Hows Willow Springs? (Farmington, West Plains, Ozark: home, find a job, high schools)

[bentaxlecrew]

Is there work in Willow Springs? How nice of an area is it? How are the schools compared to Farmington? Thanks Mo.

[Yankee Implant]

There is not much work in Willow Springs, you would have to drive 18 to 20 miles to find work. If you are ready to retire or have this would be a good town. If you are young and have kid(s) it really is quite boring! Summer the water park is open. As for entertainment... there isn't any, not even a skate park!!! The city wants this to be a retirement town with little or no growth at all. I don't know about the schools in Farmington, but here the school is really good! Hope I helped in your decision.

[OA 5599]

I grew up in Willow Springs and left about 5 years ago. In a lot of ways it is a really good place to live, and in some ways it is definitely not. The surrounding area itself is absolutley beautiful, and if you are into outdoor stuff, Willow Springs is a wonderful place to live. Within 10 minutes of downtown you can be in the Mark Twain National forest. Within half an hour you can be canoeing on the Jack's Fork or North Fork rivers. Other rivers (Eleven Point, Current) are within an hour or so. Lots of good fishing and deer hunting, and Norfork and Bull Shoals lakes aren't too far away either.

The schools are really quite good, and if you have children who want to learn there is plenty opportunity to do so. However, there are far too many kids in the district who are not there to learn, and only there to make disruptions and trouble. Bottom line on the schools is that if you want a good education there you can get it, but not everyone in school there wants to learn. I had no problem getting through college in engineering, and did just as well as students from suburban high schools in STL and KC.

There are few good jobs in Willow Springs. Basically the best jobs you can get in the area are usually either in education (teachers, administrators) or in healthcare. Other than that, there are few decent paying jobs. West Plains, 20 miles away, has a few more.

The people are very friendly but somewhat clickish. It is a small town so gossip is common.

The bottom line in Willow Springs, in my opinion, is that if you want to live in a rural area, off the beaten path, with pristine streams and peace and quiet, than it is for you, if you can find a job. If you aren't in to those type of things, then you probably won't like Willow. I'm glad I grew up there and love going home to visit, but now that I'm in my mid-20's it has little to offer me. However I do find myself missing the Ozarks fairly often.