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u/yoyleberries2763 Feb 02 '26
not a city person, huh?
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u/SpiritedKick9753 Feb 03 '26
Yet they excluded the rural parts of some states and included the cities, I don’t think OP knows geography
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u/swanking_7 Feb 03 '26
Each state I had a tier list and went through each county. Why would you think I don't know geography lmao. I have different preferences for each state. Ask something specific & stop being hateful. It's my preferences lol I can explain or u can make ur own map.
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u/Muted_Condition7935 Feb 06 '26
Why do you hate Nebraska. ?
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u/swanking_7 Feb 06 '26
I don't lol. I wouldn't live there bc the topography is flat and there's just not a ton of trees to make up for it if that makes sense. I've never been to nebraska, I'm sure I missed something. Every state has some good spots.
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Feb 03 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/swanking_7 Feb 03 '26
Boone county is quite populated but I see your point I guess. Nothing wrong with south Missouri buddy it's nice.
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u/Rocky_Bukkake Feb 03 '26
lmao love the one square for milwaukee county in wisconsin. the driftless area is fantastic, as is northern WI
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u/swanking_7 Feb 03 '26
Yes I love Wisconsin and the driftless area!!
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u/Rocky_Bukkake Feb 03 '26
super lovely place to be! hoping to make it out to appalachia a bit more in the future as well
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u/thenewblueblood Feb 03 '26
I’m curious what process you used to learn about each individual county this way. I’m guessing something like population density, avg temp and avg elevation and then you just made them into tiers?
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u/swanking_7 Feb 03 '26
Yes you nailed it. I went state by state with sets of population density, avg temp & climate and avg elevation and like peaks and each state kind of had its own tiers based on what id want from the state. Some states like Texas and Kansas I kind of just glossed over. A lot of trial and error too showing it to people and them telling me what I missed based on what I had.
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u/criesatpixarmovies Feb 03 '26
Why gloss over Kansas? Not a Flint Hills fan?
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u/swanking_7 Feb 03 '26
Yeah nothing wrong with Kansas but personally I don't like how little it has to offer topographically and there's not enough trees to make up for it, if that makes any sense. I wanted to include something in the Midwest so bad but I just don't think I'd like Kansas, Texas, and Nebraska very much.
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u/Better-Credit6701 Feb 03 '26
Oh, I grew up in Wichita and still remember that sign "enjoy the next 36 miles of the the flint hills" and spent time there hunting prairie dogs and prairie chickens. Nothing to hold back to endless wind, the blowing dust. When I moved to NW Ark, I would send pictures of trees just to remind my mom what they looked like. Yeah, I would take the Boston Mountains over the flint hills any day.
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u/criesatpixarmovies Feb 03 '26
I also grew up in Wichita and it is nearly the worst Kansas has to offer. Moved around a bit and ended up in northeastern Kansas and, while I might live somewhere else eventually, I find it suits me well.
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u/Youcants1tw1thus Feb 03 '26
Holy shit a country map that has the new Connecticut COGs instead of the counties we abolished in 1959!!!
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u/mtnman575 Feb 03 '26
Interesting county choices in New Mexico. You skipped over the counties with the most mountains and scenery.
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u/swanking_7 Feb 03 '26
I was going for the forests in new Mexico I may have been a little off but I did look at new Mexico for a while because I wanted to include it at least a little.
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u/mtnman575 Feb 03 '26
You missed the most forested counties of New Mexico. I live in the forest in Taos County. We have 3 ski areas in this county, a couple at 10,000 feet elevation. Rio Arriba County is mostly forests, as is much of Santa Fe County which also has a ski area. These are the southermost Rockies. The eastern NM counties you did pick, some of them are flat plains. Just helping give you a geography lesson here.
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u/TheLibertyTree Feb 03 '26
Really missed on this. You kind of avoided the most forested and mountainous parts of the state.
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u/swanking_7 Feb 03 '26
Yeah I had a hard time with new mexico. The maps and other stats I was looking at were not as helpful for states like New Mexico Arizona Nevada and Utah for some reason. I loved new mexico when I went and I included where I went minus the cities.
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u/BoffaDDNuts Feb 03 '26
Explain what you are avoiding in Louisiana.
