Lovely town not too far off the beaten path
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12/14/2011
I find Fairmont to be a pretty good town to raise kids. You get to be a "big fish in a little pond" here. Everyone knows you and looks after you if you want to let them. If you don't like old houses, this place is not for you. But if you can handle an old house, you get neighbors who will help you out and you will want to help. There is a college here, Fairmont State University, and WVU 25 minutes up the road. Pittsburgh is only an hour & a half away for more culture, better restaurants, tons more universities, or major shopping trips for a weekend break. For quality groceries, we have to drive 20 minutes to Kroger in Bridgeport. Walmart and Food Lion here don't offer much in the way of good produce or organics at this point. Fairmont State offers lots of good programs for kids grade K-12 in science, sports, history and music. Prickett's Fort offers good history lessons too, sort of a mini hillbilly (but still scholarly) colonial Williamsburg. Schools are better than what I've seen in Virginia and Michigan, and the class sizes allow for more individual attention if more academic challenges are called for. Scientists from NASA are regularly involved in programs at the elementary schools. The promise scholarship offers free college education to residents who keep up a B average in high school. The large FBI complex in Clarksburg provides job opportunities for professionals (usually in IT). The beautiful mountains, great hunting areas, white water rafting and kayaking don't hurt either. Crime is not a concern here, except in one run-down area near Fairmont State-property theft due to drugs?. The downtown area is neglected but progress is being made. The local government seems to function pretty effectively. Muriel's is an excellent italian restaurant. Lots of little gems to discover here, but not for someone in a hurry or wanting to be impressed with elitism or pristine housing. Stay in Northern Virginia or Atlanta for that. You can sit back and relax here.
26554 | Fairmont, WV