those places are depopulating for a reason. theres nothing in those places but tumbleweeds and dustdevils.
No, sometimes it’s due to misbegotten trade policies that killed the primary employers in a given area. For instance, most of rural North Carolina. The most glaring example in my exposure is southside Virginia. Danville, Martinsville, South Boston, VA. Very pretty countryside, historic old cities, even grand in the instance of Danville. Lakes, mountains, recreation, motorsports heritage. Very desirable, but dying due to trade policy. Textiles, furniture, gone offshore.