southern ohio (Columbus, Dayton, Springfield: home, employment, buying)

[Mastershake]

The wife and I are looking for a home in southern ohio. We're currently in Springfield and we hate it! I've lived here all my life and am sick of the crime, bad schools, crackheads and bums. We want to find a small town in southern ohio with decent job oppurtunities and good schools. Somewhere we can raise our first child without all the headaches of life in a larger city. I've been looking at Ironton closely and really like it so far.....anyone who has/does live there or near there have any advice? It seems to good to be true and before I invest the time to go down there for a couple of days I'm hoping someone will give me the "inside scoop" on it.

[Crew Chief]

Originally Posted by Mastershake

The wife and I are looking for a home in southern ohio. We're currently in Springfield and we hate it! I've lived here all my life and am sick of the crime, bad schools, crackheads and bums. We want to find a small town in southern ohio with decent job oppurtunities and good schools. Somewhere we can raise our first child without all the headaches of life in a larger city. I've been looking at Ironton closely and really like it so far.....anyone who has/does live there or near there have any advice? It seems to good to be true and before I invest the time to go down there for a couple of days I'm hoping someone will give me the "inside scoop" on it.

Mastershake, I'm with you! We're immigrants to the Dayton suburbs and like it a lot here. But we, too, would move to a smaller town if we could have good employment and good schools (with decent teacher wages...) I love trucking thru Southern and SE Ohio and see what beauty there is. But the economic opportunities just aren't there. I'm actually hoping that Governor Strickland will be a positive for improving Southern Ohio. They need it even more than we do here in Dayton/Springfield...

[Ohiogirl81]

How far east do you want to go? The area around Marietta is just breathtaking, and Marietta isn't suffering from the same rust-belt problems (unemployment and everything that comes with it) that Ironton and Portsmouth do. Or what about Athens?

[LancasterNative]

I don't blame you for wanting to get away from Springfield. From everything I've observed, it's got ALL of the big-city problems with NONE of the big-city amenities. Yuck...

As for southern and southeast Ohio, in my book this is a little slice of God's country! I love S/SE Ohio, but then I can't help being a tad biased

Never been to Ironton, but from what I hear it's a nice town. I have been to nearby Wheelersburg, Portsmouth and Waverly—all very cool places with a definite bucolic charm. The latter two are county seats. Portsmouth appears a little dowdy on the surface, as it's been economically hard-hit. But the folks there are really nice.

Some other suggestions...

Logan has a thriving tourism industry, as it lies at the heart of the Hocking Hills region. It's economy seems A-OK.

Athens is the home of OU. Its population more than doubles during the school year. Big commitment to schools and education there (duh!) One possible downside though, being the home of a large university: Athens attracts more than its share of hippies, communists and other freaks. Think Yellow Springs on steroids.

Nelsonville is another nice tourist town close to the Hocking Hills, much smaller than its neighbors. While the small-town charm is certainly there, job opportunities may be more limited.

Marietta is another county seat on the Ohio River with a surprisingly strong economy for this region, and it's absolutely loaded with charm—both historic and natural beauty.

Chillicothe lies right along U.S. 23, the center of its own "micropolitan" area with many folks who commute from other areas to work there, mostly in smaller-scale manufacturing. Some cool historic sites there as well.

Naturally, I can't complete this list w/o a plug for my hometown of Lancaster. Decent job opportunities, mixed economy, and amenities you'd expect in a larger town. Close to Columbus, but not engulfed by its suburban "sphere" (and I assure you the local folks want to keep it that way)!

Hope this helps!

[LancasterNative]

Originally Posted by Crew Chief

I'm actually hoping that Governor Strickland will be a positive for improving Southern Ohio.

I hear ya! Must admit although I didn't vote for him, I'm actually optimistic and willing to give the guy a chance. It will be interesting to see what he comes up with to free up the economy and get Ohio out of its economic doldrums.

I definitely like how Strickland presents himself: a gun-totin' good ol' boy from southern Ohio. What a refreshing contrast to that weenie Taft!

[Crew Chief]

Originally Posted by LancasterNative

I hear ya! Must admit although I didn't vote for him, I'm actually optimistic and willing to give the guy a chance. It will be interesting to see what he comes up with to free up the economy and get Ohio out of its economic doldrums.

