North VS. South (Indianapolis, Evansville, Fishers: low crime, high school, subdivision)

[maglawn]

My family and I are looking into Macy, IN to relocate to. Can anyone tell me about the town? Is South Mckee St a nice area?

[krock1dk]

I was born and raised in Perry Township and can attest to the rivalry with Carmel and the north side. The south side is definately comfortable family-friendly living, but at a lower cost that its north Carmel counterpart. And Carmel is probably more 'hip' and 'chique' than the south side. But I dont mind. Both have excellent and growing school districts, a growing population (greenwood may even annex the Center Grove area), access to shopping, interstates and a safe atmosphere. Personally, I think both are superior in suburban comfort. But yes, there is more money in Carmel. In fact, I think Carmel-Clay schools is almost the fastest growing school district in the state next to Hamilton SE.

As far as the alleged 'racism' on the south side goes, that is ABSURD. Besides, there are bigots everywhere in our country/society. I dont see how the southside is more 'racist' than the north. But the racist stereotype is probably the result of the KKK that was active in Indiana until the 50s. But that was Morgan County, which is to the southwest.

I am very pro-Greenwood, but I will admit that Carmel is proabl more 'hip or sophisticated.'

[Colts]

The northern suburbs of Zionsville, Westfield, Carmel, and Fishers do seem to be more snobbish and upscale compared to the more traditional western suburbs of Avon, Brownsburg, Planfield, and Danville. I've perceived the southern suburbs of Mooresville, Center Grove and Greenwood to have a more rural, country feel to them--don't know why, though. This isn't a knock against any of these places, btw.

[Future Trooper]

Originally Posted by BU191433

I freely admit I have only been to Greenwood a handful of times in my life. But when I was there I didn't see any really nice restaurants, any upscale shopping or any really, really nice neighborhoods.

I used to live on the Southside( Southport Rd). I still go their from time to time and still go to Greenwood to. I can agree that their isnt really any upscale restaurants or shopping. Their are a few nice upscale neighborhoods down their but they are few and far between.

Originally Posted by grmasterb

Miki, I'm a guy, so maybe your "north" comment doesn't apply to me, but I've gone into the grocery store here in Fishers several times in my grass-mowing clothes, unshaven, ballcap, etc. No one seems to care, best as I can tell.

As for the south side, I've never resided down there, so I can't say with certainty. My observation, however, is that folks on the south side aren't much different than anywhere else in the metro area. Perhaps the accents do start to turn a bit Kentuckiana, but the Midwest is full of southern transplants. I'm aware of the local joke that U.S. 40 (Washington Street) is the Mason-Dixon Line.

I've heard that joke before to but it actually makes sense if you think about it. If you ever go south of US 40 the accents start sounding more kentuckiana and if you go North of US 40 the accents start sounding more Northern

Originally Posted by MikiJayne

Now, as you know, I am not from these areas, so PLEASE tell me your opinions on these stereotypes. These are things I have heard and NOT witnessed:

North: you can not even go to the grocery store without a full face of make-up, hair done and designer jeans. If you are not dressed right, you will not fit in, and forget about high school. I have heard that if you are "different" at all, you will have a very hard time.

South: Once again, I don't have personal experience about this, but I have heard that the south side of Indy is quite racist. Is there any truth to that? I have actually heard things about the KKK??!??!!

Now, PLEASE don't get mad at me for these things, I just want to know if there is any truth to the things I have heard.

In all my times living their and going down their I've never encountered or heard of any one being racist.

[Trevon Harris]

do you mean inner city north vs south
or suburban north vs south?

inner city
south - quiet, decent neighborhoods quite redneckish
north - very diverse, emerging crime, nice people

suburban
south - many rednecks, very racist
north - not very diverse, great schools, many snobs(Carmel in particular)

[grmasterb]

Originally Posted by Trevon Harris

do you mean inner city north vs south
or suburban north vs south?

inner city
south - quiet, decent neighborhoods quite redneckish
north - very diverse, emerging crime, nice people

suburban
south - many rednecks, very racist
north - not very diverse, great schools, many snobs(Carmel in particular)

What makes folks in the south city and south suburban areas "redneck"?

[Future Trooper]

Yeah why is the inner-city south "redneckish" and Suburban South "Rednecks and racist"

Why do you call out Carmel when you talk about the Suburban North?

