600 AD (that's a conservative estimate). In addition, WV is the oldest state (in terms of average resident age)... now, you might be wondering: "How can WV be the 'most aged' state provided that the area (especially Huntington) is among the unhealthiest in the US?" Well, I'd be willing to float the hypothesis that young people move away as soon as they are able and, provided that an overwhelming majority of Marshall University students are WV residents (i.e., few out-of-staters come here), I'll submit that this hypothesis could be very easily supported. Thus, if you're a single professional (especially a 30-something), this is just about the worst place in the US to meet a potential mate. Some more interesting facts: WV is the most toothless state in the US (according to the ADA) and the most depressed state (according to the APA). Again, these are facts (or as close as we can get to them in the social sciences), and not my opinion. The incredible irony about this place (as another writer noted in this very thread, and with whom I couldn't agree more): West Virginians (those who remain, anyway) are *very* defensive of their state. In my opinion, it is their incredible mule-like stubbornness (coupled with regional poverty, depression, and an almost genetic knack for passive-aggression) that prevents the area from improving. As an example, the area around Huntington has an abundance of unoccupied mountains and hills... tons of them... so you might expect a wide array of camping and biking opportunities, as one would expect in Idaho, Montana, Washington, Oregon, Virginia, etc., right? Wrong. The lack of young people (and their intention to move away as soon as they're educated) practically stamps out any motivation to improve the area. Another opinion: Huntington is said to have "one of everything." Well, observations don't support that proposition (cases in point: there are no ethnic groceries or breweries). However, think about the consequences: If one brewery (or ethnic grocery) were to open here, exactly what would be their incentive to offer selection, quality, or value? The answer: There is no incentive, because the nearest competition is over two hours away! Any given Mexican restaurant will have sub-par Mexican food, as will any Chinese restaurant, grocery store - consumer product availability in general. You'll find yourself increasingly ordering products online (which, by the way, will take longer to deliver due to the "rural location"). In short, if you move here from any city in the US (of pop. 50,000 or greater), I can guarantee that you'll perceive a large drop in quality of life within one year - after the "honeymoon period," as it were (unless you're looking for a place to watch TV, eat unhealthy food, and be left alone). However, to be fair, after all this (some of it objective) negativity, I should point out a few positive aspects of the area: Cost of living is low, taxes and energy costs are low, and there's virtually no traffic in the Huntington area. Do you know why? Because *most people don't want to live here*! As the old adage provides, you get what you pay for.[more...]

Huntington - 6/20/2009

I have grown up in the Huntington area. It has always been a good community, however there has also been a concentrated area of high crime in the city that seems to be becoming larger and larger. In fact we compare with much larger cities on both violent and property crime rates. This saddens me as a native Huntintonian.[more...]

Revitalized little city with growing creative ener - 5/30/2009

Pullman Square has revitalized the downtown: it has lots of great food, a comedy club, and great movie theaters. Countless once-empty storefronts have been recently renovated and the city has finally been growing again. Local music, art, and theater is honestly plentiful, with Marshall University feeding lots of that energy. A new Tuesday street concert series on 4th Avenue is being started in addition to the popular Thursday night Pullman Square concert series. Plus, the city and surrounding area is BEAUTIFUL; there are lots of trees and it's right along the Ohio River.[more...]

Beautiful place with growing creative energy - 5/30/2009

Huntington is a city with growing creative energy and many great assets. Ritter Park is absolutely beautiful, and the Riverfront Park is a wonderful place that the city is in the process of renovating. It has huge potential. Marshall University feeds tons of energy into the city, including theater, local music and art, and major college sports. Pullman Square is a relatively new commercial area with a nice comedy club, very nice theaters, and great food. It is a good example of the fresh energy that has been reshaping the city over the past few years. Huntington is also in a good location relative to other major cities, allowing day trips to places like Columbus, Cincinnati, Louisville, Pittsburgh, and Lexington, not to mention in-state trip opportunities including world-class whitewater rafting or ski resorts.[more...]

Diversity? - 5/17/2009

We're getting ready to retire in the next several months. Currently living in the San Francisco Bay Area. We'd like to move to a small (for us anyway...there are more than a million people just in our county)city with a college and some cultural (music, art) activities. One of our questions about Huntington involves ethnic diversity. My wife is of Asian (Chinese) heritage and wonders how she would generally be accepted there. Thanks in advance for any information you can share.[more...]

Huntington - 3/23/2009

There are a lot of nice people in Huntington. Unfortunately, the town is not nearly as nice as in the past. There is a lot of drug related crime... Detroit spillover, and it has resulted in murders in recent years. There have been some efforts to revitalize the downtown area, but it isn't keeping up with the decline in general. There is a reason the town is losing population. There are much better alternatives in West Virginia.[more...]

