Realistic expectations - 9/17/2008

I did heavy research into a new place to move after school, and I ended up finding a great job in Fort Wayne. I noticed mostly negative comments on nearly all the places I researched including Fort Wayne. I have found that very few people have realistic expectations, people want low cost of living, abundant high paying jobs, pefect climate, everyone to share their own personal, social and economical views, no traffic,safistication....have I left anything out? Fort wanyne is not overly safisticated, but it is safe, cost of living is low, people are nice, plenty of places to shop and eat, ect. You can find safistication in Fort Wayne but it is not thrown in your face, there are beautiful low priced homes, over a dozen golf courses, nice malls, car delersips from BMW, Audi, porshe, mercedes, lexus as well as all the domestic brands.

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Hows' the Weather - 8/11/2008

The weather here in Fort Wayne/ New Haven is pleasant. Granted this is my first year so I could just be hitting a deceptively nice summer but thus far it is enjoyable. The temps this summer have not gone below 70. But we did have a few tornado warnings and a couple of tornado watches also. And when it rains it Pours. During the winter I have to warn you the snow comes when it comes and the Road crew is not so swift on clearing off the roads and if you live on a back street I recommend putting snow chains on because the Ice gets thick!

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Lived here my entire life... - 7/14/2008

Like any city in America, Fort Wayne has many positive and negative qualities. Starting with the negatives, there is a noticeable lack of sidewalks/bike lanes along city streets, though recently, there has been a huge movement for recreational trails around the region. Another negative is the suburban sprawl, mostly on the west and north sides of the city, which has taken prospective businesses and residents from the core of the city, contributing to some urban blight. Also, the local economy has been hit hard in the last twenty-five years, with scores of manufacturing jobs leaving overseas, making high-paying jobs in the vicinity harder to find. Fort Wayne also lacks many museums or cultural centers, with the exception of The History Center, Science Central, and the museum of art. And, as many have mentioned, the winters are long, cold, dark, and gloomy, with summers usually hot and humid - not ideal for most people. Educational opportunities along with crime are a bit vanilla in the city, and can go in either direction, depending on where you live, but overall, most area school fair reasonably well near the national average, and crime can vary dramatically from year-to-year. As for Fort Wayne's positives, there is an enormous market in the local sports franchises (Komets, hockey; Mad Ants, basketball; IPFW Mastodons, basketball and volleyball; Wizards, baseball; Fever, soccer; Freedom, football) most of which are played at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum. Also, many people have cited the "dead" downtown, but in the last year, construction has begun on a new baseball stadium for the Wizards, Marriott Hotel, condos, and shops, as well as the revitalized and expanded convention center and Allen County Public Library, all hoped to bring life back to the core of Fort Wayne. Also, the community has backed a huge rejuvenation of the library system, the main downtown branch containing the second-largest geneology collection in the nation. Another huge positive is the very affordable cost of living and low-cost housing with the median home price hoving around $100,000. The Fort Wayne Children's Zoo, parks, and developing trails are also positives to the community. Overall, I enjoy living in Fort Wayne; it has its high and low points, like any other city, and I truly think it depends on your personal likes and dislikes when it comes to Fort Wayne.

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Fort Wayne is OK - 6/26/2008

I moved back here about the time we were having our children. The schools are great, the housing is great, there are lakes nearby, plenty of festivals, within driving distance of skiing and big cities, and we can always find something to do. I think it has a bit of a bad image because it really isn't a hot spot for the young 20 year olds. Not many entry level jobs, but mid-level engineering and insurance sector jobs here, and that is probably one reason people, like us, move here in their late 20s.

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Fort Wayne has nothing to offer. - 4/11/2008

I moved from Fort Wayne 25 years ago to Springfield, Ohio. I was planning on relocating back home after I retired from my job. I am retired now but there is no way in hell I will live in Ft. Wayne again if I can help it. It offers nothing.It is depressing.It is old-fashioned.There is nothing to do.Wake up leaders of Ft. Wayne. It's time to do SOMETHING.

