a couple questions about NE Colorado (Denver, Fort Collins: crime, elementary school, tornado)

[jesslo]

Hello all again,
I am almost certain I will be moving to Sterling, CO this summer, and I was wondering if you could answer some questions for those who are familiar with Northeast Colorado.

First: How is crime around there, especially drug problems? A big part of why I am leaving here is because we have a meth EPIDEMIC right now.

Second: I love, love, love to hunt for gemstones, Indian artifacts, fossils, etc. and I love to fish. Are there places within an hour or so to do those things? If not, where is the closest place?

Third: Is it a good place to raise kids? I have two children in elementary school and would like to raise them in a place with good schools and activities OTHER than drugs, vandalism, theft, etc. (can you tell I don't like where we currently live much?)

A couple hour drive to the city for the zoo and baseball games and such doesn't bother me since we currently drive almost 6 hours for it. I know Sterling is not exactly close to Denver, but it's not in the middle of nowhere, is it? Thanks for your help guys!

[Rawlings]

It's a very small town in the eastern plains. If you don't mind being at least 2 hours away from Denver--and the occasional hail/tornado storm--it is a wonderful place. It is 100% small town America and it is a fine place to raise kids. Schools are decent. It is right next to the Pawnee National Wilderness area--which is a vast, vast expanse of land that was once a giant Pawnee Indian reservation. The whole Eastern Plains are great for looking for historical artifacts.

Crime and drugs are virtually non-existant. But it does have the usual problems associated with small towns---binge drinking, lack of ammenities, etc.

[jazzlover]

Pawnee is not a wilderness area, but a National Grassland. It IS a neat place, especially in the late spring when it is usually pretty green (watch out for the rattlesnakes, though).

I don't think it's reasonable to say that anyplace in the U.S. is drug-free (unfortunately), but I think Sterling is a pretty wholesome town, overall. The closest mountains are accessed by driving west on Hwy. 14 through Fort Collins. Denver is a little less than 2 hours away--that can be good and bad. The good is that it is close when you "hanker" for the big city. The bad is that some shopping, etc. might not be available in Sterling because "people will just go to Denver (or Fort Collins or Greeley) for it, anyway."

I have and do know a number of people from Sterling. Without exception, they are all good people.

[jesslo]

What about child care? Any opinions on that? I have a 7 & 9 y.o. and am looking at possibly working at an establishment for disabled people. I have no idea what they pay and no idea what child care would be while I'm working. Any ballpark ranges?