Need some input on Columbus, Mississippi (Starkville, New Hope: crime rate, house, magnet schools)

[bran_smith]

oh okay thank you so much for the info...

[MSUBulldogGirl]

I'm a graduating senior from MSU. I'm originally from the Coast, but I absolutely love Starkville. Rent is pretty cheap. My roommate and I live in a 2 bedroom 2 1/2 bath townhome that we pay $600 a month for. My apartment community probably wouldn't be too ideal since it's practically only college students that live there. The couple of families that do live there kinda look out of place, honestly, but like I said, the rent is not bad. Starkville is one of those places that depends on what you make out of it. I'm pretty much a party girl/nerd, so it's perfect for me. If you are not into the bar scene, you may not have much of a night life. However, if you are outdoorsy, the Refuge is awesome. I'm not outdoorsy at all, but I the Refuge. Shopping is not as bad as what people make it out to be. I shop mostly at the cute boutiques in town. Some of it is a bit overpriced, but of course, you are mainly paying for the convenience. Football season is wonderful. It brings a totally new energy into town. I love it! Crime is really low. I haven't had any problems since I've been here. I've been here for 5 years. I have absentmindedly left my gigantic purse on the passenger seat of my car with my doors unlocked. I really am sad that I'm leaving in August. It's going to be really hard.

[bran_smith]

Thanks....so we are coming down there sunday for a visit we want to see columbus and starkville...we will be staying in starkville...we want to see both and we only have one day bc his interview is monday...Is this possible....Rent that cheap and for a townhome..wow...we lived in a apt for almost 4 years, and it was at first 565 and now (not for us bc we just got a house) 630 a month....and it was a 2 br 2 bath....
Also is it going to hurt us bc we are huge UK fans....we are from Ky and we cant help but love the wildcats.....

[Draperdoll]

There's absolutely nothing wrong with New Hope schools. Academically and otherwise they are just as good as Caledonia, plus their sports teams kick butt while Caledonia's are pretty wimpy

You don't pick a school based on how the sports are but on how well the academic program is. Both schools are good but a good friend who was a teacher at New Hope has seen a big change in New Hope since she first started many years ago.
Caledonia hasn't gotten so big yet to have those type problems, thankfully my daughter will be finished school in 6 yrs.
Unless you have kids in school you really don't know what is going on only hear say.

For those who have been gone for awhile Columbus kept growing and changing we are where Tupelo was 100 yrs ago and will continue to grow

I meant 10 years.

[bran_smith]

I am in Starkville, we only got to stay one night but it seems like an okay place.....not sure if I can see my self here yet or not...Just need more time I guess...But over all its a nice, clean(ish) place..(refering to some parts of town) we got lost..LoL...

[Southernlady80]

Hey Southern Dreams!

I spent summers in Columbus for the first 21 years of my life, as my childhood best friend and grandmother lived there. I can probably answer any questions you have, if you'd like to contact me.

Between Tuscaloosa and Columbus, there really aren't towns in which you'd like to live. Northport is a possibility, but other than that. If you're in health care, have you looked into Baptist Hospital there?

[Southernlady80]

Hey Southern Dreams!

I spent summers in Columbus for the first 21 years of my life, as my childhood best friend and grandmother lived there. I can probably answer any questions you have, if you'd like to contact me.

Between Tuscaloosa and Columbus, there really aren't towns in which you'd like to live. Northport is a possibility, but other than that. If you're in health care, have you looked into Baptist Hospital there?

[Maestroh]

Originally Posted by travelknows

We're being relocated from Arlington, TX to Columbus, Mississippi. Anybody have any information on Columbus? What is there to do there? What about the schools? Social life?

Here's what I mean when I say lived there.

1971-1975

1979-1982

1984-1992

1997-2001

Four different times with the military, and I graduated from Caledonia High School, class of 1987.

The town really has not been the same since the February 16, 2001, straight winds that demolished a lot of the place. That said, it's still my 'home' so...

Social life is kinda boring depending on what floats your boat. Well, that's one thing you CAN do is boat. Several locks and dams in the area along with waterways (Tombigbee, Buttahatchee River). There's a Market Street Festival every April. Tennessee Williams' birthplace is connected to St. Paul's Episcopal Church, both historic landmarks. Those are just down the street from the campus of Misssippi University for Women.

I'm not up to date on the lower level schools. These are the ones I recall.

