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The Worst-Smelling Towns In America

by Laurel Miller (RSS feed) on Aug 1st 2012 at 9:00AM

Last week, I was in Eureka, California, for a couple of days with my parents and brother's family. Despite the cute, historic downtown and an epic feast at the renown Samoa Cookhouse, our overwhelming impression of this coastal city is that it should be renamed "Eureeka," because it stinks – literally.

The stench of ... bait fish? Fish meal or perhaps cat food processing enveloped our hotel, and that's just not an aroma that stimulates the pleasure center of the brain. It was like living in a bucket of chum.

My niece and nephew, 12 and 16, respectively, suggested I write a piece for Gadling on the stankiest places in America, and I'm more than happy to oblige. In addition to personal picks, my fellow Gadsters were only too happy to (cow) chip in.

Coalinga, California
Anyone who's driven I-5 past the famous cattle stockyards knows exactly what I'm talking about.

Yellowstone National Park, and Thermopolis, Wyoming
These two famous attractions may stink of sulfur, but they're worth putting up with the fumes.

Pago Pago, American Samoa
Think giant fish cannery.

Chinatowns, everywhere
Special mention goes to NYC on a breezeless summer's day.

Greeley, Colorado
Let's just say that being the home of one of America's largest beef abattoirs has far-reaching consequences if the wind is right, which it usually is.

Gilroy, California
Depending upon your feelings about garlic, the nation's largest producer of the stuff is heaven or hell (personally, I choose the former).

Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Its unofficial nickname is "The City of Five Smells," due to the grain processing plants located there. Like roasting coffee, not always an olfactory pleasure.

Gary, Indiana
According to one Gadling contributor, this city famously smells like, "coke (a coal by-product), steel, and sadness." Apologies to residents of Gary but this one came up more than once.

Got any picks of your own? We'd love to hear your votes for America's smelliest town!

[Photo credits: cattle, Flickr user St0rmz; fish, Flickr user amandamandy]

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Learning, North America, United States

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Ptrix Aug 1st 2012 10:32AM

"Chinatowns, everywhere"?

Care to elaborate, as you did for most of the other places mentioned, or would you prefer this to be interpreted as being a generalized racist addition to your list? WHAT is it about Chinatowns specifically that you feel make them the "Worst-smelling town in America" (or on your words, "everywhere")?

I'm sure MANY others who read your article would like to know as well...

Charles Aug 1st 2012 10:55AM

How about LA. Athough the smog has been greatly reduced, LA still has a distinctive smell (and visible air) from car exhaust.

How about NYC and the smell that David Letterman highlights. Old Urine.

Elizabeth Aug 1st 2012 2:43PM

I don't need elaboration on the Chinatown remark. Rotting fish and other sea creatures piling up in garbage don't smell good.

Emland Aug 1st 2012 3:26PM

Last time I walked through Times Square the odor coming up from the grates was a combination of unwashed armpits, urine and mildew.

The smell of Chinatown in Philadelphia makes my stomach growl. Yummy cooking smells everywhere.

Gabrielle Varela Aug 1st 2012 4:32PM

The fragrance of the paper mill in Savannah, especially on a rainy day may not make it one of the worst smelling cities but definitely lands it stinky runner up status.

Dann Aug 2nd 2012 3:26AM

Coalinga, California. YES! That has got to be the worst ever. Just hope you have your windows rolled up and AC on recirculate or you'll be hating your life, wishing such a thing as a nose never existed, for miles beyond the freeway-side cattle ranch. I am still amazed at just how bad it smells.

If you think Chinatowns are bad, try an area where there is a Taiwanese population like Flushing, Queens or Rowland Heights near LA. There's a delicacy imported from the little island nation. It's called "stinky tofu". Oh, it's stinky alright. Some love it, some hate it/can't stand it. I'm the latter. It's an acquired tasted I don't need to acquire.