[michigan83]

Yeah, that's what I would assume - the more rural the more conservative. We are fine with that. We just would like to live with people who have the 'live and let live' mentality. I'm interested to know more of the areas to 'avoid' so to speak like the ones you mentioned (on the thumb and west MI).

If you're looking to live within 30-60 minutes of Grand Rapids and are looking for open-mindedness, I would generally avoid Ottawa County (Hudsonville, Zeeland, Allendale, Coopersville) and instead look north, southeast, and east of Grand Rapids. Don't get me wrong, I think those places in Ottawa County are great communities, but it's hard to fit in if you're not from there and don't have a similar religious background.

Your 90,000 price range and the acreage you're looking for is probably going to keep you out of Kent County for the most part. You might want to check out areas like Saranac, Belding, Middleville, and Hastings. All very nice small towns. You will still be within a reasonable drive of Grand Rapids (30-45 minutes) but will be able to get much more bang for your buck than you in the more "popular" towns that are closer to G.R. (Lowell, Rockford, Ada, Caledonia).

[Tiger Beer]

Just reading the above post...the 'live and let live'...that certainly seems to be the case with the Thumb.

Interesting the above poster with Grand Rapids...I've often read or heard of being a bit Bible Thumper-ish, which isn't very 'live and let live'...

People in the The Thumb tend to be conservative, for sure. But lacks the bible-thumper-ish part. Not that it isn't conservative, I think the Thumb just has a lot of catholicism in there as well - a lot of Irish and Polish families that moved up from Detroit through the last few generations. Of course there are protestants as well, but I think the Irish/Polish influences mellows out a bit of that Bible Thumperish-ness that I've often heard in references to Grand Rapids and it's greater area.

[beachmouse]

Originally Posted by michigan83

Your 90,000 price range and the acreage you're looking for is probably going to keep you out of Kent County for the most part. You might want to check out areas like Saranac, Belding, Middleville, and Hastings. All very nice small towns. You will still be within a reasonable drive of Grand Rapids (30-45 minutes) but will be able to get much more bang for your buck than you in the more "popular" towns that are closer to G.R. (Lowell, Rockford, Ada, Caledonia).

How's Greenville these days? It's reasonably commutable to Grand Rapids and I was wondering if the area ever really recovered from the Electrolux pullout. If neither too well or too poorly, that might be an option.

[michigan83]

Interesting the above poster with Grand Rapids...I've often read or heard of being a bit Bible Thumper-ish, which isn't very 'live and let live'...

True, definitely. Grand Rapids as a whole is more of a Bible-thumping area than the thumb.

BUT... I was trying to give examples of areas around G.R. that are less "Bible-Thumping" than others. It varies from community to community. The ones I mentioned aren't too bad in that department.

[VM1138]

I wouldn't go too far in the thumb, if I were you. It's nice in parts, but it's also extremely isolated with large numbers of "non open minded people", namely the Michigan Militia. Also, there really aren't any towns of note out that way.

If you're looking for a good mix of small town rural/medium town I'd recommend somewhere near the tri-cities (Bay City, Saginaw, Midland.)

Clearly stay away from Saginaw, since it's crime ridden, but you can find a place to the East of Bay City and have a mix of the rural thumb experience with close access to Bay City (a city of about 35,000) and all it's summer activities. Also right on the water.

[skyl4rk]

One thing about the Thumb, it is flat as a pancake. If you want rolling hills, lakes and forests, check out Barry County, between GR and Kalamazoo.

[emu742]

^ good to know about the land, I didn't realize it was less forested and more flat. So the west side of the state is more protestant / republican and the right more catholic / liberal ? (not that those combinations always go together I know I'm painting a broad picture there).

I noticed the right side does seem to get a bit less snow and slightly more sun too.

How about the areas near Ludington, Traverse, Manistee or Cadillac? We would be having a smaller farm, not large scale, so it would be nice to be located where that does not feel 'out of place'. I'm wondering if it would feel akward in the thumb, where it seems more like large, traditional farming?

[Tiger Beer]

Originally Posted by emu742

^ good to know about the land, I didn't realize it was less forested and more flat. So the west side of the state is more protestant / republican and the right more catholic / liberal ? (not that those combinations always go together I know I'm painting a broad picture there).

I noticed the right side does seem to get a bit less snow and slightly more sun too.

How about the areas near Ludington, Traverse, Manistee or Cadillac? We would be having a smaller farm, not large scale, so it would be nice to be located where that does not feel 'out of place'. I'm wondering if it would feel akward in the thumb, where it seems more like large, traditional farming?

The Thumb isn't liberal at all - very conservative. Just a bit more catholics, it seems. More Irish/Polish in the mix. Not liberal at all though.

The Thumb is FLAT though...

Unsure about large scale farms in the The Thumb...I grew up there, and always seemed likely small private farms everywhere. Mostly just family passing down to family, don't remember anything corporate about the farming there or large scale. Mostly recall corn in particular everywhere.

[thebreadlady]

Even though the Thumb, like most other places, is changing to fewer, larger, commodity farms (corn, soybeans, sugar beets...), there are still quite a few diversified small farms scattered about. Several areas also have Amish communities where small farms and market gardens and cottage industries are common. There are also more and more organic farms. Several towns have farmers markets.
I guess my first advice would be if you plan to farm, for yourself or to sell, look for good soil. You can tell by looking at the growing crops if an area is good for farming. The Saginaw Valley (which runs over into the Thumb) has some of the best soil in the state. A lot of vegetables are grown just east of Bay City.
The further north you go, the shorter your season will be. Huge difference between the U.P. and the Ohio border. The longer the season, the better if you are selling stuff.
I guess I would suggest the Bay City area, because of the good soil and because it is a pretty diverse community. I think is is pretty safe there, also. Three of my children own homes and work there.

[hsxeric]

You can find a home under $90,000 in the west side of Michigan. If you find a place between Grand Rapids and Lake Michigan, you will get to enjoy both the fun and excitement of a decent sized city, but also the outdoors and recreation of living near the water. Western Michigan is more beautiful in my opinion. The thumb is pretty flat and boring. Not much to do either. And like someone else already said, jobs are scarce. Plus, Grand Rapids, while a large town, is in fact pretty darn safe. That and it's full of fun stuff to do and see.