best small town to raise children
Oct 9th, 2006, 04:02 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
best small town to raise children
can anyone recommend a great small town to raise young children? Where they can enjoy a childhood like often portrayed in old movies, with a town square, and a real sense of community where everyone knows one another???? Where people are not afraid to keep their doors unlocked and neighbors congregate on front porches?? Do these towns still exist?
Oct 9th, 2006, 07:14 PM
#2
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 9,737
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
This question has been asked and argued ad nauseum. This is one of many threads: http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...1&tid=34671612
This is the continuation of another:
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...1&tid=34849483
This is the continuation of another:
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...1&tid=34849483
Oct 9th, 2006, 07:23 PM
#3
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 9,737
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I should explain that the poster of the thread for the second link started with a thread looking for the perfect small town as well. Does anyone know whether that thread wound up being pulled? I know it got quite heated.
Oct 9th, 2006, 07:24 PM
#4
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 351
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
North Carolina definitely has some of those. Tarboro has the oldest town square in the nation.
Spring Hope.
Knightdale.
Wendell.
Zebulon.
Black Mountain.
Keeping the doors locked is often a good idea though.
Spring Hope.
Knightdale.
Wendell.
Zebulon.
Black Mountain.
Keeping the doors locked is often a good idea though.
Oct 9th, 2006, 07:37 PM
#6
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 9,737
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Here's that other thread:
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...1&tid=34845602
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...1&tid=34845602
Oct 9th, 2006, 09:42 PM
#8
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,040
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Oct 10th, 2006, 07:09 AM
#9
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 149
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Isn't Disney building a town trying to recreate what you describe? Celebration Florida? I think that is the name.
Seems I read about another town in Florida like that also. Can't remember the name of that one...
Lots of small towns in the north Georgia mountain area...Blue Ridge etc.
I don't know why this is such a hot button topic.
Seems I read about another town in Florida like that also. Can't remember the name of that one...
Lots of small towns in the north Georgia mountain area...Blue Ridge etc.
I don't know why this is such a hot button topic.
Oct 10th, 2006, 07:40 AM
#11
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 16,253
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Snarky, condesending replies for the most part- another Fodor's thread with little real "assume good intent" information.
Tradequeen, you are probably looking for a place where sarcasm and misdirection are not the norm. I'm afraid you might not find that here.
This will help: www.findmyspot.com
I can honestly say that in my car trip USA travels I have come across probably 500 or 600 of these kinds of towns. "Real" community is rather relative- you have to have more input, so try that link.
I do know that the small to mid-size towns 12,000-50,000 population say- are more and more abundant and seem more accepting all the time. It might be because of cultural and economic losses to the marketed big city experience. And quite rightly many desire a faster lane. Some of your described towns have quite idealistic and high quality of life reports, though. I believe there are some in nearly every state in USA, but more in the middle than on the edges, IMHO. And more affordable and easier inclusion in the middle also. Also my opinion, as there is less status posturing like "my stuff" is better and nicer than "your stuff".
Some I know of personally exactly like that are in MI: Three Oaks, Paw Paw, Lawton, Dowagiac, Kalamazoo etc. Of course there is always some crime, no place is perfect. Not always a town square either, but a train station or "town" strip with pubs, sports clubs, meeting places and lots of civic organizations to "hang".
People have actually put in space heaters for me when I'm gone so that my pipes don't freeze. And others have fixed a pole barn roof for "nothing" because they saw it needed it, before I did. Lots of other perks as well.
Are there clicks, and/or do people know a lot about each other. Yes, and 90% of it is all for the good- especially for the kids.
The cynical can post and post, but there are many numerous open and diverse towns that exactly as you describe.
I saw the beginning of the wine harvest and various other outside activities that kids and families are involved in just this last weekend. There was even a meeting on Saturday to get some wetlands (over 1000 acres) declared a bird sanctuary for the next 99 years. That impromptu meeting could have come out straight out of "It's a Wonderful Life."
Sometimes I looking for Frank Capra filming in the background, honestly!
And do know that this is NOT wealthy people but a tremendous mix. There are very wealthy (who you would never know are wealthy by looking at them), lots of middle folk, and a good portion of blue tarp people. And the latter are NOT the servants of the former.
If you don't mind a little snow, consider Kalmazoo as they have a Kalmazoo "promise". All Kalamazoo kids are given free tuition to any Michigan state university and there are a bunch.
It becomes grandfathered in, even if your kids enter past the middle of High School.
Having drop dead beautiful lake and farmland doesn't hurt either.
Tradequeen, you are probably looking for a place where sarcasm and misdirection are not the norm. I'm afraid you might not find that here.
This will help: www.findmyspot.com
I can honestly say that in my car trip USA travels I have come across probably 500 or 600 of these kinds of towns. "Real" community is rather relative- you have to have more input, so try that link.
I do know that the small to mid-size towns 12,000-50,000 population say- are more and more abundant and seem more accepting all the time. It might be because of cultural and economic losses to the marketed big city experience. And quite rightly many desire a faster lane. Some of your described towns have quite idealistic and high quality of life reports, though. I believe there are some in nearly every state in USA, but more in the middle than on the edges, IMHO. And more affordable and easier inclusion in the middle also. Also my opinion, as there is less status posturing like "my stuff" is better and nicer than "your stuff".
Some I know of personally exactly like that are in MI: Three Oaks, Paw Paw, Lawton, Dowagiac, Kalamazoo etc. Of course there is always some crime, no place is perfect. Not always a town square either, but a train station or "town" strip with pubs, sports clubs, meeting places and lots of civic organizations to "hang".
