Here's the entire Midwest road trip playlist: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/ndFldtyKyrC4iZc.html

Nick is on a mission to run every red light in the Midwest

I was riding with a friend in Iowa. At every red light he just kept on going. I was freaking out. Then when he got to a green light he slammed on his brakes and stopped. I said, "What they hell did you stop at a green light?". His rely was, "Because Nick Johnson might be coming the other way!"

That was one of the most blatant red light runs I've ever seen lmao 4:42

i left Massachusetts 23 years ago and moved to Iowa. i love it here and will never leave . everything is cheaper .people are very nice. yeah there's not much to do, but I'll take a little boredom over high stress anytime. best state in the country in my opinion.

I lived in Iowa for almost 20 years and never felt unsafe.

Iowa is not out of touch. It is the people in places like Detroit, Chicago, LA, San Francisco, NYC, Washington DC, Portland, OR, Seattle, and Baltimore that are out of touch!

I grew up in Fort dodge. Moved to Denver, Colorado for 3 years. Returned to dodge, and first few years back there was a shooting across the street. Another time the swat team busted into my neighbors house and a house down the street. Kids threw a brick through another neighbors car window. A lot of this happens early morning hours 2-5am.

Why is Iowa so safe? Demographics, Christianity and pride in country. Simple

As a Brit with a son studying in IA (Waterloo) all I can say is we love it, its safe for our youngest and locals are great. Why people aren't flocking back to towns like Fort Dodge is beyond me. The choice of going to the west coast (Northern CA) to study or Iowa was a no brainer for him/us. I just need to work on my E5 immigrant Visa application!

Iowa seems like such a nice place! I like what the chap you interviewed had to say. As a South African looking in from the outside, it’s great to get these perspectives on towns in the US.

I grew up in the burned out house at the 3:53 mark. Was just back in the old stomping grounds to take a first hand look and it certainly choked me up a bit. The neighborhood was much different in the late 70s and 80s. Thanks for memories 318 S 18th.

I grew up in Fort Dodge. The neighborhood that was driven through that was referred to as "the worst neighborhood," I wouldn't even rank among the top 10 worst neighborhoods. In fact, it's one of the nice middle class areas. The neighborhoods that have given my hometown its reputation were completely missed and passed by. Deep in the neighborhoods by the prison and college, called "ABC land" are among the worst. Graffiti everywhere, run down homes, fights, drugs, gangs, violence, the works. It's very unfortunate. The neighborhood down by Corpus Christi Church and the Community Health Center is intense, as well. I witnessed an incident of mugging in that area when I was in elementary school. Also the street I grew up on had 3 houses burned down in my childhood. 2 to arson, and 1 to drug manufacturing (this is really tragic, especially considering that I lived on the better end of the middle class area, no where near the worst areas). Growing up, there have been so many days when I woke up to find out another close family friend or major community member had died because of another incident or wrong place wrong time mix up sort of situation. A beloved pastor was tragically murdered outside of a church just a few years ago. I graduated from the high school in town. I don't think a week passed by without a huge fist fight or huge crime related incident being relevant. We're talking drug dealing, gang violence, elementary school kids with drugs or contraband, etc. I'll never forget the days I walked into a classroom to find that the person who sat next to me the day before or the person who was assigned as my lab partner was now in jail because they shot or robbed somebody the day prior. I couldn't count the instances we were in the National news for the incidents around here, or the times the schools I attended, all the way down to my elementary school, were on lockdowns for violence in the surrounding neighborhoods, threats of violence to the school, someone bringing in a weapon, etc. Yes, even in elementary school. It has become a troubled town. For being a small town, the prevalence of crime is extremely high and unfortunate. Obviously, a town of less than 25K in proportion to cities with millions, like Chicago, doesn't compare. It is like comparing a small marble to a boulder. For Fort Dodge being the "small marble" in this example, it sure is rough. The prevalence of crime in Fort Dodge for a town that small is ridiculous and sad. With all respect, I get very tired of hearing the opinions of people who visited my hometown one time for only a couple hours give their reviews and make extreme statements and reviews without even knowing the other half and the true extent, without visiting the areas of complete tragedy and reading into the daily News of Record, or the reports from the worst incidents. It's not 100% fair to judge when you haven't walked through someone's shoes or even spoken to someone who spent their whole life there. I'm grateful to have grown up a Dodger. I'm grateful to have grown up in a better situation than most in the town, and I'm grateful to have grown up in a city that honestly could be worse. It's still a struggling community, especially considering the size. There are countless efforts to make things better and change things and so many fights for change exist, but there will always be a broken part of my hometown.

i usualy watch these late at night to relax, the other night i dozed off watching one these videos and dreaming i was driving around with you and you dropped me off in a cornfield and left me and i woke up 😂😂😂😂😂 i need to stop watching these at bedtime lol

There is a place in fort Dodge called the flats. You most visit. It's like a ghetto but different. It has the flair of the southern jue joint.

