Hangonaminute: Dallas is the 7th dirtiest city in the nation?

Dallas has shopping! Big hair! Churches! And dirt?

Allison Slomowitz/ Special Contributor

There's little about Dallas that feels unclean, if you ask us.

We've heard every joke in the book about what's wrong with Dallas, but we haven't heard this one yet: Travel + Leisure ranks Dallas/Fort Worth as the seventh dirtiest city in the country.

DFW was docked points for its lack of green space, but the survey fails to explain what's otherwise so unclean about Dallas. It can't compare to No. 1 dirty girl New York City or No. 2 New Orleans.

The survey was created from T+L readers' rankings on cities they want to travel to. The Dirtiest Cities list is the bottom of that barrel -- those metros that are big, have great nightlife, but aren't necessarily tidy.

Houston is the tenth grimiest, according to the story, mostly because of its ozone issue.

San Antonio rounds out the list of Texas cities at No. 16. The research doesn't seem all that scientific: "The Texas city has festive flea markets, barbecue, and a legendary old fort — and none of them are known for being pristine," according to the survey. T+L must not realize what a sin it is to dis San Antonio because of its apparently grubby Alamo.

Back here in Dallas, I'm told we clean up pretty well. Better than Houston, at least, amirite?

steeledf2506, anonymous:

Nope, Dallas is very dirty. Plastic bags everywhere. As much as I love east Dallas, there is crap everywhere. West Dallas is a bottomless pitt with the Trinity that has trash and disgusting water in it. South Dallas, yes we know. If you want a clean city around these parts, check out downtown Fort Worth. No comparison.

8 months ago
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kimlet, anonymous:

I've been in dirty cities... Dallas doesn't even come close... whoever came up with this must've been stuck in a neighborhood on the week before bulk trash pickup! LOL!

8 months ago
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Brentney Hamilton, staff:

I call shenanigans. Boston is gross, and it didn't even make the top ten. (I love Boston, but let's get real here. The same dirty snow sits on the streets for weeeeeeks.)

8 months ago
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stevespacek1, anonymous:

I agree witht the current T+L rankings and visit Texas' and America's cities often (I, native Texan). Was featured in the article. YES, Dallas is worthy of its ranking. At this moment, city has very trashy areas immed. east and south of downtown, and along commercial areas adjacent to I-30 east. Houston is a bit cleaner at the moment. However, SAN ANTONIO has the most profiled active litterers and dumpers for any major Texas city. Texas still largest populated WORST government in American State Litter Scorecard (only Illinois has a stronger WORST ranking for a state's pop. size). Most WORST states tend to be run by a Republican Governor, whereas "Diritiest" Citiesa tend to have a Democrat as Mayor. Take note: Most "Dirtiest Cities" are in the Deep South and Mid Atlantic/Northeast regions of the USA, where "greening" cultures have not been adequately embraced by both citizens and public officials.

The American State Litter Scorecard

8 months ago
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rembree, anonymous:

Really? Boston? Dirty snow? You're going to compare dirty snow which melts away to the trashy windblown treeless plains of North Texas? Let's stop burying our head in the sand and face facts, Dallas is dirty and litter strewn and we all need to do something about it.

7 months, 4 weeks ago
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lo9tta, anonymous:

btw, the largest urban hardwood forest in the U.S. Larger than Central Park, if we will ever do anything with it. Where did all that bond money go?

7 months, 3 weeks ago
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