I looked up Ozark, MO

[kcraft79]

Originally Posted by tubpojntxoog

I have been to Springfield once and love it a lot. I like to relocate to the city, but based on comments I read from other websites, Springfield is not a healthy community. It is a "ghetto" type of community. Lots of meth. Traffic is horrible, and people are extremely rude on the roads. The schools are not good. Lots of rednecks, including the polices. Low paid jobs. The population is uneducated, and overall life quality is lacking.

Can't be all that bad? what's the real story down there? Thanks

Wow! That's a pretty rough assessment of Springfield! As already mentioned, the north side is pretty industrious, and looks that way. As for Meth...it's true that we have meth problem here. We have one all over the state. That's why we rival the wonderful state of California for the number one spot on most meth produced, but you find it more in the really rural sections where it's easier to hide the fact that you're cooking it.

Traffic is bad at times, but it's worse in bigger cities, and they're constantly working on improving our roads; it's just hard to keep up with the growing population. Rednecks. This is the Ozarks. Yes, you'll encounter some rednecks, but sometimes it's the rednecks that are the most welcoming. Low paying jobs? We have one of the lowest costs of living in the nation, so the pay you'll receive here might sound low, but it matches the COL for the area.

Uneducated. We have four or five universities and the fastest growing community college in the nation. We can't all be a bunch of dumb hillbillies. The quality of life here is pretty good, if you ask me. We have theatres downtown that are always showing wonderul plays. The first Friday of the month there's an art walk downtown. Restaurants are quite good, and shopping is decent. We have a minor league baseball team with an amazing new stadium. Quality is good.

I'm not sure where you read all that, or how long ago it was, but most of it's just not true. Yeah, there are some negatives, but I don't know of any place where you won't find one bad thing. Springfield is growing. People here have a lot of pride in the changes taking place.

[Ozarks21]

Originally Posted by Tam9915

Can I ask where it is you live? We were planning a move soon to the Springfield area but I want to live somewhere a little smaller than the city of Springfield. Any suggestions to smaller towns close enough to commute to and from Springfield for work?

Rogersville, Republic, Nixa, Ozark, and Willard are all smaller towns just outside of Springfield with good schools and low crime. I wouldn't hesitate to live in any of them.

[kdnxdr]

Interesting reading all ya'lls comments. Presently, I live in Mississippi. Previously, I lived in Nixa for 16+ years. My children and grandchildren all live in Nixa. Mississippi is my 8th state to live in and I miss Nixa very, very much.

Honestly, something good and something bad can be said about anywhere. And, if Americans don't wake up to the fact that drugs are prevelant anywhere and everywhere, there going to be sorry.

Poverty also exists everywhere (referring to trailer parks and messy yards).

Just because someone has money and "look ok", doesn't mean they are not criminals, pedophiles, wife abusers, drug users and creeps in general.

When it comes to people being people and a wonderful community, I miss Southwest Missouri. When I moved there in 1975, I hated that area. It was UGLY and every other house was for sale. But, the local planners and investors got together and decided to develop the region and not just one area. They have a several medical systems, a great sports and outdoor recreation venue and a variety of night life possibilities. It is a majorly booming area. Granted there is a strong country/religious cultural influence. But, it's not overbearing. There is definately something for everyone in the region. I have had several friends that migrated from the east and west coast and the #1 complaint from them is that "things move too slow". I know that they were so accustomed to a frenetic lifestyle, they had to detox to a more healthier pace of life.

The good, responsible, caring, intelligent people in the area far outnumber the losers and criminals that happen to also be moving into the area from other states. Many of the drug users there are people that have come from other places, and they do have their own. However, there is an aggressive anti-drug program in the schools and, especially in Nixa, the police work hard to develop positive relations with the community and with the youth.

The churches are strong and many people from a wide range of denominations work together to form healthy relationships. There is a huge contemporary christian faith movement amongst the highschool and college kids. I think it's awesome. The Assemblies of God is headquartered in Springfield and is very involved in large community programs.

There are incredible celebrations of all the holidays that are usually free to the public. Many have worked to insure a greenway for free public use that surrounds Springfield and weaves through the area. It is still common to see herds of deer coming through the city on the south side.

People there are very attuned to what is going on politically, educationally and socially.

The newspapers are okay but I think they could be so much more. But, I don't think much of newspapers in general.

The area still has that homey, small town atmosphere but it is definately a fast growing area. Developers are reviving the downtown at an incredible pace.

Several movie talents and music industry personalities are from there. One reason Branson is changing so rapidly is because alot of retired Nashville country singers are "retired" in Branson and have shows there. Alot of California/Nashville money is invested in Branson. Outside investors and people who want to exploit the region is what is changing Branson and the area for the worst. Brad Pitt is from Nixa but I don't know what his investments there are. Burge from "You Want to Marry a Millionair" has a nightclub in downtown Springfield.

All in all, there is a variety of races, religions, levels of education and social status. There are good guys and bad guys. But, it's a very nice place to live with a great spirit of community!

[Darren Stewart]

Currently I live in Ozark, since 95 and lived in Springfield during college. I was born in Springfield and grew up all over the world, being a military brat. My dad and my wife's dad both retired from military and settled here. My wife is originally from Boston.

We love the area, and its a great place to raise a family, yes, we have problems in this area with meth, and yes there are some negatives as previously mentioned in this site.

As far as sprawl, we are a fast growing area, and while some may be trying to resist that the fact is the word is out to the general population in the USA and I think that is why we have alot of issues, its growing pains, people want to live here, they want what Southwest Missouri has to offer, a safe and great environment for retirement, or to raise a family.

Cost of living is awesome compared to the rest of the country, as far as the hillbilly thing or redneck thing I think that is a part of this area's history and maybe it will always be part of the history but I think once you have been here like many other folks have done you will want to move here. People for the most part are great, and yeah i grant you in traffic maybe they aren't but you can still here a hello and a thank you at a grocery store, and usually i do see folks i know at the local store where i stock up.

Weather... well you definitely have all 4 seasons, but our winters are not Michigan winters, our summers have the lakes to enjoy and i believe our autumns could rival New England some years.

Hope you all found this helpful.