Stay away from Huntington! - 12/29/2008

I lived in WV my whole life. I married, and moved to the Huntington, WV area in 2005. This past fall, we finally moved out of WV for better work elsewhere. While Huntington isn't the worst place to live, it's not the best either. Decaying city, elected government not getting along (so the city suffers), and, slow/no job growth (call centers abound though). Like I said, we moved due to the lack of good paying jobs. We moved to Columbus, but that wasn't the answer either. Coming from two people that value smaller towns and family, Columbus was too big too fast. As for Huntington, the streets were laid out well. Far better than it's sister city Charleston, WV. Generally, the people were friendly. Unlike Columbus. Not sure, but it seems the further north you go...the more uptight these people are. Pathetic. Anyway, real estate is a little over priced for the area. A good deal can be found though. Like they have said in the past, there isn't too much to do there. Unless you want to go to a bar or out to eat. I saw that Huntington, WV was rated the fattest city since I moved to Columbus. Don't think we didn't get picked on for that. Makes a person proud. If you're a drinker, there are plenty of bars. Crime has risen sharply while we lived there, and has become much worse since we left. Many warned us of Columbus before we left, but honestly Huntington has gotten really bad considering the number of incidents and it's size. I would not feel safe there anymore. Of course I don't feel safe in Columbus, Ohio either. Seems like there is a daily shooting, stabbing, robbery, car jacking, and etc. Still, I expect it a little more due to the rapid size increase from WV. Doesn't mean I like it. Next move I make within the year, I will be heading back south. Not to WV as I feel there isn't anything there for us. Just family. We can always call and visit them. We are though going back in size. Sure you're opportunities will be greater in a larger city, but there are small things in a smaller city that you can't get in a bigger one. Friendly people are one of them. If Huntington has nothing else, that is it. Of course you have your butt head every now and then. LOL[more...]

Stay away from Huntington - 8/31/2008

Huntington, WV use to be a great place but in the last several years has gone way down hill. The local government can't agree on anything. There is no new business and very few jobs unless you're a telemarketer. People are leaving here by the thousands yearly because they can't make a decent living. The streets need paved, the sewer and water systems are old and deteriorating, the buildings downtown are crumbling and have many vacancies and the homeless are everywhere. I've lived here my whole life and it only keeps getting worse. The city is broke and always in the red and there is never enough money to fix anything, even though they keep imposing new taxes and fees. Please stay away because it is dying a slow death and will be a ghost town before too long. It needs a stronger government.[more...]

Great place to live - 1/14/2008

I have to say that overall, Huntington is a wonderful place to live. Huntington has a good mix of people who are more often than not very friendly and willing to lend a hand when needed. The area has a lot to do including of museums, shopping, comedy club, lots of theater (on a local and national level), several film festivals, many seasonal festivals (the Greek fest has some amazing food), good concerts and Marshall athletics. The town does have some negatives but what town doesn't? It went through several years where it was on the decline but the town definately seems to be on an upswing again. The downtown area has come alive again with new shopping and several new/renovated condos being built right downtown. Marshall University is also seeing lots of new growth with several new buildings and new athletic facilities currently being constructed. If Huntington doesn't have what you want, several larger cities are just a few hours away by car or you can take a direct flight to several cities including 3 in Florida. With all it has to offer though, I believe Huntington is the best city in WV.[more...]

Huntington, WV - Great place to raise your family! - 7/20/2007

I moved here in the beginning of 2001. Huntington has lots of potential. The town is right on I-64, very close to Lexington, KY, Columbus, OH, Cincinnati, etc...West Virginia is a beautiful state. Huntington is a very peaceful business community. The town revolves around Marshall University, so if you like college sports, great place to be. My true feelings are that, it is hard to find a better place to settle down later in life... very stress free... However, as a young couple (my wife and I are both 28), it seems to lack a bit of excitement for us... the job market is very limited, although both my wife and I have very good jobs. Most of the population is either older 40+ or younger 20- college kids. With that said, it becomes very hard to want to leave this place, once you get to know the town and the people. Last year, we almost moved to Phoenix, AZ, with work, but backed out at the last minute... we do not regret it at all... My wife and i might still venture out to life near a big city; but always with Huntington in our hearts. It is a great place to raise your family! [more...]

