new to this forum-questions on cities (Atlanta, Savannah: transplants, crime, houses)

[Caa]

My husband and I are thinking about moving to Ga. WE live in Baton Rouge, but are considering leaving to be a bit closer to family in Florida. We have a 5 year old daughter and have friends in Roswell. How are the schools there? Crime rate? Are there a lot of Hispanics there? What about jobs, RN-husband and vet tech-wife. Are the people friendly? Baton Rouge has the friendliest people I have ever met! What about black/white ratio. I know it is a lot of questions, but just trying to find out more. I don't want to ask our friends as they have only lived there 2 months. Thanks! WE are considering Stone Mt area or Roswell.

[Caa]

Any one have any information at all?

[OhioNative]

Originally Posted by Caa

My husband and I are thinking about moving to Ga. WE live in Baton Rouge, but are considering leaving to be a bit closer to family in Florida. We have a 5 year old daughter and have friends in Roswell. How are the schools there? Crime rate? Are there a lot of Hispanics there? What about jobs, RN-husband and vet tech-wife. Are the people friendly? Baton Rouge has the friendliest people I have ever met! What about black/white ratio. I know it is a lot of questions, but just trying to find out more. I don't want to ask our friends as they have only lived there 2 months. Thanks! WE are considering Stone Mt area or Roswell.

Stone Mountain and Roswell are very different in terms of demographics. Roswell is generally affluent, predominantly white, with an area of Hispanics. Stone Mountain is mostly African-American. Is there a certain demographic or culture that you are looking for?

[irishvanguard]

Roswell, being affluent, will be somewhat expensive for you to live in. I don't think it will have the same feel as Baton Rouge, since it is part of a much more populated area--Atlanta (although I realize that BR has surged to become the largest city in LA). There are still some southern habits there, with politeness from everyone, but the "I know you!", "hey, how have ya been?" will probably be contained within the smaller circles that you associate in (such as church or social clubs), rather than at the supermarket.

You will have to live in a rural town for that feel.

[clsmith15]

My sister lives in Roswell. A lot of the residents are transplants. Houses and taxes are expensive but she has been very happy with the schools and services. There is a hispanic section.

[goose1]

Your might be interested in the Vidalia area. It is my understanding we will be building a new hospital in the very near future. You can travel easily to Atlanta, Macon, Savannah or Jacksonville in less than 2 to 4 hours. Mountains, beaches, hunting, fishings or anything you might be interested in. Check us out.

[Caa]

ThaNKS for the replies! I used to live in south Florida and the Hispanics have become pretty much the dominant culture where I left from. Actually they are one reason we left South Florida. WE are looking for friendly people, safe area to raise our daughter in, younger type families and neighborhoods. Any hting would help-y'all are very nice! Also, private or public schools? Here, hands down, PRIVATE is the only way to go. The public schools are some of the worst in the nation.

[BillWagner]

Roswell is very upscale and has some of the better schools in the metro area. Alpharetta is also a nice area in about the same vicinity. These are very modern heavly populated areas, lots of traffic congestion, but the area is one of the most sought after areas in the metro Atlanta area. Great schools, shopping, restuarants, close commute with Atlanta. Depending on your jobs you might consider Cobb or Gwinnett County also. You can still find some smaller, more quaint neighborhoods with good commutes to work and entertainment. Crime here isn't bad, by that I mean I would keep my eyes on a purse if I was out shopping, but for the most part it isn't bad. I find that if you are nice to most people that they usually return the gesture. Look at where you would like to live compared to where you are working at and make a decision because the commute and Atlanta traffic is pretty congested. This is one of your most important decisions in this area. It's a hassle being stuck in traffic an hour, both ways a day. Let me know if I can help...Bill

[Dixie Dawg]

Originally Posted by goose1

Your might be interested in the Vidalia area. It is my understanding we will be building a new hospital in the very near future. You can travel easily to Atlanta, Macon, Savannah or Jacksonville in less than 2 to 4 hours. Mountains, beaches, hunting, fishings or anything you might be interested in. Check us out.

First of all, no offense to the person above who wrote about Vidalia, but we live right outside of Vidalia and have been here for two years in South Georgia. My family has been here for years, but my husband and I are from larger towns and we are miserable. I am originally from Augusta and my husband is from Texas, so we are accustomed to the "friendly hospitality" of the South; however, I have not found it extremely friendly down here. People really stay to themselves. Of course, if you get involved with a church group (and we have), you may have more "people involvement", but don't count on it. There is truly NOT a community "feel" down here. We live in a very small area outside of Vidalia and I could not tell you who lives in most of the houses on our street.

I don't want to sound "mean-spirited", but it is very ignorant down here and I would never place a child in the school system. Businesses come and go constantly. A business will start closing up at 4:00 p.m. when the door sign reads "Closed at 5:00 p.m." We walked into a Pizza Hut one night and there was no one in the restaurant. We were promptly told that they had no clean dishes and we would have to wait a while. We left. We got the message. I cannot figure out how some of these businesses make any money. Restaurants are constantly "out" of something.

To answer another question, the Mexican population is growing by leaps and bounds. On Sundays, it is customary to see 5 or 6 school buses full of Mexicans they have brought in to shop at Wal-Mart. We were told when we first moved here not to go to Wal-Mart on Sundays and we soon found out why. They have brought in the Mexicans to work the onion fields and they have predominantly settled in the Lyons, Georgia area. (next door to Vidalia) This is not a racial comment against the Mexican people, it's just an observation of their growing population.

Don't get me wrong, there are some very nice people down here and some intelligent and successful business owners (mostly people who were born and raised down here and who "know everbody"). On the other hand, there is a level of ignorance down here that is unparalleled. We are trying to relocate ASAP.

[Caa]

Thanks for all the honest replies! I love it here in Baton Rouge, but we may need to move to be a bit closer to family. Also does Roswell have a lot of children's activities? Soccer, indoor play places, parks etc? Thanks! Is the Hispanic area "taking Over"?