Armpit of California

qpwoeiruty · #1 Posted **Jan 5, 2011, 11:48 PM**

Bakersfield and Fresno are often the butt of jokes in California, called the "armpit" of the state and worse, but does something make them any worse than the rest of the cities in the Central Valley, or is the whole Valley an Armpit? Let's take a poll of the worst of the Valley. I'm excluding Sacramento and anything further north because I seldom hear those areas derided in quite the same way. Included in the poll are all MSAs south of Sacramento.

JDRCRASH · #2 Posted **Jan 6, 2011, 3:32 AM**

Ask Glowrock; he'll certainly know.

202_Cyclist · #3 Posted **Jan 6, 2011, 3:36 AM**

At the risk of offending someone, Stockton isn't such a great place. It has high crime, high poverty, etc...

longbeachnik · #4 Posted **Jan 6, 2011, 4:53 AM**

San Bernardino

StethJeff · #5 Posted **Jan 6, 2011, 6:59 AM**

Luckily any "armpit" in California fares much better than the butthole that is many states in this country. Has anyone ever driven through Missouri for example?? WOW.

subterranean · #6 Posted **Jan 13, 2011, 4:30 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by StethJeff

Luckily any "armpit" in California fares much better than the butthole that is many states in this country. Has anyone ever driven through Missouri for example?? WOW.

Ding ding ding ding. And Bingo as well.

QuarterMileSidewalk · #7 Posted **Jan 13, 2011, 6:01 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by longbeachnik

San Bernardino

Seconded. Though it has its nicer neighborhoods north of Hwy. 210, most of the city is pretty decrepit. Downtown SB is an absolute tragedy right now. Hopefully the city's redevelopment plans come to some fruition.

And I actually like Bakersfield somewhat. I spent a week there for work about a year ago. Downtown looks really cool in the rain, and most of the city seems like fairly nice suburbia.

...But I have never heard anything nice about Stockton.

qpwoeiruty · #8 Posted **Jan 6, 2011, 7:48 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by 202_Cyclist

At the risk of offending someone, Stockton isn't such a great place. It has high crime, high poverty, etc...

I doubt you'll offend anyone. I'm actually from Stockton, and I have yet to meet anybody who had anything positive to say about the place

I certainly wouldn't want to move back, or to any of the other cities listed here for that matter. Hope this thread and poll don't offend anyone from any of these places that might actually have any hometown pride though. Was just curious to see if others felt these places deserve their reputations.

Chris in Sacramento · #9 Posted **Jan 4, 2012, 6:56 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by 202_Cyclist

At the risk of offending someone, Stockton isn't such a great place. It has high crime, high poverty, etc...

True about Stockton, however they are doing a great job beautifying the city by far most the Downtown Area. I think Stockton's Skyline is well ahead of Modesto, Bakersfield, Visalia,

Lipani · #10 Posted **Jan 6, 2011, 3:03 PM**

I grew up in the valley (Sacramento). If there's one thing I'm glad we didn't have there, it's the overwhelming smell of the farm communities and cities listed in the poll. Bakersfield, in my opinion, has the worst stench when driving through the area. It hits you as soon as you leave the Grapevine and seems to stick around forever.

LosAngelesBeauty · #11 Posted **Jan 12, 2011, 9:07 PM**

I vote for Fresno.

I saw ghettos adjacent to Fresno's downtown that made Compton look tame. I thought it was right out of a movie or something. Guys with picks in their hair on their bicycles just loitering outside. People on their porches staring at you as you drove by... *shutters*

Bakersfield, although just a bland and trite suburban stop, didn't rub off as ghetto at least (the parts that I visited at least).

ChrisLA · #12 Posted **Jan 13, 2011, 4:23 PM**

Actually Fresno for what it is mostly suburban is quite nice. Downtown is only a very small part of that city, most of the middle-class live on the north side. Even some of the older neighborhoods that are just north of downtown would remind you of parts of south pasadena. Had you been to Old Fig Garden, or New Fig Garden, Woodward Park neighborhoods, no way would you say Fresno is the armpit. I admit the downtown area of Fresno needs some work, but even downtown have some decent clear parts. I like the area around the train station where city hall and the new courthouse is.

Pistola916 · #13 Posted **Jan 13, 2011, 10:17 PM**

Woohoo! Sacramento didn't make the list. Yeah most of these cities listed make Sacto look cosmopolitan. But in all seriousness, I remember back in the late-90s- early 2000s when Sac was the so-called "Armpit of California" and was described by LA Lakers coach Phil Jackson as an uncivilized cowtown. Anyway, my point is some of these cities have potential of becoming a great - Fresno especially. It's the largest place in the CV with a decent downtown, good restaurants, some culture, and has Fresno State. If Fresno can built up and diversify its economy, attract outside businesses and get local leaders to invest in the city then yes Fresno can be that up-and-coming town. Just look at what Sacramento has done.

My vote however goes to Bakersfield.

StethJeff · #14 Posted **Jan 14, 2011, 7:59 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pistola916

Woohoo! Sacramento didn't make the list. Yeah most of these cities listed make Sacto look cosmopolitan. But in all seriousness, I remember back in the late-90s- early 2000s when Sac was the so-called "Armpit of California" and was described by LA Lakers coach Phil Jackson as an uncivilized cowtown. Anyway, my point is some of these cities have potential of becoming a great - Fresno especially. It's the largest place in the CV with a decent downtown, good restaurants, some culture, and has Fresno State. If Fresno can built up and diversify its economy, attract outside businesses and get local leaders to invest in the city then yes Fresno can be that up-and-coming town. Just look at what Sacramento has done.

My vote however goes to Bakersfield.

How is having Fresno State any different from UoP in Stockton or CSU Bakersfield or UC Merced in those respective cities?

Pistola916 · #15 Posted **Jan 15, 2011, 1:32 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by StethJeff

How is having Fresno State any different from UoP in Stockton or CSU Bakersfield or UC Merced in those respective cities?

I'm saying along with a top university, Fresno, unlike the other cities mentioned, has culture. It has the more potential than Bakersfield, Stockton, Modesto or Merced.

StethJeff · #16 Posted **May 27, 2012, 3:30 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pistola916

I'm saying along with a top university, Fresno, unlike the other cities mentioned, has culture. It has the more potential than Bakersfield, Stockton, Modesto or Merced.

i don't think "top university" and "fresno" have ever appeared in the same sentence together until now.

Pistola916 · #17 Posted **May 31, 2012, 7:58 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by StethJeff

i don't think "top university" and "fresno" have ever appeared in the same sentence together until now.

They have Fresno State, which is more recognizable than Sacramento State.

krudmonk · #18 Posted **Jan 18, 2011, 1:14 AM**

Pretty unnecessary thread...

QuarterMileSidewalk · #19 Posted **Jan 18, 2011, 5:43 AM**

^Oh, but it's all in good fun.

And, this is for all the Bako detractors: http://jwwutkee.blogspot.com/2011/01...seriously.html

Chicago3rd · #20 Posted **May 13, 2011, 3:28 AM**

Sorry...since my first visit in 1965 at 5 I knew Richmond was the arm pit of California.