[quarsom]

Hi. Can anyone tell me how transplants to the Houghton area are treated? Are they receptive to newcomers or shun them? In general, is it a friendly town? Thank you

[trinkit]

I'm really not sure about Houghton-Hancock. It is more of a college town, what with Michigan Tech being there. But I can tell you my experiences when my ex and I were planning a move to the L'Anse area. He was raised in the area (owned 6 acres, plus his family owned a restaurant in Huron, just northeast of L'Anse), went to school in the one-room schoolhouse in Skanee and even HE was treated like a "fudgie". Most of the men that we encountered treated their women like second-class citizens with no right to an opinion. I was called a variety of names, none of the complimentary. We decided against the permanent move. I believe that he retired to the area -- but being that he is my ex, I have the attitude of "don't know, don't care".

[Sparrow_temp]

I was up in the area for 5 years while a student at MTU and never had any bad experiences with the locals. The professors of MTU in Houghton and Finlandia (Suomi) in Hancock obviously live in the area so that probably adds to the diversity. I'd choose this area of the UP over any other.

The surrounding smaller towns may be less tolerant of outsiders but they're small close-knit communities. They also seem to be very poor with few potential opportunities. I suspect that traditional family values are the norm with activities centering around the outdoors (hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, etc). Not sure why you had the experience you did but don't believe it to be the norm unless your outlook on life directly contradicted with the locals.

[almira]

Oh, its a nice place to be. generally... the UP is pretty darn friendly. I have lived there before and love every time I'm there. This is a nice place to be too... college town, fun times, bars, things to do. Some of the towns there can ger boring after two hours, but you'll be ok here... UNTIL the winter. it's pretttyyyy snowy here and getting around might not be the easiest, but if youre ver in a jam, as i said its friendly and i'm sure locals will help you. the UP has the small town feel in every town theyve got. Have you ever been to Marquette? great as well. Moving there for school? Any questions in particular?

[quarsom]

Thank you for your response. I had heard that certain areas of the U.P. were not kind to transplants. I'm glad to hear that Houghton is not one of those areas!

[almira]

Oh noo, where'd you hear the bad news about? Anywhere in particular??

[quarsom]

Not going to school there. Just want a nice place to move to. Currently live in Philadelphia and want to leave. Want a place to feel safe in. Heard a couple local guys in Walmart talking down to their wives or girlfriends. Just want a little clarity.

[trinkit]

I apologize for not being a bit more specific: because Houghton/Hancock is a college town, there would be more diversity than the smaller towns surrounding it. Many of the people there are from somewhere else and haven't developed that close-knit feel of the other areas.

As long as you don't have the "we did it THIS way in Philly" attitude, you should be fine in the larger towns of the UP; i.e. Houghton/Hancock, Marquette.

[miniature]

There are many places in Michigan where you can feel safe. I live in a town that has had one murder in the last 100 yrs and no one locks thier doors to this day. It is not in the UP either.

[Giesela]

Second hand info from Marquetter's - Houghton gets tons more snow and if your last name isn't Finnish - its not that people are mean or rude just maybe sort of overlook you somewhat