[dawc1113]

Gadsden has the potential to be a super-great city. With it's proximity to Atlanta, Birmingham, Huntsville, & Chattanooga a satellite international airport would be idea for this area. It would be a plus to help the city grow and bring new industry here. A satellite international airport would take a lot of the pressure off of Atlanta and could bring about the great possibility of high speed train transportation to Alabama & Georgia. An electro-magnetic high-speed train would be the top of the crop for the South. Wake up Alabama, especially Gadsden, and let's move forward into the 21st Century. Bring new jobs to Gadsden and turn the Riverside into a beautiful resort/condo area for retirees and younger generation as well. The Coosa River snaking through the city of Gadsden has a lot to offer for everyone. We the people of the city of Gadsden just need to open our eyes and develop the space.

[Bookbakery]

[quote=dustbunnies;1585069 husband is probably transferring to Gadsden for work. I see some homes for rent there in our price range but I saw a post here saying it was HORRIBLE there. But then when I do research I see that Gadsden was rated a great city to live in.

Who is right? [/quote]

I cannot imagine anyone calling Gadsden a horrible place to live. It's a small city.. not many jobs available, but the crime is low (especially violent crimes). Cheap to live here. Not as much to do as Birmingham (hour away) or Huntsville (2 hours drive) or Atlanta (3 hours drive), but great place to raise a family.

If you want to know about the safest areas, just ask. The suburbs are all really close to Gadsden. Except for going to Univ of Alabama, I have been here 50 plus years.

[Starlett]

The Gadsden area is in my opinion one of the best kept secrets for retirees or
for those who have a skill that is in demand, as employment for the unskilled
might be difficult.

I was born and raised in northern Illinois and have lived in Denver, Manassas, Va.,
Shiloh, Ga. and 2/1/2 years recently near Houston, Tx. (Montgomery)

Just relocated to this area early spring of 2012. Home prices are reasonable,
but the rental market is very tight, at this time--much easier to purchase.

The climate is very moderate with none of the extremes of midwest, Houston etc.
Summer not nearly as warm as Houston! The scenic beauty is always there with the foothills
of the mountains all around and then the Coosa river is huge, running through the down
town area. If one likes the water and fishing, this is the place to be.

Houses are built right to the edge of the river, as it never floods, as there are so many controlled
dams on this river. You can have a waterfront home without too much of a problem.

I just had knee surgery and would rate the hospital/doctor situation as better then many
cities. I had very good care and their are several clinics and re-hab centers that are
excellent.

Gadsden merges with Rainbow City, Southside, and many small towns so you need to spend
time driving around and getting to know the area before you choose.

Gadsden downtown is more active then many towns of this size, definately not dead! One
event that gives it the title of a family oriented town is FIRST FRIDAY of every month. Broad
street is closed, car show, singers, bands, food etc. are the main event and never have seen
any undesirable behavior or events. Truly wonderful family time!

Heavy shopping is within an hour or two away, but most anything you need can be found locally.

I am retired and the cost of living is excellent. I would like to see some more grocery chains
locate here! In the summer many truck farms have lots of fresh produce.

[missthang41]

You guys may want to shoot me and i am not judgeing anyone but the expereince i had in Gadsden was AWFUL!!! but i am from Gadsden and i was going thru alot at the time but the poeple are so mean in Gadsden. I mean you cant even work in peace and go to church in peace by someone starting something getting in your face and screaming and the managers i had at work was all for the bull!you gotta act the way THEY want you to act in Gadsden on the job at your church!
Dont move 2 Gadsden

[Bookbakery]

Gadsden, Alabama has had a growth spurt since the last post. We have many new stores including a Publix in Rainbow City, and new shopping center with plenty of places to shop and eat in East Gadsden.

I prefer the suburbs of Gadsden, including Southside, Rainbow City, Hokes Bluff, and Glencoe for living (buying
and renting).

[YouSeeYourGypsy]

5 years since last post in this thread. Any updates about this region? We currently live in Huntsville in an apartment after selling our house in South Carolina. I don't want to permanently live in Huntsville. Very expensive & we are self employed so it's not like we have a high paid engineering job like seemingly most around Hville.

