# Is Carbondale, Illinois, the most boring town in the United States? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 5, 2010, 9:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-carbondale-illinois-the-most-boring-town-in-the-united-states/523734 "2010-01-05T09:42:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2010, 9:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-carbondale-illinois-the-most-boring-town-in-the-united-states/523734/1 "2010-01-05T09:42:36Z")
According to Bill Bryson’s \*The Lost Continent \*it is. I’ve never been there so I couldn’t possibly comment. What say ye? ---
**Author:** ![PandaBear77](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@PandaBear77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PandaBear77)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2010, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-carbondale-illinois-the-most-boring-town-in-the-united-states/523734/2 "2010-01-05T12:27:22Z")
I grew up not far from southern IL. It’s not exactly a teeming hotbed of action. Not a whole lot to do in Carbondale, that’s for sure (yes, I’ve been there). The most boring town I’ve ever personally been in, though, was Sparta, TN. It makes Carbondale look like Mardi Gras. ---
**Author:** ![infinitii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e8c25b/32.png) [@infinitii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/infinitii)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2010, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-carbondale-illinois-the-most-boring-town-in-the-united-states/523734/3 "2010-01-05T13:54:24Z")
I’m from Southeast Missouri, so yes I’ve been there. My verdict: they’re all about the same around here – you could mention any town in 100 miles of this area and say the same thing about it, and probably be almost accurate. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2010, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-carbondale-illinois-the-most-boring-town-in-the-united-states/523734/4 "2010-01-05T13:55:45Z")
Carbondale has a population of over 25,000 people, so the discussion should start around there. As a university town, I think that it’s going to be hard for it to hold onto the crown of Most Boring Town in the USA, as there’s most likely something going on somewhere at any given time. I was going to nominate [Hays, Kansas](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hays,_KS), but it’s wiki page contains this sentence: > [@](#): > > The first keg is tapped around 11:00 a.m. which officially begins Oktoberfest. Therefore I’m going to nominate [Dixon, IL](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dixon,_Il) (population 15,941). It’s marquee moment every year is the Petunia Festival, where they line the main (only?) thoroughfare with…petunias. Known only for being the boyhood home of Ronald Reagan, its nightlife makes church look like sex. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2010, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-carbondale-illinois-the-most-boring-town-in-the-united-states/523734/5 "2010-01-05T14:28:20Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > According to Bill Bryson’s \*The Lost Continent \*it is. I’ve never been there so I couldn’t possibly comment. What say ye? Depends… when I was there I stayed with two MUD friends, one of whom grew up “in a commune-like place,” was abused in childhood and is gay; the other one had a part-time work as the caretaker of a third friend with brain damage who was the manager of another MUD, a player in ours, one of the sweetest people I’ve ever had the pleasure to meet, and an art student… we met with a couple more friends… I identify the place as “CDale, where all those (often quite bad, really) hackers come from,” as we used to have many players from there and some had problems with the notion that “thee shalt not touch that file” means, exactly “hands off that file, buster.” It didn’t seem like the most exciting place if your idea of fun is going to the opera, but for visiting with friends it was fine. Just don’t let any of those friends see your password :p;) It’s a college town (SIU, Southern Illinous University), so its population during the school year is between 2x and 3x the official census and there’s quite a lot of activities centered on the university. If you hate young people, it isn’t so much boring as ulcer-inducing. MUD: a kind of internet-based game. I was one of the admin, which among other things involved slapping hands which tried to get into the Forbidden Files (or into admins’ accounts). ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2010, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-carbondale-illinois-the-most-boring-town-in-the-united-states/523734/6 "2010-01-05T14:50:51Z")
As other folk have said, it is a rural town of a certain size, pretty far from mountains, oceans, or other spectacular natural features, which is home to a relatively large (~ 20,000 students I believe) state university. So for starters, I’d imagine that there are any number of rural towns of similar size that do not have comparably-sized universities that would likely exceed it in terms of boredom. A couple of other things weighing against Carbondale taking the title. In the past, the college (SIU) used to be the scene of a hugely out-of-control Halloween celebration which I don’t remember taking part of a few times when I was in school up the road in an equally boring part of the state. But I understand tey have drastically reduced many of the excesses. Also, I believe at least a few notable individuals have been associated with SIU. For example, I believe Buckminster Fuller taught there for a while, and they may still have some of his archives. IMO, anyplace associated with Bucky can only be so boring … ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2010, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-carbondale-illinois-the-most-boring-town-in-the-united-states/523734/7 "2010-01-05T14:56:56Z")
Southern Illinois University is a perennial top-ten finisher on lists of Best American Party Schools, with an annual Halloween blow-out that attracted national attention, so on that basis alone Carbondale can’t be all that boring. If you’re too old for college partying, it’s the only part of Illinois that has any relief to the landscape, so lots of good hiking and bird-watching in the environs. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2010, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-carbondale-illinois-the-most-boring-town-in-the-united-states/523734/8 "2010-01-05T15:17:45Z")
> [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](#): > > If you’re too old for college partying, it’s the only part of Illinois that has any relief to the landscape, so lots of good hiking and bird-watching in the environs. Yep - tons of State and Nat’l parks, forests, etc in the immediate vicinity, which would seem to put it ahead of countless midwestern competitors located in the midst of corn, bean, and wheat fields. ---