I've lived in Iowa my whole life and I'm 68 trs old and I wouldn't trade it for the world. The little town I live in is about 70 people around that, there is no empty houses, no stores what so ever, we do have a garage that fixes mostly farmer trucks for their corn hauling and bean, work on their semis and once in awhile a car or pickup. Nice quite little tow, mixture of young and old and we know everybody. I raised my kids here and now my oldest son is raising his kids here among other young people. There are young people that grew up here, got married lived 5 miles away, but ended up when they seen a house for sale, bought it, remodeled it and now raising his son here. My husband was born and raised here, I came from a town 25 miles away but wouldn't trade this town for anything. There are no police here so if we need them or an ambulance you have to wait till they come. I don't even think the town I'm from is even on the map at least it used to be then they took it off and don't think it's back on, cause it's out in the country which I love. I'm enjoying your little trip through parts of Iowa and we are very, very lucky here.

Born and raised in Fort Dodge. That reputation is mostly legend. Iowan’s perspective on the condition of their town is based on what it used to be when they were young. It used to be better, but no it is not like living in a city. Those $400k homes would be over a million in Denver where I live. Denver has a huge homeless and crime problem.

Fort Dodge is a wonderful community that like other towns, has its issues. We have a wonderful community college, beautiful parks and plenty of historical sites to visit. To understand the level of community, you must be involved. The job options are not low, there are a ton of opportunities if one wants to work. We live simple, but comfortable. Crime is everywhere . I grew up in San Bernardino CA, so I would agree, its all about perspective. I would live no where else. Fort Dodge is home.

I was born and raised in fort dodge iowa and I think this is one of the best places to live. I'll continue to live here till I die

please do a video on Waterloo, Iowa next!!

I was born in Ft Dodge and then at age 4, family moved to farm a little farther than an hour NW of Fort Dodge. However, Ft. Dodge in the 1960s was the place to shop - the mall was new and had all the correct stores - JC Pennys, Sears, etc. It is sad that the industry left but still a few good large manufacturers. It has been cleaned up in the last 15 years and its reputation is rebuilding slowly. One example is that the Girls State HS softball tourney is held in Ft. Dodge every spring.

I love that you are covering Iowa. I just moved from rural Michigan to a suburb on the outskirts of Des Moines. I drive past a corn field on my way to work but am also, like, 15 minutes away from anything I could want to buy. Just moved here yesterday, so far it's nice and quiet in my little corner of the city :) I've already started getting Iowa themed ads on KZfaq for local politicians and HyVee (in Michigan we've got Meijer, not HyVee). Lol

Iowas form of dangerous is cute compared to other dangerous places. I’ll take Iowa over Chicago.

Really interesting video. I live about 10 miles north of Fort Dodge, I worked in Fort Dodge for years, and my children all went to school in Fort Dodge, and I agree with you... Fort Dodge is not bad. In fact, for most of the residents, it's a nice place to live and work. Thanks for your of observations.

44 yrs In Iowa I did have to move to Philly for a little culture and excitement. Still have my acre and farm house in Iowa . Well it’s nice to have a paid off 35 k house to go to have family gatherings 😁

Nice shirt, Nick! Single handedly increasing the town's per capita income by 100%

The best thing ever to come out of Iowa is Slipknot!

4:39 - Ran a stoplight!! We stop for red lights in Iowa, Nick! 😊 Be careful out there! 🚜

Awesome thing about Iowa is that every little town has a disc golf course. Take that California!

I was born in Fort Dodge in 1967 and lived there til 1986, when I joined the Air Force. The video is exaggerated, it's not dangerous and still a great town to live in. Hard working and good schools. It's only dangerous if someone goes out looking to get into trouble. My mom is 85, my brother owns a cabinet shop there still thats been in the family since 1952. Both live there and like it !

Very informative and entertaining videos!!! Great job Nick!

Grew up in south subs of Chicago, raised my kids in a small town in NW Indiana and moved near Des Moines IA 7 years ago. Feels like the south suburbs of Chicago 40 years ago. Love Iowa! Great diversity, community driven, considerably safer than Chicago suburbs and friendlier than small town Indiana.

Wow, I was born in Fort Dodge, left there in 1954. I couldn't handle the winter weather. I'm shocked it's the worst town. Thanks for all your work, Nick.

