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03-15-2007, 06:28 PM
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Member
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Join Date: Feb 2007
15 posts, read 33,344 times
Reputation: 18
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Is Kankakee really that bad????
I may be getting a good job in Kankakee, but am scared after reading it was voted the worst city in the U.S at one time. I plan on living outside of the city, hopefully in the country and just working in the city itself.
Any opinions? Thank you.
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03-15-2007, 07:56 PM
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GA,MD,WV Moderator
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Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: NE Georgia
2,234 posts, read 2,170,282 times
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All I can say is when I lived in Illinois, everytime I brought up Kankakee the natives would cringe 
Went in the town on business a few times. I did cringe a little, but I have seen much worse in my travels
Understand it has major drug issues.
Maybe some local folks can comment |
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03-15-2007, 10:06 PM
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Rangers FC supporter
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Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Western Chicagoland
17,045 posts, read 18,103,190 times
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Its often rated one of the worst cities in the USA... I think there are far worse cities (ever been to Nogales, Arizona???), but thats just my opinion.
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03-16-2007, 07:17 AM
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Join Date: Feb 2007
15 posts, read 33,344 times
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But WHY is it the worst?
Thank you
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03-20-2007, 10:31 AM
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There's beauty in the solace of not giving a damn.
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Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Chicago
16,076 posts, read 12,399,954 times
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Best advice one can suggest is, go check it out. If you find Kankakee itself is not to your liking, you can always shop around in one of the numerous surrounding communities. You're bound to find something that fits.
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03-29-2007, 04:28 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2007
64 posts, read 119,254 times
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I lived in Kankakee for some years. certain parts of town have major drug problems. The schools, were not the best. Then I moved to Bradley, much better, then to Bourbonnais. The highschool in Bradley/Burbonnais is a community high school shared by both towns. I liked them much better than Kankakee. The three towns are joined together, on one side of the street is Kankakee,the other side is Bradley, then right into Bourbonnais. I now live in Manteno, and while it is only about 10 miles to the north, it is a nice quiet, but fast growing town. As someone has already said, just check it out.
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04-03-2007, 09:32 PM
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Member
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Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: matteson, IL
28 posts, read 43,217 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by guvjim
I lived in Kankakee for some years. certain parts of town have major drug problems. The schools, were not the best. Then I moved to Bradley, much better, then to Bourbonnais. The highschool in Bradley/Burbonnais is a community high school shared by both towns. I liked them much better than Kankakee. The three towns are joined together, on one side of the street is Kankakee,the other side is Bradley, then right into Bourbonnais. I now live in Manteno, and while it is only about 10 miles to the north, it is a nice quiet, but fast growing town. As someone has already said, just check it out.
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I'd say this is very accurate!
I've been through kankakee on many occasions... and it seems as long as you stay north or outside of the more "urban" areas your just fine.
I had definitely heard some crazy stories about the bad areas from the natives when I had my shop down in st anne  . St anne, btw, is just too far out there and too tight knit/small townish for me. |
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04-06-2007, 08:45 PM
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Junior Member
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Join Date: Apr 2007
3 posts, read 13,358 times
Reputation: 11
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I've lived there before. If you been on hoobie avenue than you better have ypur eyes open. they can smell fear. And hobbie avanue smells like the paint factory.
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06-19-2007, 02:36 PM
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Junior Member
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Join Date: Jun 2007
2 posts, read 6,819 times
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It's not as bad as you'd think. I live in Kankakee... been here all my adult life... I'm 53.
Like many towns, all the retail business moved to the mall by the interstate, leaving the downtown area pretty much ignored. It's coming back now. Lot's of offices. It's the county seat, so many layers are downtown by the courthouse.
Much of the industry left in the 70's, moving to the southern states for the low-wage work force.
Unemployment is high. Being situated close (60 miles) to Chicago, it's hard to duplicate anything down here. Many folks commute.
There are parts of town (residential areas) that tend to be higher crime areas. Same as most towns this size. That's what low income and hopelessness creates. I just don't go there.
The school district is certainly one of our weakest suits.
There is a LOT going on here now... as we speak! New stores/shopping centers, commercial development, new residential subdivision, recreational facilities.... Two new WalMarts breaking ground, new hotels, and perhaps most telling... lots of new banks.
You can get a lot of bang for the buck here. And, we're only a hour from Chicago, so it's close to everything.
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06-19-2007, 02:39 PM
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Junior Member
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Join Date: Jun 2007
2 posts, read 6,819 times
Reputation: 14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by meads
And hobbie avanue smells like the paint factory.
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There IS a paint factory at the north end of Hobbie. But you're right... I wouldn't walk down Hobbie... any time of day. |
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