Fort Smith Information (Little Rock, Van Buren, Greenwood: relocation, housing, rent)

[anjoe]

Can anyone give me any information on decent, affordable areas to live in Fort Smith, especially close to a christian school? I would like to get any information on parents that have children attending one of the christian schools in the area, such as tuition costs for 1-4th grader and 1- 7th grader and if you are pleased with the school. Thanks for any information. Also, is there alot for families to do around Fort Smith. Thanks...

[CorpITGuy]

I've heard good things about River Valley Christian:
http://www.greatschools.net/cgi-bin/ar/private/1290

Stay on the East Side of Fort Smith for housing. Affordable, new, etc.

Ft. Smith is a good place to raise a family. Better shopping in Little Rock and Tulsa, but both drives are reasonable for day trips.

[Keelie]

Well just to be honest with you I would not recomend moving to the Fort Smith Area I had lived there all of my life until the last 3 1/2 years and I will tell you now that there really are not any good neighborhoods there that are good enough to raise a family in unless you want Meth right in your back yard and take my word for it, it and the violence are in every neighborhood in that town As far as the schools go they are ok I guess I really am not sure of the private ones though As far as anything for families to do there Creek moore park is nice but other then that there really is not much to do there unless you like to shop. Now see I love that area myself believe it or not but that is my home and I am used to it but I would never recomend anyone to move there with a family

[CorpITGuy]

Drugs are everywhere. There are some wonderful neighborhoods in Fort Smith, especially on the East Side. Anyone who thinks there aren't dozens of drug users in even the best neighborhoods is mistaken....

[undertheironsea]

Crime in Fort Smith is getting worse by the minute. Some nice areas of town, but its not anything great. Different strokes for different folks, though.

[lisaurart]

Originally Posted by anjoe

Can anyone give me any information on decent, affordable areas to live in Fort Smith, especially close to a christian school? I would like to get any information on parents that have children attending one of the christian schools in the area, such as tuition costs for 1-4th grader and 1- 7th grader and if you are pleased with the school. Thanks for any information. Also, is there alot for families to do around Fort Smith. Thanks...

Wow, a lot of major negative posts brought me out to post.
FS is my hometown,my parents live in the same quiet neighborhood, in south FS near Southside High School, and it is still a nice place to live. ALL cities have drug problems to some degree but certainly not alarming. A lot of people are moving to Greenwood and Van Buren but they always seem way too conservative and small townish for me.
Balance out everything you hear and check out some more websites.
Good luck.

[bchris02]

I've lived outside Fort Smith for almost 5 years now, and spend most of my time working and going to school there. I would highly suggest reconsidering before comming to this area. There is not much to do here, jobs are leaving, shops are closing up, and its getting worse every week.

You say you want your kids in Christian school, so I am guessing you are a conservative evangelical. You should fit in well in Fort Smith in that aspect, as it is one of the most evangelical cities I've seen.

However, I strongly believe that a place can be too conservative for its own good, which I believe Fort Smith is. Thriving cities need diversity, and Fort Smith is dominated and governed by white redneck evangelicals who reject modern cosmopolitan society and refuse to adopt new ways. Not saying that these are bad people, because some of them are the kindest, friendliest people you will ever meet, it just becomes a bad thing when an entire city is composed of one demographic. This goes for any demographic.

This is the reason Fort Smith is going downhill so fast. I would suggest you consider living in Northwest Arkansas. It is a progressive, growing area with much more to do than in Fort Smith. If you live in Fort Smith, you'll likely be driving to Northwest Arkansas on the weekends just to find something to do. It is a thriving area which has all the conveniences you would find in a larger city such as Tulsa or Oklahoma City. It is still much smaller and population so if you are looking for a small-town environment, you can find it in Northwest Arkansas and not be closed off from the modern world.

[LilliHK]

Makes me wonder, with that last post..I am *in* NWA, with hubby considering a job relocation to take over his own store in FT Smith...maybe he shouldn't think on it too much, is it truly this bad? We thought of him working in FtSmith, and living in Arkoma or someplace small that's a close, quick drive.

On that note- (post these *for* Anjoe) - Are there any good areas *around* FtSmith, you could tell about? Maybe attend school there and live safely somewhere else nearby is an option?
This may help Anjoe too, especially if that area is somewhere they need to go rather than just wanting to. Know what I mean?
LHK

[bchris02]

Originally Posted by LilliHK

Makes me wonder, with that last post..I am *in* NWA, with hubby considering a job relocation to take over his own store in FT Smith...maybe he shouldn't think on it too much, is it truly this bad? We thought of him working in FtSmith, and living in Arkoma or someplace small that's a close, quick drive.

On that note- (post these *for* Anjoe) - Are there any good areas *around* FtSmith, you could tell about? Maybe attend school there and live safely somewhere else nearby is an option?
This may help Anjoe too, especially if that area is somewhere they need to go rather than just wanting to. Know what I mean?
LHK

I am a college student getting ready to graduate and for me I would take NWA anyday. Fort Smith just isn't my cup of tea. However, if you are ready to settle down, either are religious or can deal with in-your-face religion, want a slower pace of life, and don't mind driving a ways for better shopping and restaraunts, Ft. Smith might be up your alley. If you want a small community outside of Ft. Smith, look into Alma, AR. Its a great place to raise a family. Still extremely religious and conservative however. There is a major uprising going on right now about a country club wanting to get a private club liquor license (dry county).

Be sure to find out if you can get high speed Internet though before you settle on a place outside of Ft. Smith. Its pretty much hit or miss with broadband in the rural areas.

[LilliHK]

I think Anjoe and I are both more settled and also being parents, just looking for a safe place to live and send the kids to school. What are the tuition rates for private schools, as Anjoe asked, does anyone know? I am thinking public schools for my own, but that depends on where we settle, I suppose..