I lived in moorland as a kid. My dad worked at Hormel until it closed. I enjoyed the video

ran a red light at 4:40 smh.

I am in fort dodge. All the way from the Philippines and i could say that Fort Dodge isn't a bad place to live. It is a great place to live to those family who are wanting to save and earn since the cost of living isn't that high. Also, i could say, fort dodge is still a safe place to stay :)

Thank you for saying how Fort Dodge isnt that bad, but you missed a lot of the bad places. the worst place is what everyone calls, “the flats” there are shootings there almost every week, fights, drug operations, etc. My father has some ptsd (diagnosed) from being down there, he witnessed a man get shot and killed in a drive by. The place fort frenzy was in one of the nicer areas of town, but just last year there was a party being held and when a girl sat outside she was shot multiple times in a drive by, some of good friends heard the gun shots, and some of my other good friends were already at the party inside. there is a lot of arson, the saint paul church arson, and other houses (thats why a lot of those houses in the hood looked burned down) You need to live in fort dodge to see the crap that goes on here. My first hand experience is when i was younger our neighbor had a meth lab, got shot when the police raided because he shot back. And my Dads place, he lives in the neighborhood FILLED with crackheads, some friends and i call it “Crack Town” there are so many meth heads pacing up and down the streets, laying on the grass, etc. My fathers dog was killed because of living in this neighborhood. sickens me, my father and i are still looking for the asshole that did it. long story short, fort dodge isnt hell, but its not a good town either. believe the people who live here when they say that fort dodge is dirty.

I live 15 minutes from Fort Dodge and I go there weekly and don't see it being that bad. I heard some coworkers called Fort Dodge the mini Minneapolis. I used to live in Minnesota for over 20 years and I really glad I've moved here.

Wouldn't be upset if Iowa stayed the same! Lots of Iowans seem dedicated to this.

I was born in Fort Dodge and almost all of my family still live there. There are a lot of good people there. I have lived across the country and Iowans definitely don’t really realize how things are other places.

The world could use a dose of Iowa right now👍

Fort Dodge is Martha’s Vineyard compared to most major cities in America as far as crime goes.

Nic, I lived in Sacramento Ca. for 61 years I moved to Cedar Rapids Ia 6 years ago, best move I could have made. I came here to be Iowan not a dirty low down Californian moving here to change things. Good people here. The weather is very good (six months out of the year, maybe 7) I like what you said here, sure beats all the other videos that only mention the corn. Very smart you can parle' this youtube channel into quit the referral agency. Fact is before I moved here I would have called you for advice.

I live in Dubuque and have never been to Fort Dodge, but it just seems like a typical Iowa town for its size.

Im from California city of Norwalk i moved to iowa its gonna be 2 yrs now best decision ever!!

Plus I love what you do my sir ☺️

Just moved to Iowa from Louisiana. The people here don't know how fortunate they are. They would be flabbergasted to see the state of parts of new orleans.

IOWA IS FOR ME! ♥️⭐ THANK YOU NICK!

Iowans Are not blissfully unaware we are very aware that’s why we choose to stay where we are or live in Iowa away from all the crazies

As someone who has lived in Iowa for 30 years I can say the crime here in Council Bluffs is getting worse because there has been an influx of people moving here from Chicago, Detroit, Milwaukee, KC, and other large Midwestern cities. As someone who has traveled abroad quite a bit, was actually just in Seattle for a week about a month ago and talk about a city where you gotta watch your back. Quite a bit of Iowans exaggerate the situation here. I'm honestly surprised Council Bluffs or Waterloo we're not higher on the list statistically than Fort Dodge. Big problems in Iowa from My experience is pills, meth, and assaults from being drunk and disorderly.

So I've lived in fort dodge off and on most of my life, but as a trucker I've grown to appreciate a simpler small town. I can just bobtail into my driveway and enjoy time off!

awesome! thanks for all these vids..they provide a never ending source of entertainment! all the best, from Sweden 👍👍

Thank you for saying Fort Dodge isn't that bad. Yes, our crime rate has gone up lately but that has been happening everywhere. Fort Dodge has been trying to change it's image and it is going to take some time. We do have some very beautiful parks in town and some great hiking trails. Retail is slowly making a comeback in town and the mall area is being completely redevolped. Thanks for visiting Fort Dodge!

Dang Nick…you really didn’t like Mappy’s hat! Lol 😂

Fort Dodge may be considered the most "dangerous" Iowa City according to current stats. But Burlington Iowa made the Tonight Show years ago when it was said it was the best place to go and get away with murder. The supporting fact was at the time out of 52 murders there was only 4 that was solved.

