Relocating to the Carolinas (Charlotte, Raleigh: best cities, safe area, public schools)

[BrokenRoad]

Hi Everyone ---

We are considering relocating to the Carolinas. We have a 10-month old, and are currently live in the D.C. area. Obviously, we don't want to raise our child in this area.
Does anyone have any insight into nice, family-oriented, warm areas in the Carolinas? We prefer to be at most within a few hours to the coast, and would like to live in a predominantly American, White town/neighborhood. In the D.C. area, this is pretty much impossible.
We are considering the Charlotte, Raleigh and Columbia areas.
Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!

[urbancharlotte]

Originally Posted by BrokenRoad

Hi Everyone ---

We are considering relocating to the Carolinas. We have a 10-month old, and are currently live in the D.C. area. Obviously, we don't want to raise our child in this area.
Does anyone have any insight into nice, family-oriented, warm areas in the Carolinas? We prefer to be at most within a few hours to the coast, and would like to live in a predominantly American, White town/neighborhood. In the D.C. area, this is pretty much impossible.
We are considering the Charlotte, Raleigh and Columbia areas.
Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Loudoun county Virginia has a much larger percentage of whites than Raleigh, Charlotte, and Columbia. Personally, I'd try some of those outer counties in NoVa. NC and SC (especially the major cities of both states) really aren't the places for folks who wish to be away from ethnic diversity. New England or the rural areas of the Midwest would get you closer to what you want than the south would.

[Tarheelhombre]

Originally Posted by BrokenRoad

Hi Everyone ---
We prefer to be at most within a few hours to the coast, and would like to live in a predominantly American, White town/neighborhood. In the D.C. area, this is pretty much impossible.


Thanks!

Wow, at least you're honest about your racist preferences. Just wow!

[BrokenRoad]

Originally Posted by Tarheelhombre

Wow, at least you're honest about your racist preferences. Just wow!

So now a person isn't even allowed to live in a preferred demographic area? What if I was a person of color, and was looking for a predominantly african American community? Would I be a racist then? Of course not, only if it's a White person trying to raise his family in a safe area.
Save the self-righteousness please...

[brocco]

most southern states- the carolinas included- have a fairly large african american population. that said, most communities are segregated and its certainly possible to live in a neighborhood of primarially whites. just don't expect to never see a black person at the grocery store or out and about. i feel like its like this everywhere, though?

[arbyunc]

Originally Posted by BrokenRoad

So now a person isn't even allowed to live in a preferred demographic area? What if I was a person of color, and was looking for a predominantly african American community? Would I be a racist then? Of course not, only if it's a White person trying to raise his family in a safe area.
Save the self-righteousness please...

Yeah, because everybody knows white=safe, and African-American=unsafe. You might want to stay clear of NC. We do have people of different races here, so you're likely to be murdered or raped, or worse, you might actually get to know some people of color who might change your racist views. You wouldn't want that now, would you?

And yes, if you were a person of color seeking to label other races as unsafe, I'd say you'd be a racist then, too.

[urbancharlotte]

Originally Posted by BrokenRoad

So now a person isn't even allowed to live in a preferred demographic area? What if I was a person of color, and was looking for a predominantly african American community? Would I be a racist then? Of course not, only if it's a White person trying to raise his family in a safe area.
Save the self-righteousness please...

This kinda goes back to my first post on this thread. NC/SC are not the best states for folks (white, Asian, Black, Hispanic, or any race) who wish to be away from ethnic diversity. There are many "white only" suburbs in America, but the south isn't really built like that. We don't have Asian, Black, White, Hispanic areas of town. Everyone (for the most part) lives together. I'll admit, there are some neighborhoods where one might find 80% or better of just one race. However, you will be "just around the corner" from an area with a large number of other races.

Also keep in mind that two out of the three cities you asked about (Charlotte and Columbia) have black males as mayors. Charlotte also recently elected an openly lesbian black city council woman. In the case of Columbia and Charlotte, your kids would be in the minority within the public schools (in Charlotte, you and your wife would represent only 45% of the total population).

It is my opinion that you might want to re-think your choices of cities and states. This is by no means me trying to judge your personal wants. I'm just trying to let you know that your ethnic reasons for wanting out of the DC metro will be the same reasons why you will want out of NC/SC.

I am not a huge fan of this particular list (best cities for African Americans) but you should try to stay away from cities that made this list. FWIW, DC, Charlotte, and Raleigh are all on the list.

Top 10 Cities For African-Americans To Live (Jacksonville)
Top 10 Cities For African-Americans To Live (Columbus)
Top 10 Cities For African-Americans To Live (Indianapolis)
Top 10 Cities For African-Americans To Live (Charlotte)
Top 10 Cities For African-Americans To Live (Dallas)
Top 10 Cities For African-Americans To Live (Nashville)
Top 10 Cities For African-Americans To Live (Houston)
Top 10 Cities For African-Americans To Live (Raleigh-Durham)
Top 10 Cities For African-Americans To Live (Atlanta)
Top 10 Cities For African-Americans To Live (Washington DC)

^^^This does NOT mean that these great cities are "good for blacks; bad for whites". It simply means that blacks are statistically doing well in these cities compared to other cities. So, when I see a white family wanting out of a city that made this list due to ethnic reasons (cities where blacks are doing relatively well I might add); that tells me alot.

What it says to me (and this is the nicest way I can think of putting it) is that my city and state will not work for your family. Good luck with your search. Maybe Johnson County Kansas might work for your family. I've recently read that JoCo Kansas has a long and proud history of "doing what it takes" to keep out the "undesirables". IMO, it sounds like the type of place your family would LOVE. Here's the census info on that suburban county of Kansas City (and note that KC did not make the listing above).

Johnson County QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau

[Francois]

I agree that if OP wants somewhere "White", they should look more towards the Plains/Midwest states, not the Southeast.

[goldenage1]

Originally Posted by BrokenRoad

We are considering the Charlotte, Raleigh and Columbia areas. Any help would be appreciated.

Your desire to be in a predominantly white area is more likely to be fufilled if you look at an upper-income town like Lexington, SC outside of Columbia, SC at 82% white, or a town in the mountains like Franklin, NC (about 93% white). Near Raleigh, you might check out Saxapahaw, NC which is 86% white and looks like a quaint little town. Here's some info on the events going on in Saxapahaw: http://www.saxgenstore.com/

The coastal areas have larger African-American populations for historic reasons, and the coastal areas also have growing Hispanic populations to satisfy the demand for cheap labor.

[Gapeach69]

Try Tega Cay, SC. Very close to Charlotte, lower taxes and predominantly white. I had a Fort Mill magazine and I believe it said there's 90% white pop there. Top rated school system as well.