I definitely like how Strickland presents himself: a gun-totin' good ol' boy from southern Ohio. What a refreshing contrast to that weenie Taft!

LN, I'm pretty much disgusted with BOTH parties, but I hope that Gov. Ted will be an improvement over the last regime... (and I tend to see myself as a Republican with lots of Libertarian thrown in...) I'm really glad we settled here in The Heart of it All. Didn't really know that much about OH before we got here but am liking it more every day. (And finally having roots somewhere and not expecting military orders is nice, too )

[LancasterNative]

Originally Posted by Crew Chief

LN, I'm pretty much disgusted with BOTH parties, but I hope that Gov. Ted will be an improvement over the last regime... (and I tend to see myself as a Republican with lots of Libertarian thrown in...) I'm really glad we settled here in The Heart of it All. Didn't really know that much about OH before we got here but am liking it more every day. (And finally having roots somewhere and not expecting military orders is nice, too )

To be an improvement over Taft shouldn't be too hard. LoL...

Like you, I've always leaned Republican but the past few years have left me disgusted with both parties. Soon as the 'Pubbies got elected on their promises to shrink government, they got comfy with power and started growing it even more. Grrrrr...

Anyway, very glad you've settled and made a home here in Ohio. While there's no perfect place for everyone, it's a great state to call home. There was even talk a few years ago, when they wanted to retire "The Heart of It All" and come up with a new slogan, of having something like "Ohio...Just Fine, Thanks!"

[Orwelleaut]

Originally Posted by Mastershake

The wife and I are looking for a home in southern ohio. We're currently in Springfield and we hate it! I've lived here all my life and am sick of the crime, bad schools, crackheads and bums. We want to find a small town in southern ohio with decent job oppurtunities and good schools. Somewhere we can raise our first child without all the headaches of life in a larger city. I've been looking at Ironton closely and really like it so far.....anyone who has/does live there or near there have any advice? It seems to good to be true and before I invest the time to go down there for a couple of days I'm hoping someone will give me the "inside scoop" on it.

Never been down to Ironton, but have read about the area and would like to visit. Very beautiful scenery, I understand, especially in the Shawnee Hills near Portsmouth. Looking forward to hearing about what you think whenyou visit!

Caldwell, which lies between Cambridge and Marietta, is a nice little town.

[Ohiogirl81]

Originally Posted by LancasterNative

To be an improvement over Taft shouldn't be too hard. LoL...

*snort* And amen to that. We should have elected Hope Taft instead. She probably smacks Bob upside the head at least once a day for being such an idiot.

What do you guys see as "improving" southern Ohio? Developing the tourism industry (while preserving the natural beauty) (don't mind my bias! LOL) ? Or something else?

[Orwelleaut]

Originally Posted by Ohiogirl81

*snort* And amen to that. We should have elected Hope Taft instead. She probably smacks Bob upside the head at least once a day for being such an idiot.

What do you guys see as "improving" southern Ohio? Developing the tourism industry (while preserving the natural beauty) (don't mind my bias! LOL) ? Or something else?

I suspect they are referring to the economy of SE Ohio. I live in NE Ohio, travel down to Cambridge and Martins Ferry periodically. I love SE Ohio. The beautiful scenery, friendly, genuine people, just everything about it. Folks are down to earth and honest, tell you if you tee them off, will give you the shirt off of their back if you treat them right.

Folks in both Martins Ferry and Cambridge say jobs are hard to come by, resulting in many younger folks heading to Columbus. The older folks in Martins Ferry say that it seems like all of the young folks head over to Columbus, as there is so much opportunity there for good employment.

I don't think that is all bad, though, as much of thecharm of SE Ohio would be lost with urban sprawl and higher living costs hitting the area. Let Columbus keep all that. SE Ohio is already a tourist mecca for growing Columbus, a place to go for rest, renewal and escape from the city. I suspect the future of SE Ohio may mirror what one sees in the NOrthern lower peninsula of MI, folks from the big cities buying some land and building cabins and lakeside cottages here and there. In Northern MI, this has been an economic boost without taking away the charm of the area.