Tell me about Illinois (Chicago, Rockford: employment, schools, universities)

[doll lady]

I really like Peoria....and that's coming from someone who has lived by Springfield and worked in Springfield all of her life. Peoria not only has a lot to do, but as the previous poster indicated, they have had a regrowth in the manufacturing world and the city seems to be prospering.

Unfortunately Springfield has lost a lot of businesses. For a few years there was a lot of construction growth on the west side but that has slowed. Lots of folks out that way have big houses, but mortgaged to the hilt as my mortgage company friend says. (If one of the spouses loses a job, everything will be lost.) Last year's horrible tornado closed some businesses. A fairly recent city wide smoking ban has cause closure of some mom and pop pubs. Several others went belly up due to the economy. There is no large scale manufacturing here. One large insurance organization (the old Franklin Life) is down to 500 or less employees and the other major insurance company employer has suffered significant stock devaluing even with various downsizing efforts and of course there has been severe weather related losses. One hospital closed a few years ago. Another is having significant financial problems and the remaining hospital is growing in leaps and bounds. Thank goodness for that and State of Illinois jobs. But those state jobs seem to be disappearing and going upstate. hmmmmmmmmm

The city fathers don't seem to want any business other than white collar here. I am waiting for a major economic turn around. But when will that come? It has to for survival of the smaller cities.

I only hope our gov doesn't proceed with the sale of our lottery. As someone in Springfield said...."selling the lottery makes about as much sense as selling all of my old cows to buy a fancy pickup truck, then in about three or four years not having enough left to buy tires or gas."

Need I say more?!

[ratbert]

Drover wrote

Oh sure, Carbondale and Macomb are real brain magnets and high-tech centers...

I moved to Carbondale two years ago from Houston, and we LOVE it! The school has a number of outstanding programs that are rated among the tops in the country, as well as the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute.

"The Princeton Review's summary for America's Best Value Colleges said, 'This school is one of the colleges designated as one of the best overall bargains—based on cost and financial aid—among the most academically outstanding colleges in the nation.'"

"SIUC is classified as a comprehensive research university – fewer than 200 public universities hold this prestigious Carnegie Foundation designation."

As for the area, it is beautiful with a reasonable cost of living, and a temperate climate. Many of the artists who graduate from the excellent School of Art & Design stay on in the area. And, yes, we even developing some high-tech businesses.

We just like to keep our little best kept secret to ourselves....

[bad boyfriend]

Now our wonderful Gov. Bloyo. wants to raise taxes. He says it will be for education. Why are the lawmakers and breakers avoiding the real problem. ILLEAGAL IMMIGRATION. That's why the schools are over crowded. Hospitals have to treat them without insurance but guess who picks up that check.It's easier to just raise the taxes of the working class than take care of the real problem. I would rather my tax money be used to clean up this state and this country and give it back to LEGAL Americans.

[j33]

not all the south-suburbs are bad (just like not all of the south-side of Chicago is bad), and the southwest suburbs are not bad at all.

[AaronK]

Originally Posted by ebbe

Hmmm....is the weather south of Chicago MUCH warmer than the North Shore area? I get the feeling I will be inside all winter if it's 20 below.

Any towns in the southern part of the state that have great high schools and nice people? Schools along the lines (academically) of Lake Forest High or Stevenson.

Speaking of people....I have been reading there are a huge number of illegal aliens (perhaps in certain sections of the state?) Is there gang activity in the suburbs?

Are there places to live where people are actually NOT concerned with how much money their neighbor makes or what type of car they are driving? I have nothing against wealth but would love to find a place where you can have some wealth and still be down to earth.

Weather: Not the best on any front, anywhere near Chicago. The temps average in the 20's in December, and can drop down to the teens and even single digits in January. In my opinion, February is the worst month of all during winter. I would know, because I go to school and have to walk across campus about three times a day Mon, Wed, and Friday. No, Chicago winters aren't unbearable, like many will mention, but they do suck. I've lived in places where it is just as cold, but the winter doesn't feel bad because it's mixed in with days where the temps go up to the 50's or so.

Schools? South suburbs suck for the most part. Naperville schools are great, but you need to have a large income to afford living in the good parts of Naperville (yes, there are even bad parts of Naperville). I'd suggest moving out east toward Mokena area or out into the western burbs. Less traffic both ways, less population, good access to both now (just built I-80 that leads to La Grange, making easy access to Mokena, Orland Park, etc).

Gang activity, while not too large in the past, is starting to grow where I live in Romeoville. They have always had a presence in Joliet, but now they are in Romeoville, Bolingbrook, Plainfield, etc. And yes, many illegals reside here. I'm almost positive that the entire kitchen staff at the Applebee's I worked at were illegal.

To be honest, I've never liked it here. Flat landscape, and the people are way different than what I am used to. I'm from Texas, and lived in Kentucky for a few years, so I'm used to a slower pace of life.

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by AaronK

The temps average in the 20's in December,

Actually, average high in December is 35, average low is 20.

[templete]

I am from Colombia and came here legally, am I going to be discriminated based on this? I am a Spanish teacher and want to relocate there but I do not want to put my son (who is darker that me but was born here in Houston) in a situation like that.

Thank you for your input, I visited there last thanksgiving (O'fallon, belleview) and I like it, but then I was only there for a week.

[muleskinner]

Originally Posted by allydriver

f) The southernmost tip aka "Little Egypt", which is unmolested by glaciers, characterized by rolling terrain, rocky crevases,dense forrests, mineral wealth and watched over by "southerners" who just as soon forget the rest of the state existed.

P.S. I LOVE IT!!

Me too.

[TabulaRasa]

For what it's worth, not all rural communities in Illinois are dying.

[muleskinner]

Originally Posted by TabulaRasa

For what it's worth, not all rural communities in Illinois are dying.

Shhhhh....don't tell them or they'll want to move here