[aztecmom]

So my husband and I are trying to relocate to Arkansas to be closer to parents. I have been actively looking for employment just about everywhere and have not been successful getting bites at this point. I saw a job in Forrest City and am trying to get insight on the area. Some of the posts that I've read so far are few and not very positive.

Can anyone out there let me know if this is an area we would want to live? We have a 3 year old and have to consider her as well. She will be going to school soon.

Or would we be better looking into somewhere else?

Overall, we love Arkansas and would love to live there, however, like any state, we realize there are towns you should avoid. Are there other towns in Arkansas that are not (in your opinion) that great a place to live?

We would rather be in NWA, but trying to get someone to consider an "out-of-stater" seems impossible at this point.

Your opinions are much appreciated!

[thewizard16]

aztecmom,
Normally I'm the voice of reason and encouragement about places to live on here, but I wouldn't recommend Forrest City unless it was a job offer you just couldn't get anywhere else. I haven't lived there, but have had to travel there for work and for a city it's size, it feels much more run-down and dangerous than I would have expected. Retail and dining options are limited (more-so than I would have expected for a town of 14,000 or so), and a declining employment base along with already slipping population and high poverty rate don't indicate this city taking a more positive direction in the near future. The high school actually seemed pretty decent facility wise, but their benchmark, end of course, and average ACT scores are all significantly below the state average. Of course it's impossible to say whether that is an instructional problem alone, but it would be a cause for concern if I were a parent. If the job were appealing enough to work in Forrest City, I might consider living closer to Wynne, if I were you. The schools are rated much higher stat wise and just had a more pleasant southern-town feel to it (as well as looking a bit cleaner/more kept up), and it's only about a 20 minute drive to Forrest City.

I'm surprised you're having issues with NWA as an out-of-stater since such a huge part of the population and workforce there is imported, but I'll wish you the best of luck with the job search there. I'd also look into central Arkansas if I were you (Little Rock's economy has remained strong, as has Conway's, so the job market there seems pretty promising and there are a lot of nice areas or little bedroom communities to live in).

Good luck with your search!

[aztecmom]

Thanks Wizard! I appreciate your opinion. I am not sure that the position available is necessarily the "dream job." So I will take your advice into consideration and perhaps look elsewhere. Thanks again.

[conovercourt]

Forrest City is another sad, declining Delta town. I lived nearby for 3 yearrs and never had reason to go there. Never could warm up to a city named after Nathan Bedford Forrest, founder of the original KKK ...
Crowley's Ridge at Forrest City is a nice break from the flatlands along I-40 between Little Rock and Memphis, however.

[Capt. Dan]

Originally Posted by conovercourt

Forrest City is another sad, declining Delta town. I lived nearby for 3 yearrs and never had reason to go there. Never could warm up to a city named after Nathan Bedford Forrest, founder of the original KKK ...
Crowley's Ridge at Forrest City is a nice break from the flatlands along I-40 between Little Rock and Memphis, however.

You would prefer "Sharpton City?"

[RogMar]

Originally Posted by Capt. Dan

You would prefer "Sharpton City?"

[aztecmom]

Well, so far we haven't heard a thing on the position. So it is probably a good thing. Thanks Conover for your input. It is sad when towns decline. Perhaps this one does have bad history, but I imagine it is not the only town out there named after a not so popular person. Perhaps it is bad leadership, bad location, no funding, who knows.

Dan - Sharpton city? Funny.