Moving to Carbondale IL from SC (Chicago, Peoria: obgyn, house, neighborhoods)

[Salih1983]

hello everyone here
I am moving from SC to Carbondale IL as I got an admission from SIUC to study in the college of engineering
I have a family (2 kids and we expect one in the end of the year)
I will live on campus apts any ideas about it?
Also I need to know an OB/GYN doctor (Female ONLY)in Carbondale or Marion
Is carbondale a good choice for my family or me because we had hard time here in SC with people and amenities
I would to show my gratitude if I will find some new friends in the area ( around my age 29 years)
Thank you

[linicx]

IL is an AG state. There is only one mega city. As one moves south and away from I-80 either to the confluence of the rivers at Cairo, or to the Mississippi at St.Louis the scenery changes. The eight lanes of traffic are reduced to two. The bungalows on small lots in crowded neighborhoods with its wall-to-wall surface traffic, and its endless noise, gradually give way to small towns, spread miles apart, that are separated by thousands of acres of crop and cattle. The land is fenced and cross-fenced, and further divided by railroad track, small groves of trees, rivers, lakes, high rolling hills, towering cliffs and endless miles of concrete ribbons.

These small communities and farm towns are majority white, religious and Christian. College towns and river towns seem to have a somewhat freer spirit. Carbondale (pop.26,000) is the largest community in Southern Illinois, the largest community in Jackson County, and the home of SIUC.

A word about medical care. What I know.
The nearest to you ranked Top 25 Hospital in the Midwest is Barnes-Jewish in St. Louis. Children's in St. Louis may or may not be nearest child hospital for your needs.

Children's Hospital of Illinois located on OSF campus in Peoria is the only certified Level 1 tertiary critical care children's unit (with over 100 specialty physicians) outside of Chicago. It treats children pre-birth to age 18. Ronald McDonald House is nearby. I hope you never need it.

I don't know what you mean by 'amenities'? To me it is large parks, large body of water, nature, theatre, medical services, a variety of family events and things for children to do and explore, museums, history, culture, variety or restaurants, a diverse religious community, and a wide variety of shopping and grocery stores. One of the least expensive grocers in Illinois is Aldi Foods. As far as I know, the only grocer from the Carolinas in Illinois is Fresh Market. .

IL is very different from SC. Cook County/Chicago population is twice that of SC. IL population is four times larger than SC. There is no ocean. There are large rivers and large city parks, and an abundance of state parks, and activities all year. But you will not find it in one county or one city. . The nearest Trader Joe's and Whole Foods is in St. Louis. You can find fresh produce, except winter, in Illinois. .

You may or may not find a female OB/GYN in Carbondale. With three hospitals one can hope. Unless the state has fixed the road there is a nasty "S" curve near Marion or Herrin. What I remember on that road is being side-swiped from the front to the rear fender. Neither of the vehicles left the road, but it was an eye opening experience.

Here is a link to medical care in SoIL.
About SIH |

[Salih1983]

Thank you so much for your response
It is very useful and interesting to go over it
I meant by amenities that I am living in Clemson and its very small city no parks no amusements that one can spend some time
my children are like a prisoners
SC is a good option for singles or bachelors however for married its hell
I really appreciate u for ur helpful comment

[linicx]

Welcome to Illinois. I think you will find our rolling hills, towering cliffs, plaines, city and state parks offer many things that are free or very low cost.

The St. Louis Zoo is always free. The children's zoo where children interact with the animals is not. The zoo train is not free. Strollers are not free. There are 5 zoo in central Illinois Peoria(2), Bloomington (1), Springfield(1), Decatur{1]. The Wildlife Zoolongical Park in Peoria features native Illinois wildlife. Lodging and food is available. Bloomington is one of two oldest zoological parks in Illinois; the other is the free Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago. There are children's museums, planetarium, miniature golf, watermarks, presidential museums, and historical sites, and if it has any type of wheel that moves - whether train or clock, you will probably find it in the Wheels O' Time museum. renaissance faire and more. You're children need not be prisoners. BTW, kids sports are a big deal in Illinois.

[Beachgoer44]

Originally Posted by Salih1983

hello everyone here
I am moving from SC to Carbondale IL as I got an admission from SIUC to study in the college of engineering
I have a family (2 kids and we expect one in the end of the year)
I will live on campus apts any ideas about it?
Also I need to know an OB/GYN doctor (Female ONLY)in Carbondale or Marion
Is carbondale a good choice for my family or me because we had hard time here in SC with people and amenities
I would to show my gratitude if I will find some new friends in the area ( around my age 29 years)
Thank you

Siobg.com is Dr. Tsung's practice and there are 4 female doctors there. His practice is the preferred practice of Southern Illinois, for delivery.

