Northeast Texas? (Dallas, Tyler, Longview: transplants, real estate, crime)

[TN-rox]

Hello, I was wondering if any of you know anything about northeast Texas and the towns of Jefferson, Atlanta, Queen City, Linden, and Texarkana. How is the crime there, any good outdoors area/state parks (Caddo Lake- anything special?), and how about the schools around there? We were thinking of moving there on a job offer. Also, how are land prices in those areas, for maybe 20+ acres, in general? Thank yall so much for your time and effort!

[Poltracker]

Can't talk about more than Jefferson. Jefferson is located on Big Cypress Creek between Caddo and Lake O the Pines and the Nature Conservancy owns a big swath of land between Jefferson and Caddo. Plenty of beauty/parks/outdoor activities in that area and you can make day trips to places in Arkansas and Oklahoma. Jefferson had its hey day in that late 1800's before the big earthquake dislodged the log jam and the Big Cypress became non-navigable by the paddle wheeled boats and barges. Most of the town is centered around antique shops and Bed & Breakfasts. There is one grocery store and a couple of restaraunts. Most folks shop in Marshall or go on to Atlanta or Longview. The schools are so-so IMO (relying on reports from relatives). Land is not horribly expensive unless it is lakefront and you can find plenty of 20 acre+ properties.
Crimewise...the usual, except back in the woods you have to watch out for the meth labs that seem to pop up then disappear (area around my lakehouse has had a few problems with this).

[destin04]

I like that area of east Texas. We live in the Tyler area and really like it. Jefferson is a town that has a lot of B and B's and funky little shops. Marshall is a much more "normal" town. I havn't been to Texarkana in a long time....years. I couldn't advise on that. Marshall is only about 30 or 40 miles from Shreveport.

[TN-rox]

Thank yall so much for your replies! Does anybody else have any suggestions/comments on this area of Texas? Thanks a ton!

[TexasReb]

Oh man...that area of East Texas is where we get out to at least once a year on vacation. Jefferson, Caddo Lake...


There was an article about Caddo Lake once in Texas Monthly magazine and, I can only paraphrase, but it went something like :

"Once you set eyes on Caddo Lake, it is hard not to get emotional about it one way or another. No other lake in Texas even remotely resmbles it. The only natural lake in Texas and the largest in the South, the dark waters, the mysterious bayous, and the century old cypress trees along its banks dripping spanish moss will make you either turn around screaming and never come back. Or else you'll be hooked for life...."

That last dog bit me. I can think of no place I have ever been that affects me so much as Caddo Lake. Another quote I once read (again paraphrased) noted the truth of that:

"People don't come to Caddo Lake to party, they come because it is, quite simply, the most beautiful lake in Texas. You can wander around in a reviere for hours, and believe you are in the most remotest part of the universe..."

GAWD, I love that place!

[Three Oaks]

I live in Marshall, TX, and in fact if you follow the auto link to this site's description of my town, my house is the second picture at the top, (the one with the horse and carriage in front of it).

Marshall is a great place.
It is very decompressed, uncrowded and historic.
You can get front row parking at the grocery store or Lowe's when you shop, and traffic is friendly, if a bit unskilled.
Property prices are dirt cheap, and if you love Victorian homes, we have thousands of them here.

We moved here almost 6 years ago to get out of Denver, which had become over run with transplants.
This little town has welcomed us and been very friendly, but we were careful not to move here and tell everyone "how we did things back home", as that will alienate small Southern towns faster than almost anything.
I am so glad we are here, and I would never want to go back.

Climate is lush and warm, can feel like 10 months of summer.
Very wet, lots of trees and a great growing season.

Come on down!

[TexasReb]

Originally Posted by TN-rox

Thank yall so much for your replies! Does anybody else have any suggestions/comments on this area of Texas? Thanks a ton!

TN, here are a couple of links that you might find useful:

Jefferson Texas Real Estate * Residential * Historic Homes * Farms * Ranches * Lake Property * Businesses

Texas > Caddo Lake lakefront properties, waterfront properties, lakefront, waterfront

Hope they work. If you don't mind me asking, what is the job you speak of? I am a public school teacher (and as always, request this not be held against me! LOL), and plan to retire out that way when I hit that magic "80" number which allows it. And actually, if it weren't for the pay cut I would have to take, and a few others obstacles, I would give serious thought to getting a teaching position out that way and moving befrore.

