[Lory-DavieFL]

Originally Posted by bamboosmom

I still think Punta Gorda is one of the best small towns in SW Florida.
It was in the magazines back in 99 for one of the best kept secrets for small towns in Florida. JMHO

I've been camping in Peace River, which I believe is Punta gorda?? It is beautiful there and very peaceful.

[bamboosmom]

Hey Lory,
You are in the Peace River which is in Punta Gorda! It is very very peaceful and natural here. There is a rv resort along the river and I can't wait to bring the RV down and just relax after we sell the house here. We will come down in the winter time. The best of both worlds

[Lory-DavieFL]

Originally Posted by bamboosmom

Hey Lory,
You are in the Peace River which is in Punta Gorda! It is very very peaceful and natural here. There is a rv resort along the river and I can't wait to bring the RV down and just relax after we sell the house here. We will come down in the winter time. The best of both worlds

LOL, thanks, I knew I saw signs that said Punta Gorda, I just wasn't sure if the campground was actually residing there, now I know!
I know alot of people were worried that Charley was it? that hit there so bad , may have destroyed the campgrounds, but apparently it survived because my friends have gone back this year.
I've only been once, about 6 months before all those hurricanes and just loved it, except I didnt like sleeping in a tent when it was 20 degrees at night!
I found real Indian arrow heads while we took canoes down the stream. It was really interesting and an experience I will never forget.
Its definately a big difference then where I come from just a couple hours south!

[bamboosmom]

Lory,
are you at the one off kings hwy? I forget the name of it but if its the one I am thinking of, it sure is beautiful.

Hurricane Charley did mess up alot of the campgrounds. Alot of the trees were lost, but the area is starting to look nice again!

[whonose101]

Hi Ammo ...

I have a wonderful lot in a great Okeechobee neighborhood available that could make a very nice home site for you.

Okeechobee is 1.5 hrs north of West Palm Beach, 2 hrs south of Orlando and about 30-40 mins west of Fort Pierce / St. Lucie County.

The lot in question is in the Lazy 7 subdivision, about 6 miles from downtown Okeechobee, Florida...Route 441 and Highway 70 is downtown center.

Give me a shout and we can chat. I bought it to build a house on but was hired for a new job.

Best,

John

whonose101@yahoo.com

[macguy]

Originally Posted by ammo

hello all
im looking for a small town in florida to move to with a few thousand people in it,not more than 5000. looking to spend about 300000 or less for a house,i dont have to be close to the beaches,just a nice small little town.

If you don't care about the beaches, I would suggest Chipley. It is in the panhandle. It is a really nice little town. I love the small change of seasons in the pan handle without the snow. Also you don't feel like you live on an island. You are just a few hours drive from other more northern cities and states. Cheaper cost of living. Taxes in the county of Washington are around .15 mill more if you live within the city limits of some of the towns but still reasonable. It's worth looking into you may like it. There are other towns in the same area also worth looking at.

http://www.city-data.com/city/Chipley-Florida.html

[Bassethoundplace]

As for a nice little place to live close to everything yet still a very small town, Lake Hamilton is where I've been for the last 30 years. Winter Haven is 10 miles west with Lakeland 25 miles farther west. Haines City (5 miles north) is beginning to grow exponentially, but that probably won't happen here because of the ordinances we have. Mobile homes are not allowed inside the town limits and a new houses must be pretty good sized in order to get a building permit. There are several dogs in our neighborhood, but they don't run free. I love it here with my current five basset hounds. Inside the half acre chain link fence, I have the best security system money can buy. The prices won't be nearly so high as you might think here and property taxes are exceptionally reasonable.

Bassethoundplace

[jessOH]

My family is also looking to relocate to Florida. My husband has had a job offer around the Winter Haven area. We are currently looking at Winter Haven as a town to relocate to. I have been reading alot of negatives about Florida. Can anyone share some postitives? Ohio has is problems too, such as alot of the factories in northwest Ohio are moving west or south. I have done alot of research about Florida and used cost of living comparison calculators for the difference in cost of living. There are some differences but none that I see are out of the ordinary.

[sunrico90]

See below for list of 1000 or less residents The census survey was done on 2000, so should have grown some....

