Appleton-Any Diversity??? Questions (Milwaukee, Green Bay, Kenosha: salons, houses, neighborhood)

[cincylifer]

Potential opportunity in Appleton, but doesnt seem diverse at all. How is it for Blacks? How are schools and housing, 4 bd, 2 bath

[Averie-Jay]

I've lived most of my life in the Green Bay/Appleton area. There isn't a large diversity there yet, but the area is growing quickly and there are more ethnic backgrounds now than even five years ago.

The schools are very good from my own experience (garduated in 1999), but I don't have children of my own and, therefore, haven't sent any children to school in the Appleton area. They entire state of Wisconsin scores well for education in general, though.

Although there isn't a strong black presence in Northeast WI yet, the tolerance of the folks there is great. People are friendly and welcoming (and I miss them a lot!). It's a wonderful place to raise a family.

If you're very concerned about diversity and a more liberal lifestyle, I would lean more toward Milwaukee. That might be more what yo'ure looking for.

[jmkraft]

I grew up in Appleton and visit family occasionally with my children. I am a white mom of two black children. We definately stick out when we do things around town but haven't experienced any problems. We rarely see any diversity there (except maybe Hmong people). I would say generally for Wisconsin most of the black population is in the Milwaukee/Racine/Kenosha area. Wisconsin is very segregated and the black population in those areas is concentrated to mostly low-income areas. My husband and I have been looking to move to an area with more diversity without the inner-city issues and haven't found a place yet. My recommendation if you are serious about relocating to Appleton would be to find a black realtor for the area (if there even is one). Get his/her opinion of the area. I guess after growing up there and visiting now with my children, Appleton wouldn't be my first choice. (If race wasn't an issue I would love to live there because I like everything else about the area.)

We went to a conference this past weekend for white parents of black children and it was put on by the Fox Cities Cultural Center (out of Appleton). There were several black men and women helping with the conference and they were from the Appleton/Green Bay area. It seemed like several of them were affiliated with St. Norbert's in Green Bay. Anyway, I was sooo impressed by the list of resources for the Appleton/Green Bay area. There are black churches, salons and organizations in the area.

[yo vanilla]

i live in appleton and truth be told there is not alot of diversity. but right on my block there is 2 black families and 2 hispanic families, couple blocks away there's a few asian families too. i'm a white male, case you were wondering, and i live near pierce park (just off downtown and just off the river). so i've got some in my neighborhood at least!

for a 4br 2bath house, well you can find a wide range. my house is old, 4br 2bth, and worth around $110K. or you can find something alot nicer for $150K or $200K+. it depends. schools, how old are your kids? the favorite elementary schools seem to be janet berry and horizon, both on the south side and both near pricier houses.