Just for light entertainment here is a highly amusing piece on establishing the location of the definitive “Armpit of the US” (the answer is Battle Mountain, Nevada).
“When The Washington Post calls to say it is thinking of identifying as the Armpit of America the city or town in which your career is unspooling, negativity often yields nicely to sputtering indignation. At least, that was the way it usually worked.
I telephoned Lorrie Baumann, editor of the Battle Mountain Bugle, and told her my idea.
“The Armpit of America?” she said.
“That’s sort of the, um, concept.”
Silence.
“Sounds about right,” she said.
But it’s a such a big country, I said, with so many crappy places. How could I be sure this was the ‘pit?
Lorrie’s response was as dry as a desert full of toilet brushes.
“I think a quick drive around downtown will answer any questions that might be lingering in your mind.”
