[Rogter]

We are considering moving to Clarksville and I wondered if anyone can tell me...does it get hotter and more humid in Clarksville area than it does in Rogers? How about in the winter...colder? More ice storms? Home prices seem better in Clarksville....that's part of the draw. We're both retired young (60) and just want a nice easy going town to live in. Can you give me a "sales pitch" for Clarksville?

Thanks!

[DC at the Ridge]

I do think Clarksville is hotter and more humid in the summer. But everything is air-conditioned, so it's not so much of an issue. As for ice storms, that's just really hit or miss. Sometimes storms seem to follow I-40 across the state, and sometimes they travel further north and hit the north part of the state. Clarksville has an excellent location, being able to offer the small-town feel with access to more urban cities with the amenities that cities have to offer.

[Rogter]

DC....do you live there or nearby? I just wanted to connect with somebody who knows that area. Thanks for your reply. We have looked and looked till we're blue in the face for a home around Rogers. THEN...I found a REALLY cool place for sale in Clarksville. Home prices are MUCH better. Currently we live in a small town of 4500 so Im thinking that Clarksville will seem big to us. Im an old rock and roll boy and would love to find some guys to play music with but thats probably limited in Clarksville. We just want to feel welcome and fit in. We're from Oregon. No...we dont plan on trying to change things or complain because they dont have this or that service. We're easy going folks. Anyways....whatever you can tell me in favor of Clarksville would be most helpful.
Thanks!

[Stormcrow73]

I don't live in Clarksville and never have but I did live in Russellville for a good while. The climate in Russellville and Clarksville should be very similar. Yes, the River Valley is a bit more humid and warmer than NWA but after a while you'd barely notice the difference. I think for winter weather you are more likley to get ice in the River Valley when NWA gets snow. Most weather incidents will NOT be like the last one! You can probably expect to average 2-3 inclement weather incidents per winter with most of them only lasting a day.

Clarksville looks like it could be a decent town to me. I imagine you could find some people to play music with but you might have to do some horsetrading: pick a few bluegrass tunes in exchange for a few rock tunes!

[Rogter]

Stormcrow...thanks for the reply....appreciate that. The lure of Rogers is all the services and shopping that is available....although you pay for it with a LOT more people and traffic. I got drawn to Clarksville because oof a very cool vintage house I saw on Craigslist. If we buy a house there..we just want to fit in. We're from Oregon and I dont want to be judged by southerners because of that. We love Arkansas and want to make it our home. I dont like "clicky" communities.
Im not out to change things either. Just want to enjoy the good life in my old age (60).
Thanks!

[DC at the Ridge]

Originally Posted by Rogter

DC....do you live there or nearby? I just wanted to connect with somebody who knows that area. Thanks for your reply. We have looked and looked till we're blue in the face for a home around Rogers. THEN...I found a REALLY cool place for sale in Clarksville. Home prices are MUCH better. Currently we live in a small town of 4500 so Im thinking that Clarksville will seem big to us. Im an old rock and roll boy and would love to find some guys to play music with but thats probably limited in Clarksville. We just want to feel welcome and fit in. We're from Oregon. No...we dont plan on trying to change things or complain because they dont have this or that service. We're easy going folks. Anyways....whatever you can tell me in favor of Clarksville would be most helpful.
Thanks!

No, I live in NWA, but I like to go antiquing in the River Valley in the summers (prices are much better there, than in NWA), so I've been to Clarksville several times. I agree with Stormcrow 100% in his assessment.

[Stormcrow73]

Originally Posted by Rogter

Stormcrow...thanks for the reply....appreciate that. The lure of Rogers is all the services and shopping that is available....although you pay for it with a LOT more people and traffic. I got drawn to Clarksville because oof a very cool vintage house I saw on Craigslist. If we buy a house there..we just want to fit in. We're from Oregon and I dont want to be judged by southerners because of that. We love Arkansas and want to make it our home. I dont like "clicky" communities.
Im not out to change things either. Just want to enjoy the good life in my old age (60).
Thanks!

I wouldn't worry too much about not fitting in. Seems to me, the more a person worries about that, the more apt they are to seem aloof. Since you're coming from a small town I expect you already understand some of the things that make small towns function no matter where you are and that will help a lot. Here are some "rules of road" that might help (most are pretty old school thoughts and not strictly Arkansas or southern):
1. When you shake a fellers hand, look him in the eye and give him a good firm handshake.
2. Get to know your neighbors and the families to whom they're related. You won't have to ask, in all probability, they'll tell you! Kinfolk and family are important things in Arkansas. We may not marry cousins, but it IS true that lots of people are related to each other way back and those relationships can be good to know (hint: some of my family still have grudges from my grandmother's youth!).
3. If your neighbor gets sick or has an illness or death in the family, the custom in the Ozarks is to bring food and offer your assistance. They'll do the same if the tables are turned.
4. Not many Welsh ever came to these hills so we don't have too many Jones' to keep up with oustide of Little Rock or NWA. Be yourself first and foremost and no one will care what you drive or how you dress. A man who keeps his word and wears 20 year old coveralls can have just as much respect as a man who wears a fancy suit and does the same.
5. Be seen at the community events no matter what it is! Most every community in Arkansas has some signature event and many of them are named after a fruit or vegetable. You may hate brussels sprouts but if that's Clarksville's event, go and eat at least one. That shows people you're really a member of the community and care about it.

