I was fortunate to have my documentary film about a fourth-generation Wisconsin dairy farmer struggling to keep his farm open at the Beloit International Film Festival last year. I grew up about 30 minutes east of there in Elkhorn, and always heard bad stories about it. When I stayed there during the film festival, I was BLOWN away. The investments that have been poured into the city and revitalizing its Rust Belt past are a masterclass that should be studied by other cities. The downtown was vibrant, and I have stayed at hotels all over the world, the Hotel Goodwin downtown was easily one of the best I've ever stayed at.
It's one thing to spend a few days in downtown Beloit versus living here! The downtown area serves a very tiny piece of the population. The 2023 crime stats for Beloit was only 4,000 less that Janesville, yet Janesville has almost double the population. Beloit has a significantly large number of registered sex offenders for a population it's size. The city council does NOTHING to enforce codes, slum landlords, and clean up...while the number of responsible Beloiters continues to decrease. Young adults continue to leave Beloit and the school district remains at the lower 50% of the state.
This man single handedly produces better, more informative, and more entertaining content than 99% of the "media". Think about that for a minute. The Texas road trip was awesome too. Mappy is hilarious. Kudos Nick, we love you. Don't change anything.
@@iskdude9922yeah prolly parts of Milwaukee. Milwaukee has a beautiful east side. Much like Chicago has a beautiful north/east side. But yeah the good and bad are separated.
I moved from Denver to janesville/beloit 25 years ago. Historic river towns, Victorian houses for cheap, undiscovered, half an hour from Madison. Madison steals the young but def. Underrated
MacKenzie Scott, Jeff Bezos's ex-wife, has donated far more than Diane Hendricks to charity but it's spread around to a lot of different organizations and locations compared to being concentrated in one place like Beloit.
@@FlintIronstag23 Yeah, she's not a hero for marrying one of the wealthiest guys in the world, making off with outrageous amounts of money (none of which she deserved) and then giving some of it away.
@@Screenwriting She married Jeff in 1993 before he founded Amazon and long before he was a billionaire. She was also very involved in the early days of Amazon. Meanwhile Diane Hendricks's husband Ken was actually the driving force behind ABC Supply, being the chairman and CEO of company until his accidental death in 2007.
Nick, thank you for what i consider a love letter to my state. You have done a great job exploring and reporting the highs and lows of Wisconsin. It is far from a perfect place, but you showed the spirit of the people is mostly good and we are kind, friendly and hard working...all true! Beloit is a great example of our spirit, or should i say, the spirit of one hard working woman to make it a good place. I really enjoy all the places you visit, but this series hit my heart and made me proud! Thanks again, Nick, and i will continue to follow you in your travels...we have to get you to one million! ❤
I have lived in Wisconsin for 20 years and it has been, by far, my favorite place to live. So it is very gratifying to hear that you, Nick, have also found it so appealing. Thank you for this great post about Beloit. I had no idea that it was experiencing such a fine rebirth, and I only live just outside of Madison. I enjoy your videos tremendously. Thank you. Keep up the good work.
Love it here! I've walked and rode my bike through beloit hundreds of miles and never had any issues with Anyone! Even at 1am in the morning! Never say Beloit is bad. Just hard working blue collar people.
I was born and raised in Beloit and it was a great town to grow up in. At 5:55 that used to be the Beloit corporation. The Beloit Corporation made paper-making machinery that was used worldwide, my Dad worked there from 1950 until 1990.
You are correct. Beloit is far from the worst in Wisconsin. I grew up in the City of Milwaukee's northwest side, wasn't too bad back then, but much worse now. But Milwaukee's Innercity just north of downtown is the worst place in Wisconsin. I now live in a suburb south of Milwaukee. Thanks for your insight into Beloit, I haven't been to Beloit in years. Looks like it's a great area.
I live in Beloit and I can tell you, A) you have Diane's story all wrong! Her HUSBAND made all that money and then he died. B) it's really crazy how much of a disconnect there is between the little sections Diane Hendricks fixed up + the overpriced liberal arts college, and THE REST of Beloit, which is crime riddled and basically just a little Milwaukee. PS: the "paper machine place" is where I currently work, it's a great job, and that place you said "made some engine parts" during the war is Fairbanks Morse. They STILL make engines for the Navy and USCG and for gensets across the world. Look up the USS Beloit! That's why it's named the Beloit, because we built the engines.
Gotta friend that lives in Franksville down by you. Seems like Milwaukee and Menomonee Falls are just Chicago suburbs. Waukesha and West Bend are rapidly being "Chicagoized" now. All the way up to Green Bay. Definitely not the Wisconsin I grew up in, and I'm definatly not liking the "change".
@@gnotes85 a small but reasonably important distinction lol - don't worry, you're not the only one who forgets that. Not by far! I think she mostly "forgets" too.
Why because she turned it into a decent and safe place to live. It seems like a nice quiet place to move to. In this country there are different levels of what you can call poor ,small towns are some of the most richest places in the country where people care about their town and where they live.
