Salem, Indiana (Indianapolis, South Bend, Bloomington: 2015, low crime, hotel)
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What can everyone here tell me about Salem, Indiana. I see they have a new hotel and have read they are building a new Wal-Mart. Home prices seem relatively inexpensive. I'm still looking for my Southern Indiana retirement destination.
Small town, not too much interesting in terms of boutiques or anything of that nature. There are a few small local shops, but not many. Most restaurants are fast food chains, though there is Christie's on the Square which is good. Someone recently renovated an older home as a bed and breakfast if that's the hotel you are referencing. There's a lot of interest in hunting, several farms in the area, a bit of a drug problem, homophobia. That sort of thing. Healthcare at the hospital in general is awful.
They are building what is supposed to be the largest Walmart in southern Indiana, if that's a draw for you. The courthouse on the square is lovely. There are a handful of nicer homes in the area, particularly along 135 on the south side of town and a few NW of the high school. The landscape also has a lot of lovely aspects most of the year, though the winter can be a bit depressing and there really aren't many opportunities to be outdoors in public parks or nature.
Nearest big city is Louisville which is about an hour to downtown. Less to shopping on the Indiana side, more to most of what Louisville offers. You've got Bloomington about 1 hr 15 min away as well.
If you're mainly looking for a small isolated town with cheaper homes you might look at Paoli. The town itself is a little nicer than Salem and there are more hills/trees for scenery. Plus you're 30 minutes closer there to French Lick and what it offers these days. Corydon might be an option as well. It's still not that big, but has much easier access via I-64 to Louisville and therefore some nicer newer housing developments. The downtown there is also pretty historic with some nice local stores/restaurants and there are some good options like Hayswood Nature Reserve and walking trails through town for getting outdoors. It has a lot more going for it than Salem.
Location: New Albany, Indiana (Greater Louisville)
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My wife is from that area, her parents have a Salem address and we go there every couple of weeks. It has a large intact older area with a nice town square and lots of well kept up older houses, some of which are immaculate and would fetch $500k if they were in Louisville. It has a few nice local restaurants and maybe a dozen chain restaurants. Back in the day it had a booming industrial economy that attracted lots of newcomers from Eastern KY and West Virginia, including my mother in law and most of her family. Most of those factories closed and many people commute to Louisville / New Albany for work. It has a small hospital for basic stuff. The only drawback is it's not off an interstate so trips require traveling down busier than average two lane roads.
Frankly having lived there for most of my life I would recommend it to people that are older and have a slower way of thinking and activity. Not a lot to do other than doing some hiking, fishing, going to the library. Limited shopping in Salem unless you like Dollar Stores, etc. 2015 by the end of the year will bring a Super Wal Mart to town. Progress in Salem is slow. People are even slower. Its like being in a time warp to either a much slower time period in the past or dealing with people who in many ways just simply aren't very inteligent. We're talking about basic people skills, professional skills, and even common courtesy. Seem to be a lot of people walking around with their head planted somewhere and I won't be impolite in commenting in where that is.
I moved to the Jeffersonville area a few years back and don't really regret it. Close to Louisville.....close to work and more jobs around the Louisville area. Same happens if you go closer to Columbus to Indianapolis area.
Washington County is in many ways stuck in the past. Too many people with backward thinking, not open to new things, not open to change, slow lifestyle. Great for some people but not a good place these days to raise kids. Severe drug problems in most S. Indiana towns like Salem, Bedford, Corydon, and Scottsburg. Seems to be a lot worse in recent years versus when I lived in Salem from 1982 to 2007. Still have family there so visit from time to time but for people under say 60......you can do better. Too many low wage jobs in the the town that relies on these things. Not enough family supporting jobs of 12 to 20 an hour.
Political corruption by the local mostly Republican party has been a big problem for years. Generally the people in the county vote Republican and its been that way for decades. The problem is that the same people with the same last name of Brown or Newkirk and others pretty much run the town and keep it the way they want it. Anyone that questions that sort of thing usually gets branded as a troublemaker or treated like an outsider. Salem doesn't like the idea of new people with fresh ideas coming in and muddying up their local waters. Don't question the local county council, county commissioners, sheriffs, or judges. They don't like being called out for their activities.
