[us2indaup]

I can't count the number of times we've driven from Munising to Marquette, and it never took less than an hour. Mind you, I'm talking about reaching the shopping area of Marquette where Wal Mart and Econo Foods are, not merely the city limits. Driving faster is fine but beware of the speed traps along the Sand River area.
I agree Marquette is too large a town to raise children. When you're talking Marquette you're including Negaunee, Ishpeming, & Harvey. No, you guys aren't oddballs I commend you. Best of Luck.

[jeeg]

Originally Posted by us2indaup

I can't count the number of times we've driven from Munising to Marquette, and it never took less than an hour. Mind you, I'm talking about reaching the shopping area of Marquette where Wal Mart and Econo Foods are, not merely the city limits. Driving faster is fine but beware of the speed traps along the Sand River area.
I agree Marquette is too large a town to raise children. When you're talking Marquette you're including Negaunee, Ishpeming, & Harvey. No, you guys aren't oddballs I commend you. Best of Luck.

Okay I have to concede the driving time to an hour per my wifes orders (I asked her) She said that I always announce "we're here" (driving into Marquette) and check the time as we're coming down the hill into the city (right before the power plant), not when we get home.
Regardless.......... anyone planning on moving to Munising and commuting to Marquette should add a LOT of time to what they think their commute would be in the winter. That stretch does get a lot of white-outs during a "normal" winter according to her coworker who drives from Christmas every day.
* Christmas is just west of Munising for those who don't know.

[Torrid]

Hey again. I was referring to being close to Marquette for "work n such".....But, after hearing it takes a good hour, I guess it might not be, hehe.

Originally Posted by us2indaup

Torrid, don't dismiss Munising just on my word, I had some very unpleasant experiences while living there that really soured me on the place. Plus I found it depressing that we got so much lake effect snow, it literally snows every day from November through the middle of April, whereas if you go 20 miles inland it could be sunny & springlike. Many years we had remnants of snow in shady parts of our yard on Memorial Day, and I am not exaggerating!
But as for the difference in peoples attitudes between Munising and the Ironwood area, I have to say its due to the isolation of Munising. Here we're closer to more metropolitan places like Duluth, Green Bay, etc, The only place anywhere near Munising is Marquette, and its an hour and fifteen minutes away. It may look close on the map, but believe me, it isn't, and you have to consider that M-28 runs along Lake Superior for some distance and is closed sometimes in the winter due to white-outs. A shopping trip to Marquette is a day-long expedition because you have to figure in two and a half hours drive time, round trip. Property taxes were more in the Munising township where we lived, and Real Estate is more expensive than it is here. We sold our house for $80,000 there and bought a $40,000 house here.
I'm puzzled as to why you said it wasn't a bad location for "work and such" in Munising? The biggest employers there are the Paper Mill and the Prisons (there are 2 nearby). Otherwise, unless you work for the Forest Service, you're stuck doing minimum wage work in the motels, restaurants, or Nursing Homes. Commuting to Marquette isn't practical, although many people do it because they have no choice. Your wages would be eaten up by gas costs and car maintenance, because there aren't many well paying jobs even in Marquette.
I admit I'm biased against Munising - anyone else have an opinion to offer about the town?

[DeepVoice]

Originally Posted by Mark S.

Have the gangs started showing up in Houghton/Hancock yet? I know that in parts of rural Minnesota, gangs have begun to be a problem, especially around the Reservations. What is most of the crime around Houghton/Hancock? Is it drug-related?

I can't recall the name of the military base that closed in the U.P. a few years ago. South of Marquette, I think. ??? Anyway, I heard that place has had some crime and gang problems over the past few years. Is it spreading beyond that area?

Do you prefer one city (Houghton/Hancock) above the other? If so, why?

There are gangs but only 2. GD which stands for Growth Development (not Gangster Disciples though both gangs are basically the same) and the Bloods. Well the wannabe Bloods. They aren't real. GD is though. Not to be worried there is only around 10 members. They don't carry guns or cause problems.

