Remember "Places Rated Almanac"? Here's how cities stacked up in 1981.

 

#321 Rockford, Retiring Guy's dad's hometown, was in a deep  recession at the time.

New York Times, 8/30/1982

Then and Now: Pratt & Whitney manufacturing plant in East Hartford Connecticut

 

Then:  Advertisement in the April 1940 edition of The Architectural Forum.

 

Now (as seen via Google Maps)

(highlight added)

Related reading:

Today in Connecticut History, 1/25/2021

Today in 1940, nearly 3000 people came to East Hartford to go on a three-quarter mile walking tour of a brand new two-million-dollar factory expansion at the Pratt and Whitney Aircraft company. The 280,000 square foot expansion, for which planning had begun the previous February and ground had been broken and construction started only four months before, represented a sudden and dramatic turnaround in the fortunes of the innovative aviation pioneer. 

At the end of 1938, the situation at Pratt and Whitney could best have been described as bleak. Despite the company’s leadership in air-cooled aircraft engine technology, years of cutbacks in defense spending by the US government had drastically affected the entire aviation industry, whose total assets were then barely equal to one of the country’s big national breweries. By the end of the year, Pratt and Whitney had reduced its payroll to fewer than 3000 workers, and only had enough orders booked to keep the East Hartford plant running until May 1st.

Related posts:

Buckingham Gardens housing development in Albany New York.  (6/30/2024)

Country Club Garden Apartments in Denver Colorado .  (6/28/2024)

The Exton at 1260 Prospect Avenue in Milwaukee Wisconsin.  (6/28/2024)

U.S. Supreme Court Gone Wild! Conservative majority shows us their tits and, oh, what an hideous sight it is!

 

New York Times headlines:  top, middle, bottom

GET ME REWRITE: Ottawa County Commission's clown show leadership fractures county GOP

 

Headline:  mlive, 6/21/2024

"Ottawa Impact … (has) a very narrow ideology and (refuses) to play well with others. Those of us who fail to prostrate ourselves before them are called liberal Democrats masquerading as Republicans. … OI is fracturing the Republican party with their antics and making us all look bad."

Related posts:

June 2024

Newly elected commissioner fights back against Ottawa County Commission clown show leadership.  (6/22)

Yet another reason to boot these two clowns out of office.  (6/19)

Trickle-Down Effect: MAGA meltdown in Ottawa County, Michigan.  (6/17)

If you had county commission leadership like this, you’d drink, too!  (6/13)

Another reason to boot these two clowns out of office.  (6/12)

Momentum against clown show otherwise known as Ottawa Impact continues to grow.  (6/4)

May 2024

Crackpots at Ottawa County (Michigan) Republican Party endorse Ottawa Impact crackpots on Board of Commissioners.  (5/26) 

Voters in Ottawa County Michigan would be wise to show Joe Moss the door in August primary election.  (5/17)

Ottawa Impact Looney Tunes Clown Show:  Danger, amateurs at work!.  (5/16/)

Lucy Ebel recall marks beginning of the end for ultra-right Impact Ottawa Looney Tunes Clown Show Circus.  (5/8)

It's feeding time at the public trough for the clueless incompetents at Impact Ottawa.  (5/7)

Impact Ottawa plans to reward their incompetence with 60% pay raise  (5/3)

April 2024

Clueless, tone-deaf Impact Ottawa members stock up on political kryptonite in advance of re-election campaigns.  (4/27)

Impact Ottawa members sign up to be foot soldiers in the GOP war on women.  (4/25)

Clueless incompetents at Impact Ottawa give voters a big incentive to vote blue.  (4/19)

Dear voters of Ottawa County Michigan, Please fire this ultra-incompetent cast of Ottawa Impact Looney Tunes characters.  (4/17)

Ottawa County Board continues to be a hot mess.  (4/8)

"Who is that clown on the Ottawa County Board?" asks mlive. (4.6)

Members of incompetent Ottawa Impact Clown Show dig themselves into deep re-election hole (4/1)

March 2024.  

