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Hello all! I am new here. I have just spent the past hour or so reading what members of the forum had to say about both the L.P. and the U.P. and found quite a few similarites between my thinking and yours.
A little about my fiance and I.....we are currently living in Lima, Ohio (BIG UGH!!!!!). I am originally from a bigger city in upstate NY and he grew up here in NW Ohio. Together, we have visited the U.P. 3 times (he's been there 20+ times throughout his life). We are SERIOUSLY considering a move to the U.P. We have given it thought in the past but, the deciding factor came a few weeks back when a person killed another in front of our house over drug money (BTW, we live in one of the few GOOD neighborhoods here). I fell in love with the U.P. the minute I drove over the bridge! (And, past St. Ignace...too crowded, lol). We are very down to earth, humble people. Love nature and everything it has to offer. We don't mind cold, snowy winters. We are looking for that perfect spot where people are social but, not up your whoopsie daisy and in your business all of the time. The 2 things we noticed about people in the U.P. were people ACTUALLY SMILED and said HI!!! And, didn't always have a cellphone attached to their head! Not to mention, we only heard ONE car with the bass so loud you couldn't hear yourself think and that was in the Soo. The Soo, for us, is out of the question. I can't remember the posters name but, they were absolutely correct when they said the Soo is a close-minded, wannabe big city. I was absolutely SHOCKED when a motorist honked at me and flipped me off for driving the speed limit! LOL. I could not believe I was in the U.P. at that moment! It was just like I was here. Nowhere else in the U.P. did we ever experience anything of the like! People are great there! The culture is great, the real estate is cheap, the scenery is everything you could imagine....hardwoods that seem to reach Heaven, lakes that go forever, spectacular waterfalls, awesome wildlife, etc..........the U.P. has EVERYTHING we want out of life.....Our main concern is jobs (of course). Like a lot of others, we are veering more towards the Marquette area. I know Newberry has a prison and Marquette has job oppurtunities but, I wonder.....1. How easy would it be to find a job (no particular industry or field) and 2. How secure are people in their jobs in that area? ie: Do businesses stay for long periods of time or are they mostly fly-by-nights?
Thanx so much for listening to my rambling! And, Thank you for any replies!
I am living proof that you can take the girl out of the city AND the city out of the girl!!! LOL!
Hands down, Marquette, Escanaba or Houghton are all "big enough" and "small enough" friendly cities in which to settle. Don't know about jobs but Houghton and Marquette have the Universities as probably the biggest employers. All three cities are bustling and filled with young people. You are also close to all sorts of outdoor recreation possibilities. Avoid Sault Ste Marie. That is the "armpit" of Michigan. The Soo has Indian gambling if that is your choice in life to sit in smoke filled rooms filled with flashing lights, whistles and bells and grumpy people. Sault Ste Marie, Ontario, on the other hand is a lovey clean and progressive city.
Hands down, Marquette, Escanaba or Houghton are all "big enough" and "small enough" friendly cities in which to settle. Don't know about jobs but Houghton and Marquette have the Universities as probably the biggest employers. All three cities are bustling and filled with young people. You are also close to all sorts of outdoor recreation possibilities. Avoid Sault Ste Marie. That is the "armpit" of Michigan. The Soo has Indian gambling if that is your choice in life to sit in smoke filled rooms filled with flashing lights, whistles and bells and grumpy people. Sault Ste Marie, Ontario, on the other hand is a lovey clean and progressive city.
