[EveKacela]

My husband, children, and I are waiting to find out where we will be relocating and one of our two possibilities is in Southeast Arkansas. We have been looking at Monticello, Star City and Stuttgart online, but we haven't had a chance to visit yet and when we do visit it will be to buy a home. Can anyone tell us about these towns, what the schools are like (especially the elementary schools) or if there are any other towns we should look in to? Any information would be wonderful!!!

[Luvvarkansas]

I've been through both Monticello and Star City many times. I like the looks of Star City, but I happen to be a small-town lover. It's your typical small Southern town. (There is a cute cottage for sale on the main drag through town that I noticed on my last pass through, that would be so neat to buy and move out to the country on a piece of land!)

Monticello has the little college, and it's in the same type of countryside as Star City. It's bigger than SC, but it's still not huge. There are nice places outside of both that you could live in if you like a little space.

Never been to Stuttgart.

One thing you can do, if your computer is fast enough (go to the library if not), is get on Google and look them both up, them do street view and "drive" around! As a matter of fact, go to 142 Lincoln Ave., Star City, Arkansas....pan around and you should be right in front of the little house I was talking about!

None of these towns are big (well, not sure about Stuttgart, but don't think it is either). If you like small-town living, you should like them....if not, you'll hate it.

Oh, and I don't know anything about the schools, I've only driven through the places and can only tell you about what it looks like, sorry.

[monkey cabal]

I take it from your first post that you are going to visit each place before deciding, right? I suggest spending a couple of days at each town before deciding to buy a home. As for schools, you can do some research on-line. A better source might be to talk with people in those towns and find out how many (percentage) of their kids graduate and go on to get a college degree.

Good luck with the move!! Exciting times!

[EveKacela]

Thank you for the replies so far! I do like living in a small town, I just want one that has a strong sense of community and has opportunities to get involved and meet new people. I will be looking at the towns before we decide, I just want to know as much about them as I can before we arrive since we will have to make a decision fairly quickly. Thank you for your help!

[jim9251]

Please visit each place, and visit in August. Of the three I would pick Monticello. Pretty town, home to a state college, has enough things to keep you busy.

[EveKacela]

thanks, we can't visit in August, we have to move in the next 6 weeks...

[Luvvarkansas]

Your best bet is Monticello, I think, for what you are wanting. You say you want a sense of community and things to get involved in, and the college would make that more probable, I think. Monticello is bigger than Star City and has more shopping, dining out, a movie theater, etc. (although, as I said before, it's still not really big!) The landscape around both is pretty much identical....rolling hills, woods, farms...pretty. I would discount Stuttgart altogether, as it appears to be in the flat, flat part of Arkansas. Some people like that, but I don't.

Both Monticello and Star City are a fairly short drive to Hot Springs for family vacations, also....a nice place. You would be close enough that you could go over just for long weekends, even. There is a LOT to do in Hot Springs for kids.

I think the poster who said to visit in August was saying that because they wanted you to be aware of the heat and humidity in the summer! But, as your three choices are all going to be hot and humid, there's nothing you can do about that....go swimming!

I hope you enjoy wherever you end up.

[EveKacela]

Thank you so much for your help...I am from NC originally and my husband is from TX, so we do know heat and humidity! We will start looking in Monticello...and I will start looking forward to a new place to vacation. You've made me feel better about the move, so thank you very much!

[Luvvarkansas]

Wow, as far as vacations go, you would never have to leave the state of Arkansas, there is so much to discover (well, that is, if you love the outdoors....hiking, biking, canoeing, camping, etc.). The River Valley and the NW corner are absolutely crammed with outdoor things to do, and even in Monticello, you wouldn't be but, oh, 4 or 5 hours away from the furthest point of all of it. Hot Springs looks to be probably 2 hours away....I've never driven from Monticello to HS, just guessing by looking at the map. Others here may have a firmer idea of the time.

I know that from Monticello to our cabin in NW Arkansas is about 4-5 hours, depending on how much we stop.

[EveKacela]

We love doing things outside, so I think it will be great. We are currently living in the west-central part of NE so a 4-5 hour drive is pretty par for the course now. Thank you again! I really appreciate you answering my posts!