Not so wonderful - 6/14/2007

I lived in huntington area for 10 years and I saw it go from nice to what happened. The downtown used to be nice now it's just a bunch of old buildings. The only good season is the fall the trees are just amazing. Jobs are very few and the pay is way below. Marshall University is an amazing university and keeps the town going. In the city there is nothing to do and that's the way the local leaders wanted it. You have to drive 11 miles away for the mall and some restaurants. Overall I would say moving here would be a big mistake especially if you have a family.[more...]

Depressing City! - 11/11/2006

We went to visited in Nov 2006... The city is dirty and kind of run-down. It must be something in the air or in the rain...even your car got dirty so easy... Someone said : streets are filled with potholes. You bet it!There are!! Winters mus be very depressing...SUN? I guess you need to go somewhere else... For visiting its nice, but for long term living----Very depressing place to live...for me anyway! I guess you have to be born in there to understand.[more...]

If you're an optimist, you'll find this place a ch - 4/25/2006

People who grew up in Huntington and who are still here are mostly happy and content with their hometown. However… If you didn’t grow up in Huntington and you’re thinking about moving to this area, you should seriously reconsider. You’ll find that people, while polite, are not overly friendly. Pre-existing social circles are extremely difficult to break into – you won’t be rejected, but you won’t be included either. So, if you want to fit in, you better have family or friends that are already here. Living here is like being caught in a time warp where nothing ever changes. You just re-live the same day over and over again. If you’re looking for excitement, this isn’t the place. There are pockets of wealth and prosperity, but the overall economy is mostly stagnant or in decline. The city is virtually broke with little hope in sight. Future unfunded city liabilities (including pensions and health care costs) are so large that little money can be spared from revenues to improve current conditions. City buildings and streets are dirty and run-down. Even the best neighborhood streets are filled with potholes. You’ll need a SUV to get around. Crime, while low, is on the rise. Winters are gray, so you’ll want to be able to travel somewhere else to see some sunshine. Education is a bright spot with state-of-the-art high school facilities and with Marshall University nearby. Quality private schools are also available. Unfortunately, the educated don’t tend to stick around. Huntington has a very pervasive status-quo herd mentality that drives smart people away and prevents any real progress for the area. Long-term residents are hypersensitive about their city and not open to change. If you’re the kind of person who enjoys making things happen, you’ll be frustrated beyond belief should you decide to move here. Huntington is a nice place to visit – but keep in mind that visiting here and living here are two very different things. If you're currently living in a prosperous and vibrant area, moving here may be a difficult adjustment for you.[more...]

Huntington, West Virginia Economy - 4/14/2006

The economy in Huntington is struggling to survive actually. The gap between the very wealthy and the lower income families is quite significant. It seems like the upper income is in control of the economic well being of the community and that of course makes the gap even larger. My worry is that the city is rapidly declining due to unemployment and the "leaders" can't seem to figure out what to do to make it turn around.[more...]

Mediocre is definitely the word. - 9/5/2005

Just as Chris stated, there is not a lot to do around Huntington. There are bars (not very good ones). The only reason that there is a noticeable population is because of Marshall University. When the school goes on summer break, you will notice the difference. But there is a silver lining... If you enjoy the outdoors, this is a good place for you. There are 2 lakes in the area: Beech Fork Lake & Lake Vesuvius, both with trails, wildlife, and beautiful scenery! Within a couple hours drive, there are also white water rafting opportunities, caving, biking, climbing, hiking, etc. If you don't enjoy the outdoors, then there is not much that Huntington can offer you.[more...]

If described in one word, Huntington would be "med - 6/25/2005

I think whether or not you like Huntington boils down to personal perception of what you like or dislike. For the younger crowd, there's not a lot to do outside of a few bars, and if you're not into the bar scene, you're pretty much stuck wondering what to do. Marshall University is the city's biggest employer, and also the city's biggest entertainment source with its athletic program and Marshall artists series which puts on various stage plays throughout the year. There is one inner city park with a tree lined walking path. The city cannot support professional sports as several minor league baseball teams and one hockey team have come and gone over the last decade or so. Basically the saying around town is that if it's not Marshall sports, the city won't support it. However city government does seem to be taking steps towards improving the downtown area, as one area has been renovated along with construction of a new entertainment/shopping complex known as Pullman Square. Marshall University is showing signs of growth and expansion. You can pretty much walk down the street and not have to worry much about anyone bothering you, most of the city's crime seems to be situated in one general area. Overall I'd say it's a safe place to raise a family, but your kids might get bored. Honestly it's not a bad place, though not great either...just sortof mediocre. A lot of the kids grow up and get their education in Huntington, then seek employment elsewhere just as I have done for lack of many career, entertainment, artistic, and cultural opportunities that are more abundantly available in other areas.[more...]