About half of the people in Washington County courthouse happen to be related and its been that way for decades. Too many people covering up for others especially when someone is family or gets caught doing something crooked. County government has a real problem with keeping their books audited and in proper order and have been reprimanded by the state of Indiana several times over the past few years.
If Washington County and Salem ever get a tsunami of new people from Clarksville, New Albany, Jeffersonville and Louisville this will quite possibly change. People aren't going to roll over for the local good old boy club if that happens. New faces equal change and people that aren't allied with the good old boys running things. Over the last decade or two.......the industrial and manufacturing capacity in Salem has really went down and its became a bedroom community for the Falls City area of Indiana across from Louisville.
Many people work in Louisville and Jeff/Clarksville/New Albany area. Commuting as much as an hour or more just to get to work. 50 percent of the people in Washington County work in other counties and then get taxed a higher rate from local government.
Corruption in the police and sherrifs offices has been a big problem. Having a new jail completed without any real public opposition was another bad move. No vote in it, just more taxes at a time where there wasn't any accountability in that office to start. Too much in the way of political coverups and back scratching.
Salem had a teacher a few years back related to a former banker that got away with providing alcohol to underage kids. Went to jail yet turned around and kept her job as well as being smacked on the wrist with a lesser charge. All because of whom her father in law was. If you think that paying taxes is bad......its even worse when you see a county that can't manage its finances yet has kept out businesses for years in order to raise property and other taxes on the locals. Whom in many cases have to travel outside of the county just to get a decent paying job.
I could go on about this but I think you get the picture. If you like a slow and sedentary life, then Salem, IN is for you. If you are younger, seeking opportunity, jobs, and a future move elsewhere.
Strange enough too that I spent most of my life in Salem. It was a decent town growing up but by the last 20 years it just went downhill in many ways. Too many people covering up for the ones who are crooked and too many dirty secrets that get pushed under the rug.
I'm looking to retire in southern Indiana so I need somewhere relatively inexpensive to live. A slower lifestyle wouldn't be a problem as long as driving distance to a big town is fairly easy.
Location: New Albany, Indiana (Greater Louisville)
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If you want rural I wouldn't rule out Salem. It is a 25 mile drive on a decent 2 lane road to the edge of Louisville. The people are very friendly, almost Southern-like. If you want to be nearer to an interstate you might also check out Corydon / Harrison Co off I-64 or northern Clark County into Scott and Jefferson counties. Floyd Co is geographically small and the rural area is very affluent / expensive, I'd look elsewhere.
Frankly having lived there for most of my life I would recommend it to people that are older and have a slower way of thinking and activity. Not a lot to do other than doing some hiking, fishing, going to the library. Limited shopping in Salem unless you like Dollar Stores, etc. 2015 by the end of the year will bring a Super Wal Mart to town. Progress in Salem is slow. People are even slower. Its like being in a time warp to either a much slower time period in the past or dealing with people who in many ways just simply aren't very inteligent. We're talking about basic people skills, professional skills, and even common courtesy. Seem to be a lot of people walking around with their head planted somewhere and I won't be impolite in commenting in where that is.
I moved to the Jeffersonville area a few years back and don't really regret it. Close to Louisville.....close to work and more jobs around the Louisville area. Same happens if you go closer to Columbus to Indianapolis area.
Washington County is in many ways stuck in the past. Too many people with backward thinking, not open to new things, not open to change, slow lifestyle. Great for some people but not a good place these days to raise kids. Severe drug problems in most S. Indiana towns like Salem, Bedford, Corydon, and Scottsburg. Seems to be a lot worse in recent years versus when I lived in Salem from 1982 to 2007. Still have family there so visit from time to time but for people under say 60......you can do better. Too many low wage jobs in the the town that relies on these things. Not enough family supporting jobs of 12 to 20 an hour.
Political corruption by the local mostly Republican party has been a big problem for years. Generally the people in the county vote Republican and its been that way for decades. The problem is that the same people with the same last name of Brown or Newkirk and others pretty much run the town and keep it the way they want it. Anyone that questions that sort of thing usually gets branded as a troublemaker or treated like an outsider. Salem doesn't like the idea of new people with fresh ideas coming in and muddying up their local waters. Don't question the local county council, county commissioners, sheriffs, or judges. They don't like being called out for their activities.
