Arkansas and Iowa (transplants, public school, living)

[sherrenee]

Originally Posted by 601halfdozen0theother

I lived in Arkansas (Ft. Smith area) for 6 years, and Iowa for 3 years. I prefer Iowa.

Arkansas is much more humid in the summer, although both get quite hot. Iowa gets nice and cold in the winter, and in Arkansas a snow of 2" put everything to a standstill.

The Baptists of Arkansas make life miserable for those who don't share their beliefs. Iowa has much more religious diversity.

I did hear people use the N word in Arkansas, but never (so far) in Iowa.

I do miss the southern courtesies most Arkansas children are taught. I miss being called "ma'am". But yesterday a little boy held a door open for me at a local Iowa store, so there's some of that here, too.

Oh come on you can't base your opinion of an entire state off a handful of people. I have met plenty of people from various states and some of those people are rude/ignorant but I certainly don't believe that everyone in the entire state is a jerk just because one, two or even a few people acted that way.

[SNEwx_46]

I like Iowa.

[west336]

Originally Posted by annie_himself

Iowa because I haven't been there and its close to Chicago, Minny, KC, and St Louis.

Ditto....and it's culturally more "normal" for me. Plus, I find the weather in Iowa to be somewhat ideal: four seasons, hot summers, and cool/yet milder than MN winters.

[stlouisan]

Originally Posted by west336

Ditto....and it's culturally more "normal" for me. Plus, I find the weather in Iowa to be somewhat ideal: four seasons, hot summers, and cool/yet milder than MN winters.

Exactly my sentiments. I too live in a four-season climate and feel much more culturally affiliated with Iowa than Arkansas, being that I live in a Midwestern city right now. Iowa has hot summers, but slightly cooler than St. Louis, gets more snowfall and stays cold enough that the snow sticks and stays on the ground more often. Not to mention, Iowa is guaranteed lots of snow every winter...with St. Louis it's usually a 50-50 chance, and the snow melts within a couple of days, and we get more ice, which is a nightmare.

[Nairobi]

Tough call, but I'd have to go with Arkansas. I prefer the South over the Midwest for virtually everything, and Des Moines simply isn't close enough to Chicago for me to say that I'd be okay living there.

[CSD610]

Currently in Iowa, Tennessee in the next 12 months or so.

[steel03]

Originally Posted by Nairobi

Tough call, but I'd have to go with Arkansas. I prefer the South over the Midwest for virtually everything, and Des Moines simply isn't close enough to Chicago for me to say that I'd be okay living there.

The Quad Cities are only three hours from Chicago, and maybe 4-5 hours from St. Louis.

...not that Des Moines is such a desolate city that it's all we can do to get away from it. People keep listing its proximity to the bigger ones as a huge advantage (which I agree with), but it is also a really lovely city. There is plenty to do here...

[sherrenee]

People seem to think that Arkansas is the desolate place and that is just not the case. Example NWA is quite prosperous (Wal Mart, University of Arkansas, Georges, Tyson's, Cargill, and numerous Wal Mart vendors all have offices here just to name a few) and has a population of approx 463,204 (2010 census). Most of Arkansas also typically has 4 seasons (last winter we had record snow fall here and record summer temps, this winter has been relatively mild...more like spring/fall to be exact but that has been that way for most of the nation).

I am sometimes baffled by peoples reactions/comments about Arkansas but it simply boils down to the fact that a lot of people have never been here and only base their opinion on ridiculous stereotypes.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fayette...ropolitan_Area

[EclecticEars]

Cold notwithstanding, Iowa. As long as it's near Des Moines, the Quad Cities, Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, or way up by Sioux Falls, SD. Higher quality of life, pretty good public schools overall, gentle rolling terrain in the eastern half of the state, and not terribly far for Chicago and Minneapolis for quick weekend trips.

I'd only pick northwest Arkansas if I were to live in Arkansas as it seems quite nice. Yes, the western half of the state has some nice rolling hills, but while I wouldn't call it dirty, it's just not as clean is even much of the South. Very undereducated population, too, like most of TN, MS, AL, LA, OK, and KY. Yeah, not my cup of tea. Yes, I've been to Arkansas several times!

Normally, I actually prefer the South to the Midwest in just about every category, but not in this particular instance.

[601halfdozen0theother]

In my personal experience from living there, I would say that many of the stereotypes about Arkansas are true.

There ARE a lot of toothless people who live in the woods - and towns.

I DID encounter (through work) a young woman who lived with (as wife to) her own father's brother!!!!!!

There ARE people, in Fort Smith anyway, who as a matter of course use the N word.

There IS a predominance of the Southern Baptist religion.

I have not encountered any of the above in Iowa.

And, public schools ARE more poorly funded in Arkansas than in Iowa.

So that's why, on this thread, my vote is for Iowa.