Anyone on here from International Falls, Minnesota? (St. Paul, Duluth: appointed, crime rate)

[courtney Lee]

i live in i falls and its great..cold but its fun but its a really small town

[whatnow]

Originally Posted by courtney Lee

i live in i falls and its great..cold but its fun but its a really small town

Please, do tell; what's so "great" about I.Falls? Have you ever lived anywhere else for a long period of time?

[Trimac20]

I only know it as the coldest spot in the United States!

Louisiana to IF is about as extreme as you can get within the US.

[Eagle17]

International falls is the most beautiful place in the world from about May through October. The rest of the year, unless you like winter outdoor activities, it's a good place to stay home. The people are very friendly. Also, from downtown IF you can walk (or drive) over to Canada.

If you like fishing, skiing, or boating in general, Rainy Lake is awesome, you can go many miles either west or southeast, on all the connecting lakes and waterways. At first you'll want a guide, as all the little islands can be confusing.

mod cut

[BorderGirl]

Originally Posted by whatnow

Please, do tell; what's so "great" about I.Falls? Have you ever lived anywhere else for a long period of time?

You don't have to lock your doors at night. You don't have to lock up your car. You can count on your neighbors to look after your house while you are out of town. Sometimes your neighbors will even come plow out your driveway if you happen to be at work while the snow is coming down.

A few summers ago I went up to the lake to take the dogs swimming. I was in my mom's car and didn't realize that she didn't have any gas. I was coasting on fumes and knew I'd never make it back to her house. I stopped at One Stop and told them that I did not have a single penny on me and needed gas. The guy knew my uncle and said that if I didn't come back to pay he'd bill him. I was back 10 minutes later with cash in hand.

The area has a real sense of community. Neighbors helping neighbors. I'll never have that sense of security anywhere else but that town.

I agree, there isn't a ton to do and the area is really struggling for cultural opportunities, but they try. We just have to be willing to help. Fishing, boating, swimming all summer long. Go for walks or hikes in the park. Go the the visitors center at VNP. Become involved with the community. I did a ton of volunteer work to keep myself busy and do a bit more each time I come home. I don't know if they still do this, but Backus held the Border Concert series. I went several times and was very impressed with the talent. Join a book club or a knitting club - I know of several.

Support the sports team, both high school and college level. Help with the fundraisers to support these teams and get them the equipment that they so desperately need. High school hockey was amazing when I was in school and I know the talent is out there. Sometimes the resources just aren't there to get these kids involved, help find a way to get them there.

I think there can be plenty to be done if you really take a look at what is available.

[monte385]

A lot of you hit the nail on the head, the main prob as I see it is our city leaders. They don't want anything in the area but Boise, VNP,& what a plus if a few tourists shop a bit on there way to Canada.

But from May to Oct like they said it is nice.

Lived here all my life but I'm thinking about moving when I retire. Someplace a bit warmer.

[whatnow]

Originally Posted by BorderGirl

I wish my sister would get out of the town already. She'll be going to school in Duluth in the fall and is perfectly content with staying in the Falls for a while. I have no idea where she'll ever find a job up there. Even my mother doesn't have much holding her in place since her mother passed. I'm hoping I can get everyone to move my way.

(RE: Post of 3-27-09 plus the above)
So, I read your latest post (didn't quote it because of length) but quoted this one because I found it humorous how you are singing the virtues of a town that you think your mother and sister should move out of.

Anyway, I don't want to pick your posts apart; however, I.Falls is not the only place that you can leave your houses and cars unlocked. Do you know how many people ACROSS THE WHOLE USA have made that claim about their own town? Besides, I happen to think that people eventually get a rude awakening about leaving their places/belongings unlocked, but that is another story. (Afterall, thieves are everywhere.) As for getting gas (or food or whatever) on credit because you know someone, or they know you know someone, also happens in many, many places. Hey, it can even happen in a big city if you stop at the place where you know someone, etc. Your suggestions for activities don't work for everyone, especially those who are done raising kids and had their fill of all that. I like kids o.k., but I did my duties and wouldn't be caught at a school game, etc. To each their own.

[whatnow]

Originally Posted by monte385

A lot of you hit the nail on the head, the main prob as I see it is our city leaders. They don't want anything in the area but Boise, VNP,& what a plus if a few tourists shop a bit on there way to Canada.

But from May to Oct like they said it is nice.

Lived here all my life but I'm thinking about moving when I retire. Someplace a bit warmer.

I heard that more than half of the summer tourists we see in the falls are really on their way to Canada. Seems like the businesses in town that make out the best from the on-the-way-to-Canada-tourists are gas stations, liquor stores, and sports shops. Oh well, it's something. Does anyone know the numbers for sure of how many tourists actually stay in the Rainy Lake area and how many go to Canada? Curious is all, since I can't do anything about it.

[summersun]

Int'l Falls.....: (

[Duluth07]

I hate to say anything negative about places that I've never officially lived, nor do I like to judge an entire community based on what I've seen, but in this case, I will. International Falls reminds me of a modern day 'Hee-Haw', or 'Mama's Family with it's fictitious Raytown. You're as far north as it gets but you feel as if you are somewhere in rural Texas. If you wear anything brand-named it's' immediately suspected you're not from there. People know who you are by the car you drive. And remember, International Falls is IT for the next 165 miles until you get to Duluth - which is the only real city, metro area, Level II Trauma Center - that's right - your only way to real medical care is a 3 hour ambulance ride or (if they're not being used) a Lifelight ride to St. Luke's or St. Mary's in Duluth. That in itself scares me - to be that far away from decent medical care. International Falls is at the end of the line, literally, and it's not like other border cities where the Canadian side is culturally exciting or different. It's a depressed city comprised of poor white or Native people with limited education. My most surprising observation while in International Falls were the number of girls under 18 getting pregnant and having kids. I even saw a 29 year old GRANDMOTHER. Many of these girls got pregnant by the Rainy River Community College football players; almost all of them black and from urban America - which created such an uprise and stir among local men that I've never seen before. Yes, part of the blame is on these guys who got underage naive girls pregnant, but what are the parents there teaching their girls about acceptable behavior? I think a lot of this goes both ways but people up there are stuck in the 1950's, and their language towards minorities, gays and lesbians, people with college degrees, people who are not ultra-religious (every other person will ask if you've been 'saved') - it's just not my thing. And for many people I've talked to, this completely jibes with their idea of the kinds of people in such a beautiful nature setting in a state as open-minded as Minnesota. My answer - the Twin Cities has that philosophy, but also has a high amount of affluence, people with doctorate level education, and perhaps more responsible as to not have 10 kids they can not afford.

This city is a small white microcosm of, say, Detroit. There is one major employer which is a paper mill, which are jobs that don't require any education or ongoing training. Nobody here is challenged to think or do anything - if you have no money, there is no way out of here. Greyhound no longer has a Duluth - International Falls route, so if you don't have the money for a plane ride to Minneapolis, you're never getting out unless you know someone who can drive you the 165 miles to Duluth or the 310 miles to Minneapolis. So you have a community that never has any interaction with gay people, with people of color, with people who don't agree with fundamentalist, hate-based religion; their prejudices are never challenged or confronted. And that's how they like it, and they will make you very aware of it too. I'll never go back.