What can you tell me about Forsyth? (Billings, Miles City: sex offenders, crime)

[inthemiddle]

We are interested in the idea of moving to Forsyth. It's a pretty area and a small town. However, is it 'too small' as in too 'clicky'? Also I'm guessing that the job market isn't much, but if I'm wrong, I'd love to know. What else can you tell me about the place? We live in a small town in Wyoming, so the 'lifestyle' probably wouldn't be that different. We do homeschool, how is that received in that area? We are dealing with a LOT of hostility with that in our area now, part of the reason we would like to move. How is water in the area? Are the wells good? Are there wells, or does everybody haul their water? And anything else you think we should know, anything at all!

Thanks!

[rickers]

I think the town gets it's water from the Bighorn river but I could be wrong. I was told by a realtor that most of the houses in the town of Elmo draw raw lake water directly out of Flathead Lake. According to the stats for Forsyth on the City-Data main site there are 5 registered sex offenders there. That page also shows water monitoring violations and the reasons for the violations usually just violations for not reporting (for many towns), it did show carbon and organic material as well as some chemical. Go check it out, anyone on this site considering moving should look at the data for any area considered.

[inthemiddle]

We would be interested in living out of town, so would like to have a place with a well, if the water is good. Here, the water is salty and nasty so we have to haul our water for drinking and for the animals. I wouldn't really miss having to do that. I did look up the stats on the main site, but more personal info is good. As far as the sex offenders, there were 0 when we moved here 6 years ago and now there are thirtysomething. It's kind of scary.

[EhlJay]

With regard to the water in Forsyth...the town sits on the Yellowstone River. If that end of the valley is the same as it is closer to Billings my guess would be wells are good water/good producing as long as you're down on the valley floor. Get up in the hills outside of town and you might likely be looking at low producing, poor quality wells (and be going the cistern/hauling water route).

I'm not sure where Forsyth's public water supply comes from but I would guess the Yellowstone River.

Forsyth is the county seat for Rosebud County. Maybe try and give the Rosebud County Clerk and Recorder a call for 'general info'? You can easily Google the number. We deal with issues relating to housing and I never hesitate to start my search for needed info by calling the local courthouse...in the smaller areas you'll generally find very friendly 'local' people in the courthouse who are happy to 'visit' with you about the area or refer you to someone they know that might be able to help (especially if they think you might be moving there and increasing their tax base!).

Many people in Montana homeschool. We didn't personally, but know many, many people who do. There's several very active homeschool organizations in the state. Here's a link that might be helpful:

Homeschool World: Montana Homeschool Organizations and Support Groups

The one at the bottom of the list (Yellowstone Coalition of Home Educators) is the closest to Forsyth. They might be able to give you some tips on homeschool friendly towns also.

Land and housing is getting kind of tight in the Forsyth area also due to the expansion of the mine in Colstrip (just south of Forsyth).

Some other nicer areas on this end of the state that would be friendly to homeschooling and have good water (if you stay in the bottom!) might be the valley between between Laurel and Red Lodge including towns like Joliet & Roberts and on the 'other' road Edgar, Fromberg and Bridger. The Columbus/Absarokee/Fishtail area (where we live) is also very friendly to homeschooling...same water situation.

Jobs are always an issue in the smaller towns here but if you stay close enough to Billings/Laurel you can always commute for work and still have the 'other' benefits of not being right in town (if you can't find work in the local town that is).

Hope some of that info helps a bit!

[JustaSmalltownGIRL]

Well I live in Forsyth. It's an ok town. We are 90miles from Billings a town of over 90,000, and 45 miles from Miles City(has about 8000). We are in the middle of the Yellowstone river, and then have cliffs on the other side. Our water is ok we did have some violations, and that was from having people working in there that didn't know what they were doing. There is a natural spring that people use to get there water from but they have sent out warnings about that. A few houses in town have wells for watering and stuff. If you are looking for a place out of town, I would just ask a realtor about the wells.
As for Forsyth being like wyoming.. Um we have a lot of ranchers and stuff so I guess it would be kinda of similar. As for work we have BNSF, and they are planning on hiring a few classes this year for conductors. Then the mine in colstrip. Those are the big jobs. We do have and emergency center, retirement homes, a few restaurants, bars, casinos, and stuff that always need help. I'm a stay at home mom while my husband works for the railroad.
As far as home school I dont see people giving you a hard time about it. We do have some things for kids. as of now my 4yearold is in preschool, taekwondo, and awanas so he stays pretty busy. Soccer starts at 5, Tball, and wrestling. We have and indoor pool, but its not open during the winter. a golf course, nice movie theater, and bowling ally, but the bowling alley isn't open all year around. we have fishing and the river its walking distance if you live in town. Um an IGA, 2 gas stations, a pharmacy, and a dq.
It is a small town, and if you are use to the small town feel then you wont have a problem with it. People do wave as you drive around town, and people are nice enough. They like to gossip though . There are things i love and hate about Forsyth. I moved here from Fortworth Texas so its a littls small for me. I really like Billings. But if you like hunting, fishing, the river, and small town life then Forsyth isnt to bad of a place. We float the river in the summers, and stuff. The only crime we have here is a bar fight from time to time. So I feel pretty safe in town. Feel free to ask me any question.

[inthemiddle]

Thanks everyone! That's all good stuff to know. Ehljay, thank you for the homeschooling link!
JustaSmalltownGIRL, Forsyth doesn't sound all that different from my small town. Is the taikwondo class pretty good? My daughter is in a karate class down here and just loves it. It would be nice to be able to continue that sort of thing. Do you know much about the 4-H program in the area and the local fair? Are they pretty good/friendly or more snobbish? Around here, if you aren't among the 'somebodies' you have a pretty hard time in 4-H. Also, is there a NAPA store in your town? That's what my husband does now, but he's open to suggestions.

Thanks for all the help!

[bigbucker00]

I can tell you it's a **** hole.

Got a good taco stand in town though. Love them tacos.

[rickers]

What may be viewed as a H**l hole to some can be viewed as heaven to others, but if there are good tacos there I want to visit and eat a few ! Oh by the way I was wrong about the bighorn river being the towns water supply, as another poster pointed out it is the Yellowstone river. The Main City-Data page for Forsyth shows surface water as the towns water source and shows the data on water monitoring violations etc.

[darklagerman]

Oooooh tacos. I do love some yummy tacos.

[JustaSmalltownGIRL]

The taekwondo class is great. It's been her for 20yrs, but the instructor is leaving this summer. She is looking for someone to take it over, but it hasn't happened yet. Hopefully someone will. Yeah we have a NAPA store on main street across from the movie theater. Um I don't know much about 4-H, but they do do stuff at the fair in the summer, sell wreaths during Christmas, and work the stands during the derby. Are people here snobby? Well they aren't outwardly friendly at first, but they warm up to you after sometime. I've never been snubbed taking my kid to story time at the library, or at church, taekwondo, awanas, and things so they are friendly somewhat. But they do like to gossip, and some may be kinda snobby. If you stay involved its not to bad. Forsyth isn't my dream town, but its not the worst town. We have lots of trees, the river, and rims. Some people think its pretty, me I hate small town life, but the fact that Billings is 90miles away keeps me happy.