People have actually put in space heaters for me when I'm gone so that my pipes don't freeze. And others have fixed a pole barn roof for "nothing" because they saw it needed it, before I did. Lots of other perks as well.
Are there clicks, and/or do people know a lot about each other. Yes, and 90% of it is all for the good- especially for the kids.
The cynical can post and post, but there are many numerous open and diverse towns that exactly as you describe.
I saw the beginning of the wine harvest and various other outside activities that kids and families are involved in just this last weekend. There was even a meeting on Saturday to get some wetlands (over 1000 acres) declared a bird sanctuary for the next 99 years. That impromptu meeting could have come out straight out of "It's a Wonderful Life."
Sometimes I looking for Frank Capra filming in the background, honestly!
And do know that this is NOT wealthy people but a tremendous mix. There are very wealthy (who you would never know are wealthy by looking at them), lots of middle folk, and a good portion of blue tarp people. And the latter are NOT the servants of the former.
If you don't mind a little snow, consider Kalmazoo as they have a Kalmazoo "promise". All Kalamazoo kids are given free tuition to any Michigan state university and there are a bunch.
It becomes grandfathered in, even if your kids enter past the middle of High School.
Having drop dead beautiful lake and farmland doesn't hurt either.
Oct 10th, 2006, 08:04 AM
#12
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 757
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It's sad some of the responses you have gotten. Towns like that do still exist.
Buckhannon, West Virginia is such a town.
Buckhannon is a charming little town. One of the many neat things about it is that people keep buying the older homes and fixing them up. In so many towns, new developments go up and the old neighborhoods get run down. Not so in Buckhannon.
I lived there for a few years and still have family there. I liked it but I grew up in and prefer bigger towns myself.
Buckhannon, West Virginia is such a town.
Buckhannon is a charming little town. One of the many neat things about it is that people keep buying the older homes and fixing them up. In so many towns, new developments go up and the old neighborhoods get run down. Not so in Buckhannon.
I lived there for a few years and still have family there. I liked it but I grew up in and prefer bigger towns myself.
Oct 10th, 2006, 08:16 AM
#13
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 16,253
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Also Tradequeen, in looking, do not assume that a slower or shier norm in residents is an aspect of less intelligence. If you are used to a big city pace, especially in traffic, you would often go wrong in your selection process, if you do this.
Oct 10th, 2006, 08:18 AM
#14
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,040
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
check this out:
http://flyoverpeople.net/small_towns.htm
http://flyoverpeople.net/small_towns.htm
Oct 10th, 2006, 08:20 AM
#15
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 985
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
There are a lot of small towns like that all over the country.....
BUT....they seldom have good medical facilties. Nor are they likely to have a symphony orchestra or excellent music or art teachers. Of course that may not be important to you, but if your children turn out to be very talented, make sure that you relocate in an area that is accessable to such things.
there are web sites that will also give you the educational level of the inhabitants based on census data. If you are both college graduates, you will be very unhappy in an area where not everyone finishes high school.
BUT....they seldom have good medical facilties. Nor are they likely to have a symphony orchestra or excellent music or art teachers. Of course that may not be important to you, but if your children turn out to be very talented, make sure that you relocate in an area that is accessable to such things.
there are web sites that will also give you the educational level of the inhabitants based on census data. If you are both college graduates, you will be very unhappy in an area where not everyone finishes high school.
Oct 10th, 2006, 09:01 AM
#16
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 16,253
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I never saw the other thread, and am just assuming good intent and not making any judgments.
But if you are really serious, there are demographic sites on the internet for every town that exists. They will tell you, average age, sex, education, race, religion etc. etc. Do not assume that all small towns have a majority high school grads only level population, or that they don't have medical facilities quite close. At one time, this was often true. It's no longer true as often, nor is the quality of education assured to be that better/best level in greater metropolitan areas either.
Do take into account that there does exist town structure that is overlapping with church structure/social life. I found that was the biggest criteria for NOT relocating or finding that "sense of community" that is all accepting and also intelligent in design. This is in the experience of persons I know who have moved or tried an "earlier" American lifestyle. You do not want to have 60 or 70% of the people all having a goodly proportion of their social life through one type of church. That's just my opinion, as it seems too closed of a society for incomers that way. My daughter loved a Southern Illinois town, lived there for 4 years (not college years) and left primarily for that reason.
And skills etc. for "excellence" are all relative. IMHO, the physical excellence and skills in the general child population in the country setting are superior to those in suburbia or cities. There is lots more economic and physical activity outside of a gym, regardless of town climate. Kids walk, ride bikes/horses etc. and are not as tied to the automobile where I am in MI, for example.
But if you are really serious, there are demographic sites on the internet for every town that exists. They will tell you, average age, sex, education, race, religion etc. etc. Do not assume that all small towns have a majority high school grads only level population, or that they don't have medical facilities quite close. At one time, this was often true. It's no longer true as often, nor is the quality of education assured to be that better/best level in greater metropolitan areas either.
Do take into account that there does exist town structure that is overlapping with church structure/social life. I found that was the biggest criteria for NOT relocating or finding that "sense of community" that is all accepting and also intelligent in design. This is in the experience of persons I know who have moved or tried an "earlier" American lifestyle. You do not want to have 60 or 70% of the people all having a goodly proportion of their social life through one type of church. That's just my opinion, as it seems too closed of a society for incomers that way. My daughter loved a Southern Illinois town, lived there for 4 years (not college years) and left primarily for that reason.
And skills etc. for "excellence" are all relative. IMHO, the physical excellence and skills in the general child population in the country setting are superior to those in suburbia or cities. There is lots more economic and physical activity outside of a gym, regardless of town climate. Kids walk, ride bikes/horses etc. and are not as tied to the automobile where I am in MI, for example.
