Cindy Irvin

29 American Towns That Send Shivers Down Internet Folks’ Spines

I've lived here 16 years (long story). The good part is that it's pretty -- rolling hills, big lakes, tall pine forests. The bad part -- everything else. The counties of Tyler and Jasper, and every county bordering Louisiana, are straight out of Deliverance. Schools are some of the worst in Texas. Poverty and d***s lead to lots of crime. If you don't hunt, fish, go to church, or get high, there is NOTHING to do here. No entertainment, no jobs, no shopping except Walmart and dollar stores. It's super-isolated, so everybody is related. Everybody has at least one relative in jail, and every girl over 15 has a baby. But with all this, the number of churches is staggering, as are Tshirts and billboards with Biblical scripture. MAGAts are big here -- 80% of residents cast their vote for Trump in 2020. And a final four words -- James Byrd dragging death.

29 American Towns That Send Shivers Down Internet Folks’ Spines

I grew up in southeast Texas. Vidor was notorous for Klan activity. It's not as bad now -- there are even POC living there now. But it's still pretty sketchy.

29 American Towns That Send Shivers Down Internet Folks’ Spines

Silent Hill!!

29 American Towns That Send Shivers Down Internet Folks’ Spines

Towns in East Texas might as well be in a whole other state. Things get a little weird when you start going east of Houston, then things get pretty bad as you keep going east on I-10. Don't use any roads other than Interstate 10 between Beaumont and the LA border unless you know where you are and where you're going, especially at night. And if it were up to me, don't get out of your car after you pass through Beaumont.