Tell me the bad (St. Louis, Springfield: home, tornadoes, earthquakes)

[Versatile]

Mo has good and bad just like any other state. We do not claim to be the land of milk&honey.

[GayleAZ]

I was A-ok with Mo before the snake and dead turkey talk! YIKES

I can probably handle the turkey thing (even though I grew up on a farm this bird killing thing wasn't MY job), but how do you handle the snake thing? Will they bite my dogs?

[Versatile]

I have lived here 54 yrs and have never been offered a turkey Mo has more wild turkey's than any other state. I think it was just an illustration as to how nice and friendly people are here. Turkeys are ot that easy to hunt and it would show how much you are liked by being offered a turkey. The part about snakes is no problem at all. In the Ozarks you are more likely to find a Rattler that MIGHT cause you a problem. Had many dogs that were never bit by a snake nor do i know anyone that has had a dog bitten and i work for a veternarian and he never mentions any dogs or cats bitten by a snake. I wold not worry one bit but hey! it could happen just as any where else.imo

[GayleAZ]

That was a kind of tongue in cheek post, but I do get concerned about my pets for real. Ok - well they probably have as much chance of getting bite by a rattler in the Southwest as they do any kinda snake there.

As for the turkey - they are really cool looking in the wild. I really DON'T like turkey as a food group.. but that would be OK for some to run across my yard. Nice to know that people are that friendly but then I get there for good and anyone notices please just run a ham sandwich by me instead.

[MO~orphan]

lol...just a little humor post. But I wouldn't be surprised about the turkey!

[kcraft79]

I started my life in southern california (Vista/Oceanside), and I spent a total of 7 years in Southwest, Arkansas, near Oklahoma and Texas (not all at one time, though). I've lived in Missouri for 10 years. We started out in Jefferson City (which I think is a horrible place to live). I moved to Springfield, Missouri 7 years ago to go to school, and I haven't left. I never thought I'd end up here. I never thought I'd want to stay in Missouri, but I love it.

Sure, there are bad things about this area. I'm pretty liberal, and there are A LOT of conservatives in this area. Unless you're in school, you're pretty much outnumbered in that department. I wouldn't dare tell the people I work with that I didn't vote for Bush or that I question the existence of God and lean more toward Buddism. I'd probably get fired, no joke.

Let's talk tornadoes. There's not a person on here that's more terrified of them that I am. I just can't handle the fact that a tornado might kill me. When I first moved here, we rarely even heard of tornadoes coming through here, but over the past few years (since May 2003) it's seems they've increased in number. I mean just this past March was bad enough! Where are they usually?

Well, I'm a bit obsessed with weather. I know the chances for tornadoes, high winds, hail, freezing, snow, when there is a chance because I check the National Weather Service sight constantly. I read about it all the time. Here's what I can tell you. It seems tornadoes, and bad weather in general, is more prevalent in south Springfield and south of that, such as Ozark and Nixa. However, Stockton, which is north, has been pretty hard hit as well. And here's my theory (based on what I have read). Springfield sits on a plateau. Well, actually, the Ozark hills are a plateau with deep ridges throughout that make up the valleys and hills. The Ozark Mountain Range can be found near Lesterville, where Tam Sauk Mountain is located. Of course, you also have the Boston Mtns in Arkansas. All that's off the subject, though.

Point is that Springfield sits on a flat area of the plateau, which creates a barrier. You'll find that the worst weather hits the sections just outside that ridge. I think it has something to do with how the ridge effects the atmosphere (winds and organization and stability). Does this mean Springfield never gets tornadoes? No. It's just pretty rare. You're more likely to find em in south springfield, which also happens to be a really nice part of town.

Still yet, we don't get near as many tornadoes as most places in Tornado Alley, and many maps don't even include Missouri in Tornado Alley. Just something to keep in mind. I recently moved the south Springfield from central Springfield, and I made sure the house we bought had a basement. I feel much safer, and the tornadoes that do come through are usually around the F1 scale, but it's not unheard of to get an F3. Still, your chances of getting hit by one are small.

Snakes. Come on. There's snakes out there! The snakes you really need to watch for here in the Ozarks are the copperheads. The brown recluse spider, however, is a force to be reckoned with, and the milder the winter, the more prevalent the spider.

This area is absolutely gorgeous. If you've never seen, in real life, the red, oranges, and yellows of fall, then you've really missed something. The rivers here are a hidden secret to the rest of the world. Crystal Clear. Beautiful Springs. Amazing caves. I could go on. And the culture! There's no place like the Ozarks. In a way, it is like a miniature country. You'll hear backwards language. Backwards thought. And don't come out here preaching against hunting or the like because there are still families here that live off the land. But you'll feel a certain amount of pride for it's long history and deep roots. For the cultural nuances that only come from the Ozark Hills. I can't imagine living anywhere else.

Oh, and there's always the coastal places with people who think Missouri, like the rest of the Midwest, is nothing more than a fly-over zone! I was actually told that by a client.

[Check123]

I didn't know that Missouri was considered fly over country. I suppose it's close enough to be considered such.

Originally Posted by kcraft79

I started my life in southern california (Vista/Oceanside), and I spent a total of 7 years in Southwest, Arkansas, near Oklahoma and Texas (not all at one time, though). I've lived in Missouri for 10 years. We started out in Jefferson City (which I think is a horrible place to live). I moved to Springfield, Missouri 7 years ago to go to school, and I haven't left. I never thought I'd end up here. I never thought I'd want to stay in Missouri, but I love it.

Sure, there are bad things about this area. I'm pretty liberal, and there are A LOT of conservatives in this area. Unless you're in school, you're pretty much outnumbered in that department. I wouldn't dare tell the people I work with that I didn't vote for Bush or that I question the existence of God and lean more toward Buddism. I'd probably get fired, no joke.