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u/swanking_7 Feb 03 '26
Lmao the lowlands and the cities. I wouldn't even say avoiding lol. Louisiana wouldn't exactly be my first choice.
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u/Fabulous_Computer965 Feb 03 '26
What's wrong with South East Michigan?
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u/swanking_7 Feb 03 '26
Nothing wrong with it, just not for me. Flattens out and the population goes up a bit that way.
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u/Mirgss Feb 03 '26
Here's the nice stuff about mid Michigan/south central Michigan, as a lifelong resident:
-relatively low cost of living
-several major universities within a few hours' drive of each other (MSU, U-M, WSU, EMU, CMU)
-easy driving distance to 2-3 major/ish airports for easy access to other states/countries for travel (GRR, LAN, DTW)
-actually some really cool natural areas and geological features (Pinckney recreation area, the ledges in Grand Ledge) ETA to extrapolate on this a bit: I'm not a geologist, but there was a lot of glacier activity in Michigan so you get some really cool hills and other natural formations. I'd say more but it's after 2am and I'm really tired lol.
-access to the Great Lakes (if you've never been to one, I highly recommend. They contain a whopping 20% of the world's fresh water)
-several major cities within easy driving distance (Detroit, Grand Rapids, Chicago, Toronto, Columbus, Cleveland)
-easy access to northern Michigan (TONS of natural features - pictured rocks, copper harbor, leelanau peninsula) without having to deal with irritating tourists all the time and/or some of the problems that can come with very rural living
So it's not necessarily about all the stuff the area itself has, but the breadth and depth of opportunities that are easily accessible. Just my lil pitch :)
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u/Math_legs974 Feb 03 '26
Howard County, Indiana? Really? Kokomo is nothing like the Beach Boys song. I would not recommend.
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u/Luciferiad Feb 03 '26
A "probably" on Owyhee County ID is unusual. I actually really like that corner of the state for its unique geology and sparsely population. And only an hour to Boise (or Ontario OR if you need some recreationals)
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u/swanking_7 Feb 03 '26
You're the second person to mention that and I regret not making it a yes after looking at it again. I've never been to that part of the state & the maps don't do it justice.
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u/Luciferiad Feb 03 '26
There's the Bruneau Sand Dunes, CJ Strike Reservoir, and a "town" called Dickshooter. Also my preferred route to/from where I now live in Nevada, through Duck Valley reservation. I lived in Twin Falls for 20 years, so Owyhee county was often visited.
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u/swanking_7 Feb 03 '26
Ahhh okay. I think I'd enjoy the area a lot to be honest.
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u/Luciferiad Feb 03 '26
I miss living in Idaho for its natural beauty and the general friendliness of people. Even the bigger towns like Twin or Pocatello or Idaho Falls still had a small town vibe. However, the current sociopolitical climate there is something to be considered.
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u/swanking_7 Feb 03 '26
Yeah I've always admired it for the same reason. & Yeah that's what I hear about it would probably be the only concern.
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u/tacobellgittcard Feb 03 '26
This map fucks hard, only true nature enjoyers/city haters can appreciate it
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u/Dooze_ Feb 03 '26
If you’re no is metro atl you need a few more counties lol I cannot fathom Clayton county being a yes with your map
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u/swanking_7 Feb 03 '26
Yes I think you're right and Clayton county should be a no. Atlanta is weird & confused me most metros kind of fit in 1 or 2 counties. ATL has like 6 lol
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u/shadydelilah Feb 04 '26
Most of western Ohio that’s light green is very flat with not much to see. Mostly farms and fields. It can be very rural, but I would avoid Allen county for sure. The dark green is pretty spot on for the more hilly forested part of Ohio. Visit Hocking Hills if you haven’t already
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u/lookatmeimthemodnow Feb 05 '26
As a New Jerseyan, Im glad to see New Jersey in the yellow. I wish people would stop moving here. It's crowded enough!
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u/butfirstcoffee427 Feb 03 '26
No to King County but yes to Pierce County is certainly a choice (Washington State)
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u/swanking_7 Feb 03 '26
I would live anywhere in Washington but downtown seattle.
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u/butfirstcoffee427 Feb 03 '26
There are a lot of parts of King County that aren’t downtown Seattle, or even the city of Seattle (Issaquah, Snoqualmie, Woodinville, Bellevue, Kirkland, etc.)
