anyone from South Dakota ??

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Tom & I are in the process of deciding if we will be selling out in KY and moving back up north. We are researching South Dakota as our next homestead versus moving back to Wisconsin. Anyone have any information on what it's really like to live there? We have spent many happy vacations & camping trips there but that isn't always a good indicator of what the area is really like. I've checked out the SD website as well as the sites for the towns we're interested in but just thought some here may have some good 'insider' info on the area. Thanks to all, KA

-- Kathy Aldridge (beckoningwinds@yahoo.com), August 11, 2002

Answers

just curious,, but why S DAkota?,, Wis,, I can understand,, you have roots there and such,,,but why/how did you 2 pic S D?

-- Stan (sopal@net-pert.com), August 11, 2002.

You might look at the census site, should have a lot of info. on the areas and how they have changed over the years, could give you some ideas as to property prices, population changes and such.

-- BC (desertdweller44@yahoo.com), August 11, 2002.

A suggestion would be to rent. Because of the variations that can exist in different counties of a state , after living in the state for a year , you might find another county has the ability to provide the lifestyle and social surroundings that you feel comfortable with and are conductive toward your goals.

-- SM Steve (Unreal@home.com), August 11, 2002.

Am just wondering what your reasons are for leaving Ky.If you care to tell thats fine and if you dont that will be fine also.Hope you find what you are looking for!

-- ed (whighlan@msn.com), August 11, 2002.

Stan, I guess we're just looking for someplace new. We always liked SD when we went out there on vacations. The people were nice & I have a soft spot for prairie dogs although that's not the reason to make a major move. The taxes are lower and it's friendly to new businesses. I'm just tired of the bull sh*t that is happening here. Too much personal & property crime,tresspassing & theft for such a small community. Also,police won't help out when there's a problem, they wouldn't even take a report when the house in Edmonton was broken into.:( We're just sure that KY isn't where we want to spend the rest of our days. It's pretty closed to 'yankees' and after 3 yrs we're still outsiders. I'm also getting tired of folks trying to 'convert' me- complete strangers come up to you in stores & even at the bank! Saying no thanks doesn't always stop them & when they find out my beliefs it seems to re-energize their efforts to show me the error of my ways and save my soul.... I wouldn't mind going back to WI but the area is building up even though it's 80+ miles from Minneapolis/St Paul. They are putting in land use policies & restrictive zoning that limits the types & amounts of livestock you can have on your own property!! I thought we'd get grandfathered in but the county says no the policies will affect everyone no matter how long they've owned the land. So that's why we're looking into alternative areas. No decisions have been made yet, we plan on doing a whole lot of research before making another move to a new area. Land values in WI have increased almost 5 fold so we could make quite a profit which would pay for a much bigger piece of land in SD. We paid $34,000 for our place in 1984 in WI and now it's worth $146,000 according to the realtor & appraisers. The property taxes in WI are getting high, we paid $1500 last year and it's supposed to go up by 14% this next tax year. Do you know of any other areas of the country that have a distinct 4 seasons where there's reasonably priced land,nice people and non restrictive zoning? We're open to most any area where we can live in relative peace,quiet & safety. I don't mind health & safety zoning but I think it's ridiculous to restrict a farm from raising a pig for meat or having roosters just because the new neighbors don't like the 'farm sounds & smells'. I'll get off my soapbox now.:) I hope that answered the question, sometimes I get off on tangents.:) Have a great night.KA

-- Kathy Aldridge (beckoningwinds@yahoo.com), August 11, 2002.


Upper MIch,, has 4 seasons,, though somtimes summer is a blurr. IM inmis west lower mich,, and there aarre 4 distinct seasons. My county just put in land use restrictions, but only on under 10 acres.

A note about Wi not grandfathering,, they HAVE to grand father animals,, federal law,,I can find it for you if you need it.

Land prices have gone up pretty good around here,, up to 2,00 and acre where 5 years ago, it was 500.

-- Stan (sopal@net-pert.com), August 12, 2002.


They-the county-claim that because we left the area and took the animals the grandfather clause doesn't apply. They say the clause only covers the places that consistently had livestock/poultry living on it-once we took them off the land all bets are off. We always raised all of our meat before & if we can't when we go back what's the use of paying such high taxes? I think they're just trying to get the old timers out so that new rich residents/developers can tear down the older farm homes,cut up the land into small lots & make a whole lot more on taxes. I remember upper MI when I lived in Newport,MI. We took many vacations up there to fish. It was a very pretty area back then-that must have been at least 40 yrs ago. :) My father always had my mother drive over the Mackinaw Bridge because it would sway, he'd get dizzy. As a kid I thought that was so funny until I drove over it, it Does sway pretty good. We also would go to 'TipUpTown' in Houghton(?) for ice fishing. That was always fun, folks in the south just can't understand the fascination with fishing on ice in very cold temps.:) From what I can tell there are very few places without rising land values & restrictive land use laws. I suppose that higher land values are good for the seller but it sure is rough on anyone wanting to buy. Well the day looks pretty full so I should get going; I've already got the animal chores done,porch swept, 1 load of laundry done & a pot of coffee in me so I'm revved up to get a lot accomplished today. Have a great day.KA

-- Kathy Aldridge (beckoningwinds@yahoo.com), August 12, 2002.

Hi. I am from Sioux Falls, SD, but grew up on a farm south of there named Centerville. My little 80 is vacant, and I miss a lot of what SD has to offer. We had a dairy farm and worked 24/7 for years. I went to the Univ. of SD in Vermillion (23 mi. south of the farm), and am now in California. I, too, deal with the overcrowded urban population, high prices, and other stuff that people can't believe goes on out here in Southern California. I have thought about moving back, putting up a new house or adding on to the existing "little house on the prairie". It is on a gravel road, one mile off the highway. I miss the seasons, the stars and moon, coyotes howling, the owls hooting, ice fishing, big gardens, clean air, horses, chickens, etc. So why not move back? The winter, for me, is now pretty tough, and I'd be alone. My brother has the rest of the land. My mom just died, and my dad died in 1982, so the land was split up and I got an 80 and my brother the rest since he lives on it. Long story, but SD is a great, great place. Being from Wisconsin, you know what the weather is like. You just need to research areas and like one person suggested, rent for a while before deciding. Southeastern SD has a lot of advantages. I'm rural, but still close to Yankton, Vermillion, Sioux Falls, and even Sioux City, IA. Plus, SE SD borders Minn., Iowa, and Nebraska. I wouldn't settle anywhere else, although I love the entire state and what it has to offer for vacations and fun. Good luck!

-- Sharon Westre (druidselene@sbcglobal.net), February 08, 2005.

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