Fairmont Area (surrounding communities)? (Minneapolis, Marshall: home, utilities, place to live)

[Mr. Spock]

Im looking to get out of the "BIG" city (Minneapolis) and move to a smaller town, I basically would only need enough money for utilities, food etc..., NO MORTGAGE!, I found a property i like in Southern Minnesota which is about 14 miles from Fairmont and 18 miles from Estherville, Iowa, These both seem like fair size communities?, What are the "Blue Collar" job prospects like in these towns?, Where do most people work in these areas? It's a shame all these beautiful affordable properties are in areas that you can't survive in!, Also interested in hearing from people in other Greater Minnesota areas that HATE the big cities and found a way to Live and Prosper???

[golfgal]

3M had a fairly large operation in Fairmont, not sure if that is still there or not. Check out the Marshall area too. Several large employers there, small town but not too small. They are begging for good employees in that area. The surrounding small towns are VERY affordable, Marshall itself is more reasonable then the twin cities but more expensive then most smaller towns.

[norsky]

Check out Luverne in the extreme South West corner of Minnesota with a pop. of around 4500 and within 40 miles of Sioux Falls South Dakota ."pop 150,000" it is a great location.
I know people who have moved here and cant believe the home town atmosphere. It also offers a wide varitey of things to do from biking and hiking paths to and from State Parks to a airport that accommodates parachute jumping. It is just a clean and friendly place to live.