Owensboro -My One Concern (Louisville, Henderson: low crime, how much, transfer)

[dakota79]

Hello,

I have been searching many cities for a place to relocate to. I have many options because I can transfer with job in retail to almost any city.

I am mainly looking for a smaller city, with a southern feel, low crime, low rents, some shopping, and a college of some sort for sports and culture. I have an eye condition that prevents me from driving, and so I rely on walking, biking, public transit, and occasional cabs.

Owensboro appears to have a lot of what I am looking for. I have one main concern though, and that is regarding an airport. I know Owensboro's air service comes and goes, and I have read it is coming again with service to St Louis. But I know that I cannot solely rely on that.

My question is: Does anybody know of any shuttle services that go to other regional airports?

I also think the next closest airport is in Evansville, IN. Does anyone have an idea of how much cab fare would be to that airport?

I would hate for this one thing to keep me from being able to move there. But I do fly several times a year.

Any information or advice will be greatly appreciated.

[tomocox]

If you are flying a lot, Owensboro is not the place. While it has a wonderful physical plant, the airport sits in the no mans land between Louisville (2hrs), Evansville (1hr) & Nashville (2hrs). Even living in the Henderson area gives you little benefit vs Owensboro. I would suggest Elizabethtown or along I-71 in Oldham Co as both offer bus transit to and from the Louisville Airport.

[dakota79]

Okay, I got the answer to one of my questions.

I called the Owensboro taxi company and they quoted me $75 to get to the Evansville Airport. So figure $150 round-trip. It sounds like a lot, but I would only be doing that 3-4 times a year, and I would be saving a lot more in rent. Even now, it costs me $40 round-trip to get to my current airport in Fargo, ND.

I am also considering Elizabethtown. It is in a nice location between Louisville and Nashville, and seems to have a lot of shopping/dining for a city its size. I have not been able to locate any bus or shuttle service to the Louisville airport though, so I might be needing a taxi there too.

One other difference between Elizabethtown and Owensboro is that I don't think Elizabethtown has any public transit at all, and Owensboro does have a half decent system for a city its size. However, I think Elizabethtown may be small enough that I could walk or bike almost anywhere in town.

[tomocox]

Originally Posted by dakota79

Okay, I got the answer to one of my questions.

I called the Owensboro taxi company and they quoted me $75 to get to the Evansville Airport. So figure $150 round-trip. It sounds like a lot, but I would only be doing that 3-4 times a year, and I would be saving a lot more in rent. Even now, it costs me $40 round-trip to get to my current airport in Fargo, ND.

I am also considering Elizabethtown. It is in a nice location between Louisville and Nashville, and seems to have a lot of shopping/dining for a city its size. I have not been able to locate any bus or shuttle service to the Louisville airport though, so I might be needing a taxi there too.

One other difference between Elizabethtown and Owensboro is that I don't think Elizabethtown has any public transit at all, and Owensboro does have a half decent system for a city its size. However, I think Elizabethtown may be small enough that I could walk or bike almost anywhere in town.

E-town is not a bike/walk friendly community imo. Hwy 31 W is a heavy traffic corridor, and KY 69/62 etc just doesn't fit either.

I grew up in the Owensboro area and visit there often. As far as true quality of life, it is excellent. While it doesn't have many entertainment or snob quality dining venues, it does have a true neighbor to neighbor atmosphere.

[sandman1]

Owensboro is nice but you may have more problems getting around than you anticipate. Save yourself the hassle and live a little closer to Louisville or Nashville. Owensboro is just too far away from things. It is a nice enough town but it isn't just the airport you have to drive an hour to get to, a lot of people go to evansville quite often for stores, entertainment, etc. But whatever makes you happy. Would you like some sweet tea?

[dakota79]

Thanks for everyone's input.

Snob dining is definitely not something I need, so no problem there. As for entertainment, going to sports at KY Weslyan, visitng the museums, and going to festivals would be enough I think. I also like to get involved with the church and charities.

I had read about people in Owensboro driving to Evansville for shopping, but cannot really understand which chain stores Owensboro is lacking. I have done searches for all the main stores I shop at like Target, Wal-Mart, Kohls, Best Buy, Sears, and JC Penney, and they all seem to be there.

I'm just curious, which main stores are missing in Owensboro?

[missymomof3]

Originally Posted by tomocox

E-town is not a bike/walk friendly community imo. Hwy 31 W is a heavy traffic corridor, and KY 69/62 etc just doesn't fit either.

I grew up in the Owensboro area and visit there often. As far as true quality of life, it is excellent. While it doesn't have many entertainment or snob quality dining venues, it does have a true neighbor to neighbor atmosphere.

31W (Dixie hwy) is busy in E-town but it also has sidewalks so I think she would be ok. Most of the stores and that are all on one strip too.

[dakota79]

Originally Posted by missymomof3

31W (Dixie hwy) is busy in E-town but it also has sidewalks so I think she would be ok. Most of the stores and that are all on one strip too.

E-Town does look like a better option in a lot of ways. To me, walker-friendly simply means:

1..Low Crime
2...Sidewalks or continuous parking lots along busy roads
3...Most shopping and dining confined to one street or area

Heavy traffic is not that much of a concern, as long as I can walk beside it. Am I correct that the Ring Road (heading east of the shopping area toward I-65) also has sidewalks? I did an aerial map view, and it looked like it did, but it is always hard to tell on those maps.

It looks like the walk to almost anywhere in town from the mall area would be about 3 miles or less. I walk two miles to work now, even when its 30 below zero here in North Dakota.

[erickp]

I've not used it since 9/11 so things may have changed, but there used to be a Greyhound shuttle from Ft. Knox to/from the Louisville airport that civilians could also ride. It was part of the regular Greyhound service

My fellow Evansvillians won't like this, but even in Owensboro, you should check what a taxi to the Louisville arport would cost. There's an incredible difference in fares, so you might come out ahead in the end. I fly to Salt Lake City about once a year; from Evansville it costs $515, as opposed to $215 from Louisville

[dakota79]

I have done some more research after some of the suggestions.

It appears the Greyhound service from the Louisville airport to Ft Knox/E-Town has been discontinued. I could take a city bus to downtown Louisvile and then catch a regular Greyound bus. I could also do it in Nashville and have a longer bus ride. A taxi from L'ville to E-Town appears to be about $75. As far as L'ville to Owensboro, they could not even give me a quick quote over the phone, so I think it may be a lot since there is no easy route and most drivers don't want to drive there and then back.

I have another question about Owensboro.

I know the area tends to have flooding concerns after heavy rains. Which parts of the city easily flood? I have read some things about bad flooding in the southern part of the county, but nothing too specific about inside the city limits.