About half of the people in Washington County courthouse happen to be related and its been that way for decades. Too many people covering up for others especially when someone is family or gets caught doing something crooked. County government has a real problem with keeping their books audited and in proper order and have been reprimanded by the state of Indiana several times over the past few years.
If Washington County and Salem ever get a tsunami of new people from Clarksville, New Albany, Jeffersonville and Louisville this will quite possibly change. People aren't going to roll over for the local good old boy club if that happens. New faces equal change and people that aren't allied with the good old boys running things. Over the last decade or two.......the industrial and manufacturing capacity in Salem has really went down and its became a bedroom community for the Falls City area of Indiana across from Louisville.
Many people work in Louisville and Jeff/Clarksville/New Albany area. Commuting as much as an hour or more just to get to work. 50 percent of the people in Washington County work in other counties and then get taxed a higher rate from local government.
Corruption in the police and sherrifs offices has been a big problem. Having a new jail completed without any real public opposition was another bad move. No vote in it, just more taxes at a time where there wasn't any accountability in that office to start. Too much in the way of political coverups and back scratching.
Salem had a teacher a few years back related to a former banker that got away with providing alcohol to underage kids. Went to jail yet turned around and kept her job as well as being smacked on the wrist with a lesser charge. All because of whom her father in law was. If you think that paying taxes is bad......its even worse when you see a county that can't manage its finances yet has kept out businesses for years in order to raise property and other taxes on the locals. Whom in many cases have to travel outside of the county just to get a decent paying job.
I could go on about this but I think you get the picture. If you like a slow and sedentary life, then Salem, IN is for you. If you are younger, seeking opportunity, jobs, and a future move elsewhere.
Strange enough too that I spent most of my life in Salem. It was a decent town growing up but by the last 20 years it just went downhill in many ways. Too many people covering up for the ones who are crooked and too many dirty secrets that get pushed under the rug.
If you want rural I wouldn't rule out Salem. It is a 25 mile drive on a decent 2 lane road to the edge of Louisville. The people are very friendly, almost Southern-like. If you want to be nearer to an interstate you might also check out Corydon / Harrison Co off I-64 or northern Clark County into Scott and Jefferson counties. Floyd Co is geographically small and the rural area is very affluent / expensive, I'd look elsewhere.
Thanks for your input. We are going to have to seriously consider Salem for retirement. The low cost of living and low crime in a fairly scenic location may be just what we are looking for. The fact that it is within easy driving distance of a major metro area makes it even more attractive. We will be checking it out. With children in Knoxville, Tn., Indianapolis and Vincennes it would be a lot more central to them than South Bend is. And it doesn't look like Salem gets 80+ inches of snow in the winter either like we do.
Any town in southern Indiana is fairly inexpensive, depending on where you are coming from. I live near Lanesville, IN. in Floyd County. The location is perfect for us since it is rural, yet just 30 minutes from anything you would ever want. Well, maybe not a Bloomingdales ... but for the majority of folks I would say that is a true statement. Salem is a cute little town, but it's true that it's pretty much backwoods. That may not bother some folks, but it may be an issue for others. I don't think they have a cinema or anything like that and there aren't very many dining options. You would have to drive a good ways for a movie or dinner at Olive Garden or any of those types of eateries. If you like to stay home and live a quiet simple life, it would be very nice I am sure. Good luck with your search!
Location: New Albany, Indiana (Greater Louisville)
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Salem feels like a different state compared to South Bend. The topography is more like Kentucky or Middle Tennessee with rolling hills of farmland and a few rugged forested hills. It looks strikingly like where I grew up in far southern KY. I like to think of Southern Indiana as rural Kentucky with fewer trailers. This area averages about 15 inches of snow per year, some years they get way more, some way less. It does have less happening in terms of growth than areas closer to interstates or downtown Louisville but if you want a nice small town with friendly people and a rural way of life it'd be a great fit. If you end up there make sure to eat at Tasty House restaurant for me.
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