Relocating to ALabama

[dadbud]

I live in Alexandria which is between Anniston/Oxford and Gadsden. We are located halfway between Birmingham and Atlanta. This is an ideal area. Lots of outdoor activities, JSU close by, jobs moving steadily.

[The Steve Martin]

Check out Shelby County, Alabama. Great urban, suburban and rural area close to each other. Great lifestyle and schools are among state's top schools. I wrote a book on Shelby County a few years ago I love to share with newcomers. Check out local web sites and cities of Chelsea, Calera, Alabaster, Pelham, Hoover and some others. Hope to see you settle here.

[osunshine]

Mobile is great. An from Beaches, Casinos and 2.5 hours to New Orleans.

[FlourChild]

Originally Posted by butterflyauntie

What about Cullman? It is a growing community that maintains the classic southern values. There are four lakes in the county and it is located about 20 minutes from the Tennessee river, 45 minutes from Huntsville and an hour outside of Birmingham. Beautiful properties with lots of land and Cullman Highschool is known for its academics.

Cullman's health care is one of the worst you will ever find. (I spent my high school years there and still have family there; my mom works in the health care industry there.) The doctors at CRMC are those who graduated near the bottom of their classes. Living in Cullman can be nice, but for a doctor you trust to do right by you, you'd have to go to Huntsville or Birmingham (or Nashville). Not trying to be negative, just thought it wise to warn you. Good luck.

[FlourChild]

Originally Posted by dadbud

I live in Alexandria which is between Anniston/Oxford and Gadsden. We are located halfway between Birmingham and Atlanta. This is an ideal area. Lots of outdoor activities, JSU close by, jobs moving steadily.

As someone from AL who's VERY interested in getting back home w/family intact, I'm curious: are there a lot of problems (health-related) w/the soil/air/water in that area, b/c of the AAD/Monsanto chemical dumping in the past? Is there, for instance, a higher cancer/illness incidence? We are looking at Anniston/Gadsden in hopes of moving there, but not if our 5- and 2-year-olds would have to be kept inside or something. Probably a stupid question, but I'm a protective mom.

[Deano]

We moved here from Fl a couple years ago and are very pleased with this area..found good Drs,hospitals,shopping and churches...wish you the best

[dadbud]

I've lived in South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee and Florida. Each area we lived in has environmental concerns it seems. In South Carolina and Georgia it was the Savannah River site with their nuclear facility; In Tennesse it was the "next big 100 year earthquake" that would wipe out St Louis, Memphis and the western part of Tennessee. In Florida it was the next big Hurricane.

We have lived here for 8 years now and we like the area very much. It is very peaceful, quiet weather, good economy, good location and very family friendly. The Army does have the chemical weapons incinerator but this is not an issue. If anything this area is safer because of all the money being pumped in here by the Government to make sure nothing does go wrong. Monsanto has a plant here that produced PCB's back in the 70's which they dumped some waste which found it's way into a creek. Again, they have pumped mega dollars into the area cleaning this up. The drinking water supply here is rated as one of the highest quality in the nation on the reports I see, so with all the exposure I would say this area may be cleaner and safer than other areas that sweep it all under the rug. At least people here are tackling the issues head on without hiding them. This makes me feel better.

[JSU fan]

Can honestly recommend the Jacksonville area. Small university (10,000 students) lends the City opportunities and atmosphere, the geography supports a life communal with nature and location places Jacksonville wit social opportunities in Gadsden and Oxford within 20 minutes and Atlanta/ Birmingham within 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
Not much employment in the City itself, but is an easy commute to all the above. Low crime and good schools create a place woth consideration.