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Hello all! I'm in the process of a divorce and just got an opportunity to leave for a year for my job. (perfect timing). However my job wants to send me to Wheeling, WV! I've never heard of the city until recently. I have three children and two dogs and currently live in a 3 story 4 bedroom town home for $1200. From what I see the places out there seem to be older and much cheaper. We are an african american and I dont see a high population of AA's in the area? Is this a mixed area or more of redneck town? Should I be on edge moving out there? What about the school system? I have one child who is disabled and I want to make sure the school system is good enough. Another concern is the potential for crime. Since the primary hospitality establishments are casinos, I'd be concerned about the crime. Should I be concerned with this type of thing?
Location: Appalachian New York, Formerly Louisiana
4,409 posts, read 6,536,583 times
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I can tell you that I never really got racist vibes off of the city. Granted, I am white, but truth be told I've lived around enough rednecks to just "feel it" you know?.
It's not necessarily a rude place but people in Wheeling do tend to keep to themselves moreso than some smaller towns nearby. It feels a lot like Pittsburgh socially.
I've lived in casino towns before, that really doesn't have much of an effect on crime rates. I think that stereotype was set by Vegas, Reno and Atlantic City being mobster hubs for so long. Wheeling doesn't really have a big crime problem, it's pretty average for urban America.
I lived in Baton Rouge for several years, Wheeling's crime is nothing compared to the red stick. Nothing. What I mean is, Wheeling is not even in the bottom rung. It's pretty chill. It does, however, sit in that eastern Midwest/bottom northeast meth region that seems to have formed. If anything I'd say that is the one concern.
Wheeling doesn't have a large AA population at all (like most of the state outside more southern cities like Huntington, Charleston, or Beckley, which are all still over 85% white). However, it's not a bad place at all. I wouldn't say redneck; if you've been around any Rust Belt community over 20,000 people, there are a lot of similarities. I will say that Wheeling has a lot more to offer, entertainment-wise, than what you may first see. I really think it'll be the next up-and-coming city in the state (granted that's relative to what little revitalization we see state-wide). Crime won't be much of a problem. It doesn't have any notable crime rates above anywhere else in the area, though, as mentioned, there is some increased drug problems. Nothing prohibitive by any means, though. The school system is very good by most accounts, and Wheeling Park High School is one of the top ones in the state. I can't speak to the elementary/middle schools, though. I'm just not that familiar with the area.
Wheeling statistically does not have a lot of AA's but there is not much racism in Wheeling at all. It's partially a college town so you see all different types of people.
Although I don't live in Wheeling, I grew up there and still have many friends there. There is not a large Afro ethnic group there, but it is basically a Midwest influenced by Appalachia city and racism is basically not endemic to the area. They tend to judge people based on their behavior, not on the color of their skin. You won't experience discrimination because you have black skin, but you won't get special treatment because of it either. Expect to basically be treated like anyone else moving there.
Wheeling is a rust belt city, as somebody pointed out. It was once West Virginia's (by far) industrial showplace with tens of thousands of high paying steel, chemical, glass works, tobacco, and coal related industrial jobs. Most of those were sent to Mexico by the Clinton's NAFTA and to China by who knows who? It is in recovery mode now, but that is aided by proximity to Pittsburgh. While it is not a university city, per se, there are several colleges in the area... Wheeling Jesuit, Bethany, West Liberty, Ohio U Eastern, and community colleges that have a great influence on the area. They arguably have the world's best municipal park system, fully funded forever by old money grants and insulated from the destructive influences of politics. Unlike some parts of the state, there is a positive attitude about education in general. The area has a lot of upside, and I believe you would be making a good choice moving there.
Housing prices are a bit inflated due to the oil and gas developments in the region, though that has fallen off somewhat during the past year. It is a historic city, and much of what remains is of the Victorian or even pre-Victorian nature with beautiful brick architecture not at all uncommon. If well maintained, those 150+ year old structures are just fine in which to live and you can experience a bit of the past while you are doing it.
Last edited by CTMountaineer; 10-20-2016 at 10:02 PM..
From what I see the places out there seem to be older and much cheaper. We are an african american and I dont see a high population of AA's in the area? Is this a mixed area or more of redneck town?
Going on the fact that you divide people between "mixed" and "rednecks", you may have some trouble.
Of course you don't see a high population of AA's in the area. WV is hands-down the whitest state in the nation, in the whitest region in the nation.
Blacks have few problems in Wheeling, or in most of West Virginia for that matter. Folks there will judge you for how you behave, not for how you appear. Wheeling is a relatively well educated town with a lot of upside. The park system alone sets the city apart from just about anywhere else. The schools are good too. With what you pay for rent, you should be able to afford to live "out the Pike" in a nice community. You will probably like it there.
The City of Wheeling is ran by elitist lawyers, one a Councilman, the other the Mayor. They are raising our utilities 40% to fund water and sewage update projects, inspite of possible monies from Biden infrastructure proposal.
The lawyers in office are insuring integrity if their neighborhoods is up to par and the hell with the rest of Wheeling,
Obtrusive politics for assisting the Mayors fairly new real estate company is a plus for him.
Population is declining annually. There is nothing here but rich families running the town.
If you are the average Joe you are certainly screwed.
If I were you I would go to prosper. Not this location. Wheeling is one of the highest rated illegal
drug communities and kids are at risk.
The City of Wheeling is ran by elitist lawyers, one a Councilman, the other the Mayor. They are raising our utilities 40% to fund water and sewage update projects, inspite of possible monies from Biden infrastructure proposal.
The lawyers in office are insuring integrity if their neighborhoods is up to par and the hell with the rest of Wheeling,
Obtrusive politics for assisting the Mayors fairly new real estate company is a plus for him.
Population is declining annually. There is nothing here but rich families running the town.
If you are the average Joe you are certainly screwed.
If I were you I would go to prosper. Not this location. Wheeling is one of the highest rated illegal
drug communities and kids are at risk.
Please tell us more of the mayor's new real estate company. I'm curious what interest he may have in development. I thought he was a supposed friend of preservation?
The City of Wheeling is ran by elitist lawyers, one a Councilman, the other the Mayor. They are raising our utilities 40% to fund water and sewage update projects, inspite of possible monies from Biden infrastructure proposal.
The lawyers in office are insuring integrity if their neighborhoods is up to par and the hell with the rest of Wheeling,
Obtrusive politics for assisting the Mayors fairly new real estate company is a plus for him.
Population is declining annually. There is nothing here but rich families running the town.
If you are the average Joe you are certainly screwed.
If I were you I would go to prosper. Not this location. Wheeling is one of the highest rated illegal
drug communities and kids are at risk.
Did you really search for a post that's 5 years old just to complain about the Wheel lol?
I do agree their mayor is bad and the place is run by lawyers and wealthy families but that's like every small-medium sized town in this country.
Last edited by Yac; 07-27-2021 at 11:11 PM..
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