As for drugs. There are lots of drugs in Houghton and Hancock. Lot's of busts. Breaking and Enterings happen alot. So there is a lot of well...petty crime I guess you would say but it does get real annoying real quick. Other than that it's a pretty nice place to live.

[Torrid]

Ahhhh, looks like we'll be marking the Hancock/Houghton area off the list I just don't see what they get out of being in the U.P.?! Maybe they like stealing pasties LOL J/K!!!

Originally Posted by DeepVoice

There are gangs but only 2. GD which stands for Growth Development (not Gangster Disciples though both gangs are basically the same) and the Bloods. Well the wannabe Bloods. They aren't real. GD is though. Not to be worried there is only around 10 members. They don't carry guns or cause problems.

As for drugs. There are lots of drugs in Houghton and Hancock. Lot's of busts. Breaking and Enterings happen alot. So there is a lot of well...petty crime I guess you would say but it does get real annoying real quick. Other than that it's a pretty nice place to live.

[Mark S.]

Originally Posted by DeepVoice

There are gangs but only 2. GD which stands for Growth Development

Are you serious? That sounds more like a Chamber of Commerce initiative rather than a criminal gang.

Originally Posted by DeepVoice

Well the wannabe Bloods. They aren't real. GD is though. Not to be worried there is only around 10 members. They don't carry guns or cause problems.

How do folks know they are in a gang if they aren't causing problems?

Originally Posted by DeepVoice

There are lots of drugs in Houghton and Hancock. Lot's of busts. Breaking and Enterings happen alot. So there is a lot of well...petty crime I guess you would say but it does get real annoying real quick.

Any idea on what the source of most of the crime is? Is it locals, college kids, or what? Are the break-ins mostly businesses, residences, or both?

[arabianhorselover]

I have worked in Houghton for 20 years. I know a lot of people who live there. I never hear anyone talking about gangs or problems with them. Every area is going to have some crime, but it's pretty minimal here.

[UpperPeninsulaRon]

With a nursing degree, and Marquette General being one of the top 100 hospitals in the country, I think that you may very well end up as the major breadwinner. In terms of manufacturing, Marquette is also a good choice - it just depends upon the experience level. If you looked for a home that is kind of close to Marquette but still fairly rural, I would look south of Marquette and north of Little Lake somewhere around M-553 (north and south main road between the two places). Anywhere there put you less than thirty minutes from Marquette. And in the UP, you will not have to worry much about rush hour drives. Sure there are more vehicle on the road, but it sure is never bumper to bumper. However, a word of caution - keep a sharp lookout for deer on the roads! I slammed one just north of Trenary, and just missed one north of Rock within the last month. If you live here, it will happen.

[Torrid]

Hey UPRon! Thanx a bunch for the info! Would you happen to know how to go about applying at the hospital prior to us moving? I haven't seen an ad in the Mining Journal for the hospital at all. I'm having a really hard time trying to find much at all about available jobs up there. I'm always checking the Mining Journal, Daily Mining Gazette and Ironwood Daily Globe. I always see the same truck driver and paper route jobs.....and, not much else. Thank you!!

Originally Posted by UpperPeninsulaRon

With a nursing degree, and Marquette General being one of the top 100 hospitals in the country, I think that you may very well end up as the major breadwinner. In terms of manufacturing, Marquette is also a good choice - it just depends upon the experience level. If you looked for a home that is kind of close to Marquette but still fairly rural, I would look south of Marquette and north of Little Lake somewhere around M-553 (north and south main road between the two places). Anywhere there put you less than thirty minutes from Marquette. And in the UP, you will not have to worry much about rush hour drives. Sure there are more vehicle on the road, but it sure is never bumper to bumper. However, a word of caution - keep a sharp lookout for deer on the roads! I slammed one just north of Trenary, and just missed one north of Rock within the last month. If you live here, it will happen.

[arabianhorselover]

I would go directly to the Marquette General website to find information.

Do you have internet access?