Is there diversity in Carbondale? (Eldorado, Franklin: low crime, co-op, houses)

[max123]

Hi,

My family and I are considering moving to the Carbondale area. We were wondering what are the best areas and school systems for supporting diversity. Most of my family currently lives where there has been a lot of hatred for anyone who is different. I was wondering what the communities around Carbondale were like. Are they supportive and accepting of different ethnicities, religions, sexual orientations, and cultures? Our daughter is getting ready to start school soon and I would like her to go to school in a more tolerant atmosphere. Any advice or insights would be appreciated. Thanks

[emmylynn1980]

I went to college in Carbondale, and it is probably THE most tolerant of any southern Illinois community, because of Southern Illinois University. There is a very strong racial mix - many Koreans, Japanese, and Indians as well as a large black and Hispanic community. There are many, many gays and the town has organizations that celebrate such alternative lifestyles. Seriously - anything goes in C'dale. Now for the downside: it's a party town. Like, BIG-TIME party town. Lots of drugs, and not just marijuana. Designer drugs like ecstasy and LSD are easily accessible. Meth is not a problem there like it is in other rural IL communities though. As long as you stay away from the student neighborhoods, you should be fine. Carbondale is a great town rich with culture, and their school system is unsurprassed, especially if you are in the Unity Point or Giant City districts. Good luck!

[ShortPerson49]

I have lived in Carbondale my whole life and love it! The communities around Carbondale are not nearly as large, tolerant, and diverse, so I recommend on moving to the actual city. While their is crime and some drug dealing, that is strictly limited to the "student neighborhoods." I live in the West End neighborhood which is a middle class neighborhood with low crime, nice houses, and very reasonable home prices. However, if want to step it up, look to the Parrish Acres/Sunset area. This subdivision is home to more upper middle class homes. And even better than that, their is the Deer Lake Subdivision, west of the Sunset area. This area features brand new executive homes with an executive price tag! I went to Unity Point when I was in school, which is wonderful, but 5-10 minutes south of Carbondale campus. Giant City is completely out of the city. There is much diversity in the city, which is reflected by many festivals, family-owned shops and restaurants, and events. The city has WONDERFUL food with any cuisine you like! Carbondale has the only Co-op neighborhood grocery store in Illinois (I shop there all the time), as well as an international grocery store. Carbondale is a very "green" city as well as having a very tolerant atmosphere. A vast majority of Carbondale is Democratic. The SIU campus is beautiful, but a storm last May blew quite a few trees over. Clean-up is going well. The campus is also very bike friendly. I highly recommend moving to the area. Best Wishes!

[skidamarink]

Originally Posted by emmylynn1980

Meth is not a problem there like it is in other rural IL communities though.

Wait, I thought Jackson County was once said to have the most underground meth lab busts in the nation, or something to that affect. Didn't they stop allowing customers to buy more than two bottles of cough syrup at a time because of the meth lab crackdown?

[AJohnston_STL]

Easily the most diverse town in southern Illinois, south of Jefferson county (maybe even more racially divided than some communities in the suburbs of STL).



Races in Carbondale:

• White Non-Hispanic (64.7%)
• Black (23.1%)
• Hispanic (3.0%)
• Two or more races (2.4%)
• Chinese (1.9%)
• Asian Indian (1.5%)
• Other race (1.4%)
• Korean (1.1%)
• Japanese (1.0%)
• Other Asian (0.8%)
• American Indian (0.8%)

It's also the "major city" of southern Illinois. The people from Franklin county (my county before I moved to St Louis) think Carbondale is the definition of urban living.

[Pastor's Helpmeet]

Yes, it is pretty diverse because SIU is there. However, as was said before, most of the smaller towns around it are not as diverse and are pretty prejudice. I live in Eldorado, and I was shocked at the intolerence and ignorance in this town!

[WishToLiveInSeattle]

Please don't let appearances of supposed diversity fool you. It may appear to look diverse, but people feelings are not about diversity...........

Nothing about Southern Illinois is tolerant or diverse. The people (including the ones that live and work around the college) are ignorant, closed minded and very intolerant to anything that is different and not white.

Good Luck to you!!!

[linicx]

Originally Posted by WishToLiveInSeattle

Please don't let appearances of supposed diversity fool you. It may appear to look diverse, but people feelings are not about diversity...........

Nothing about Southern Illinois is tolerant or diverse. The people (including the ones that live and work around the college) are ignorant, closed minded and very intolerant to anything that is different and not white.

Good Luck to you!!!

While some of this is true in all small rural towns, part of the problem in this area is the active hate groups and the deep south attitudes. Southern Illinois is a lousy place in time for any family of color to be trapped by circumstance.