Roseau, MN??? (Bemidji, Warroad: apartments, rental homes, houses)

[supermom0204]

Just wondering what this area is like. I know it's cold, what else? Cost of living? Are there many rental homes in the area? Schools? Any info is helpful.. Thanks!

[usafracer]

It is a very nice place. Just a few things to remember It s cold on the winter and you better like Polaris.

[knke0402]

I have always been curious about Roseau, Warroad.

I have never been to this part of the state- i have been everywhere else besides here...

[slamont61]

The closest I've been to Roseau is Bemidji and that's even a ways south but is the bigger city near it. Roseau is a small sized but large enough to sustain businesses along with it's Polaris industry. I would think it's awful isolated in the long run but a wonderful place to raise a family.

Nature is definately one of the better assets there, along with Hockey.

[supermom0204]

Originally Posted by usafracer

It is a very nice place. Just a few things to remember It s cold on the winter and you better like Polaris.

LOL, that's actually why I asked. Hubby just applied for a position there and I was looking at the map and wondering about the area. The cold we wouldn't mind, we're used to it living in northern mi. It does look rather remote though. This may seem petty, but is there shopping there like a small city would have? We actually like small close knit towns, but schools are a concern. We are at a point where we NEED to relocate though... Michigan is becoming a scary place to work.

[DaninEGF]

I work in the weather forecast business in Grand Forks and have travelled to both Roseau and Warroad to give severe weather (skywarn) talks at Polaris in Roseau and Marvin Windows in Warroad. I personally love both communities as they are close knit but they are fierce rivals in sports and just about anything. Hockey is very very important in the area with both towns having a long tradition...perhaps Warroad a bit longer on the winning side.

But I dont believe there is a Walmart yet in the area so lots of locally owned businesses and Polaris and Marvin have provided a pretty secure job base for the area. Outdoor activities are big there as you would expect (just like in northern Michigan) with fishing and ice fishing on the Lake of the Woods a big thing for Warroad tourism. Having listened to local news I rarely here anything bad about the communities. Yes it is isolated to a degree and many people choose to drive the 75 to 100 miles to Grand Forks for big time shopping every so often.

Here are some links to both communities which contain a nice overview of both towns and attractions/businesses....

Guide to Warroad Minnesota

Guide to Roseau Minnesota


Dan

[EGFresident]

I strongly encourage you to look at the city website if you have not already. It's pretty helpful on what the city has to offer on many of the questions you had such as housing/apartments (I know it's a buyers market up there right now..). Wonderful school system with up-to-date facilities and plenty of activities for children, and parents, to partake in. The website also has links to the school and county websites which are very well put together as well. It's a very positive, proactive, community with a "can-do" attitude. You do have to enjoy the outdoors to get the full experience of the area though. Plenty of sports (at little or no cost) for the kids, beautiful golf course and parks/bike trail. Roseau does surprisingly have a lot to offer for shopping given its size, but you do have to drive an hour or so to find Big Box chain stores. The best thing to do would be to visit first, time permitting, to get an idea what how secluded it is, but its seclusion also adds to its charm. City of Roseau, Minnesota

[tiggergolf3]

I have family that lives there and have visited quite often. It is a very flat area of MN, but the town is pretty with a river running through it (just remember they had a huge flood there a few years back). The schools are fine. They have a great library and pool for community use. Shopping is limited. Think: Pamida. A few cute coffee shops, small downtown area, a couple of clothing stores (Maurices?/ JCPenneys?). The golf course is nice. I've golfed there twice. Yes, it is very cold there in the winter. Summers don't get very hot, but they do get a season of mosquitos. Plan to drive to Grand Forks or Bemidji once a month to hit a Target. If you get involved in one of the churches you will find plenty to do. Winnipeg is also fun to visit (two hours away). I also highly recommend you visit Roseau before moving. I could not live there. My sister and family love the area!

[susieJD]

I lived in that area for several years and worked at Marvin's Windows. Great place to work and they are always looking for people. But what I remember most about Roseau is this:

The 2001 Flood

The floods took everything. The people knew that this would happen because a lot of the houses and businesses were built on the flood plain. Even Poloris was flooded.

Susie

[DaninEGF]

There has been much work done in the Roseau area in regards to flood control so a repeat of 2002 flood does not occur. Here is an update on the final U.S. Corps of Engineers project planned. Some diversions have already been built so many improvement have been made already. As a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Grand Forks the emergency management agency for Roseau County is very pro-active and we talk with them daily in flood situations.

http://www.mvp.usace.army.mil/fl_dam...p?pageid=1146/

Dan