Chillicothe ...what is it like????? (Springfield, Ozark: mattress, school, community college)

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by michandmiked

The home prices are good, the schools are rated well and we are looking for a better place to raise the kids. We just wanted to hear from people like you on the real life, not just the statistics that I have read.THANKS

The overall pace of life would be very slow if you are coming from NJ. The people in the rural towns can be a bit reserved until they get to know you a little better. Overall, I have found people in the smaller towns to be fairly friendly compared to bigger cities. Chillicothe is not to far away from Kirksville, and a little further drive to the Kansas City metro.

[havns3]

i personally like chillicothe although the town doesn't offer all ammenities that some would like it is a nice town with plenty of resturants a new lowes store and a brand new wal-mart supercenter it offers all the nessecities that a person would need.

[MoNative34]

Originally Posted by michandmiked

The home prices are good, the schools are rated well and we are looking for a better place to raise the kids. We just wanted to hear from people like you on the real life, not just the statistics that I have read.THANKS

I'm glad I was able to provide some personable info to you instead of statistics. It's a nice town and a good place to raise kids. Good luck in your search for a change in pace!

[Hockeynut]

Well slow is great. I live in Philly Pa and fast we are so use to doing. Bring on slow and 45 minute to 1 hour drives to work are the norm for most of us east coast peeps. Oh yeah bring on the slow, backward rural outdoor plumbing life. Ok um forget the last part about outdoor plumbling roflmao I need a phone close by Muaaahhhhaaaaa. In all seriousness list to the people who respond to your questions the people on this site are the best and do as they say visit each place because what is paradise to one person can be hell to another. I actually plan on heading out to missouri for about 4-5 days and checking out areas personally you will do yourself an injustice if you dont. Good luck with your search.

[GraniteStater]

I have been to Chillicothe. It is a growing town economically, and most of the people are very friendly. I was just alerting the OP that any rural town will be a drastic culture shock if they are moving from New Jersey. NJ is the most urban state in the US. Overall, I found the people of the town to be reserved and friendly. I find economic statistics to be very important, and a good indication of how a particular town and county are doing. I can not comment on the school aspect. Maybe another poster could share some information about that.

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by Hockeynut

Well slow is great. I live in Philly Pa and fast we are so use to doing. Bring on slow and 45 minute to 1 hour drives to work are the norm for most of us east coast peeps. Oh yeah bring on the slow, backward rural outdoor plumbing life. Ok um forget the last part about outdoor plumbling roflmao I need a phone close by Muaaahhhhaaaaa. In all seriousness list to the people who respond to your questions the people on this site are the best and do as they say visit each place because what is paradise to one person can be hell to another. I actually plan on heading out to missouri for about 4-5 days and checking out areas personally you will do yourself an injustice if you dont. Good luck with your search.

You have the right ideas! I know many people who have moved to the Midwest from the East Coast. Some of the reasons they cite as positives are the slower pace, many friendly people, lower housing costs, lower taxes, less congestion, and more open spaces to enjoy.
Outhouses are reserved for northern Wisconsin. The rest stops along the sides of the road are called waysides, and they are out in the middle of the woods.

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by michandmiked

We are looking to move to Chillicothe from NJ. What is like? The People? The land? The Schools? I am very concerned about flooding, are we safe there? We have two children and also want to know about MO College programs...Please help us! Thanks~

If I may ask are you coming from a large metro area in NJ or a smaller community? MO has many larger and smaller cities to choose from as well as college towns. MO has many universities. MU is located in Columbia which is in the center of the state. Missouri State University is located in Springfield, which is in the SW part of the state. Truman State University is located in Kirksville which is northeast of Chillicothe. Central Missouri State University is in Warrensburg. MU is a big school and has MANY programs to choose from. It is also one of the most diverse smaller cities in the state of Missouri.

The land is flat with some hills in the north with much more forest land in the southern part of the state. The climate has four seasons, but the winters are much warmer compared with many years ago.

I would not be concerned about flooding. Just make sure that when you buy a property that it is not listed as being in the floodplain. Most towns do not have housing in floodplain areas for the most part.

Make sure you visit MO soon, and best of luck!

[Hockeynut]

Hehe great post Plains I am still laughing

[dutchess9950]

Is a nice midwest small town nice park ggod schools 11/2 hr from Kansas City of Columbia.

[northbayeric]

Originally Posted by Plains10

If I may ask are you coming from a large metro area in NJ or a smaller community? MO has many larger and smaller cities to choose from as well as college towns. MO has many universities. MU is located in Columbia which is in the center of the state. Missouri State University is located in Springfield, which is in the SW part of the state. Truman State University is located in Kirksville which is northeast of Chillicothe. Central Missouri State University is in Warrensburg. MU is a big school and has MANY programs to choose from. It is also one of the most diverse smaller cities in the state of Missouri.

Make sure you visit MO soon, and best of luck!

There's also Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, located about an hour or so west of Chillicothe, and an easy drive along U.S. Highway 36. Park University in Parkville and William Jewell College in Liberty are among a number of universities in the Kansas City metro area.

MoNative, sorry for being a bit late getting back here; a high school friend of mine flew out here to CA and we spent a few days hiking and visiting a few wineries up in southern Oregon (now I've got to get back to work and keep pressing on to get moved back to St. Joseph!). To the OP, I would have to mainly defer to Plains10 and other posters more familiar with Chillicothe. I drove through it on my way from St. Joseph to Hannibal and it looks like it's in an attractive, if somewhat remote setting. I didn't get off the highway, so all I could mainly see were some fast food restaurants as I cruised by. It would seem unlikely that you could become a tycoon working in Chillicothe, but I think you would experience a culture shock in a good way by relocating there from New Jersey.