TY so much for your reply. For some reason, being closer to Lake Superior is more appealing to us. Lake Michigan is lovely but, it just doesn't seem that's where we are suppose to be....If that makes sense. Not that there's a WHOLE lotta land between the 2 lakes lol. So, Escanaba would be a last resort. We are really looking for a place outside of town but, close enough that we wouldn't have to travel hrs. to get somewhere. Neither one of us have a college education. That's our main concern. Are there a lot of entry level jobs around the area or is it absolutely important to have a college background? We also wonder what the prices of everyday things are....groceries, gasoline, cigarettes.....and, household utilities. Here in Ohio, things are pretty cheap. I am willing to trade very cheap for a bit of peace of mind though. Any information anyone can offer would be greatly appreciated. Take care, Torrid
Houghton and Marquette would be first as far as a starting point if you are looking for a more metropolitan feel mixed with small town USA surroundings. But, to say that the best jobs for folks in your circumstance are limited to those two areas is a little near sighted. There are jobs all over the western UP - but you have to dig a bit to find them. The economy in two areas in particular is strong - Marquette, of course and the South Western UP - namely Iron Mountain, Dickinson County is considered the gateway and center point of the area. Locating here means you are about 1 1/2 hours from Marquette and about 2 hours from Green Bay which has a lot to offer. The job situation in Dickinson County is solid - there are a number of manufacturing jobs with entry level pay at around $15-20/hour and there is a new community college being constructed with a finish date of 2008. Escanaba is also a good choice. Marquette and Houghton are good choices - but - don't limit yourself. Look around and check out Michigan.gov for some demographics and jobs info in all counties throughout the UP. Good luck!
the UP is full of a lot of hard working people. I would say that it is much easier to come by a blue-collar job than a white-collar job there. in that way, its almost easier to get a job (less standards, requirements). thing is, its hard to find one that lasts year round.
restaurant/hotel/hospitality is easy to find, but seasonal. many people look to the casinos for year-round employment. the tourism industry is the UP's lifeblood. other than that, i would say any ohter job, it will just take some time to break into the market... you will have to be willing to invest a few years into it. its not like the UP is the land of financial opportunity, but if you stick it out and really try, you can make it.
what i mean is, i could see someone without a postsecondary education getting a job in the UP that would normally require a degree... if they knew the right people and perhaps worked their way up and proved themselves. people have good, old-fashioned values up there. they just want someone with a good work ethic.
IMO, if you really want to live in the UP, do it. you will not regret it. it sounds like you will fit right in! there is more to life than money!
Houghton and Marquette would be first as far as a starting point if you are looking for a more metropolitan feel mixed with small town USA surroundings. But, to say that the best jobs for folks in your circumstance are limited to those two areas is a little near sighted. There are jobs all over the western UP - but you have to dig a bit to find them. The economy in two areas in particular is strong - Marquette, of course and the South Western UP - namely Iron Mountain, Dickinson County is considered the gateway and center point of the area. Locating here means you are about 1 1/2 hours from Marquette and about 2 hours from Green Bay which has a lot to offer. The job situation in Dickinson County is solid - there are a number of manufacturing jobs with entry level pay at around $15-20/hour and there is a new community college being constructed with a finish date of 2008. Escanaba is also a good choice. Marquette and Houghton are good choices - but - don't limit yourself. Look around and check out Michigan.gov for some demographics and jobs info in all counties throughout the UP. Good luck!
Hi there. TY very much for your reply! And, TY for the advice and website information. We like the Marquette area but, wouldn't want to limit ourselves to just that area, as you said. The only place we are opposed to living is the Soo. Too, hmmmm, downstate there. Another great area was Lake Gogebic (Bergland). We truly enjoyed it there. Not to mention, we could barely pry our dog away from there LOL. So yeah, we are definitely open to ideas and options. TY again.
Well I went to Highschool in Marquette, and I have a degree from Northern Michigan U (the University in Marquette).
I can say from experience the job market is tough. I would say it's tougher if you have a degree than if you don't. Most of the "career" positions are taken and there is very little turnover since people don't really have much mobility in jobs. I would also venture to say that 85-90% of the grads who want to stay in Marquette or the UP, can't find a job.
However, the market is easier for the general labor jobs (waitresses, car salesmen, etc). Though it's still tough. Even some of the general labor jobs are starting to require degress (i.e. the mines require associates degrees).
The upside to all of this, is the cost of living is cheap. My mother last bought a house up there for 80k, and it was a 3 bd, 2 bath. (MAKE SURE YOU GET A HOUSE WITH A GARAGE! You'll thank me later)
Marquette and the UP are both gorgeous. I loved it up there. I want to move back. So does the rest of the Alumni from NMU though so competition for the jobs is stiff, and the lack of them causes problems.
