Moving To Starkville from LA...help! (Columbus, Houston: houses, school, university)

[moonunit]

Hi. I could really use some information on Starkville. I am moving there from Los Angeles and I am really nervous. I absolutely love LA but my husband got a job at the college. I never, ever thought I would leave Los Angeles. I am extremely nervous about moving to a small southern town and very sad to leave a place I love so much. Is there any kind of ballroom dancing? Do they have a women's tennis league like USTA or something? Are there any radio and television stations nearby that I could potentially work for? Are there any haunted houses - (okay, that's not important but I just had to ask). What is the social life like for a 30 something couple? Is there a gym, a roller skating rink, horseback riding?
Most importantly, if you are happy there and love it, why? Yes. I'm full of questions but I appreciate any feedback. Thanks so much!

[DawgCountry]

Starkville will be a huge change of pace for you, but not necessarily a bad one. Obviously, there won't be as much to do as in LA, but there are a few options. The University has an extremely nice gym that you can join (I think it cost $20+ million when they built it about 7 years ago), and they have all of the classes and everything you might want. The roller skating rink...I'm not even sure if that's still open. There are tennis courts at the University and at the Starkville Country Club, which might be your best shot for a league. I don't know about ballroom dancing or not, as I was never really into that. The biggest of the local TV stations is WCBI in Colombus, about half an hour away.

Also in Colombus, there is a haunted railroad track. Have just about any student in Starkville ask you about this, and they should know what it is and how to get there. It's a fun late-night journey to go check it out.

As far as social life, the bars in town, for the most part, cater to college students (obviously). However, there are still places where you can go to have great drinks and great food (and the cost of living is MUCH lower than in LA). I would recommend The Veranda. They have a great menu, and a well-trained, knowledgeable staff (and a fantastic atmoshpere). They also cater more to an "older" crowd, meaning college upperclassmen and local adults, but it can still get crazy some nights (Tuesdays - $2 Red Bull and vodka). I think it could quickly turn into your favorite place in town. Also check out Mugshots and Whiskey Blues.

For horseback riding, the Mississippi State Horse Park is right in town, and I'm sure you can get a horse for an hour or a day, but I've never tried.

With college football season nearly upon us, the one thing you need to be absolutely sure you do is tailgate at The Junction. It is a huge area right in front of the football stadium. On gamedays, it is packed with people (dressed up for the game), grills, coolers, TVs, music...if you've never been to an SEC tailgate, this is a good way to get it started, especially because the first home game this year is LSU, who always travel with lots of crazy, fun fans. Just don't get your hopes up for a winning season.

Hope this all helps. Any more questions? And when are you moving there?

[moonunit]

Thank you so much for all that great information! We are moving in September.

[DoIStayOrDoIGo]

I was born in Texas, but grew up in N.W. Mississippi,
and now live in S.W. Mississippi. Its a beautiful state
with warm, caring, lovely people. It is however, extremely
rural, and you will probably experience tremendous cultural
shock, sadly to say. You are used to a total different way
of life, and if you are not from the South, or have never
visited, I am afraid you will have a hard time adjusting. I don't
mean this to scare you.... I'm just being brutely honest.
I have visited L.A. on several occasions, was born in and have
visited Houston (4th largest US city) all my life, and can tell you
Starkville, and Mississippi as a whole is a total different world
from what you are used to...... People here tend to be polite,
and will give you the shirt off their back if you don't come
here with the attitude of being better and making them feel
inferior. I love my state, and understand it, having grown up
here. It has many, many positive attributes..... but for someone
who is used to a "cosmopolitan" way of life, you are in for a shock....
You will even find the larger cities around Starkville: Memphis,TN. and
Birmingham, AL. to be "backwards" from what you are used to. Atlanta, GA. is probably 4-5 hrs. from Starkville, and it might satisfy your craving for a metropolis--- but L.A. and California are a whole world to themselves in every category........ I hope you can come here with an open mind, and try to accept people for who they are and try to understand that they have lived in an area of the country that is rural, politically conservative, religious. Mississippi has a horrible reputation that it does not deserve. Stereotypes are way off base..... We do have many, many successful people that are very educated, sophisticated, well traveled, even though we talk slower, move to a slower pace.... We are not the backwater that the media portrays us to be...... Race relations have plagued us in the past, but today is a new Mississippi......... Love it, and it will love you back... As with anywhere, if you come here dreading it, and give off the air of being miserable, thats how you will end up---- miserable...... I wish you the best of luck, and hope you will cheerish the time you do live here and are blessed by making many, many life long friends..... Good Luck!!!

