If moving to Jackson metro area, know this... (Clinton, Pearl: rental, income)

[auntbee]

I'm not getting into a political discussion with you or anyone else. I just don't think this board is the place for it.

[nancy thereader]

Okay, please. Let's try to be civil to one another here.

[funbustours]

Originally Posted by jacksonian

We already have plenty of suburbanites surrounding Jackson that think like you, so one less won't bother us at all

Ministers, if you are a strong-willed person who enjoys freedom, you'll fit right in here at Jackson. If you are like funbustours, live in fear everyday, and would rather live behind a 10' tall iron fence, then the suburbs will be better suited for you.

My family and I don't live in fear everyday because we chose "Not" to live in Jackson, Mississippi....we live in Natchez. ...and by the way....many "strong-willed persons who enjoy freedom" are taking the big dirt-nap right now....dead from a stupid crime.....and lying 6ft. under.....

You know darn well inter-city Jackson, MS is a rat-hole, so please stop trying to bring more people to that old nest.

Ministers: if you just gotta work in Jackson, please, please find you a great, safe little neighborhood in the "burbs"....

[Northeasterner2548]

I moved with my family to Madison about a year ago from S. FL and I have my own perspective .

Madison is a really nice town, I think the schools are great (better than S FL) but it is a small town and Jackson is a small town if you are used to Miami/Ft. Lauderdale. There is often little to do and my family does get bored. If you like hunting, fishing, church type activities or family activities with your family only then fine, but if you like more activities and larger groups and commercial theater, pro sports, kids places, museums, variety, etc it can be boring at times. On a Sat night after dinner there is not much going on, no Las Olas, South Beach, Coconut grove, Hard rock Casino, night clubs, beach, etc

whether you like it is personal,
I love my job so it is good for me, my kids like the schools and made new friends so they are okay (but sometimes bored on weekends), my wife doesn't like it at all as she has had a hard time meeting people and there is little upscale shopping, etc. or the things she is used to.

People are superficially very friendly but tend to keep to themselves so making real friends is harder.

I see from this thread that there are alot of transplants, perhaps if there was a place for all of the transplants to meet at least they could make new friends. that would help my wife.

[joanie55]

Originally Posted by Northeasterner2548

I moved with my family to Madison about a year ago from S. FL and I have my own perspective .

Madison is a really nice town, I think the schools are great (better than S FL) but it is a small town and Jackson is a small town if you are used to Miami/Ft. Lauderdale. There is often little to do and my family does get bored. If you like hunting, fishing, church type activities or family activities with your family only then fine, but if you like more activities and larger groups and commercial theater, pro sports, kids places, museums, variety, etc it can be boring at times. On a Sat night after dinner there is not much going on, no Las Olas, South Beach, Coconut grove, Hard rock Casino, night clubs, beach, etc

whether you like it is personal,
I love my job so it is good for me, my kids like the schools and made new friends so they are okay (but sometimes bored on weekends), my wife doesn't like it at all as she has had a hard time meeting people and there is little upscale shopping, etc. or the things she is used to.

People are superficially very friendly but tend to keep to themselves so making real friends is harder.

I see from this thread that there are alot of transplants, perhaps if there was a place for all of the transplants to meet at least they could make new friends. that would help my wife.

I think making real friends takes time, no matter where you live. At least people are superficially friendly, that's more than you can say for south Florida, where I find the people to be very rude. I live in Palm Beach county so perhaps your experience was different. I can see where it would be boring for young people. I lived there when I was 14 and found it boring but I did like the people. I'm moving there again and I realize it will be hard to make friends. It's easier to do that when you're younger. I don't know how old you are, but I think once you are around middle age, people have their families, their friends are established and so they are not really LOOKING to make new friends. The burden is really on the new person, and if you're not exceptionally outgoing or inclined to become involved in things, the process takes longer. I, too, am apprehensive about that. Just thought I'd share that I can relate to what you said.

[Gill O'Blarney]

