What part of Sumter is South Sumter? (Liberty, Pinewood: sale, crime rates)

[DadsGirl817]

SHELLY425,
So what are your plans now? Are there certain other towns around there that you are considering, or are you just wanting to move out of the state all together? Why haven't you moved already? Is transferring or changing jobs an issue? My hubby has been there for 6 months and he says he does not want to live in that town permanently, so we are going to look into surrounding towns, which is the reason for my second question above. let me know how much you know about the surrounding towns and what your opinions of them are. Thanks in advance for your time

[anonymous]

dadsgirl, what is it y'all don't like (specifically), and what are you looking for?

[DadsGirl817]

Ummm... Everything that people are posting on here for starters. Let me ask you something...What is there to like?

[anonymous]

Originally Posted by DadsGirl817

My hubby has been there for 6 months and he says he does not want to live in that town permanently, so we are going to look into surrounding towns, which is the reason for my second question above.

Originally Posted by DadsGirl817

Ummm... Everything that people are posting on here for starters. Let me ask you something...What is there to like?

Forget I asked. I was trying to help you find a new place, not convince you to stay.

[DadsGirl817]

Originally Posted by anonymous

Forget I asked. I was trying to help you find a new place, not convince you to stay.

Convince me to stay? I am not there... I stated that my hubby is there, and that is why I asked you "What is there to like?" How am I supposed to know if I don't ask? He (Hubby) is saying the same exact negative things that other people are saying about Sumter... So I will ask you (Or anyone) again... What is there to like? Give me something to go on here. I have enough cons listed, do we have any pros? Thank you again for all your time on this.

[Nausikaa]

Originally Posted by SHELLY425

So Ironic That I Find Your Post When I Google, "small Southern Town Predomintely White". I Have Lived In Sumter All My Adult Life. My Daughter Is Now 12yo. I Daily Tell My Husband And Daughter That Its Time To Move From Here. I Live In The Downtown Area In A $300,000 House And Two Weeks Ago A Cop I Knew Chased A Crack Head Thief Thru My Front Yard At Midnight. The Sirens Are Constant, The Crime Is Rampant, The City Is Decreasing In Number And The Few People That Are Here Are Either Extremely Poor Or Getting Rich Off The Extremely Poor. The Two Major Employers Are The A.f.b. And The Hospital. Every Other Major Employer Employs Unskilled, Uneducated People. The Towns Only Walmart Is Filthy. The Truth Is The Sumter Government Is Not Interested In Cleaning Up And Improving The Town. Don't Get Me Started About The Pathetic School System! Plan On Private School For Your Kids!

Did you write a post in the Greenville section under the name of Junior. It also is racially motivated, and also all words were capitalized. If you are a troll you should leave.

[DadsGirl817]

I know that Nausikka's comment wasn't for me, but I don't see how Shelly425's comment was racially motivated in any way at all! And I hope nobody thinks I am being prejudice in any way, shape, or form either. I do not, and have not lived (Or even visited) in Sumter South Carolina. My hubby is there and I was supposed to be joining him in a few months, but now that he has lived there for the past 6 months he is saying he does not want to live there permanently. It has nothing to do with race what so ever! And to be honest... It mostly has to do with the schools and the crime amongst a few other things. I am not mad at anyone, nor do I wish to argue with anyone under any circumstance. I was and still am, looking for the good and/or positive things Sumter has to offer, but no matter what is said... I have to take into consideration the fact that I have a school aged child to think about. I was also hoping that someone had some input about any of the surrounding towns because it's hard for hubby to work all day and then try to find out what the other towns are like in the evening without actually knowing where to look. For all of you who have, and/or will reply to any of my posts... I appreciate and thank you very much.

[CarolinaBredChicagoan]

Well, I seem to be the only one on this board who ever has anything nice to say about Sumter. While I have no interest in being Sumter's lone advocate, and can see that there are many problems with the town, I will throw in my 2 cents.

The cost of housing is very low in Sumter. Land and homes are a steal compared to most places. For what I pay to rent my 5 room apartment in Chicago, I could own a pretty nice house with a nice sized yard in Sumter.

There are some nice neighborhoods in Sumter, too. I lived on Haynesworth Street in the more historic area for a while when I was growing up and really liked it. It was close to Patriots Hall, Sumter Little Theatre, and what is now the Sumter County Art Gallery. There are lots of other neighborhoods that are nice and safe, and genuinely good places to live.

Some of the schools are quite bad. Others are, from my experience, quite good. I learned a lot. I am a product of Sumter School District 17 Schools.

Are there specific things you are looking for/ looking to avoid?

[DadsGirl817]

Yes, there are certain specific things I am looking for and to avoid...
Where are the quite good schools you speak of?? Public, not private.
And I am wanting to avoid living in a neighborhood where the sirens are constant. (Just not my idea of music)
I want to be able to go for walks or ride a bike around my neighborhood at any time of the day or evening just like I do now without worrying myself to death. Maybe either live in a place that has a neighborhood watch program... Or in a neighborhood where the people would want to start one. (Or at least a neighborhood where you know your neighbors have your back without wanting to stab you in it) I would like to live in a place where people take pride in their homes and properties whether they cost $50,000 or $300,000 and whether or not they rent them or own them. Let me know if you know of any places like that in Sumter. And again... Thank you for your time.

[CarolinaBredChicagoan]

Originally Posted by DadsGirl817

Yes, there are certain specific things I am looking for and to avoid...
Where are the quite good schools you speak of?? Public, not private.
And I am wanting to avoid living in a neighborhood where the sirens are constant. (Just not my idea of music)
I want to be able to go for walks or ride a bike around my neighborhood at any time of the day or evening just like I do now without worrying myself to death. Maybe either live in a place that has a neighborhood watch program... Or in a neighborhood where the people would want to start one. (Or at least a neighborhood where you know your neighbors have your back without wanting to stab you in it) I would like to live in a place where people take pride in their homes and properties whether they cost $50,000 or $300,000 and whether or not they rent them or own them. Let me know if you know of any places like that in Sumter. And again... Thank you for your time.

Most of the neighborhoods that fit that bill are in the area roughly bounded by Liberty St, Loring Mill Rd, Guingnard Dr, and Broad St. That's a pretty big area and includes quite a few neighborhoods, but most of them are pretty decent. That area includes the most expensive parts of Sumter and much more affordable areas. These areas have a very suburban feel, which seems like what you might prefer.

Most of the crime in Sumter is in certain neighborhoods, and these are not areas you would want to live. If you google-map Sumter, the area labeled South Sumter is probably the worst part. If you have questions about specific areas, I'd be glad to help.

The better public elementary schools in Sumter are Alice Drive (probably the best one), Millwood, Willow Drive, and (possibly) Kingsbury. For Middle Schools, Alice Drive is probably the best. Those schools are all in District 17. 17 only has one High School (Sumter High).

Also, I have to recommend that you visit the town. That's the only way to really get a feel for the place.