How Safe is Southern WV??? (Charleston, Huntington: insurance, new home, transfer)

[GSDGyrl]

I am new to this forum and trying to find out all I can about the Southern areas of WV as my husband is being transferred to Mingo County. I have been looking at previous threads about some of the southern counties and it doesn't seem like these are safe areas for newcomers. I've read comments stating there are a high number of "meth-labs," the people are "backwards and uneducated," and it is difficult to be accepted. If this is indeed true, where would be a town or county to look at that isn't a 2-hour drive away? We have worked in WV before (2002) in Weston and stayed in Clarksburg and everyone there was very friendly and accepting of us. Is that area considered more open-minded and accepting than the southern areas? We loved being in WV and considered moving there then but work took us to another place. Since we will be there for at least 3 years this time, we want to make WV our home and purchase some land (at least 50 acres). We are both originally from the mountains of Western NC and fully understand "outsiders" but some of the threads I've read make it sound as if it is almost impossible to ever be accepted in the rural areas. We are coming up to look for property in October but now I don't know where to begin the search. PLEASE give some advice on where we should look.

[Hinton Bound]

As a whole, your suspicions are unfounded. Im sure there are meth labs here, and I'm sure there are people who won't like you. That can be said about where ever you go. I bought a place in Hinton, drove a truck with NY plates on it, and never once had any problem. People will treat you the way you treat them. If you act like an outsider, you'll be treated as such. If you're friendly and open to the ways of your new home, you'll find you won't want to leave.
~Mark

[GSDGyrl]

My suspicions arose from previous threads I read on this site! I didn't have any pre-conceived suspicions before that!!! I am looking forward to moving and living in WV. Just wondered about the things I read.

[x1x]

Your only a outsider until you move to WV, Once you move here it will up to you on how people accept you, And how you accept them, I way suggest that you make a visit to the area your planning to move to and get acquainted with the locals, As far as drugs go you will not find any place in any state or city or town that does not have them!!!! So get used to it because their every where and will remain!!! Unfortunately!!!

[tbailey1138]

I agree with some of the things that the others have said about your fears being unfounded. Even though the fears may have arisen from posts on this board, many people who post such things have little actual experience in such an area but they like to relay hearsay and what they see on the news, which often times gets blown into something much bigger than it actually is. These places are small so not much news comes out of them but when it does, it is usually something like what you listed. Combine that with the fact that unless you are from there/familiar with the area it tends to sound like it's in the same area and it creates what is often an unfounded perception. I am from Huntington but I have family in Mingo Co. and visit often. The hardest aspect to living in Mingo Co. is the lack of convenience and things that you may be used to. The people are friendly though and once they get to know you, many would give you the shirt off of your back if you needed it. Get to know someone well enough and they'll share a little of that home made cooking with you as well and you can't beat that. The breads, chicken, and dumplings that some of my family can make is just flat out mouth watering! Hopefully you can find your own little slice of heaven here in WV.
Tim

[GSDGyrl]

Originally Posted by tbailey1138

I agree with some of the things that the others have said about your fears being unfounded. Even though the fears may have arisen from posts on this board, many people who post such things have little actual experience in such an area but they like to relay hearsay and what they see on the news, which often times gets blown into something much bigger than it actually is. These places are small so not much news comes out of them but when it does, it is usually something like what you listed. Combine that with the fact that unless you are from there/familiar with the area it tends to sound like it's in the same area and it creates what is often an unfounded perception. I am from Huntington but I have family in Mingo Co. and visit often. The hardest aspect to living in Mingo Co. is the lack of convenience and things that you may be used to. The people are friendly though and once they get to know you, many would give you the shirt off of your back if you needed it. Get to know someone well enough and they'll share a little of that home made cooking with you as well and you can't beat that. The breads, chicken, and dumplings that some of my family can make is just flat out mouth watering! Hopefully you can find your own little slice of heaven here in WV.
Tim

Thanks Tim. Hopefully I can share some of my cooking too! I make a mean peach cobbler! I'm sure we will fit right in - might take a little time but that's the way it is in small towns. Thanks again for your reassuring remarks.

