Lancaster County (Richmond, Tappahannock, Kilmarnock: estate, travel, wages)

[CountryBound]

I am considering a move to Lancaster County, VA. Can anyone tell me if it is a good area for raising a family, medical necessities, schools, etc. What is the overall picture of this area and the northern neck? Thanks!

[Waterfront]

CountryBound,

I live in neighboring Northumberland County, north of Lancaster County on the Potomac side of the Northern Neck.

I am semi-retired and in my early sixties, and perhaps somewhat younger than most of my neighbors and friends. Don't know where you are in your life cycle, but Northern Neck is a popular retirement area. It's all about being on the water -- boating, fishing, etc.

The area is rural and scenic with lots of forests and agricultural fields for wheat, corn & soybeans. It's a great area for nature lovers to explore. Also a lot of historical interest in the area.

The town of Kilmarnock is perhaps the biggest hub of civilization for Lancaster County. Kilmarnock hosts several restaurants, a Wal-Mart, a CVS and a Walgreens, a Peebles department store, Chevy/Buick & Ford & Chrysler dealerships, hardware stores, Southern States, a sporting goods store and several small clothing stores, a Holiday Inn Express, boat dealers and tractor dealers. But no Lowes, Home Depot, Staples, Office Max, Starbucks, national restaurant chains, or BMW or Lexus dealerships. Just the basics.

White Stone and Irvington are the other towns in Lancaster, but I very seldom go to either.

Jobs? Good news if you're in the medical field. Lots of us older folks to keep you busy! Kilmarnock does have a hospital -- Rappahannock General Hospital. The only other one close by in Northern Neck is in Tappahannock, VA. MOst other openings that I see are service-related (restaurants) and building contruction. We do not have any major employers or manufacturing here, and very few offer benefits. Typical hourly wages would be $9 - $12 per hour, no benefits. My advice is bring your job with you if you need one.

I'll have to pass on the public school system -- don't know much about it. However, I have heard that it is hard to attract teachers to the area due to the low pay and lack of affordable housing. People like me, attracted to the water, have driven up the value of water front land to the point where the people who were born and raised here cannot afford to live on the water.

We do have doctors and dentists here, and we are getting more and more specialists in the area. Still I have lots of neighbors who still travel back to Richmond or Northern VA for serious medical conditions, e.g. cancer and heart-related.

Plenty of churches in the area and plenty of volunteer organizations that could use another body.

Two links for you:
the local paper Rappahannock Record - The record Online
the Northern Neck Visitors Guide - Northern Neck Vistor's Guide

Hope this helps!