[thesearch]

Hello, can someone give their opinion of Hillsdale County Michigan? And also the towns: Hillsdale, Jonesville, Coldwater. I am concern about crime and the economy there. Is it true there are quite alot of sex offenders in those areas? Is it a place one would even want to visit?

[flyingwriter]

The towns are OK. Jonesville is tiny, Hillsdale is a great small college town. Coldwater is not in Hillsdale County. The economy in these places is dead. There are sex offenders in every town.

[deslok]

My first thoughts are yuck, small town, non-affluent USA. Essentially I would ask what you are normally accostomed to. None of the cities have much going for them that would make someone outside of the area want to live there.

[WheredoIlive?]

small town, non-affluent USA.

Affluent USA? WHERE?

Anyhow, I thought HIllsdale was a nice small town. There is a small college too there too.

The people there were very friendly and warm. I have yet to live in a place where I have encountered that to the degree I did there. There seemed to be a sense of community there as well that was nice.

However the economy has hit the county really HARD, and with the failure of auto industry especially so many plants and factories closed, there is a huge unemployment rate. [course that is everywhere now] The lack of jobs is really a problem.

Jonesville is smaller but has built up some business--restaurants etc, it is very close to Hillsdale to point I considered it almost an extension while living there. Many people in Jonesville knew people in Hillsdale and vice versa.

Coldwater, isnt a bad place, I didnt find it to have the same ambience as HIllsdale but only spent some time there, economically they had hard times too so am sure there are things I didnt know about it there. They had an interesting small Opera house they would hold shows at.

If you are young and want faster big city life, Hillsdale county is probably not for you. If you desire a more laid back kind of life, and like being out in nature, antique shopping, country pursuits, county fairs, and want to live in a place where everyone knows each other, then you may very well like it, and I did.

[thesearch]

Thanks for everyones in-put! After recent research I have found the ratio of sex offenders to the average person in those areas to be to high for me. I have also heard that as of recently the economy there is also to bad. So, thanks for your in-put and if you have any suggestions on other towns let me know.

[WheredoIlive?]

Originally Posted by thesearch

Thanks for everyones in-put! After recent research I have found the ratio of sex offenders to the average person in those areas to be to high for me. I have also heard that as of recently the economy there is also to bad. So, thanks for your in-put and if you have any suggestions on other towns let me know.

Are you trying to move? Where do you live now?

[MittenDweller82]

Originally Posted by thesearch

Thanks for everyones in-put! After recent research I have found the ratio of sex offenders to the average person in those areas to be to high for me. I have also heard that as of recently the economy there is also to bad. So, thanks for your in-put and if you have any suggestions on other towns let me know.

Yes, economy would be a big concern of mine if looking there, as Hillsdale County has a 20% unemployment rate as of Aug 09, most mid Michigan counties range from 12-19% as of late, so region wide you will not escape this issue.