Pros and Cons of Indianapolis? Indianapolis or Madison? (Austin: live, transportation)

[wh15395]

Originally Posted by ColdAilment

I hope you all know when I said Hamilton County I was referring to Hamilton County Indiana, the one just to the east of Marion County.

*North

[Brssplr]

Originally Posted by ColdAilment

Horribly conservative? Indianapolis has a democratically controlled legislature. In 2008 almost 70% of Marion County voted for Barack Obama, not sure how that rings "horribly conservative".

Now, in nearby Hamilton county I can see there being a lot of conservative folk.

I presume by "democratically controlled legislature" you are referring to the City-County Council. It is controlled by a Democratic majority, but the mayor is a moderate, mainstream traditional Republican. The Legislature is at the state level, and is controlled by a super-majority of Republicans, and the governor is a tea-party, religious fundamentalist Republican that would rival anything Scott Walker in Wisconsin says or does.

[Brssplr]

Originally Posted by nothappyinindy

I lived in Madison, WI for about 5 years and Indianapolis for 20 years. I would choose Madison in a heartbeat. It's a beautiful city with lots of lakes, clean air, and cultural activities. The state of Wisconsin itself is beautiful and Milwaukee is only 70 miles away for a day or weekend trip. Indianapolis is ugly and has poor air quality. The state is flat, no major rivers or lakes to break up the monotony. The people are very conservative and most were born here and have never lived anywhere but Indiana. They talk about culture here but there really isn't much and what there is, is second rate. If your life centers around sports bars, basketball, football, and car racing, however, Indianapolis is the place for you.

I don't usually like to generalize, but generally speaking, this is correct. I do have to say though, that southern Indiana is much more picturesque than central Indiana. Having said that, southern Indiana doesn't come close to the northwoods of Wisconsin or the hills and bluffs of southwest Wisconsin.

[ColdAilment]

Originally Posted by Brssplr

I presume by "democratically controlled legislature" you are referring to the City-County Council. It is controlled by a Democratic majority, but the mayor is a moderate, mainstream traditional Republican. The Legislature is at the state level, and is controlled by a super-majority of Republicans, and the governor is a tea-party, religious fundamentalist Republican that would rival anything Scott Walker in Wisconsin says or does.

Yes, the city council is controlled by democrats, the mayor, though somewhat moderate, will probably not get reelected. Unfortunately outside of Indianapolis, Indiana is a very rural and conservative state, just the type of demographic required for a wacko like Mike Pence to get elected. Though thankfully the people of Indiana were smart enough to NOT vote Rupert Murdoch in for Senator of the state.

[Toxic Toast]

Originally Posted by nothappyinindy

If your life centers around sports bars, basketball, football, and car racing, however, Indianapolis is the place for you.

What is wrong with people who enjoy that stuff, and are you suggesting there are not people in Madison who enjoy the same things?

Originally Posted by nothappyinindy

When it snows 1 inch in Indy, all hell breaks loose. Also, you will see sunshine in the winter in Madison with crystal blue clear skies. In Indy, you can go two weeks without seeing the sun in the winter. Dark and dreary day after day with rain usually.

I call bullsh*t.

Originally Posted by nothappyinindy

Indy--definitely small town feel, just read the local Indy Star. It's like you're living in some small town in North Dakota or Iowa. By big city conveniences, do you mean light rail? A great infrastructure? What exactly do you mean by "all the big city conveniences"? We have two shopping malls (Lafayette Square and Washington Square) that people are afraid to shop at. Castleton Square is deteriorating. That leaves Greenwood Mall which is really out of Indianapolis and Marion County and the Fashion Mall which is nice but small with Nordstoms and Saks if you can afford to shop there.

Show me someone who is afraid to shop at Washington Square Mall, and I will show you someone who is afraid of their own shadow (or dumb, or both).

[timothyaw]

Originally Posted by Toxic Toast

What is wrong with people who enjoy that stuff, and are you suggesting there are not people in Madison who enjoy the same things?



I call bullsh*t.



Show me someone who is afraid to shop at Washington Square Mall, and I will show you someone who is afraid of their own shadow (or dumb, or both).

Honestly, the part about no sun for days or even weeks at a time in the winter is definitely true. It is quite dreary here in the winter.

[Toxic Toast]

Originally Posted by timothyaw

Honestly, the part about no sun for days or even weeks at a time in the winter is definitely true. It is quite dreary here in the winter.

Yes, but the suggestion that Madison is significantly sunnier in winter is what I was responding too.

[ColdAilment]

I used to live in South Bend Indiana, 120 miles north of Indy. Seattle gets more sunny days than South Bend does. Due to its proximity to the Great Lakes overcast skies are an extremely common occurrence, especially in the winter months. Indy is far enough away from the lakes where it is not affected by them. Therefore, Indy really is not anymore dreary than most northern cities in the winter.

[kpl1228]

Two towns are so different. Both hubs of government in their state. Plays a role.
Otherwise quite different. Really depends on who you are and what you plan to be. But both excellent places to live and raise a family. Medical's probably a wash.
Madison is more progressive, and the big college definitely defines the pulse of the town culturally. And perhaps philosophically. But Indy has those pockets also.
You need to spend a week or so in both towns if possible. Minimum.

[kwk337]

I've lived in both Indianapolis and Madison for a stretch. There's things about both cities that I like and dislike. But overall I can't think of much that Indianapolis has to offer that Madison can't beat, except that springtime gets to Indiana a little sooner.

While I think Indy gets a bad rap, overall it's true, you'd have to deal with a lot more crap in Indianapolis. All depends on what side of Indy you live on, really, and what you're looking for.

Madison is going to be very white-bred, far more so than Indy. But that might not be a factor for you.

The suburbs around Indy are very cookie-cutter. Culturally, the city overall is a city of "squares". Not a lot of intellectuals around Indy compared to Madison. Hoosier conversation tends toward team sports and the weather, but apart from the hippie community up in Madison (a very politicized, activist community) it's really not much different in Wisconsin. I expected people in Madison to be more interesting than folks here in central Indiana, but people in general are pretty conventional. Madison is far from perfect, but I'd still probably choose it over Indianapolis.

Weather is a b*tch wherever you go in this country, I wouldn't let that faze me. Plenty of compensations. I think winter sports are a blast. Wisconsin (in spite of the harder winters) is still a very outdoorsy state. Indiana less so. Scenically, Indiana is seriously underrated. Lot of beauty around here once you get out of the 'burbs and off the dead zone of the interstate. But southern Wisconsin has few equals.

People in Indianapolis are extremely nice, but overall, I think this city is still pretty backwards. It's really improved over the last 20 years, but still has a long way to go. Then again, Madison was never an industrial city like Indianapolis, so it hasn't had to deal with the Rust Belt stigma. If Indianapolis had a really outstanding university like Madison does, things would be different here. As it is, once you get away from the Northside and a few interesting pockets within the city, Indy feels like a big transportation facility to me.