Moving family to Starkville... What's it like? (Jackson, Columbus: house, airport)

[KouignAmann]

Originally Posted by Mississippi Alabama Line

Glad to see people sending their kids back to MSU, especially the ones from Huntsville.


Ain't this the truth. I understand why SA was formed in the beginning, but at some point, I think they should consider shuttering it. Won't happen anytime soon though. Either way, public school is receiving big investment and is getting better every day.

What is SA?

[KouignAmann]

Also, what do you guys think about the West Point area? It seems that they have some nice looking homes, on Zillow, anyway.

[Mississippi Alabama Line]

Originally Posted by KouignAmann

You know, I was kind of nervous that I was moving to the "middle of nowhere." I grew up in a very large city in the midwest, my husband grew up in a town a little bit larger than Starkville when school is in session. But that was also in the midwest. To be honest, I don't really know much about Mississippi outside of the Jackson area.

So all that being said, I am not set on anything yet. Since my little one is still young, I was going to look around and figure out the school situation once we got there.
Honestly, any information about anything regarding the city is helpful to me.
East Webster and Browning creek... I'll definitely check that out.

We will be heading up to Starkville in the next few weeks, so I'm trying to get a kind of itinerary set.

Just wear Saints gear, you will fit right in.

[viverlibre]

Originally Posted by KouignAmann

What is SA?

Starkville Academy. In the 70s when integration hit the school systems down south, many Academies (private schools) were formed to keep schools segregated. In small towns where academies formed, the public schools nosedived, in small towns where the academies did not form, the public schools continued to be good.

In MS small towns, rarely do you have a good public school and private school.

[Mississippi Alabama Line]

Originally Posted by KouignAmann

Also, what do you guys think about the West Point area? It seems that they have some nice looking homes, on Zillow, anyway.

It is OK, but like anything else, go visit the area, and extensively study the neighborhoods/demographics. I personally would not live in West Point.

You might also look out in the area between Starkville and Columbus, south of West Point. You'll be in private school territory, but still, decent area if you want land. Check out Elm Lake if you like golf.

[viverlibre]

If you want a couple of acres, to be within a 30-minute drive of Starkville and have decent public schools Maben/Mathison (East Webster) are your only options.

Caledonia and/or New Hope may be options as far decent public schools, but the drive would be considerably longer.

If you can afford private, that puts a lot of options on the table.

Julie Webb, Starkville Properties, is considered by some the best realtor in the area.

[ColdAilment]

I probably have the least qualified opinion of anyone on this thread, however I lived in Meridian Mississippi for over 4 years, while in the Navy. Meridian, though almost twice the size of Starkville, had a LOT less going on. I visited Starkville and Columbus both at least a dozen times.

Starkville definitely felt like a well to do middle class college town. The entire town revolves around the University, and because of the university's size and presence, Starkville is more progressive than most of Mississippi, which I appreciated, I still wouldn't call it a liberal area however. If memory serves me correctly the population was about 23,000 people, so small enough of a town where you're likely going to see the same people when running errands, but big enough to offer decent dining and shopping, the presence of the college ensures that there will be more diversity in eateries and shops than a typical town its size.

I personally had a soft spot for the Antebellum houses in Columbus, I'm sure they are quite expensive and very exclusive, but most are extremely well maintained and were lovely homes. I felt that most of Columbus had been preserved in time as one big historic district, the downtown was very quaint and old fashioned like, lively enough considering its size.

I do think that coming from New Orleans, a city with a metro population of over 1 million, and moving to Starkville where the population is likely less than the NOLA Public School corporation, you're going to feel the limits of small town life and the isolation of the area. Flights will be served from either Jackson or Huntsville, or a slightly longer drive to Memphis, there are no major airports to speak of with at least 90 miles of Starkville, other than the Airforce base in Columbus.

[viverlibre]

Originally Posted by ColdAilment

Flights will be served from either Jackson or Huntsville, or a slightly longer drive to Memphis, there are no major airports to speak of with at least 90 miles of Starkville, other than the Airforce base in Columbus.

I don't think anyone from Starkville flys out of Huntsville, as Memphis, with a major airport, is an hour closer. In fact, Memphis is not that much further than Jackson, with many more flight choices than Jackson, Memphis would likely be the choice of the Starkville jet-setter. Birmingham is closer, but I'm not sure of its airport.

There is a small regional airport in the Golden Triangle, but it likely only gets people to connecting flights in ATL.

[ColdAilment]

Originally Posted by viverlibre

I don't think anyone from Starkville flys out of Huntsville, as Memphis, with a major airport, is an hour closer. In fact, Memphis is not that much further than Jackson, with many more flight choices than Jackson, Memphis would likely be the choice of the Starkville jet-setter. Birmingham is closer, but I'm not sure of its airport.

There is a small regional airport in the Golden Triangle, but it likely only gets people to connecting flights in ATL.

I apologize, I meant to say Birmingham instead of Huntsville. Huntsville is less than half the size of Birmingham, and farther away, not a good choice. Of the 3, Memphis has the largest airport with the biggest variety of flights and commuters I do believe.

What regional airport is in the Golden Triangle? I didn't know there was one.

[sammyreynolds1977]

It's called The Golden Triangle Regional Airport.