I grew up in Beloit. I was there during the worst times, and when the big news events in your town include the end of an infamous murder spree happening at your local Radio Shack, and an out of town couple being victimized in a gang rape, you tend to think of your own hometown as Wisconsin's Worst City. I used to say Beloit had urban crime, and rural boredom. But even back then, most of the town was pretty okay.
I was with my friend in Beloit when he was robbed at gun point, lots of gang connections from Chicago around thare. The one kid that was arrested for the robbery was awaiting multiple felony charges already his buddy just got out the day before from previous armed robbery convictions.
I hung out in Beloit during 90s quite a bit. It was very run down, lots of violence and felt like a shit hole in general. I don't recall running across any people from Chicago. Its just way too small, nothing happening, off the radar town that is not even that close to Chicago to get noticed. Just your typical town that took a big hit when local economy crashed leading to lots of poverty and problems that come with it.
The bad part of town looks like where I live, haha! I think the place is pretty nice!! That hotel is so awesome! I’ll have to visit there when I go to see my son in Sheboygan.
In the 90s Kenosha was great . Now it's a dump . It's basically the Southside of Chicago packed up all their belongings in their car and landed in Kenosha. They brought their crime, gangs and filth to what was beautiful Kenosha ! It's awful ! They turned it into their version of Gary, Indiana.
I'm a Beloiter popping in to say this video is well done. I was born and raised here (50 years), and no matter where I visit, I love home sweet home. Safe travels my friend, and hope to see you back when the hotel/casino project is complete. Ground breaking soon. ❤
Frito Lay has a chip plant in Beloit , dump ramp picks your entire semi truck off the ground to dump the raw potatoes into the plant , been going there for years never had a problem. Runs 24/7 365.
@@oldclip70 The May and June 2024 issues of Railfan & Railroad have articles on the Beloit FM locomotives! Great reading! The June issue will be out in four weeks.
Not only is Beloit nicer than most people think, Janesville and Kenosha are too. We are not rust belt tragedies. If you’re worried about us, don’t be. There are brighter days ahead.
As a born and raised Wiscomsite, who still lives here, happily, I appreciate your support of Wisconsin. We are the best kept secret. Cheers to you, Nick!
@@kayelv.l.2016 I used to hang out in Beloit during later 90s quite a bit. It looked way worse back then. Does this shift towards progress coincide with people from Chicago moving in?
Beloit Wisconsin is where my mom was born and raised. My dad was born and raised in Appleton, Wisconsin. My 2 older brothers were born in Madison, Wisconsin. My mother’s family owned several big farms there that she and her 2 brothers eventually sold and divided up the profits between the 3 of them. The last farm, in Indiana, was sold within the last 10 years. It was the biggest farm. I was born in “Terrible Hot”, Indiana. That’s what my parents ts called Terre Haute. We weren’t there 6 months before my dad graduated with his PhD (doctorate). We relocated to Moscow, Idaho where my baby brother was born. My dad was a professor of music-he would always say “I’m not THAT kind of doctor” when he had to visit me in the hospital. I always felt like Beloit was a quaint little town. My grandfather’s property was along a residential street where the yards were huge and park like. The houses sat back off the road. At the opposite end of the property was a beautiful, wide river (I think it is called the Rock River. I was told that the other side of the river was Illinois, but I’m not 100% sure. We usually drove out there from Idaho at least every other year. We camped out near the river where you could fish, feed ducks, swim, and watch the fireflies dance after dark. A couple times I had to rescue my little brother from getting carried off by huge mosquitoes! JK, but they do have huge ones there. My cousins lived in Madison and would come to Beloit and we would take turns trying to bounce each other off of a huge inner tube, and paddle around on the paddle boat. I never really saw any bad side of Beloit. The last time I was there was right before I graduated from nursing school, in 1995. Eventually, the family home and property was sold years after my grandfather and the “old timers” (I mean that with the utmost respect) passed away. My mom still lives in Idaho, my father passed away suddenly 12 years ago. I’m sure eventually I’ll get back to see the old places (if they’re still there. My grandfather built the huge 3 story farmhouse there, and hopefully it hasn’t changed too much. I have to say, also, that on one trip home, before we left Beloit, we found a cheesecake store. they had the best cheesecake I've ever eaten. still to this day, it is the best. i bought an entire chocolate chip cheesecake. All for little ol' me. thank you to anyone who actually took the time tp read my comment here. seriously. thank you. 😊.
I drove to Beloit from Chicago back in the 90s, never went back, there was nothing there to go back to. What a change. It looks really cleaned up and decent. That lady really made a difference in that city. That hotel is wow!
Same. I had some friends in Beloit and Madison would visit fairly often from Chicago. If not for my friends would never consider visiting, not even talking moving. It was just a small, poor, run down town. Kind of funny that city is getting much nicer now, which is coinciding with people from Chicago starting to move in, yet everyone blames Beloits problems on Chicago. Its getting better not worse...
@@beachdawgz guess kinda have to expect it though. its kind of the motto of this channel. Focus on the bad and offer reasons to blame. Good stuff got to leave out or make it snappy.
