Looking for a small town with a near by....

[christina0001]

Springfield is lovely, but if you like to at least be able to visit the big city, you'll want to stay within an hour of Kansas City or St. Louis. Both cities are great and offer all the amenities you want. I can't speak for St. Louis but there are plenty of tiny, friendly towns within an hour of KC. I work in Cass County and once you are south of Raymore (which is a great town but sounds like it would be bigger than what you are looking for), there are plenty of options. There is a hospital (Cass Medical Center) in Harrisonville, Cass County...there is also a hospital (Golden Valley Memorial) in Clinton, which is in Henry County. Harrisonville and Clinton have well under 20,000 people, are very friendly, but are big enough to have at least the basic amenities you would expect (grocery store, WalMart, a couple of clothes stores, maybe as many as a dozen restaurants). There is plenty of water around, and the KC airport is about 50 - 60 minutes from Harrisonville, maybe an extra 20-30 minutes coming from Clinton.

I would ditto the suggestion for St. Joseph (which is a gorgeous town IMO) but I am fairly sure their population exceeds 20k. However, a town in between Kansas City and St. Joseph might be another excellent option.

[OA 5599]

You may want to check out Farmington. Its less than 20k, and 1-1.5 hours south of St. Louis. Seems like a fairly nice town from the few times I've been to it.

[befigard]

Missouri Listings Search I live 35 minutes from Springfield...and have a 3 bed/2 bath manufactured home listed on this site. Taxes are under 300 a year...yes thats right under 300. Schools are FANTASTIC here....my son is special needs...he was born with many physical as well as mental issues and has mild FAS. The school system here has worked with him enough, he is NO LONGER IN SPECIAL ED...and thriving in regular classes, much to my amazement. Population of 607, very very freindly people, the kind that stop and help if you are along side the road, wave as you drive by....stop and chat in grocery line, Know your first name and not afraid to say hi.....or stop by and offer up some fresh produce. THE WAY NEIGHBORS SHOULD BE~~~~~~~~~

[bearcatprof]

Try Nevada. It is a college town, but it's not your typical one - the women's junior college has only 330 students. There's not the traffic, etc... that comes with your typical college town, but Cottey College does bring cultural events to the area that are great.

Nevada is 90 miles from KC, 45 min from Joplin, 40 minutes to Stockton Lake (one of the top sailboating lakes in the country) and near rivers and smaller lakes. It sits off a major highway, has a great hospital, a large 3M plant that brings a professional/educated contingent to town, and a low cost of living. There are two private schools, but the public school system is terrific.

The local economy is stable, thanks to the College, 3M, and a few other businesses that don't fluctuate. It's a great place to raise a family - I moved back here 20 years after having gone to college here and am enjoying it.

[Hazel W]

How is apartment living in Nevada? How about libraries and book stores?

Thanks. Hazel