Thinking about moving to Orange City (Sioux City, Sioux Center: home, rent, jobs)

[somewherenew]

Hey everybody,
I live in Florida, and I just don’t like it! I want a place where I can take it easy and just enjoy myself and meet new people. So I've been looking and found a town called Orange city. I just wanted to know more about Orange city? Is it a nice place? I'm thinking about moving up to Iowa within a year, and Orange City seems to be a nice town. I just want to know more about the city, and how the people are, and if there are good jobs opportunities up there? How is the crime, traffic, climate, etc...?
Any info would be great help!
Thanks

[Guttdogg]

Orange City... home of the tulip festival, wooden shoes, and a VERY STRONG Dutch background. We (the people around here) call it God's country. VERY Christian (mostly Christian Reformed)

Crime? what's that? Traffic? HAHHA, our idea of a traffic jam in this area is 3 people waiting to pass a tractor on the highway.
Job Opportunites are abundant, if you can't find it in OC, you can make a short commute to Sioux Center and find something there.

Climate... well, if you like wind and blistering cold weather in the winter, and hot mucky air in the summer, you'll love it!

[somewherenew]

Thanks for the info! It helped me greatly. I'm not too worried about the hot mucky air thats just an average day in Florida, winter on the other hand... that might need some getting use too. My other question is how are the people when it comes to outsiders? I have been in towns where they don't welcome outsiders with open arms or they try to avoid them, is it similar in Orange City or Sioux Center? Or are they just all round friendly people?

Thanks again

[Guttdogg]

As far as I can tell (I dont actually live in town, but know several people that do) They are friendly as you can get... of course there are always exceptions to the rule. If you are a Christian, you'll fit in very well. Also if you have a Dutch background, you're golden! But I have many friends that arent, that moevd there, and have had nothing but good to say.

[hawkeyefan13]

Don't do it if your younger, heck don't do it at all. There is nothing here to offer you. I moved here recently and it was a big mistake. Lemars is a nicer town, closer to Orange City. They are way too crazy and Dutch for any outsiders. Their Pizza Hut even looks like it's strait out of windmill town (actually it's right by a gigantic windmill--no joke!) It's almost too quiet. The entire town is modeled after the Dutch. They don't even have a WalMart and all stores close by 8. Oh, and don't even think about mowing your lawn or even tying your shoes on Sunday. I thought it wouldn't be so bad when I moved, yeah, I want out. My recommendation -- Gulf Shores, Alabama. Chances are you've never seen snow, so get ready to be miserable for several months...along with the extreme cold (-30 plus windchill). Job opportunities are also lacking...depending on what you do. there is a majority of lower level manufacturing jobs in my opinion. Pretty nice people but that is all...the con's outweight the pros...Hope that helps!

[bdcthlc]

I went to college in OC. The college itself is very Christian, although it does give a great liberal arts education.

Everyone is pretty right on in their posts. OC is small, very very very Christian (there wasn't a Catholic Church in the city, I don't recall there being any Baptists or anything either.

Very little diversity, except for the international students/professors at the college. Truly, in OC if you ain't Dutch, you ain't much.

However, it is safe, it is clean and it is safe. And clean.

[SpeedyAZ]

I agree, don't do it! Orange City is very Christian, very close-minded, and many there still think that change is bad. I bet there are maybe 10 democrats in the entire city, VERY REPUBLICAN (not neccesarily a bad thing though). I mean this place is very much behind the times and want it to stay that way.

If you want to move to NW Iowa, look at Lemars or Sioux City.

How is the crime, traffic, climate, etc

Traffic?!?! There is NO traffic in OC what-so-ever. Even in Sioux City, rush hour is like driving on the Loop 101 at 3 a.m.