Moving to Wv (Charleston, Huntington, Parkersburg: rental, crime rate, houses)

[WV bad ass]

you might consider buckhannon area its in upsur county lots of jobs really good schools & its not really a fludin' area.......it's like between morgantown & charlston. & we have very fun fairs & stuff the kids would injoy like the srawbarrie fest. or (my favorite) the brooks hill fair with mud bog, lawn mower race, little compations like pie eatin' or greased poll claimbin' or skillet tossin' or watermelon seed spitin' stuff like that. rock cave would be a place you might want to look into.

[WVdream]

Citygirl--We bought a home near Bridgeport, WV & we are very rural on 11 acres, it is beautiful. Bridgeport is really growing, restuarants, business. They recently spent billions to upgrade. Clarksburg area (Brideport) is the most beautiful yet modernized city I've seen in WV. We drove through a better part of the state when we were looking to buy. The new FBI center is being built and United Hospital is building a brand new hospital to be completed in 2009 and also an upscaled subdivision with model homes--(This is major for the economy). As far as the school system, I was told that the problem lies in the homes, that the parents lack motivation, they don't expect much from their kids. I looked into the Catholic school for mine, it's nice and not too pricey.---Definately check out Bridgeport & Taylor County.--WVdream

[wvrose]

I can sympthize with with you. In these days we have to contend with so much that isn't normal. And I can see you want to raise your kids in a safe environment. I know any big town that has many jobs and opportunities also has all the undesirable elements there. And the safer small towns don't have enough jobs. So it is a toss-up.
Maybe you could choose a smaller town and apply for a job over the internet. There are listings for Towns and Cities. Employment centers, newspapers, (which I go online and read) contact them ahead of time and see what happens. An accountant usually can get a job easier than most. You may consider a Motel manager job, or Hotel staff member, etc. Open your own daycare eventually, good pay there. Just suggestions. But it is so tough to raise kids these days and have to work too. I know, been there, done that. Very hard.
One thing I did when I lived in West Virginia was start a Dog Kennel, raised quality puppies, and supplemented my income. Pretty good if you like dogs and know a good deal about caring for them. Can always learn more. Or you may have other talents, draw on them too. Now I 'can' Apple Butter and other Jellies, etc and sell it at a local Farmer's Market when I have enough.
Maybe your family would help you get started.
But it definitely sounds like you need to get out of Chicago, with all that is going on around you. Scary! A forum neighbor, wvrose

[Griffis]

West By God Virginia suonds awesome to us. My family wants to move so bad (we live in Oklahoma and need some HILLS and GREENERY!) We will be moving the end of this year of early '07. From what we can gather online, Elkins looks fantastic (we'd prefer a smaller town) but I don't think I would be able to get work there (I'm a librarian and was told from someone at Davis/Elkins college that library jobs are scarce in the area.)

We've also thought about Morgantown and some other places...I bet it is gorgeous there. My wife was in Wheeling for a visit once and really liked it.

I really don't understand why everyone is leaving the big metropolises of NYC and Boston and DC to move to North Carolina (which is what I keep hearing)-- why do people seem to pass over W.Va.?

I do have kids and schools and crime would be an issue. Is the meth problem bad up there?

[gnomad]

It used to be such a safe city, but the Detroit gangs have taken hold and it's now BAD BAD BAD. I was talking to my cousin from there on the phone and there were gunshots just down the street from her. There are shootings on the streets now, drive bys, you name it. Crack is a major problem as is meth. It got out of hand before they could control it.

Beckley has work, depending on what you do, but be ready for some DEEP snows that linger. Princeton and Bluefield also have work depending on what you do.

The cost of living is much cheaper in Bluefield/Princeton area, but rents are pretty cheap in most southern cities now, because so many plants closed and people just lost their homes so there are a lot of rentals on the market.

Morgantown is a nice bigger area.

Fayette County is still a great place to live with a lot of building going on, but again it depends on what kind of work you do.

[atlantagreg30127]

Originally Posted by gnomad

It used to be such a safe city, but the Detroit gangs have taken hold and it's now BAD BAD BAD. I was talking to my cousin from there on the phone and there were gunshots just down the street from her. There are shootings on the streets now, drive bys, you name it. Crack is a major problem as is meth. It got out of hand before they could control it.

.

