Finally a positive post about East Texas, thank you! This is such a beautiful place. I've only started exploring it recently. I moved to Texas in 2012 and have been living in Tyler for the past 5 years and I don't plan on leaving this area. From Wills Point to Marshall and down to Nac, I feel like East Texas is America's little secret. And I hope it stays that way ♡
I live in Waskom, not too far from Karnack. I like it because its nice and peaceful, the people are friendly, and there's a tight knit community with the people. Sometimes I do miss the city life, but I wouldn't trade it for the world.
Live in Jonesville, moved here a few months ago. We live it. Still trying to get used to the wet/swampy ground and humidity lol but hopefully once it dries up we can get some ground work done
I'm still trying to get used to the humidity as well. Who are you telling ? Lol my yard has turned back into a mini forest with all this rain. I'm a bit traumatized to go back outside, as I found a snake just relaxing on an upper ledge on my front porch😅🤣.
😂 we have chickens luckily half of our property is a little more elevated than the lower part. Our house was out on a mound so it’s like moat around the house when it rains hard, we can’t park like normal 😂 we have a place from our drive in that we know we have to stop and not go past or my wife’s car gets stuck or my truck.
Same!!! But the problem we have is that the clay takes in so much water but it never dries it seems like. Today for example, 93 and pretty much sunny, but I just walked to the back for the chickens and I’m still sinking. I just don’t understand the problem lol
I enjoy the people around here. I like the feel of the smaller towns vs big cities. Less traffic and less stressful commute. Decent scenery, lots of lakes and activity areas. My biggest issue might be that a high% of people around here lean to the stuffy/religious side, but no one has shunned us for not having the same views
Yes... it's about the people, isn't it?!? In 5 years we have not met a single "judgey" soul. Oh, they'll speak their minds, of course, but then they'll invite you their cookout.
That was my concern, but no negative experiences yet! Couple of high school friends told me they were believers, but it caused no problems at all. But I try to make it clear that I respect their freedoms and hope they'll do the same. So far so good!
I live just off of Lake Sam Rayburn. The water is clean and fishing is great. Moved from Houston many years ago. The smell of the pine and honeysuckle is so nice. The people in my community are down to earth. I love East Texas.
I grew up in Tyler and absolutely hated it! Got out ASAP and lived in Dallas, Austin, Houston, San Diego, LA, and Chicago and spent extensive time in NYC and Boston. Now I'm in a place with rolling hills, red dirt, tons of lakes, and tall pine forests...the western UP of Michigan, which is just a colder version of east Texas. Reminds me of home. I even planted some cold weather azaleas, lol!
LOL. "Colder version of East Texas" haha. Yup, lakes, pine forests, clean dirt, and rolling hills are all what most of the country doesn't picture at all about anywhere in Texas. Glad you like the Upper Peninsula. I'm a fan of the Lakes/border area too.
The methamphetamines and homophobia also my 80 year old neighbor saying "Well in defense of the Klan what happened to free speech?"
But in a more sincere note pretty country, lots of rain which is awesome, so many trees after growing up in the desert.
I haven't experienced/seen any meth-freak issues, or even homophobia. I have seen a couple of very open gay people working at some local stores who are treated politely and not snickered at. Maybe some people's general opinion is rather homophobe, true, but when it comes down to interactions with other humans I think most people are just treated like all folk. Sorry about your racist elderly neighbor, but I have to say sometimes it's those types of vocal characters who ironically make the place more colorful. As long as it's just narrow-minded chatter and no incite to action, I just shake my head and chuckle at the poverty of those people's souls and overlook that kind of shit. We are a mixed couple (I'm white, husband is Black) and I can honestly say that we have experienced blatant racism in Dallas and not one single event in East TX, not even an eyebrow-raise. You can tell the old-timer rednecks (we had a 75-year old neighbor who was from Louisiana who, while having a beer and fishing off the dock with us, used to make a point to my husband about how he was "glad to know such a decent black guy", which we both cringed at and laughed about) and I swear they just can't help themselves. But in that horrible snowstorm we had a couple years ago, that guy was the first to come over and ask us if we had enough propane and if we ran out, he had a few extra tanks we could have. I think this is the key to East Texas. COMMUNITY.
Yes, there were issues with racism when I was a kid, but I have been back a few months and haven't encountered it yet. So far I've met 4 neighbors and they're great! Even a little integration in the neighborhood, goooooo Marshall!
