Would you recommend Appleton? (Milwaukee, Oshkosh: for sale, renting, houses)

[vern]

5/27/07 ben stein on cbs sunday morning with charles osgood.....stein's ENTIRE segment was on his new love and devotion to appleton wisconsin and how it is "his" newly discovered jewel of the midwest......he enjoyed his stay here the prior week so much that he couldnt not talk about it.......and this from what would be considered by many a "worldly traveller."

[joeschmo]

Well I have always longed for the ability to move back to Appleton. I've have lived on the street around the world for 30 years, and let me tell you I see Appleton as one of the few sane and wholesome places left. I love Appleton.

If I were an Urban escapee with money I'd move there in a heart beat and not tell anyone. Sure there are a few places more story book perfect like Flam/Gerringer Norway but that's only for 3 months a year.

We've got all the amenities of a Big City yet you can be standing in corn fields within 10 minutes of any place within the valley. You have all the good and only a minor amount of the bad of a huge metropolis. And then you have all the great little towns and lakes right in our back yard.

I mean the combined cities of Green Bay, Appleton, Oshkosh, Fondulac as well as all the smaller towns puts us closer to the Million Mark in population - yet little of the high crime, and moral decay and human indignity of other communities has a presence in Appleton. They are after all the sons and daughters of farmers, Blue collar factory workers and Mill wrights. There is a high skill level amoung the populace.

People who value a good natured friendly optimism .... a remnant of our farm community roots, like Wisconsin. Those people fleeing California for Utah and Idaho may like Wisconsin. But liberals may not for the very same reason they don't like Texas. Attempts at promoting gynocentric androgyne 'isms and other dysfunctional behavior belief systems to subvert the youth is met with vigorous resistance from the majority in both places. So liberals end up always in University towns like Madison, Oshkosh, La Crosse, Stevens Point. The difference between Texas and is that Wisconsin doesn't have as many baptists. (Lutherans and Catholics)

Also, the locals don't readily assimilate Loud mouthed, Vulgarians comming in and calling them unprogressives: "know what I'm saying?" I mean it's not like Appleton folk are anxious to accommodate all thats wrong with other cities; they actually are happy.

Still, to a small noticeable degree the inner city milieu and drama has now trickled into Appleton. The word on the street in Racine, Chicago and Milwaukee has it that show 'nuff young Appleton girls to be xeno friendly.

It depends what you value. The same features that make Appleton worth moving to for Big City Escapees are features that a university prone malcontent would call liabilities. Old style Minneapolis residents (known as Murderapolisans) have already payed a huge price (quality of life) for yielding to the noble push given by "progressives" who have been actively & coercively instituting city wide social and behavior modification programs and protocols. So now there's gated communities - that's progressive for you - but the rich don't feel the effects as the average neighborhood residents do. The formally friendly city is split into hostile political rivalry.

The fact that Appleton folk are in no hurry to see a similar demise of their carefully constructed safe haven, in the name of being progressive is not a condemnation of the town folk, but is only an admission of a "been there, done that - it don't work" common sense approach that Appleton people employ when addressing non native ideas.

I don't know anybody in Appleton any more but I just visited again this weekend, and I loved it. The new generation has the same good qualities I admired when I was there in my 20's. It still has that familliar pull on my heart strings.

Appleton has always had serious indigenous intellectual Capital. Neenah has had the most Millionaires per capita than any other place in the world outside of Kuwait. This intellectual capital includes School Smarts, as well as a high degree of Blue Collar know how .... and street smarts. The sheer amount of business and industry per capita of 70,000 people is amazing.

Perpetual trendites and fashmites may indeed prefer the meaningless differentiation of an inner city ghetto - But unless you are talking New York, Boston, Chicago then the only options Appleton is in short supply of is that of a noxious criminal underground subset that contaminates basic youthful exuberance and keeps the masses uptight. We also don't have an entrenched gay community that wants to turn the city on it's head. They are there and have their hang outs - but Appleton is still their home and no one's denying them their lifestyle preferences. They are not throwing fits or parades but are probably maintaining a blue collar lifestyle as well.

[CityBoyWI]

JoeSchmo, I think you just said it all in that post.

"Still, to a small noticeable degree the inner city milieu and drama has now trickled into Appleton. The word on the street in Racine, Chicago and Milwaukee has it that show 'nuff young Appleton girls to be xeno friendly."

I live just north of downtown and have noticed this (and unfortunately am now slightly involved in the drama). Although I am just a renter I still feel a need to somehow fight for the cool old neighborhood. I am worried about what it will be like in another 5 years.

That bit aside, Appleton is a great place to live. It may not be the most exciting but there are a lot of things to do for a city of this size and it does not cost a fortune to live here.

[Wi_Girl]

My huband and I currently live in the south, Virginia, and we both HATE it. He is born and raised here and I am a Wisconsin Girl at heart, having been born and raised there for 19 years and having lived down in the south for 7 years. I HATE IT HERE. Its way too hot, racial tension is unbelievably high, the taxes are terrible, the traffic is sickening, and its just not a good place to raise a family, well, especially in the area we are in. We both hope to move back to Appleton Wisconsin in about 3 years after we get our degrees. Right now our job gives us tuition reimbursement so we cant afford to lose that. I hope we can come back to WI though. I grew up about 20 miles east of Appleton and my husband is from the big city so he still needs that big city feel. Cant wait.

[psystats]

I've lived in Appleton for about eight years now and would enthusiastically recommend living here. You get the best of both worlds--an easy pace of life along with many "big city amenities" as the poster joeschmo put it. From my perspective, the main negatives relate to those longish winters. Don't even start thinking about Spring until April rolls around, and even then you might see some fresh snowfall. The payoff comes with the mild summers and the suspicion that the winters prevent the place from getting overcrowded.

