Nurse in NY, considering relocating family to WV (Huntington, Parkersburg: real estate, leases)

[stickwithnursing6]

I am an RN living in Central NY and looking to relocate family to WV. Can anyone give me insight into best hospitals for an RN to work at and best place to raise family. We homeschool, want land and have small gentleman's farm.

[WVUPharm2007]

Most people on here are exceedingly biased towards Morgantown and Huntington...and recommend those two towns for anybody looking for anything. And while I'd agree that those are two of the top destinations for adults wanting work...personally, if I were to raise children it wouldn't be in either town. Huntington and Morgantown have the huge state colleges, which lead themselves to a huge bar and party scene. If it were me, I'd honestly look at Parkersburg. CCMH and St Josephs are both hiring nurses (who isn't, though?) Parkersburg is isolated and sterile. In fact, your kids might be bored out of their minds its so isolated and sterile. They have a decent mall though. But if you want a town where it is just about impossible for your kids to find trouble and there is a 300+ bed hospital (CCMH)...that might be about as "it" as you're going to get. And just drive about 20 minutes out Rt 50...or over into Ohio...I'm sure you can find some land...

[bballjunkie]

Wow, isolated and sterile is certainly NOT how I describe the Parkersburg area. This area has too many good things to let that go unchallenged. There are many activities for children whether it be athletics or arts. Although you say you are home schooling now, the schools here are as good or better than most in WV. Unfortunately, the part about being impossible to find trouble is also not 100% accurate (of course, trouble, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder). I do highly recommend the Parkersburg area but more for the positive things here than for the lack of negative things.

[Hinton Bound]

Originally Posted by stickwithnursing6

I am an RN living in Central NY and looking to relocate family to WV. Can anyone give me insight into best hospitals for an RN to work at and best place to raise family. We homeschool, want land and have small gentleman's farm.

I'm originally from central NY, Delaware and Otsego counties. We chose the small town of Hinton, in Summers county. There is a hospital right in Hinton, plus Beckley and Lewiburg are 30 minutes away with numerous hospitals and clinics.

As Pharm said, nurses are in demand all over the place. If you want a good clean place to do what you mentioned, one that is pretty close to central NY, try Beckley/Hinton/Lewisburg.

[WVUPharm2007]

Originally Posted by bballjunkie

Wow, isolated and sterile is certainly NOT how I describe the Parkersburg area. This area has too many good things to let that go unchallenged. There are many activities for children whether it be athletics or arts. Although you say you are home schooling now, the schools here are as good or better than most in WV. Unfortunately, the part about being impossible to find trouble is also not 100% accurate (of course, trouble, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder). I do highly recommend the Parkersburg area but more for the positive things here than for the lack of negative things.

I spent 21 years of my life there from 1983-2004. I was perpetually bored out of my mind. Of course, I'm comparing it to where I live now in Morgantown where I'm an hour drive away from Pittsburgh...

[David Kennedy]

Really big hospital coming on line at Bridgeport, Wv...4,000 employees...United Hospital...will be a center piece for a planned community of thousands of homes...Charles Point...
Local region has 93 government departments and contractors as employment base.

Biggest thing in Wv. No economy stall compared to USA. If 10 acres will work, send me a PM..have 2.

[Threerun]

Move to Martinsburg, WV and get a steal of a house and work at the best medical facility in the Shenandoah region- Winchester Valley Medical. Hands down the best facility in the region. Great reviews, solid salaries, and a short commute to some of the best bargains you will ever find in real estate.

Morgantown real estate is waaaay overpriced, and UHC in Bridgeport is simply an extension of the old UHC which, in my opinion, is not a highly regarded facility.

Martinsburg offers a greater diversity, you're 2 hours from touristy D.C., or, as one of my friends does, an hour and a tick from $35,000 more per year as a nurse inside the Beltway.

[Sharedspirit]

WV homeschoolers have a group on google groups. That might be a good place to ask. Especially if you are looking for other homeschoolers to participate in activities with. Fairmont has an excellent homeschool group.

[Threerun]

There are also great deals in Hampshire County, WV. I saw a few listings for property near Bloomery for less than $2,000 an acre. All perked, roads in, all within 45 minutes of Winchester VA. Most had some type of water access to the Cacapon etc..

Lots of land offered once by Hunter Corp (used to be WestVaco lands etc) that folks bought in the heyday and are now regretting the $5,000 p/acre price tag.

Unbelievable deals compared to 2004-2005. I suspect prices might go to $1,500 an acre or a bit lower depending on area and access, larger tracts lower yet. Nice thing about Hunter- the property wasn't hogged for timber. Good stands and a lot have open meadows on them for small operations. Timber, water and pasture mixes. No issues with undermining either. There are some larger tracts that have leases for gas and oil rights, but generally not in an already approved / platted area. It's still rare.

That's one thing vexing us right now in North Central WV- what land hasn't already been divided has been stripped or has a gas and oil lease with someone else. Maybe not important to some, but I know the 'holler' I hunt in has a gas/oil rig pumping 24/7. It's annoying to say the least, and not comforting when a subsidence hole appears on property, as is the case with my bosses farm.

I chuckle and say the best cover scent I could use in that holler is a tube of axle grease, lol.

[tbailey1138]

Here's some info on the Huntington area for you. We have some great hospitals here includings the #1 Orthopedics program in the state and the only stroke program to be gold certified. The Huntington Internal Medicine Group is also the largest private practice in WV and there is a VAMC and several other area hospitals here as well. From things I've heard talking with nurses, Huntington also pays about the best in the state for wages. Here's an overview for you:

:: Welcome to Huntington, West Virginia :: - HADCO - Huntington Area Development Council

And raising children of my own here, Huntington is a great place for families. With all of the great parks, festivals, museums and programs offered for kids, their is most always something to do for your family. You and your family could likely find the type of land you are looking for in some of the surrounding areas while still being close to everything.

Huntington, WV - Families

Hope this helps and let me know if I can help in any other way.

Tim