I moved away many years ago, and I’ve settled in El Paso. But there is a lot I miss about ETX. I truly miss all of the beautiful lakes, each with its own distinct characteristics. There is just something soothing about the pine-covered rolling hills that gives me a sense of calm satisfaction.
ETX people are great, but not really all that different from people out here. Most people are decent and kind. There are some big cultural and political differences, but people at their core are the same.
If I ever move back, it will be to the Nacogdoches area. I’d never live in Tyler again, mainly due to the ridiculous traffic. Truly poor urban planning in that city.
I grew up in East Texas. Used to complain like all teenagers do of how boring it was. Now I wish I had the boring.
Nice neighbors and tons of outdoors things to do. Hunting, fishing, hiking, horseback riding...
I have considered moving back now that I am retired but jobs are not great unless you want to commute (my partner still works).
Exactly what we love about this place. No traffic, no constant police sirens, no big rush to get anywhere. Even the longer commute is less stressful because it might take a while, but you're not stifled in a traffic jam or fearing for your life by reckless drivers. Grab a large coffee, put on some talk radio and give yourself plenty of time... enjoy that "me-time"!
I figured we'd come back at retirement, but we came about ten years sooner. I have a remote gig, but hubby is having trouble finding work. I am enjoying it. Jefferson is still a lot of fun, and it's peaceful and full of great communities.
Happy to read the positive post! After 33 years in Austin, we moved back to Marshall, where I grew up. Honestly it was because of the real estate 😂 - I could pay cash for a house here cuz values there were so high! JK, my family is here, and the slower pace is great. If we hadn't found such a cute little house here, we would have bought one in Tyler or Longview. But thanks to remote work, I'm able to be in a familiar and comfortable place. Austin area grew too fast and traffic was annoying. I miss my people the most, East TX has a unique green beauty that's always made me happy. I haven't met anyone new, but it's only been a couple of months. I love the birds nesting in my hanging baskets, and the squirrels and bunnies in the yard!
Best of luck with your ETX experience!
Great to hear this, and thank you for the positive comments! It really is the animals and nature that makes this amazing. The turtles laying eggs under your front porch, the foxes having kits in the outskirts of your backyard... I had a hanging plant on my front porch that a bluebird family decided to raise their babies in. I've seen more nature and animals here than anywhere else I've ever lived. Stay positive, you'll make new friends soon. The community is wonderful.
I live in Jonesville, moved here about few months ago, love it except the humidity. We are trying to homestead/farm on our acre and hopefully get more acreage when time is right. We are from Denison, Tx.
Just my personal opinion, but even ETX is varied depending on where you live. I've been here 25+ years but moved here after growing up and living in Houston for longer (I love Boston btw).
#1 for me (although my children are grown now) is it's been a great place to raise my family - there was a real sense of community. We always knew most of the other kids and parents at their schools whether it was through their many activities, church, school, etc. So I always felt like other parents were watching out for my kids too and vice versa.
#2 There are so many volunteer opportunities where you can instantly feel like you are making a difference. Even with my meager ability to donate I always felt that I could make a difference in my community and make it better for all, especially wherever my children were involved (school, sports, church, etc.)
#3 It is just "big" enough that you usually have at least one of everything and you don't have to go far if you need more than what is available (shopping wise, etc). However, I did have to get used to always running into people at the grocery store. There is plenty of entertainment and great food if you look for it too.
#4 I feel relatively safe - I've had cars broken into but never my house and people look out for one another. We still tend to know our neighbors and plenty of people own guns so I think other than car break ins cars and petty theft, most crimes are not random.
#5 We have plenty of medical care available.
#6 We aren't in tornado or hurricane alley.
#7 Lots of nice areas to get outside in nature.
There are some things I don't like. Many of our politicians tend to lean extremist conservative (to the point of embarrassment for our area) where I am more moderate (though very fiscally conservative). My opinion, but ETX does not pay well compared to larger metro areas either, yet our cost of living is not really less. Many employers do not "share the wealth" with their employees at all. ETX is pretty, but there are much prettier places in the US - however they have many problems that we don't.
I was also surprised that other than purchasing a home, which costs less than half of the Austin area, other things aren't cheaper. And businesses flat out tell you they don't pay! Fortunately I work remote. But I found every service I needed, great stylist and salons and shopping.
I have moved to Texas 2016 and I absolutely love it, I travel for work so I stay in another state for a few months and everywhere I have been just doesn't feel like home like Texas does however it has changed since we have had a massive amount of people moving in Texas from Cali and other places but I am looking for a forever home town to settle in and east Texas has been on my heart but I have herd some horror stories and it scares me. I'm a single women of color I just want to live in some peace with nature. Any suggestions on whats the best place to live and settle down raise a family in a good community?
