[HANNU]

Moderator cut: unnecessary comment

Speaking of which; BChris, will you be staying in Little Rock another 3 years before you leave? It does not take that long to leave an area you really dislike, and the hate will only consume you if you continue to live there.

1.4 millions 'reads' and almost 3,000 'posts' on the city-data forum are substantial numbers. Hope you can narrow down your new home soon.

[bchris02]

It's almost impossible to get a job somewhere you don't live unless you are in management or in healthcare, which I am neither. I'll have to pay off my debt and then save up enough money to live for a while in an urban area while I am job hunting. I wish I could move this month but it's just not possible.

[pirate_lafitte]

Many people hate Arkansas because of what it doesn't have. It is not a surprise to me that many people who move to the South move to Atlanta, Charlotte, or Miami. Atlanta is a big city, a major league city, and Charlotte and Miami too to a certain degree. As much as I would rather live somewhere else besides the three cities I mentioned, people look for places near the big cities and the big city amenities such as major league sports(which Arkansas doesn't have), cities with other cultural amenities. Many of the things people look for in a city(and a state), many people do not feel Arkansas has that. Many people mainly look for places that are major league cities and for most people, Arkansas doesn't fit that.

[HANNU]

Originally Posted by bchris02

It's almost impossible to get a job somewhere you don't live unless you are in management or in healthcare, which I am neither. I'll have to pay off my debt and then save up enough money to live for a while in an urban area while I am job hunting. I wish I could move this month but it's just not possible.

I would do the opposite. Save more money in order to move and reduce your debt payments. In the past, the consensus was to pay off debts first, but I do not agree with that concept in these trying economic times. I lived in an area once that I really disliked and I just couldn't take it anymore and just left. Still trying to sell my house there, but at least now I am good deal happier albeit a little poorer.

[bchris02]

Originally Posted by pirate_lafitte

Many people hate Arkansas because of what it doesn't have. It is not a surprise to me that many people who move to the South move to Atlanta, Charlotte, or Miami. Atlanta is a big city, a major league city, and Charlotte and Miami too to a certain degree. As much as I would rather live somewhere else besides the three cities I mentioned, people look for places near the big cities and the big city amenities such as major league sports(which Arkansas doesn't have), cities with other cultural amenities. Many of the things people look for in a city(and a state), many people do not feel Arkansas has that. Many people mainly look for places that are major league cities and for most people, Arkansas doesn't fit that.

Exactly. If I was ready to retire or at least settle down I would be much happier in Arkansas. I however am not at that point yet and it's making me feel like my hands are tied.

Before I leave, I want to save up enough to live in a new location for at least six months while searching for work. I don't want to leave Arkansas and my steady job for the big city only to have to come back to Arkansas broke and with no job.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by pirate_lafitte

Many people hate Arkansas because of what it doesn't have. It is not a surprise to me that many people who move to the South move to Atlanta, Charlotte, or Miami. Atlanta is a big city, a major league city, and Charlotte and Miami too to a certain degree. As much as I would rather live somewhere else besides the three cities I mentioned, people look for places near the big cities and the big city amenities such as major league sports(which Arkansas doesn't have), cities with other cultural amenities. Many of the things people look for in a city(and a state), many people do not feel Arkansas has that. Many people mainly look for places that are major league cities and for most people, Arkansas doesn't fit that.

you are right to a point, but remember, especially Charlotte wasn't a BIG city until recently, even Atlanta wasn't until about 25 years ago. Today's big cities were yesterdays small towns and visa versa. As for things like pro sports or even college sports, this may be an important drawing card for you but it certainly isn't for everyone, especially when we all have access to good TV reception, the net, etc. For a gal, I am as big a sports fan as you will ever meet and yet, we managed to live and love NM as well as now, in AR without pro sports. The counry is so transit most of our favoirte teams are not in the city we live in anyway. Right now, one of the hot spots for re-location, actually there are 3, do not offer major pro sports: OKC, Tulsa and Austin. OK, OKC has one major sport team but that is it. I grew up in L.A. before the Dodgders, Angeles, or even the Lakers.

Nita

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by bchris02

Exactly. If I was ready to retire or at least settle down I would be much happier in Arkansas. I however am not at that point yet and it's making me feel like my hands are tied.

Before I leave, I want to save up enough to live in a new location for at least six months while searching for work. I don't want to leave Arkansas and my steady job for the big city only to have to come back to Arkansas broke and with no job.

Chris, I can't remember or don't know if you ever mentioned it, but where do you want to live?
Please don't say Califorinia, like everyone else..Only kidding

Nita

[pirate_lafitte]

Originally Posted by nmnita

you are right to a point, but remember, especially Charlotte wasn't a BIG city until recently, even Atlanta wasn't until about 25 years ago. Today's big cities were yesterdays small towns and visa versa. As for things like pro sports or even college sports, this may be an important drawing card for you but it certainly isn't for everyone, especially when we all have access to good TV reception, the net, etc. For a gal, I am as big a sports fan as you will ever meet and yet, we managed to live and love NM as well as now, in AR without pro sports. The counry is so transit most of our favoirte teams are not in the city we live in anyway. Right now, one of the hot spots for re-location, actually there are 3, do not offer major pro sports: OKC, Tulsa and Austin. OK, OKC has one major sport team but that is it. I grew up in L.A. before the Dodgders, Angeles, or even the Lakers.

