Best place to live in Arkansas? (Fayetteville, Springdale: relocating, real estate, job)

[millie61]

Originally Posted by mandamoo

I am VERY confused and need HELP!! I having been living in South Florida for thelast year - I am originally from the UK. My husband and I are seriously considering relocating to Rogers AK. I already have a job lined up and we are about to make an offer on a Beaver lakeside property. Having read a few posts I am starting to have 'cold feet'. I love the 'country side' / small town look of the area BUT am concerned that being 'English' I wont be welcomed by the 'locals'. I have not visited and due to work committments will be forced to make a 'blind' move. What advice can you give me?? HELP??!!

Hello
I too am from England and have been to Arkansas - Little Rock twice, only because my Son is stationed there in the Air Force. I would not rush back it is pretty lots of parks etc but the people were very rude. It was the first time I have ever felt uncomfortable anywhere and have travelled all over the world.
Good luck

[Greenmon]

My Better Half and I moved from big city life in So. Cal. to no central AR.- We have met mostly very nice people from all over the country, and some Natives. Overall i would recommend it , to all who want a little slower and cleaner lifestyle, nowhere has it all .but the only reason we will move is we need a dryer climate for Health reasons. The Air is so Fresh, the water seems clean from our well, and no smog , very little crime. To open a business anywhere is a risk, not for the fainthearted or Lightweights-ha ha. ANy advice on either New Mexico, AZ or CO. would be appreciated . Best TO all.

[OREGONRAIN]

I accidently stumbled onto this arkansas site, I am not someone that is planning on moving there, or have ever thought of it, but I noticed something that I hope the person that wants to move there will notice. That being there are traits to everywhere, and they may stick out like a sore thumb, and may not be appealling to every one. Someone named Ravenesque, mentioned there is a distance to go for shopping and that employement in many instances could be difficult to find. He also mentioned it is very christian. Anyone who has spent anytime in the south is going to have noticed that, so what is the problem in relaying what life is like there at least on these local traits, I feel he was being honest and to the point, something someone moving somewhere should want. TO THE POINT. Whoever wants to move to Arkansas, should go there and see how it feels, especially if they are moving from across the country from some big metro area. Spend some time in the region you have narrowed down, Look at the neighborhood, go into a local store, or business, see what your comfort level seems to be with your surroundings, If going shopping or to doctors, or activities mean you will be driving to distant areas, see how all of this feels to you, especially if that means making a living takes you for a long drive every day to a job. If the comfort level seems shaky, its unlikely it will ever stabablize to a level of what you are looking for, and if so. FORGET THE PLACE AND DO SOME MORE RESEARCH ON ANOTHER STATE.

[O'Boogie]

I was born and raised here in Northwest Arkansas. I've lived all over the world, and like any place you go, there are positive and negative aspects to living here. I had to post on this thread because I can't believe you guys are taking the word of some random yahoo who is clearly a miserable and unhappy person no matter where he lives.

1) The weather is gorgeous here. We have all four seasons. GASP!

2) I'm passionately and extremely liberal. So are most of my family and friends.

3) I'm not the least bit religious.

4) I work for an international company (no, not Wal-Mart or Tyson), and I get paid well. I also possess a Master's Degree from an Ivy League school and started working on a Ph.D. Shocking!

5) I live in a beautiful, modern 4 bedroom, 2 bath house that I didn't pay through the nose for.

6) I'm married to an Englishman who absolutely loves it here. Everyone is charmed by his accent, and he has no interest in ever moving back to the UK.

and finally:

7) For those of you who lived in Arkansas twenty years ago, your input isn't really very helpful. The state is more progressive than ever and is growing at a rapid pace. We even have a Democratic governor. Totally shocking, yes?

[Russ-Vegas]

Some of you may also want to consider the Arkansas River Valley area...i was born and raised here...i live in Russellville, AR and there is plenty to do here and its BEAUTIFUL...the population is around 30,000 to 40,000 and it sits right in the middle between the Ozark Mountains and the Ouachita Mountains with the Arkansas River running right between...you have Lake Dardenlle which held the ESPN national fishing tournament last year...a new mall is being built and should be done by 2009..and you have Arkansas Tech University which is one of the fastest growing colleges in the state and region...its a great city and growing...it also sits in the middle between Little Rock and Fort Smith which are both about an hours drive away...i strongly suggest you look into it...

[Ravenasque]

I never knew this post would snowball as such, or I would have replied sooner. I have just now checked this site again after a while of idle time. I don't see why so many people see my response as an attack, it kind of reinforces my point about a lack of open-mindedness. I am by no means personally attacking Arkansans or the state. I am simply giving my input as someone who is not familiar with the social structure or the state customs. Doing so in an attempt to reflect back to others who may be thinking Arkansas is a good place to move simply because "rent" and owning a home is "cheap" here. There is nothing wrong with different mindsets is there? I don't see anything in my post that is not true. I am now living in Polk County Arkansas, and have checked out portions of Fort Smith. I haven't seen anything different since my move to here from Central Arkansas. I also do not see anything wrong with anyone taking my post and giving their positive input about Arkansas. There is nothing wrong with criticism, positive or negative.