Originally Posted by Ellygirl67

My husband and I moved here due to a job transfer in 2000. While visiting, people were very friendly and welcoming, however, once you get here they change! The southern hospitality only extends to VISITORS. Once you live here you are an outcast if coming from outside MS. All of our friends are transplants as well because those who have lived here all their lives have their own cliques and don't know how to reach out. Also, there is an attitude of "have" and "have not" here. Very "old school" attitudes and steeped in tradition. You will feel like you have gone back twenty years if you are from a more progressive area. My husband is a successful executive and we live in a very beautiful custom built home on the lake, however, that does not warrant inclusion. "Your daddy had to know my daddy and his daddy had to know your daddy's daddy" is more important. (i.e. snobby and "who's who" attitude). Our child goes to private school, which is another funny thing. All the supposedly "have's" must have their children in private school. The schools here are not good, even the ones that claim to be good. The best one's are at least a year or two behind other state's "good" school systems. Crime is horrendous in Jackson (even worse than the Bronx in NY) and customer service is horrible as well, since these people don't know the meaning of true hospitality. You will find shopping carts scattered around parking lots rather than returned to the stalls, and people racing you to get to the closest parking space. I was amazed that Madison was ranked one of the 10 best cities for families because I was actually humiliated to have visitors from out of town. Yes, of all the area's around Jackson, Madison and Ridgeland are the nicest, but even here the landscaping and roads are horrific. Pot holes and weeds line the streets. We are nature lovers, but there is only one nature trail around. There isn't much to do around here to be honest. The few nice things about living here are: the tall pine trees, lots of lakes and ponds, and weather in the Spring and Fall. Winters are okay, but summers are humid and unbearable. Sorry if I sound really negative (I'm generally a very positive person!) I just wanted everyone to have a realistic picture of what they are coming into before moving. If you are superficial, steeped in tradition, and from a smaller southern town, you may like it. However, if you want authenticity and true beauty, and from a larger metropolitan area, you will probably want to look elsewhere. Hope this helps anyone thinking of relocating to the Jackson metropolitan area!

I'm a born and bred Mississippian, and I have to agree with you. Just the way it is. Probably the major reason is because the percentage of transplants from outside the state is relatively small when compared to cities such as Atlanta.

And I fully agree about the "landscaping and potholes". I moved to and lived in Atlanta for many years, and got very used to the beautifully landscaped shopping areas, businesses and homes. When I then moved to Asheville, North Carolina, I experienced culture shock at the unkept landscaping along steets, the poorly maintained public areas and shopping centers, and all of the litter. (The tourist areas & the downtown are an exception.) - It reminded me of Jackson.

But you adjust, and there are compensations.

[bamarose]

I was born and raised in MS and later moved to Alabama with my exhusband. I disagree with the poster completely. There is a TREMENDOUS difference in people from MS to AL. The Birmingham area is a completely closed community. While my ex, who was born and raised here, was welcomed with open arms, as were our children, I found it difficult to adjust. When I travel back to MS to visit family, I am amazed at how much friendlier people are.

While the area I live in in Birmingham is quite pretty, the scenery does not make up for the lack of hospitality. Jackson could use some help in making the city look nicer, and that is something the citizens have to promote. Madison is a wonderful area to live in. Most of the folks I know there are couples with young children who may have the appearance of being the "haves" but they work their butts off to live in their nice homes, drive their nice cars, let their kids play sports, etc. They basically live pay check to pay check like the "have nots."

[katspringr95]

I have to jump in and say something..
I was not born in Mississippi rather Hawaii and then I have lived all over the US. I was transplanted to Mississippi as a young teenager and coming from larger cities I will have to say I am not sure just what everyone is so upset about. It is the same were ever you go; if you are visiting then every one is so kind and helpful but once you move there then you are on your own.. Not only have I lived in Hawaii & Mississippi but I have lived on the West coast (N. Calif.), Texas(San Antonio) and now I am living in the Mid West(halfway between St. Louis & KC) and I get the same treatment here as you are getting there in Mississippi. One of the things I have found is it doesn't matter were you are from if you complain or make comments about that particular state that you have moved to of course they are going to push you aside it would be the same if someone spoke bad of the place you were born and grew up you would be offended as well. So why not try to learn about the place you have moved to and get involved with a church or some other type of oganization to get to know people.
I left Mississippi thinking there was something better out there but I found it is the same were ever you go, crime is the same were ever you go as well. This time and age things are worse then ever for even those that have made good money and lived well are finding themselves on the other side of the fence.

[jacksonian]

Visitor Information (http://www.greaterjacksonpartnership.com//visitor/index.asp - broken link)

[kingchef]

Originally Posted by Gill O'Blarney

I'm a born and bred Mississippian, and I have to agree with you. Just the way it is. Probably the major reason is because the percentage of transplants from outside the state is relatively small when compared to cities such as Atlanta.

And I fully agree about the "landscaping and potholes". I moved to and lived in Atlanta for many years, and got very used to the beautifully landscaped shopping areas, businesses and homes. When I then moved to Asheville, North Carolina, I experienced culture shock at the unkept landscaping along steets, the poorly maintained public areas and shopping centers, and all of the litter. (The tourist areas & the downtown are an exception.) - It reminded me of Jackson.

But you adjust, and there are compensations.

being the nature lover that you say you are, honey, i would think you would enjoy those weeds on the street. the potholes probably just lead to other trails---to the larger metropolitan areas to which you prefer.