Dodge City? Help (Cimarron, Spearville: apartments, rentals, violent crime)

[soliscfpp]

Hi all.
I an a European healthcare professional considering moving to Dodge City,Kansas.
I don't know much about the area or any places where to look for apartment or house to rent for now, later I will buy.

I am single male, mature but with plenty of energy, ( I am still working)

Could someone please help? are they any places near that will be better?
I do like the rural way of life

Please .
I will appreciate to comments.

Thank you
Gracias
Solis

[McSnappy]

Dodge City is a very diverse "town". Town, meaning it is under 100,000 people and really it is around 35,000 - 45000.

The diversity lies in the main industry surrounding the inception of the town, beef. It is surrounded by the meat packing industry. That said, approx. 50% of the population is caucasian and the remaining 50% is either hispanic... typically Mexican or SE Asian.

For the towns in the western portion of Kansas, Dodge City will be one of the more affluent. It is approx. 3 hours from major air transportation (they do have an airport for small jets).

As far as life in Dodge. It is a historically significant part of Kansas history and for that matter, much of the middle of America. During the expansion of America West, many of the trains and or caravans traversed thru Dodge City on their way West. it is well known and projected in many American old "western" films. Do a search for dodge city and you will find plenty.

I am a med student @ the University of Kansas. I do know the surgery residency sends a resident/house officer to Dodge City on a monthly rotation and the residents have nothing but good things to say about the facilities and experience.

good luck to you!

[McSnappy]

Originally Posted by soliscfpp

Hi all.
I an a European healthcare professional considering moving to Dodge City,Kansas.
I don't know much about the area or any places where to look for apartment or house to rent for now, later I will buy.

I am single male, mature but with plenty of energy, ( I am still working)

Could someone please help? are they any places near that will be better?
I do like the rural way of life

Please .
I will appreciate to comments.

Thank you
Gracias
Solis

Sorry for not answering your post in full.
You will find housing very inexpensive. You can buy a 4 bedroom home for $150,000 that will be 10 years old or you could build whatever you want for very reasonable. Many physicians own very large homes with 5+ bedrooms in the 300,000 range. there are homes in the 1million dollar range also. There is what I would call, old money, in dodge city. People whose families have lived out there for a long time and own thousands of acres/hectares of land.

Renting: very cheap. 2-3 bdrm for $500.00/month

Being single and foreign may require you some time to find dates. I do not know where you are from, but a lot of people from smaller areas are suspect of those they do not know/understand (human nature). But, being in the medical field will only enhance the attraction I'm sure.

good luck.. again.

[soliscfpp]

Thank you for the replies.
I am getting a better picture now of how Dodge City will be.

I am more interested in renting first and get familiar with all the areas and so on.
I don't know if I want to be in Dodge City or in some nice community near by.
How difficoult is to find furnished apartments or houses, I prefer a house due to a small walking impediment (stairs mostly).
About dating someone mentioned, well... I am in not hurry to start dating, however, I would love to meet and have friends, the sooner the better.

Thanks to all.
Solis

[Torn2pieces]

There's a lot of crime in Dodge City - Several gangs.

There's not much to do there either.

I lived there close to 7 years and finally got out.

Yes, there are some cheap rentals - but you pay for what you get.

There's a few nice areas and a lot of dumpy areas.

Keep your nose plugged - because once the wind whips, you get a nice inhale of the meat packing plants. It also, gets very hot and dry in the summers.

I still have inlaws there...

Everyone I know - wants out of Dodge. Definately not a place for a young couple who wants "good things" for their children....

[McSnappy]

It is hard to explain, but there really is not 'other communities'. Sure, you could go to another town nearby and travel in, but you would be traveling in for no real reason other than to be farther away from people. The towns really only get smaller or similar in size from where you are the same size town(s) are up to a hour drive away. You could live in a very small town... less than 1000 residents and be within 30 minutes of dodge or go even smaller.

[Clint_Noname]

Originally Posted by Torn2pieces

There's a lot of crime in Dodge City - Several gangs.

There is not a lot of crime in Dodge City...look up the statistics. Violent crime is only slightly higher than the U.S. average, which of course includes all those rural areas that you least expect crime to be happening. Maybe there are several gangs in Dodge City, but that doesn't mean that there's a whole bunch of violent crime -- some of these "gangs" are just high school kids who are spray-painting houses and stuff like that. Or are these gangs really violent from what you hear?

[soliscfpp]

What about Spearville??
Is it a good place to live there? remember, I am a senior citizen and I like the country side.

Thanks

[verynicebecky]

I think Cimarron would be nice. I have never been to Spearville though.

Why Cimarron? Because it is on a major highway with lots of commuters to and from Dodge (and other's traveling thru southern Kansas) I think it (the road) would be better maintained during the winter. I would imagine that there are a few more "amenities" in Cimarron vs. Spearville.

[Torn2pieces]

Originally Posted by Clint_Noname

There is not a lot of crime in Dodge City...look up the statistics. Violent crime is only slightly higher than the U.S. average, which of course includes all those rural areas that you least expect crime to be happening. Maybe there are several gangs in Dodge City, but that doesn't mean that there's a whole bunch of violent crime -- some of these "gangs" are just high school kids who are spray-painting houses and stuff like that. Or are these gangs really violent from what you hear?

Do you even live in or around Dodge???

Oh Yes, there is crime in Dodge City - I knew a girl who was recently murdered last year...

My Husband was raised and grew up in Dodge City - I have seen many bad things in the 7 years I lived there.

These Are Latino Gangs. They do more than Spray paint. How about Drive by shootings???? There's around 11 gangs in Dodge City. It was reported on the News about a year or so back.

I hear it was a nice town years ago, but things have changed. Businesses aren't growing there.....It's been taking over by illegal immigrants who have no respect for anything.