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Living in Ft. Wayne/Dante's 9th circle of Hell! - 4/3/2008

Ft. Wayne is one of the ugliest cities in the United States. It doesn't matter which road you enter on, it looks gray, dismal, and depressing. I have lived in and around (New Haven,Monroeville)Ft. Wayne my whole life and can truthfully say that there are very, very few redeeming qualities about the city. The "nouveau riche" are sequestered in their $250,000+ homes in either the Dupont Road area or the West Jefferson Street Area. The downtown area is dead, even with the construction of the new convention center, etc.,there will probably not be a significant rise in revenue or shopping.What kind of culture does a city who "welcomes" a Honda Gold Wing convention have? HAHA The lower income, inner city neighborhoods like Pontiac/Creighton Streets and Wells/Spring Streets are drug and crime ridden and increasingly becoming inhabited by Hispanic immigrants, not to mention the existing poor,white trash inhabitants already implanted there since the 60's-70's. Only on or around Wells/Broadway Streets can you still find people with Billy Ray Cyrus mullets sporting cool,acid wash jeans and a Poison t-shirt. They obviously haven't evolved and still think they're the epitome of cool. Nightlife consists of a cruise of Pierre's meat market, eating out, movies, or a visit to one of the cities many strip clubs. In Ft. Wayne,most people have a job in a factory that you're chained to for life or some other inconsequential position (Lincoln Life,GTE, etc.)Employment is hard to find unless you have an education or are willing to work through a temporary agency, which in and of itself is a joke. The growing Hispanic population is employed in every sector of commerce of Ft. Wayne, mostly in the jobs that Caucasian people won't do.Wake up Ft. Wayne! Hispanics are building, painting, drywalling, and landscaping your new home. Hispanics are preparing/serving your food and washing your dishes, not to mention cleaning your bathroom. Hispanics are about the only people without a lot of education who're making any money in Ft. Wayne.You can't call me prejudiced, because I'm married to a Hispanic. I simply state the truth.Don't move to Ft. Wayne unless you want to live in Dante's 9th circle of Hell!!!

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Not bad - 3/13/2008

The cost of living here isn't bad at all. In fact, I'd say housing is pretty cheap. One of the chief complaints from people around my age (25) seems to be that there's nothing to do. I don't think that's exactly true, but I guess if you're on a budget, it does limit things quite a bit.

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Stuck in the 80's - 11/28/2007

Having lived in the "Fort" for almost ten years, I feel I have gained crucial experience on what Fort Waynians are really like. It has, quite frankly, been a struggle to live here. Although the cost of living is very low, the people here are extremely conservative and very resistant to change. There is currently a movement to bring back to life the downtown, but it has been met with fierce resistance. It seems as though the majority of people have a difficult time thinking outside of the box. In fact, a majority of people are quite content living in the box, or being stuck in the 1980's. A typical night out on the town involves going to one of the town's night clubs and rocking out to AC/DC or Quiet Riot. You'll more than likely bump into someone sporting a mullet, wearing ripped up jeans and high-top sneakers. Also, if you love Rush Limbaugh, Glen Beck, Fox News, NASCAR and the Blue Collar Comedy Hour you should fit in just fine.

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Don't move here and leave if you can! - 11/19/2007

Fort Wayne is a boring place to live. The only thing to do is eat out and go shopping. If you want to walk anywhere forget it, there are no sidewalks (everyone is overweight). The winter is long and brown and it's cloudy for half the year. It is a nice safe place but unless you have family here don't even consider moving you will be miserable.

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I like it! - 11/15/2007

Fort Wayne, is like a small town....wrapped into a city! There are lots of great places to eat and the the people are always friendly

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Crime Rate - 9/21/2007

1984 in Fort Wayne was a year filled with crime. Now, the law enforcement have been working hard to limit the activity in the heighborhoods.

