Represent Your City/Rate Your City (Black Enterprise Survey)
 

Okay,
I currently live in Houston, TX, and I love the city. I eventually want to raise a family here. While I am young and have no responsibilities holding me here, I want to expereince another city. I am currently looking into graduate school, and want to go to school in another city. So........... can you let me know the pros and cons of your city? I would really appreciate it.

I live in Houston so I guess I really can't reply :( , Houston is a great place for young educated people, the price of housing here is awesome, but I am from Cali. I don't know it was a choice between here and Atlanta, I'm not really feeling Houston, maybe I need to get out more.

Toledo!
 

I live in Toledo, Ohio. As you can see, we call it too little to do, ohio. But...I love it here. Depending on what you like to do, we have a great, but expensive, movie theater, along with smaller ones, museums, COSI, symphonies, and a lot of plays and comedians come here. There are TONS of shopping and concerts in Detroit, which is only 45 minutes away. University of Toledo is a reknown college from what I hear, and there are a lot of festivals and things in the summer time. We also have a highly rated zoo, and Cedar Point, the number one amusement park, is only an hour away. So...
The things I don't like, but that's because I've lived here all my life, is that everyone knows everyone, because Toledo is small. Um, and crime is bad for it to be so small, but it's my home:)

I am in Washington, DC ,and I LOVE IT!!!! There are a ton of universities here (including the MD/VA area), so graduate school is no problem. They don't call it Chocolate City for nothing; so many Black folk, and different types of Black folk. I love a little variety. There is SO much to do!!! I have been here almost a year, and I have STILL not done the tourist thing. I still have not hit all the clubs. The down side: people drive crazy and the parking sucks. Also, people are SO pretentious here. Home of playing Black Geography and passing business cards: what do you do? who do you know? where did you go to school? did you pledge? blah blah blah. Being from the midwest (Cleveland), I am not used to this senseless chatter. I went to a party last weekend in Cincinnati and had such a good time; when we left we realized that we didn't know what ANY of the people there did for a living. It was SO refreshing.

I live NC. I have resided in Raleigh and Cary both and I have to say, I like it. The good thing about the RDU (Raleigh/Durham) area is that its 3 hours away from the beach and the mountains, if you want to take a vacation or just a get away. There are a host of colleges in NC alone... the whole UNC System (Chapel Hill, Charlotte, Pembroke, Wilmington, Asheville, etc), NC STATE, Duke and a host of HBCU's like NCCU, St. Augustines, Shaw, Bennett, Livingston, Fayetteville State, Winston-Salem State, etc. There's always something going on somewhere and you don't have to drive to far to get to it. The weather is ok (if you overlook the ice/snow storms and hurricanes that we are prone to having every now and then).

^^^^^^^^^^ co-sign on the above post.

I live in Raleigh, NC.

But, I'm from Richmond, VA!!!!!!

What can I say nice about Richmond. Uh, err, uh...we have VUU, VCU, and U of R. We are 20 minutes from VSU. We are about 45 minutes from William and Mary. We are an hour or so from Norfolk State, etc. We are in between D.C. and N.C....so that's good for a roadtrip.

Uh...err...uh...we're building up our downtown shopping and business district AGAIN. Uh...err...uh...I guess that's it!

You know I am really looking @ the DC area. I am interested in a master's program in Speech Pathology, and Howard has that program. I have never been to the DC/Baltimore area, (when I was in New York, I wanted to ride the train there, but the sniper stuff was going on) but I have always wanted to go there.

Thanks for the replys so far, and I look forward to the new replys to this topic!!!

I've been hearing mixed reviews about Houston, but I think that Houston and Atlanta are about what and what. I have been in Atlanta off-and-on since '98 and I have seen it slowly decline in terms of jobs and other factors. I am from California as well, so anywhere besides there takes a lot of getting used to.

Ain't that the truth!!!! :cool:

I'm in Detroit!