I’d have guessed Racine would be considered “the worst” on a smaller town scale based on the gang and drug problems there. Beloit has always gotten a bad rap and obviously as you showed Nick it’s actually been refurbished quite well for the 21st century. They have had a lot of good manufacturing jobs like tool & die makers and as you stated have a “blue collar” historical reputation which I think contribute to the bad rap since culture at large tends to denigrate hard work especially where one gets their hands dirty and have to sweat - God forbid that “persecution” LOL!
Yes Clara Barton was pilloried and her name dragged through the mud, and she was forced to resign her position in the American Red Cross (which she chartered!) after her efforts in the relief of Galveston in 1900 after the hurricane. Small minded people will turn their envy into action against those they envy.
Ive heard of beloit, i think they may have got it confused with south beloit across the illinois border for being bad, im not sure, but beloit on the wisconsin side definatley looks like a decent place I dont think going 10 minutes outside of beloit proper to south beloit would make that big a difference looks and statistics wise. Illinois is just know for having a bad reputation with the way there government is ran.
Get to Beloit 3-4 x year primarily to call on businesses. No, Beloit USED to be after the closing of its major industrial base (think Fairbanks Morse) but now it's Racine/Kenosha.
I have not been to Beloit since the 90s but even then it wasn't that bad. Milwaukee as a whole is ok but has a few neighborhoods you don't go to unless necessary.
@@NickJohnson I’m pacing myself! One per night. Awaiting the next Great Lakes tour video-I spent a LOT of time in Marquette and Traverse City. Having lived in several states, ( Michigan, New York, Virginia and Florida the longest) it’s interesting to see your focus and comments. Good to know the places where I “won’t get jumped”. 😜
@@matthewjohnson1211”any part of Chicago” Logan Square Wrigleyville and good amount of north side is pretty nice. Your generalization just shows you are uneducated on the city.
I’ve been to Beloit when I worked in nearby Rockford,Ill. Didn’t tour the town but they have a great Planet Fitness and City Park with Lake Victoria. The clearest freshwater lake I’ve ever seen.🤟🏿😎
Native here. Beloit is awful. But nothing compares to the north side of Milwaukee. Milwaukee is notoriously segregated by viaducts between the north and south sides. I grew up on the south side of Milwaukee. Trust and believe, stay out of the north side.
Don’t forget to check out Janesville as well. It has a nice downtown and Milton Avenue has a lot of businesses and is semi-pedestrian friendly. The surrounding communities are also nice like Whitewater, Milton, Edgerton, Evansville, Fort Atkinson, etc.
Glad you enjoyed my home state! Left after high school. Still miss it. I think its actually nicer than trashy Southern California where I lived for 30 years.
✍ Wow super great news - so happy for people who live there, very inspirational - the lady is a good egg. Thanks for all your work Nick & Team - good job.🌱🌷🌳🌻
@mobyjoe1 No doubt in any residents mind that she killed her husband....no way he just fell off a ladder. She swindled properties from business owners downtown (hatleys pub is an example) when they refused to sell to her. She has pulled many shady strings. I hate to use the word gentrification but it's true, she gentrified the town. Right outside of our beautiful and whitewashed downtown with apartments no locals can afford is my street and neighborhood. She doesn't care about the people here. She cares about the tourists who have money. She's a rotten human being, and I've met and mingled with her and her team, as have my parents, at a conference of hers back in 2018.
@@summerjohnson5437Illinois resident looking to move to Wisconsin and “good ol boys” like yall saying IL people aren’t welcome just makes me wanna move in even more lol
Come on back, Nick, and this time stop and explore Appleton and its surrounding towns. I've lived here for over 25 years in the Fox Valley, and might just retire here. Never would a native Southern Californian thought she'd find herself saying this, but this place grew on me over the years. Have had well-paying jobs that entire time, too!
I never really comment ,but these people don't know what a ghetto is. 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 They do live in a bubble. Lmao ghetto .😂 I lived my whole life in New York ,came down to South Florida ten years ago they both have a lot of ghettos .I am moving in next six months to Wisconsin I have to narrow down an area. So this is why I was interested in hearing what a Wisconsin ghetto was. Very comical .Thank you for the clarity and info it's helpful
To be honest, no one in Wisconsin really thinks Beloit is the worst-most people have never even been there, it's kind of out of the way and irrelevant. Milwaukee is hands down the worst (coming from someone who grew up there) with Racine coming in a distant second.
Wonderful video, Nick! It reminds me very much of something G. K. Chesterton wrote. " People first paid honour to a spot and afterwards gained glory for it. Men did not love Rome because she was great. She was great because they had loved her." Whatever else Diane Hendricks may be, she has loved Beloit. And Beloit has become much more lovely because of that.
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Here's the entire Great Lakes Road Trip Playlist: ruclips.net/p/PLq-_cmf3H6ypYq3snF04oSnlx1Nz_paCO&si=kNDoQzx-oYo8hz6s
Is Diane Hendrix still single 😏
Awesome
@@jasonMMorris yes. And she is 77 so you won’t have to wait too much longer.