Something about Caddo Lake property, by the way. We get out that way several times a year and over the years of doing so have made some good friends in the area. Some of them have told us that, for quite a few years, Caddo Lake was relatively unknown, and that lakeside property could be bought fairly cheap. That has all changed. And of course, as always, I was one of those ever a day late and dollar short!

[TN-rox]

Originally Posted by TexasReb

TN, here are a couple of links that you might find useful:

Jefferson Texas Real Estate * Residential * Historic Homes * Farms * Ranches * Lake Property * Businesses

Texas > Caddo Lake lakefront properties, waterfront properties, lakefront, waterfront

Hope they work. If you don't mind me asking, what is the job you speak of? I am a public school teacher (and as always, request this not be held against me! LOL), and plan to retire out that way when I hit that magic "80" number which allows it. And actually, if it weren't for the pay cut I would have to take, and a few others obstacles, I would give serious thought to getting a teaching position out that way and moving befrore.

Thanks for the links TexasReb, yes they worked LOL!

I am actually considering a relocation for a job in the forestry/wildlife biology business in many areas of the ArkLaTexOma region, or as we know it in the forest industry the "Big Piney" area. That whole area is actually an endangered microbiological area that is very rare and precious. Ive heard good things about the Texas area of arklatexoma, being less crime and less povertish than surrounding areas. I saw Caddo Lake and Jefferson in a 1,000 places to see before you die in the U.S./Canada book, and it sounds great, but I need some firsthand experience y' know. I like remote/country/southern feel and where I am at now (Small town outside Memphis,TN) is losing that feel as it is growing very fast and attracting people from the ghettos of the inner city-creating a sharp rise in crime. Land prices are becoming outrageously expensive and I am having to sell much of my acreage. Is this area of Texas growing very fast? Growth is good but too much, of course, can ruin a small town's charm which is what is happening here in the Memphis area-everything is becoming the 'burbs' and the same strip malls, targets, and starbuck's that everyone has are popping up everywhere...Its sad and noone cares about historical area-they just get bulldosed so the new buildings can look the same as every other one... It doesnt look like theres a big city around that little corner of TX, so do I need to worry about extremely fast growth and these problems that come with it? Or will it stay the rural area that I saw while driving through there on I-30 to Dallas? Thanks for yalls help!!!

[TexasReb]

Originally Posted by TN-rox

Thanks for the links TexasReb, yes they worked LOL!

I am actually considering a relocation for a job in the forestry/wildlife biology business in many areas of the ArkLaTexOma region, or as we know it in the forest industry the "Big Piney" area. That whole area is actually an endangered microbiological area that is very rare and precious. Ive heard good things about the Texas area of arklatexoma, being less crime and less povertish than surrounding areas. I saw Caddo Lake and Jefferson in a 1,000 places to see before you die in the U.S./Canada book, and it sounds great, but I need some firsthand experience y' know. I like remote/country/southern feel and where I am at now (Small town outside Memphis,TN) is losing that feel as it is growing very fast and attracting people from the ghettos of the inner city-creating a sharp rise in crime. Land prices are becoming outrageously expensive and I am having to sell much of my acreage. Is this area of Texas growing very fast? Growth is good but too much, of course, can ruin a small town's charm which is what is happening here in the Memphis area-everything is becoming the 'burbs' and the same strip malls, targets, and starbuck's that everyone has are popping up everywhere...Its sad and noone cares about historical area-they just get bulldosed so the new buildings can look the same as every other one... It doesnt look like theres a big city around that little corner of TX, so do I need to worry about extremely fast growth and these problems that come with it? Or will it stay the rural area that I saw while driving through there on I-30 to Dallas? Thanks for yalls help!!!

Very intesting info about your job, and learning (sadly) that this area is becoming endangered in the way you mention. Can you elaborate a bit more on this? I DO know that a few years ago there was a big fight between the city of Marshall and the residents of Caddo Lake, in which the latter prevailed (thank God!). Believe me, I am NO "greenie" but there are some things just too precious and beautiful to touch in the name of "progress and growth". Anyway, here is a link on it:

Showdown at Caddo Lake - National Wildlife Magazine

Big cities in that area and a concern about it growing up? Well, I guess Texarkana would come closest to matching that description...but will have to defer to others who know the area better than I do as to what exactly qualifies as large city. Yet, so far as the influence of DFW to reach out to really mess up that part of Texas? I really don't think so....