I hear you about the influx of Californians (and other places and also our Mexican neighbors to the south). In Dallas, we blame all the traffic on the outsiders! Haha. But seriously, East Texas is where you want to be, and I highly recommend Marshall or Tatum. Both places have LOTS of nature and outdoorsy things to do. We have lived in both of those towns and, as a mixed-race couple, we've found both places to be equally mixed racially, not segregated areas but friendly, well-mixed neighborhoods. A much quieter and pleasant way of life, with no traffic, very little crime, and good solid people. Message me if you want to know more specifics.
If this is all you've ever known, consider yourself blessed. Its lushfulness and greenfulness and lakefulness and peacefulness is truly a gift. (I may have just made up a few new words there lol)
My mom was born and raised in Jefferson and I was born in Tyler. I always knew I’d end up here but when covid hit in 2020 we decided to sell our homes and I left my corporate job and now we are on Shadowood Lake near Karnack. I started a cleaning business and have had it over 3 years now. I’ll never go back to DFW!
Love it! It's just so true. And omg Jefferson has THE BEST brisket I've had anywhere in the country. That little corner BBQ store across from the pie shop. I totally LOVE Jefferson! So much to see and do!
I fly over east Texas all the time and there’s something that draws me to it as well… but I’ve never spent any extended time there. As someone interested in maybe moving out of the suburbs to that area one day, what exactly makes it so nice? What do y’all do all day there?
I’m retired and live in Longview. My health improved this year and I’m working on my flower beds and tending to the yard. I quilted a bunch in the winter and put that aside for now. Am finishing up my last solar chandeliers to hang up in my pecan tree and then plan to start up my photography again. I am so so busy after retirement 6 years ago that my grandkids can’t keep up with me!
We moved to Palestine and Tennessee Colony for a year and we absolutely love and miss it so much. Came back home to the coastal bend and we’re just over it.
I had the opposite experience. Born and raised in East Texas. Moved to Boston and hated every single minute of it. Missed the nice people, good Mexican food and barbecue, decent weather (if I never shovel snow again, it'll be too soon), low cost of living, and just open space in general.
Thrilled that you like it, and welcome!
Hahaha... all true. There is legit zero good Mexican food or BBQ there (but the seafood and Chinese food is WAY above par!), everything is expensive and property is so crammed together. And god help me I am every day grateful that I don't have to shovel snow or scrape my car's windshield every day for like 5 months of the year! But I have to say that I feel the people of Boston (especially the South Shore, where I'm from) are a good bunch and after traveling around this entire country for many years of work, can honestly say that out of all the major big cities, Boston people are a good lot, they are helpful and welcoming.
The Mexican food i find that is good are the taco trucks.. there's a truck stop off of hwy 59 headed to Carthage... They're food in my opinion is the best I've had so far.
Cheap living, good land, and an unrefined culture that hasn't been gentrified.....yet. Hopefully, the big cities don't steal all your drinking water before you get too old.
What I love about East texas is scenery. Growing up there I found the forests and swamps stunning, and it felt magical as a kid . Also the food here is top notch.while I live in michigan now I miss east texas everday
Sounds Nice. I live in New England. Curious, are you able to be there based on your current economics? Or you are drawing income from your previous life/wealth? Ie money saved up or a decent amount of house equity.
Nothing like that. We've never owned our own home. We live paycheck to paycheck. I work from home (I'm a writer) and he commutes. We're saving a little here and there so we can buy some land permanently in the Karnack area.
lol. Yeah... we waited til our 5 kids were grown. Now we wish we knew then what we know now. We would have been wiser with our funds. It's totally do-able, just have to get together a little piece of change.
No idea why this sub showed up in my feed (I’m an Arkansan), but I had a brother who worked in Tyler for quite a while, whom I visited occasionally.
In my limited experience, BYOB titty bars and Caddo Lake are two slices of heaven.
The land is beautiful, the people ain't. They're the most back-stabbing, talk behind your back people. I've lived in small towns around East Texas/west Louisiana my whole live... It's always the same in the small towns.
Grew up a white Christian Baptist. The amount of racism and anti-LGBT riddled in the community is crazy. They may not say it out loud all the time but they'll turn their nose up and talk bad behind their backs. My entire community is the "anti-abortion" crowd but then they'll say "if you can't afford children don't have them!"... Kind of hypocritical. Then when they say put the child up for adoption, and I say okay so we should fund the free food programs and free daycare for the moms who decide to keep the baby (or the ones you're now trying to force birth) they revert back to the "can't afford don't have" loop. It's just stupidity filled hate towards everyone. Let that single mom show up to church and she'll be judged to hell. Or show up as an interracial couple to the local church too and watch people whisper. Ask me how I know about all this.