I was fortunate to have my documentary film about a fourth-generation Wisconsin dairy farmer struggling to keep his farm open at the Beloit International Film Festival last year. I grew up about 30 minutes east of there in Elkhorn, and always heard bad stories about it. When I stayed there during the film festival, I was BLOWN away. The investments that have been poured into the city and revitalizing its Rust Belt past are a masterclass that should be studied by other cities. The downtown was vibrant, and I have stayed at hotels all over the world, the Hotel Goodwin downtown was easily one of the best I've ever stayed at.
It's one thing to spend a few days in downtown Beloit versus living here! The downtown area serves a very tiny piece of the population. The 2023 crime stats for Beloit was only 4,000 less that Janesville, yet Janesville has almost double the population. Beloit has a significantly large number of registered sex offenders for a population it's size. The city council does NOTHING to enforce codes, slum landlords, and clean up...while the number of responsible Beloiters continues to decrease. Young adults continue to leave Beloit and the school district remains at the lower 50% of the state.
This man single handedly produces better, more informative, and more entertaining content than 99% of the "media". Think about that for a minute. The Texas road trip was awesome too. Mappy is hilarious. Kudos Nick, we love you. Don't change anything.
I'm changing everything now
Right?
The MSM is a rigged psyops scam mostly full of paid PR and propaganda.
If that’s the worst place in WI.. sign me up
Its not racine or kenosha probably is... or milwaukee depending on where you live in milwaukee...
I was thinking the same thing
The Bad areas are the North and west part of Milwaukee. Especially north of Marquette
@@iskdude9922yeah prolly parts of Milwaukee. Milwaukee has a beautiful east side. Much like Chicago has a beautiful north/east side. But yeah the good and bad are separated.
You’re not going to Minnesota 😭
I moved from Denver to janesville/beloit 25 years ago. Historic river towns, Victorian houses for cheap, undiscovered, half an hour from Madison. Madison steals the young but def. Underrated
Right
Janesville has terrible crime rate and gangs
@@Shawn-Leider
Wuthering Hills is fine.
I really don't think Janesville is that bad, sure there's some sketchy areas but nothing crazy at all.
This woman is a hero and America needs more like her...PLEASE!
MacKenzie Scott, Jeff Bezos's ex-wife, has donated far more than Diane Hendricks to charity but it's spread around to a lot of different organizations and locations compared to being concentrated in one place like Beloit.
@@FlintIronstag23 Jeff Bezos ex-wife Mackenzie Scott*
@@FlintIronstag23 Yeah, she's not a hero for marrying one of the wealthiest guys in the world, making off with outrageous amounts of money (none of which she deserved) and then giving some of it away.
@@Screenwriting She married Jeff in 1993 before he founded Amazon and long before he was a billionaire. She was also very involved in the early days of Amazon.
Meanwhile Diane Hendricks's husband Ken was actually the driving force behind ABC Supply, being the chairman and CEO of company until his accidental death in 2007.
@@Peewyldwhite
Nick, thank you for what i consider a love letter to my state. You have done a great job exploring and reporting the highs and lows of Wisconsin. It is far from a perfect place, but you showed the spirit of the people is mostly good and we are kind, friendly and hard working...all true! Beloit is a great example of our spirit, or should i say, the spirit of one hard working woman to make it a good place. I really enjoy all the places you visit, but this series hit my heart and made me proud! Thanks again, Nick, and i will continue to follow you in your travels...we have to get you to one million! ❤
Aww ok Jill!
I have lived in Wisconsin for 20 years and it has been, by far, my favorite place to live. So it is very gratifying to hear that you, Nick, have also found it so appealing. Thank you for this great post about Beloit. I had no idea that it was experiencing such a fine rebirth, and I only live just outside of Madison. I enjoy your videos tremendously. Thank you. Keep up the good work.
Ok!
Good for Beloit! I'm a Wisconite that never new Beloit had a renaissance.
Love it here! I've walked and rode my bike through beloit hundreds of miles and never had any issues with Anyone! Even at 1am in the morning! Never say Beloit is bad. Just hard working blue collar people.
Excellent café there called Jerry's.
Good ole' Wiscy. Can't get enough of it.
Give it time
I was born and raised in Beloit and it was a great town to grow up in. At 5:55 that used to be the Beloit corporation. The Beloit Corporation made paper-making machinery that was used worldwide, my Dad worked there from 1950 until 1990.
That is an awesome story
You are correct. Beloit is far from the worst in Wisconsin. I grew up in the City of Milwaukee's northwest side, wasn't too bad back then, but much worse now. But Milwaukee's Innercity just north of downtown is the worst place in Wisconsin. I now live in a suburb south of Milwaukee. Thanks for your insight into Beloit, I haven't been to Beloit in years. Looks like it's a great area.
I live in Beloit and I can tell you, A) you have Diane's story all wrong! Her HUSBAND made all that money and then he died. B) it's really crazy how much of a disconnect there is between the little sections Diane Hendricks fixed up + the overpriced liberal arts college, and THE REST of Beloit, which is crime riddled and basically just a little Milwaukee. PS: the "paper machine place" is where I currently work, it's a great job, and that place you said "made some engine parts" during the war is Fairbanks Morse. They STILL make engines for the Navy and USCG and for gensets across the world. Look up the USS Beloit! That's why it's named the Beloit, because we built the engines.
