Mullins, SC - Any info plz... (Florence, Myrtle Beach: violent crime, houses, unemployment)

[dwgshvl]

Hello - My family and I are considering moving to Mullins. We have 2 small children also - any info about the area??? What the people are like (welcoming...?), area, crime, schools, temperature - anything will help! We are friendly people, mid-thirties, ride our Harley and just try to enjoy life! THANKS in advance!!!!

[Ron Hawkins]

Hey, I grew up in Mullins and will be happy to answer your questions

Public schools are sub-standard. There is a very small private school in the area.
Economy is terrible.
People are very conservative.
I still have alot of family in the area.
I have considered moving back to Mullins, but I couldn't do that to my kids.
Have you spent any time visting the area?
I now live in Surfside, SC

[jlrich]

Originally Posted by Ron Hawkins

Hey, I grew up in Mullins and will be happy to answer your questions

Public schools are sub-standard. There is a very small private school in the area.
Economy is terrible.
People are very conservative.
I still have alot of family in the area.
Have you spent any time visting the area?

What he said.

[Dblstix]

Unfortunately I have to agree with the other post. To answer your question even more directly; Are the people welcoming? No, unless you were born and raised here or are very wealthy you will probably have a hard time finding anyone that will want to get to know you. The area? Poor, many closed businesses, factories shut down, and tobacco farming is getting less and less popular. We are getting a Super Wal-Mart in the nearby town of Marion, SC. This is a BIG (Huge) deal around here. Crime? Lots of drugs “in the Hood”. What we call the country (out of the city limits) it’s pretty safe, I guess like anywhere else, if you have criminals in the city, they will sometimes venture out into the country. It’s rare but there’s been a few houses robbed a riding lawn mower stolen or a body found. Schools? If it wasn’t for Mississippi we would always be ranked last in education. The private schools are your only chance for a decent education for your kids. Temperature? Hot, Humid and Buggy. Summertime highs in the mid to upper 90’s. Short winters with very few days at or below freezing. There are only a couple of bike riders around. I hate to sound all negative but thats just the way it is. Things have been declining around here since the 1970’s. I wouldn’t recommend moving to Mullins with kids.

[sgfludd]

Ditto what everyone said - I grew up near Mullins, just over the Horry County line - though our mailing address was Nichols. Once big tobacco left Marion County - and the few industries (like the Russell Stover candy factory) there was nothing left there to sustain the economy. Very small Southern town - Mullins doesn't even have a Wal-mart - it's THAT small. No movie theatres - no chain restaurants, no real shopping. You'll have to drive 30 minutes or more to Florence to find any of that. The downtown which was booming in a Mayberry sort of way in my childhood (the late 70s-80s) is a ghost town. Florence is the closest I would move to Mullins - or on the other end Myrtle Beach. More progressive - more people from other cities. More open and welcoming of newcomers.

[PCR54]

Originally Posted by dwgshvl

Hello - My family and I are considering moving to Mullins. We have 2 small children also - any info about the area??? What the people are like (welcoming...?), area, crime, schools, temperature - anything will help! We are friendly people, mid-thirties, ride our Harley and just try to enjoy life! THANKS in advance!!!!

I am shocked at the responses you received to your question about the city of Mullins. I have lived here since 1996. Nice people, restaurants, churches, and the new Super Wal-mart which just opened. I-73 being built, with a exit near Mullins. Public schools Fair, not Bad! Other education is available, and advised. A great place to get away from the Rat Race. Cheap living. Plenty of Harley owners, bike runs.
People here care about their life style, and I understand why. Nice and laid back. Use to be at a slower pace back in 96, Progress I guess. Come a visit, check out Websters Manor or O'hara's, good food. One Hour from the beach!
I like it! The wife and I have three young children.