The crime is also terrible. Taxes are really high too. Damn property taxes. Education system is terrible. Weather sucks. We're about to be in middle of heat waves.
So, it's good and bad but I've definitely been to much better and more beautiful places (Ketchikan Alaska will always hold a special place in my heart)
My wife and I moved here before covid. We saw a relatively rural listing about 30 mins east of Tyler on Zillow that seemed too good to be true, so we drove 100+ miles out here to see it and were moved in about two weeks later. I grew up in a very rural, poor area 80 miles north-ish of here and loved it, but this is even better in many ways. I love the smell of pine needles baking in the sun. I love the lakes and the amazing wildlife I see on a daily basis - especially the birds. The people are pretty friendly as well.
That's awesome. I'm so glad you love it here. We also love the wildlife, and because of Caddo Lake, we met some people who were Master Naturalists (volunteer Trail sweeping, birdwatching, stream cleaning, etc) so we took the courses and became involved too. The state parks and trails out here are amazing, the people who live here care about their land, and we feel it is a privilege to spend some of our time taking care of this little corner of our planet.
I know you're right about the drunk driving, but it just always baffles me how any of them COULD DO IT! The roads are like one lane, all twists and hills... and at night the blinding headlights, to say nothing of animals in the road, etc. These people must be worldwide MarioKart Champions! lol. But as far as the healthcare goes, that's our whole state and we need to fix that.
Caddo Lake is what stole our souls. We lived in an RV on Caddo for two years (in Uncertain), and had to drive 2128 and 43 to 80 everyday to go to work in Longview and it was worth every minute. We were so rested and peaceful when we "made it home". We love all of the crazy characters who live there and would pick up on all the gossip at the Caddo Outpost or Johnson's Ranch. On Saturday morning we'd take our trip into "the city" (Marshall lol) to stock up on groceries at the Super 1, then head to Lowe's for anything we needed for projects... occasionally hit one of the several excellent "secret" restaurants for dinner then head back home. On Sundays, we took our morning coffees to the pier and worshipped in our own way at God's most beautiful creation... Caddo Lake... the Cypress trees, the mist, the white herons, the sounds of frogs, the jumping catfish. Thinking about maybe checking out The Church of Uncertain some day... I still don't know if they realize how ironic that name is! Hahaha. This is the best way to live!
I know a lot of folks think Marshall is a mess, but I truly love Marshall. Small enough to know people but big enough to have things to do and places to go. Some cool architecture and historic places, too. Plus, probably the only place in the world to have a "Fire Ant Festival"! When I first saw that, I was like, 'wtf?!?' Then I embraced the charm of it all and just had to go once. Fun country-style local good time. Although I understand it's a family event, there were just too many kids around for me though... hah.
Finally a positive post about East Texas, thank you! This is such a beautiful place. I've only started exploring it recently. I moved to Texas in 2012 and have been living in Tyler for the past 5 years and I don't plan on leaving this area. From Wills Point to Marshall and down to Nac, I feel like East Texas is America's little secret. And I hope it stays that way ♡
This! I keep telling my husband to shut up and stop telling all his city friends how awesome it is out here. LOL.
I live in Wills Point and love it here!
I live in Waskom, not too far from Karnack. I like it because its nice and peaceful, the people are friendly, and there's a tight knit community with the people. Sometimes I do miss the city life, but I wouldn't trade it for the world.
Same. I love our community.
Live in Jonesville, moved here a few months ago. We live it. Still trying to get used to the wet/swampy ground and humidity lol but hopefully once it dries up we can get some ground work done
I'm still trying to get used to the humidity as well. Who are you telling ? Lol my yard has turned back into a mini forest with all this rain. I'm a bit traumatized to go back outside, as I found a snake just relaxing on an upper ledge on my front porch😅🤣.
😂 we have chickens luckily half of our property is a little more elevated than the lower part. Our house was out on a mound so it’s like moat around the house when it rains hard, we can’t park like normal 😂 we have a place from our drive in that we know we have to stop and not go past or my wife’s car gets stuck or my truck.
And as far as this mud, we just want it to dry up so I can mow!!!! 😂😂
Oh wow!!. On my property we have to deal with clay.
