The problem isn't just small towns like this where the clock stopped 70 years ago, it's huge portions of the South.

Gentrification from blue states isn't happening because the services needed (high speed internet) aren't available in small towns like this, and, because of other problems, nobody from the outside wants to live there.

Alabama ranks #44/50 on a "Best States" list:

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/rankings

40 Crime & Corrections
33 Economy
44 Education
20 Fiscal Stability
44 Health Care
36 Infrastructure
47 Natural Environment
32 Opportunity