Nita

I am just saying that major league sports is one draw to think of. There are other things. Many people prefer the big cities(cities with populations of 400,000+ inside the city) and the amenities that come with living in the bigger cities. Arkansas' biggest city barely has 150,000 people. Atlanta started to get biggger when it businesses started to set up shop in Atlanta(example: Bell bomber plant, now called Lockheed). People started looking for cheaper metros to live in that still had some of the amenities. Atlanta had all 4 major league sports in the late 1970's(before the NHL Atlanta Flames became the Calgary Flames) and 25 years ago Atlanta was emerging. Now it is huge as a metro area. Aside from the major league sports. The pattern today is to settle in the moderately sized metros. Little Rock is rather small for some persons' taste. There are pull factors for Atlanta. Transportation is one factor. Atlanta is a hub for the airline industry because of its location near other major cities. Another issue for the pull towards Atlanta is many businesses being there, such as IBM, Eartlink, Coca-Cola, Lockheed-Martin. There are many universities in Atlanta, such as Georgia Tech, Georgia State, Morehouse, Spelman, Clark-Atlanta, Emory. When people think of Arkansas, none of that comes to mind. Images of the Old South come to mind.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by pirate_lafitte

I am just saying that major league sports is one draw to think of. There are other things. Many people prefer the big cities(cities with populations of 400,000+ inside the city) and the amenities that come with living in the bigger cities. Arkansas' biggest city barely has 150,000 people. Atlanta started to get biggger when it businesses started to set up shop in Atlanta(example: Bell bomber plant, now called Lockheed). People started looking for cheaper metros to live in that still had some of the amenities. Atlanta had all 4 major league sports in the late 1970's(before the NHL Atlanta Flames became the Calgary Flames) and 25 years ago Atlanta was emerging. Now it is huge as a metro area. Aside from the major league sports. The pattern today is to settle in the moderately sized metros. Little Rock is rather small for some persons' taste. There are pull factors for Atlanta. Transportation is one factor. Atlanta is a hub for the airline industry because of its location near other major cities. Another issue for the pull towards Atlanta is many businesses being there, such as IBM, Eartlink, Coca-Cola, Lockheed-Martin. There are many universities in Atlanta, such as Georgia Tech, Georgia State, Morehouse, Spelman, Clark-Atlanta, Emory. When people think of Arkansas, none of that comes to mind. Images of the Old South come to mind.

Oh, I agree with you, I am just saying I doubt many people choose to re-locate based on sports teams and much of what you are saying about places like Atlanta are true, my point, these cities were nothing for many years. Of course the more business that moves in, the more an area will grow. Another area that was nothing was Phoenix. Business trends change, times change, I will not live to see AR become a huge state and I really don't want to. You are right, Little Rock isn't what most of us would call a major city. In fact the growth in AR is here, not the Little Rock area. That may change, who knows. I think the NWA area has about as many people as Little Rock, maybe even more. Just Bentonville and BV together now have about 60,000 people, that doesn't count all the other cities like Rogers, Fayetteville, Springdale and Lowell just to mention a few.

Of course I remember when Lewisville, Tx was about 30,000 people (not that many years ago) now it is 80,000 I think.

Nita

[bchris02]

Originally Posted by nmnita

Oh, I agree with you, I am just saying I doubt many people choose to re-locate based on sports teams and much of what you are saying about places like Atlanta are true, my point, these cities were nothing for many years. Of course the more business that moves in, the more an area will grow. Another area that was nothing was Phoenix. Business trends change, times change, I will not live to see AR become a huge state and I really don't want to. You are right, Little Rock isn't what most of us would call a major city. In fact the growth in AR is here, not the Little Rock area. That may change, who knows. I think the NWA area has about as many people as Little Rock, maybe even more. Just Bentonville and BV together now have about 60,000 people, that doesn't count all the other cities like Rogers, Fayetteville, Springdale and Lowell just to mention a few.

Of course I remember when Lewisville, Tx was about 30,000 people (not that many years ago) now it is 80,000 I think.

Nita

NWA is where all the development is right now. Little Rock has been stagnant since it became known for its crime issues in the early '90s. There has however been much growth in the surrounding towns and rural areas in Central Arkansas, though nothing on the scale of what has been seen in NWA.

If NWA and Little Rock were miraculously combined into one metropolitan area, the resulting metro area would have MUCH more going for it and maybe could compete with "real" metro areas like Tulsa. As it is, each "metro" area basically has what the other lacks...and both leave much to be desired for somebody looking for real urban experience. If there was one metro of 1.2 million there would be the population to support what neither can support as is. There is a LOT more to living in an urban area than just major league sports, and you won't find much of any of it in either "metro" area in Arkansas.