Young and Confused...help! (schools, store, safe)

[belami28]

Unlless you need to be near a Volvo dealer, Rapid would be the spot, Much better weather, nice area. Omaha looks old and kinda dirty, with a river city, meat packing feel. I always found Omaha very friendly, Rapid not so much. I however love Hotsprings. If your USAF, Offet is SAC if I remember, so Ellsworth not so stuffy. SD is known for good schools so kids would probably prefer. Found Lefse at the Wally in Rapid, so just saying. Dakota might grow on you, just watch the Ludefisk.

[R_Cowgirl]

[quote=floridadreamer;619762]

Originally Posted by Jammie

Since this forum has started, I've actually asked people who weren't from the area their opinion on the friendliness and welcoming they got as newcomers. I don't want to put down small towns since we used to live in a super friendly small town, BUT I understand they aren't always that way.

I agree with this observation. When we first moved from Northern Virginia to So Dakota we went to school for only ONE semester in Faulkton and they were totally awful to us. We ended up moving to Watertown and it was alot better, although some people were still not as friendly as they could have been. Watertown has become alittle more diverse in the last 15 years though so I imagine it would be better for that now. The best area we lived in was Hamlin County just for my Senior year and I developed some great friendships just in that short time. But on the other hand, my brother had some really bad experiences with people that had lived in the town their whole life and not very accepting of people that didn't.

In my opinion it's best to stick to something with at least a few thousand people so there is some diversity.

I think these are healthy observations to make. Small towns can be awesome, or they can be awful. Spend time there, ask around, notice if the name on every single building and street is the same... (not always, but this CAN be a sign that one family runs the town, and fitting in could be difficult.) Every state has areas where it's hard to be an outsider. People in the area know this, though, and if you ask, they may tell you.

I would think the best small town size would start around 10,000 if you are coming in from the outside. It doesn't hurt to have SOME college in the area, because they would be used to people from outside the state. You could look at some bedroom communities near the larger cities. That might give you the benefits of shopping in Rapid city or Sioux Falls, but a smaller community feel.

Since you are used to the shopping and convenience of Bellingham, think about the stores you can't live without. Bedroom communities that are less than an hour away from the two big cities might be a good bet. Go check out the places you are considering. Visit before moving. You say you are shy, take a more talkative friend with you on the trip. Go to a coffee shop and have lunch or dinner. Get the locals talking about the town. Most are friendly and will tell you, or you'll get a feeling about it.

Religion is important to many in South Dakota, and you'll find some great church communities. You may want to do an internet search on your preferred place of worship and see what's out there. Visit a few churches also.

I think the one thing that bugs people in every town is when someone from out of town keeps doing comparisons. "Where I come from we have, we do, we don't do, etc..." All that does is keep reminding the locals that you aren't from there. So keep those observations to your conversations with friends back home until "Where I come from" means "South Dakota" to you.

If you are genuine and don't operate with a lot of hidden agendas, you'll do fine in South Dakota.

Personally, I love the place, and I hope to be back up there again real soon!

Good Luck!

[ashnat]

Originally Posted by belami28

Unlless you need to be near a Volvo dealer, Rapid would be the spot, Much better weather, nice area. Omaha looks old and kinda dirty, with a river city, meat packing feel. I always found Omaha very friendly, Rapid not so much. I however love Hotsprings. If your USAF, Offet is SAC if I remember, so Ellsworth not so stuffy. SD is known for good schools so kids would probably prefer. Found Lefse at the Wally in Rapid, so just saying. Dakota might grow on you, just watch the Ludefisk.

Good schools in SD? Beg to differ.

If you like a "city" with everything there is to offer, pick Bellevue or Papillion, NE. They are both suburbs of Omaha in a different county, with a different school system than Omaha. Offutt is actually in Bellevue, not Omaha. Papillion is the "rich" area of Omaha with terrific schools. The area is thriving fast. Papillion/LaVista/Bellevue would give you a 5-15 minute commute. If you pick Omaha, the best area is westside. West of I680. The schools East of there are not as good, not as supported, and have more problems. The westside would be a 30-45 minute commute to Offutt tho.
If you like a small town feel, where you have to drive far to get what you need or use the internet to buy, but you have a beautiful view and tons of outdoor activities, RC is for you. Traffic won't drive you nuts in Rapid. It's a lot more laid back and peaceful.

[MJ1986]

Originally Posted by ashnat

Good schools in SD? Beg to differ.

Please explain, ashnat... I'm rather curious!