Also, I do realize that often someone who sees negatives, continues to only find negatives. I try as best as I can to not be subject to this "tunnel vision," and in my post I clearly stated that the good aspects I find in AR don't seem to outweigh the negatives I pointed out.

Originally Posted by O'Boogie

I was born and raised here in Northwest Arkansas. I've lived all over the world, and like any place you go, there are positive and negative aspects to living here. I had to post on this thread because I can't believe you guys are taking the word of some random yahoo who is clearly a miserable and unhappy person no matter where he lives.

I don't know why you personally attacked me, I am giving my input as to why I do not like it here. I like it in other places, and I do soon hope to move out. I am allocating my funds so I can move to a bigger college and out of this state. I am not just some random "yahoo," and just because I post my input, does not make it invalid. I am not miserable and unhappy no matter where I live, and I have never given any example of such being true in my post. I am miserable and unhappy here and trying to enlighten some people to this state before simply saying,"Arkansas is cheap, let's move there!"

Also, if you notice, there are a number of people both from my home state, and others, who replied both pro and con to my post. I tend to see a pattern in the replies that are positive in my post and they show a lot of things I highlighted in my post as to why Arkansas isn't as great as its low living cost standards implies.

4) I work for an international company (no, not Wal-Mart or Tyson), and I get paid well. I also possess a Master's Degree from an Ivy League school and started working on a Ph.D. Shocking!

That's good for you. I don't see anything wrong with living here just because you have a higher education, nor did my post indicate so. This section of your post doesn't seem to possess a lot of weight because all that it seems to contain is intellectual padding. I am too, going to school. I didn't feel a need to show my résumé in order to be seen as the equivalent of someone who is intelligent. Just because you live in AR doesn't mean you are incapable of being able to have a good job nor have had/are attaining a good education. I never supplied any evidence of such in my post.

If you are getting odd reactions from a lot of people when you tell them where you are from, maybe it's just something odd about you.

That sounds pretty biased. I get odd reactions upon saying I am from California. Usually stuff like,"Isn't that the state where all the gay people are?"

I do not go outwardly and give negative criticism upon anyone, in fact I keep myself incredibly neutral to everyone because I believe that not everyone is the same way and same mindset. I give everyone equal chances, I do not prejudice. I have quite a few friends here who are diehard Arkansans, and we don't clash, because they treat me with the same respect I treat them.

It's not set in law that just because we are southerners we have to be overly polite. There are nice people and jerks everywhere too (CA included).

I'm quite aware of that, but what point I was trying to convey is that the places I have been in Arkansas (Central, Southern, and now Mid-West) that a number of people are fairly biased when it comes to being from another location other than Arkansas.

[Ravenasque]

**There's a lot of other posts I want to reply to, but I don't have the time at the moment. However, I do hope more people add to this. This is a very interesting discussion and I'm quite glad my post brought up a lot of things from different people and their opinions. Again, I am NOT trying to offend, I am trying to inform. I also do not like the numerous replies that were personal attacks. I never personally attacked anyone and tried to remain in a very subjective manner when bringing my opinions forth. So please don't take offense! I am not trying to make anyone mad.

[Grani]

WOW!

This thread has grown. I haven't checked back in a while, and sure was surprised!

Howdy ArkansasTraveler, I sure will give you a hello if ever up your way, and of course, the same for you.

This thread is funny as all get out! One thing to say about us Arkies, we sure have the gift of gab.

Hi Raven, I'm sorry hun that you had a bad experience in Arkansas. But please don't judge us all by the way some idiots treated you. If you came to my house, I'd treat you so good, you're bound to like something about me and my hospitality.

People are the same the world over. Nice and rude people in every state. I've found that if I make a point to smile while out in public, that I will get smiles back, and happy people will gravitate towards me. And vice verso.

Who was here here that posted we wear shoes? That was so funny! That reminds me, I've got to buy me a pair of shoes! I might give the wrong expression about Arkansas huh?

[luvarabhorses]

I have 15 beautiful Arabian horses and a guiding trail riding business here in NE Md. I have my farm for sale and I am scouting places in Arkansas. I have been out there four times and I absolutely fell in love. I have a dream of backing up to gov or state property. Lately I have been focusing on Mena, Norman and Mount Ida. My boyfriend fell in love with Mountain View. I am quite liberal but I am used to conservative crap as I am moving from Cecil County Md which I don't feel like talking about. I didn't find the people rude at all in Ar. in fact people were super nice. Humidity and big horse flys are something I would like to leave behind. I didn't notice humidity extremes when I was there (possibly from living on the Ches. Bay?) I also don't want any more stretches of very cold weather. Mena seemed a little more expensive than the rest of Ar., and it seemed like it was it getting ready to grow which I wouldn't mind a Target and some chain stores added. Does anyone out there live in Mena??? or Norman? Mount Ida? Caddo Gap?

[Southern Girl]

Mena is a great area, and there seem to be several horse farms in that area. The humidity is less there than south arkansas where I live. Check out the Cossatot River and Gillham Lake area south of Mena for great river scenery and rafting. For beautiful mountain scenery, take Talimena Highway from Mena to Talihina, Okla. Arkansas and Mena are just like every other place the world over with lots of wonderful people and an occasional rotten apple.