[Beachgoer44]

I was born and raised in Southern illinois, have moved to and from there more than once in my adult life...graduated with both my Bachelors and Masters from SIU-C.

New Horizons OB/GYN located at Carbondale Memorial Hospital has one female doctor, Andrea Humphreys. Southern Illinois OBGYN has 4. The latter has offices in Carbondale and Marion. My suggestion is to ensure the delivery is at Carbondale Memorial, and not Heartland Regional in Marion. Marion has good doctors, but if they are bound to use Heartland Hosptial..stay away.

Pediatrics...James Pavlovich and Kathryn Churling are two of the best in Carbondale. They are located at the Center for Medical Arts. (618) 549-5361. Pav has been my sons pediatrician since birth, he is now 17. Love him.

Carbondale Memorial and Herrin Hospital are the 2 best hospitals in Southern Illinois. Both are in the SIH network. For specialists in pediatrics, you would need to go to Children's Hospital in St. Louis, which is approximately 2 hours away. If your kids do not have special needs, there are plenty of local competent doctors.

School districts...if you are living in student housing, I think your only option are the Carbondale city schools...otherwise, I strongly recommend you live in Giant City or Unity Point School District. They are goth k-8. If you have kids in high school, the only option is Carbondale High School, which has excellent academic programs, but a lot of social problems. There is a very large gap between the "haves" and "have nots."

If your kids are athletes they will fit right in at any of our schools....once they are accepted by the locals. Natives are very territorial and competitive. This is fact. Even people raised in this area who move to another local town experience this.

University Mall......if you are female, do not go to the mall alone or alone with your kids at night. The parking lot is dangerous. Do not park on the south side of the mall near JC Penny during day or night. Try to always park on the north side that faces highway 13. The inside of the mall is fine, it is the parking areas that have the most crime...reported and unreported.

If your family kayaks, canoes, hunts, fishes, plays sports..except hockey, you will be content here. There are several parks in the area. On Giant City Road, Barrett Rochman, built a park, which is opened to the public, called Castle Park. Kids love it.

If you travel by car to SIU make sure you have a parking pass, AND a pocket full of quarters. Parking is a nightmare. Be prepared to pay parking tickets too.

If you like wine, you will have many local wineries to choose from, families are welcome. Weekends at the wineries tend to have live music and host local festivals.

I hope this helps...

[Beachgoer44]

Left out local grocery stores. ..In Carbondale at the Murdale Shopping Center you will find the "Neighborhood Co-Op." This is an organic grocery store, similar to Whole Foods, but not nearly as large. This store is locally owned and operated. It does a very good business. I try very hard to support the local business man, and shop there often.

Fresh Foods is a produce market in the same shopping center. It is less expensive than the Co-Op, and is a good option when the Farmers Market, every Saturday morning until Noon from April to November, is not in season.

Politics in Illinois, no matter where you live, are corrupt from the ground up. Taxes are high, roads are bad (they are expanding highway 13 between Carbondale and Marion...complete nightmare)..In our area our streets, county roads and highways tend to get "patched," which makes for a bumpy ride.

[Beachgoer44]

Originally Posted by linicx

Unless the state has fixed the road there is a nasty "S" curve near Marion or Herrin. What I remember on that road is being side-swiped from the front to the rear fender. Neither of the vehicles left the road, but it was an eye opening experience.
]

That "S" curve is on Old 13, which is mainly traveled by local residents and other locals avoiding construction on the "New 13" expansion. That area is predominantly subdivisions now. This is a road that does not get fixed, but "patched."

[Salih1983]

Beachgoer44 thank you so much for your helpful comments
appreciate it

[myrc60]

Originally Posted by Salih1983

Thank you so much for your response
It is very useful and interesting to go over it
I meant by amenities that I am living in Clemson and its very small city no parks no amusements that one can spend some time
my children are like a prisoners
SC is a good option for singles or bachelors however for married its hell
I really appreciate u for ur helpful comment

OMG have you not been to the many parks and lakes in the area? If you can't find anything to do with your children in the Upstate and WNC, you aren't looking very hard. Maybe you should come have a look in the Greenville/Spartanburg forum for some ideas. I understand you are going to school in Carbondale, but the area you live in now is far from boring.