Mexican--Best place to live in MO? (Washington, Republic: house, school, living)

[AsForMeAndMyHouse]

Ok, so my wife is Mexican. Her English is 80% and has a Spanish accent. We have two kids that look as white as George Washington.

We are looking for a house in the country... as in 10-60 acres where we can have some elbow room, have no noisy neighbors, see the stars, not have to listen to someone else's music or smell their cigarettes or their exhaust... In other words, the OPPOSITE of where we are now (Phoenix).

We like the Alton, MO area (Southern/middle part of the state by AK border.) but we are open to suggestions of other areas.

Are we going to be safe in a place like this? (We mind our own business, stay out of trouble, and are easy to get along with, etc.) My question is drawn from the race aspect of my wife....

Any comments will be helpful!

[gt80rider]

From what I've seen, most of small town Missouri isn't real inviting of minorities. There are hundreds of little Missouri towns with cheap property values and somewhat sparsely populated, but those are the types of places that are 99.9999% white, and typically won't welcome Latino's or Black very well. Perhaps a somewhat distant burb of St L or KC might be better- where most of the locals are used to seeing more minorities on a daily basis and really won't think anything of it. I know you want to get away from Urban areas. But if you get too far out in the boonies, you may not be as warmly welcomed as you should be.

[Darlynn0217]

Around Branson, although the census figures have our county as 2% minority, the area has become MUCH more diverse in the 8 years we have been in the area. (New census this year, so that is 10 years old!) Branson is so in need of employees and has been recruiting in other areas. This has brought many new cultures to town. It is no longer uncommon to see mixed couples from all walks of like. My boss owns a mexican restaurant with an all Latino staff. Lately, I have met people from Guatamala, Indonesia, Bali, Croatia and Colombia to name a few. SW MO and NW AR has many Mexican Americans that live and work in the area and I think you would receive a warm welcome if you were to decide to settle here. The towns of Lampe, Blue Eye and Ridgedale, MO would be a good place to start. Even Green Mountain or Omaha in AR might be good choices. Land is still plentiful and affordable in large parcels.
The times they are a changin' and hopefully, people will become more tolerant and less single minded! Good Luck inyour search!!

[ShadowCaver]

AsForMeAndMyHouse - welcome to the forum. I would hope that anyplace you both like in regards to your desires [land, area, house, school, etc.] would be welcoming and inviting to you all, no matter your hair, skin, feet, fingers. Sorry, but I get so upset at racist BS... have no tolerance for this ignorant behaviour by humans. Anyhow, looking back on the small burbs in the boonies that I have lived, worked, and/or visited, I honestly have seen little to no issue w/ racism directed towards Mexican/Latinos. Blacks, unfortunately, I have seen problems with jerkarses giving them troubles... Anyhow, maybe be good to narrow your search to a few places, and then just spend some time walking the area, and seeing first-hand what the reception/feeling you get. Good luck, and best to yas...

[kareybear]

I live in Macon and I don't see any racial slurrrrr about black or mexican.... So no problem over here in these parts.

[Lake Junkie]

This part of MO has been a melting pot for a long long time...and it's my fav spot for the FUN!!!

[southernjewishgal]

I live in Gasconade county which is VERY rural and although I'm white as snow I had several comments directed at me when I wear my Jewish star or when my son has on a kippah(Jewish head covering) all in all though I would say people are okay about it here.
Honestly I don't know how a mexican would be treated. Here in Gasconade County we're all Republicans it seems- I think the Dems hide in closets or something you never hear anyone admit to being a Dem. I don't know how welcoming people would be but I think more than anything it might be getting the cold shoulder as opposed to direct attacks.
Cheap cost of living here, good wholesome people IMO. Look into it.

[MoNative34]

Originally Posted by southernjewishgal

Honestly I don't know how a mexican would be treated. Here in Gasconade County we're all Republicans it seems- I think the Dems hide in closets or something you never hear anyone admit to being a Dem. I don't know how welcoming people would be but I think more than anything it might be getting the cold shoulder as opposed to direct attacks.

Some counties in Missouri are predominately Republican (yours) and some are predominately Democratic (mine). To say folks would not be accepting due to a predominate political party is rather intolerant and judgemental in itself.

[jps]

Originally Posted by MoNative34

... To say folks would not be accepting due to a predominate political party is rather intolerant and judgemental in itself.

And sadly, somewhat typical.