Many Ottawa County residents are getting sick and tired of the Ottawa Impact Clown Show,  (3/25)

When it comes lack of governance skills, members of Michigan's Ottawa County Board are gold medal incompetents.  (3/20)

Wonder how voters fells about far-right Ottawa Impact spendthrift ways.  (3/18)

Ottawa County (Michigan) voters are sick and tired of far-right Impact Ottawa bullshit.  (3/17)

Far-right Ottawa Impact members look to grow membership of MAGA Team Drool. (3/16)

If young adults vote in the next Ottawa County Board election, far-right Impact Ottawa members are toast.  (3/15)

How much loonier can things get on the Ottawa County Board?  There is no bottom. (3/13)

Ottawa Impact Looney Tunes Show gets poor reviews.  (3/11)

Conservative law firm earns $730K rides the crazy Ottawa Impact gravy train. (3/10)

Hey, hey, there's gonna be a showdown in Ottawa County, Michigan.  (3/9)

Trump fanboy gets the hook.  (3/2)

John Gibbs says something we already know about the Ottawa County Board .  (3/1)

February 2024 

In a humiliating turnabout, hard-right Ottawa County Board votes unanimously to keep top health official they tried so hard to remove.  (2/28)

Far-right wackos on Michigan's Ottawa County Board give a master class in how not to conduct employee relations.  (2/27)

Candidate endorsed by Trump to unseat Peter Meijer in Congress finds himself in a whirlwind of chaos in Ottawa County, Michigan.  (2/24)

Meet the stumblebums of Michigan's Ottawa County Board.  (2/23/2024)

With far-right Ottawa Impact wackos in control, litigation shit continues to hit the fan. (2/22)

Chris Vander Sys challenges Ottawa Impact whackjob Gretchen Cosby for seat on Michigan's Ottawa County Board.  (2/21)

Chris Vander Sys challenges Ottawa Impact whackjob Gretchen Cosby for seat on Michigan's Ottawa County Board.  (2/21)

Former Ottawa County Board commissioner hopes to win seat back from far-right Ottawa Impact whackjob.  (2/20)

Far-right whackjobs on Michigan's Ottawa County Board prefer to let less fortunate constituents starve to death.  (2/19)

Meet Roger Belknap, the most cretinous member of Michigan's Ottawa County Board.  (2/18)

Prayer by Episcopal minister reveals homophobic makeup of Ottawa County Board. (2/17)

Ottawa County board member breaks away from his crackpot Impact Ottawa colleagues. (2/15)

The continuing shit show that is Michigan's Ottawa County Board.  (2/14)

Looney Tunes Festival otherwise known as Michigan's Ottawa County Board.  (2/7)

January 2024

When county government turns into a series of Looney Tunes episodes.  (1/27)

It's time to cancel the Looney Tunes sideshow on Michigan's Ottawa County Board.  (1/26)

Cast of Looney Tunes takes over Ottawa (Michigan) County Board.  (1/17)

Days are numbered for MAGA whackos in Ottawa County, Michigan.  (1/1)

2023

Far-right GOP whackos imperil everyone's health care in Ottawa County Michigan.  (9/17)

Meet the deeply conservative members of the Ottawa (Michigan) County Board.  (8/25)

As its population increases, Ottawa County Michigan voters find less to like about a hardcore GOP.  (11/5)

2022

Homophobic voters in Michigan town give master class in how to cut off your nose to spite your face.  (11/22)

Dear Jamestown Charter Township Michigan residents, A truly great library contains something in it to offend everyone. Best, Retiring Guy.  (7/25)

Greetings from Trump's America:  Ottawa County, Michigan, which is not as Trumpy, or as red, as it used to be.  (7/22)

CNN! CNN! CNN! CNN! Fading cable news network desperately tries to regain its relevancy

 

BIG FAIL

CNN plastered everywhere you look

Arrows added to screenshot

AlterNet, 7/1/2024

But the absolute worst performance of the night came from CNN anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, who gave Trump a complete pass on all those whoppers. 