Gotta friend that lives in Franksville down by you. Seems like Milwaukee and Menomonee Falls are just Chicago suburbs. Waukesha and West Bend are rapidly being "Chicagoized" now.
All the way up to Green Bay.
Definitely not the Wisconsin I grew up in, and I'm definatly not liking the "change".
You are spot on. The parts of Beloit that Diane has bought and improved are nice but the city as a whole is not good it's basically little Chicago.
The mopardodgegirl hit the nail on the head thats for sure. We are born and raised here in Beloit.
I was going to mention that it was Ken Hendricks who made all of the money before he died by starting ABC.
@@gnotes85 a small but reasonably important distinction lol - don't worry, you're not the only one who forgets that. Not by far! I think she mostly "forgets" too.
Now Beloit is somewhere worthwhile visiting thanks for the great work 😊
Why because she turned it into a decent and safe place to live. It seems like a nice quiet place to move to. In this country there are different levels of what you can call poor ,small towns are some of the most richest places in the country where people care about their town and where they live.
I grew up in Beloit. I was there during the worst times, and when the big news events in your town include the end of an infamous murder spree happening at your local Radio Shack, and an out of town couple being victimized in a gang rape, you tend to think of your own hometown as Wisconsin's Worst City. I used to say Beloit had urban crime, and rural boredom. But even back then, most of the town was pretty okay.
Always watch your videos! Finally, a city I could go to. Nick, you merit the Johnny Cash "I've been everywhere" Award!
I await the video from , "Pasadena. Catalina. See what I mean ah." 😅
I was with my friend in Beloit when he was robbed at gun point, lots of gang connections from Chicago around thare. The one kid that was arrested for the robbery was awaiting multiple felony charges already his buddy just got out the day before from previous armed robbery convictions.
They ruin it for everyone.
@@alienprepper5918
And, we know exactly who ‘they’ are 😂
I hung out in Beloit during 90s quite a bit. It was very run down, lots of violence and felt like a shit hole in general. I don't recall running across any people from Chicago. Its just way too small, nothing happening, off the radar town that is not even that close to Chicago to get noticed. Just your typical town that took a big hit when local economy crashed leading to lots of poverty and problems that come with it.
The bad part of town looks like where I live, haha! I think the place is pretty nice!! That hotel is so awesome! I’ll have to visit there when I go to see my son in Sheboygan.
It was keeper and Prairie he was driving down
If you don't give the bum's money they'll go back to Chicago
Or Rockford. A LOT of the FIBs migrate from there too.
The plural of bum is bums, not bum's.
I wish you could do Kenosha Nick, or come back in the summer to check out Wisconsin woods snd what the beaches and lake are like.
I thought he did Kenosha, but maybe i'm thinking of another Wisconsin city.
Lake michigan is way too cold so the beaches suck
In the 90s Kenosha was great . Now it's a dump . It's basically the Southside of Chicago packed up all their belongings in their car and landed in Kenosha. They brought their crime, gangs and filth to what was beautiful Kenosha ! It's awful ! They turned it into their version of Gary, Indiana.
I'm a Beloiter popping in to say this video is well done. I was born and raised here (50 years), and no matter where I visit, I love home sweet home. Safe travels my friend, and hope to see you back when the hotel/casino project is complete. Ground breaking soon. ❤
Frito Lay has a chip plant in Beloit , dump ramp picks your entire semi truck off the ground to dump the raw potatoes into the plant , been going there for years never had a problem.
Runs 24/7 365.
Same with PepsiCo, in which Frito-Lay is owned by them. The Amazon warehouse is about a 5 minute drive from the Frito-Lay plant you're talking about.
Wisconsin is simply a great state. Thank you Nick love your channel !
It is…but Madison extreme left could ruin it!
@@matthewjohnson1211Yep. Milwaukee as well.
Fairbanks-Morse locomotives were built in Beloit, Wisconsin in the early 1950s, among them C-Liners and Train Masters.
They also made submarine engines. As for FM locomotives, they were very powerful, but not popular.
@@oldclip70 The May and June 2024 issues of Railfan & Railroad have articles on the Beloit FM locomotives! Great reading! The June issue will be out in four weeks.
A+ video!
Awesome tour and preview of Beloit, Wisconsin!
Not only is Beloit nicer than most people think, Janesville and Kenosha are too. We are not rust belt tragedies. If you’re worried about us, don’t be. There are brighter days ahead.
...blah
Downtown racine is clean so much to offer and dead quiet. Weird
I live in Janesville, moved here a couple of years ago. Honestly, except for maybe the 5th ward, it’s a pretty nice place to live.
Kenosha's not bad, and a lot of Racine isn't bad. There are some shady areas but nothing compared to the North side of Milwaukee.
@@littleelvisiscombatready9310 My daughter lives in Kenosha and works in Racine county. I like Kenosha!
