Huntsville Diversity (Decatur, Madison, Athens: affordable apartment, buying a house, employment)

[Sand_Man]

Hello all I am an IT professional and I am considering moving to the Huntsville area. I am married with a daughter that is 8 years old. I am wandering about the diversity in Huntsville? Is there a hard regret for yanks as I have been called? I am a very diversified person that has seen many cultures as well as countries however I have been living in SW VA for about a year now and it has proven to be the worst example of acceptance that I have ever seen. I am asked on a daily basis You aint from here are ya and my accent is that of a cultured New Yorker with some variations that clearly says I am not from here. I have been discriminated against because I am a Yankee even though my family was originally from Huntington WV. I just want to live where myself and my family can be peaceful and work in unity with others. Is it possible to live in Huntsville with out the discriminating ventures that we have to live through in VA? My wife was born and raised in SW VA and she even is sick and tired of this unethical degrading treatment that I have to endure as well as her self. Recently I took my wife and child to the Christmas parade in downtown Abingdon only to see a float called Gothic Angel and have a very Gothic Christmas. I almost puked seeing this. What part of Goth has to do with our savior and his birth, Please tell me that this isn’t acceptable in Huntsville?
Thanks and any and all information on the Huntsville area would be greatly appreciated.

SandMan

[jetjockey75]

Originally Posted by Sand_Man

Thanks and any and all information on the Huntsville area would be greatly appreciated.

SandMan

Huntsville is a much more diverse city than your typical Southern burg. There are scientists and engineers from all over the world living and working in Huntsville. It really is a decent place to live, overall. Southern "tradition" has much less of a hold on Huntsville than anyplace else in the South that I am aware of.

[Sand_Man]

Originally Posted by actractorguy

Huntsville is a much more diverse city than your typical Southern burg. There are scientists and engineers from all over the world living and working in Huntsville. It really is a decent place to live, overall. Southern "tradition" has much less of a hold on Huntsville than anyplace else in the South that I am aware of.

Thank you for your response Actractorguy
It is good there is diversity and acceptance with all who venture to Huntsville. I am hoping that through this forum we (myself and wife) can make a proper decision as to our relocation to the area. Again thanks for you response
SandMan

[marysally]

I would like to second the previous poster's comments about Huntsville. I have lived here for almost 9 years and although I had the opportunity to move away last year I am here to stay. Huntsville is a melting pot of educated people from all over the country as well as other countries as well. I have been told frequently that Huntsville is not like the rest of AL but since I have only lived here in AL, I can't speak for the rest of the state. I am from the south, having lived in Atlanta, Memphis, New Orleans, and Houston before moving here. I must admit that I have asked people with obvious accents where they were from (always with a smile) but it was out of curiosity, not malice. I have no problem telling people that I am from the south when I travel to other parts of the country and never viewed it as unhospitable to be curious. I guess I will try to be more circumspect in the future.

[Sand_Man]

Originally Posted by marysally

I would like to second the previous poster's comments about Huntsville. I have lived here for almost 9 years and although I had the opportunity to move away last year I am here to stay. Huntsville is a melting pot of educated people from all over the country as well as other countries as well. I have been told frequently that Huntsville is not like the rest of AL but since I have only lived here in AL, I can't speak for the rest of the state. I am from the south, having lived in Atlanta, Memphis, New Orleans, and Houston before moving here. I must admit that I have asked people with obvious accents where they were from (always with a smile) but it was out of curiosity, not malice. I have no problem telling people that I am from the south when I travel to other parts of the country and never viewed it as unhospitable to be curious. I guess I will try to be more circumspect in the future.

Hi MarySally, this is SandMan's wife and since he is currently at work trying to make a little money so we can make our escape from Va. I will take this opportunity to say "Thank You" for your insight. I, myself, have some friends that live in Hazel Green but for most of their lives they lived in the city limits of Huntsville and they to have been very encouraging in their words and our concerns are somewhat at ease now. We are getting the feel that employment in the IT field would be a very real possibility there, but we still have concerns as to a safe and affordable apt. to live in...preferrably outside of Huntsville in one of the smaller suburbs... we understand Hazel Green seems to be a pretty nice community...but would like recomendations of other places...any suggestions as to other communities we might want to check in to?... any help is greatly appreciated!

[jetjockey75]

Originally Posted by n_sandsdream

..but would like recomendations of other places...any suggestions as to other communities we might want to check in to?... any help is greatly appreciated!

You might look in Meridianville, New Market, Decatur, Athens, and (even though they are farther away) Arab and Scottsboro, and even Fayettville, TN. If you are even remotely thinking of eventually buying a house, the sooner the better. The area is growing fast, and when the government relocates 5000 or so civil service and defense contract employees to Huntsville within the next 3-4 years, home prices will likely soar.

[marysally]

I live in Madison which is one of the fastest growing cities in the Huntsville area. There are a number of nice, new, and affordable apartment complexes in the Madison area. I lived in one for about 6 months when I first moved here to get my bearings and determine where I wanted to buy. Also wanted to sell my house in Houston prior to committing to another purchase. Madison also has highly rated schools if you have children.
Huntsville has many opportunities for an IT professional and those will only increase in the coming years with the transfer of jobs with BRAC. My recommendation would be to come down for a visit if you have the opportunity so that you can see what fits your lifestyle.

[Sand_Man]

Thanks! to you all... everyone that we have spoken with in this forum has been so positive and helpful. I personally already feel very welcomed there *big smiles*. I think it is safe to say that Sandman and I are pursuing the Huntsville area with full steam and no looking back at this Southwest Virginia area.

We do have an 8 year old daughter that we will of course want to enroll in a good school.

We both are getting pretty excited about this and looking forward to all the new "real" opportunities that Huntsville has to offer...it is soooo gonna beat this "lost in time" area where we are now...lol...

Thanks again for all your wonderful help...

Sands Dream...aka (Deb)

[Sand_Man]

I must admit I was becoming very concerned that the entire south was like SW VA AKA(Hells Crap Hole) hehe anyways I have been very happy with what I have seen in this forum and the different points of view have helped me tremendously. Thank you all for your input and honesty.
SandMan

[1stimesouth]

We just moved here about a year ago and I have to say it really is nice. As much as I hated coming here I have been very pleasantly surprised. People are really nice and contrary to what some people say I think there is tons to do. I would highly recommend living in Huntsville city. This is NOT a big city. We live in the area around Airport Rd./ Whitesburg and LOVE it. We can walk to everything, yet our house is in a very safe and residential neighborhood. We're two miles from downtown and very close to Memorial Parkway. I think it's perfect. We NEVER, EVER have any traffic problems, coming from DC that is amazing! My husband works at Research Park. I would have prefered living in 5 points or the other historic districts, but that was too much $$. I can't imagine living in a huge subdivision and fighting traffic when you can live so close and central, but it all depends on what you like.