Marion, IL - Info Please (Chicago, Carbondale: homes, high school, university)

[cubssoxfan]

Muleskinner, is your shop close to the Tunnel Hill trail?
Beautiful country down there, always enjoy my business trips down that way.

[Swampmonster]

Originally Posted by cubssoxfan

Muleskinner, is your shop close to the Tunnel Hill trail?
Beautiful country down there, always enjoy my business trips down that way.

Yes Sir...it touches it...If you take the trail you can reach your arm out as you ride by and hit my back bay door

[-Focused-]

Golconda. Man, that brings back memories of being a kid. Grandpa's camper, hunting, watching him skin the fish.

Sorry, mule's post got me all nostalgic.

[Swampmonster]

Originally Posted by -Focused-

Golconda. Man, that brings back memories of being a kid. Grandpa's camper, hunting, watching him skin the fish.

Sorry, mule's post got me all nostalgic.

LOL~When I think of Golconda all I can think about is eating shrimp,gator tail etc.

We used to fish there quite a bit too,but for some reason I haven't fished that area in quite awhile...may have to make that a goal for this spring.

[BLS2753]

The further southern counties are more closely aligned with Paducah KY for goods and services, than Carbondale/Marion. Most of us rarely go to Carbondale/Marion, unless it's something SIU related.

Paducah is superior retail and healthcare wise IMHO. The same holds true for Cape Girardeau MO, for those in Alexander and Pulaski County. Carbondale/Marion is not necessarily the closest or best option, depending on where you live. Anything south of IL146 is closer to either Cape or Paducah.

Pope County is the general location for horse trails, hiking, hunting, etc. Boating and fishing is more often conducted in the Kentucky/Barkley Lake area. I'm speaking strictly of the counties that border the Ohio River.

[Traveller49]

Carbondale is a better option than Marion, in my opinion. I believe someone on this thread said Carbondale has "gone down hill" or something like that in the past couple of years, but this isn't true. Population has increased by about 4,000 since 2000, we have gotten numerous new businesses and services, and Marion has progressed at somewhat of a slower rate.

If you are looking for some place with culture, Carbondale is a clear choice. It is in almost every way the cultural "beacon" of Southern Illinois (most of this is due to the university).

As for crime, it has gone down in the past couple of years and is mostly confined to a few neighborhoods on the East Side (and even that crime isn't huge).

Not to bash Marion, but it is somewhat bland and colorless, merely a product of sitting on the interstate.

[smilar05]

So what happened? I think that unless you are from So Ill, you won't like it. It's just one of those things, like alot of rural areas. Once you get away from Marion/Carbondale/Herrin, that highway, you won't find much. It is just a dying area, and health care there is atrocious. At least in Marion and Carbondale, they have docs, but just keep in mind you will end up in St Louis for anything serious. The Miners have added a fun element to lifestyle. These areas are largely not progressive in their thinking, keep that in mind. There is some wealth in Marion, though, and you could find a very nice house there; look out by the high school, out by the golf course, and then further out from the high school, there are some "mansions" out there. Those are certainly nice areas in which to live.

[linicx]

Let's make one thing crystal clear. Health care in rural America sucks. It makes no difference what state you live in, you will find medical persons who should not hold a license. In very isolated rural America the best "doctor" is often the large animal Veterinarian.

In the Midwest there are only two hospitals consistently ranked among the TOP 25. Mayo's in Minnesota and Barnes-Jewish in St. Louis. Depending upon the illness Illinois Doctors do send patients to both hospitals. This is not to say there are not smart hospitals and excellent doctors in rural Illinois because there are. The real challenge is to find him/her. I know of a old country doctor who has practiced more than 50 years and still charges $5 office call, and takes conference calls, too.

If you are accustomed to big city services and instant gratification, moving to rural America is a culture shock. Illinois is a heavily populated, beautiful Ag state with rolling hills, high cliffs, and large bodies of water that is sprinkled with small farm towns though out the state from border to border. If you do not like four seasons, being car dependent, and not being near a large city, do yourself a favor and stay home. You will never adjust or be happy.

[scomu03]

I would live down there in a heartbeat, except for healthcare, jobs, and schools. Wow, I guess those are big, huh? The point is, I love it down there but those areas mentioned are in bad shape, and I just can't do it. I know St Louis has some world class medical facilities but it is still a ways off and if you are in an emergency that is not good. I don't think any of the schools are top notch, even in the university town of Carbondale. You will find all kinds of people, although for the most part it is generally a bit "conservative" in thinking, whatever you take from that. Tolerance is not its strong point, but, I have lived in Chicago and tolerance there is atrocious for the most part. All that said, I would probably live in Marion, outside of Carbondale or anywhere in between. Otherwise, it is a hurting area, and I am not saying those areas are perfect by any means. Marion has some beautiful areas of town, with some affluence around the high school and back beyond, as well as out by the mall. Literally, some homes upwards of $1 million. I'd pick Kokopelli if you can afford it.

[linicx]

Interesting. Kokopelli, the flute player, is a Native American fertility deity.

Originally Posted by scomu03

I would live down there in a heartbeat, except for healthcare, jobs, and schools. Wow, I guess those are big, huh? The point is, I love it down there but those areas mentioned are in bad shape, and I just can't do it. I know St Louis has some world class medical facilities but it is still a ways off and if you are in an emergency that is not good. I don't think any of the schools are top notch, even in the university town of Carbondale. You will find all kinds of people, although for the most part it is generally a bit "conservative" in thinking, whatever you take from that. Tolerance is not its strong point, but, I have lived in Chicago and tolerance there is atrocious for the most part. All that said, I would probably live in Marion, outside of Carbondale or anywhere in between. Otherwise, it is a hurting area, and I am not saying those areas are perfect by any means. Marion has some beautiful areas of town, with some affluence around the high school and back beyond, as well as out by the mall. Literally, some homes upwards of $1 million. I'd pick Kokopelli if you can afford it.