Might move to Marion area, looking for info (Chicago, Belleville: transplants, attorney)

[HOWELL_STREET]

Dear Friends:

Right off, I admit that I don't know anything about Crab Orchard Lake and Marion, IL. However, my expertise is with Rend Lake and nearby Mount Vernon, IL.
In my hand as a reference, I have the Delorme Illinois Map and Gazeteer. This is a very good map atlas of the back roads of Illinois. There are also other 'brands' in similarity to that of Delorme.
From this map, I look at all of the surrounding roads around Crab Orchard Lake. These must represent subdivisions of that lake. In contrast, look at the Rend Lake area. No such roads.
So my question to you is - - Do you want to relocate to ANY lake district loaded with subdivisions? When people do this, they occassionally meet people from their same original town of the past. That has happened to my family.
With Rend Lake, the IL - DNR owns all of the lake shore property and that is why there are no subdivisions surrounding that lake. However, the lake is very beautiful just like - - I suppose - - Crab Orchard Lake. So this is another factor to consider when you relocate.

Best Regards,

Carter Glass

[Sunshine 12]

Originally Posted by HOWELL_STREET

Dear Friends:

Right off, I admit that I don't know anything about Crab Orchard Lake and Marion, IL. However, my expertise is with Rend Lake and nearby Mount Vernon, IL.
In my hand as a reference, I have the Delorme Illinois Map and Gazeteer. This is a very good map atlas of the back roads of Illinois. There are also other 'brands' in similarity to that of Delorme.
From this map, I look at all of the surrounding roads around Crab Orchard Lake. These must represent subdivisions of that lake. In contrast, look at the Rend Lake area. No such roads.
So my question to you is - - Do you want to relocate to ANY lake district loaded with subdivisions? When people do this, they occassionally meet people from their same original town of the past. That has happened to my family.
With Rend Lake, the IL - DNR owns all of the lake shore property and that is why there are no subdivisions surrounding that lake. However, the lake is very beautiful just like - - I suppose - - Crab Orchard Lake. So this is another factor to consider when you relocate.

Best Regards,

Carter Glass

There are no subdivisions around crab orchard lake...lol....Lake of Egypt has plenty but not crab..Crab Orchard Is a National Wildlife Refuge.they have camping and boating....lol....anyway she was talking about moving to crab orchard the town not the lake.....lol.she don't wanna relocate to a lake district???

I don't think crab is beautiful either..Rend and Egypt are much nicer..

[LostIllini]

I was 22 once and hated living in rural Illinois. I am now 61 and would give my first born (If you want a girl) to live in the area you are about to move with your sons. Harrisburg might be a good area for you. I visit Carriers Mill frequently and love it. (6 miles) Harrisburg has a decent hospital. I have a cousin that is a nurse and works at the hospital in Harrisburg she likes it.

[mirasol]

Wow, I asked for thoughts and opinions and I sure got them!! Thank you all for responding. For better or for worse despite the feedback of " for the love of ... do not move to southern IL..." we are packing our things and moving. No place is perfect not here in CA or there in IL. We can always move around in IL or move back to CA if we need to. Again I thank you for your responses, they were entertaining at the very least! Bye for now!!

Mirasol

[Juice13610]

Tell us how it goes. Be sure to check out the Southern Illinois Miners brand new $15,000,000 stadium up on "the hill" in Marion. Definitely the nicest community in southern Illinois.

[texastraveler]

Ewing has a nice school. I'm pretty sure it only goes to grade 6 or 8, then the kids go to high school in Benton. Like all towns, it has drawbacks and good things. The people are nice, a little nosey, but can be quite helpful.

The worst thing to do is to go into an area like that with attitude about how there is "nothing to do!" There may be nothing to do, but let the long-timers say it, not you.

Burton's Cafe in Whittington used to have great food, especially pie. I haven't been there in years, so that may have changed.

I do remember people being very curious about WHAT church you went to. Like it was assumed that you went to church. I didn't go to church and would get the occasional look.

It's pretty white-bread there as far as diversity. Rend Lake is fun and you aren't that far from St. Louis if you are into baseball, concerts, etc.

Have fun and keep up posted!

[mirasol]

Well folks we have arrived! To Crab Orchard (even though our address is Marion). And what a welcome we got with a heat wave!! Oh well, other than the heat wave, we are very happy to be here. Our neighbors have been fantastic to us and the kids have already registered for school. Everyone has been so kind to us, which is great because we don't know anyone!!! We are renting here in Crab Orchard and will be looking for a home as soon as we know if the school works out. It is small, but the kids wanted to go to a small school. Just thought I would give you all an update, have an endless amount of boxes to unpack and thats not counting the garage full of boxes that I am leaving packed till we purchase a home!! Thanks for the past replies.

Mirasol

[Sunshine 12]

That's good......So you have a Marion address but go to Crab Orchard school? And your husband is working in Ewing? or not?

The heat has been crazy the last couple weeks here....hopefully that calms down soon.......

[mirasol]

Bambam, technically their is no Carb Orchard address because their is no post office in Crab Orchard- so the address says Marion, but we are in the Crab Orchard community.

And yes my husband works in Ewing.

We are enjoying living in this small community and hope to continue to meet people. Also looking forward to cooler weather!!

[mirasol]

Oh, and "Juice" ... I forgot to mention took the kids to a Miner game-- a really good fireworks show after the game. They enjoyed it!