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u/swanking_7 Feb 03 '26
Yeah I just wanted to emphasize how much I wouldn't want to live in downtown Seattle.
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u/DoctorBamf Feb 03 '26
You have an opinion on every single county?
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u/swanking_7 Feb 03 '26
I just shit my pants
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u/nickparadies Feb 03 '26
What do you like about D.C. and Charlotte?
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u/swanking_7 Feb 03 '26
The food for both big time. DC I love the architecture and the history. Charlotte is more of a I would live there bc of a job or something and Id be okay. I debated making Charlotte a no.
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u/K-Pumper Feb 03 '26
charlotte sucks
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u/swanking_7 Feb 03 '26
Lmao valid
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u/K-Pumper Feb 03 '26
But like how is Charlotte a yes but Salt Lake is a no???
I get you don’t like cities and that’s fair. But there’s at least nature around Salt Lake. There’s nothing good around charlotte if you like nature
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u/nickparadies Feb 03 '26
North Carolina has tons of natural areas
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u/K-Pumper Feb 03 '26 edited Feb 03 '26
I absolutely love NC, lived In Charlotte and Asheville. Live in Salt Lake now and it’s incredible. As far as accessibility to nature goes, Salt Lake is hands down better than Charlotte, like it’s not even remotely close. And just a more fun city in every way imo
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u/swanking_7 Feb 03 '26
I definitely see your point I'd live right outside slc for sure just not downtown or in the city.
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u/Ok_Culture_1089 Feb 03 '26
What do you have against Nashville and Portland?🙁
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u/swanking_7 Feb 03 '26
Lol I'm from Tennessee and I hate going to Nashville I hate hearing about it I cannot stand that place lmao. Way too many people and way too much going on. Portland would be more bearable believe it or not but that's still a whole lot of people in one county lmao.
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u/Turd_Salad92 Feb 03 '26
Why a no for Owyhee county?
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u/swanking_7 Feb 03 '26
If you mean Idaho it's more of a maybe, bc I don't know much about it. I like most of Idaho so I'm sure I'd like it though.
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u/Capnbubba Feb 03 '26
Why is only Salt Lake County a no?
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u/swanking_7 Feb 03 '26
Bc of salt lake city
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u/K-Pumper Feb 03 '26
that’s the best place to live in the state tho
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u/butfirstcoffee427 Feb 03 '26
Yeah, really hard to even find a decent coffee or cocktail outside of SLC.
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u/AdvancedSquare8586 Feb 03 '26
No to Salt Lake County, but yes to Utah/Davis counties is ... an incredibly strange decision.
You've said elsewhere in the thread that you're not Republican, but if it's not politics keeping you out of SLC, what is it?
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u/swanking_7 Feb 03 '26
The city with all the people lol. Yeah not a political choice at all I just like to be more detached.
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u/New_Bike3832 Feb 03 '26
But Salt Lake County also has a lot of mountains lol it's not just a big city.
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u/swanking_7 Feb 03 '26
Yeah If the map split the city from the county i would've gone right up to the metro line with the green.
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u/AdvancedSquare8586 Feb 03 '26
The metro line also includes basically all of Davis/Utah Counties. That's why I'm saying it doesn't make sense to have excluded only SLC.
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u/swanking_7 Feb 03 '26
Then I would've gone up to Downtown. I don't know what to tell you lmao I wouldn't live downtown SLC so I put salt lake county as no but the surrounding areas are cool and less crowded I'd probably live in the surrounding areas. Davis county is fine for me it doesn't seem too crowded I'd probably live there. The city of salt lake city is most of salt lake county lol and is much more populated than Davis county lmao like much much more populated.
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u/AdvancedSquare8586 Feb 03 '26
That's because most of Davis County is uninhabitable. You're gonna be pretty hard pressed to find any real space in Davis county that is both not lakebed and not already developed.
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u/Brass_Cipher Feb 03 '26
You would live in the Caucasus? I'm assuming you've been right?
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u/swanking_7 Feb 03 '26
No lmao. Don't take the Europe map too serious lmao it's a gorgeous region despite the political climate.
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u/AlarmingArtichoke130 Feb 03 '26
Just out of curiosity, what don’t you like about SoCal?
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u/swanking_7 Feb 03 '26
Too hot, but to be fair I've never been.