When Trump claimed that “every reasonable anchor” has debunked the story that there was a riot by violent white supremacists in Charlottesville, anchor Jake Tapper said only, “Thank you, President Trump” and moved on. 

The moderators gave the same response when Trump said that the federal government was behind his felony convictions in the New York hush money trial — a state-level prosecution in state court that had no connection to the Biden administration or federal prosecutors. 

They gave the same response to Trump’s preposterous claim that “everybody wanted” Roe v. Wade overturned and that before it was overturned, Democrats were allowing “after-birth” abortions.

 

Then and Now: MAGA clean-up in Manitowoc, Wisconsin

2018

2024

Wisconsin 2024 elections: Democrat Dennis Nitzel, challenges Republican incumbent Rob Swearingen in 34th Assembly District

 

Rob Swearingen (R-Rhinelander) has represented the 34th district (and, more  enthusiastically, the Wisconsin Tavern League)  since January 2013.  He is being challenged by Democrat Dennis Nitzel, who seems to be running a low-impact campaign.

WisPolitics rates the 30th district as 61.2% Republican.

Maps:  Wikipedia

Slate of candidates:   Wisconsin Elections Commission

The new Senate and Assembly maps:

AD 1.  (4/17/2024)

AD 2. (4/28/2024)

AD 3.  (5/5/2024)

AD 4. (4/29/2024)

AD 5.  (6/4/2024)

AD 6.  (6/4/2024)

AD 7.  (4/30/2024)

AD 8.  (6/7/2024)

AD 11.  (4/29/2024)

AD 12.  (5/11/2024)

AD 13.  (6/13/2024)

AD 15.  (5/2/2023)

AD 19.  (6/25/2024)

AD 20.  (6/28/2024)

AD 21.  (5/18/2024)

AD 22.  (4/27/2024)

AD 23.  (6/23/2024)

AD 24.  (4/27/2024)

AD 25.  (6/20/2024)

AD 26.  (6/16/2024)

AD 27.  (6/22/2024)

AD 28.  (5/7/2024)

AD 29.  (6/29/2024)

AD 30.  (6/30/2024)

AD 31.  (4/24/2024)

AD 32  (4/26/2024)

AD 33.  (6/1/2024)

AD 35.  (5/4/2024)

AD 36.  (6/4/2024)

AD 37.  (4/24/2024)

AD 38.  (4/24/2024)

AD 39.  (4/24/2024)

AD 40.  (6/3/2024)

AD 42.  (5/1/2024)

AD 43.  (6/1/2024)

AD 46.  (5/31/2024)

AD 47.  (5/31/2024)

AD 48.  (5/31/2024)

AD 50.  (6/2/2024)

AD 51.  (4/17/2024)

AD 52.  (5/10/2024)

AD 53.  (2/25/2024)

AD 54.  (5/12/2024)

AD 55.  (5/12/2024)

AD 56.  (5/12/2024)

AD 57.  (6/3/2024)

SD 20.  (4/19/2024)

AD 58.  (6/14/2024)

AD 59.  (5/10/2024)

AD 60.  (5/10/2024)

AD 61.  (5/5/2024)

AD 62.  (4/19/2024)

AD 65.  (4/22/2024)

AD 66.  (4/20/2024)

AD 68.   (4/20/2024)

AD 73.  (5/9/2024)

AD 74.  (5/4/2024)

AD 75.  (4/23/2024)

AD 76.  (5/5/2024)

AD 77.  (4/26/2024)

AD 78.  (4/26/2024)

AD 79.  (4/26/2024)

AD 80.  (4/30/2014)

AD 81.  (4/30/2024)

AD 82.  (4/25/2024)

AD 83.  (5/2/2024)

AD 85.  (5/14/2024)

AD 87.  (4/16/2024)

AD 89.  (4/29/2024)

AD 90.  (4/17/2024)

AD 92   (6/29/2024)

AD 93.  (5/6/2024)

AD 94.  (4/28/2024)

AD 97.  (4/25/2024)

AD 98.  (5/4/2024)

AD 99.  (4/25/2024)

Cruising Spring Harbor neighborhood in Madison Wisconsin west of University Avenue (part 1)

 

The majority of modest houses built in this development were constructed from 1951 to 1956.  Cape Cod and Ranch designs predominant.

