Western Nebraska

[Jerngen]

What can you tell me about far western Nebraska, specifically the Alliance area if you're familiar with it?
I've read everything city-data brings up on it as well as google. Was just hoping for some first hand accounts.
Wife is applied for a job there within her company. If she gets it, we'll be moving there within a month!
Thank you.

[Windy in Kansas]

I can't give you any first hand knowledge, only opinions and links for further research.

One problem I see is that there is no easy access to any large cities should you have need of shopping or medical needs of such.

http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genIn...locIndex=27232
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alliance,_Nebraska
http://www.city-data.com/city/Alliance-Nebraska.html
http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/nndc/struts...00&s=1&d=1,2,3

[Scrounger]

Scottsbluff-Gering and Chadron aren't too far away for "big" city shopping. Nice town every time we've been there. It lies on a high plain that has a lot of farming in the area.

Carhenge is also just a few miles away. What more could you ask for?

There are also quite a few small sandhill fishing lakes dotted all over the area. Get permission to visit one often.
It can get hot in the summer, but not real humid. The winters usually have several good snows.

Your wife work for the BNSF? They have a large operation there.

[DW]

That area is lots like ne Colo, thus I like it. Scottsbluff is so pretty and don't miss carhenge!

[Windy in Kansas]

Originally Posted by Scrounger

Scottsbluff-Gering and Chadron aren't too far away for "big" city shopping.

I should have stated what I consider big city shopping---around 50,000 population. That seems to be about the right size to bring the larger chain stores in. Sam's Club, Aldi's, mega whatevers. Also it takes about that size before the large medical facilities are available. Otherwise one must travel for some operations, etc. Otherwise Alliance would be a nice sized city on its own.

[Ann-NWIowa]

Its been a long time but we lived 50 miles west of Scottsbluff in Wyoming back in the 70's. We drove to Scottsbluff for shopping on occasion. We found all the medical we needed in Torrington, WY but I know others who went to Scottsbluff for more specialized care. Medical is so specialized anymore that you have to travel to wherever the specialist are so I wouldn't be too concerned about medical.

[ErinP]

I went to college up in Chadron and DH and I still have friends and family in the northern panhandle that we visit regularly. I really liked Alliance. And it was the nearest "city" most of DH's growing up years.

What do you want to know, in particular?

[Windy in Kansas]

Originally Posted by Ann-NWIowa

Medical is so specialized anymore that you have to travel to wherever the specialist are so I wouldn't be too concerned about medical.

A trip of about 2 miles will get me to the specialists on the other side of town.

The local hospital is non-profit so all of the net profit that shows on the books is pumped right back into more facilities and equipment. A win-win situation except for those paying.

We are currently getting a VA medical facility so we won't even have to travel to Wichita to the unit there.

The downside is that I do have to put up with living in a 40,000 population town even if it does have a smaller town feel to it.

[ErinP]

Most hospitals in rural Nebraska are served by a combination of specialists from Denver, Scottsbluff, Ft. Collins, Greeley, Kearney, Omaha, etc. but they only come on certain days of the month. Ie, an emergency would be sent out, but scheduled appointments can often be done right at your local hospital.

[Scrounger]

Scottsbluff has a well staffed hospital and a VA clinic.