**Author:** ![infinitii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e8c25b/32.png) [@infinitii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/infinitii)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2010, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-carbondale-illinois-the-most-boring-town-in-the-united-states/523734/9 "2010-01-05T15:22:43Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > Also, I believe at least a few notable individuals have been associated with SIU. For example, I believe Buckminster Fuller taught there for a while, and they may still have some of his archives. IMO, anyplace associated with Bucky can only be so boring … IIRC, Bucky’s archives were moved from there, but good point. I had forgotten that one of my personal heroes had SIU as his homebase for many years. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2010, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-carbondale-illinois-the-most-boring-town-in-the-united-states/523734/10 "2010-01-05T15:31:55Z")
> [@infinitii](#): > > IIRC, Bucky’s archives were moved from there, but good point. I had forgotten that one of my personal heroes had SIU as his homebase for many years. Do they still have a Dymaxion house? ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2010, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-carbondale-illinois-the-most-boring-town-in-the-united-states/523734/11 "2010-01-05T15:55:08Z")
Well, it does have a colorful name. But that part of the state is full of whimsically-named towns - Vandalia, Centralia, Effingham, Beardstown, Cairo, Metropolis, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2010, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-carbondale-illinois-the-most-boring-town-in-the-united-states/523734/12 "2010-01-05T15:57:38Z")
Carbondale only seems boring because Olney, Illinois is home to a population of white squirrels. So it’s only boring in comparison ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2010, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-carbondale-illinois-the-most-boring-town-in-the-united-states/523734/13 "2010-01-05T16:42:03Z")
> [@joebuck20](#): > > Well, it does have a colorful name. But that part of the state is full of whimsically-named towns - Vandalia, Centralia, Effingham, Beardstown, Cairo, Metropolis, etc. Don’t forget Greenup and Casey. Some of my ancestors hailed from there. Well, outside of there. Eventually they got so whimsified they died or went to Oklahoma. ---
**Author:** ![rayman5321](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@rayman5321](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rayman5321)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2010, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-carbondale-illinois-the-most-boring-town-in-the-united-states/523734/14 "2010-01-05T17:16:43Z")
I lived in Milwaukee, Wisconsin for 8 years. I nominate it as the most boring city in the U.S. ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2010, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-carbondale-illinois-the-most-boring-town-in-the-united-states/523734/15 "2010-01-05T17:27:16Z")
No. At least not when I was there. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Z5-SQL3vOFk/hqdefault.jpg "HALLOWEEN at SIU Carbondale") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5-SQL3vOFk) [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/6tkSDAaqD9E/hqdefault.jpg "Carbondale Halloween 2000") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tkSDAaqD9E) But seriously, that riot aside, Carbondale is a great college town. But the music scene is great with plenty of students coming from both Chicago and St. Louis, there’s lots of indie, punk, and hip hop bands always playing cheap shows and house parties. There’s plenty of great hiking and parks all around the area as well. Giant City is always fun. And the Little Grand Canyon and Spillway off of Lake Kincaid are just a short drive away. Shawnee National Forest. The terrain is some of the most beautiful in Illinois. I’ve read Bryson. His shtick is condescending wit. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2010, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-carbondale-illinois-the-most-boring-town-in-the-united-states/523734/16 "2010-01-05T17:43:33Z")
> [@drastic\_quench](#): > > But the music scene is great … 2 of my all time faves - Jason and the Scorchers and Big Twist and the Mellow Fellow - have strong Carbondale ties. Hint - if you like rock and aren’t familiar with the Scorchers’ **Absolutely Sweet Marie** , you owe it to yourself. ---
**Author:** ![gwendee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@gwendee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gwendee)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2010, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-carbondale-illinois-the-most-boring-town-in-the-united-states/523734/17 "2010-01-05T17:43:58Z")
Watch out, Utica… I’ve been to Carbondale, Utica, NY, and York PA. Aint none of 'em what you’d call “bustling”. I don’t think Carbondale has anything to distinguish it as MORE boring than any of many other boring towns in the US. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2010, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-carbondale-illinois-the-most-boring-town-in-the-united-states/523734/18 "2010-01-05T17:49:37Z")
> [@rayman5321](#): > > I lived in Milwaukee, Wisconsin for 8 years. I nominate it as the most boring city in the U.S. Were you stuck in a coma during that period? Summerfest is hands-down the best summer festival in the country. ---
**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2010, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-carbondale-illinois-the-most-boring-town-in-the-united-states/523734/19 "2010-01-05T17:51:43Z")
I can’t imagine how anybody could come to the conclusion that it is the most boring town in the US. It has great scenery and excellent hiking. College parties are pretty big there, but I understand most incuding myself are too old for that stuff. I distinctly remember the streets smelling of tear gas on a typical October friday night. That was when they closed the campus and bars for Halloween, so they partied ahead of time. The last year I was there they closed campus but opened the bars. The resulting riot was impressive. I saw the burning couches from way down the street. For older folks, that may not be exciting, but there is great hiking. I can’t honestly remember what else there is though. The basketball team is often very good. It has made it to the sweet sixteen several times. They occasionally have big concerts there. Every Friday in the summer has a outdoor concert to go to. It’s just standard bands, but plenty of fun for anybody. I can see where he’s coming from, in that outside of the university, it is really plain, but how do you discount the university? ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2010, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-carbondale-illinois-the-most-boring-town-in-the-united-states/523734/20 "2010-01-05T17:54:04Z")
It’s got to be Wa Wa Wai, Washington. An exciting day there would be if you saw the cow. It had a population of 5 until my brother’s family moved away. Then it had a population of Bob. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-carbondale-illinois-the-most-boring-town-in-the-united-states/523734.md?page=2)