[Toxic Toast]

Don't feed the trolls

[Ravekid]

Originally Posted by MikiJayne

Now, as you know, I am not from these areas, so PLEASE tell me your opinions on these stereotypes. These are things I have heard and NOT witnessed:

North: you can not even go to the grocery store without a full face of make-up, hair done and designer jeans. If you are not dressed right, you will not fit in, and forget about high school. I have heard that if you are "different" at all, you will have a very hard time.

This is somewhat true, somewhat not. North in the _rich_ areas of Carmel and Zionsville areas, yea, people may look down on you, but that is more of a select few elites who think they are kings/queens and they are far and few between. If you talking people who put image in front of everything, those people are all around the city, even in Indianapolis. There are plenty of what I call upper middle class in Carmel, even a ton more in Fishers. You can find a ton of nice, OK homes in Fishers in the $150K range, especially in this market. While not a $300K home, the people that live in these neighborhoods may or may not be rich.

The only thing I think people expect is that you are not trashy. The people that moved into Hamilton Co. over the last 20 years likely don't care for the working class morals you might get from factory working families, a portion of the NASCAR circut, etc. In conclusion, most won't think having a baby out-of-wedlock, or in high school, is something that should be celebrated. Most won't cheer high school graduation as something great, because most will expect continuing education of some sort. Basically the attitude is do what is right, not live a trashy lifestyle, etc..

The population of stuck up snobs is greater in Carmel-Zionsville than other areas, but that is where most of the wealth is. As I said before, you get this everywhere. Families with combined incomes of $150K in Indy might act like they are the elites in the areas they live in. The richer they get, the worse it _may_ be, anywhere.

Originally Posted by MikiJayne

South: Once again, I don't have personal experience about this, but I have heard that the south side of Indy is quite racist. Is there any truth to that? I have actually heard things about the KKK??!??!!

I would say that outside of Zionsville, Carmel, and Fishers, you are going to have more negative attitudes against black people. Carmel and Fishers have attracted more people from other urban areas, where as I think most of the growth in Hancock, Johnson, Hendricks, and Morgan counties come from generational growth. If someone wants to call me a racist because I am sickened by the way a decent number of blacks are acting in the more urban areas, so be it. I don't support having children out-of-wedlock, I don't think going crazy at high school graduation ceremonies is appropriate. I don't think diversity at any cost is a good thing. Say what you want, but ethnic groups have different ways of living their lives. I know there are some black families who live their lives just line mine. They don't act as constant victims of the evil white man. They don't hoot and hollar like fools. It is no different in a sub-set of white culture, the trailer park trash. These people are just like some in the urban culture. Babies out of wedlock no big deal, high education is a big thing, they are loud, don't care what other things, want to play the victim of the establishment (except they can't use a race card!!), etc..

Some of my older relatives are flat out racist. They saw their own Indy neighborhoods become filled with poor blacks who trashed the entire neighborhood. To them, they are _all_ that way, and so since generational growth is found in most areas to the south, some of that hatred is going to be passed onto the kids, grandkids, etc..

I know the McCordsville/Fortville area is seeing a fair number of black families move in. I don't care what folks think of me, but I live in that school district and if I think the majority of those families are trash, I likely will move to another area with better schools. Right now I don't have kids, but if I did, they would go to Mt. Vernon schools, which right now are pretty decent. However, I have already seen the Section 8 buy-outs in some areas of this district. I have already read about silly "diversity teams" or what not being started at the district. I don't care about diversity. All I care about is everyone be treated equally. To me, I worry about this diversity committee basically saying that the black kids should be thought of as "special." It is an attitude I disagree with. I don't see this type of logic with minority families in the more affluent districts such as Center Grove, Hamilton SE, and Carmel. If I don't like what I see when I have kids and they are about ready to enter school, we are outta here. If that makes me a racist, so be it. I am not going to have my kids growing up in the blissninnie PC liberal cesspool that says that a certain sub-set of the population is "special" or "has needs" because of skin color. If I think the district is not trying to stop the hip-hop, gangsta, have a baby at 14 lifestyle because "well that is their culture," then that isn't the place for my kids. It would be the same if I was in some pure white trailer trash area of the state.

[raindance7]

My tastes prefer North. Hamilton county is a great area and schools are wonderful. Carmel is a bit snobbish, but Fishers Noblesville are wonderful areas. I would suggest Noblesville. It is easily accessible, you go right from indy, fishers into noblesville in matter of minutes using I465 and I69, a great mix of people, a nice place to raise a family. I think the south side such as greenwood is a little slower and little more conservative and backward. We used to have a joke at work years ago about Washington street being the Mason Dixon line of Indianapolis. You will enjoy the north side more.