HELP! moving to Golden Valley Co. / Billings Co. area (Grand Forks: crime, credit)

[goldenholden]

hello all! \

my wife and i are planning our next move, and wanted to blindly land and try out a new area of the world, as we usually do; and after a lot of research - trying to find small towns where it's safe, quiet, clean, and easy going (very "mayberry / andy griffith-like") - we have finally narrowed down the possible states to NORTH DAKOTA, the counties to GOLDEN VALLEY COUNTY and BILLINGS COUNTY, and the towns to BEACH, GOLVA, MEDORA, and SENTINEL BUTTE...

so if anybody would be kind enough to give their slants (i.e. all the pro's and con's) of that part of NORTH DAKOTA, we would greatly appreciate it.

if it helps: i'm a 45 year old actor and filmmaker, and she's a 35 year old retired model turned fashion designer. we don't need to find jobs, but we would need to find a house top rent.

almost forgot, when we looked at the MEDORA area on the map, we, of course, saw the NORTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD running right through it, and feel compelled to ask if that would be a "problem" in any way, shape, or form. meaning, i have friends who live in colorado springs and they say a railroad has really become a noise issue with them.

THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.

sincerely, Larry Holden and Hanne Kristiansen

PS: we usually shoot a film wherever we live, so if anybody out there is interested in getting involved in some capacity, feel free to let me know. for more info: my acting credits can be found at www.imdb.com, my directing credits at (broken link), and my wife's online store is at: (broken link)

[DaninEGF]

Hello

I live and work on the opposite side of the state (around Grand Forks)...but have been to Medora. Medora is the number one tourist location in North Dakota due to its location at the entrance to the southern unit of Theordore Roosevelt Natl Park...and the North Dakota bad lands. Medora in particular is a tourist town....with a nationally recognized golf course and a very popular Medora Musical and Pitch Fork Fondue, which everyone has to go to at least once. It is located right next to the Natl Park which has excellent hiking and horse trails and is beautful. Out side of the touristy part of Medora, probably not much there. I dont know how many full time residents there are.
I havent a clue on housing (sorry)...but often small towns have a limited amount of housing available.

As for the other towns, there are in the grasslands of southwest ND and very rural and in ranch country. Again housing availability may be an issue just due to the lack of people.

That area of ND is the warmest part of the state....can be 100-105 in the summer, but its cold does not last long...with below zero readings for more than a day very infrequent. It is windy there...but a dry climate with little humidity on most days.

Farther east is the town of Dickinson ND which is growing and is the nearest town for shopping and most services. Housing would be more available there.

That's all I know....good luck

Dan

[goldenholden]

Originally Posted by DaninEGF

Hello

I live and work on the opposite side of the state (around Grand Forks)...but have been to Medora. Medora is the number one tourist location in North Dakota due to its location at the entrance to the southern unit of Theordore Roosevelt Natl Park...and the North Dakota bad lands. Medora in particular is a tourist town....with a nationally recognized golf course and a very popular Medora Musical and Pitch Fork Fondue, which everyone has to go to at least once. It is located right next to the Natl Park which has excellent hiking and horse trails and is beautful. Out side of the touristy part of Medora, probably not much there. I dont know how many full time residents there are.
I havent a clue on housing (sorry)...but often small towns have a limited amount of housing available.

As for the other towns, there are in the grasslands of southwest ND and very rural and in ranch country. Again housing availability may be an issue just due to the lack of people.

That area of ND is the warmest part of the state....can be 100-105 in the summer, but its cold does not last long...with below zero readings for more than a day very infrequent. It is windy there...but a dry climate with little humidity on most days.

Farther east is the town of Dickinson ND which is growing and is the nearest town for shopping and most services. Housing would be more available there.

That's all I know....good luck

Dan

THANKS SO MUCH, DAN. SOUNDS GREAT. GUESS HOUSING WILL BE A MAJOR ISSUE, BUT HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET LUCKY SOMEHOW. THANKS AGAIN. ALL THE BEST. LH.

[ServNHim]

Hello there!!

Just stumbled upon your post via another post, We live in ND husband was born and raised here...I was from the big cities of California and Colorado. My husband asked me to give ND a try for ONE year. ( we were raising our 2 small kids)

after a full year! I love it! would NEVER go back to big city life. it's alot like Andy Griffith here! ...honestly. people wave as you pass them driving...people hold doors open for you...and you can take a person at their word!