Screenshots and video by Retiring Guy

This house got a boost in square footage.

City of Madison

Neighborhood Description: 

One of Madison's largest and most populous neighborhoods, Spring Harbor spans the picturesque southwestern corner of Lake Mendota. Spring Harbor area has a little bit of everything that makes Madison great – abundant waterfront property, a variety of schools and public amenities, and several thriving commercial districts. Standing on the shoreline, the view across the water is of the forested University of Wisconsin campus, rather than the downtown, adding to the secluded appeal of Spring Harbor. The neighborhood covers more than 400 acres and is home to more than 1,200 households. Single-family homes and several condo developments makeup the housing stock. The Spring Harbor Neighborhood came of age during the 1950’s, as one-half of all homes were constructed during that decade. Currently, 91% of the neighborhood land is dedicated to housing, with a large mix in type, size, and style of units available. Our neighborhood has access to three major natural resources within its boundaries: 1) Lake Mendota; 2) Merrill Spring; and 3) Kettle Pond. Historic Madison, Inc. has designated four neighborhood sites as historically significant, including two areas containing Native American Effigy Mounds, the Hickory Hill House and the John R. Commons House.  [emphasis added]

Other cruising posts:

2024

July 2024

Cruising Norman Way in Madison Wisconsin (Spring Harbor neighborhood).  (7/1)

June 2024

Cruising county highway PD west to County View Road (The Epic effect).  (6/30)

Cruising Westhaven development in Oshkosh Wisconsin.  (6/24)

Cruising into Verona Wisconsin on County Trunk Highway M.  (6/22)

Cruising South Washburn Street (frontage road) in Oshkosh Wisconsin.  (6/22)

Cruising scenic Wisconsin State Highway 213 northwest out of Beloit.  (6/21)

Cruising East Grand Avenue in downtown Beloit Wisconsin.  (6/20)

Cruising through North Main Street Bungalow Historic District in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.  (6/5)

April

Cruising north on South Main Street (US highway 45) in Oshkosh Wisconsin.  (4/28)

Cruising North Main Street through downtown Oshkosh Wisconsin.  (4/28)

Cruising Murdock Avenue, major east-west thoroughfare, in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.  (4/21)

Cruising Hazel Street and Menomonie Drive in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.  (4/21)

Cruising the parking ramp of City Center (formerly Park Plaza) in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.  (4/21)

Cruising along Menominee Park in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.  (4/20) 

Cruising the scenic route driving west out of Madison Wisconsin.  (4/16/2024)

March

Cruising the grounds of the former Holy Name Seminary, Madison WI.  (3/9)

Cruising the brick pavement of Water Street and Fourth Avenue in Warren PA on July 4, 2022. (3/3)

Pennsylvania:  Cruising the Warren County School District complex:  Elementary Center, Career Center, High School.  (3/2)

Cruising past Washington Middle School in Manitowoc Wisconsin.  (3/2)

Cruising the Village at Autumn Lake neighborhood of Madison Wisconsin. (3/1)

February

Cruising Main Street in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin.  (2/28)

Cruising Washington Street in Two Rivers, Wisconsin.  (2/11)

January

Cruising Zlatnik Drive through Nashotah Park in Two Rivers, Wisconsin.  (2/11)

Cruising Memorial Drive between Manitowoc and Two Rivers Wisconsin.  (1/22/2024)

