Would you choose Louisiana to...

[jdonald]

I haven't lived in LA in many years (like 25 years ago I lived in a nice town called Hammond), but I have recently lived in Georgia and Florida (husband is military). So here are my thoughts on this...Kids in Georgia (Hope Scholarship) and Florida (Bright Futures Scholarship) get a free ride (or partially paid depending on high school GPA) through college via the lottery. If your children are good students and are eventually college bound, look real close at what GA and FL will offer them. I don't think LA is going to be able to offer a free college education. Also, check out Newsweek's top 1300 US high schools (they're not in LA). There are many top schools to choose from in FL and a handful in GA. Also, LA did have one school that made the list. I don't remember the name, but it was in Baton Rouge (LSU something or other).

If southern charm really matters to you, I found folks in Georgia to be very pleasant and much more accepting of racial differences than AL, MS, and LA. Also, northwest Florida is very southern, with beautiful beaches, a great selection of schools, and of course an opportunity for free college for good students.

[Rmaf623]

Originally Posted by laorbust61

England Air Force base is in Rapides Parish, I think. There may be opportunities for a career there.

England Air Force Base closed in 1992. It is now Alexandria International Airport.

[Doogie]

Originally Posted by jdonald

...look real close at what GA and FL will offer them. I don't think LA is going to be able to offer a free college education...

Au contraire, LA not only has a free college tuition program since 1989, it is the one that GA (1993) and FL (1990) patterned theirs after. It is called TOPS. Check the facts here. Imagine that - LA beating everyone else to the punch on something GOOD.

[Vampgrrl]

I was going to say, Louisiana has a HOPE type scholarship.

This isn't a bad place to be...and I still think there is more value in being a part of the solution instead of running away to other areas. And while I see problems in some areas I do see a willingness for those who live here, especially in southern Louisiana to fight for their home and try to make it a better place.

[gatolouisiana]

I moved to Baton Rouge about four years ago from south GA. To me, Baton Rouge is comparable to Atlanta in terms of friendliness and hospitality. I have found Louisiana to be a much more direct and to-the-point culture than south GA. If you like the friendly, laid back aspect of smaller towns in GA, I would recommend looking at northern LA, as opposed to south LA.

As far as cost of living, I have found Baton Rouge to be about equal to Columbus, GA in terms of cost of living. Auto insurance rates and ad valorem taxes are much higher here than they are in GA - my insurance went from $75/mo to $130/mo. My insurance company said it was become of the high crime rate in south Louisiana and the high instance of uninsured motorists.

As mentioned by others, one of the biggest attractions in LA are the community events. There's a lot going on, you just have to look for it. Entertainment is much, much better here than it is in south or middle GA!

To me, south Louisiana doesn't feel as safe as GA. I feel safer (much safer) in Atlanta than I do here in Baton Rouge, even though Atlanta is so much bigger. Crime has been on the rise here in south Louisiana.

Unless you want the urban feel of New Orleans or Baton Rouge, I would recommend looking at other parts of Louisiana. They will probably feel more like Georgia, especially if you're looking for the "non-Atlanta" aspects of GA.

[luvarkansas]

Originally Posted by GaBoy-n-Iraq

[SIZE=3]Hello Louisiana,[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3] I will be leaving the military in about a year, I’m from Georgia but I’m thinking about maybe moving to another state. I have done a lot of research on Louisiana, but would like to know what the residents think. What are some good places (cities) to live? Things like crime, schools, economy, state taxes, cost of living, are all important but a couple of things I’m looking for as well is “hospitality”, a sense of neighbor hood, and politeness. I’m looking for a place that has community events (festivals, parades, carnivals, fairs, concerts), with beautiful scenery, hunting, and fishing. I’m currently in the US Army serving in Iraq, I built power lines before I joined and I’m a (25L) Signal Corp Telecommunications Lineman inside the Army. I will be looking for work in the power lineman or telecommunications field when I separate from the military. My wife is a Registered Nurse (RN) and will be looking for a job as well. So any info on power companies, telephone companies, and hospitals in those areas would be greatly appreciated. Best place to raise a family? So what’s your states “Mayberry”? [/SIZE]

No to Louisiana....yes to NW Arkansas.

[hdwell]

Originally Posted by luvarkansas

No to Louisiana....yes to NW Arkansas.

If climate matters in winter, NW Arkansas isn't mild enough if you want warmer days. It's pretty continental like Missouri, Kansas and NE Oklahoma. Snow, ice, sleet, etc. and closer to zero temps. I know this for a fact.

But if you are a "4 season person", then it would be ok. Louisiana's winters are mild with only a few cold spells, seldom below 20 deg F. Golf and fishing are year round down here. If you enjoy those or other outdoor activities remember that.

[luvarkansas]

Originally Posted by hdwell

If climate matters in winter, NW Arkansas isn't mild enough if you want warmer days. It's pretty continental like Missouri, Kansas and NE Oklahoma. Snow, ice, sleet, etc. and closer to zero temps. I know this for a fact.

But if you are a "4 season person", then it would be ok. Louisiana's winters are mild with only a few cold spells, seldom below 20 deg F. Golf and fishing are year round down here. If you enjoy those or other outdoor activities remember that.

Yes, winters are mild here...but we pay for them with the hellishly hot and humid summers....which last forever!

I keep up with Arkansas weather because of a cabin my family has in NW Arkansas....don't see 0 much....never have in the years we've had the cabin, as a matter of fact. Not a whole lot of snow, ice, or sleet....and if they get it, it melts quickly. The humidity, while still there, is less than LA. Some parts of NW AR don't have a lot of mosquitoes. Can you find ANY part of LA without mosquitoes?

The fall foliage in AR is better, too. Most of the time we just have summer, summer, summer, then winter. Air conditioning one day, heating the next. I like having 4 seasons. Of course, I realize not everyone thinks the same way.

[hdwell]

Originally Posted by luvarkansas

Yes, winters are mild here...but we pay for them with the hellishly hot and humid summers....which last forever!

I keep up with Arkansas weather because of a cabin my family has in NW Arkansas....don't see 0 much....never have in the years we've had the cabin, as a matter of fact. Not a whole lot of snow, ice, or sleet....and if they get it, it melts quickly. The humidity, while still there, is less than LA. Some parts of NW AR don't have a lot of mosquitoes. Can you find ANY part of LA without mosquitoes?

The fall foliage in AR is better, too. Most of the time we just have summer, summer, summer, then winter. Air conditioning one day, heating the next. I like having 4 seasons. Of course, I realize not everyone thinks the same way.

No thanks-I'll take my 3 summers and 1 winter-skeeters and all!

[jdonald]

I actually haven't gotten that far as of yet (researching TOPS). I have been researching LA education since we are planning to move to the Bossier area. This is potentially good news for me, having two children of my own. I am actually surprised that LA was ahead of the game, but let it be known that you have just given me one reason to stop complaining about moving from AL to LA.

Originally Posted by Doogie

Au contraire, LA not only has a free college tuition program since 1989, it is the one that GA (1993) and FL (1990) patterned theirs after. It is called TOPS. Check the facts here. Imagine that - LA beating everyone else to the punch on something GOOD.