MISSOURI-A Great place to live or not?

4PIGS · #1 03/08/07, 10:15 AM

I have an opportunity to move to Missouri and live on 80 acres north of Kansas City. I am interested to find helpful comments on the quality of life there, the economy, are there still 'farmers'? How are the school systems? What type of livestock and crops are being raised there? What soil types? Dominant religions? This is a BIG decision for our family, so any and all comments about a western family moving to Missouri would be greatly appreciated.

big rockpile · #2 03/08/07, 10:25 AM

You get up that way it is more prairie.Good soil,open.

Thats about all I know of the area.

big rockpile

CGUARDSMAN · #3 03/08/07, 10:32 AM

I now live in SW MO but have lived in NW MO and in the Kansas City area. As far as religion it is a mixed bag dependening on the community. North of KC there is a lot of farm land and the soil is very workable both for plants or livestock. The economy is decent and things are still growong though they have slowed a little in the last year. Schools are good but again it depends on the community. Do you know what community you will be working?? Prices are reasonable for land and housing also. I think MO is a great place to live and raise a family I just don't think you can go wrong with Midwestern values.

4PIGS · #4 03/08/07, 10:38 AM

The properties are near Cameron, Hamilton and Galatin.

jerzeygurl · #5 03/08/07, 11:03 AM

dh works with a guy from cameron, new housing is stagnating, not particularly bad if your looking to buy tho, you will be driving to liberty or nkc or kc, independance ect to work.

hamilton is a nice small town, dm best friend just moved there.

galatin is pretty, and near jamesport, they used to have small animal livestock auction dont know if they still do, competing with amish may be difficult, but you can take advantage of the bargains, you can get horses shoed really cheap, and there is a great menonite resturaunt..

**Terri** · #6 03/08/07, 11:04 AM

I was up at Cameron, many years ago, for a day.

I regret that I do not remember the town, but I remember the rest!

Rolling hills, mostly in grass. Oaks. Small streams with muddy bottoms. The roads were rather indifferent, which often means that the taxes are VERY low. Cattle. Some crops: Missouri produces a lot of grain and Cameron has grain production as well. Friendly people with a conservative bent.

I DO know that the prices of land are low for the area, BUT they have gone up a lot the last 10 years! Probably because the northern edge of the KC area is withing commute distance.

Land prices are STILL low for the area, though!

jerzeygurl · #7 03/08/07, 11:04 AM

there is a prison in cameron as well

CGUARDSMAN · #8 03/08/07, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4PIGS

The properties are near Cameron, Hamilton and Galatin.

All of these are decent communities with decent schools. i know quite a few people in that area and have done some rather productive hunting up there too

Billie in MO · #9 03/08/07, 12:58 PM

That area is, indeed, very pretty. Pretty much what everyone has said, so far. Lots of small towns and small schools and lots of old timers who gather at the local barber shop or local cafe. Been to many of them!

My mother was born and raised in Cameron as was her parents. I grew up closer to KC but in a small village of 140 people, but I was always going up to Cameron as my mom and grandparents had a large family and they all lived around in the area.

My daughter and her husband are just south of there, outside of Camden Point on 250 acres. And yes, they are farmers. They have cattle, horses and soybeans, but are going for more cattle. However, they do have day jobs.

That area is just now starting to grow. St. Joe, just to the west, is really growing fast! They do have a college there.

The area still does have a small town of America feel to it.

suzyhomemaker09 · #10 03/08/07, 01:49 PM

No real comment on the more Northern parts of Mo. We live in S.W. Mo. and love it here....decent people...good weather...lots of farmers/livestock folks.

cindy04 · #11 03/08/07, 02:03 PM

I live in Cameron and LOVE IT! PM me and we can exchange #'s and talk if you would like. I did 20 years in the military,and now work for the Govt. in Independence. We have a small farm (40 ac) outside of Cameron. We milk a couple of Jerseys, have a few chickens, horses and dogs, and live an exceptionally wonderful life for the most part and LOVE our few neighbors.
Hope to hear from you.

Cindy

linn · #12 03/08/07, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4PIGS

I have an opportunity to move to Missouri and live on 80 acres north of Kansas City. I am interested to find helpful comments on the quality of life there, the economy, are there still 'farmers'? How are the school systems? What type of livestock and crops are being raised there? What soil types? Dominant religions? This is a BIG decision for our family, so any and all comments about a western family moving to Missouri would be greatly appreciated.