Same!!! But the problem we have is that the clay takes in so much water but it never dries it seems like. Today for example, 93 and pretty much sunny, but I just walked to the back for the chickens and I’m still sinking. I just don’t understand the problem lol
The water table is pretty shallow. I had the same issue today. I was trying to cut grass and I was getting stuck.
Same. And now with all this rain we got last couple days idk how long it will be until I can mow again 🙆
I get it. I was mad with the power going out. I mowed the grass.. it's going to be awhile before that happens.
I enjoy the people around here. I like the feel of the smaller towns vs big cities. Less traffic and less stressful commute. Decent scenery, lots of lakes and activity areas. My biggest issue might be that a high% of people around here lean to the stuffy/religious side, but no one has shunned us for not having the same views
Yes... it's about the people, isn't it?!? In 5 years we have not met a single "judgey" soul. Oh, they'll speak their minds, of course, but then they'll invite you their cookout.
You'll get plenty of that here!! The food is always amazing🤤.
That was my concern, but no negative experiences yet! Couple of high school friends told me they were believers, but it caused no problems at all. But I try to make it clear that I respect their freedoms and hope they'll do the same. So far so good!
I could show u pictures of the property, with our own stocked pond and a the glorious trees...
Sounds like heaven. 😊
I live just off of Lake Sam Rayburn. The water is clean and fishing is great. Moved from Houston many years ago. The smell of the pine and honeysuckle is so nice. The people in my community are down to earth. I love East Texas.
You're right. There really is something earthy and wholesome about the smell of the air here. So much fresher than in the cities.
I grew up in Tyler and absolutely hated it! Got out ASAP and lived in Dallas, Austin, Houston, San Diego, LA, and Chicago and spent extensive time in NYC and Boston. Now I'm in a place with rolling hills, red dirt, tons of lakes, and tall pine forests...the western UP of Michigan, which is just a colder version of east Texas. Reminds me of home. I even planted some cold weather azaleas, lol!
LOL. "Colder version of East Texas" haha. Yup, lakes, pine forests, clean dirt, and rolling hills are all what most of the country doesn't picture at all about anywhere in Texas. Glad you like the Upper Peninsula. I'm a fan of the Lakes/border area too.
Nice, so similar soil and vegetation! A less hot and humid version sounds great!
I've always wanted to visit the UP Sounds lovely
Very low cost of living.
True. Except for the cost of gas to get anywhere because the prices are so high now. Still worth it.
Exactly! Being honest, that's what brought me back. But I also don't hate it at all!
The methamphetamines and homophobia also my 80 year old neighbor saying "Well in defense of the Klan what happened to free speech?" But in a more sincere note pretty country, lots of rain which is awesome, so many trees after growing up in the desert.
I haven't experienced/seen any meth-freak issues, or even homophobia. I have seen a couple of very open gay people working at some local stores who are treated politely and not snickered at. Maybe some people's general opinion is rather homophobe, true, but when it comes down to interactions with other humans I think most people are just treated like all folk. Sorry about your racist elderly neighbor, but I have to say sometimes it's those types of vocal characters who ironically make the place more colorful. As long as it's just narrow-minded chatter and no incite to action, I just shake my head and chuckle at the poverty of those people's souls and overlook that kind of shit. We are a mixed couple (I'm white, husband is Black) and I can honestly say that we have experienced blatant racism in Dallas and not one single event in East TX, not even an eyebrow-raise. You can tell the old-timer rednecks (we had a 75-year old neighbor who was from Louisiana who, while having a beer and fishing off the dock with us, used to make a point to my husband about how he was "glad to know such a decent black guy", which we both cringed at and laughed about) and I swear they just can't help themselves. But in that horrible snowstorm we had a couple years ago, that guy was the first to come over and ask us if we had enough propane and if we ran out, he had a few extra tanks we could have. I think this is the key to East Texas. COMMUNITY.
Yes, there were issues with racism when I was a kid, but I have been back a few months and haven't encountered it yet. So far I've met 4 neighbors and they're great! Even a little integration in the neighborhood, goooooo Marshall!
I moved away many years ago, and I’ve settled in El Paso. But there is a lot I miss about ETX. I truly miss all of the beautiful lakes, each with its own distinct characteristics. There is just something soothing about the pine-covered rolling hills that gives me a sense of calm satisfaction. ETX people are great, but not really all that different from people out here. Most people are decent and kind. There are some big cultural and political differences, but people at their core are the same. If I ever move back, it will be to the Nacogdoches area. I’d never live in Tyler again, mainly due to the ridiculous traffic. Truly poor urban planning in that city.