[MJ1986]

Originally Posted by belami28

Unlless you need to be near a Volvo dealer, Rapid would be the spot, Much better weather, nice area. Omaha looks old and kinda dirty, with a river city, meat packing feel. I always found Omaha very friendly, Rapid not so much. I however love Hotsprings. If your USAF, Offet is SAC if I remember, so Ellsworth not so stuffy. SD is known for good schools so kids would probably prefer. Found Lefse at the Wally in Rapid, so just saying. Dakota might grow on you, just watch the Ludefisk.

You might be thinking of Sioux City, Iowa... or Council Bluffs, Iowa... Omaha is a great city, and there's no meat packing plant feel to it. If you're on I-29, you'll miss Omaha almost completely... You're still in Iowa, and the Council Bluffs side isn't appealing. Omaha is on the other side of the river and completely different from what you drive through on I-29.

[belami28]

The question I think was, we have kids, already employed, which city would you choose. I said Rapid, because of the weather, and things to do. Omaha probably better for single folk. Omaha has a lot of energy to it. 12 meat companys, great bars, 8 of them gay! One of the richest men in the world. Lots of sushi and steak houses. Rapid not so much. Did I spend too much time at Drake Springs laying in the sun during the 50s & 60s? Maybe. I would bet some people who have been to Sioux Falls didn't even know they have a meat packing plant. In Omaha you know. Just saying

[msta999]

You might want to consider the Rappid City area, there are smaller mountains with evergreen trees. Most of SD is pretty open and is pretty in areas, but RC area may help you become less home sick and there are small towns around it. I am thinking of leaving WA too, but will most likely go back to the plains area, close to where I grew up.

Good luck

[ashnat]

My personal opinion is Omaha or Sioux Falls. But I lived in Omaha for 5 years before moving to Rapid. Before my time in Omaha I lived in Vermillion for a year, Sioux Falls for a year, and Sioux City for a year, all while commuting to Sioux City to work.

I will NEVER live in Sioux City again, but I would go back to Sioux Falls today if I could. Vermillion is too small for my taste, but I'd do it knowing that Sioux City and Sioux Falls are so close.

Omaha is a great city to raise kids, as I've posted before, choose Bellevue/Papillion/Lavista for the best schools. Millard or Elkhorn would be my second choice, Omaha would be my last. I did live IN Omaha the 5 years I was there, but my kids were too young for school at that point. If we ever get back to Omaha, we'll get a house on the south side in Papillion. Omaha Public Schools has a bad reputation and they were trying to merge Millard and Elkhorn in with them to get rid of that rep. Millard and Elkhorn were fighting it hard. No idea who won. I have cousins that work as teachers and in the administration building for OPS.

In the 5 years I was there, not once did it stand out that there was A or many meat packing plants. The city is so huge that anything West of 72nd you won't find those types of businesses. Considering the town spans further West than 204th these days, you wouldn't even notice them unless you lived by them.

Taxes are a lot higher IN Omaha, a bit cheaper in Pap/Lavista/Bellevue because they're all in a different county. BUT housing is dirt cheap there. My home I paid $150,000 for here, would sell for $100,000 there. I had a 3 bd, 2 bath, 1400 sq foot home 14 years old, I paid $97,000 for. I checked houses in my old neighborhood on realtor.com last week and found that because of the economy houses in my neighborhood are selling for $10,000 less than what they were when I lived there. Nebraska does not tax non prepared food. So any boxed/canned/packaged food at the grocery store is tax free. Meat/Deli that they cut or make for you is taxed.

Anyways good luck with your decision. I'll let others with positive thoughts on Rapid City answer for this area.

[DannyBanany]

I have a lot of family in Omaha and Papillion and I can understand where you get that "meat packing" feel in Omaha. Downtown Omaha is really drabby and the area around Creighton is scary. North Omaha has a robbery everyday too on top of numerous homicides per year. Bellevue has a lot of old rundown buildings and trailers too. If you go past Westroads, where an infamous shooting happened, it's really nice and you finally get some rolling land and a some nice lakes. Omaha's just too humid and flat for my taste. I think living in the Black Hills and having dry weather has spoiled me. I could never get used to humidity.

If you were a young single professional I'd say go to Omaha and don't look back, but beings you are a young family who enjoys outdoor activity and camping I'd say stick with Rapid City. Omaha has a lot of nice campgrounds but it doesn't compare to the Black Hills. You can leave your doors unlocked in Rapid City without worry and you can go out without being too cautious of crime. Only parts of Omaha are like that.

[R_Cowgirl]

Originally Posted by DannyBanany

You can leave your doors unlocked in Rapid City without worry and you can go out without being too cautious of crime. Only parts of Omaha are like that.

I always worry about South Dakota that people keep posting this on the forum. don't want any miscreants to get ideas... I know I know, but I'm just sayin'.....