[ArkansasSlim]

Originally Posted by westd27

My family is relocating from New York to Arkansas next summer. I have done extensive research on Southern AR and have posted many threads. What is it with Sothern AR? Are there no safe places to raise children? Every town I have asked about gets many negative replies!!! Ok, I get Pine Bluff, but I have visited AR on serveral occations and just love all the little towns(El Dorado, Magnolia, Camden, Monticello, Warren, Hope). It seems like people who live there don't have anything nice to say. Is there anyone out there that has any possitive comments about the towns mentioned above? The work is not an issue, but schools and safety are. No need to reply with Northern AR. Have health issues and need to move to warmer climate. Areas below Little Rock although the entire state is absolutly beautiful!!!! Beats NY hands down!!!

I will not disagree with any of the replies you have gotten. Any town/community has a "bad" area. After 50 years, we sold our home and property in Malvern to move to a retirement community in Little Rock. No more grass to mow and no more leaves to blow!!!! I would not hesitate to move back to Malvern if circumstances permitted. But even there (10,000 Population), there were areas of the town I would rather not drive through in the day time, and definitely would not at night.

Malvern has good schools, many doctors, good hospital, adequate retail stores, adequate eating places, and only an hour drive (four lane) to Hot Springs or Little Rock where you will find more variety of shopping, dining, or entertainment.

Winter weather - you would consider it mild compared to NY. Some ice, but seldom enough snow to cause any road problems.

[westd27]

Thank you to everyone who has replied to my post. After several visits and endless research on internet, we have decided to move to the city of warren for its wonderful family atmophere. I know that the schools ar so so, but you can get that anywhere and it depends on who you talk too. Looking to move within the next few months. Can't wait to leave the hustle and bustle of NY, and no I do not live in NYC. Its funny because we always think the grass is greener on the other side. I want what Southern Arkansasers have and they want what us New Yorkers have. Go figure!!!

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by westd27

Thank you to everyone who has replied to my post. After several visits and endless research on internet, we have decided to move to the city of warren for its wonderful family atmophere. I know that the schools ar so so, but you can get that anywhere and it depends on who you talk too. Looking to move within the next few months. Can't wait to leave the hustle and bustle of NY, and no I do not live in NYC. Its funny because we always think the grass is greener on the other side. I want what Southern Arkansasers have and they want what us New Yorkers have. Go figure!!!

Good luck to you, I hope you find all your dreams coming true when you get to AR. You are right, the grass is greener, but with the right attitude, any experience can be positive.

I also love your reasoning on schools. Yes, some districts are much better than others, but kids encouraged to do well by their parents and have a good attitude will progress regardless and all these studies that rate school districts have some flaws. The latest, the Newsweek study, the high schools that did well were mostly in affluent neighborhoods so you would expect that and the guidelines for judging the schools, mostly were based on the number of kids taking AP classes. My opinion of thesse studies as if anyone cares, they offer great bragging rights, but do not mean too much. If I still had kids in school I really don't think my decision on where to live would be based solely on the school district ratings.

Again, good luck,

Nita

[Robert_J]

Originally Posted by westd27

Thank you to everyone who has replied to my post. After several visits and endless research on internet, we have decided to move to the city of warren for its wonderful family atmophere. I know that the schools ar so so, but you can get that anywhere and it depends on who you talk too. Looking to move within the next few months. Can't wait to leave the hustle and bustle of NY, and no I do not live in NYC. Its funny because we always think the grass is greener on the other side. I want what Southern Arkansasers have and they want what us New Yorkers have. Go figure!!!

You aren't far from Monticello so almost anything you are missing in Warren will be available a few miles to the east. When driving through Monticello, stop by Ray's and have a BBQ sandwich.

I hope your kids like sports because that's the only thing down there for them to do. The Lumberjacks had a good football team at least when I played against them back in the 80's.

And if you are sports fans please check out the teams at UAM. I'll be travelling back for the homecoming football game in Oct. This past March I attended the Gulf South basketball tournament to watch both the men's and women's teams play. I even followed the women's team to the NCAA DII tournament and got to go out with the team to eat dinner. They deserve all the support they can get.

Basically, get out and get involved. Meet people. You will find that the south and especially Arkansas has some of the nicest people anywhere in the world.

-Robert