Need Info on Gadsden like Winters, People, etc. (Birmingham, Anniston: relocating, insurance)

[lee16240]

We're thinking of moving to Gadsden and so far what I see, it appears to be a very nice place to live. Didn't see much about the winters though. Any input on that would be helpful.

[Keeper]

Check out the city-data info on Gadsden on this forum.
http://www.city-data.com/city/Gadsden-Alabama.html

Where do you live now and what are you looking for in a town? There may be other areas that would be better for you and the people here have a wealth of information and opinions.

[lee16240]

We currently live in hot, sunny, humid, FL. What are the winters like in Gadsden?

[Keeper]

ahhh.. been there, done that.. I lived in Tampa for 30 years. I don't live in Gadsden but north of there in Arab AL. From November to March you can expect lows in the 30s and highs in the 40s-50s with a couple of days of 20 or lower at night and there will be days when it doesn't get above 30 but not many. You might get snow every couple of years but it doesn't last more than a day normally. It is not as humid here during the winter and it really didn't seem as cold to me as it was in Tampa when it was 40s.
During the summer it gets hotter during the late afternoon unlike FL where it just hot all day. There are days during spring and fall when you can just open your windows and be comfortable. Lookout mountain and Weiss Lake aren't too far away. People are friendly and you get a lot more house for the money plus insurance is a lot cheaper than FL. Gadsden is a good size city and the main hwy is busy at least when I have been there.

[markdalton]

Although I have never lived in Gadsden, I have relatives that live there and have been visiting the region for a number of years. Rainbow City and Southside are two nice suburbs of Gadsden. Those two cities, the Gadsden Country Club area, and Whorton's Bend are probably the nicest places in Etowah County. You can check them on out on this by clicking on their city pages. The city of Gadsden is pretty rough in spots, but housing is very affordable all over Etowah County, especially when compared to Florida. The weather is how Keeper described it. This is a working class/blue collar region, but most of the people are very nice.

[Southlander]

Actually, I believe Gadsden gets a bit colder weather and a bit more snow because it's at a higher elevation than Arab. But overall, the winters are not bad and are fairly short. I think Anniston is a much prettier city than Gadsden. Gadsden has always been a mill and factory town...some of those are now shut down. I hope you plan to visit in person before selling everything and heading north!!

[markdalton]

Yeah I think the Anniston area is a better choice too. Oxford is really booming and is close to Birmingham or Atlanta. I attended Jax State but usually ended up going to Oxford for shopping, the movies, and for decent restaurants.

[Keeper]

How about telling us what else you are looking for in a new place. Weather can't be the only requirement. Do you require shopping malls, movies etc... The nice people on here are good at telling you what they think of a place.

[SElkins]

I grew up in Gadsden and am VERY familiar with the city. Visit there often due to family still living there. It doesn't snow there -- in the last 40 years, I'd say snow (little of it) only once every 3 to 4 years -- I'm talking a dusting of snow. Are you moving there to retire, raise a family, relocating due to job? It depends on what you are looking for as to what side of town would best fit you. There are a ton of restaurants there and a decent sized mall, churches, and so on. There is a river running through Gadsden so you have options for boating, skiing. You have multiple school options (if you have school-age children or plan to), and there is a 2-year community college there as well. It is not what I'd call a booming economy as several of the larger employers have closed or downsized (Steel and Tire industries were big employers there in the 80's and 90's). What else would you like to know?

[lee16240]

We are eventually going to move because the cost of living in So. Florida has skyrocketed and we have a little girl that will be starting pre-school in a few years and the school system here is not so great. I mean it is very Latin and just not the same as when I was in school. For example, the other day, my friend's son who is in the 4th grade tested for honors class and even though he passed, he was not considered for the class because he did not have a lunch pass paid for by the government because he is not considered a minority. Can you believe that? It's no longer about the academics. At least down here. I was furious.