Cruising Lakeshore Boulevard in Manitowoc, Wisconsin.  (2/11/2024)

Cruising North Segoe Road in Madison Wisconsin, an area of major redevelopment projects. (1/29)

Cruising U.S. Highway 2 in eastern Montana.  (1/29)

Cruising through the villages of northwestern France.  (1/7)

Cruising Pont de Normandie connecting Honfleur and Le Havre France.  (1/3)

2023

September-November

Cruising Redwood Street in Warren PA.  (11/3)

Cruising Wisconsin state highway 213 between Orfordville and Evansville.  (9/29)

Cruising Broad Street in Beloit, Wisconsin.  (9/23)

Cruising West Blackhawk Avenue in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin.  (9/18)

Cruising Hiawatha Pioneer Trail (State Highway 35) in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin.  (9/16) 

Cruising Marshall Street in Manitowoc, Wisconsin.  (9/12)

Cruising Waldo Boulevard in Manitowoc, Wisconsin.  (9/11)

Cruising Washington Street in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, part 2.  (9/11)

Cruising Washington Street in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, part 1.  (9/11)

Cruising 8th Street in Manitowoc, Wisconsin.  (9/6)

Cruising Vietnam War Veterans Memorial Highway in Manitowoc, Wisconsin.  (9/6)

July

Cruising from Warren Area High School to East Fifth and Redwood in Warren PA.  (7/27)

Cruising 57th Street North to River Drive North in Great Falls Montana, September 2020. (7/19)

Cruising East Fifth Avenue to Warren Area High School in Pennsylvania.  (7/10)

June

Cruising past Donald Trump's and Scott Walker's 8th Wonder of the World in Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin.  (6/29)

Cruising Algoma Boulevard Historic District in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.  (6/28)

Cruising Main Street in Waterford Wisconsin.  (6/26)

Cruising Vosen Road to view some of the 371,436 acres of farmland in Dane County, Wisconsin.  (6/26)

Cruising the 17th Street bridge leading to site of former Hamilton Industries in Two Rivers, Wisconsin.  (6/25)

Cruising Riverside Cemetery, on the National Register of Historic Places, in Oshkosh Wisconsin.  (6/25)

Cruising the streets of Waterloo, Wisconsin.  (6/24)

Cruising Main Street and Commons Park in Lake Mills, Wisconsin.  (6/24)

Cruising Charles Street in Rockford Illinois.  (6/23)

Cruising our way to the 8th wonder of the world on state highway 311 in Mount Pleasant, Racine County, Wisconsin.  (6/23)

Cruising south on state highway 213 through Orfordville, Wisconsin.  (6/23)

Cruising east of the the Washington Avenue Neoclassical Historical District in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.  (6/22)

Cruising the older housing stock on the streets of the south side of Manitowoc, Wisconsin.  (6/22)

Cruising Village Square Park in East Troy, Wisconsin.  (6/22)

Cruising Main Street in Whitewater, Wisconsin.  (6/21)

Cruising downtown Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin.  (6/21)

Cruising downtown Cambridge, Wisconsin.  (6/20)

Cruising I-24 in Tennessee heading to Chattanooga.  (6/20)

Cruising Main Street in Waunakee, Wisconsin.  (6/19)

Cruising Main Street in Stoughton Wisconsin.  (6/18)

Cruising Main Street in Evansville, Wisconsin.  (6/18)

Cruising Fulton Street in Edgerton, Wisconsin.   (6/18)

Cruising roundabouts near me.  (6/18)

Cruising roundabouts on Wisconsin state highway 19 between the Interstate and Waunakee.  (6/17)

Cruising through downtown Columbus, Wisconsin.  (6/17)

Cruising downtown Beaver Dam, Wisconsin.  (6/17)

Cruising around the block at Waupun Correctional Institution, Wisconsin.  (6/17)

Does Wisconsin highway 26 need a bypass around Rosendale?  (6/17)

Cruising downtown Waupun, Wisconsin.  (6/17)

Cruising downtown Two Rivers Wisconsin on a sunny Saturday morning.  (6/5)

2022

Cruising County Highway PD west to Northern Lights Road.  (9/29)

Cruising the Warren Pennsylvania Fourth of July parade route 2022  (8/8)

Rural population loss: Pineville, West Virginia

 

Th population of Pineville is down nearly 50% from its 1970 peak of 1,187   It has lost an estimated 6% of its residents since 2020.