As a born and raised Wiscomsite, who still lives here, happily, I appreciate your support of Wisconsin. We are the best kept secret. Cheers to you, Nick!
It's location on the outline of Wisconsin you showed gave me a clue to it's problem and I checked - it's only 85 miles from Chicago.
rockford as well
Lol.
Problem of this town was losing its manufacturing jobs many decades ago, has nothing to do with Chicago.
@@kayelv.l.2016 I used to hang out in Beloit during later 90s quite a bit. It looked way worse back then. Does this shift towards progress coincide with people from Chicago moving in?
Really bizarre comment. So your theory is that Beloit has issues because it is located nearly a hundred miles from Chicago?
So, if all the $ FJB gives to foreign countries could actually help our country? Imagine that .
I lived in B City for 6 years, 1976-1982, a great place to live a lot of good memories!
Beloit Wisconsin is where my mom was born and raised. My dad was born and raised in Appleton, Wisconsin. My 2 older brothers were born in Madison, Wisconsin. My mother’s family owned several big farms there that she and her 2 brothers eventually sold and divided up the profits between the 3 of them. The last farm, in Indiana, was sold within the last 10 years. It was the biggest farm.
I was born in “Terrible Hot”, Indiana. That’s what my parents ts called Terre Haute. We weren’t there 6 months before my dad graduated with his PhD (doctorate). We relocated to Moscow, Idaho where my baby brother was born. My dad was a professor of music-he would always say “I’m not THAT kind of doctor” when he had to visit me in the hospital.
I always felt like Beloit was a quaint little town. My grandfather’s property was along a residential street where the yards were huge and park like. The houses sat back off the road. At the opposite end of the property was a beautiful, wide river (I think it is called the Rock River. I was told that the other side of the river was Illinois, but I’m not 100% sure. We usually drove out there from Idaho at least every other year. We camped out near the river where you could fish, feed ducks, swim, and watch the fireflies dance after dark. A couple times I had to rescue my little brother from getting carried off by huge mosquitoes! JK, but they do have huge ones there. My cousins lived in Madison and would come to Beloit and we would take turns trying to bounce each other off of a huge inner tube, and paddle around on the paddle boat. I never really saw any bad side of Beloit. The last time I was there was right before I graduated from nursing school, in 1995. Eventually, the family home and property was sold years after my grandfather and the “old timers” (I mean that with the utmost respect) passed away. My mom still lives in Idaho, my father passed away suddenly 12 years ago. I’m sure eventually I’ll get back to see the old places (if they’re still there. My grandfather built the huge 3 story farmhouse there, and hopefully it hasn’t changed too much.
I have to say, also, that on one trip home, before we left Beloit, we found a cheesecake store. they had the best cheesecake I've ever eaten. still to this day, it is the best. i bought an entire chocolate chip cheesecake. All for little ol' me.
thank you to anyone who actually took the time tp read my comment here. seriously. thank you. 😊.
It’s a lovely comment and I enjoyed reading it. 🙂
@@lovewins8238me too❤
No one asked for your Bio.
Try getting a life.
Great back story
Great video Nick! This series has been amazing! Nice work! (and, that hotel in Beloit is somewhere I would like to stay!)
I know right??
I drove to Beloit from Chicago back in the 90s, never went back, there was nothing there to go back to. What a change. It looks really cleaned up and decent. That lady really made a difference in that city. That hotel is wow!
Same. I had some friends in Beloit and Madison would visit fairly often from Chicago. If not for my friends would never consider visiting, not even talking moving. It was just a small, poor, run down town. Kind of funny that city is getting much nicer now, which is coinciding with people from Chicago starting to move in, yet everyone blames Beloits problems on Chicago. Its getting better not worse...
@KaliAndy2 I know right! People like to blame someone when things go bad. But when things are good, they don't like to give credit.
@@beachdawgz guess kinda have to expect it though. its kind of the motto of this channel. Focus on the bad and offer reasons to blame. Good stuff got to leave out or make it snappy.
I’d have guessed Racine would be considered “the worst” on a smaller town scale based on the gang and drug problems there. Beloit has always gotten a bad rap and obviously as you showed Nick it’s actually been refurbished quite well for the 21st century. They have had a lot of good manufacturing jobs like tool & die makers and as you stated have a “blue collar” historical reputation which I think contribute to the bad rap since culture at large tends to denigrate hard work especially where one gets their hands dirty and have to sweat - God forbid that “persecution” LOL!
I'm the video he said that Beloit was heading the way of Racine, but someone invested a lot of money... So, yeah, Racine (my hometown) is worse.
Envy creates hate. It's hard to do good for people because of that effect.
Yes Clara Barton was pilloried and her name dragged through the mud, and she was forced to resign her position in the American Red Cross (which she chartered!) after her efforts in the relief of Galveston in 1900 after the hurricane. Small minded people will turn their envy into action against those they envy.
@petuniasevan go home
It is very pretty and quaint.
Why are local residents putting this woman in a negative light? She’s not a selfish rich person!
Sounds like it's the complaining Lefty teachers and union people.
Because most locals can't afford the amenities she's added to the city. And it was her deceased husband, not her, that started it all.