Alford (pop. 466)
Altha (pop. 506)
Andrews (pop. 708)
Bell (pop. 349)
Beverly Beach (pop. 547)
Black Diamond (pop. 694)
Branford (pop. 695)
Briny Breezes (pop. 411)
Bristol (pop. 845)
Bronson (pop. 964)
Brooker (pop. 352)
Callahan (pop. 962)
Campbellton (pop. 212)
Canal Point (pop. 525)
Captiva (pop. 379)
Caryville (pop. 218)
Cedar Key (pop. 790)
Center Hill (pop. 910)
Charleston Park (pop. 411)
Chokoloskee (pop. 404)
Chula Vista (pop. 573)
Cinco Bayou (pop. 377)
Coleman (pop. 647)
Cottondale (pop. 869)
Crescent Beach (pop. 985)
Duck Key (pop. 443)
Dunes Road (pop. 391)
East Williston (pop. 966)
Ebro (pop. 250)
Edgewater (pop. 803)
Esto (pop. 356)
Everglades (pop. 479)
Fanning Springs (pop. 737)
Ferndale (pop. 233)
Fisher Island (pop. 467)
Fort White (pop. 409)
Franklin Park (pop. 943)
Glen Ridge (pop. 276)
Glen St. Mary (pop. 473)
Golden Beach (pop. 919)
Golden Heights (pop. 501)
Golf (pop. 230)
Goodland (pop. 320)
Gotha (pop. 731)
Grand Ridge (pop. 792)
Greensboro (pop. 619)
Greenville (pop. 837)
Greenwood (pop. 735)
Gulf Stream (pop. 716)
Gun Club Estates (pop. 711)
Hampton (pop. 431)
Hastings (pop. 521)
Highland Park (pop. 244)
Hiland Park (pop. 999)
Hillcrest Heights (pop. 266)
Hillsboro Pines (pop. 406)
Homestead Base (pop. 446)
Horseshoe Beach (pop. 206)
Howey-in-the-Hills (pop. 956)
Ivanhoe Estates (pop. 279)
Jacob City (pop. 281)
Jay (pop. 579)
Jennings (pop. 833)
Juno Ridge (pop. 742)
Jupiter Inlet Colony (pop. 368)
Jupiter Island (pop. 620)
Key Colony Beach (pop. 788)
Lake Hart (pop. 557)
Lake Kathryn (pop. 845)
Lake Mack-Forest Hills (pop. 989)
Laurel Hill (pop. 549)
Lawtey (pop. 656)
Lee (pop. 352)
Limestone Creek (pop. 569)
Lisbon (pop. 273)
Manalapan (pop. 321)
Masaryktown (pop. 920)
Matlacha (pop. 735)
Matlacha Isles-Matlacha Shores (pop. 304)
Mayo (pop. 988)
McIntosh (pop. 453)
Melbourne Village (pop. 706)
Micanopy (pop. 653)
Montverde (pop. 882)
Noma (pop. 213)
North Beach (pop. 243)
Oakland (pop. 936)
Ocean Breeze Park (pop. 463)
Okahumpka (pop. 251)
Orangetree (pop. 950)
Page Park (pop. 524)
Paisley (pop. 734)
Palm Shores (pop. 794)
Paxton (pop. 656)
Penney Farms (pop. 580)
Pine Lakes (pop. 755)
Pineland (pop. 444)
Plantation Island (pop. 202)
Pomona Park (pop. 789)
Ponce de Leon (pop. 457)
Ravenswood Estates (pop. 960)
Reddick (pop. 571)
Royal Palm Ranches (pop. 294)
San Antonio (pop. 655)
Schall Circle (pop. 965)
Shalimar (pop. 718)
Sopchoppy (pop. 426)
Sorrento (pop. 765)
South Palm Beach (pop. 699)
Spring Lake (pop. 327)
St. Leo (pop. 595)
St. Lucie (pop. 604)
St. Marks (pop. 272)
Stacey Street (pop. 958)
Sunshine Acres (pop. 827)
Tangerine (pop. 826)
Tildenville (pop. 513)
Utopia (pop. 714)
Vernon (pop. 743)
Village Park (pop. 895)
Wabasso (pop. 918)
Waldo (pop. 821)
Wausau (pop. 398)
Webster (pop. 805)
Welaka (pop. 586)
Westville (pop. 221)
White Springs (pop. 819)
Winter Beach (pop. 965)
Yankeetown (pop. 629)

[grammy164]

Originally Posted by jessOH

My family is also looking to relocate to Florida. My husband has had a job offer around the Winter Haven area. We are currently looking at Winter Haven as a town to relocate to. I have been reading alot of negatives about Florida. Can anyone share some postitives? Ohio has is problems too, such as alot of the factories in northwest Ohio are moving west or south. I have done alot of research about Florida and used cost of living comparison calculators for the difference in cost of living. There are some differences but none that I see are out of the ordinary.

jessOH, I'm from northern Ohio too. Trust me, you'll love the winters here--no more gray skies day after day.
I live just outside of Lake Wales. We've been to Winter Haven many time. I always enjoy it over there--infact we've thought of moving over that way. It's growing, but still remains very pretty to me. I would suggest looking near the Cypress Gardens area. I believe they just opened a new grade school and they have many new subdivisions. We've always enjoyed shopping in WH and people there have always been very friendly. This area of Florida isn't as crowded as many other areas. I think you'll enjoy it. Did hubby fish in OH? The fishing here is amazing.
I keep up with the local paper from my old area in OH and it's so sad. Every week I read of another company closing. It does take a little adjustment when you first move here from OH (especially if you do it in time for 3 hurricanes, like we did), but we love it now. We love exploring the state. There's always something to do. We're never housebound anymore. Good luck with your search for a new home.