Moving to Garden City (Wichita, Dodge City: crime, Home Depot, schools)

[byoung57]

My wife and I are seriously considering a move to Garden City as part of the faculty of the college there. We will be moving from North Georgia. I have lived in the south all of my life, so I would appreciate any help on what it is like to live in that area...both positive and negative comments. I am aware of the Hispanic influx, but that does not concern me as we face the same challenges and benefits of that issue here. Thanks for any help you can give.

[chele123]

Get ready for culture shock! Garden City is flat, windy, and some days the feedlots smell so bad you can't breathe! Other than that, it's not too bad. There's a pretty good hospital there, decent shopping with both Target and Walmart, some specialty stores, some pretty good restaurants and reasonable cost of living. Garden City is either 1. In the Middle of Nowhere, or 2. Centrally located - depending on your point of view. Denver is about 5 hours away, OKC is about 6, Wichita about 4. Nobody talks "miles" here, we measure in "hours"!

[Torn2pieces]

Oh Yes, it does stink bad there, doesnt it. I lived in Dodge City which is 50 miles from Garden. I use to be in Garden every other weekend. Personally, I'd never live there. There's some shopping and some eateries, but that's about it.

There's a meat packing plant there, I do believe there use to be 2, one burned down. Yes, there is a big influx of hispanics, usually illegals who work in those plants. Like other towns, there is crime.

There's a Zoo in Garden. You can drive through it or walk through it. I've been to it a few times with my lil boy. Some parts are nice and of course you got your dumpy parts.

Thats all I can think of right now -

[movetopa]

This is Garden City, Kansas you mean?

[byoung57]

Originally Posted by movetopa

This is Garden City, Kansas you mean?

That is correct

[jramirez]

HUGE cultural shock! Sorry about the Torn2pieces reply, seemed racist. If people were "illegal" they coulnd't get a job at Tyson in the first place. It is not what most people think about the Hispanic population there, that most are "illegals". I am part of that community and I don't know many people that live here illegally. There is a many crime, but there is crime everywhere, and usually by youth. There is no major tension amongst the different cultural groups, we all seem to get along great. The feedyard located NW in the city gives it a horrible odor, worse when the humidity level is high. And if you are teaching at the community college prepare to work with a great staff. I enjoyed all my teachers there, and the students are prepared to learn.

[las9840]

There is a large "illegal" hispanic population here, and yes they do work at Tyson, Tyson is doing a lot to cut down on that. I have a friend who was not illegal and he applied for a management position at Tyson and was told he was already employeed by Tyson (big shock identity theft). I think the ethenol plant smells about as bad as the feedlot. There are Wal-mart and Target, and Home Depot. I hate to shop in town because the hispanics go shopping in groves and let there children run all over the stores unattended. The toy departments are always completely destroyed with items removed from the packaging and discarded on the floor, many of the children unattended are left there to play while the rest of the family shops. The schools are overcrouded because of the hispanics and their huge families, the majority are on free lunches and are rude and disrespectful to adults ( I worked in the school for several years before deciding I needed the income less than the abuse by the hispanic students). So you think I'm predujice? Not before living here. I have lived in GC 20 years and my husband was born here. We can't wait to leave and never look back. We have the same two or three Mayors who just rotate from city council to Mayor and so on so its just the same government in a continuous circle.

[barb_tigger]

well after reading the above remarks I don't think I'll be moving to Garden City. however being from the south myself i would never recommend that you move up here to "YANKEE" town and take that as you want 2. I tis a culture shock, not just a location shock.

[Jim West]

I moved to my present location from the Garden City/Liberal area. I was involved in the court system there and I can tell you that the population is about 70% Hispanic with about 85% of them being illegals. There are several feedyards surrounding the town and there are 2 packing plants there.

The schools are overcrowded with non-english speaking immigrant children, and about 65% of them are from single parent families--latch key children.

[MadameAuthor]

...and that meat packing company got fined heavily for hiring all those illegal aliens so they have been recruiting throughout the US for American citizens to relocated to Garden City. We'll see how I fair out there. God, I hope it doesn't smell that bad!