|
| A horrible, crime-ridden city. - 2/9/2008
Across the state of Illinois, Springfield has a stereotype for being "peaceful and quiet" and "typically Midwestern". But having several friends that used to live in Springfield, having looked at the crime statistics to back up their statements about the city, and having visited the city several times, I can assure you that Springfield is the exact opposite of its stereotype.
Springfield has a very high crime rate that makes it impossible to live there without being in fear of becoming a victim of crime. In fact, it's probably the most dangerous mid-sized city in the state (with about 1,500 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, where 450 is the national average and a 700 is considered high). The aggravated assault rate in particular is over 4 times the national average. Gang- and drug-related violence is the norm here. In mid-sized cities like Springfield, crime can usually be avoided by not living in the bad parts of town. However, as one reviewer mentioned, the corrupt city government demolished the hay homes where the poor people lived in favor of luxurious homes for the rich people, forcing these poor people (many of whom commit crimes to support themselves and their families) to live in areas of Springfield that used to have low crime. Because of this, gangs and drugs are a huge problem almost everywhere in the city. Further aggravating drug use is the general lack of things to do in the city, except for visiting the State Capitol. The city is also very polluted, with a lot of illegal trash dumping and vandalism.
Springfield does have a few positives. Thanks in part to a large campus of the University of Illinois as well as the presence of the state government, the public school system is good and educational attainment is some of the best in the state. The cost of living and housing is very low, and the economy is fairly stable, with lots of state government jobs. Unfortunately, that's not enough to save a corrupt city ridden with crime, trash, gangs, and drugs. Avoid Springfield at all costs, and don't say I didn't warn you!
[Comment on this Posting]
|
|
| Springfield is a great place to live! - 11/18/2007
With moderate cost of living and many options for housing, Springfield is one of the best central Illinois places to live. There are many great restaurant choices especially if you look for alternatives to chain-restaurant dining. The arts scene has lots to choose from including a good local symphony, an active arts community, and regular jazz and almost every other type of live music. For the midwest, the weather can be hot and humid in the summer but the winters are fairly mild. We've lived here for 30 years and enjoy the area and the people.
[Comment on this Posting]
|
|
| Bad place to live.... - 5/17/2007
I have lived here for 43 years. The gov. is corrupt, they don't want anything in this town but the capitol building and resulting jobs that go with it, and state agencies. They tore down the Hay Homes where all the blacks lived and built veritable mansion type multi-family dwellings which left them scattering everywhere in the city. Now instead of the crime being contained to one area, they sent it off to rent everywhere else in the city, to all neighborhoods that NEVER had problems before. That, and the welfare roles & a feeling of entitlement are very large. The schools, I promise you you don't want to send your kids to public schools here, everything you've worked to build them into will be destroyed in weeks. The saving grace is there are some good private schools. Drugs are a real problem. Miserably hot & humid, long cold sub-zero winters. Nothing to do in this town whatsoever, except go out to eat, shop, or watch a movie. Real estate to get away from the problems is getting rediculous. Everyone wants to move out to get away from the city. The landscape & geographics is ugly & horrible. In sort, this town really sucks, there's just no onther word for it. I'm moving away asap as so many I know have done. Don't even THINK about moving here....
[Comment on this Posting]
|
|
| General - 8/23/2005
Springfield's housing is not as good as you indicate. I have looked at the surrounding area's of Austin and Springfield and Austin's housing is both cheaper and much more avalible. Springfield and surrounding area is builoding but almost all new building is very expensive and there are hundreds fewer avalible. There is almost no housing, modern housing, in the 90,000 to 140,000 price range. Sandra
[Comment on this Posting]
|