Thus my advice is: Move to the UP! Just make sure you have a job first!!!
the UP is full of a lot of hard working people. I would say that it is much easier to come by a blue-collar job than a white-collar job there. in that way, its almost easier to get a job (less standards, requirements). thing is, its hard to find one that lasts year round.
restaurant/hotel/hospitality is easy to find, but seasonal. many people look to the casinos for year-round employment. the tourism industry is the UP's lifeblood. other than that, i would say any ohter job, it will just take some time to break into the market... you will have to be willing to invest a few years into it. its not like the UP is the land of financial opportunity, but if you stick it out and really try, you can make it.
what i mean is, i could see someone without a postsecondary education getting a job in the UP that would normally require a degree... if they knew the right people and perhaps worked their way up and proved themselves. people have good, old-fashioned values up there. they just want someone with a good work ethic.
IMO, if you really want to live in the UP, do it. you will not regret it. it sounds like you will fit right in! there is more to life than money!
Hello and TY also for your reply. I couldn't agree with you more on the things you said. We definitely do want to make the move. Of course, we want to get all our duckies in a row first. I think I could find employment easy enough as I have nursing background and would really like to get into the veterinarian field. My fiance, on the other hand, has always worked in the manufacturing industry and satellite industry. He, most likely, would be the major bread winner so, his employment is very important. But, with manufacturing (fabrication, welding) constituting as most of his work history, I wonder how easy it would be for him to find employment. However, he is willing to do anything (within reason lol)....getting away from polluted lakes and fresher air is one of our major draws to the U.P. I will definitely check out Mich Works and such sites as that. TY again for your help.
Well I went to Highschool in Marquette, and I have a degree from Northern Michigan U (the University in Marquette).
I can say from experience the job market is tough. I would say it's tougher if you have a degree than if you don't. Most of the "career" positions are taken and there is very little turnover since people don't really have much mobility in jobs. I would also venture to say that 85-90% of the grads who want to stay in Marquette or the UP, can't find a job.
However, the market is easier for the general labor jobs (waitresses, car salesmen, etc). Though it's still tough. Even some of the general labor jobs are starting to require degress (i.e. the mines require associates degrees).
The upside to all of this, is the cost of living is cheap. My mother last bought a house up there for 80k, and it was a 3 bd, 2 bath. (MAKE SURE YOU GET A HOUSE WITH A GARAGE! You'll thank me later)
Marquette and the UP are both gorgeous. I loved it up there. I want to move back. So does the rest of the Alumni from NMU though so competition for the jobs is stiff, and the lack of them causes problems.
Thus my advice is: Move to the UP! Just make sure you have a job first!!!
TY for your reply. Your advice is GOOD advice!!! I will also take your advice about the house with a garage I do wonder though, why do a lot of places not have an indoor toilet but, have saunas? That just struck me as odd. Also, are there newspapers online from any of the cities/towns? I know about The Mining Journal....any others? TY for your advice.
I do wonder though, why do a lot of places not have an indoor toilet but, have saunas?
ha ha ha ha ha! welcome to da U.P. eh! yoopers have a distinct culture of finnish ancestry. one of these cultural byproducts is the sauna. many people live very old fashioned there, so that might explain the outhouse thing. its one of the things that makes da U.P. so interesting!!!
sorry i dont know any newspaper links... i'd probably just end up googling them which is what i suppose you are doing anyways
as for your distinct job situation, it sounds to me like you will both do OK- i think nursing is a pretty solid job and manufacturing, too- you just might have to work jobs you dont want for awhile before something pops up. but i dont have personal experience in either of those fields, i am just going by my general impression of the area, so keep asking around!
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So does the rest of the Alumni from NMU though so competition for the jobs is stiff, and the lack of them causes problems. 
I will also take your advice about the house with a garage 
I do wonder though, why do a lot of places not have an indoor toilet but, have saunas? That just struck me as odd. Also, are there newspapers online from any of the cities/towns? I know about The Mining Journal....any others? TY for your advice.