[hrhf]

Originally Posted by GSDGyrl

Thanks Tim. Hopefully I can share some of my cooking too! I make a mean peach cobbler! I'm sure we will fit right in - might take a little time but that's the way it is in small towns. Thanks again for your reassuring remarks.

Sharing that peach cobbler surely won't hurt!

I'm a Mingo County native -- born and raised in the Gilbert area -- and hope you are happy there. There are plenty of positives and negatives about the area. I'd rate the people as an overall positive. I've lived out of area since 2001, and out of state since 2003. But I'll try to answer any specific questions you may have.

Two quick questions for you: Which part of Mingo County? Have you visited yet?

[GSDGyrl]

hrhf,
I'm not sure which part of Mingo County yet. We are coming up Oct 5-10 to look around and see which areas we like. Hopefully we will get lucky and find some land to buy. Others on this forum have suggested looking around Huntington and surrounding areas but since we aren't familiar with the area, we don't know how far away those areas are. We hope to cover a lot of ground during the time we are there!

If you don't mind, could you tell me what the positives and negatives are of Mingo County and perhaps the surrounding counties? We have a good friend who lives in Beckley and he told us we do not want to live in Mingo County but didn't really say why - just that we probably want to look at other counties.

[vec101]

Whew taking a long breath here cuz totally do not want to offend anyone.

First, check out the map at Travel Planner (if that doesn't link, goto West Virginia Family Vacations put cursor on Visitor Information then click on Travel Planner. You will see how the powers that be divide up the state.)

A map of the counties can be found on same site at http://www.wvtourism.com/maps/mapREGICOLR-web.gif or goto http://www.wvtourism.com/ put cursor on Visitor Information then click on Maps/Driving Tours then click on Regional Map - counties.

Most/many/whatever people who live in WV would generally describe the different areas of WV as:
Eastern Pandhandle - Suburb of DC.; Northern Panhandle - Lot of Ohio/Pa. influence;
Mountaineer Country - West Virginia University is there; Potomac Highlands - skiing, outdoor adventure; New River/Greenbrier Valley - white water rafting, outdoor adventure; Metro Valley - just what it says; etc.

Right or wrong, most people I know would describe Lincoln/Boone/Logan/Mingo counties in the Hatfield-McCoy Mountains area as:
Lots of steep mountains - I mean many are straight up and down
Most main roads curvy winding around the mountains
Coal mining industry is big here
Lots of ATVs sold in the area
Lots of hunters
Do I dare say that probably every home has at least 1 shotgun (oh wait - that is pretty much true for all of WV)
My guess would be that country music is the most popular music in the area
The towns were born from the early days of coal mining, they are small and not many have been revamped
I know several people from the area and they are wonderful
The people in the area have the reputation for being kind but tough, won't take crap from others
Lots of hard working people
But there is also a lot of people whose families have lived on welfare for generations and for them this is how life is lived and the cycle will go on for generations to come
To go shopping at a mall or chain stores - you will go to Charleston or Huntington, a Wal-Mart did open up in Logan providing a much needed shopping opportunity to the region

Not safe for newcomers? No, I don't really think so, however... whether the reputation is deserved or not, not many people I know would not venture too far into the hollers, especially after dark. I know 3 strong grown men (2 of them from Logan Co.) who aren't afraid of anything who were working in a remote holler and heard/saw 2 gals in a physical fight down the hill from them. There was no way they were going to go down there and get involved trying to break it up. Good way to get shot or whatever.

[kookamus]

I've been all around kanawha,boone and a little bit of logan and mingo and haven't had much trouble just an occasional hillbilly being hateful. I carry a weapon just for insurance though. If you wander up some dead end holler i'm sure they'll wonder what you are doing up there.(they won't come running out to invite you to supper). On the the main roads i don't think you have anything to worry about. I guarantee it is a lot safer than Detroit.