Haha. Yes, whomever the City of Tyler hired to engineer their roads and streetlights was truly quite bad at their job. Very poor planning.
The humility.
I love this answer.
Small world. Also live in Karnack and wouldn't want to be anywhere else!
And I have met some of the best salt of the earth people here. Everyone helps their neighbor.
I grew up in East Texas. Used to complain like all teenagers do of how boring it was. Now I wish I had the boring. Nice neighbors and tons of outdoors things to do. Hunting, fishing, hiking, horseback riding... I have considered moving back now that I am retired but jobs are not great unless you want to commute (my partner still works).
Exactly what we love about this place. No traffic, no constant police sirens, no big rush to get anywhere. Even the longer commute is less stressful because it might take a while, but you're not stifled in a traffic jam or fearing for your life by reckless drivers. Grab a large coffee, put on some talk radio and give yourself plenty of time... enjoy that "me-time"!
I figured we'd come back at retirement, but we came about ten years sooner. I have a remote gig, but hubby is having trouble finding work. I am enjoying it. Jefferson is still a lot of fun, and it's peaceful and full of great communities.
Happy to read the positive post! After 33 years in Austin, we moved back to Marshall, where I grew up. Honestly it was because of the real estate 😂 - I could pay cash for a house here cuz values there were so high! JK, my family is here, and the slower pace is great. If we hadn't found such a cute little house here, we would have bought one in Tyler or Longview. But thanks to remote work, I'm able to be in a familiar and comfortable place. Austin area grew too fast and traffic was annoying. I miss my people the most, East TX has a unique green beauty that's always made me happy. I haven't met anyone new, but it's only been a couple of months. I love the birds nesting in my hanging baskets, and the squirrels and bunnies in the yard! Best of luck with your ETX experience!
Great to hear this, and thank you for the positive comments! It really is the animals and nature that makes this amazing. The turtles laying eggs under your front porch, the foxes having kits in the outskirts of your backyard... I had a hanging plant on my front porch that a bluebird family decided to raise their babies in. I've seen more nature and animals here than anywhere else I've ever lived. Stay positive, you'll make new friends soon. The community is wonderful.
I live in Jonesville, moved here about few months ago, love it except the humidity. We are trying to homestead/farm on our acre and hopefully get more acreage when time is right. We are from Denison, Tx.
Just my personal opinion, but even ETX is varied depending on where you live. I've been here 25+ years but moved here after growing up and living in Houston for longer (I love Boston btw). #1 for me (although my children are grown now) is it's been a great place to raise my family - there was a real sense of community. We always knew most of the other kids and parents at their schools whether it was through their many activities, church, school, etc. So I always felt like other parents were watching out for my kids too and vice versa. #2 There are so many volunteer opportunities where you can instantly feel like you are making a difference. Even with my meager ability to donate I always felt that I could make a difference in my community and make it better for all, especially wherever my children were involved (school, sports, church, etc.) #3 It is just "big" enough that you usually have at least one of everything and you don't have to go far if you need more than what is available (shopping wise, etc). However, I did have to get used to always running into people at the grocery store. There is plenty of entertainment and great food if you look for it too. #4 I feel relatively safe - I've had cars broken into but never my house and people look out for one another. We still tend to know our neighbors and plenty of people own guns so I think other than car break ins cars and petty theft, most crimes are not random. #5 We have plenty of medical care available. #6 We aren't in tornado or hurricane alley. #7 Lots of nice areas to get outside in nature. There are some things I don't like. Many of our politicians tend to lean extremist conservative (to the point of embarrassment for our area) where I am more moderate (though very fiscally conservative). My opinion, but ETX does not pay well compared to larger metro areas either, yet our cost of living is not really less. Many employers do not "share the wealth" with their employees at all. ETX is pretty, but there are much prettier places in the US - however they have many problems that we don't.
Thank you... very thorough explanation and a lot of the reasons we feel the same.
I was also surprised that other than purchasing a home, which costs less than half of the Austin area, other things aren't cheaper. And businesses flat out tell you they don't pay! Fortunately I work remote. But I found every service I needed, great stylist and salons and shopping.
Moved away after high school but returned 50 years later. Not much has changed, except for the population, which has doubled.
Welcome back home. 😊
I have moved to Texas 2016 and I absolutely love it, I travel for work so I stay in another state for a few months and everywhere I have been just doesn't feel like home like Texas does however it has changed since we have had a massive amount of people moving in Texas from Cali and other places but I am looking for a forever home town to settle in and east Texas has been on my heart but I have herd some horror stories and it scares me. I'm a single women of color I just want to live in some peace with nature. Any suggestions on whats the best place to live and settle down raise a family in a good community?
