Relocating to Forest City: Where to live?

[nateMN]

Originally Posted by southbound_295

I would suggest that you look at Forest City first & if it's too rural, look at Kings Mountain. Kings Mountain will get you 15 to 20 minutes from shopping in Gastonia,. It's in Cleveland & Gaston Counties, make sure that you're on the Cleveland side, for schools.

Every town in the area has been very hard-hit.

Thanks for the input. I'll take a look at Kings Mountain for one of the areas.
Hard-hit from a housing market standpoint? Economy?

[southbound_295]

Originally Posted by nateMN

Thanks for the input. I'll take a look at Kings Mountain for one of the areas.
Hard-hit from a housing market standpoint? Economy?

Everything west of Charlotte has been hit hard.because of the textile industry going overseas followed by the recession. Some areas also were hit by the furniture industry going overseas. I suspect that you will be at a facility that was brought into Rutherford County to provide some jobs.

Kings Mountain is commuteable to Charlotte. However, it's actually closer to Charlotte than Forest City. The downtown is being revived. Look on the website Greatschools & it's your best choice for schools if you don't want to be in Forest City. Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy is the charter school in Rutherford County. I know that you don't need schools right now, but you will.

Also, Levine Children's Hospital is in Charlotte & they are building another facility in Gastonia.

[coped]

Originally Posted by NCN

When you can live in God's country, why would you be looking for a residence in sin city. We like to vacation in Lake Lure and if you have millions of dollars that would be a good place outside of Forest City.

LOL. Sin city. God's country. You're funny. You have heard of meth, right?

Stay away from Lake Lure. The town has allowed chemical dumping in that lake for years. It is not safe to swim in. The town there is redneck, too. Chimney Rock is much nicer.

Forest City doesn't have a Target, but it does have a Wal-Mart and a movie theater. I will say that I was surprised by how nice Shelby seemed. They've done some renovation of the downtown area and some of the places there are nice. But the traffic on 74 during rush hours can be bad.

[theoldnorthstate]

not true.

or prove.

[NCRNStudent]

I know a lot about Forest City (I grew up there). It's a small town, there isn't much to do, and the job picture isn't great. That being said, I was 25 minutes from Spartanburg, SC (I lived on the NC/SC border), 1 hour from Greenville, SC, about an hour from Charlotte (I also lived close to the Cleveland County line), about 35 minutes to Gastonia, and an hour from Asheville.

While there isn't much to do in FC, it's a safe place. Crime isn't all that high, and it tends to be pretty peaceful. It's hot and humid in the summer, not all that cold in the winter, and pleasant in the other months. We do get some severe weather in the form of thunderstorms, hail, etc.

[mm34b]

Originally Posted by nateMN

Let me clarify when I say larger I don't mean Charlotte necessarily. Somewhere large enough they have shopping malls, restaurants, Target, etc. I don't need a down town feel, just not in the middle of nowhere.

No Targets in the Forest City area. The closest one would probably be in Spartanburg, SC. Others would be Arden and Hickory, NC.

Forest City Climate - http://www.sercc.com/cgi-bin/sercc/cliMAIN.pl?nc3150

[southbound_295]

Originally Posted by mm34b

No Targets in the Forest City area. The closest one would probably be in Spartanburg, SC. Others would be Arden and Hickory, NC.

Theres a new, big Target in Gastonia.

[mm34b]

Originally Posted by southbound_295

Theres a new, big Target in Gastonia.

Thanks for the update!

[southbound_295]

Originally Posted by mm34b

Thanks for the update!

You're welcome. It's next to/behind the Gaston Mall, which is going by a different name, which I can't recall. It opened last October.

[theoldnorthstate]

OP

Two suggestions:

why not give a real go to small town USA? You may find you like it. Forest City and Rutherfordton are nice towns, look like 1950ish brick towns with lovely courthouse, have a good hospital, and seem to be reemerging. NY Times list authors and nationally known musicians live there. Some effort is going into building up museums, music, etc. There were Revolutionary War Battles there. The first gold found in America was in Rutherford County and the first national mint. Look up Rutherfordton and Rutherford County on the internet. Lots of effort going on and you could be part of it.

it might be a good idea to live near others of your peer group at work. be it Forest City, Kings Mountain or anywhere in between. That can help you grow a network and fit yourself into the community. You are facing a major change and that might ease the transition.

Full disclosure, I was born in Rutherford County, raised in Black Mountain, and went to UNC-A and an adult in Asheville so I pretty well know the area. I have lived all over the world but have always gone home to visit. So I have kept in touch. Last month I drove through Rutherfordton and thought to myself that I wouldn't mind buying one of the historic houses and call it home again. A little work but they are so beautiful. Still might