Canada's "Bible belts"

[Proof Sheet]

Originally Posted by Acajack

An hour away from here are down on their luck towns in northern NY state that on a hot summer day could be straight out of the South except for the accent. Abandoned buildings with peeling paint jobs, rusting vehicles and other machinery filling the fields. Scary looking Veterans of Foreign Wars types wearing leather and weird moustaches and goatees and riding Harleys. Pickup trucks with gun racks and Trump bumper stickers. TRESPASSERS WILL BE SHOT ON SIGHT signs.

It can all be yours - just one hour from Canada's capital region!

My brother lived in that area (The North Country) for about 6 years post 911 so I travelled south from Ogdensburg a number of times. It really is craptastic Murica with rural depopulation and abandoned homes and under used farmland.

Not too much in the way of evangelical churches though.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by Proof Sheet

My brother lived in that area (The North Country) for about 6 years post 911 so I travelled south from Ogdensburg a number of times. It really is craptastic Murica with rural depopulation and abandoned homes and under used farmland.

Not too much in the way of evangelical churches though.

Exactly what I was thinking.

Whereas in the prosperous suburbs and exurbs of cities like Houston, Atlanta, etc., evangelical megachurches abound.

[dennis]

In Manitoba, our Bible Belt seems economically the best region in the province. Steinbach to Morden/Winkler.

[urbandreamer]

I like those Winkler women.

[Doug]

Originally Posted by Airboy

Cardston is predominately Mormon and is quite a viable farming area. You do have the Blood reserve next door which may contribute to the perception of depression.

Looking at other high religious area like Northern Alberta near ft Vermilion and Lacrete, High Mennonite areas, these are also quite well to do farming areas.

Central Alberta is more evangelical and is less prosperous but still relatively economically OK. Mostly O&G Forestry and Farming.

Cardston, Raymond, Pincher Creek etc are really small. That area is sparsely populated for a reason - farming is not viable without irrigation. Cardston is actually one of the oldest communities in southern Alberta and was in contention to be the provincial capital. The Mormons played a vital role in settling southern Alberta as they introduced irrigation technology which the CPR soon copied on large scale. The areas east and south of Calgary contain most of Canada's irrigated land. A little known fact is that irrigation consumes ~70% of the Alberta's water withdrawal.

[Doug]

Originally Posted by Airboy

Freeman on the Land. At least that is what it looks like.And a CAA member as well.

That "Defend the West" sticker has held up well given that it's from about 1996.

[Doug]

Originally Posted by PBruge

My gf and I went to a big evangelical church in Calgary just to see what it was like. What a hoot!

People crying and speaking in tongues and writhing on the floor.. magic!

I remember saying to her “These people are fucked! Let’s get outta here!!”

And we did. And we lit up a smoke. And they all prayed for us on their way out.

Was it the Real Canadian Superchurch at Sarcee and Country Hills?

[dennis]

Originally Posted by urbandreamer

I like those Winkler women.

The perky soccer mom types?