Monroe Silence (retired)

[rambo40]

I moved to Monroe about 11 years ago. It has it's positives and negatives. The biggest negative is those that have lived here all their lives and have never been any where else. So they love to put it down. They need to spend about six months in tin buck Arkansas Pop 199 and one coon dog. Then they would know that they are better off than others. The silly part about it is they think Shreveport and Jackson are big cities. Well they are not!! Where I come from the airport is bigger than Shreveport! I like Monroe. It didn't choose me I chose it.

[SBCmetroguy]

Originally Posted by jimtel

I have lived al my life in Louisiana, and especially northern Louisiana. What you say is true, but who cares? I am looking for a rental. I am Bi.

What does being "bi" have to do with finding a rental property?

[SBCmetroguy]

Originally Posted by rambo40

I moved to Monroe about 11 years ago. It has it's positives and negatives. The biggest negative is those that have lived here all their lives and have never been any where else. So they love to put it down. They need to spend about six months in tin buck Arkansas Pop 199 and one coon dog. Then they would know that they are better off than others. The silly part about it is they think Shreveport and Jackson are big cities. Well they are not!! Where I come from the airport is bigger than Shreveport! I like Monroe. It didn't choose me I chose it.

I doubt people from Monroe think Shreveport and Jackson are large cities, but they are "big" cities compared to Monroe.

How does a city's airport size dictate the city of the city? It doesn't.

[Caa]

This is a Louisiana forum, not just New Orleans. I love Louisiana, south Florida sucked, the people did not even speak English anymore and that is not just in Miami, it is everywhere. WE are lucky(so far) to live in an English speaking state people!!

[lowlight]

Originally Posted by sajack

I have lived in Monroe all my life and can not honestly recommend it to anyone.
Heat, crime, smell of the paper mill, poverty, worn out public utilities.
The one really nice asset we do have is the Ouachita River. If you enjoy boating, the Ouachita is hard to beat.
We have stayed here because of jobs and family. Our dream is to retire someplace else, preferably out of this state.

I lived in Monroe from Jan. - September of 2006, and I can pretty much agree with what you have said.

Positives:
Affordable Homes (perpetual buyers market)
Outdoor Recreational Opportunities (particularly on water)
High School Sporting Events (some natives are a bit too serious though)
Fun People
Presence of Univ of LA-Monroe

Negatives
Terrible Job Market
Crime
Urban Blight, Litter
Poverty
Smell of Paper Mill (strongest in West Monroe)
Few Quality Restaurants
Racial Tension
Corrupt Governmant
Crumbling Infrastructure
Lack of Civic Pride

This is just not a place that people move TO. Everybody talks about getting OUT. I still have friends there, so I visit, but would not otherwise. North Louisiana is culturally more close to South Arkansas or Texas than the rest of Louisiana.

Glad to be back in South Louisiana.

[edge5511]

We moved away from West Monroe in 1987, and it was the best decision we have ever made. We now live in the DFW area and love it. There is no lack of entertainment, sports, quality restaurants, shopping, etc. The education system in Arlington can't be beat and we have several state and private universities within the metroplex. The job market is wide open. Anyone that wants to work, can.

If you like a nice slow pace, and live for hunting and fishing, then North Louisiana is your place. Other than that, I see no reason to live there. As a matter of fact, I have nightmares about being made to move back!

[may07]

I Know A Quy Who Was Fired From 3 Jobs Because He Was Dating A White Woman In West Monroe. She'd Come And Bring His Lunches To The Jobs. Of Course They Didnt Say That Was The Reason, But He Knew It. Is Racisiam Still Around Like That In West Monroe? Is It Just A Small Town Where Everybody Knows Everybody? How Is The Racial Tension There?

[SkipChurch]

Monroe was recommended to me on a "best places to retire" website-- the kind of thing where you answer a series of questions and the program produces a list of recommended places. I'm tired of shoveling snow up north! I certainly don't care about NASCAR, or football, or anything like that. I'd watch a college football game I guess, but I wouldn't pay money to watch one. But I can't see that would make a difference. People do lots of things I don't do, like go to church, sports bars, car races, hunting trips, and so on, and it doesn't affect me one way or another. I wish them the joy of their numerous interests!

I live a very simple and quiet life of reading, making furniture, baking bread, listening to lectures on tape, and minding my own business. I enjoy volunteer work, especially teaching adults to read and working at the food pantry. Though I'm not religious in my personal life, I guess it would be fair to say my life is strongly Quaker-influenced. Any Friends out their will know what I mean. My children attended Quaker schools etc.

Maybe I'm not getting the 'culture shock' idea clearly!

[gladge]

Originally Posted by Chaison

I may have a job offer that would take me to the Monroe area (from the snowy upper Midwest). Can anyone tell me anything about the area. We are NASCAR fans, football fans, etc. and enjoy outdoor activities (fishing, etc.).

Thanks

Hi--I lived there for 21 years and am about to move back there from Chicago. Monroe is mostly a very friendly town. A slight bit of snobbery from some of the 30 somethings, but overall, very welcoming (as most southerners are).
WEst Monroe has GREAT high school football games, and you are only 3 1/2 hours away from a LSU game. Outdoor activities usually consist of boating/skiing on the river, as it is unbelievably hot and humid 9 months out of the year. I heard they were going to build a racetrack in the next couple of years...don't remember where exactly.
Nightlife is lacking, food is okay, home-cooked food is delicious! Get in with a good crowd of women and they would love to share their fantastic southern recipe's.
Most people drive to Shreveport, La or Jackson, MS for shopping.
Hope that helps.

[jaqkmq]

Hello! Moving to Monroe - from Ohio - share with me what I need to know about the area -