Are the plains dying? (Fargo, Bismarck: living, vs., garden)

[irvm]

Originally Posted by davednorris

Hi Mackinak81,

When I said "I get the sense that it's "Get all the people we can to move here. I don't care what kind of people, just get them here" I didn't mean I got that sense from your entry. I just get that sense from what I see in the media and other sources. I was generalizing I guess.

Of course that's what you see in the media - newspapers, radio and tv all get paid based on how many people are reading/watching them.
Politicians are always for growth - more power for them, more money to spend.
Business owners prefer more customers - until there's enough customers for Walmart to come in and put them out of business.

The only people who lose when things grow are the folks who just want to live a peaceful life, surrounded by friendly people and pleasant countryside.

[mackinac81]

Hi Dutchinnd,

Yeah, when I saw your username I thought you had to be from the mitten

I'm reading more encouraging stuff than I thought. You see, I just got my teaching degree, and there is no real market for teachers (or anyone, for that matter). I'd really like a social climate similar to W. Michigan, but with all the bad news I've heard from the plains I didn't even consider it. I might just research Fargo/Bismarck etc... and see what I like.

[roundball]

Originally Posted by davednorris

Hi Vndak,

I think roundball was saying "The truth is housing cost more, the schools aren't as good, and the crime is way worse." that these things are worse in the city he lives in now, not in ND. They just make enough in salary that they can compensate for these bad things, by affording to live in a safe neighbor hood and paying the tuition to put their children in private/better schools. Don't mean to speak for you roundball, please forgive me if I'm wrong on this.

Dave N.
<><

You summed it up pretty good.

It was in no way meant to be a put down to ND. Unfortunately ND can't compete with most of the U.S. on wages. ND can be a nice place to live. My point was that with the higher wages offered in other states people can live elsewhere and still be happy. Thats why so many young people with/without degrees from ND end up in the Twin Cities, Denver, Seattle, and Phoenix. We receive the UND Alumni magazine and if you look in the back, there are always gathering in these four cities.

So are the plains dying? No they aren't dying. It is a national trend that more people are migrating to major metropolitan areas because of the opportunities that they can offer. It more of a rural to city trend.

I know some people had some issues with my first post. Mo I wasn't flaming or trying to stir things up. Thats not my style. Maybe I should of reread my post before I posted it and either left out some things or clarified it more.

To the cost of living question: Yes, housing is expensive. I bet my groceries are cheaper and our electric bills are about the same. I know my taxes are less. Gas is cheaper here, unfortunately I most likely spend more time in the car than you do so thats a wash also. My point was that if my wages are twice here what they are there I can get by with a more expensive house.

[dutchinnd]

[Yeah, when I saw your username I thought you had to be from the mitten

I'm reading more encouraging stuff than I thought. You see, I just got my teaching degree, and there is no real market for teachers (or anyone, for that matter). I'd really like a social climate similar to W. Michigan, but with all the bad news I've heard from the plains I didn't even consider it. I might just research Fargo/Bismarck etc... and see what I like.[/quote]

I wish I had better news for you on the teaching front. With North Dakota State University, Minnesota State University-Moorhead and Concordia College all producing education majors, the teaching market in Fargo-Moorhead itself is quite tight. But it would still be worth trying:
Fargo Public Schools and Moorhead Public Schools have a reputation for being somewhat difficult for an unknown to get hired. West Fargo Public Schools certainly is the fastest growing district in the metro region at the moment.
I have no knowledge of the situation of the Bismarck-Mandan education scene, other than knowing that there are not near the number of 4-year colleges nearby.
That being said, there are number of opportunities still for education grads in the FM area. I know of number of people who ended up getting hired on by Microsoft as training staff due to their education backgrounds.

[mackinac81]

Thanks for the links, dutchinnd. I'll definitely look into all of this

[MikeyToo]

Originally Posted by mackinac81

Hi Dutchinnd,

Yeah, when I saw your username I thought you had to be from the mitten

I'm reading more encouraging stuff than I thought. You see, I just got my teaching degree, and there is no real market for teachers (or anyone, for that matter). I'd really like a social climate similar to W. Michigan, but with all the bad news I've heard from the plains I didn't even consider it. I might just research Fargo/Bismarck etc... and see what I like.

I'll be moving to the Lake Metigoshe area this summer (semi-retiring). I will also be looking for some kind of part time work. While checking out the ND Job services website, I came across the following info:

Job Service North Dakota

Click on Rolette North Dakota county. There are a number of teaching positions listed for Belcourt, ND which is Indian Reservation country. Although, not a hot-bed of social activaties for a young person, may be somewhere to start. There is a big casino close by, if thats your bag... You are close to one of the best all-season recreational areas in North Dakota (Lake Metigoshe) which has good fishing(many lakes in the area), snow mobiling, walking trails, cross-country and down-hill skiing. Some salaries seem to be higher than the norm compared to a typical small town in North Dakota. Good luck!

MikeyToo

[Corbay]

I would caution you from doing as Mikey says. I will say no more.

[mackinac81]

I would caution you from doing as Mikey says. I will say no more.

Well, now you have me curious.

[MikeyToo]

Originally Posted by Corbay

I would caution you from doing as Mikey says. I will say no more.

Making a comment like that without giving any factual reason(s) dosn't help anyone on this thread.

[Corbay]

Making a comment like that without giving any factual reason(s) dosn't help anyone on this thread.

Let's just say that "outsiders" are not exactly welcome in some places.

I don't want to get our beloved mod excited.