Terrell? the good, bad and ugly.... (Dallas, Mesquite: crime rate, house, buying)

[NewTexans]

Been thinking about buying an home on 10 acres just out of the city limits of Terrell, over in Kaufman County.

Help me out--give me all the GOOD, BAD, and UGLY you can about Terrell.

schools, crime rate, etc.

MANY, MANY THANKS from 2 Pilgrims looking for peace and quiet in Texas
!

[FarNorthDallas]

The schools aren't very good.

[ChristieP]

BAD:
Terrell schools are not very good. The town has one grocery store and a Wal-Mart Supercenter. That's about it. If you need anything else, you'll be driving to Rockwall or Mesquite. Also, there is no hospital in Terrell. It closed last year, so you'll have to drive to Rockwall or Mesquite again.

GOOD:
There are some good Mexican food restaurants and a REALLY good cajun place called Fat Cats! Moore Street downtown is cute and historic.

[Carolina Texan]

saw in another thread that you guys are retired, so the schools won't matter so much. where around Terrell did you land?

I moved to Terrell when i was 10. Actually, about 5 miles north of the high school, out in Poetry. Family still lives there.

One thing i liked about Terrell was that it felt like a "real" town. Meaning, it wasn't just a bedroom community for folks commuting to Dallas. Sure, plenty of residents do that, but Terrell also has a nice base of business, particularly light manufacturing companies.

Here's a nice site from a Terrell resident/photographer.
Terrell Daily Photo

As for the "bad" or "ugly" side, i didn't like the ever-present racial tensions there, always an undercurrent, but sometimes bubbling up into a bigger problem. Granted, it's been almost 20 years since i lived there, so maybe things have improved. But for the most part, the town is still divided in half racially, by the stereotypical railroad tracks running east/west parallel to the main street (Moore Ave).

If you have any more specific questions, fire away. May be able to help.

p.s. Terrell is the hometown of Jamie Foxx. He was 3 years behind me in school. I joke that my greatest failure in life was when i was the president of the Drama Club in HS, and didn't get a future Oscar winner involved in the plays/productions.

[jw150]

Schools: Terrell schools are very diverse for a town of its size. You are looking at about 40% white, 30% african american and the rest is a mix of Hispanic and other races. I went to public schools here in the 80's - 90's and I have nothing but fond memories. I have a relative that just graduated 3 years ago and the counselors are very good at helping students organize their affairs in preparation for further education. I also have another relative who is a 3rd grader and have had no problems so far. Also, the school campuses and facilities are very nice and updated for a district of its size.

As for the quality of life, I would call it average. I think the crime rate is a little higher than it should be. Of course, the crime data I have seen in the past is just what happens within city limits - I do not know about the rural areas, although the areas north of town are really pretty and I know several people out that way that have been there for years. I am 30 years old and have lived here for about 25 of those years. I have never personally experienced any act of crime. Then again, you just have to demonstrate common sense and be cautious...do not leave your car unlocked, keep your house secure, etc...

It really just depends on what you are looking for in a community. If you want tons of restaurants and strip malls at every major intersection, then this is not the place for you. The town is growing, but it has retained a lot of that small-town charm. I rarely have to make trips into Mesquite or Rockwall just because I cannot find what I need in Terrell. If I do shop elsewhere, it is just for the fun of it and to do something different. Terrell does have a Brookshire's, Wal Mart, Home Depot, Starbucks, a Cinema and about 30 retail stores out at the Outlet Mall. Nothing over the top or special, but it is certainly sufficient. There are some really quaint shops downtown and family owned restaurants. I commute to Dallas for work and I have never really been a "city guy." At the end of the day and on weekends, living here is very refreshing and a much welcome change of pace.

Healthcare: I do not know what is going to happen to the Hospital here because it has been sold off and changed hands so many times within the last few years. However, Baylor Healthcare has purchased acerage here in hopes of builiding a hospital in the future. Currently, Baylor already does have a medical complex here that has several pediatricians, family practice, Radiology lab and a cardiac clinic.

If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask or send me a Direct Message.

[NewTexans]

Thanks to all!

It is a nice place on FM 429, BUT

it sure looks awful close to the Terrell Muny Airport.

How noisy do those planes coming an/out sound?

[Arcane]

I remember eating at some joint that had some awesome crawfish, really really hot. I'm sure it was in Terrell on one of the main roads that goes E/W. I wonder if that was Fat Cats?

[ChristieP]

If it was crawfish, it had to be Fat Cats! That's the only seafood place in Terrell!!

My parents live in the middle between Rockwall, Terrell, and Quinlan. They go to Rockwall for almost everything since it has so many more stores and services than all of the other towns.

[Arcane]

Fat Cats it is then. Their cayenne pepper crawfish are epic and an experience to be had.

[Carolina Texan]

Originally Posted by NewTexans

Thanks to all!

It is a nice place on FM 429, BUT

it sure looks awful close to the Terrell Muny Airport.

How noisy do those planes coming an/out sound?

i can't imagine there's much traffic at that airport. certainly nothing large.