What's Murray like? (Paducah, Paris, Jackson: health insurance, mortgage, hotel)

[Hometown Girl from Murray]

Murray is a fantastic town! It is one of the top 100 communities for raising children. If you have children, it is a nice place to raise them humbly. There are things to do like the movies, skating, school sports, community activities, plenty of athletic gyms, and 2 city parks. There is much more. The hospital is currently building a new addition. If anyone is unhappy in their town, where ever that may be, he/she should move. I can't imagine living in a town for 28 years and then place blame on the town for personal unhappiness. If you don't like it move. There is nothing holding you back. Some people like to blame their problems on others but blaming your problems on an entire community is a little extreme. I think if you know yourself well and do enough research, you can find a place for you. Don't be bitter towards a community and ruin it's chance of prosperity because of your unwillingness to move. Murray does not make false claims to draw you into it's society. Before deciding to move to a town permanently, be sure and visit that town and make sure it is up to your standards. Oh, a little extra touch, Murray is one of those towns that if you wave, someone waves back. If you honk, someone will honk back. If you smile, someone will smile back. In other words, if you walk around with a bitter attitude, right back at ya!

[Hometown Girl from Murray]

Murray is dry but you can buy alcohol in Paris (30 minute drive) and in Paducah (1 hour drive). Paducah is the shopping hub for anyone who lives in the Jackson Purchase area. I always pick up a bottle of wine while on a shopping spree so it isn't like you are driving for one hour JUST to get alcohol. It's a nice drive too!

[kentuckydad95]

You're about 150 days late a dollar short with these two posts. Things have changed 180 degrees since then.

As far as the alcohol issue, it will forever upset me that I can't go buy a beer by the 6-pack if I wish. Folks, it's amost 2009. Prohibition was over a LONG LONG time ago.

[mrsmac71]

I was born in Murray and moved away when I was 18. It's not a really bad place to live, but it is boring! Especially for teens. When I was a teen, it seems that the only thing to do was drink (some bootleggers would sell to you--being a completely dry county at that time) cruise around and have sex. It's a place where making $10/hr is "good money". there are no jobs. The factories that were there have left except for Briggs but its hard to get on. Despite the Norman Rockwellesk feel to the town, it has a seething underbelly of poverty, drugs and domestic abuse. My family lives there now and I go visit every year. Now that my grandparents are old, we gave some thought to moving back there but in the end decided that its a horrible place to raise children. Nothing to do but get into trouble.

[kentuckydad95]

Originally Posted by mrsmac71

I was born in Murray and moved away when I was 18. It's not a really bad place to live, but it is boring! Especially for teens. When I was a teen, it seems that the only thing to do was drink (some bootleggers would sell to you--being a completely dry county at that time) cruise around and have sex. It's a place where making $10/hr is "good money". there are no jobs. The factories that were there have left except for Briggs but its hard to get on. Despite the Norman Rockwellesk feel to the town, it has a seething underbelly of poverty, drugs and domestic abuse. My family lives there now and I go visit every year. Now that my grandparents are old, we gave some thought to moving back there but in the end decided that its a horrible place to raise children. Nothing to do but get into trouble.

Briggs is still here, like you stated, but still so is Kenlake Foods, Pella, Vanderbilt Chemical, Webasto, Morningstar, Pulmo-Dose, Sportable Scoreboards, etc. In fact, the city is building a brand new industrial park. Now is it hard to find a job in, let's say social work? Sure. Murray is not a large town. Like many towns in this part of the county, it is industry-driven. With the companies that I listed, Murray is ALOT luckier than some of our neighbors.

As far a drugs and domestic abuse...where the hell does that NOT happen? In fact, I would challenge you to find a town the size of Murray/Calloway County with a lower crime rating. I also have to take exception with you calling Murray having an "underbelly of poverty". Where are you getting your facts? Is the pay very high here? Well no, but guess what? Neither is the cost of living, so it evens out.

Also, Murray is the fastest growing town in the Jackson Purchase, so they must offer something. It has been named one of the 100 Best Communities for Young People. Kid get into trouble no matter where you live. I find that it's up to the parents to teach their kids right from wrong. Too bad that's a dying art. Murray is not a booming metropolis and never will be, but they are doing the right things to keep growing in a sour economy.

[Mandy42071]

I have to agree with KentuckyDad. I have lived in Murray for almost 11 years, and it's a pretty boring city. It's not HORRIBLE, but you tend to run out of things to do quite quickly. However, I'm 23, so it might not be as bad for older people. And the job market is pretty bad right now. I graduated from Murray State in August, and have yet to find a job....especially one relating to my degree; Sociology. However, I do enjoy that Murray isn't overcrowded and crime isn't that bad. Overall, it's really not that bad...im just getting really bored with the city and plan on moving away as soon as I can get some money saved up. But I'm sure I'll move back when I have a family.

[ellajones]

Well for me Murray is one of good place for me, as i live there for more that 5 years.I can describe this place as crime free,fantastic,lot of plenty places to eat, and its near from my needs like shopping and for entertainment.

[Kinjite]

Murray Is A Dying Town

There is nothing here to sustain us except seasonal tourism....THAT'S IT!!
Briggs will be pulling out next year, and after that......I hope you like squirrel stew! HA!
Welcome to the "new" USSA!

[kentuckydad95]

Originally Posted by Kinjite

Murray Is A Dying Town

There is nothing here to sustain us except seasonal tourism....THAT'S IT!!
Briggs will be pulling out next year, and after that......I hope you like squirrel stew! HA!
Welcome to the "new" USSA!

Do you have information on Briggs that has not been made public? Anyway, the same thing was said when Tappan left many moons ago. Factories come and go in every town in America.

I have to disagree with Murray being a "dying" town. They are the fastest growing town in the Jackson Purchase. Everyone thinks Paducah is the "crown jewel" of the Purchase, yet they have been in NEGATIVE population growth for years. Murray is also run by one thing and one thing only; the university. Sure, Murray has the seasonal tourism, but guess what? The 10,000 students who roll into town every fall inject more money into the town than most people could fathom. Like I said, factories will come and go, but the university is not going anywhere. And if you still think Murray is "dying", go out and try and buy a house in the Murray area. The real estate downturn has not hit Murray that hard, if at all.

[Cav Scout wife]

Originally Posted by Davart

How many times has the park been vandalized? Once in how many years?

What about the 'vampire clan' a few years back that did all the crap in Murray?

I went to college there, and was glad for my education, but never looked back when I left.

It's nothing but an uneasy mix of college brats and retirees, and they don't mesh well IMO.