Considering moving to Gadsden currently, not having luck with the real estate impending bubble situation elsewhere I've been searching. I'm originally from Mississippi and lived most of my life there (husband and I are 30) so I'm familiar with the slower paced Southern style of living.

Is the Argyle street historic area an okay place to live? Was gorgeous driving through. I like being in a walkable/bikeable area. I like that I can get to main street and pretty much bike and walk all around from my house. Is it safe to walk around in the evening in this district?

Gadsden inner school system seems subpar.

Is Hokes Bluff and Southside still where it's recommended to live?

Piedmont AL I found some nice listings around there. It just looks a bit far from the amenities of Gadsden. Definitely more rural. I'm not opposed to rural but I've never lived too far from town and not "live off the land independent" type, so if I'm too far out it's a little weird for me.

How would a soap/bath/handcrafted candle company do in downtown Gadsden? Is there enough money around that people would pay for these sort of products?

Edit: Also, are any young couples choosing to build a life in this region of Alabama?

[Janet Maria]

I'm very familiar with Gadsden and have never had any problems / issues there. It's a very easy town to navigate as it's only about 6 miles long and 5 miles wide. And, there's virtually no traffic on the main road US-411 (aka: Albert Raines Blvd, aka: Rainbow Drive) running North to South through the city paralleling the Coosa River. This main route can be driven in about 10 minutes. On the north end of it is US-431 (Meighan Blvd) running east and west. Going south from there on US-411, near the mall is I-759 West, the gateway to I-59 leading to Birmingham and Chattanooga. Continuing to go south (past the mall) on US-411 leads to US-77 in Rainbow City.

Urban Sprawl / Suburbiaa doesn't exist in Gadsden. The largest concentration of single family residential homes are in the area known as Clubview. This area includes all the streets in the vicinity of Eura Brown Elementary School from Meadowbrook through the Alpine Drive neighborhood. In Clubview, 3 and 4 bedroom traditional (mostly brick) split and tri level homes with 2,000 to 3,000 sq. ft and almost quarter acre lots are typical. Some of the largest & priciest homes are up in the Alpine Drive neighborhood behind the elementary school. Regardless of where in Clubview a house is, it's a safe bet that the house was built in the 1960's. There are exceptions but generally speaking, probably over 90% of the homes were built in the '60's when Gadsden was economically stable and thriving from the "Big 3" employers of the time: Good Year, Republic Steel and Allis Chalmers.

*** Good Stuff About Gadsden: Low cost of living, affordable housing, easy to navigate, no real traffic, no urban sprawl, generally quiet, low violent crime rate, lots of medical services and medical industry jobs, water activities on the Coosa River, its Riverwalk area, Moragne Park, Noccalulu Falls, proximity to Birmingham, Huntsville and Atlanta.

*** Bad Stuff About Gadsden: Its weak economy with a small and continuing decline of tax base necessitated a 10% Sales Tax. The few major employers once here have all shut down / moved away. Very high vacancy rates of storefronts in the downtown area and the strip mall shopping centers reflect the overall weak economy. The population has shrunk 25% since 1990 and the remaining citizenry is fairly aged / retired and health challenged too; hence the two hospitals and diverse medical community. Aside from the medical jobs, pretty much only low wage, low skilled forward facing, frontline, retail, customer service and fast food jobs exist in Gadsden. Walmart's the place to work so-to-speak, sad.

[Norakkks]

Weiss Lake is huge. It all depends on what you are looking for in a city/town.

[DovieHarding]

had a dear friend who moved to Gadsden from FL to work at GT, lived around RBC/Southside...I told them they would hate it ( I know Gadsden/Anniston and it's always been a weird area in my book...worse than Bham, far worse than HSV) ..they knew GT was going to close (like they did in Union City) and move to China - the family was glad to leave from what they told me - I know I would never live there and I know AL pretty well

[DovieHarding]

just for grins, Anniston, next door, is far worse...even with a long time military presence