I miss southern illinois (carbondale)!!!!!!! (Chicago, Peoria: apartments, safe area, buy)

[uberfrau]

I lived in Carbondale for 3 years, then Herrin and Mt. Vernon (hated Mt.Vernon). Now i live in Bloomington, IL and i miss Jackson County so much!

For one, the weather is much better in Southern Illinois. It's sunnier and milder, def not as cold. Heck, just today, there is a 10degree difference between bloomington and carbondale.

I loved Makanda- cool people lived there.

I miss the piney hills.

Carbondale is a funky town for sure.

Yes, the area is economically depressed, but i'm looking for jobs there right now.

BLoomington is cold, cloudy and flat. One way or another, i'm going back there.

[linicx]

If you go to Peoria you will drive out of the flat Plains and find an entirely differnt geographic area woth rolling tree hills and bluffs. You can also explore river cruises, indie theater, shopping, dining, a top rated zoo and the largest park system outside of Chicago among many other things.

Actually you are not in a bad place as you can buy fresh maple syrup about 10 min south of B-N. You are not that far from Jackon County that you can't visit every weekend.

[Steve-o]

There is no difference in the amount of cloudy skies between Bloomington and Carbondale last I knew. If anything, the further South you go, the more rain you get, so Carbondale is probably actually a little cloudier.

[dcisive]

I can only go on memory but frankly I found the Carbondale area (when I went there for school back in the early 70's) it was decidedly Southern in it's feel. Southern cooking abounded as did the culture. Not so with Peoria that's for sure. Peoria has it's nice points, but its in no way like Southern Illinois. Carbondale is just a stones throw from some nice geographic territory. Plenty of lakes and streams and lots of rolling countryside. I especially like the area South towards Makanda (Giant City State Park) and Cobden. It is nearly another world from Northern or Central Illinois IMHO. I found the people there quite friendly as well. Very much country/small town attitudes which is fine by me........

[linicx]

Peoria is not a substitute for Southern Illinois. I would never make such a statement. What I tossed out was three ideas. 1-] Peoria is closer than SI. 2-] Peoria is not flat; there is a variety of things to do. 3-] Due to close proximity to the Illinois Interstate system, it is possible to return to SI on a regular basis.

It is my belief there are three separate and quite different areas of Illinois that extend from the western border to the eastern border. Within these areas there is a great difference in services, topography and the number and size of communities.

Illinois and Iowa are the top corn producers in America. Illinois has 102 Counties and the fifth largest state population. Two great rivers form boundaries. A Great Lake forms a large portion of the third boundary plus a tributary of the Mississippi River divides the state and transports commercial goods. Illinois has 78.000 farming families and two mega-metropolitan areas that are spearated by over 300 miles.

Love it or hate it, Illinois is what it is.

[jak3811]

Hello, I came across this thread and figured you would be a good person to discuss with. I am thinking about attending Southern Illinois Carbondale for graduate school. I was unsure what the area was like. I have a daughter who will be starting kindergarten next year so public schools are important to me. I was just wondering what the area was like, if its safe (im also looking into youngstown, so a safe area would be a plus .

Just looking for insight on the area. My wife is a recent graduate in Accounting, how is the economy? I see some places saying its nice and others saying its rough?

Thank you, Thank you

[ShortPerson49]

I see why you want to move back. Oh, and the area is not economically depressed. By the way, the "Metro Lakeland" area of Murphysboro, Carbondale, Carterville, Herrin, and Marion are experiencing a job boom, especially in Carbondale, Herrin, and Marion. It isn't a huge job boom, but it is bringing in a ton of jobs. Oh, and in Carbondale, they are building a ton of gigantic apartments, as well as a brand new football stadium, and renovations to the university.