[jlrich]

Originally Posted by PCR54

I am shocked at the responses you received to your question about the city of Mullins. I have lived here since 1996. Nice people, restaurants, churches, and the new Super Wal-mart which just opened. I-73 being built, with a exit near Mullins. Public schools Fair, not Bad! Other education is available, and advised. A great place to get away from the Rat Race. Cheap living. Plenty of Harley owners, bike runs.
People here care about their life style, and I understand why. Nice and laid back. Use to be at a slower pace back in 96, Progress I guess. Come a visit, check out Websters Manor or O'hara's, good food. One Hour from the beach!
I like it! The wife and I have three young children.

Sorry, but I'll throw in a little more negativity.

Other than the two restaurants you mentioned there aren't many restaurants in Mullins except a few fast food places. I know there is a couple more private owned places but but not many...and not all that great.

I guess a Super Wallyworld would be all the more reason to want to be there.

And the pace can't much faster than it was in '96. There hasn't been that much progress.

There's nothing really bad about Mullins, just nothing there to rave about. I guess its all about perspective.

[TxsJohnny]

I like Mr. Hawkins grew up in Mullins, joined the military and moved away and only recently relocated from Dallas, Texas due to my mother having a stroke May 2007. Let me say, it was the one of, in not the worst decision I have ever made in my life! I came back to help my siblings with my mother and other than being closer to my family it has been pure HELL! Families may fair better in Mullins but be warned. There are NO movie theaters, no semblance of any cultural activities (i.e. no symphony, opera, etc.) Restaurants are a joke unless you want a good old fashioned artery clogging meal. Shopping is non-existent. Someone tell me how you could ask $150,000.00 for a 2 bedroom, 1 bath home with no garage or other amenities? Where do they think they are? Myrtle Beach? It is one whole hour away, yes closer than most, but last time I checked there is no ocean front view with that home! Unemployment is rampant, the homeless shelter charges the homeless (what's up with that?), jobs are non-existent, and there seems to be a lot of hatred of whites here, still...to the point that it is so noticeable that it is scary...especially in the fast food places here. Leaving all of my friends and a LIFE behind in Dallas was a big mistake.

[cbrsb]

My husband and I are thinking of relocating to your town of Mullins. How is the police dept. there and the crime rate. I understand that the town is looking for a new Police Chief, how is that going in the search? Do you think the position will be filled by a local or out of state person. How is the crime in Mullins?Want to know

[ilkhan]

They have (finally) hired a new police chief in Mullins. Kenny Davis. Davis most recently served as a special investigator for the 15th Judicial Circuit Solicitor’s Office and before that as a Captain with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division.
According to his resume, Davis was also a special agent with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Agency.
A good choice I think. Some disagree and say that it's just the good-ol-boy system at work again. Capt. Davis lives in Mullins and knows the area and it's citizens well, along with their problems. Only time will tell, however. He seems like a no-nonsense guy who will be making changes here, hopefully for the better.
As with any town with high unemployment, crime is an issue. Drug problems and break-ins have been a large issue as of late. Jobs are neigh impossible to find unless you can commute to Florence or the Beach area, and people are getting depressed or desperate. There are only 3 or 4 road officers on at any given time in Mullins. And the criminal aspect knows this. If you hide, see a cop drive by, you know it'll be a bit before they are back your way, and this is part of the reason break-ins have risen. From what I understand, Capt. Davis is putting more officers on the streets per shift.
Mullins has a new mayor, Ms. Pam Lee. And with the recent passing of Marion's mayor, so do they. My hope is that with both mayors, and a new chief in Mullins, they can all work together to bring jobs back to the area, open some of the closed factories, and breathe new life into Marion county.
But don't get me wrong please! I live just outside the city limits, and work in Mullins daily. I love it here. Police are always quick to respond to problems, violent crime doesn't seem to be too much of an issue. And the local "drunks" are relatively harmless and kind of add to the small town appeal! It's a community with alot of character. All in all, it is a nice town, hopefully back on the rise soon, and we'd all be glad to have you here!