Can someone please explain something for me? (Detroit, Grand Rapids: vacation, incomes)

[iamaww]

What does it mean when I hear Saginaw, Saginaw Township North and Saginaw Township South? Isn't is all the same Saginaw? I am trying to determine if my family and I should move there. Is it a big city? I live in MD in the DC metro area, so I am wanting to move somewhere where there is less traffic and people. I have heard some negative things about Saginaw, but my heart still longs to be there. What towns are around it? Do you think it will be too hard to find a job with a Bachelor's degree in accounting? Thanks!!

[mrtrain]

http://www.city-data.com/city/Sagina...-Michigan.html

http://www.city-data.com/city/Sagina...-Michigan.html

I don't live here but I see no one else was helping yet.

[magellan]

Originally Posted by iamaww

What does it mean when I hear Saginaw, Saginaw Township North and Saginaw Township South? Isn't is all the same Saginaw? I am trying to determine if my family and I should move there. Is it a big city? I live in MD in the DC metro area, so I am wanting to move somewhere where there is less traffic and people. I have heard some negative things about Saginaw, but my heart still longs to be there. What towns are around it? Do you think it will be too hard to find a job with a Bachelor's degree in accounting? Thanks!!

Michigan has an extensive city and township system of government. Cities usually have full time fire, police, trash service, full-time government officials, street departments, sidewalks, etc.. Townships are usually in the outlying suburban fringes of Michigan cities, and have volunteer fire service, usually use county police forces, no streets departments (usually also county provided), snow plowing is usually provided by the county, etc. In other words, very limited services. Many people prefer the townships because taxes are much lower, and there is more room for new developments, but you generally forego the feeling of living in any kind of "community", unless you call Target's parking lot "main street". Most townships are mostly white, have higher incomes, higher median home prices, and have part-time officials (or even voluntary officials).

I didn't know there was a Saginaw Township "North" or "South", but it's generally a strip of land that runs along the Western boundary of Saginaw's "city".

There is really no way to compare it to the metro DC area, but it sounds like you're looking for a small town feel. That's what you'll find in Saginaw.

HTH

[iamaww]

Thanks for responding to my posts...it is exciting and scary at the same time to be moving to an area that your aren't 100% sure of!

[mich2fla]

Originally Posted by iamaww

Thanks for responding to my posts...it is exciting and scary at the same time to be moving to an area that your aren't 100% sure of!

Have you been to Saginaw? Be sure to plan a visit before making the move here. I usually drive through it on my way to Birch Run/Frankenmuth. It's not the first place I'd look into especially you coming from Washington DC. You might get more responses from the Detroit forum.

Good luck!

[Wabbit]

Can you be more specific as to why
your 'heart longs to be there' because
to be honest I can count on one hand
the places I would like to live less.
they include Calcutta, Tijuana,
the Sudan, Flint and .....
I'm exaggerating of course, but just
make sure you check it out first.
If you know people there, that's
one thing, but if you're just
randomly choosing Saginaw, pin the
tail on the donkey again and hope it
lands on the West Side of the state.
My suggestion,
Go Grand Rapids, the little big town!

[BetseeT]

Oh golly would it be a toss up between Saginaw and Flint! Eek! But Birch Run and Frankenmuth are wonderful to visit.

[doriandthekids]

I would ask why you wanted to move here? I live here, it's no treat! I'm a Mom of three and I don't want my kids growing up in this racially diviveded community. There are other wonderful places in Michigan especially if you don't have a job lined up. Try Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Battle Creek, Midland near Saginaw with better schools. Even Freeland or Thomas township better. I live here and i wish I had found this bord before I moved it was a mistake. The opportunities here are limited there are very few new businesses and people that I have met while here are all moving too. Please reconsider this move to the Saginaw area. Have you come on vacation? Try the Bay City area over Saginaw it is a better community.

[aeroweb]

If you are looking for less people, keep two things in mind: 1. Anything in Michigan will be "less people" than the DC area! 2. If you have the choice of where to settle, be sure to consider West Michigan. I'm formerly a Detroit suburbaner and have migrated west, where there is a medium pace of life (instead of intense) and more open areas. Since you are looking for a good family home, anything west of Lansing is highly recommended. I won't be going back to the east side to live... ever. Plus, once you see a sunset over Lake Michigan, you'll probably be sold for life.

[WazzuCoop21]

yeah, i was terribly confused about the whole township thing when I first moved to MI. Magellan explains it well. It's more or less just certain divisions of suburbs of the cities themselves. Good luck on the search.