Do you have Info Re Hannibel or Steelville?? (Hannibal, Ozark: homes, camping)

[Serena123]

I am looking at homes in Hannibel and Steelville. Are these nice areas? What are the summer/winters like? Is the humidity worse than TX? Any information greatly appreciated.thaniks !

[OA 5599]

Steelville calls itself the "Canoe Capital of Missouri". There is a lot of canoeing on the Meramec river and Huzzah and Courtious creeks. As a result, the town fills up with people canoeing/camping on the weekends. National Geographic actually ran an article about Steelville maybe 5-10 years ago, as it was the population center of the United States for several years. The article is critical of the Ozark culture that the town is very much a part of, but I suggest you read it.

Where in Texas are you coming from? The humidity in the Ozarks is definitely worse than in Austin. But, there are usually only 3 weeks or so of oppressively high humidity and heat in the summer, compared to the months of high temps which we had last summer in Texas. If you are coming from somewhere around Houston, you'll find Missouri much less humid. I'd say that overall a Steelville summer is much, much more comfortable than an Austin summer, simply because in Austin the oppressive temps stick around for an extra month. The winters can be cold, snowy, and icy, but will also have random days where it gets up to 60-70 degrees every now and then. Hannibal will have worse winters because it is further north.

[Silvermouse]

Originally Posted by OA 5599

National Geographic actually ran an article about Steelville maybe 5-10 years ago, as it was the population center of the United States for several years. The article is critical of the Ozark culture that the town is very much a part of, but I suggest you read it.

That article was so hateful and unfair. Can you imagine how excited the people interviewed were to be in National Geographic and then out comes this article making fun of them.

[OA 5599]

Originally Posted by Silvermouse

That article was so hateful and unfair. Can you imagine how excited the people interviewed were to be in National Geographic and then out comes this article making fun of them.

Although it has been several years since I've read the article, I do remember it dwelling on all the negatives of Steelville and not touching on any of the positives. I guess that is what happens when some elitist journalists from the east coast come into a small town and get badly shocked by a culture they don't care to understand. I quick Google finds this rebuttal: In Defense of Steelville, MO 65565 - The Middle of America

However, for someone moving to the area it is generally a good idea to collect as much information as possible...both positive and negative. I've read quite a lot of information both slamming and praising the places I'm considering moving to. To to the OP, I haven't found the culture of small towns in rural Central Texas to be that much different than Missouri, with the exception that many of the small towns in Central Texas seem to have better job opportunities (the same cannot be said for small towns in South Texas).

[Silvermouse]

Originally Posted by OA 5599

However, for someone moving to the area it is generally a good idea to collect as much information as possible...both positive and negative.

You're exactly right about that. I've never understood why so many people on the MO board want to sugar-coat everything. If that article is still around, I think it would be very important for a newcomer to read. Their reaction to the area might very well be the same as those journalists.

[Silvermouse]

Originally Posted by OA 5599

I guess that is what happens when some elitist journalists from the east coast come into a small town and get badly shocked by a culture they don't care to understand. I quick Google finds this rebuttal: In Defense of Steelville, MO 65565 - The Middle of America

Excellent article btw.

[Serena123]

Hi, I'm coming from Austin.

Love Austin, just do not like the hot, humid weather...

Thank you for your post.

[OA 5599]

It looks like we have similar gripes about Austin...I think its a great city, but don't care for the summers, and the relative lack of outdoor activities. A Missouri summer is far, far nicer than a summer here, although it is more humid, it won't be 100+ degrees for weeks on end like it can be in Austin. Winters are much more harsh in Missouri though, it can get down into the single digits pretty often, and some day will have high temperatures of 20 degrees of below. Missouri also gets snow and ice every winter, although some winters are a lot worse than others. Austin has far more comfortable winters than Missouri. I definitely encourage you to visit Missouri if you start looking at moving more seriously, culturally it is very different than Austin. Rural Missouri isn't youthful, health-oriented, and progressive like Austin, and there aren't any Central Markets, Whole Foods, or many independent coffee shops. Besides that, the cost of living in rural Missouri is great, the people are friendly and genuine, and the landscape is beautiful.

[Serena123]

Thanks for the article info. Last night I found an article by "Sperling's Best Places," and Steelville was on the list!
Reporters definitely see things differently...