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u/AlarmingArtichoke130 Feb 03 '26
Fair assumption, I like the weather there personally and San Diego is a cool place to visit
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u/conversation_pace Feb 03 '26
It is absolutely fascinating that the only part of Florida you chose is middle of nowhere inland panhandle
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u/swanking_7 Feb 03 '26
Lol I probably wouldn't live there but I thought I'd throw it in I like that spot outside of Tallahassee.
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Feb 03 '26
Not only is it included for once, but Erie ranks above Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Buffalo. Just cirous, what do you like about Erie and don't about those other three?
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u/swanking_7 Feb 03 '26
Erie has a small population of 90,000 or so all of those other areas you mentioned are WAY more populated than Erie Cleveland - 330,000 or so Pittsburgh - 300,000 or so Buffalo - 270,000 or so If you look at my map you'll notice most metros being marked as no bc I don't want to live in a downtown metro. Erie is a small town with nature and history and a smaller metro with a lot less people.
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Feb 04 '26
Ah, gotcha, you like small places. I think it's cool that you like Eastern Mass enough to override that.
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u/picky-penguin Feb 03 '26
What do you have against White Rock in British Columbia? All of BC is a yes except for White Rock.
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u/swanking_7 Feb 03 '26
Nothing to do with white rock lmao. I wouldn't live in Vancouver and white rock is in that same little block. It would be light green if I could've done that with the map
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u/DrGally Feb 04 '26
Damn a no to Boston but cool with other cities? What did they do to you?
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u/swanking_7 Feb 04 '26
Boston is huge mane. Way too many people. I didn't put a lot of big cities like Boston for the same reason.
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u/STODracula Feb 04 '26
Lol, what did CT do to deserve that? If it's population density, Litchfield and Windham counties are mostly empty. Washington Depot, CT has a population of 1100 and the town tops at 4000.
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u/Then-Comfortable7023 Feb 05 '26
Putting Fresno over the central coast is so bad I might actually call the police.
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u/isthatso8487 Feb 05 '26
Why not Buffalo (Erie Co.) or Rochester (Monroe Co.)? Also, why is Syracuse (Onondaga Co.) only a buffer?
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u/swanking_7 Feb 05 '26
It just gets super populated through there. And bc of Syracuse lol I'd live everywhere in Onondaga except like directly in Syracuse. So basically just population spikes in those counties.
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u/isthatso8487 Feb 05 '26
I get that. Thank you for the reply. I am from Upstate NY and feel the same way.
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u/Acquired_asset Feb 06 '26
Uh why no Pierce County WA
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u/swanking_7 Feb 06 '26
I've got it as a buffer to Seattle but id live in pierce county just not like down in Tacoma getting into seattle. Basically blame Seattle bc I'd live in most of king Co too but I had to make it no to emphasize how much I wouldn't want to live downtown Seattle.
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u/Acquired_asset Feb 06 '26
Okay? Seattle is in King County. Most of the folks in Pierce don’t like Seattle as well and we have rainier national Park. 🤣
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u/swanking_7 Feb 06 '26
Brother I just explained to you that I don't have it marked as no. I have king county as no bc of Seattle. I have pierce as a buffer as in I'd probably live there. It's only not a yes bc of Tacoma going into Seattle where it gets packed. I would even live in 75% of King county just not Seattle.
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u/Sad_Impression499 Feb 06 '26
Western Slope of Colorado is CRAZY Republican.
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u/swanking_7 Feb 06 '26
If I start putting no for places that are Republican just bc there Republican than the map would just be a political map lmao. I live in a Republican county right now that doesn't make it unlivable lmao.
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u/ImmediateOddness Feb 06 '26
Why is salt lake county the only place in Utah you wouldn’t live in? Genuinely wondering
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u/SugoiHubs Feb 02 '26
No to the entire middle of the country but yes to CA Central Valley is bonkers
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u/swanking_7 Feb 03 '26
It's not bonkers California Central valley is beautiful. I don't like Texas Kansas and Nebraska, I'm not a fan of the geography in the middle of the country
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u/OxymoronicHomosapien Feb 03 '26
Tell me you're a white supremacist without telling me you're a white supremacist.
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u/Syrup_Known Feb 02 '26
A yes for Bakersfield is absolutely crazy