Niagara Falls, NY is dumpy because is a typical Rust Belt city that experienced significant industrial and manufacturing decline in the late 70s-80s coupled wit

Niagara Falls, NY is dumpy because is a typical Rust Belt city that experienced significant industrial and manufacturing decline in the late 70s-80s coupled with failed "urban renewal" projects. The population went from 102,394 in 1960 to ~48,144 in 2018. It's not exactly easy to maintain a tax base in that situation.