[DoIStayOrDoIGo]

If you have any other further questions pertaining to Mississippi, I will do my best to answer them for you... I have 2 brothers who attended Mississippi State, and am very familiar with Starkville from past visits, although it has probably grown and changed over the last several years.... Best Wishes!

[DoIStayOrDoIGo]

Here is a letter from someone that I just read that might shed more light on your situation:

I was born and raised in Mississippi. I have had the great opportunity to experience both sides of Mississippi. I grew up on the Coast, and I decided to attend college at Mississippi State University.

The Coast is a lot different than other parts of Mississippi. It is a more progressive area of Mississippi. It has a different feel and culture from other parts of the South. With the casino industry, beaches, and military bases, the people are a lot more, for lack of a better word, open-minded. I've invited friends from other states home with me, and they couldn't really believe they were in MS.

As far as Starkville, I love it here. It's quiet. It has a lot of Southern charm and is a true representation of a Mississippi town. The people here are truly Southern. The guys here actually hunt regularly and eat what they kill. I've received homemade jam as a Christmas gift. There's a George W. bumper sticker on almost every car. However, the people here are the friendliest, most honest, and funniest people I've ever met in my life.

I think some areas of Mississippi are growing much faster than others, but I believe that there are some areas that are going to always remain the slow paced towns they've always been.

I can't say that I actually recommend MS to other people because it's so hard to convince them what's been drilled into their heads about how horrible Mississippi is. I love this state, and no matter where I go, I'll always come back home.

[MSUBulldogGirl]

I'm a senior here at MSU. Starkville is definitely what you make of it. LOL! Entertainment is mostly catered to students, and I've yet to figure out what do people over the age of 25 and non-drinkers do here. The university often offers some interesting exhibits and lecture series if that's what you're into.

I have had friends who have taken ballroom dancing lessons. There are women's tennis leagues offered through the school, and you don't have to be a student to join. The radio station I usually listen to is based out of Tuscaloosa, AL, but that's only because I ABHOR country music. I'm sure there are country music radio stations around here. WCBI, the local station, is based out of Columbus, MS, which is about 20-25 minutes east from here. I pay to go to a small gym off-campus because the Sanderson is usually overcrowded in the evenings. However, if you're a morning person, the Sanderson is perfect. It's also much nicer than the gym I go to. There is a decent roller skating rink that's pretty decent and sometimes offers themed nights. There's a horse park here which I'm almost sure offers horseback riding even though I've never actually rode a horse though.

I'm not your average hunting, camoflauge-wearing, George Dubya loving country girl. LOL! (No offense to anyone!) I'll take True Religion jeans over Carhartt's anyday, and if you don't know what those are--you'll learn soon enough. Also, I'm very active in the university's chapter of College Democrats. Although, sometimes the former can seem like the majority around here, I happen to love Starkville. I'm also a student; therefore, I'm biased. I bleed Maroon and White. You'll meet people here from all over the world. I'm also sure that with your husband's affiliation with the university, you will meet all types of interesting people.

[KelleBelle]

I just moved to Starkville from Naples, FL in august to get my masters and it's been one heck of a transition, your very lucky you'll have your husband with you for support. The hardest thing for me was going from having everything at your fingertips 24/7 to having to drive into another state to go to Target. My best advice is to go out and enjoy nature, I'm a bonafide city girl and I realized the only way I was going to adapt was to enjoy the country, spend some time at a lake, take a hike etc... it's slowly but surely growing on me and I know it will for you too. Good luck

[KelleBelle]

I also wanted to add that, one of the relpiers mentioned race relations and I wanted to point out that I grew up in one of the most liberal places in the US and I was really impressed with how neutral Starkville is. I was expecting Jim Crow south and so far havent seen anything even remotely like that.

[Bravo35223]

When you want to shop and eat at good restaurants. Drive over to Birmingham....I think you will find it to be an oasis of good shopping and dining for you....only about a two hour drive.....

http://www.city-data.com/forum/alaba...ding-area.html


Inside Birmingham: Dining Overview - TripAdvisor