Let's talk tornadoes. There's not a person on here that's more terrified of them that I am. I just can't handle the fact that a tornado might kill me. When I first moved here, we rarely even heard of tornadoes coming through here, but over the past few years (since May 2003) it's seems they've increased in number. I mean just this past March was bad enough! Where are they usually?

Well, I'm a bit obsessed with weather. I know the chances for tornadoes, high winds, hail, freezing, snow, when there is a chance because I check the National Weather Service sight constantly. I read about it all the time. Here's what I can tell you. It seems tornadoes, and bad weather in general, is more prevalent in south Springfield and south of that, such as Ozark and Nixa. However, Stockton, which is north, has been pretty hard hit as well. And here's my theory (based on what I have read). Springfield sits on a plateau. Well, actually, the Ozark hills are a plateau with deep ridges throughout that make up the valleys and hills. The Ozark Mountain Range can be found near Lesterville, where Tam Sauk Mountain is located. Of course, you also have the Boston Mtns in Arkansas. All that's off the subject, though.

Point is that Springfield sits on a flat area of the plateau, which creates a barrier. You'll find that the worst weather hits the sections just outside that ridge. I think it has something to do with how the ridge effects the atmosphere (winds and organization and stability). Does this mean Springfield never gets tornadoes? No. It's just pretty rare. You're more likely to find em in south springfield, which also happens to be a really nice part of town.

Still yet, we don't get near as many tornadoes as most places in Tornado Alley, and many maps don't even include Missouri in Tornado Alley. Just something to keep in mind. I recently moved the south Springfield from central Springfield, and I made sure the house we bought had a basement. I feel much safer, and the tornadoes that do come through are usually around the F1 scale, but it's not unheard of to get an F3. Still, your chances of getting hit by one are small.

Snakes. Come on. There's snakes out there! The snakes you really need to watch for here in the Ozarks are the copperheads. The brown recluse spider, however, is a force to be reckoned with, and the milder the winter, the more prevalent the spider.

This area is absolutely gorgeous. If you've never seen, in real life, the red, oranges, and yellows of fall, then you've really missed something. The rivers here are a hidden secret to the rest of the world. Crystal Clear. Beautiful Springs. Amazing caves. I could go on. And the culture! There's no place like the Ozarks. In a way, it is like a miniature country. You'll hear backwards language. Backwards thought. And don't come out here preaching against hunting or the like because there are still families here that live off the land. But you'll feel a certain amount of pride for it's long history and deep roots. For the cultural nuances that only come from the Ozark Hills. I can't imagine living anywhere else.

Oh, and there's always the coastal places with people who think Missouri, like the rest of the Midwest, is nothing more than a fly-over zone! I was actually told that by a client.

[toddm]

kcraft79 posted

"This area is absolutely gorgeous. If you've never seen, in real life, the red, oranges, and yellows of fall, then you've really missed something. The rivers here are a hidden secret to the rest of the world. Crystal Clear. Beautiful Springs. Amazing caves. I could go on. And the culture! There's no place like the Ozarks. In a way, it is like a miniature country. You'll hear backwards language. Backwards thought. And don't come out here preaching against hunting or the like because there are still families here that live off the land. But you'll feel a certain amount of pride for it's long history and deep roots. For the cultural nuances that only come from the Ozark Hills. I can't imagine living anywhere else."

I really think you've hit the nail on the head. It reminded me of the writings of Phyllis Modeland who wrote a column call "A Sense of Place" in the "Ozarks Mountaineer" magazine a few years ago and published a book or two about this area.

She believed that in many ways the Ozarks was an area that was seperate and distinct from the rest of the whatever of the respective state you were in. In each of the states (Missouri, Arkansas, and even a bit of Oklahoma) it was the last area to be developed due to the remoteness and rugged hills. Its inhabitants were also a bit different..mostly of English and Irish descent who came here via Virginia, Tennesse, and Kentucky. So basically, a southwest Missouri hillbilly has far more in common with his counterpart in northwest Arkansas than say someplace further north like Jefferson City or St. Louis (not saying anything bad about anyone who live there-both are great places with great people).

For those wishing to relocate here or just interested in the culture, try to find some of Mrs. Modeland's work. Even for a native like myself, it really made me think about the history and where we get our feelings of independence and self-reliance comes from. Just like everwhere else, there are good things and bad things. But it is a very seperate and unique culture.

[kcraft79]

I've never read Modeland. I'll have to look into that. Sounds like something I would like to read.

[denver80134]

Well, I was born and raised in SE Missouri about 10 miles north of the Arkansas line about 60 miles west of the Mississippi River in the tiny town of Harviell, MO (410 pop.). I moved to Denver, CO with my family 5 years ago.
First let me tell you, the bugs are killer. Spiders galore, Mosquitos out the ear, gnats, flys, ticks, chiggers, beetles, all that you could ever NOT hope for. LOL Then of course the snakes.....Copperheads, Water Moccasins, Cotton Mouths, Rattlesnakes, All deadly.
I do miss the woods t, because here there are mostly evergreen trees, not the thick woods you could explore in all day. LOL
It doesn't snow much there, so that's good to me, but it does get very cold in the winter, much because of the humidity which makes the damp effect.
It very often gets up to 100+ degrees in the Summer, with humidity of 70+% which makes for a hellish experience. LOL
It's kinda swampy in a lot of areas and hilly in others. Lots of gorgeous wild flowers and plants. Lakes, caves, trees.....Not much for city living though. Most towns you pass through from Arkansas to St. Louis on Hwy. 67 (About 200 miles) have only a simple convenience store and nothing else.
I've got lots of info, need more? LOL