[Luvvarkansas]

I like Clarksville, though I have never lived there, so I don't know any "insider" stuff. But it's a nice size, not too big, and in a pretty, hilly setting. It has the super Wal-Mart, of course (but that sucker is HARD to get in and out of....only one entrance! You can sit at that light, trying to get out, for a while.), and I like the Atwood's farm supply store, especially in the spring when the baby chicks and bunnies are there (my daughter loves to look at them). There are plenty of nice old houses, and a neat little college. They have an old downtown area, also. We were there in the fall once, and there were a lot of sugar maples and pistache trees in full glory....it was pretty. It's right on the interstate, so easy to get to Ft. Smith or Little Rock for serious shopping.

Isn't Clarksville where they have some kind of peach festival? I know lots of peaches are grown in Johnson County.

Anytime you want to get out of town and enjoy nature, you can just drive up hwy. 103 and you'll be in the real mountains! It's a beautiful drive. You can go on to Oark and eat at the Oark General Store or go a little further to Catalpa and eat at their general store (Catalpa has always been better, IMO). Never had a meal at Oark that I enjoyed. Catalpa store makes lunches, with stuff like pork roast, dressing, fried okra, etc., and HUGE yeast rolls. Good burgers and curly-q's, too. Both places are very "rustic". Anyway, you can go west when you hit 215 (east to Oark and Catalpa), then south on 23, and then back to Clarksville....it just makes a loop. It's a great drive that can easily be done in an afternoon, and positively beautiful, I'm not kidding. 215 follows the Mulberry River much of the way, and it's beautiful in all seasons. Also several places to hike out in there, if you're into hiking.

Also, Clarksville is not far from Petit Jean mountain, Mt. Magazine, Mt. Nebo, which are all very nice state parks. In the other direction is Devil's Den state park, north of Ft. Smith (never been there). Clarksville is centrally located to so many things to do, it will make your head spin. Russellville, which is just a short jaunt east on I-40, has Lowe's and such, and hwy. 7 goes north from there....another incredible drive, which takes you to Jasper and the Buffalo River and the Arkansas Grand Canyon and the Cliff House Inn and all that. I love Jasper.

I think you would like Clarksville. Is the house you're looking at on that street that is on a little ridge overlooking the town? That's a cool street, beautiful houses. Incredible old sugar maples, too. I love sugar maples.

Have you Googled Clarksville for pictures? I found lots when I Googled images for Clarksville.

[RogMar]

Originally Posted by Stormcrow73

I wouldn't worry too much about not fitting in. Seems to me, the more a person worries about that, the more apt they are to seem aloof. Since you're coming from a small town I expect you already understand some of the things that make small towns function no matter where you are and that will help a lot. Here are some "rules of road" that might help (most are pretty old school thoughts and not strictly Arkansas or southern):
1. When you shake a fellers hand, look him in the eye and give him a good firm handshake.
2. Get to know your neighbors and the families to whom they're related. You won't have to ask, in all probability, they'll tell you! Kinfolk and family are important things in Arkansas. We may not marry cousins, but it IS true that lots of people are related to each other way back and those relationships can be good to know (hint: some of my family still have grudges from my grandmother's youth!).
3. If your neighbor gets sick or has an illness or death in the family, the custom in the Ozarks is to bring food and offer your assistance. They'll do the same if the tables are turned.
4. Not many Welsh ever came to these hills so we don't have too many Jones' to keep up with oustide of Little Rock or NWA. Be yourself first and foremost and no one will care what you drive or how you dress. A man who keeps his word and wears 20 year old coveralls can have just as much respect as a man who wears a fancy suit and does the same.
5. Be seen at the community events no matter what it is! Most every community in Arkansas has some signature event and many of them are named after a fruit or vegetable. You may hate brussels sprouts but if that's Clarksville's event, go and eat at least one. That shows people you're really a member of the community and care about it.

Stormcrows advice is sage. That's the basics, and solid.

The more time you spend at a gathering place having a cup of coffee with the locals, the better.

In the rural areas, people just show up. I've been caught in the shower, on the phone, working on something outside, but no matter what I'm doing, I'm never too busy to stop, give then a greeting like it's my long lost cousin, and offer refreshment.

You'd be surprised how many relatives you'll deal with. Many times you'll find that someone homesteaded "back in the day", and from that time on, sons, brothers, daughters, cousins, bought land next to each other for generations after that and so a 'family' essentially owns everything you drive through for the next 45 minutes.

Just be yourself. I know several folks that are described locally as "strange ducks", but they get as much respect as anyone else, and are always in the mix when disaster strikes.

[Luvvarkansas]

I found this picture of one of my favorite houses on that street I was talking about....Grand View is the street name. Hope this works.

Google Image Result for http://farm1.static.flickr.com/226/491835869_e9e25a4bd4.jpg?v=0

Well, that didn't go to the right pictures, but the Pam's Grotto falls one is nice, too! Anyway, the picture of the house on Grand View was in a set by griffithjune49 entitled "Clarksville, Oark, & Ozark, AR. Maybe you can find it that way.

Btw, if you do move to Clarksville, one of the first things to do is get yourself one of Tim Ernst's guides....waterfalls, hiking trails, etc. Then hit the road and find them! You will never run out of places to explore. Pam's Grotto Falls were named by Tim after his wife, Pam. Here is his web site www.cloudland.net Be sure to read his journal, very interesting, and lots of beautiful pictures.