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18 years and glad to be gone! - 9/1/2007

I lived in Fort Wayne, Indiana for 18 years. Life is not exciting and it is not terribly boring. Fort Wayne is very under-developed! For the amount of intelligence, amount of people, and big city options (broadway shows, musicians, grand art, many colleges, huge library, great healthcare, etc.) we have nothing to show for it. We have nothing downtown to show for at all. No shopping centers around that area. We have so much development on the outside of that area, it's no wonder that it hasn't been abandoned. The city is trying to catch up, but so far, anyone who is single and between the ages of 16-35, you're going to be bored after one week. Especially in the fall and winter. Outside of a going to high school games, the two malls, plenty of bars/pubs and restuarants, oh, and a church on every corner, you'll finish touring the whole area in one full week or less. Indianapolis, though people will always argue, is much more ahead of the game!

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Not bad, not good - 8/2/2007

The good stuff: Traffic is excellent, with a crosstown commute taking 30 minutes or less at rush hour. Housing costs are low. There are some things for kids to do, the Children's Zoo is particularly good. IPFW (the IU PU branch campus here) is improving dramatically. They have been moving away from a community college atmosphere to a more traditional 4 year college. The neutral stuff: The weather is pretty typical of the midwest. It gets cold in the winter, it gets hot in the summer, and it's very pleasant in the spring and fall. Sure, there are long stretches when it stays cloudy in the winter, but that's the midwest and it's just like that. If you have dreams of building a wind farm to generate power, think of this area... Education varies dramatically based on your location in the city. If you live in the far NE or SW corners, you will be sending your children to some fine schools (those located around Snider HS and Homestead HS.) If you live in the middle... well, don't live in the middle. Crime - see education The bad stuff: There really isn't a lot to do here for families. The city tries (very hard, in my opinion) to have an active family oriented summer season, with numerous weekend festivals and the like, but they tend to be poorly attended craft shows, by and large. There aren't many jobs here. Plain and simple, unless you're in healthcare or education, expect to work in the service industry. It's a sad fact of life. It's flat as a pancake and unless you like deer hunting, there isn't much to do as far as outdoors are concerned.

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Overall Assessment - 7/21/2007

Fort Wayne is a great place to raise kids, but it's a little on the boring side. Climate is typical midwest.

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If you can live any place else, please don't move - 3/28/2007

Taxes are high, housing is fair, education is only as good as the part of town you live in. Wages are low, and prospects even lower. What was once a booming town, has lost most of it's high paying jobs which have been replaced with service related positions.

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Wanting More...... - 6/22/2006

Good place to start a small family.

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Fort Wayne - 4/29/2006

Fort Wayne is a great place to live. It is a great place to raise a family. The cost of living compared to many other areas is very affordable.

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At least it isn't New Orleans - 4/23/2006

I've lived here for 3 years, and I wish and I've had enough of Fort Wayne. I've made some good friends here. They are much more flexible about weather and economic opportunties than I am. I had never gone for days without seeing the sun until I moved here. When I was here for my job interview, I was waiting in an empty office for the interview team. Looking out accross the office area, I noticed everyone was looking outside. More people kept casually wandering to the window and just staring. Finally a few of those people came into the room where I was waiting and apologized for making me wait. I asked what had happened outside that drew everyone's attention. "Oh, the sun was shining! Its beautiful outside." I wish I would have listened closer. Oh yeah, the clouds...three weeks at a time with no sunshine. You will never guess how much you can hate wind. The wind blows all the time. All the landscaping trees are either tethered, or they lean from the wind constantly bending them over. Mosquitoes...There is so much standing water everywhere that mosquitos breed with incredible efficiency. They are very aggressive and they carry West Nile virus. You will be underpaid. Your house will not appreciate (though it will be cheap). When you decide to change jobs, you will probably have to move again. The town seems relatively clean, except for downtown. There are some awesome lakes in the area, but you can only boat for two or three months a year.

