SperlingViews - Pine_Bluff, Arkansas

I moved to Pine Bluff from Memphis about 6 months ago (June 2009) for a promotion. The Cons: There really aren't any quality restaurants. There's no significant entertainment; they have a movie theater that is really old and doesn't have any of the modern conviences (stadium seating?). There aren't any coffee shops. There is way too much junk food: McDonald's, Wendy's, etc..... There's no whole food stores like World Market. The mall is like Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart is the epicenter of the town (any time Wal-Mart is the main focus/business of your town, you are in some trouble). The roads have a ridiculous amount of pot holes. The Pros: The people are genuinely nice. I've been invited to people's homes for dinner, and I barely knew them. Everybody that I have encountered have shown the highest in Southern Hospitality. It's very refreshing. I have noisy neighbors, but that's always the case in an apartment building. Verdict: Although the people are really nice, I don't expect to be in Pine Bluff more than a year to 18 months because I miss the convenience of big cities. I find it weird that for a city of 55K people, they don't have a decent coffee shop; no starbucks or anything!?!?[read more...]

A place you can live and purchase a nice home for not a lot of money. Beautiful housing stock with small town charm and friendly neighborhoods. The local retailers are very friendly and helpful. Affordable education with two colleges to choose from and more colleges in a 50 mile radius.[read more...]

A green lush place with lakes, river and perfect climate. The fall colors are spectacular and the spring brings vibrant colors too. A good balance of sunshine and rain to keep things growing.[read more...]

I grew up in Pine Bluff - moved here when I was 4 - graduated from PB high school in themid 80's. I have 4 younger siblings - youngest 3 all born here. My parents still live here. Sadly... PB is fading and in dire economic trouble. The tax base of this city has all moved away - retired and moved to Hot Springs or out of state. This has truly hurt the city. Most 'family owned' businesses have folded. the mall (built in 88 I think) is about 50% vacant b/c stores are shuttered. This city is also very segregated. It is a 'southern' thing but I have never seen such a division anywhere else from both sides of the racial spectrum. Blacks hang with blacks, whites hang with whites. The public school system is about 89% black. All whites send thier children to private schools or to LR schools (and some black families do the same if the want thier kids to get a good education and can afford it or get a scholarship). Whites do it whether than can afford it or not - I know some families that are driving 15 yr. old cars so they can send thier child to a better school. PBHS had about 2000 students when I was there (10, 11 and 12th grades) today there is less than 900 students total. That is very telling. My own parents will not leave PB now b/c they could never sell thier home for what it is worth... and they can't afford to just pick up and start over. It is very sad to see the demise of this city. I want more for my neices & nephews. The mayor of PB (Carl Redus) does not have a realistic idea of how to help this city. He just wants hand-outs from the government rather than getting to the root of the problem which very multi-layered... and I am not a politician so I really don't have an easy answer either but more 'bail-outs' or government funded programs will just perpetuate the current laziness and not encourage growth. If you have lots of money and can do something to revitalize this town then move here! If you do not - then I would not rec. it to anyone.[read more...]

Lived there for 5 years. Am now in the Navy. Pine Bluff has potential but hasn't taken advantage of it.[read more...]

Pine Bluff is not as bad a place as people make it out to be. It is not progressing that much, but that is the fault of the people living inside. It's the people that make the community. I'm just a student, but the school I go to is very nice. Luckily, Pine Bluff is not far at all from Little Rock, and you can go up there when you want things Pine Bluff doesn't have. Pine Bluff is not perfect, but it's not bad either. It really makes me mad when I hear all of the complaints about it. If you don't like the community, try to do something to change it![read more...]

I do not like living in Pine Bluff, Ar. I won't say its the worst town I have ever lived in, that dishonor belongs to Norfolk, Va. Pine Bluff is old and has a high unemployment rate. Seems that most who live here are stuck here because of family or it is where they grew up. This town is economically depressed and has very little to offer. I miss the towns that have restaurants! The people here are usually very well mannered (usually the older people) and the people are helpful, if you are lost. I moved here with my current husband who grew up here, I live in a very rural area without any family and all my friends are living elsewhere. I feel that I have been exiled to a little piece of Hell. If, you like small town living and older homes and ways and you are a professional, you may like it here. Hopefully, you don't have a problem with black people because Pine Bluff has quite a few, that part does not bother me, I like diversity and have no problem with them.[read more...]

I am from pine bluff no longer living there now but I know that the town cost of living is cheap and housing is afforable but the town is falling apart no job opportinities for people what so ever crim rate is steady going up you have to smell the paper mill dam every day which isnt great school are ok it doesn't hardly have any where to go have fun at less you got money you will get tired of that boring ass 1 mall that they got the people there are ridiculous everybody hating on you telling each other business being two faced so you have no friends there cause they really trying to study u and see what you got so they can maybe do a burgarly I ate at all the restaurants there and the housing section 8 take too long 4 and 5yrs later to put you on that so it just a struggle there people and trust no one or you might wind up being a victim . and thats how it is there im from it was so boring and bad with crime murders every week i left went up north to Illinois my new state now but born in raised in stank city I still represent home but i had to tell u the odds and in of this so called 55,000 population and the population is steady declining people are leaving they tired of pine bluff all the residents going to the city I said I will never ever live there again unless im coming to visit my family they still resides there thats home to them it didnt unforuntaly work out that way for me I left and went to college in Illinois cause I didnt like it there no more the people are rude there no help aid ir services or nothing.[read more...]

It always grieves me that people would use a platform like this to mouth off at how bad things are where THEY are LIVING. If was as bad as they said they would have moved with the quickness but they still live here and belly ache about what's not right. These very people never leave there huts to help build the community in which they have planted themselves in. Pine Bluff is a quaint little Southern town beset with the same set of problems facing municipalities everywhere. Crime is not worse than anywhere else. The economy is suffering a slow down and recession just like the entire country, but we have arts and education and people who have a progressive attitude. Downtown is filled with murals showcasing our unique history. Come visit during the University’s homecoming celebration in the fall of the year. Enjoy our fishing and hunting and smell clean air. We treat you like family.[read more...]

This is the worst place i have ever lived in my life. The crime is very bad. People are still living in the slavery days..racisim is very bad...The town is falling apart..If I where you I would avoid this town all together..Lock your doors and keep you kids inside the house.....If you have to live in this area try White Hall..the cost of living is a little high but worth the cost if you have to be near Pine Bluff.....Good luck on trying to find a job...lol..[read more...]

Possibly the worst place I have ever been. If there is a redeeming quality, they hide it well. The town is crime infested, and run down.[read more...]