Not sure about moving to Medora...it's beautiful..but a toursit town...very old and historical....and as for the railroad traffic...it's just like everyday traffic..you get used to it.

We actully live about 35 miles East of Medora in Dickinson. we are a small town...but not too small.

if you have any questions feel free to personally email me
servnhim@ndsupernet.com
Blessings!

[goldenholden]

Originally Posted by ServNHim

Hello there!!

Just stumbled upon your post via another post, We live in ND husband was born and raised here...I was from the big cities of California and Colorado. My husband asked me to give ND a try for ONE year. ( we were raising our 2 small kids)

after a full year! I love it! would NEVER go back to big city life. it's alot like Andy Griffith here! ...honestly. people wave as you pass them driving...people hold doors open for you...and you can take a person at their word!

Not sure about moving to Medora...it's beautiful..but a toursit town...very old and historical....and as for the railroad traffic...it's just like everyday traffic..you get used to it.

We actully live about 35 miles East of Medora in Dickinson. we are a small town...but not too small.

if you have any questions feel free to personally email me
servnhim@ndsupernet.com
Blessings!

I JUST WROTE YOU AT YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS. THANKS SO MUCH. HOPE OTHERS WILL LEND A HAND, TOO. THIS SITE IS AMAZING. EVERYBODY LENDING A HAND TO PERFECT STRANGERS. AMAZING. AT LEAST TO THIS ON AGAIN OFF AGAIN CYNIC. THANKS AGAIN!

[chester]

to goldenholden: I too would stick to western ND. It does not have the Mountains like CO, MT, or even the hills like SD, but the whole western part of the state from Dickinson north to Williston embraces the ND badlans, Theodore Roosevelt National parks North and South Units. Watford City would be another location to consider. It is just south of Williston, (similar to Dickinson in size and services) but only 12 miles from the North Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National park. Also, Lake Sakakawea is only 20 miles to the north, and close to the Montana border which Sidney and Fairview are both clean towns and in the Yellowstone Valley, and Williston is near the confluence of the Yellowstone and Missouri Rivers. go to www.discovernd.com and there is lots of info on this site.

[TimothyCharles]

Hello GoldenHolden,

I came across this post while doing some research and I was curious to see if you found housing in the western part of ND. Currently there is a Oil, Natural Gas, & Coal boom in eastern MT and western ND causing an increase in housing costs and a lack of vacancies. There are many different regions to both states each with their unique draws. Is your focus towards only the Beach, Baker, areas? I grew up in Montana and North Dakota and currently live on a farm in eastern ND. There are many great attractions to be found all over both states that still have affordable housing and excellent scenery. I wish you good luck in your search and I hope North Dakota continues to be inviting. Sincerely TC

[norangl]

Greetings from Western North Dakota!

I have lived in Western North Dakota most of my life, and although I live in Williston, to the north of the area you are considering, I am familiar with the towns you mentioned.

It is true, we are experiencing an oil boom at this time, and housing can be a challenge. It really depends on what you are looking for in a home. I think, though, that you will have a pleasant surprise at the value you will get in a home as compared to California, Colorado, etc. Friends from California informed me my modest 3 bedroom home would be worth around $4-500,000 if it were located there. I could sell it here for around $100,000. So you will likely be able to purchase a very nice home for a very reasonable price! And in some of the smaller towns such as Beach and Belfield, you might find one for $50,000.

The "Badlands" of North Dakota are beautiful, and have been featured in a number of films, including "Wooley Boys", so you should be able to find some footage to show you what it is like. In fact, I believe the town of Belfield was included in some of the Wooley Boys shooting.

People are very friendly, and crime is at a minimum. You may have to travel a bit to shop, but if you like the country lifestyle, you will love it here!

Temperatures vary from as high as 100+ some days in the summer to the occasional -30 in the winter. We have a lot of "snowbirds" who have homes in Arizona and Nevada during the winter months, if you can't handle the cold! The rest of us learn how to dress for the weather, have block heaters on our vehicles, and a warm home to spend our time in while riding out the cold spells.

Best wishes on your search for a new home!