Im in Money Making Manhattan..........Home of NYU, not too far from Fordham U, Columbia U, etc,etc,etc.............:D ;)

I'll have to co-sign with you Ideal08. I've been in DC for almost 5 years it is very pretentious. But the one thing I will say about Chocolate City is that, what ever it is your into, you can find it in DC. Every culture and ethnicity has their own special piece of DC and it's surrounding areas.

I split my time between Orange County (no comment) and San Diego, California. I am a native San Diegan, but honestly, living here is tough because most housing is unaffordable, even in neighborhoods that are considered "minority." Unless you are a demon saver, I don't consider housing that's $200,000+ affordable. I'm fortunate, however, because we're going to inherit the home we grew up here.

It's also not an easy place to find companionship.

I live in Brooklyn, and you can agree with me that it's expensive as hell living in NYC, including the not-so-nice-run-down areas.

Brooklyn College and Long Island University - Brooklyn Campus have some pretty good graduate programs.

No offense, but I couldn't stand San Diego when I lived there('89-'90)

At that time there was no BET(BET was actually good back then)and the one Black radio station that they had disappeared. It reappeared a year later, but at that time we had moved from North Park to Carmel Mountain Ranch and you could barely catch it out there:mad:

I won't even get into the gang situation. Of course parts of East San Diego and South East San Diego weren't plush, but fools that lived all the way in Poway and Escondido still had the nerve to try to bang:confused:

CTFU. I take no offense. :p

And I remember what happened to XHRM-FM (92.5). The owners snatched it back from Willie Morrow, the hair entrepreneur who created a jheri curl manque called the California Curl,just as a piece of trivia, because they felt WM was narrowly programming it to Southeast S.D., my home area. They believed that it could pick up Latino and Asian listeners.

Can't comment about gangs. Not my expertise.

Reppin' Brooklyn to the fullest
but on the real, you can't beat New York City
From NYU(Manhattan),Brooklyn(Brooklyn),Fordham(Bronx)an d
all the other fine colleges and univerities in NYC there's
nothing greater especially if your looking for diveristy

I'm in Los Angeles. The housing prices and traffic are out of control but if you become a resident, in-state tuition (for the Cal States) is cheap and schools are abundant. Of course, there are plenty of things to do and the weather is nice. Though I'm engaged, dating in LA was hard for a sista.

Good luck in your search

PhDiva

Any city except the one where I live is better, lol.

I have seen about 10 black people, more than half over the age of 70 and they all try to get me to go to church with them. There's no industry except for construction (which is run on illegal immigrant labor). It sucks.

and you stay because...? i always wondered why people stayed in locations that they don't like. there's enough of this country to make moves.

I stay because my SO is currently working on his master's degree here and doesn't want to leave until he's finished (he likes the college). As soon as he's done, I'm out.

I hate STL worth a passion, I stay because of family and friends. What's the use of living in a "better" location if you're lonely? However...Chicago is only like five hours away and I do have a little family up there, plus my closest cousin is moving up there soon. Once I graduate, that will probably be the only place I would consider relocating. I would really really like to move to San Francisco, but it is too far away, and I don't know anyone from there. So, that's out the question.

Little Rock, AR not AK, people always put AK and then wonder why their letters/mail take so long to get to the capital city!!!

Its a great little city
pros
1. small
2. very affordable
3. growing
4. bill clinton(can never go wrong having ol' bill in your corner!!)
5. esthetically beautiful

cons
1. small
2. nightlife sucks
3. income levels
4. bible belt issues
5. too sterotypical sometimes(country)

I am originally from Ohio, but I decided to move to New York for my 3 year graduate program (architecture). Anyway location to me was very important because I wanted to have post college connections and I thought that would be easier to rather than just to find a job up here from somewhere else.My sister moved up here and attended NYU and I attend Parsons School of Design. The good thing about NY is that there are many colleges to choose from so you cannot go wrong.