Gentrification
I live in Nebraska so I don’t have any right to have an opinion on this. I’m sorry if I offended anyone.
@@debbiefurman4052 100%
Do my hometown Kenosha, thats where that 70s show was filmed.
That 70s Show was filmed in LA, and mostly took place in the fictional town of Point Place. Kenosha does get mentioned a few times though.
Thank you for finally showing something that I love to watch. Beloit Wisconsin. Just when I was looking for a nice place to move to. Again, thanks.
What a cute town. I wouldn't mind visiting. Looks nice.😊❤
Ive heard of beloit, i think they may have got it confused with south beloit across the illinois border for being bad, im not sure, but beloit on the wisconsin side definatley looks like a decent place I dont think going 10 minutes outside of beloit proper to south beloit would make that big a difference looks and statistics wise. Illinois is just know for having a bad reputation with the way there government is ran.
Nick! It's not true we love the positive! God bless the United States of America!
Most don't click on happy shit John
I wish you would have hit MN on this tour Mr. Johnson. Thanks for the interesting videos! Beloit looks pretty neat!
Look at this bathroom in Beloit! I need that on a shirt.😂
Get to Beloit 3-4 x year primarily to call on businesses. No, Beloit USED to be after the closing of its major industrial base (think Fairbanks Morse) but now it's Racine/Kenosha.
Wish you would have gone to Appleton. It's awesome!
That intro music from "The Snowman" is ON POINT!!!!
Aloha~~ from Hawaii~~ 🍍🤙🤙
Hello from New Glarus Wisconsin!
I wish we had New Glarus beer in Florida! I love the brewery and their beer.
I love their Spotted Cow! Greetings from Madison, which I live in THAT ultra leftist cesspool of a city.
Fat Squirrel for me!
@@fidgeneckwedge625 Is Fat Squirrel Beer? Should I order a fatty next time in Wisconsin?
@@KTJohnsonkidThunder You mean the only city in the whole state that exhibits any signs of life?
Wow! From suburbs of mke-this is Eye-opening!
I have not been to Beloit since the 90s but even then it wasn't that bad. Milwaukee as a whole is ok but has a few neighborhoods you don't go to unless necessary.
I used to go to Beloit in the late 70's/early 80's to play youth hockey. It was a nice working class city but a little rough.
Ay carumba! You went to Woodman's in Betroit!
LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL
Switchback Alley used to be called Switchblade Alley in the 90s. For how small it was, Beloit was pretty bad back in the 90s, a lot different now
Thank you. Fantastic reporting on this turn around. I’ve watched about 100 Nick Johnson videos and they are always informative and very funny!!
Only 100? Theres 600.
@@NickJohnson I’m pacing myself! One per night. Awaiting the next Great Lakes tour video-I spent a LOT of time in Marquette and Traverse City.
Having lived in several states, ( Michigan, New York, Virginia and Florida the longest) it’s interesting to see your focus and comments. Good to know the places where I “won’t get jumped”. 😜
Another Gem Nick
risking life and limb to give us the lowdown from the streets, stay safe!
The gal with her $100 million welcome in my town anytime! Woodmans grocery has awesome pricing.
Where you've been, Nick this the stuff of those epic saga romance novels ⚡
Absolutely love your videos! I loooove exploring small towns! Im in Pennsylvania!
Me too 😊
When you where talking to Mappy . There was a Stuff mappy behind you with Legs. Can you make them for your Mappy friends online? Mike
I am working on it Mike
@@NickJohnson
MAPPY! MAPPY! MAPPY!
Should of come to downtown Appleton on the weekend bro.
Great job Nick, thanks
Born and raised in Beloit. Left for college and never went back. Looks like it’s worth a visit again. I’m glad it’s come back to life. 😊
Wisconsin person my vote is:
Kenosha
Nah. The entire Northside of Milwaukee alone is the worst in all of Wisconsin 😅
Racine
@@Runnerdude10000 you’re correct! As bad as any part of Chicago…
@@matthewjohnson1211Actually, the South and West Sides of Chicago are VERY comparable to the North Side of Milwaukee.
@@matthewjohnson1211”any part of Chicago” Logan Square Wrigleyville and good amount of north side is pretty nice. Your generalization just shows you are uneducated on the city.
Another fine production! Thanks brah! Shaka!
🤙🏻
Looks like a nice town. People are the heart of a town. Many places have their ups and downs. Like to see that it is on the rise.
Lots of love over there!😅
The thing about the lack of bums is...well to let the cat out of the bag ...we eat the homeless.
HA!😂
I picture a Twilight zone episode where you sudden'ly wake up homeless, and wonder how funny you would then think these comments are.
I didn't see him drive anywhere near Walmart or he would have found the bums... they chase me to my car! It's ridiculous
This was one of your best videos. You are helping to cover for missing local journalism.
I’ve been to Beloit when I worked in nearby Rockford,Ill. Didn’t tour the town but they have a great Planet Fitness and City Park with Lake Victoria. The clearest freshwater lake I’ve ever seen.🤟🏿😎
The city park in lake Victoria that you reference are actually in South Beloit Illinois.
