[elfruler]

Hello all and thank you for taking the time to read my post.

I am a 38 year old Black wife and mother who has lived in Michigan (both in and directly outside of Detroit) for most of my life. Although I have traveled to Florida (my husband is a Florida native) to visit my inlaws, I have never stayed for any real length of time to gather a true opinion of the State. I do love the weather (most of the time) and scenery.

We will be moving to Florida this year and my main source of anxiety and worry is making sure that we move to a place that is not only safe but somewhat diverse to where my daughter (who is black/asian/white) will interact with children who are from different backgrounds and she will not feel like the "odd man out." I want her to see people like her and people like her mother. It's just what we're used to. She's 9 and I really want the transition to be a positive one for her.

Since I personally consider Florida to be the "South," I have certain perceptions about Florida that may or may not be true - particularly, racial tolerance issues. For that reason also, I am interested in a diverse area that is safe, proving that people of different racial classifications can coexist peacefully and children will be raised in a positive environment.

My top 3 areas of concern are education, safety and diversity. I know this may be a longshot or like looking for a unicorn, but is there such a place in Florida? Granted, we're not rich (husband is a nurse case manager and I'm a Paralegal) but we make a good living. Any decent middle class neighborhoods with great schools, low crime and a somewhat diverse makeup of families? I'm not looking for 50/50 splits down the line but you get what I'm saying....

[Fl1150]

Originally Posted by elfruler

Hello all and thank you for taking the time to read my post.

I am a 38 year old Black wife and mother who has lived in Michigan (both in and directly outside of Detroit) for most of my life. Although I have traveled to Florida (my husband is a Florida native) to visit my inlaws, I have never stayed for any real length of time to gather a true opinion of the State. I do love the weather (most of the time) and scenery.

We will be moving to Florida this year and my main source of anxiety and worry is making sure that we move to a place that is not only safe but somewhat diverse to where my daughter (who is black/asian/white) will interact with children who are from different backgrounds and she will not feel like the "odd man out." I want her to see people like her and people like her mother. It's just what we're used to. She's 9 and I really want the transition to be a positive one for her.

Since I personally consider Florida to be the "South," I have certain perceptions about Florida that may or may not be true - particularly, racial tolerance issues. For that reason also, I am interested in a diverse area that is safe, proving that people of different racial classifications can coexist peacefully and children will be raised in a positive environment.

My top 3 areas of concern are education, safety and diversity. I know this may be a longshot or like looking for a unicorn, but is there such a place in Florida? Granted, we're not rich (husband is a nurse case manager and I'm a Paralegal) but we make a good living. Any decent middle class neighborhoods with great schools, low crime and a somewhat diverse makeup of families? I'm not looking for 50/50 splits down the line but you get what I'm saying....

Look at Seminole County communities of Altamonte Springs, Oviedo, Winter Springs, Longwood, and Sanford. These places have good schools as well as a family friendly environment. Don't worry too much about racism or anything like that as Florida is pretty diverse state compared to a lot of places so exposure to different cultures is natural here. I don't consider Florida the south really as we have such an northern influence only the Panhandle I say is the most stereotypical southern area.

[JayGatsby]

Overall, I don't consider Florida as "the South" and most Floridians don't either. North of the Orlando metro is culturally southern along with rural areas throughout... Orlando and Tampa are about as progressive as anywhere else in the country. Miami is different entirely, someone correct me if I'm wrong but I believe Miami is the most diverse major city in the country. Miami is the capital of Latin America, it doesn't really feel like anywhere else in the U.S... I haven't personally seen racism as an issue in Florida, it seems like a pretty big misconception for a lot of northerners.

[ebn78]

Have you looked at Kendall? .... OJ Simpson lived there and he never had any problems

[elfruler]

Originally Posted by Fl1150

Look at Seminole County communities of Altamonte Springs, Oviedo, Winter Springs, Longwood, and Sanford. These places have good schools as well as a family friendly environment. Don't worry too much about racism or anything like that as Florida is pretty diverse state compared to a lot of places so exposure to different cultures is natural here. I don't consider Florida the south really as we have such an northern influence only the Panhandle I say is the most stereotypical southern area.

