moving to Kentucky (Lexington, Louisville, Paducah: Home Depot, employment, schools)

[HDwisc]

My husband and I would like to make a move to Kentucky next spring from Wisconsin. I am an IT professional with testing and project management exprierience. My husband is a electrical maintenance tech and works in plastics manufacturing. We both ride harleys and want to extend our riding season and move to a location with a lower cost of living. I have been looking at Louisville as a possiblity. We want to live outside the city somewhere with 30,000 or less population willing to drive 30-40 minutes to work.

Any thoughts?

[bw87a]

Welcome! Sounds very interesting. Elizabethtown, KY sounds like it could be right for ya. Very easy interstate access and proximity to Louisville. Still located within the Louisville CSA. Nice population with shopping and its own amenities.

[EclecticEars]

Originally Posted by HDwisc

My husband and I would like to make a move to Kentucky next spring from Wisconsin. I am an IT professional with testing and project management exprierience. My husband is a electrical maintenance tech and works in plastics manufacturing. We both ride harleys and want to extend our riding season and move to a location with a lower cost of living. I have been looking at Louisville as a possiblity. We want to live outside the city somewhere with 30,000 or less population willing to drive 30-40 minutes to work.

Any thoughts?

Elizabethtown sounds about right for you. It's 41 miles from I-65 exit #94 to downtown Louisville straight up I-65 (although traffic gets a little "hairy" during rush hours north of Fern Valley Road, but I've never sat in a backup that lasted more than 20 minutes.)

What does E'town have? A small town mostly independent in its own growth and sustenance yet a steadily growing population due to new jobs at Ft. Knox and proximity to Louisville. It has probably the healthiest industrial base of any town its size in Kentucky, save for Danville and Georgetown. It has a Target, Wal-Mart, Sam's Club, Home Depot, Lowe's, Barnes & Noble w/ Starbucks, Red Lobster, Applebee's, Olive Garden (I think), Cracker Barrel. A small city, actually.

Oh, the Bluegrass and Western Kentucky Parkways converge in E'town at I-65. The BG takes you to the bourbon distilleries and thoroughbred horse farms Kentucky is famous for, as well as Lexington. The WK will take you to the abundant fishing, hunting, camping, and hiking opportunities of the Kentucky Lake/Lake Barkley/LBL region near Paducah.

You might also consider Oldham County--La Grange, Crestwood, Pewee Valley, Buckner are some of its communities. A county of 55,000, the county is only 15 miles from downtown Louisville and not even 5 miles from shopping galore at the Summit and Springhurst.

[HDwisc]

thanks for all the great info much appreciated. We will begin our search soon

[tomocox]

Originally Posted by HDwisc

thanks for all the great info much appreciated. We will begin our search soon

Since you do not have school aged children Oldham County Schools won't be so important, but from an intellectual stand point, I think you'll like it. Remember, most of the people living out here, came because they believe in superior childhood educations. Assuming that like my wife and I, the first group came to Oldham County in the late 70's, we are now dual income no kids, (Dinks) or retiring and we love it here.

The typical Oldham Countian makes above average income, owns their home, and enjoys slower paced lifestyles. We have 60,000 people in the entire county, are 20-30 minutes to most employment spots in Louisville, and are only 15-20 minutes to the area's best shopping, restaurants, and entertainment venues. It's an easy 25 minute ride from LaGrange at I-71 exit 22 to the Kentucky Center for the Arts which is in the very heart of downtown Louisville.

[dlogan]

Has the Field of Dreams (baseball field) been built yet in E-Town?

[TeamZissou]

I work for a plastics manufacturer in Charlestown, IN, and love it. Southern Indiana definitely has some possibilities for you all as well as the Kentucky side.