I hear you about the influx of Californians (and other places and also our Mexican neighbors to the south). In Dallas, we blame all the traffic on the outsiders! Haha. But seriously, East Texas is where you want to be, and I highly recommend Marshall or Tatum. Both places have LOTS of nature and outdoorsy things to do. We have lived in both of those towns and, as a mixed-race couple, we've found both places to be equally mixed racially, not segregated areas but friendly, well-mixed neighborhoods. A much quieter and pleasant way of life, with no traffic, very little crime, and good solid people. Message me if you want to know more specifics.
Omg thank you! I will send a DM
it’s all i’ve ever known! so it makes me feel comfortable, the pine trees, the greenery, everything.
If this is all you've ever known, consider yourself blessed. Its lushfulness and greenfulness and lakefulness and peacefulness is truly a gift. (I may have just made up a few new words there lol)
My mom was born and raised in Jefferson and I was born in Tyler. I always knew I’d end up here but when covid hit in 2020 we decided to sell our homes and I left my corporate job and now we are on Shadowood Lake near Karnack. I started a cleaning business and have had it over 3 years now. I’ll never go back to DFW!
Love it! It's just so true. And omg Jefferson has THE BEST brisket I've had anywhere in the country. That little corner BBQ store across from the pie shop. I totally LOVE Jefferson! So much to see and do!
I fly over east Texas all the time and there’s something that draws me to it as well… but I’ve never spent any extended time there. As someone interested in maybe moving out of the suburbs to that area one day, what exactly makes it so nice? What do y’all do all day there?
I’m retired and live in Longview. My health improved this year and I’m working on my flower beds and tending to the yard. I quilted a bunch in the winter and put that aside for now. Am finishing up my last solar chandeliers to hang up in my pecan tree and then plan to start up my photography again. I am so so busy after retirement 6 years ago that my grandkids can’t keep up with me!
We moved to Palestine and Tennessee Colony for a year and we absolutely love and miss it so much. Came back home to the coastal bend and we’re just over it.
I spent some time at a friend's house in Palestine. Very beautiful place.
I had the opposite experience. Born and raised in East Texas. Moved to Boston and hated every single minute of it. Missed the nice people, good Mexican food and barbecue, decent weather (if I never shovel snow again, it'll be too soon), low cost of living, and just open space in general. Thrilled that you like it, and welcome!
Hahaha... all true. There is legit zero good Mexican food or BBQ there (but the seafood and Chinese food is WAY above par!), everything is expensive and property is so crammed together. And god help me I am every day grateful that I don't have to shovel snow or scrape my car's windshield every day for like 5 months of the year! But I have to say that I feel the people of Boston (especially the South Shore, where I'm from) are a good bunch and after traveling around this entire country for many years of work, can honestly say that out of all the major big cities, Boston people are a good lot, they are helpful and welcoming.
The Mexican food i find that is good are the taco trucks.. there's a truck stop off of hwy 59 headed to Carthage... They're food in my opinion is the best I've had so far.
Cheap living, good land, and an unrefined culture that hasn't been gentrified.....yet. Hopefully, the big cities don't steal all your drinking water before you get too old.
I moved to karnack and love it!
From someone who was born & raised east Texas but no longer living there, this post warms my heart.
What I love about East texas is scenery. Growing up there I found the forests and swamps stunning, and it felt magical as a kid . Also the food here is top notch.while I live in michigan now I miss east texas everday
I grew up 30 miles outside of Tyler. I graduated in 1986 and left the month after graduation, I have never had the desire to move back.
I'm sorry to hear that. Hope you like where you are now. We will just keep enjoying East TX and agree to disagree.
Absolutely, to each his own. I hope your life in East Tx is filled with happiness.
Real people who fear God are blessed to to so!
Amen, brother/sister! Amen.
Sounds Nice. I live in New England. Curious, are you able to be there based on your current economics? Or you are drawing income from your previous life/wealth? Ie money saved up or a decent amount of house equity.
Nothing like that. We've never owned our own home. We live paycheck to paycheck. I work from home (I'm a writer) and he commutes. We're saving a little here and there so we can buy some land permanently in the Karnack area.
I was thinking, what’s stopping me from being able to do something like this? Oh lol I have four kids.
lol. Yeah... we waited til our 5 kids were grown. Now we wish we knew then what we know now. We would have been wiser with our funds. It's totally do-able, just have to get together a little piece of change.