Hi,
I live near St. Joseph, in NW, MO. Yes, there are many farms still operating in this area. However a lot of farm land is being swallowed up near St. Joseph and K.C. for housing additions, shopping centers and industrial use. A variety of livestock is raised in this area--cattle, hogs, sheep, chickens etc. The main grain crops in this area are corn and soybeans. A variety of religions can be found in this area. The country people are friendly. We are currently in the middle of a battle to keep NAIS from becomming mandatory in this state; but I think this is going on all over the U.S. Come on over, we would love to have you as a neighbor.

fixer1958 · #13 03/08/07, 08:29 PM

My brother lived in Galatin. Very nice country. Alot of farmland and not much sprawl from what I can remember. Winters north of the river can get pretty nasty.
Snow and ice.

LamiPub · #14 03/08/07, 09:20 PM

We are closer to KC than St Joe, most predominant religions are Catholic, Baptist, Methodist, RLDS, and non denom Christian around here. Missouri still has plenty of farm and livestock going. Just have to be careful when buying land that there isn't govt contract to not farm on it. Economy is decent, some things cheaper some more expensive. Store milk could be as high as almost $4, gas is $2.35 gal reg now, but from what I hear our taxes a little cheaper, our property still a lower than many other states. Some others could give you a better comparison since we really try and not buy much. Several business going strong but others slowing down. Alot of nice national parks, museums and such around too.

4PIGS · #15 03/12/07, 09:26 AM

Thanx for all your comments. It is great to know that this seems like a decent place to live. I am also glad to know there is a prison there. As safe and secure as most of them are, you never know.

Batt · #16 03/12/07, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4PIGS

Thanx for all your comments. It is great to know that this seems like a decent place to live. I am also glad to know there is a prison there. As safe and secure as most of them are, you never know.

Are you referring to possible escapees? A. Really rare B.They just want to get as far away from there as possible. Could be really convenient to visit relatives. I do know there are some really great fishing lakes in the area.

Hammer4 · #17 03/12/07, 10:04 AM

We live in that area, have 10 acres and lease 40 more for a cow/calf ranch we are starting. Lots of corn, soybean, cattle all around us. Lots of good schools in the towns you mentioned as well.

jerzeygurl · #18 03/12/07, 11:17 AM

i didnt mean it as a slam that there was a prison there( my step brother lived there for a few years

and my aunt worked there), i just was pretty sure that was something that might be left out by an agent. cameron used to have a dq if it does its the last one iin the area (that serves burgers that is)

linn · #19 03/12/07, 02:05 PM

jerzeygurl: Yep, Cameron still has the DQ.
4PIGS: I have never heard of any prisoners escaping from the prison facility. In any case I don't think they house the hard cases. We live about 30 minutes from Cameron. It is a nice little town. I can recommend Plattsburg and Smithville also.

Billie in MO · #20 03/12/07, 03:29 PM

[QUOTE= I can recommend Plattsburg and Smithville also.[/QUOTE]

Wow, someone who has heard of them. My stepgrandfather was from Plattsburg. He and my grandmother are buried there. Know it well. Was last there @2 1/2 yrs ago. It hasn't grown much and is still pretty much the same as when I was growing up. With the exception of the new houses on the outskirts of town.

Smithville, on the other hand has grown too much and changed considerably. Grew up just 15 minutes away and had many family/cousins who live/lived there. My daughters are buried there(1st one was born there) along with great aunts/uncles and my great grandparents. I visit the cemetery when ever I am back and the area is almost unrecognizable to me.

Almost all the little towns between I-29 and I-35 have pretty much stayed the same with the exception of Platte City, Smithville, Kearney. It was a great area to grow up in and I wouldn't change that for anything. I do miss family/friends and the church I grew up in.

Oh, and someone mentioned the DQ in Cameron, and it brought back a great memory. One of my mom's cousins owned a place in Cameron, similar to a DQ and they lived above it. Her daughter and I were only 5 months apart, so I visited alot during the summer. We'd be upstairs and decide we wanted to eat and we'd yell down thru the vents what we'd want , it was fixed and they'd bang on the pipes when it was done and we'd go down the stairs to get it. Such fun for a kid.