You can live in Iowa and not have to lock your door which is very nice you neighbors are there for you it’s community you can’t get that in the city I moved here from Denver I grew up in Denver and I’m going to tell you I will not give this up the winter suck here but the peace and low crime is worth it!!! And we have an awesome governor

Been to Fort Dodge a number of times 1978-1980 when I was an owner/operator leased to Michigan Nebraska Trucking. Hauled lots of paper rolls from Michigan to the National Gypsum plant there. Then either beef out or deadheaded to get another load somewhere in Iowa, Nebraska, or South Dakota.

Great video Nick

I'd love for you to do Sacramento, CA. I just moved from there to a town an hour from Fort Dodge and We love it.

hey , you ran that red light ! i saw that, 4:38 i hope Mappy was in his car seat, better yet, might be best to let Mappy drive next trip . :-)

You need to hit Keokuk and Fort Madison and Burlington Iowa,, they got issues there,, i lived there for work for 9 months,, had challenges..

If I lived somewhere like that I would never leave. There is nothing better in the rest of the world, especially not in the cities.

I went to college in Fort Dodge. The town really isn’t that bad. Houses were super cheap and they have been trying to clean up the community.

I moved here from the east coast , when I first got here I thought I’d landed on the set of Pleasant ville.

I used to live in Moorland so thankyou so much for making this!

Thanks for the thumbs up to Sioux City. I have lived here all my life, and it is a good place to raise a family and live!!!!! We are the black sheep of Iowa, since there is nothing West of Des Moines, but I love it here!👍👍👍👍👍

“Buckle up, put on your seatbelts it’s only going downhill” Nick: 😊

I worked on the new pork processing plant by Eagle Grove back in 2018-19. There was a murder like once a week. I was shocked to learn I passed one while exploring the town in my first week there. Also, Compared to Marshalltown when it comes to run down. Marshalltown is way uglier and run down.

I live near Fort Dodge. Used to work all over that town. I have never understood the hype about it either. I have lived in Minneapolis and Rural Indiana, I think Fort Dodge is a quiet, relatively safe town. Almost all of the violent crime is connected in some way. Random violence is rare.

Being from Maryland, I've always thought of Iowa as just another fly over state with little but corn in every direction. It's definitely interesting to see the perspective of the people who live there though. Although many think of the state as boring, they are happy, and don't have the rampant crime and corruption that we have in east coast cities. Over here, we become desensitized to the daily shootings, murders, and drugs in places like Baltimore, and it's really sad the way we're letting our country go to waste.

I love Iowa, I would consider moving there someday, probably the east end of Iowa

Speaking as someone from Iowa, who moved out West and came back: The reason we are so critical of crimes in Iowa and the cities that host them is because we know how good we have it and we hold Iowa to a higher standard. Here in Charles City (another place people from Chicago love to move to. Actually, can you investigate that and make a video?) when a crime happens, we say something to the effect of “This is small town Iowa, it shouldn’t be happening here.” Because we know we don’t have the climate, population, scenery, tourism, etc. that other states often have and safety and cost of living are all we have. If we become just another dangerous place, I might as well just move to So Cal or Miami.

Thanks for letting me drive on South 25th street again. I'm Dutch and was an exchange student in '77. Lived on that street that year. Sure changed a bit. But still recognize the fine neighbourhood.

IMO Iowans for the most part know that we have it pretty good overall. I think that's why we may exaggerate things as you said. Our bad is not really that bad. However I think we're worried about things getting bad and really going downhill. So that's on our minds especially when we see what is going on elsewhere.

I love Iowa! It's a good place to live, I know, I've lived in Iowa 50 years!

I love nicks videos, been watching for years and its the best on youtube

I'm very honest and honorable and respect myself and others. My parents were strict. I believe that I would be welcomed in Iowa. I love the lifestyle of Iowa

I lived in fort dodge for a while and a handful of times I did feel unsafe. I worked late nights downtown and lived just a few blocks off downtown. Several times I heard gunshots from my apartment, and often there would be loud people yelling outside walking by who were clearly intoxicated or on some sort of drugs. Once saw a man bail out of his car and try to escape police on foot across the street. Once a man somehow got into our secure apartment complex and screamed at me in the hall. I had some scary experiences there but they were certainly not the norm. I think it’s funny people told you Sioux City was worse because I lived there as well and and I think because it’s bigger, it’s easier to stay away from the rougher areas.

The city has crumbled badly over the decades. The loss of the Hormel plant and Coates & Company hurt it a big heap.