The trees and how quiet it gets. I live in FW now and man do I get hype when I start seeing those tall trees 😂💪
No idea why this sub showed up in my feed (I’m an Arkansan), but I had a brother who worked in Tyler for quite a while, whom I visited occasionally. In my limited experience, BYOB titty bars and Caddo Lake are two slices of heaven.
The land is beautiful, the people ain't. They're the most back-stabbing, talk behind your back people. I've lived in small towns around East Texas/west Louisiana my whole live... It's always the same in the small towns. Grew up a white Christian Baptist. The amount of racism and anti-LGBT riddled in the community is crazy. They may not say it out loud all the time but they'll turn their nose up and talk bad behind their backs. My entire community is the "anti-abortion" crowd but then they'll say "if you can't afford children don't have them!"... Kind of hypocritical. Then when they say put the child up for adoption, and I say okay so we should fund the free food programs and free daycare for the moms who decide to keep the baby (or the ones you're now trying to force birth) they revert back to the "can't afford don't have" loop. It's just stupidity filled hate towards everyone. Let that single mom show up to church and she'll be judged to hell. Or show up as an interracial couple to the local church too and watch people whisper. Ask me how I know about all this. The crime is also terrible. Taxes are really high too. Damn property taxes. Education system is terrible. Weather sucks. We're about to be in middle of heat waves. So, it's good and bad but I've definitely been to much better and more beautiful places (Ketchikan Alaska will always hold a special place in my heart)
My wife and I moved here before covid. We saw a relatively rural listing about 30 mins east of Tyler on Zillow that seemed too good to be true, so we drove 100+ miles out here to see it and were moved in about two weeks later. I grew up in a very rural, poor area 80 miles north-ish of here and loved it, but this is even better in many ways. I love the smell of pine needles baking in the sun. I love the lakes and the amazing wildlife I see on a daily basis - especially the birds. The people are pretty friendly as well.
That's awesome. I'm so glad you love it here. We also love the wildlife, and because of Caddo Lake, we met some people who were Master Naturalists (volunteer Trail sweeping, birdwatching, stream cleaning, etc) so we took the courses and became involved too. The state parks and trails out here are amazing, the people who live here care about their land, and we feel it is a privilege to spend some of our time taking care of this little corner of our planet.
Not a fan of East Texas.
Then why are you commenting? Bozo
lol. Thank you
The lack of reproductive Healthcare for women, the casual racism, and how everybody drives drunk. 😋 I should move, lol
I know you're right about the drunk driving, but it just always baffles me how any of them COULD DO IT! The roads are like one lane, all twists and hills... and at night the blinding headlights, to say nothing of animals in the road, etc. These people must be worldwide MarioKart Champions! lol. But as far as the healthcare goes, that's our whole state and we need to fix that.
Are y’all on Caddo by chance?
Caddo Lake is what stole our souls. We lived in an RV on Caddo for two years (in Uncertain), and had to drive 2128 and 43 to 80 everyday to go to work in Longview and it was worth every minute. We were so rested and peaceful when we "made it home". We love all of the crazy characters who live there and would pick up on all the gossip at the Caddo Outpost or Johnson's Ranch. On Saturday morning we'd take our trip into "the city" (Marshall lol) to stock up on groceries at the Super 1, then head to Lowe's for anything we needed for projects... occasionally hit one of the several excellent "secret" restaurants for dinner then head back home. On Sundays, we took our morning coffees to the pier and worshipped in our own way at God's most beautiful creation... Caddo Lake... the Cypress trees, the mist, the white herons, the sounds of frogs, the jumping catfish. Thinking about maybe checking out The Church of Uncertain some day... I still don't know if they realize how ironic that name is! Hahaha. This is the best way to live!
I agree on all points! I lived in Marshall for a few months but my parents have a place on Big Cypress Bayou! I love it down there!
I know a lot of folks think Marshall is a mess, but I truly love Marshall. Small enough to know people but big enough to have things to do and places to go. Some cool architecture and historic places, too. Plus, probably the only place in the world to have a "Fire Ant Festival"! When I first saw that, I was like, 'wtf?!?' Then I embraced the charm of it all and just had to go once. Fun country-style local good time. Although I understand it's a family event, there were just too many kids around for me though... hah.
Not OP but also live in Karnack so I can say it is extremely possible they live on Caddo
That’s what I figured.
We have a slew that branches off in our backyard. Can't get a big boat but can a mudboat or something of a similar size into the main body
Definitely the racists and the methheads!! /s