Possible relocation to Marinette, Wi (Green Bay, Minocqua: renting, crime, houses)

[Terri2u]

I might have an opportunity to relocate up north - Marinette, WI. Have a toddler.

Any thoughts / comments on what to consider in regards to the area, lifestyle, small town atmosphere.....

Thanks

[grapeguy]

I was born there, and grew up 10 miles or so from there (went through school in Peshtigo).
You don't say where you currently live; it might be easier to characterize Marinette based on a comparison, but i'll try anyway.

In general Marinette is based on industry, but that's not to say it's at all ugly or undesirable. Most of the industry is relatively non-polluting and unobtrusive. Air quality is pretty good (compared to other places I've lived including Indiana and Texas.) The bulk of houses in town tend to be old, wood-framed, and dating from 1890-1950. Outside town, most houses are wood-framed ranch style. There are plenty of forests and trees everywhere (the region was originally founded on the timber industry).
Property values/prices are quite low, compared to other places I've lived. The area of town along the Menominee River front has a fair number of very large, beautifully styled older houses, very well kept.
Winters do get pretty cold (typically reach as low as -10 to -15F sometime during the winter with an average day ranging from +5 to +20F, although there is plenty of winter sun. (Percentage of sunny days is relatively unrelated to the season, totally unlike the west coast for example).

Quality of life is a relative thing-- depends on what you value. You won't find a huge percentage of people people with advanced degrees there, but neither will you find a huge percentage of really backward people either. (Though there are always a few of both). Most are just regular folks. Not too outgoing, but not to cliquish either. Garison Keilor's Lake Wobegon has come to mind more than a few times...

For raising children, again, it depends on what your objectives/expectations are. I think its a relatively safe area to raise kids, but you do need to keep tabs on the kind of freinds they're making. There has long been an element of beer-drinking, partying and etc. to the high-school culture. Just don't let things get out of hand. I haven't kept up on quality of the schools for quite a while. They do have a junior college (Univ. of WI satellite campus) in Marinette.

Marinette County and nearby counties are great for both summer and winter recreation, if you're an outdoor type.

If you have other specific questions, i'll try to answer them.

Good luck.

[titletown]

I grew up near Marinette and I have a friend that lives there now. It is a safe place to live. Raising a toddler, you have nothing to worry. I currently live in Green Bay right now. I view Marinette as a very small town, slowly getting more stores. I kind of get that impression, coming from the Fox Valley it seems very run down and older buildings. It is very cheap to live there in comparision to the national average. Crime should be low. I personally would live more towards Peshtigo or outside of Marinette. Peshtigo's school system is much better. I kind of get the impression that kids have nothing to do there and find trouble like any other Northern Wisc or U.P. smaller cities. I am not saying all kids have this problem, but it is mainly has to do with bad parenting. This is just my view, now if a Chicago resident would view my city, they would probably view my city as boring, run down, etc. Just different levels the cities are at.

[akjd]

Can you tell me more about Peshtigo? Jobs? Income levels etc.

[Schnidly]

Have a boss from Marinette, not really a desirable place to live or work are his comments.

[Packrat]

Just remember that unless you are beautiful and/or rich its hard to make friends in ANY small town, people have all their ones from grade-school and don't feel the need for any more.

[lee09]

marinette is a bad place to live. BIG mistake for me to move here. Im moving as soon as i can. Hope you can work at the hopsital or you will make about $7 an hour, part time and good luck if you can even get that! Good luck it you choose to move here!

[Worker Bea]

Marinette is not a bad place to live. Neither is Menominee, just across the river in Michigan. The towns have a combined total of 20,000. There are many nice neighborhoods, older homes, true but charming. Many front porches and nice yards. There is always something going on here: Theatre, concerts, art shows, and other cultural and fund-raising events. If you like to sail, fish, run, bicycle, walk or snowmobile, you are in luck. There are several nice country clubs, many parks, beaches, etc. There is a good two-year tech school just down the road from a two-branch of the UW System. The deans of both campuses are active in local affairs. It's not a big city, true, but big-city amenities are nearby. Yes, only about 12 percent of the adults have bachelors degrees, but many people in leadership positions are smart and savvy and the area is moving forward. The cost of living is decent. I moved here from a larger community and it took me a while, but I love it here. Give this area a chance: it is wonderful!

[Drover]

Night of the Living Thread...

[titletown]

I would never live in Marinette/Menominee either ha ha. It is a city of mostly racist rednecks where the population is almost 99% white. Now I should say that not everyone is a redneck up there, but for the most part these people are very clueless to the outside world. I know alot about Marinette County, because I grew up there. People in some of the cities of WI never get out of their little shells and experience the world. I always laugh at people here who are so clueless and uneducated. If it wasn't for the bigger employers like Marinette Marine and the foundry it would be well below 10,000 for each city. It seems like Peshtigo is growing, because the school system is much better. Also, Crivitz's is fast becoming a little tourist destination ( no where near what Minocqua has become though). The actual village of Crivitz isn't really growing, most people who move up there from Chicago & MKE live on the lakes & rivers in rural Marinette County.