Pineville, West Virginia

Population and photo:  Wikipedia

New York Times, 6/25/2024

West Virginia, one of the poorest states, has the nation’s highest rate of obesity, but people in Pineville can’t afford the weight-loss drugs they need. 

Related posts:

June 2024

Rural Pennsylvania population loss:  New Castle/Lawrence County.  (6/27)

Rural Pennsylvania population loss:  Oil City/Venango County.  (6/27)

Rural Pennsylvania population loss:  Bradford/McKean County.  (6/27)

Tragedy of Flint, Michigan.  (6/27/2024

Elkport, Iowa:  Will the last person left please turn out the lights?  (6/26)

Dear Jefferson Wisconsin skeptics, Your city's population has doubled since 1950, but it peaked in 2010.  (6/20/2024)

Dear Elk Grove Village officials, It's called 'plateauing'.  Your city's population has been treading water since 1980.   Best, Retiring Guy.  (6/18)

Dear Mount Prospect officials, It's called 'plateauing'.  Your city's population has been treading water since 1980.   Best, Retiring Guy.  (6/18)

Dear Arlington Heights officials, It's called 'plateauing'.  Your city's population has been treading water since 1990.   Best, Retiring Guy.  (6/17)

Dear Palatine officials, It's called 'plateauing'.  Your city's population has been trading water since 2000.   Best, Retiring Guy.  (6/17)

Why are some counties experiencing population increases?  They are now in the orbit of a metro area.  (Dallas County/Des Moines Iowa edition),  (6/14)

Sharon Pennsylvania still figuring out how to stem its population loss.  (6/12)

May 2024

Springfield/Greene County is Missouri's fastest growing metro area.  (5/30)

U.S. Census Bureau 2023 population estimates for West Virginias 10 most populous cities.  (5/27)

U.S. Census Bureau 2023 population estimates for Ohio's 10 most populous cities.  (5/26)

U.S. Census Bureau 2023 population estimates for New York's 10 most populous cities.  (5/26)

U.S. Census Bureau 2023 population estimates for Wisconsin 10 most populous cities.  (5/24)

Drug overdoses accelerate Baltimore's population loss.  (5/23)

U.S. Census Bureau 2023 population estimates for Wisconsin's 10 most populous counties.  (5/20)

Waukee is Des Moines' fastest-growing suburb.  (5/17)

After decades of decline, Detroit's population finally turns a corner.  (5/17)

Jacksonville, Illinois, desperately tries to reverse its decades-long population decline.  (5/17)

Residents in Warren County Pennsylvania continue to fight over organization of school district. (5/8)

April 2024

BIG PICTURE:  Rural population loss in Illinois is rampant.  (4/2)

BIG PICTURE:   Rural Kansas counties continue to lose population.  (4/2)

BIG PICTURE:  Alabama and the long decline of rural population.  (4/2)

Population loss:  Northern and western rural counties lead the way in Pennsylvania.  (4/2)

BIG PICTURE:  Then there's rural Valley County, Montana, where the population has dropped 56% since its 1960 peak of 17,080.  (4/2)

March 2024

Residents of fastest growing county in Arkansas aren't big fans of Donald Trump.  (3/23)

Population loss along U.S. highway 6 in Pennsylvania.  (3/19)

14 of Wisconsin's 72 counties have experienced population gain of at least 1% since 2020.  (3/18)

One-third of Wisconsin's 72 counties have lost population since 2020.  (3/18)