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This is the one thing about WV that depresses me. I grew up in Charleston and it was a nice town back then. I moved to Atlanta in 1984 and if you read my previous posts you'll find I think Atlanta is an armpit of humanity now though (horrible). Charleston unfortunately, has also gone downhill quite a bit since I moved here.

The problem is that Charleston (ironically like Atlanta) has 3 interstates running through it. As a result, you get a lot of pass-thru traffic from NYC to Miami, Detroit, Cleveland, etc.. some of the higher crime/drug cities. A lot of the crime in Charleston is actually commited from people passing through. Many of the so-called "gangs" there are more like gang wannabe teens, but still dangerous regardless. Much of the crime is black-on-black such as bad drug deals, etc. It's one of those cities where in broad daylight you're still relatively safe to carry on your day-to-day business, but when the sun goes down you need to really be observant of your surroundings.

Places like Lewisburg, Wheeling, etc., don't have these issues.

[Georgia]

Originally Posted by atlantagreg30127

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This is the one thing about WV that depresses me. I grew up in Charleston and it was a nice town back then. I moved to Atlanta in 1984 and if you read my previous posts you'll find I think Atlanta is an armpit of humanity now though (horrible). Charleston unfortunately, has also gone downhill quite a bit since I moved here.

The problem is that Charleston (ironically like Atlanta) has 3 interstates running through it. As a result, you get a lot of pass-thru traffic from NYC to Miami, Detroit, Cleveland, etc.. some of the higher crime/drug cities. A lot of the crime in Charleston is actually commited from people passing through. Many of the so-called "gangs" there are more like gang wannabe teens, but still dangerous regardless. Much of the crime is black-on-black such as bad drug deals, etc. It's one of those cities where in broad daylight you're still relatively safe to carry on your day-to-day business, but when the sun goes down you need to really be observant of your surroundings.

Places like Lewisburg, Wheeling, etc., don't have these issues.

You hit the nail on the head Homeboy.
My old town of Martinsburg has went from Mayberry to Misery thanks to I-81, I-70, I-66 and the wonderful DC MARC train.

If West Virginian's are smart I hope to God they stand up and stop Senator Byrd's final Pork Barrell Project, Corridor H.
If this highway goes though then say goodbye to most of WV and hello crime and decay

[ohiomd]

Hi I lived in WV for the past 6 years, I am a mounteneer and my husband and my daughter were born in WV. I've live in Morgantown and CRW. LOVE Morgantown, I've mixed feeling about Charleston. One reccomendation be careful about moving to WV. Jobs are scarce, very..That's the main reason we left WV. Economic growth is mostly in health care and law. Other occupations are not very well paid. Also, in CRW-Huntigton area the price of housing still high. Economic growth is around CRW-Huntighton, Morgantown (specially).
I reccomend Parkersburg and live across the river in Ohio.
Taxes in WV are high and insurance also. The median income in WV is 32,000 and anyone is professional leave. i know it is a shame!! I love WV as anyone.
Good places to live around CRW for families is South Hills, GW high school is one of the best school district. Teays Valley is hit and miss, but is a nice area.
Rural WV is beautiful but you need to know your neighboors, as well as urban WV. there has been a recent increase in Meth lab in WV in CRW in particular.
If you can afford it, I love Lewisburg close to VA and Morgantown.

You may find news in the Charleston Gazette.
Accounting jobs are very easy to find and may be restaurant managers, restaurants are popping out everywhere in WV.

CRW has a new mueseum and art center, whihc it is an improvement to the city.

Good luck

[sophiagirl]

I moved to WV, (sophia) from outside Boston five years ago. I will NEVER go back, and I don't see myself ever leaving here either! I have five kids ranging in age from almost 21 to 4, and this is a wonderful place to raise kids. You mentioned your husband being a restaurant manager, well Beckley is currently going through a HUGE building boom, and since last January, we have gotten a Ruby Tuesdays, a Chilis, a Logans, a new Chick-fil-a, and a bunch of new fast food and smaller places. We have a great small private school, if you don't want to go public, which compared to other places are wonderful too. And the neighbors can't be beat ~ very open and friendly. Good luck in your search,
sophiagirl

[citygrl707]

I am going to look more into the princeton area and parts of bluefield , i did love mercer mall when i went in aug. Charleston sounds to much to me like chicago , does anyone know if southern charleston is better then northern?

I dont want to live to fair from bluefied because my parents are there and want to vist them .

I work in accounts receivable and have been working in book keeping for more then five years. I am looking to work in this field.