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Unread 04-07-2010, 12:50 PM
 
104 posts, read 282,830 times
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Default Scottsboro and SE side of Huntsville questions!!

A possible job transfer (again haha) has us looking to move to northern Alabama! It was just a few years back we were living in Anniston AL!! Anyway, the potential job is in Ft Payne however we don't want to be there for housing etc. We would like to be near the water and Scottsboro looked nice but it's hard telling from the internet, I'd rather ask folks Also easterly suburbs of Huntsville perhaps..as long as the Hubby doesn't have to drive over an hour to work. Its just the 3 of us and our daughter is a freshman in H.S. so obviously schools are important (arent' they always) We have lived all over so I can't say we are looking for one particular thing, but a close proximity to modern conveniences is nice, being near water, things to do for a teenager, and a good place to find good wine haha! Any help would be greatly appreciated! Were getting to be quite the professional relocaters lately, but in this economy you go where the jobs are and up North is just struggling and really facing tough times! Have a great day all!
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Unread 04-07-2010, 01:22 PM
 
Location: Madison, AL
908 posts, read 773,727 times
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My dad lives just south of Ft Payne, on Weiss Lake. I don't know what your budget is, but if you want waterfront property, you should also look there. Weiss Lake is very beautiful!

You would be closer to Fort Payne from Scottsboro, or even Gadsden (which has tons of very reasonably priced river properties) than Huntsville. If you were going to look towards Huntsville, stay in the far east, like New Market or Gurley. That would be just about an hour commute to Fort Payne. It is a slow commute, as you have to go through Scottsboro, over the mountain into Rainsville (which is overrun with cops so no speeding!) and down into Ft Payne. It is about 20-25 minutes from Scottsboro to Ft. Payne, about 15-20 from Weiss Lake to Ft Payne, and closer to a hour to Gadsden.

Good luck!
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Unread 04-07-2010, 02:30 PM
 
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McMullen Cove ( Gurley area) has easy access to 72East and straight into Scottsboro and is in the Huntsville city limits with Hampton Cove and Huntsville High schools. Just a thought.
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Unread 04-07-2010, 03:30 PM
 
Location: Las Flores, Orange County, CA
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Is Chattanooga an option? Look like a straight shot, though it is pushing 50 minutes.
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Unread 04-07-2010, 04:20 PM
 
Location: Madison, AL
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I think Chattanooga is going to be definately over an hour commute to Fort Payne. But what an awesome city!
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Unread 04-08-2010, 06:39 AM
 
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Thank you so much so far!! Hubby definately doesn't want a long commute and wants me to consider Ft.Payne itself, I don't know much about the area since we lived in Calhoun County while in Alabama...I am more worried about the daughter than me I've moved all over however the smaller schools can be harder on a newcomer, she is a sweetie and can be shy! Wondering about the size (students) of the H.S. and quality of school as far as extra curricular activities, sports etc. What's the town like? many restaurants, shopping etc or is it more than a 20 min drive to a WalMart, mall etc. sorry just trying to plan ahead : )
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Unread 04-08-2010, 07:13 AM
 
Location: Madison, AL
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No, there is some stuff in Ft Payne, just not much. Sadly, Ft Payne used to be the hub of the sock industry, and since most of that is now outsourced to China it has dwindled a bit. They do have your basics...Walmart, grocery stores, basic restaurants...and the most fabulous furniture store in all of Alabama...Akins! To me, Ft Payne has turned into somewhat of a sad town...it has a very high unemployment rate. In fact, everyone I know that lives in Ft Payne (which is not a lot) commutes to Gadsden for their jobs, and mainly live in Ft Payne because they were born and raised there.
Guntersville could be another option, but the cost of living there is outrageous. But, it is a lovely town, good schools, and Lake Guntersville. It has some really great restaurants that we often drive to from Huntsville, such as Top of the River. We now has a Wintzell's so I don't have to drive to Guntersville anymore to eat there..YIPEE!
You may also want to check out the commute from Rome, GA...it seems it might take you about 35-40 minutes, depending on what side of Rome you are in, and it is a fabulous town! Great schools (Floyd County) everything you could want locally in shopping, and for more you are not too far from Atlanta. I have a friend who lives in Rome and they absolutely love it. Also, my stepmom commutes from Weiss Lake area (they live in Cedar Bluff) to Rome for her job. You might also look furthur into Cherokee County, like Centre and Leesburg. Cherokee County as a whole is a huge boating/fishing community, with both Weiss Lake and the Coosa River. I spent many a summer there! Many people from the Gadsden area have moved over into Cherokee County for lake homes/summer homes. I absolutely LOVE going to my dad's, waking up every morning looking out at the beautiful water is heaven!
Scottsboro also has your basic staples, such as Walmart, Home Depot, chain restaurants, ect. Gadsden has a lot of shopping/restaurants/extra curricular and has some pretty good schools. That is my hometown, I lived there almost my entire life, and most of my family is still in the area.

What part of Calhoun County did you live in? I went to JSU for my freshman year of college before moving on to Auburn. I have tons of friends in the Sax/Alexandria and Oxford areas, and I grew up in Glencoe, so we were right on the Etowah/Calhoun line. Since Ft McClellan closed, Anniston has dwindled somewhat as well, but with Honda opening up this past decade, that has REALLY helped.

Last edited by LCTMadison; 04-08-2010 at 07:26 AM..
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Unread 04-08-2010, 07:25 AM
 
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I vote Rome, GA anyday over Ft. Payne. It is a very sad town these days. Rome has some good colleges and more to offer in the area.
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Unread 04-08-2010, 07:29 AM
 
Location: Madison, AL
908 posts, read 773,727 times
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I agree Mawoods...Ft Payne has become quite depressing. I would personally not want to live in Ft Payne. Just from going there almost my entire life, and seeing the decline, it is sad. There is not much industry in Ft Payne anymore, with the close of all the sock factories. Just a bunch of abandoned buildings.
That entire area, Ft Payne, Cedar Bluff, Rainsville, Centre is a commuter community. Most all will commute to Gadsden or Rome for their jobs.
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Unread 04-08-2010, 07:31 AM
 
Location: Las Flores, Orange County, CA
25,620 posts, read 40,035,544 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Clarkx3 View Post
Wondering about the size (students) of the H.S. and quality of school as far as extra curricular activities, sports etc.
Fort Payne District is a 6 out of 10 on Great Schools.
The High School is 6 out of 10.
Middle Schools are a 4 and 6 out of 10, and the elementary are a 3 and 4 out of 10.

Fort Payne Schools - Fort Payne Alabama School Ratings - Public and Private
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