Just started watching your videos, I like the way you think, if people from Iowa think fort dodge is a the worst place in Iowa, that's a good problem to have 😂 😂 😂

"I wouldn't be upset if Iowa stayed the same." That's exactly the attitude that is contributing to the decline of rural America. "The same" is not a winning strategy as evidenced by the trends of the last 50 years. No hate for anyone who is happy living in a quiet town, working at the mill your whole life or working the family farm, but that is not usually what people think of when they try to dream big. City dwellers are often criticized for living in a "bubble," and there is some validity to this, people do share more common, open, tolerant, and adventurous values, because that's what's necessary when you encounter people from all kind of economic, national, and ethnic backgrounds. Meanwhile, I would flip that back and say that rural people live in the real bubble. It may be geographically larger, but ideologically it's way smaller. When you live in a boring small town in Iowa, and all the nearby small towns look just like yours, filled with the same kinds of people, nothing ever changes (for the better anyway), new people don't come, new businesses rarely come around... what kind of life is that? I will arrogantly state that life is objectively richer just with access of proximity to diverse cultural experiences and the opportunities they create. Change my mind.

Fort Dodge might be the most dangerous but Waterloo is the most dirtiest

Hey Nick, BTW, too bad you didn't make a run through Clear Lake, IA. That is small town midwest that is really kept up well. The town looks beautiful and kept up, is still full of townies as well as an influx of summer visitors, hosts big city events (The Surf Ballroom hosts real concerts with big name musicians, old wooden boat parades, art festivals, etc), the state parks are regenerating old prairies and marshes and are very people friendly, a 15 minute drive will take you to the best kept secret restaurant in the USA "The Northwest Steakhouse", and it's close to "big city" Mason City.

4:39 way to run that red light bud. Hahahahahaha just joshing ya.

I moved to Fort Dodge from Ames one year ago as of this coming Sunday. Fort Dodge to Ames is rotten apples to fresh oranges if you ask me. However, there ARE plenty of great people here. Also, one HOT subject surrounding crime in this town is the Dodger Apartments and Townhomes, just across the street from Saint Edmond’s Catholic School. I’m surprised you didn’t bring that up. A lot of bad stuff happens over there. Anyway, that’s just my perspective.

Fort Dodge is pretty bad but Council Bluffs, Iowa east of Omaha, Nebraska is even more bad and dangerous. Great Video Nick!

I’m from Virginia and my grandmother from Franhamville IA used to take me there all the time. It was nice back in the 80s.

In 1978 I lived in the flats of Fort Dodge and went to College there. Iowa Central Community college.

This is sad. Fort Dodge was the hometown of one of my college classmates

My grandparents lived in Ft Dodge. Never thought it was dangerous or ugly. Its downtown always seemed big for its size. Great high school football stadium surrounded by brick wall. Amazing how it’s gone downhill since the 70s because of the Hormel plant shut down. Sen. Steve King really destroyed NW Iowa.

Grew up in Iowa. I now live in a town just outside Houston Texas. Attended a 50 class reunion. Another graduate lived in Seattle. When no one was listening he made the comment to me " do you feel like you just moved back several decades?" I

Your music intro is a clip from the theme to the TV show “Cimarron Strip”. Loved that show!! 🤠

Love your creativity Nick , but please don't lose your mind and shoot 🔫mappy.🤠

A lot of people cannot handle the harsh weather conditions, and boring landscapes It’s so cold here

HEY YOU RAN A RED LIGHT IN DIRTY DODGE MAN, YOURE LUCKY YOU GOT OUT ALIVE! 🤣🤣

I've lived in the Iowa City area for 20 years. It's a hell of a lot better than Illinois. Drugs, poverty and lack of opportunity are the biggest problems in towns like Fort Dodge and Keokuk

We need more Iowa in the rest of this Country. That is my take as a life long New Yorker. I love Mappy, he is the best. 🤔😀✌️🤗

The neighbor hood looks like waterloo

I was born in Fort Dodge in 1949, grew up there, and attended the local community college before moving out of state to finish college. It was a fie place to grow up in. It had a reputation for being dangerous 70 years ago. It sure didn't feel dangerous to me for the 19 years I lived there.

Born and raised in Fort Dodge (as were my Dad, his mother and her mother). You didn't get to the really bad neighborhood, the Flats. Lived there until 7th grade. It wasn't terrible then, but it's gone way downhill (no pun intended). As to ugly cities, my wife of 45 years grew up in Ottumwa and we argue this point. Except I say "MY city is uglier" and she says "No, MINE is!" We live in Des Moines and love it. It's like living in Chicago (which we did 40 years ago) but without the traffic congestion, crime and we have cornfields nearby.