Who else is not surprised that Philadelphia was rated America's most depressed city?

I was brought up in Philadelphia, went all through school there and received my B.S. and M.A. from a Phila. University. I am amazed at your description of Philly, one of the most beautiful of America's cities. You must have had a bad experience there and I am sorry. No great city is perfect. Perhaps you were not used to being in a large city of three million plus diverse people from every possible culture and area of the world.

I was there with him ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ I loved the city centre and the old buildings, and the walk round South Street was just great. I didn't find the city depressed or depressing. Maybe it has changed a lot since you were last there. It is a very human city, on a human scale, with lots of great walks. And the people there were like any other people: human. Only problem: the cold. I don't think I've ever been that cold in my life. But I loved the city and have recommended it to everyone. I come from Europe.

Gee, Vigilante, did you forget to take your happy pills? I am trying to figure out why you spent 10 points on your post. Just briefly, because I don't suppose this will earn me 10 points either (though that's not why I'm here), I have lived in Los Angeles for nearly 39 years and am laying plans to return home to Pennsylvania, my "real" home. (See my nick for where.) I have always returned frequently for visits, and I know the truth about Philadelphia and the entire NE corridor, so it's not that I am dreaming, but... this area abounds in history. It has many institutions of higher education, art, music, and other culture. As an architect, I appreciate the urban design and architecture in the city, even while I know it needs urban renewal, which is part of the challenge. Like every large city, it has a mixed population. You can see this as a glass-half-full or a glass-half-empty, and it's your choice. And, geez, it just cannot do anything about the cold weather, although every time you opt for plastic over paper, I guess you are doing your part. Although you don't say where you live now, I hope you are not only happy there, but that you are doing something assertive to contribute to the upward progress of your current town and abode. That's the way to be part of the solution.

Well, as a lifelong resident of this city (I am a transplant....came here from Utah when I was 2).....I can see how you could feel that way. However...you were here awhile ago and things have certainly changed. I personally couldn't be paid enough to live in Houston or L.A. In Philly...you know what you're getting yourself into....you know what area is bad and what area is good. You can't say the same for Houston. I think you are speaking from the opinion of an outsider. All cities have good and bad about them. There has been some major urban renewal and some more still needs to happen. Is it depressing? Not to me...if I am depressed it is internal and not external. We are responsible for our own state of mind/happiness. I think before you judge...your experiences should be more current. What depresses me is the disparaging remarks from people that live in Jersey, the 'burbs or who temporarily live here (students). Also...whenever there is any trouble it usually is caused by people who don't live here. Recently a cop was killed when a guy was speeding down the city street. Where was the guy from? Well, Bucks County of course. If you ever come back for a visit....contact me...I'll show you some of the great stuff that this city has to offer and none of it is in the tourist's guide.

Why would you trouble yourself to even write this question? And what is your source? Who rated it "most depressing?" I've not seen this. I suspect that the source is your own head. You could not be more wrong, you show your ignorance with every word, nor could I imagine a more pointless waste of time than typing your question (except possibly me, typing my reply). Edit #2 - Just for giggles, I went back to the REAL source, not the source cited (which was a synopsis). Men's Health magazine. To save you the trouble, here are those Heavens on Earth that make up the top ten least depressed places: 1. Laredo, TX A+ 2. El Paso, TX A+ 3. Jersey City, NJ A+ 4. Corpus Christi, TX A+ 5. Baton Rouge, LA A 6. Honolulu, HI A- 7. Fresno, CA A- 8. San Jose, CA A- 9. Lincoln, NE B+ 10. Bakersfield, CA B+ Honolulu, sure, that's probably pretty nice. But any listing of this nature that starts with Laredo, El Paso and Jersey City at the top is highly suspect. I've been to those places (enough said). Have you? Come on - Baton Rouge? Bakersfield?

You need roots to love this place. Roots like in history roots. You have to love Italians and immigrants. Philly is not like a mall where everything is beautiful, philly is like family where everything is beautiful.

i naturally like Phillidelphia.. because two reasons: 1. the phillie burger and 2. the philidelphia cream cheese. lol they are good reasons, no?

I happen to love Philly, V.V. I also went to art-school there and had the time of my life. Depressed or not, Philly remains in my mind one of my most beloved yet rather very a city with a wide sense and variety of temperament. To me it surely does beat Wisconsin where I live now and wonder to myself if it will stymie my mind. Sorry any of you Wisconsians, it is not personal, so allow me my opinion! There's nothing like a Philly Steak or Hoagie alike Philly's, not to this day. Old city is still beautiful, and one can feel the Spirit there of the Founding Fathers. I was very happy there, if it hadn't been that I got the wander lust AGAIN, as I had it much, much stronger before Wisconsin, I would not have left it at all, but when something says "go!" - I answer to the prompting. Only here in Wisconsin, have I stopped being so immediate to answer the call of the Wild. Perhaps these terrible winters have knocked something out of me, which was quicker to respond. I don't know..but I have never stopped loving Philly; a city of a very unusual sort of filial love. But one has to feel it to recognize it. I surely did, and especially in contrast to HERE!

Eh - seattle still has the higher suicide rate lol. Ah - you're from LA and the south, that explains it. No, no one in the north east gives a damn about your feelings, and they probably weren't being any more rude than they were to anyone else. That's just how people are. Please, go home and stop trying to change places you aren't from and don't care about. The locals get pretty angry when you insult them like that.