On the other hand I wonder sometimes if it is worth it. Everything is crazy expensive so I don't get to enjoy what the city has to offer. I guess being from Ohio everything is relatively cheap/inexpensive. I am from Cleveland, went to school in Northwest Ohio and Columbus is becoming a popular place too. And although I love Harlem, I could not see myself living here for a long time because I want to be a homeowner eventually and start a family. Most people are renters or a co-op if you are lucky and commuting from NJ or Long Island is too much for me.

Out of all the cities, I have a friend that lives in Nashville, Tennessee. I had my notions about how it would be but they have several schools Fisk, Vanderbuilt and my friend became a homeowner at the age of 24, so housing is reasonable and jobs as well. The weather is relatively nice too.

Deciding on where to live is hard but I rather be in a good city rather than be somewhere I hate and going to a school I like.

Wow, I was about to boast about Houston, click on the link, and the first 2 people of from H-town. Way to represent! :)

:)

Charlotte is now my home and I loooooooooove it. I pray I can move to the uptown area one day. :D :D :D:cool:

Sorry Krisco we have Bill & Hillary Clinton now:p She is our state Senator.

Pros about living in NYC:
1. Very diverse...Want Caribbean food? Just go to Flatbush, Brooklyn. Want to buy a traditional Indian sari? Go to Jackson Heights, Queens. Anything you want I think you can probably find it here.
2. There is always something to do and you don't always need money. If your a student you can go to most museums for free.
3. You don't need a car! public transportation is 24 hours.
4. Contrary to popular belief...New Yorkers are friendly! The City was rated as one of the top friendliest cities in the country.

Cons about living in NYC:
1. The cost of living is very expensive. As I posted on another board I have a friend paying $3k to live in a studio apt. but outside of Manhattan you can find apts. for cheaper...
2. Over crowded and space is limited. Chances are if you own a house in the city you don't have a backyard and if you do it is very small.
3. Its a little dirty.

There are probably more cons that I can't think of but I love this city!

I just moved to Charlotte 3 weeks ago!

Wow! Welcome to the Queen City. I've been here just over a year now.

Are you enjoying it thus far?

And, how do you go about making friends around here. I'm so lost! :confused:

Welcome! I have been here for 4 1/2 years! :D
What helped me make friends partially is my sorority membership and through my job.

I'm enjoying everything except the I-77 and Independence Blvd. traffic. LOL, but I'm used to it now so I just enjoy the ride.

I'm still working on that. Being involved with Sigma helps. But I talked to someone when I'd just moved and she said it took her a year to really get to know people a develop real friendships...

Wow.......I can't believe it's been over 4.5 years already.....

Yup! I moved just in time to hang with the Omegas at their Charlotte conclave in 2002. In 2007, the week of my birthday, Phi Beta Sigma will be in town for their conclave. :)

That's funny - I thought you were referring to my hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio, which is also named The Queen City. I would never move back there - it's like Birmingham, AL in the '60s. I did also live in Columbus, Ohio and loved it there but now I live near Atlanta. I haven't been here long but I love it here - seems like there's so much opportunity here for young black females.

I'm loving Mesquite, Texas. It's right outside, nearly on top of Dallas. We moved here from Long Beach almost two years ago. Although I thought I'd never leave Long Beach, the gang rivalries (two muders walking distance from my door in two months) and housing situation is erradicating the middle class in California. Who pays $410,000.000 for West Side Long Beach for a 3br 1ba that comes equipped with Crips & Longos?
Here my kids have a great education, are safe to play outside, and dangit, my house is da bomb!!!!

I'm from Philly.
Good Grad Schools: Temple, Villanova, UPENN, Drexel, etc.
The price of living isn't too ridiculous.
Lots to do and see, especially if you're into the arts and history.
Weather is temperate, nothing too extreme.

But crime is...rising, as most inner cities. Just remember to lock your door and carry a knife and you should be alright. jk. :p

FBI 10 Most Dangerous Cities in the USA
1. St. Louis, MO
2, Detroit, MI
3. Flint, MI
4. Compton, CA
5. Camden, NJ
6. Birmingham, AL
7. Cleveland, OH
8. Oakland, CA
9. Youngstown, OH
10. Gary, IN