God bless anyone who will help these United States.
Native here. Beloit is awful. But nothing compares to the north side of Milwaukee. Milwaukee is notoriously segregated by viaducts between the north and south sides. I grew up on the south side of Milwaukee. Trust and believe, stay out of the north side.
Racine south of Horlick North of Park HS reminds me of north side lol
Hold on a second, i have got to go beloit…..
Don’t forget to check out Janesville as well. It has a nice downtown and Milton Avenue has a lot of businesses and is semi-pedestrian friendly. The surrounding communities are also nice like Whitewater, Milton, Edgerton, Evansville, Fort Atkinson, etc.
I have no desire to see tragedy., I love 💕 seeing beautiful places.
Glad you enjoyed my home state! Left after high school. Still miss it. I think its actually nicer than trashy Southern California where I lived for 30 years.
I enjoyed this show🎉
✍ Wow super great news - so happy for people who live there, very inspirational - the lady is a good egg. Thanks for all your work Nick & Team - good job.🌱🌷🌳🌻
Fairbanks still makes giant ship engines in Beloit
Great job showing Beloit Nic ! Great channel
To me, the worst places in Wisconsin is often better than the best place in other states.
🙋♀️ I'm Pro-Diane ❤
He failed to get the whole story with Ken Hendricks.
Ken did a lot for this town and she has kept that legacy alive .
I am not as a life long beloit resident.
@@juliaf2152 your reason/s ? Inquiring minds would like to know.
@mobyjoe1 No doubt in any residents mind that she killed her husband....no way he just fell off a ladder. She swindled properties from business owners downtown (hatleys pub is an example) when they refused to sell to her. She has pulled many shady strings. I hate to use the word gentrification but it's true, she gentrified the town. Right outside of our beautiful and whitewashed downtown with apartments no locals can afford is my street and neighborhood. She doesn't care about the people here. She cares about the tourists who have money. She's a rotten human being, and I've met and mingled with her and her team, as have my parents, at a conference of hers back in 2018.
Boy has it changed since back in the day. Keep the FIBS out!
Fibs aka: Friendly Illinois Buddies
@@summerjohnson5437 LOL
@@summerjohnson5437Illinois resident looking to move to Wisconsin and “good ol boys” like yall saying IL people aren’t welcome just makes me wanna move in even more lol
@@Shatyice420yes! 😂 I also live in Illinois and have a cabin up north. There will always be rivalry between IL and WI. 🏈
@@Shatyice420inventor?
Nick is like the Google map car, you really hope to catch it!! Maybe some meet and greet Nick. Don't be selfish
Missed him on the Texas tour haha
Beloit is a beautiful city.
Come on back, Nick, and this time stop and explore Appleton and its surrounding towns. I've lived here for over 25 years in the Fox Valley, and might just retire here. Never would a native Southern Californian thought she'd find herself saying this, but this place grew on me over the years. Have had well-paying jobs that entire time, too!
WOW I love this place! OMG I have seen some really rotten places and this doesn't even come close, Great Video
Maybe up your standards instead.
Thank you Nick! Awesome video of my home town. I lived there for about 62 years!
Ok Jenny!
Lived there 8 years…. Worst city I’ve ever lived in. The hotel you stayed in is owned by Diane Hendricks. The restaurant is awesome e too.
Hey Nick ❤
I never really comment ,but these people don't know what a ghetto is. 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 They do live in a bubble. Lmao ghetto .😂 I lived my whole life in New York ,came down to South Florida ten years ago they both have a lot of ghettos .I am moving in next six months to Wisconsin I have to narrow down an area. So this is why I was interested in hearing what a Wisconsin ghetto was. Very comical .Thank you for the clarity and info it's helpful
The bums move to warmer climates. Winter here (this past one excepted) is no joke if you plan to live outdoors.
First year we moved up here was when we had that polar vortex that settled into the area.
That was one hell of a welcome to this Oklahoma boy 😂
To be honest, no one in Wisconsin really thinks Beloit is the worst-most people have never even been there, it's kind of out of the way and irrelevant. Milwaukee is hands down the worst (coming from someone who grew up there) with Racine coming in a distant second.
We were at a wedding reception in Beloit a month ago and it looked like a nice little town.
The former GM plant in Janesville closed in 2010 and that left the area devastated. Fortunately the area is now turning around.
It's a rumor to keep people out 😅
You should do a double feature on the Kenosha Racine area in Wisconsin, it's the typical rustbelt area but there's a lot of beauty there in a way
Racine ONLY exists because of Johnson Wax. The lakefront is awesome, though.
Hey Nick thanks for being here to visit my state. Why don’t you come over to visit my city in Wausau and film some videos too bro?
Wonderful video, Nick! It reminds me very much of something G. K. Chesterton wrote. " People first paid honour to a spot and afterwards gained glory for it. Men did not love Rome because she was great. She was great because they had loved her."
Whatever else Diane Hendricks may be, she has loved Beloit. And Beloit has become much more lovely because of that.
The cook waving from the grill area at Lucy’s 👋
🍔