Need info on the mid west area Wilmar, Benson, Starbuck (Minneapolis: for sale, hotels)

[dr227]

Living in Florida and maybe transfered to Minn.
Orginally from northern Ca. Does anyone have
any info on this area? Work in Benson where should
we live?

[golfgal]

Depends on how small of a town you want. Benson is a nice, small town. Willmar would be the closest larger town, about 15,000 people. It is a nice town that is pretty prosperous. They have had some issues with a bit of racism but for the most part it is good. The schools are good, lakes are right there, easy drive to St. Cloud not too far from the Twin Cities. Alexandria would be another choice, bit of a smaller town but HUGE population in the summer for the lake traffic. Both towns have similar amenities.

If you don't have kids and want a smaller town, Benson or Montevideo are both nice towns with some amenities. Montevideo had a nice golf course. Morris and Glenwood are also nice towns, smaller. Morris does have a campus of one of the University of MN outstate universities so that will provide some other amenities.

Overall, the area is a nice area to live.

[dr227]

Thanks for the quick reply. That all sounds good. What kind of racism is going on in Wilmar? I would like to live by a lake since I have a lake in my backyard here and I live on a golfcourse with alligators.
The job interview came tonight on the phone, looks like we will be visiting Minn. sooner than we thought. There doesnt seem to be alot of homes for sale in the areas I talked about? Wilmar sounds like a place I could get a job too. How long does it take to drive from there to Benson? :

[golfgal]

I live in the Twin Cities now but I spent a year in Willmar when I first started teaching then we lived in Marshall for many years (70 miles south of Willmar). Willmar is about 30 miles from Benson and in that area it will take about 30 minutes to drive that, I thought it was a little closer. As for lakes, this is Minnesota, I think I read somewhere that everyone in Minnesota is within a mile of a body of water, there are lakes everywhere. Lake property is expensive most places but some of these smaller towns haven't seen the boom that the bigger ones have and you might be able to get a deal.

Wilmar had a large influx of Hispanics many years ago and they never really seemed to get along. I think things have gotten somewhat better but there are still issues. When I was teaching in Willmar I taught a minority studies class at the high school, it was very interesting, almost like being in Mississippi in the 50's with their attitudes, but not the violence.

Home sales in the area are few simply because they are small towns. Willmar will have the best 'selection' but it is very much a buyers market right now so you should be able to find something. Good luck with the job.

[hol_skog]

Hello! I grew up in Murdock, which is dead-smack in the middle of Willmar and Benson. Willmar is a better bet if you need fast food, Target, Wal-Mart, Best Buy, hotels, grocery stores, practically anything. However, the mall is the worst mall I've stepped foot in, but that's just my opinion because I like to shop!! Benson is a nice, sorta small town. I think there are like 3000 people there, they have Subway, Burger King, Dairy Queen (open during summer only!), and a few family owned restaurants. As for stores, well you've got Pamida and umm, some hardware stores. Don't worry about living near a lake, no matter where you decide to move, you will be less than 30 mintues from a nice lake to swim and or fish in! The commute from Benson to Willmar is about a half-hour, which isn't bad, but it's super boring. I moved from that area to Minneapolis, then to Omaha, NE, and now I'm back in the Twin Cities. That part of MN is beautiful and I really miss it in the summer. My descriptions are a little broad but I hope they help a little. Good luck!