relocating from Montana (New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport: travel, job, house)

[grndtikal]

Go for Natchitoches, nice little tourist town I-49 to everywhere.

[JROC676]

I moved to Lafayette from Houston 3 years ago after completing my master's. I spent time in other cities (Shreveport, Lake Charles, and Natchitoches) growing up and hated them. I did some research before I moved and found that Louisiana as a whole has some economic issues... no secret. However, Shreveport, Lake Charles, the NE section of the state...is all completely blue collar, New Orleans we all saw on CNN and Baton Rouge is over crowded and has those dang factories downtown...yuck!

Lafayette has NO factories or polluting industries, they just became the first city in the nation to approve bonds to provide fiber optic access to every single home, they have attracted great industries like a Cingular call center and a Nucomm call center. The area is extremely progressive and up until the 90's had more millionaire's per capita than any other city in the nation. The oil industry (white collar end) is based in Lafayette and Houston (of course there are blue collar jobs in lafayette's oil industry also). There is no gambling in Lafayette Parish, most Governor's are always from this area, and the school's are the best in the state. There are stores and cultural outlets only found in larger cities (mainly because of the influence of oil) and there is a huge tie to local clothing stores and New york city's fashion elite. If Lafayette were a state unto itself, it would be in the top ten and would be a wonderful place to live. However, poorer and less progressive areas of the state, rather the rest of the state, brings the city down with it. Lafayette, besides New orleans, is the only city that offers things you need if you're cosmopolitan. You may also notice that on this board dead end cities like Shreveport and Alexandria have fans talking about being progressive- I do not consider gambling and low wage jobs associated with it to be progressive. The citizens of Lafayette can be slightly snobby- they tend to look down on most other areas of the state, but maybe they do it because they have been so successful at building a truly well balanced community. My point is that La. has drawbacks, but if you want to lvie in any place that is truly unique, very progressive, the economic, educational, and cultural foundation of the state, and the diamond surrounded by coal, definitely move to Lafayette!

[SBCmetroguy]

Bashing other cities to make Lafayette look better is not a good way to make your point, my friend.

And how do you consider gambling jobs to be "low wage jobs?" You're completely mistaken, as jobs in the gambling industry pay higher than similar jobs in non-gambling industries. For instance, maintenance crews... some of the lowest-paid people in the gambling industry... make many dollars (not cents) per hour more than maintenance crews in most other industries. The wages only go up from there.

Youre attempt at running down some of Louisiana's greatest cities to make Lafayette look good is pitiful.

[stormweary]

Goodness! Someone is passionate about Shreveport!
Mt., it all depends on what you are looking for. I grew up in New Orleans and still have family in the area. There has always been this perception of the northern part of the state: More conservative for the most part, part of the Bible Belt. Its quite different from the southern part where there is a bigger Cajun influence: "Let the Good Times Roll"

I am glad to hear good things about Lafayette as I am considering moving back to the state to be closer to my family altho I am seriously thinking of New Mexico as well ( no hurricanes) Have a cousin in Baton Rouge and its very crowded there right now. I am hopeful for New Orleans but things are progressing very slowly there and if there is another hurricane like Katrina......

Is it possible for you to visit some of the places mentioned here? Montana is certainly quite different from La. Good Luck!!

[SBCmetroguy]

Of course I am. I'm sick and tired of people running Shreveport into the ground when it's a great city to live and work in.

[Ekd003]

In my opinion, the Shreveport/Bossier area would be a decent choice. I reside 17 miles north of Bossier City in a satillite town named Benton. Benton is a recreational town that has a lake with a state park attached. Being no more than 20 miles from the large city offers the convenience of many choices particular to shopping. Bossier City is growing more than Shreveport in its population; this is easily seen in the sprouting neighborhoods between Benton Rd. and Airline Dr. We all know that the older parts of cities have its lower classed housing associated with crime. I'm not sure what your standards of living are, but if you like suburban living without any worries of crime, I would consider moving outside the city limits to a smaller town that is close enough for your big city shopping needs.

[alon504]

I think Alexandria is a nice community in Central Louisiana. And it is just several hours to drive to New Orleans or Houston if you need to do big city shopping...

[sockmonkey70]

Originally Posted by tangiriver

Actually I would live in Natchez, Mississippi. Natchez directly across the river from Louisiana on the Mississippi River. If you are looking for southern charm in a city of about 20,000 with everything you can find in large cities Natchez the place you are looking for. There's a website you might find helpful, with homes available listed with prices, and other additional information.
Go To: removed
Good Luck!

Have you ever BEEN to Natchez??? It is one of those places that has a historic district and thats about it. The quality of this city has significantly declined in recent years. I am scared to goto Natchez unless I have to! It looks so ragged and old.

[dloven1]

Haven't got there yet but I like it. I have lived in Lafayette for 9 months and wanted to settle here. It has everything one could want, its true. The traffic has gotten bad and the housing is next to impossible. We wanted a nice medium 3br 2 ba home in a nice neighborhood with more yard than five feet from a neighbors house. We couldn't find one for under 200K. Sorry, we started looking elsewhere. Pineville has the feel of northern Arkansas, just the essentials and no traffic. There are lakes and running creeks, not muddy Vermillion River.I'm getting a great house for 155K and have 3 acres. I have a horse farm on the way home and we are 3 miles from the VA hospital. Works for us. True I am giving up Golden Corral, Benigans and Posadas, but I bet we find suitable substitutes, after all Lafayette is only 2 hrs away. Thats my two cents

[QuintionSherrie]

Hello all,
My boyfriend our four kids and I are planning on moving to Shreveport. I'm not sure if it is the best choice considering our childrens ages range for 3-11. My boyfriend lived in NO when he was younger, he does not know much about shreveport, but he tells me that his grandmother said it is a great place to raise a family. How, is the job market? Is it hard to make a living there? We currently live in Denver,CO. I am in college for Computer Information Systems. He has a CDL and graduated the police School. Colordo is very nice, but it has changed. It is harder for blacks to make it. I really need some advice because I want to leave colorado, but I don't want to move to a place that will cause my family to suffer. In colorado I have a home a job and I'm in college so I don't know if I We would gain of loose if we leave everything behinde and move to Shreveport. I do't know anything about the cost of living, job market, child care, elem schools. Please help if possible