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Fort Wayne - 3/20/2006

If you want to gain a new appreciation for about anywhere else in the world, live in Fort Wayne. Former swamp lands that was founded by "Mad" Anthony Wayne, (he was crazy from Malria), Fort Wayne is a wonderful place to live if you enjoy crime and real life murder mysteries (43 murders in one year is our record), enjoy counting up the number of lost jobs per year(several thousand and counting), and love the gloom and cold of absoultly sunless winters (40 days a year straight without sunshine). In fact it is a great place to live because you can save money by not having to buy sunglasses or worry about skin cancer. In fact if you missed visting the Berlin wall before it came crashing down last century, you can come and visit the great interstate wall of Fort Wayne along Interstate 69, (yes our interstate is named after an adult activity). We have a beautiful tall grey wall that borders our highway, perfectly blocking all businesses from view and leaving residental areas all open to the hum and buzz of our delightful interstate system! If you hate downtown night life activites, you'll love it here. The mayor and powers that be are working in vain to attract any kind of life form to the downtown so that you can rest assured there will be no crowds to navigate thru while you visit our many beautiful storefronts sporting For Lease signs. Also if you love spending large amounts of your income on gasoline (our quick footed gas station owners raise the price 30 cents in an hour) and enjoy shelling out extra change for our parking meters, boy is this your place! If you despise job security and want to make less income than your colleges across the state line, this is also your ticket! If you think flood insurance is for sissys, and want to experience white water rafting in your own living room, come on down! If you want cheap housing (a good thing) and want to lose it finacially when you come to sell (a bad thing), this place is great! If your children want to go to a fancy school building and not learn anything or if you enjoy the continued toot toot of a happy little locomotives on their way to Detroit, fantastic!

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Fort Wayne is a dump - 3/20/2006

If you are considering moving to Fort Wayne DON'T!! If you are moving only because of family (number one reason for moving here) buy them a plane ticket instead! My parents moved us here back in 1986 because Michigan was in a depression (Michigan economy varies, recession or depression depends on how good things are) I have seen first hand how badly this area has slipped in the past twenty years. This area is so focused on manufacturing and those jobs have gone overseas. Its amazing how many hundreds of jobs are lost in a year. Also the crime rate is incredibly high! This city is mid-sized and the record year for murder was 43. This year the murder rate is already at five or six. There is a big drug trade in the city. We are a stopping point for the Detroit drug run. The local media likes to tote this place as a "great place to raise a family" its not. The Fort Wayne community school district is poor at best. We do have fantasic school buildings, but the tax money goes to improving/enlarging the buildings, not improving the quailty of education. The job outlook is very grim. Nurses, for example, next door in Ohio make much more in salary than Indiana nurses with the same experience level. Housing is very cheap, but forget about reselling your property and not losing money. This area is a breeding ground for "McMansions". There is no restriction on real estate developers. They do not have to contribute to the roads or local school district. The population of Fort Wayne is not maintaining its numbers, or growing because the city is annexing every small community/town in sight. So the city is experiencing a donut hole effect. There is no downtown night life, in fact its about as happening as a graveyard, no one goes downtown. The weather and climate is terrible. Heavy gloom (not just clouds) hang over the city for days on end in the winter. If you suffer from Seasonal Affects Disorder, do not move here! One winter I counted 40 days straight without any sunshine. Summers are muddy and humid and mosquito infested. In fact, the city regularly sprays for West Nile, we've had many birds and horses that have come down with the diease. Fort Wayne is a former swamp land, we have terrible flooding on a regular basis. In fact the founder of this city was nicknamed "Mad" Anthony Wayne because he had Malaria. The main college IPFW is a glorified community high school, the standards are low, great place for an easy "A". I am working on moving to Colorado (I've lived in Mi

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