"Mayberry like" towns? (Charlotte, Fayetteville: crime, purchase, schools)

[ohpenfam]

Originally Posted by Donna7

No, not Canal Fulton, but you are mighty close! Dare I name the little town and not get in trouble? Well, I better not, but you are close. How about if I say that the town starts with a "D" and is in Wayne County?

What a small world it is! LOL!

ROFL!!! I'm going there on February 16th as a matter of fact for a jewelry party at a friend of mine's (and she lives in that "lake" that probably has the most offenders of what you were talking about...haha). Yes, it is a small world. I love Canal Fulton, but you defintely described the cons of a small town perfectly. And everything you described, I can relate to here. It's a love/hate relationship really. I love that when I go grocery shopping, I know lots of people. I hate that I can't go to the grocery store without stopping 100 times to chat. LOL! So with our move south, we're looking for a small town, but not this small preferably.

[MariGirl]

Originally Posted by bjt

I am a seperated mother of three, and am looking to move from Sanford. Are there any small, everybody knows everybody towns like Mayberry left in North Carolina?
BJ

You already live near several that you may want to consider: (Unless by chance you are from Lee County and looking for a total change of scenery due to the seperation, in which case this won't be helpful).

Broadway is the closest to Sanford and is in Lee county. Carthage and Cameron are in Moore county. Lillington is in Harnett county. These towns are "Mayberry-ish" in that they are all tiny towns where (for the most part), everyone knows everyone and as previous posters have stated about small towns, many of the residents have lived there for generations. These places also, unfortunately all have the same small town drawbacks already stated. Have you noticed the abundance of certain surnames in these towns? That's b/c most of the people are kin to one another. So you just about have to be born into it to be fully accepted.
I agree that Mayberry is a fantasy created on TV. In real life it can be very difficult as an outsider to feel a part of a small town and imo the smaller the town, the more difficult it becomes. Some suggestions that might be helpful: regardless of size, getting involved in the community can help a person feel more connected, and most towns welcome volunteers. I realize this is more difficult for a working parent (first-hand experience), but it can be done. Whether through schools, sports, church, hospital, bread basket , community arts (make it a family thing if possible) - when someone is involved and making a contribution, even the hard-core locals tend to soften up a bit.
I also can second what some of the posters have said about sports in small towns.... it's very political... but then I would bet that goes on in a lot of towns. Our solution to make sure our kids got a fair shake was to volunteer and help coach or be team parent or whatever that helped keep us visible. Sometimes this was a big pain, but it helped our kids so it was worth it. Again, having friends in your situation, I know this is much harder for a single parent, but it can pay dividends in the long run. Good luck with your search.

[Bethanytedder]

Originally Posted by Donna7

No, not Canal Fulton, but you are mighty close! Dare I name the little town and not get in trouble? Well, I better not, but you are close. How about if I say that the town starts with a "D" and is in Wayne County?

What a small world it is! LOL!

Are you referring to Dudley, NC? That is in Wayne County. Come to Snow Hill and I can show you Mayberry almost, minus Barney that is. Although we have a man here that looks like Barney he just isn't a deputy.

[Donna7]

Bethany,

OMgoodness - amazing how many similarities there are between states - LOL! The town I'm referring to is in NE OH. But isn't is interesting how many similarities transfer from state to state as it pertains to small town America? Very interesting. Wishing you a great day!

[Donna7]

To Ohpenfam:

Thanks for your reply. Good luck with the jewelry party - wishing you and your family the very best! Nice "talking" with you - looking forward to more of your posts - I can relate to everything that you're saying.

[shannon&timothy]

I think the area of bear creek is very nice .. its up towards the zoo & you fill as if your near the mountians.. & its also home to the best fruit cake factory.. but still very small town but not to far from everything..i hope this was of help..

[ohpenfam]

Originally Posted by Donna7

To Ohpenfam:

Thanks for your reply. Good luck with the jewelry party - wishing you and your family the very best! Nice "talking" with you - looking forward to more of your posts - I can relate to everything that you're saying.

Sending you a PM........I actually think I had the wrong city. LOL!

[Guru's Guru]

BJ

I would not listen to all of the nay-sayers on this board. We moved to the Fremont-Pikeville Wayne County area (from Raleigh) in 2001. Got a terrific deal on a circa 1969 home outside city limits (just over an acre, brick 1300 sf, private setting) the house had been vacant for several years as the owner had passed. It needed some work including a new roof and new heating/AC.

The asking price was $50K, got it down to $40K. The local Bank we use was so impressed, they added an additional $10K for new roof and heating/AC, total $50K, zero down, 10 year loan. There are still deals like this around here.

We know of another fantastic deal on a circa 1890 home with over an acre of land, we're trying to get some of our relatives to consider leaving the rat race where they are now and come home' to eastern NC.

The people in downtown Fremont-Pikeville are easy to become friends with. The post office is a social meeting place of sorts, as well as a bar, a photographer, Fremont Historical Society, Curves, Banks and more. We are an easy 15 minute drive from all the amenities in Goldsboro or Wilson via a new Hwy 117 (speed limit is 70) In Pikeville we have a new Chinese place as well as a new Mexican eatery. Life is good here. It is much akin to the Mayberry legend.

So check the real estate websites, make a visit to the Fremont-Pikeville area Good Luck!
try:
http://www.newsleadernow.com/
http://www.newsargus.com/

[coloradofam]

We lived there for 3 years and only moved because we had to for my husbands work. We always joked about it being 'Mayberry' . It's a beautiful smallish mountain town, but close to Asheville. There are small parades and the mayor even lights the town christmas tree in a sweet ceremony. Good schools, safe, lots of house choices, etc.
Good luck!

[sprtsluvr8]

Originally Posted by liveInNC

towns where everyone knows each other are usally towns where the population has been the same families for generations. 3rd or 4th generation families in the same house. Coming in as an outsider in one of these towns you'll feel more of an outcast and not one of the townfolk unless you try really hard to fit in and absorb the local customs and such.

Wait, remember when Helen Crump moved to Mayberry? Andy welcomed her to town by dating her for 30 years and she was accepted by the locals. Of course it was a scandal when Opie outed his dad after accidently walking in on Andy and Howard Sprague in a compromising position...

My family lived in Davie County for about 5 years when I was in middle school. It was VERY much what liveInNC said...we were pretty much outsiders from the big city the entire time we lived there. Some people were more accepting of non-natives, but more often there was a kind of clique-ish suspicios atmosphere. About half the town were cousins. I hear it's not so secluded anymore...Winston-Salem/Clemmons is sprawling out there, with subdivisions galore. One of them is a golf course gated community with a landing strip and hangars for the residents' planes.