Thanks for the response. I actually did look at Oviedo and Winter Springs but was worried about the job market. I'm going to dig a bit further in that area as my daughter would definitely LOVE to be close to Orlando. When we've traveled, I never felt unwelcome with my family but just wanted to know what people who actually live in Florida have to say about it.

[elfruler]

Originally Posted by JayGatsby

Overall, I don't consider Florida as "the South" and most Floridians don't either. North of the Orlando metro is culturally southern along with rural areas throughout... Orlando and Tampa are about as progressive as anywhere else in the country. Miami is different entirely, someone correct me if I'm wrong but I believe Miami is the most diverse major city in the country. Miami is the capital of Latin America, it doesn't really feel like anywhere else in the U.S... I haven't personally seen racism as an issue in Florida, it seems like a pretty big misconception for a lot of northerners.

It probably is a big misconception for Florida. It's definitely not a Mississippi, Alabama etc. And to be fair, even in Detroit in a heavily black populated area, we experience racism the other way. So I suppose things like that can happen anywhere. We were also looking at Broward County but it looks to be expensive to live there (ie Miramar, Pembroke Pines). Thanks for responding!

[Arcenal813]

Originally Posted by elfruler

Thanks for the response. I actually did look at Oviedo and Winter Springs but was worried about the job market. I'm going to dig a bit further in that area as my daughter would definitely LOVE to be close to Orlando. When we've traveled, I never felt unwelcome with my family but just wanted to know what people who actually live in Florida have to say about it.

Job market in the Orlando Metro isn't particularly bad.
I also suggest Seminole County.
By the way, I'm mixed (Black and White) and my wife is half black half Indian, and we've never really had any issues. We live in Mount Dora and I work in Longwood.

[Crane's Rooster]

I would say any of the major metros, Miami, Tampa Bay and Orlando would be find as far as diversity and tolerance go. After that it really just comes down jobs, affordability, quality of life, etc, actually I would put these issue ahead of the race factor as I think that's not really a huge concern in the major metros. I think I may have seen you posting in the Orlando forum as well and would recommend Seminole and Orange Counties.

[kyle19125]

Believe it or not there are other areas of Florida equally suitable despite the pro-Orlando contingent that trumpets the area whenever possible. I live in the area too and like it enough but it's not for everyone and would have a viable concern regarding the job market and economy as it is disproportionately expensive in terms of rental housing to salary if that would be your housing option. Given your desire for affordable middle class areas with safe neighborhoods and a progressive population with diversity, check out Palm Beach County cities like West Palm Beach, Wellington and Palm Beach Gardens, where you'll also find some good employment options in nursing and paralegal with the highest salary average of any metro area in the state.

[Crane's Rooster]

Originally Posted by kyle19125

Believe it or not there are other areas of Florida equally suitable despite the pro-Orlando contingent that trumpets the area whenever possible. I live in the area too and like it enough but it's not for everyone and would have a viable concern regarding the job market and economy as it is disproportionately expensive in terms of rental housing to salary if that would be your housing option. Given your desire for affordable middle class areas with safe neighborhoods and a progressive population with diversity, check out Palm Beach County cities like West Palm Beach, Wellington and Palm Beach Gardens, where you'll also find some good employment options in nursing and paralegal with the highest salary average of any metro area in the state.

Well what am I supposed to do???? Recommend a place I've never lived and am not qualified to assess??? She already mentioned Broward is too expensive for her, that's the only other place I recommended other than Tampa Bay which I feel I've visited enough to recommend but not in detail. I can speak from experience about Central Florida. I can't tell her much about Pensacola, Jax, Sarasota, etc... I've never spent more than a day there. She wants informed advice I'm giving her my informed opinion. It would be responsible of me to do otherwise where my opinion is not informed.