[briansgi]

Originally Posted by undertheironsea

You definitely won't find the illegal immigrant problem here.

We have chicken plants all over the state. They tend to stay away from hard work like that.

You'll never go to Wal-Mart on a Saturday and hear Spanish spoken all around you.

And for sure, you'll never find any in Springdale, Arkansas. The only reason people call it "Little Mexico" is because they're trying to be ironic. It's actually the whitest populated area in the country.

Get the chip off your shoulder and realize that there is a large Hispanic population, both legal and illegal, in this country right now. You came here from somewhere else, I came here from somewhere else, most of us did. In fact, I bet it irritated the Native Americans a great deal to have all those "illegal immigrants" coming in and speaking their own language and taking over their jobs, land, etc, etc. Both sides of my family came to this country from Ireland because of the potato famine. These people are coming to this country because their country pays them little to nothing. Get over it. You'd leave too if you had to.

Just don't move to Arkansas expecting not to see it again, or anywhere else for that matter.

Adios.

The difference is being here illegally vs. legally! All the states need to grow some cahuna's like Oklahoma has done and pass legistlation and start throwing employers in jail if you hire an illegal. Throw landlords in jail if you rent to an illegal. If there are no jobs, and no place to stay, these illegals will quit coming! Quit moving from your states, stay and fight and win back your states!

[Sam I Am]

MODERATOR: We are way-y-y-y off topic...get back to Bella Vista, please! Thank you!

[johnquixote]

Bella Vista is a step up over Cali.

[wiseguymn]

When I was 7 years old my family moved to nw ar. It was a great place to grow up. I love all of NW Ar.I never really knew all that many people there that were actually from there. That was the early 70s I moved up here to Mn in 1991 at the age of 24 and I love it here it takes longer to be accepted here than it does there but with time it happens where ever you are with the right attitude.The older I get the more I dislike winter in Mn but the chances of me finding a job in ar as a union carpenter and making the kind of money I can here are slim to none.So Im probaly stuckin mn til I retire and Im only 40 so thats a ways away.The only time of year I really wish could is Jan and feb after growing up down there knowing how much better winter can be. Its not right to walk outside when its -2 the high for the day and because the sun is shineing thinking this is a nice day but after some of the days we get it is nice and sooner or later it gets better.
There a lot of reasons people move to NW AR and most of them are pretty good ones. Its been this way for as long as I can remember and will be for many years to come.The only thing that bothers me is I grew up more of a small town boy in nw ar and now its more like one big city Im not sure thats progress.

[rozinante]

Bella Vista's population has increase 65% since 2000. I imagine Californians are a good chunk of the population increase.

[Alaskapat528]

Originally Posted by Mr.andMrs.Krinkle

If I were you,I would be more concerned about being surrounded by people who don't speak English,(and there's alot of that in the River Valley)rather than someone who does not speak in the exact accent as yourself. Our families ARE from Arkansas and although we lived in California,I have somewhat of a Southern accent and you wouldn't know I was from CA. unless I told you. Heck,you might even like me if I started a conversation with you. Have a nice day,and keep on smilin' :-)

You got that right. I don't mind accents as long as they are from somewhere in America or possibly an immigrant who came here "legally."

[rozinante]

Any Californians chiming in about Bella Vista?

[Synopsis]

Originally Posted by undertheironsea

Haha, well, growing up, it was a blanket term for anyone outside of the Southern U.S. of the country, with a non-Southern accent.

I know, it doesn't make much sense, but considering the area I was raised in--well, I'm thankful to be walking upright and speaking, haha.

I appreciate your comment. I tend to come off a bit brash when talking about people from outside the South mainly because of the negative experiences I've had. I'm sure not all people from other places are rude or judgemental just as all Southerners don't pick banjos or chew tobacco. In fact, we have a lot more "stuck-up" Southern folks with too much money acting like they are superior to everyone than we do people from outside the South with the same attitude.


I apologize to all previous posters who may have found my comments a bit offensive or judgemental. I have a terrible habit of being hypocritical when it comes to matters of culture sometimes, simply because of the problems I've had as a youngster, which is wrong of me.

Like I said before, I can't say as I blame people for moving here. If houses were this low as compared to what you're dealing with...I'd be here in a heartbeat.

There are good people all over the US. There are a-holes in Arkansas, and the genuine deal in California, and vice versa.

I think people are leaving California and other states to escape what those cities and states have become, and in doing so are more like-minded with the folks in Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma than they are with the state they have lived in many years.

I do realize what comes with population growth though; changes. Changes from the place we knew it to be to ????.

Northwest Arkansas is undergoing a rapid transformation as people are seeing the beauty, the seclusion, and the wonders of nature as they grow older. IMO, it's only natural with all of the changes in many states over the last decade.

The best one can do is just try and help their area change for the better. Become involved in the community, and so on. It takes work and a lot of extra time, but if you want your area to prosper and grow in "the right way" it is really worth it.

[vladstok]

Bella Vista is cool!!!

[mountaingirl75]

most of us were under the impression we came up with the relocation idea ourselves, until we got on city-data. my family is considering a few places actually. first it was north carolina but then we learned that the city we were looking into gets about 4,000 new residents a month! the rental prices went WAY up over the year we were looking and we didn't want to jump into a mini-california.
so, i decided to look into the area in arkansas that my family came from. i lived there for about a year when i was a kid but remembered very little besides the beauty and my grandpa's overalls. it wasn't long before our research led to a lot of interest; the cost of living, the abundance of outdoor activities and the feeling that we had some historical roots there.
i love NWA but the low wages may put a damper on our move. after reading these forums over the monthes i've come to the decision that if/when i do move there....i won't tell anyone i'm from cailfornia. my husband and daughter were born in new orleans so they'll be safe from the cali-backlash at least.
i can't wait for the quiet. Moderator cut: edit my brother just announced that he and his family are relocating to colorado. admittingly, i was jealous he's getting out before me. as i stated, leaving was MY idea, lol.