Dallas to Mississippi (Jackson, Vicksburg, Natchez) (Clinton, Ridgeland: homes, find a job, neighborhoods)

[BPWilliams]

My wife and I (both 25, without kids) are living in Richardson, a suburb of Dallas, Texas and want out! I grew up in Dallas, and after going to college in a smaller town in Texas and living in Shreveport, LA I'm having a hard time readjusting to a big city and everything that comes with that, I'm missing the small cities and towns I've lived in over the last few years. My wife is from Shreveport, Louisiana and she has never adjusted to this place and the 1 hour commute is driving her crazy. We love the South, and feel that the bigger that Dallas gets the more it loses its Southern and Texan feel, and that breaks our hearts. To put it simply, we want to be back in a place that just oozes Southern.

I've lost my job in the last few months, my degree is in public relations and my last job was in marketing, but I'm not particular. My wife has her degrees in archaelogy and political science and a master's in Art History from UNC. She wants to start a career in historical preservation, but hasn't had any luck so far.

We know we want to move to the Southeast (we haven't exactly settled on which city so I'm trying to find out what I can about the ones we like) so I have been sending resumes out that way for a while now, but I know its going to be hard to land a job without actually be there. We're thinking that if we want to be out there so bad, we might as well just move in the next few months and take the risk and land a job when we get there. We have plenty of savings to get along for the better part of a year. So, any advice, tips or knowledge from moves without having a job lined up and about Jackson, Vicksburg or Natchez themselves would be appreciated!

Please let me know if I could provide any more information that would be helpful. Thanks in advance!

[jacksonian]

Your best chance at finding a job will be in Jackson. There are lots of marketing firms and design firms that provide marketing services as well. Also, Mississippi Department of Archives & History is in Jackson as well, and they deal with exactly what your wife is looking for. I know a guy who works there and really likes it. I have some contacts around town, so send me a private message if you're interested.

[Mississippienne]

It really depends on what you're after. Jackson is a bigger city and has more opportunity for jobs, as well as nightlife, restaurants, entertainment, etc. but the only section of Jackson that I'd say is appealing to live in is Fondren. There's a lot of ugly, rough, neighborhoods in Jackson.

Vicksburg is much smaller and nightlife is next to nonexistent, but it's a 'small town' type of city where you'll know everyone and their cousin after a year. If you and your wife want to live a slower paced Southern lifestyle, go to church, and relax with friends, then Vicksburg would be a good choice. Keep in mind like I said there's not a lot to do in Vicksburg, although I think they have or are getting a movie theater again soon.

Natchez is ridiculously beautiful, but the folks I know who live there say it's got a 'good ol' boy' system that runs the town. I was born there but never lived there when I wasn't in diapers, and can't say one way or the other as to it's livability.

[jhadorn]

Check out Clinton or Madison, both suburbs of Jackson and both are nice cities. There are few places I would want to live in the city limits of Jackson.

[jacksonian]

The few places in Jackson that everyone keeps mentioning to live in are comparable in size to most of the suburb towns, so keep that in mind if you choose to work in Jackson. Jackson homes are usually cheaper than those in the suburbs too, plus the proximity to work, stores, shopping is great as well.

[Singer4Him]

I'm from V'burg but if I were looking @ moving close to Jackson, it would be either Madison or Flowood. Both are very nice with great places to eat and shop. V'burg is nice, but there's not much to do here. For good dining and/or shopping, we have to go to Jackson (Madison, Ridgeland, or Flowood to be more specific).

Hope this helps.

[jaxnbulldog]

Living IN Jackson is a crapshoot. Fondren is OK, but I'd say Belhaven is a slightly better choice. Living outside the city limits is the best choice. Madison is a high nosed area, but with that comes pretty nice living conditions. Clinton is sorta like Madison, only not as high browed. Flowood and the area of Brandon in NW Rankin county are growing like mad and is a highly attractive place to live, but the traffic in and out of that area sucks during rush hours. Most other parts of Brandon is a pretty good choice also.

[sdwalker]

It really depends on what you are looking for, and where you could find a job... I currently live in Downtown Natchez, and have for most of my life... I adore it here... It definately is the most beautiful of the 3, and offers a slower pace lifestyle...It has a tremendous amount of history and a preservation society to match... It is a great place to raise a family, however, most children attend private schools... Finding jobs may be your biggest concern, but I say go for it!!

[pont neuf]

A bank in Madison, Ms has 4 openings for customer service reps. If you are really interested, then you will be able to find out the rest. Here is a profile of Madison,Ms.
http://www.city-data.com/city/Madison-Mississippi.html