Mitchell, Hughes, Brandon, Sale, Franklin Academy, Heritage.

Hunt and Joe Cook are junior high schools, and about 16 years ago they consolidated Caldwell and Lee into Columbus High School.

If you're out in the county there's also Caledonia, New Hope, and West Lowndes for secondary education.

For college there's MUW, Mississippi State University, and East MS Jr College has a campus in Mayhew.

The local TV stations are WCBI (4, a CBS affiliate), WTVA (9, NBC and sometimes Fox), and WLOV (Fox 27, West Point).

The hospital (Golden Triangle Regional Medical Center) is very good and there's also a GTR Airport that used to be served by Delta but no longer from what I hear.

There's Propst Park with year-round sports and quite a few churches, esp. if you're a Baptist (I can say that, I are one). Every Christmas the churches unite to perform 'The Messiah.'

Columbus Air Force Base opens its gates twice annually, once for the annual Thunderbirds air stunt show and on July 4th weekend for 'Go Fourth,' their annual fireworks celebration. In the past both Ricky Skaggs and Lee Greenwood as well as Gary Puckett have performed live at CAFB.

Tupelo, home of Elvis, is one hour up the road and has a huge mall. Tuscaloosa is one hour to the east, home of Alabama Crimson Tide sports and its own mall.

And you are only about 3 hours from the Talladega Superspeedway and 4.5 hours from Atlanta - home of the Braves, Falcons, Hawks, and Thrashers as well as more NASCAR. Another hour or so and you can be at The Masters.

That's all for now.

[Maestroh]

Originally Posted by Okie7597

There's absolutely nothing wrong with New Hope schools.

I wonder when was the last time the principal got stabbed at Caledonia? Because we know it happens at New Hope.

Originally Posted by Okie7597

Academically and otherwise they are just as good as Caledonia, plus their sports teams kick butt while Caledonia's are pretty wimpy.

He didn't bother to tell you that New Hope's teams are named after a brand of condoms, did he? Here's some other things he didn't bring out:

1) New Hope has basically dominated Caledonia in ONE primary sport, football, for the last forty years. Unmentioned, of course, is that during most of those years Caledonia was a 2A school while New Hope was a 4A (translation: more kids = more potential athletic talent).

2) Caledonia is one of the state's pride and joys in baseball, having won numerous state championships. Most years between 1975-1991 when they didn't finish first, they were runners-up.

3) Ultimately, it is ACADEMICS and not ATHLETICS for a school - and there's no REAL difference here. You will, however, come out ahead if you send the kids to Heritage from what I've seen.

Originally Posted by Okie7597

Caledonia is "growing so much" because that's where the builders are building. There is plenty of very flat land there (which is creating drainage problems in some areas). There is some building going on in New Hope but not that much available land.

That's because New Hope was built up in the 1970s. Times have changed, esp. in light of the close proximity of Caledonia to Columbus AFB - about 10 miles FAR CLOSER than New Hope.

[jsherman9901]

Originally Posted by Maestroh

The town really has not been the same since the February 16, 2001, straight winds that demolished a lot of the place.

Huh? If a person was not living here during the time of the storm, and drove around town today, they would not know there even WAS a storm. All buildings that were damaged have been repaired/removed and all the downed trees have been cut up. There was a subsequent tornado that hit parts of downtown & East Columbus in Nov 2002, and some damage from that storm on the "W" campus has still not been repaired.

Originally Posted by Maestroh

The hospital (Golden Triangle Regional Medical Center) is very good and there's also a GTR Airport that used to be served by Delta but no longer from what I hear.

Quite a few people would disagree with you on the hospital. Many, many people seek care at the North Mississippi Medical Center hospitals in Tupelo and even West Point over the Columbus hospital. As far as the airport, your information is bad. It is still served by Atlantic Southeast Airlines (Delta Connection), although fares are pretty high.

Originally Posted by Maestroh

Columbus Air Force Base opens its gates twice annually, once for the annual Thunderbirds air stunt show and on July 4th weekend for 'Go Fourth,' their annual fireworks celebration. In the past both Ricky Skaggs and Lee Greenwood as well as Gary Puckett have performed live at CAFB.

The Thunderbirds show IS NOT an annual event. Maybe every three years or so. The 4th of July celebration is no longer held at the base, but at the Columbus Lock & Dam.