I work at a large company and have talked with many people who have relocated to the area. They typically like Appleton and the surrounding area (i.e., the Fox Valley). The exceptions are usually those who would much prefer a really big city like, say, Chicago or Philadelphia. My wife is from Wisconsin and thinks Appleton is one of the nicer places in the state. And as far as I can tell, most life-long Wisconsinites also tend to like Appleton if they've ever been here.

Through all those years and countless conversations, I simply have NOT heard people complain much about the following (if at all):

- That the people in Appleton are unfriendly.

- That it's too bad Appleton isn't more like La Crosse.

- That drunk driving is so prevalent that you're afraid to get into your car.

- That the Appleton City Government is hapless.

- That the city has dramatically gone downhill in any way.

Yes, I've heard people complain about high taxes, but that is hardly unique to Appleton. If you haven't seen it already, you may want to check out the following website. An Appleton resident whom I've met gives a nice overview of the city.

Welcome to Appleton, Wisconsin (Appleton: A Great Place to Live!)

[marley0817]

I grew up in Appleton and moved to Arizona after college. I have lived in Phoenix for the last 30 years. I go back every couple years to visit appleton and am always impressed by what a good place it is to live. I feel lucky that I had the opportunity to go to school there and to grow up someplace where people knew and cared for their neighbors.

I have been gone for 30 years but I still think of Appleton as home and always will.

[TIMMR]

i HAVE NEVER BEEN THERE...BUT wISCONSIN IS BEAUTIFUALL...

Originally Posted by MattDen

I was wondering if any one in the room would recommend Appleton?

What is the city like?
What is the economy like?
What is Downtown Appleton like?

[seaunmaine]

Originally Posted by GreggB

deoO519--I don't know where to start in regards to your lengthy post. But a few things I need to point out to you. I Was born in Appleton. Than raised in Milw. Came back to Appleton in 1970 until I moved to Las Vegas not too long ago. SO..... I think I know a thing or two about a thing or two, when it comes to Appleton. YES, I was there when they built the Avenue Mall. The mall was doomed from Day One, and cost taxpayers about 4 mil. I was a City Bus Driver for Fox River Bus Lines and than Valley Transit. In the 70s, the busses were PACKED with people comming downtown. Why? Because there was wonderful RETAIL shopping downtown. There is NONE now. Downtown is Bars, resturants (many that come and go), more Bars, 2 overpriced hotels, and oh, did I mention Bars? You mentioned about the "Bad" streets and challenged me to name somewhere else in the state that has better streets. La Crosse. Great infrastructure and traffic configurations. Oh yeah--A GREAT downtown there also with Free parking. OH BTW-I am very familiar with Conkey's Book Store (one of the last remaining retail establishments downtown)--SADLY it is closing!! As far as the Performing Arts center is concerned-Yes it's nice. 99% of the time however, it sits empty and dark. You mention the airport. Oh sure--it's nice. But book a flight out of it and you'll pay around double the price as compared to a Milwaukee flight. You mention the parks. Yes--Appleton does have some nice parks. But you failed to mention that the city DOES NOT have so much as one foot of a bike lane on any city street. It is a VERY bicycle Un-Friendly City. You mention the Packers and their great quarterback. That's Green Bay-Not Appleton. As far as the rudness of people there--I'll stick to that one. Rude and Reserved. Wasn't really like that 30 years ago. I will admit that rudness is a result of how our society has become--Not just a trait found in Appleton. I need to sum up here. First to all those who live there or are considering living there--you have my blessings. To me Appleton is a city that at one time was really a unique, friendly, warm place. To me, I find that that is no longer the case there. I attribute Appleton's downslide, MAINLY to weak city government, especially over the last 10-20 years. Poorly planned projects, Wasted taxpayers monies, the reluctance of city government to let citizens be involved in decision making (referendums, etc.). Appleton has the potential to Re-Invent itself. (Just like potions of Milwaukee are doing). It will only happen when the city gets some strong leadership and the citizenery has more input on public projects. I am not a bitter person, nor do I consider my attitude lousy . I have seen the good and the bad in Appleton. In the last 30 years, I watched a "Warm" city grow Cold. In my humble opinion Appleton is just a mere shell of what it used to be.

Yes......yes......yes......Greg...you are right on. I could not have said it more clearly than you have. I am so disqusted when I am in Appleton visiting, I cant wait to leave. Anyone who knew Appleton 20-25 years ago know just what a dive it has become. I did raise my kids there and it was great for them but I would never do it now.

[SJOAKLEY1]

Originally Posted by GreggB

I don't live there. I live in Henderson Nevada. Appleton is a nice place. A nice place to VISIT!!! And for many people, a GREAT palce to live. More power to those who choose it as their home. And more power to those who choose to live in the madness of Chicago!! (Home of the DA ultimate 'Chockers', DA BEARS)!!!!

Appleton is GREAT place to live, Why do you hate Appleton so much? You know, Appleton has great schools (trust me, I go to them) that fit ALL education needs, they have a fabulous downtown, Appleton is where Harry Houdini grew up, so they have the Houndini mueseum, and they have the first house in the entire WORLD to be lit by hydroelectricity. Just search hearthstone house appleton (or something along those lines) and go to their website. Sorry if you don't like Appleton, but obviously, everyone else does.

[cassese71]

Originally Posted by MattDen

I was wondering if any one in the room would recommend Appleton?

What is the city like?
What is the economy like?
What is Downtown Appleton like?

aPPLETON IS NICE DID U GET HERE YET