How Do You Like Living In Iowa? (Dubuque, Ames: houses, rent)

[El Rhino]

I've lived here all my life and I've NEVER heard anyone say anything about somebody for simply being born and/or raised in a different state.

I take that back. We used to make fun of a kid from Texas in middle school, but as an adult I've never heard anyone say anything like that.

I have heard people discuss people from out of state trying to pull a holier-than-thou attitute for simply being born and/or raised in a different state.

For all the people who complain about not being accepted in these small towns, I'd like to know

A. What did you expect?

B. In what ways did the locals show that they didn't accept you?

and

C. What did you do to "reach out" to the locals?

[pepe1]

Originally Posted by katychicago

I agree with Cactus Sam and REZ. Stay out of here if you can. The only people who seem to like Iowa are those who have never been anywhere else and don't have a clear picture of what life is like in the real world. I'm sure there are some wonderful towns in Iowa, but it's not worth taking a chance on hitting the wrong one. Seek out Indiana or Tennessee. Much brighter - happier people.

OMG. We've found Ronnie Jonez Soul Mate! We need to get you two together so you can be the worlds cutest "Iowa Hatin" couple!

Indiana, Tennessee??? Really? Insert deuling banjo music here...

[pinetar10]

Originally Posted by WoodwardGirl

I'd find out where this katychicago chick lives and stay away from there -- she sounds really toxic!

Otherwise, I don't think there's anyplace to stay away from. I'd vote more for finding places to concentrate on based on the size of population you find desirable, your hobbies, and, of course, where you think there'll be the best chance of finding work. Have you ever been to Iowa? Where do you live now? What do you do for a living? What do you like to do in your free time?

i've been to iowa once. i stayed in oskaloosa and visited des moines and dubuque. I would like to stay somewhere in that area. Make a triangle with those towns and thats where i would want to be. I live in PA now. I'm a teacher, in my free time, i fish, play baseball, play video games. I do not want to live in a large city, like over 50,000 people. where would be a good fit?

[Stevie]

Originally Posted by gypsy77

And isn't it typical of all the locals to get overly offended and start bashing you for having an opinion?

No I think it's typical for people who have a negative opinion on Iowa to think that their opinion is the only opinion that matters and that anyone who questions or counters with it is just "offended". You can't post whatever you want on a public forum and expect everyone to bow down and respect it, especially when you make broad and negative generalizations about them/their home.

I believe you said you lived in Burlington. It's funny because that town is right on the Illinois border. I would think it would make more sense that people in Burlington would be more like the people in western Illinois rather than the people in say, central Iowa.

[gypsy77]

Quote:
I believe you said you lived in Burlington. It's funny because that town is right on the Illinois border. I would think it would make more sense that people in Burlington would be more like the people in western Illinois rather than the people in say, central Iowa.[/quote]


This is hilarious. You are trying to make a point that you disagree with me....but here you are saying the people in Burlington are more like Illinois people than Iowa people? And what may I ask, are THOSE ILLINOIS people like? You are being just as stereotypical as you claim I was! Calling the kettle black are we? LOL!

[Stevie]

Ok, let me correct myself, I did not mean ALL of western Illinois, just the small portion that's near Burlington. I just wondered why you would think it was all of Iowa instead of just thinking the attitude of the people in Burlington might just extend across the Mississippi River into Illinois?

[metro223]

I previously lived in the Burlington area, and what Stevie was saying is somewhat true. I think that tri-state area as a whole has a lot of influence from Illinois and Missouri, and the people are somewhat different than the people in the rest of IA... but I would think this would be the case up or down any state line. I wouldn't go as far to say there were any extreme differences... but it was noticable IMO.

[jschwey1]

I moved to Burlington a year ago from Cincinnati, Ohio. I think this is the best place to raise a child and live. Yes, everything is laid back and it feels like you went back in time, that is the good part of it. As far as gangs and drugs go, I've never seen anything like that. There is virtually no crime here and my kids can actually play outside and walk to school. I have no "family ties" here and everyone accepted us just fine. We have done more for ourselves here in a year then we could have ever done in Ohio.

[dubuqueaskme]

Towns in Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota along the Mississippi River are very similar. Areas along the river in Iowa are not like that of any other place in the state; in social, aesthetic, geographical, and political aspects. Dubuque, Iowa and La Crosse, Wisconsin are very similar, and the towns that are along Iowa's eastward extending "nose" as we call it are just like Dubuque, with a downtown in the valley and the rest of the city on the bluff... Dubuque, Galena, Bellevue, Cassville, Clinton, La Crosse, Davenport... but as you head further south, you begin to lose the 18th century aesthetics and begin to enter a more southern culture...
Political atmospheres in Burlington and Dubuque are very similar, as are they in La Crosse, Winona, and St. Paul... Buildings in Dubuque with the 17/18th century prospering river town flare are also common in cities mentioned above...

To say that Burlington, Iowa is more like Western Illinois than Central Iowa is correct.

Cities in Iowa that I put in this category; the northern Mississippi flare;

Dubuque, Davenport, Bellevue, Wapello, Dyersville, Guttenberg (Guttenberg and Dubuque are the best examples,) Davenport, Waukon, Fort Madison, Clinton, Comanche, Bettendorf, Le Claire, and Eldora...

Once you get west of about Highway 136 in Northern Iowa, and west of 218 in southern Iowa you begin to lose that culture.

[metro223]

U.S. Highway 136 isn't in Northern IA, so I'm guessing that's a state road? I would add one town to your list, Keokuk. Do you agree?