Tell me about Russell and Gorham, please (Hays, Ellis: mortgage, schools)

[ChowMein]

So, I've read so much here about Hays, but nothing about Russell or Gorham, both nearby. Do either of these towns hold merit (or dark evil secrets)?

Thanks,
Tom

[W350]

Russell and Gorham are both nice areas. Gorham is much smaller and rural than Russell. Russell is the county seat for Russell County as Hays is for Ellis County. There is a lot of interesting history in that area. Their biggest worries are their water supply. Russell has been very aggressive in getting new industries, trying to save their city. They have their own electric company. The scenic Saline River Valley is just north of Russell and always worth the drive, anytime of the year. The limestone is plentiful and bright white in the area. Russell has a small airport, great schools and a wonderful base population. I have some family there, they were new to the area and were rapidly accepted. They now have a successful business there. You will also want to take a good look at Ellis, just west of Hays. Glen

[beenthere13]

Russell schools are NOT up to par, I used to teach there. We cut our income in half, doubled our mortgage just to get our kids out of there and into the Hays district. Water is and issue, so what do they do? Build a gluten and ethanol plant, which use TONS of water!!

Being accepted? If you don't have money or have lived there for 3 generations, you are nobody, no matter what you contribute to the community. The gluten plant spreads a "beer factory" smell over the community, and the noise is terrible.

Oh, you'll also be accepted if you are a meth user, as it is one of the leading counties for meth production.

[Jim West]

All the towns in that area of Kansas, Russell, Hays, Ellis, Wakeeney, and the small towns north and south of them for 40 miles or so are the old immigrant towns. Each one is a Church and the family cluster that belongs to it. It is almost all Volga Catholic, is very tight and clannish.

The culture is agriculture and oil. If your name happens to be the same as those in that town but you were from another town, you are an outsider. I grew up 30 miles from that area.