[MightyLight]

I'm interested in moving to Jonesboro, Arkansas soon. I will be visiting there in about 2 weeks but want to here some objective takes on the area. I will provide you with as much info as possible about me and my family. I am a city loving girl but am originally from a very small rural town with a population of less than 10,000. I have lived in some very large cities with populations of millions also, but currently live in a very rural area. I am married with children who would be attending a junior high or middle school. My husband will be looking for semi skilled labor jobs ---factory or general labor. I would be looking for a job in insurance or small finance. I enjoy big city living but my husband does not so we need a area that offers culture and opportunity but not millions of people. I want to be in driving distance of good regional airport and varied events to expose my children to. I also need info on doctors and medical care in this area. I am looking for info on the availability of jobs in the area, events, recreation, schools (7th and 8th Grade) , neighborhoods, home rentals (avg. Prices), race relations in the area (of Minority descent). We would be renting for atleast the first year. Any tips, comments or suggestions encouraged and welcomed! Thanks.

[northbound74]

Jonesboro would be a pretty good fit. Paragould and Blytheville also have a fair amount of industry and wouldn't be a terrible commute.
I'd definitely stick with Jonesboro as a place to live though. Just has more going for it all around. It's affordable. School ratings websites can give you an idea of what schools to consider. Jonesboro is a college town, and race relations while not perfect, could be worse. Paragould once had a reputation as a sundown town but is slowly changing somewhat: Sundown Towns - Encyclopedia of Arkansas
I once had a conversation with a Blytheville police officer that made me thankful I wasn't a black person living there with that guy on the force. That might not be an accurate comment on all of Blytheville, but that's all I got.
Memphis is an easy hour's drive. Little Rock isn't far, and even St. Louis is a doable weekend trip.
As for neighborhoods, it's been too long for me to give an accurate account. It's one of those places though, that what you see is what you get for the most part. Simply driving around will give you a pretty good idea of the kind neighborhoods it has.

[xhgz]

Originally Posted by MightyLight

I'm interested in moving to Jonesboro, Arkansas soon. I will be visiting there in about 2 weeks but want to here some objective takes on the area. I will provide you with as much info as possible about me and my family. I am a city loving girl but am originally from a very small rural town with a population of less than 10,000. I have lived in some very large cities with populations of millions also, but currently live in a very rural area. I am married with children who would be attending a junior high or middle school. My husband will be looking for semi skilled labor jobs ---factory or general labor. I would be looking for a job in insurance or small finance. I enjoy big city living but my husband does not so we need a area that offers culture and opportunity but not millions of people. I want to be in driving distance of good regional airport and varied events to expose my children to. I also need info on doctors and medical care in this area. I am looking for info on the availability of jobs in the area, events, recreation, schools (7th and 8th Grade) , neighborhoods, home rentals (avg. Prices), race relations in the area (of Minority descent). We would be renting for atleast the first year. Any tips, comments or suggestions encouraged and welcomed! Thanks.

Good for your family..Jonesboro is a small, rural community in Northeast AR. You can access Memphis about 1.5 hours. It is a great, small town environment for rural folks. Great raising your family. Minority should not be your issue for Jonesboro at all. My only suggestion is: Do not send your kids to ASU.

[JBO2411]

I've lived in Jonesboro for over thirty years now. Could you be a bit more specific, please? What exactly would you like to know?

[MightyLight]

xhgz What is wrong with ASU?

[MightyLight]

Originally Posted by JBO2411

I've lived in Jonesboro for over thirty years now. Could you be a bit more specific, please? What exactly would you like to know?

I just want general info about Jonesboro. Really anything you can tell me would be of use.

[North Pulaski Player]

Originally Posted by MightyLight

xhgz What is wrong with ASU?

Nothing at all wrong with A-State. It seems like he's just another UofA Alum or "Hog fan" that fear the rapid growth and success that A-State has had over the past 10-15 years. ASU is now getting a med school, and guess which university tried to block it

[North Pulaski Player]

Originally Posted by MightyLight

I just want general info about Jonesboro. Really anything you can tell me would be of use.

In general: Fast growing Arkansas Delta town(population well over 70,000 now). It along with Marion, AR are the only two towns in the Delta that are doing very well(granted that Marion's success is due to it literally being a nice suburb of Memphis). I haven't lived there in years, but I go back often and I can tell you that it is a great community for raising a family. I have to admit though that if you are experiencing the single life, Jonesboro is not for you(unless you're an A-State student). General rule of thumb is to stay south of Johnson Ave. Everything north of Johnson Ave(North Jonesboro) has become very ghetto, but even North JB is Disneyland compared to the big city ghettos. Jonesboro has four school districts(Jonesboro, Nettleton, Westside, and Valley View). Valley View School District is in Southwest Jonesboro and it is considered the best part of town. Jonesboro and Nettleton school districts are on par to each other in my opinion, and Westside is considered the redneck school district(sorry, but it is westsiders). As always, there are going to be good and bad schools within each school district, so you'll just have to do your research and see what school you're zoned for. The area around the Mall at Turtle Creek is the main shopping destination for Jonesboro and Northeast Arkansas, which is on the intersection of Red Wolf Blvd and Highland Dr. Downtown on Main Street is where Jonesboro's main entertainment district is located, which has several bars and restaurants and has been built up tremendously over the last few years. There are occassionally live shows and concerts on Main Street as well. Jonesboro is technically in a "dry" county, but it is considered the wettest dry county in America. If you want to drink at a restaurant or bar, just sign a card to "join" and you can drink just like you would anywhere else(weird formality that will likely change after the residents votes to officially make Craighead County a "wet" county). Jonesboro also very bible beltish, and has many many churches, and still has more churches per capita than any other city in America, which is why it is sometimes called "The City of Churches". Hmmm, can't think of anything else. Got any other questions about Jonesboro aka JB aka JBoogie?

[NewTexico76]

I am shocked at how much Jonesboro has grown...I remember when it had about 30,000 or so people in the 80s. Are most of the newcomers from the smaller towns in the area? Or are there "transplants" from other states?

[northbound74]

Both, but my guess is that a majority come from out of state. Like the northwest, but on a smaller scale.
It's surreal driving 49 north out of town and seeing that massive sprawling hospital as you come over the hill and all the stuff around it.