Anyone live or from the Norfolk area? Have a potential job opportunity there and it’s one of the few places/parts in Nebraska I’ve never really spent much time...pros and cons of living/raising a family there?
OT: Norfolk, NE
- Thread starter mt_slothmore
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Decent medical community. Not a terrible drive to Sioux City or Omaha. Reasonably good schools I think. I think housing is reasonably inexpensive. It seems to have it's fair share of drugs and crime considering it's size but I wouldn't mind living there. It's an easy drive to Lewis and Clark Lake State Recreation area. Large HIspanic population so it would be a good place to practice your Spanish. Overall not a bad town IMO. I've never lived there but travel through there a bunch and have family that has lived there.
I lived there for 20 years and still get back almost monthly. It is a decent town. I'm not sure I agree that there is a large Hispanic population. There could be but I never noticed it. The only thing that would prevent me from living there is the idea of moving back to a smaller town after having lived in Lincoln.
I have family that lives there. I like the town. It’s large enough to have most things you would want (lumber yard, large grocery stores, Target, a nice outdoor concert venue that brings some decent shows, hotels, etc). And it is small enough that you can find a ‘country’ feel if that is what you’re looking for.
You have the option of all sizes of schools from A on down (may have to go private for the smaller schools).
As Dingle mentioned, you’re close to Lewis and Clark and places like Niobrara. And it’s a short drive to Omaha.
It depends on what you’re looking for. But Norfolk is a nice compromise on size.
You have the option of all sizes of schools from A on down (may have to go private for the smaller schools).
As Dingle mentioned, you’re close to Lewis and Clark and places like Niobrara. And it’s a short drive to Omaha.
It depends on what you’re looking for. But Norfolk is a nice compromise on size.
Well the Hispanic populations is larger than when I was younger. I suppose a fair number of them I see there are probably living in Madison, working there and shopping in Norfolk.
I think they are reasonably similar. Difference being close to Omaha and Sioux City. Weather different
it is smaller then Kearney i believe, it's a good safe town most of the time, has a few good bars, nice athletic facilities, 2 hours from Lincoln, Omaha, getting a BWW soon, the Hispanic population is not as big as it once was but still has many in town, as far as crime they have their share of dumbasses but who doesn't. what is your job, has 3 golf courses in town. what else do you want to know.
Oh yeah, Norfolk almost always gets twice as much snow as Omaha. That couple hours north makes an amazing difference. They just got 12” where Omaha got like 4”.
Perhaps things have changed over the years, but I always felt Kearney tended to be more receptive to new residents than cities like Norfolk, Columbus, etc. Not that those are bad places, but they can be a bit parochial.
I agree. Since it's the largest city in the area, Norfolk has always had a lot of people coming in from miles around to spend money there. Consequently, it has a few more stores and restaurants than one would expect for a town its size.
It's really not a lot different than living in Lincoln as far as day to day living is concerned. Fewer options in every category of course, but less traffic and people seem friendlier in NE Nebraska.
There is a really large german immigrant population in Norfolk...so if you are into that then it might be nice place to live.
I do live in Norfolk, and agree with most of the previous posts. The absolute worst thing is the lack of a 4-lane highway to Omaha. (5o-ish miles from Stanton spur to Hooper is still 2-lane.) State has promised for 20 years they'll finish the "express-way". Good things are: high school sports (mostly), good concert venue, 3 city golf courses with at least 5 more within 15-20 miles. A lack of name restaurants. My daughter and family (and friends) bought a cabin right on the Missouri River (65 miles from home) with boating, swimming, jet skis, etc.
And . . . probably one of the best beer-drinking towns you'll ever see . . .
And . . . probably one of the best beer-drinking towns you'll ever see . . .
It’s a good town, lived there or by there most of my life. I’d characterize it as , a good small city, and at least it’s got more to do than Columbus.I do live in Norfolk, and agree with most of the previous posts. The absolute worst thing is the lack of a 4-lane highway to Omaha. (5o-ish miles from Stanton spur to Hooper is still 2-lane.) State has promised for 20 years they'll finish the "express-way". Good things are: high school sports (mostly), good concert venue, 3 city golf courses with at least 5 more within 15-20 miles. A lack of name restaurants. My daughter and family (and friends) bought a cabin right on the Missouri River (65 miles from home) with boating, swimming, jet skis, etc.
And . . . probably one of the best beer-drinking towns you'll ever see . . .
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anon_umk0ifu6vj6zi
Guest
BWW? I hope that works out. I have had absolutely no luck with that place. Have tried numerous locations, and getting someone to help take an order is like pulling teeth. Lol
Very true. Lots more to do. Best advantage Columbus has over it is a horse track. And a nice YMCA. See a lot of 7 county plates in Columbus for live racing and simulcasting especially Kentucky Derby, Preakness..
I live in Norfolk. Everything said is pretty spot on except the snow. Yes we got 14" this time. Average is nearly identical to Omaha/Lincoln, and quite a few times we've missed the big storms that hit there. Decent housing market, but mid-range homes move FAST.
People are very friendly around that area compared to Lincoln. Plenty of places to shop and eat for a town that size, and decent entertainment options. There is more snow than Lincoln. Has relatively large Hispanic population but rather small black/Asian population.
I personally hate Norfolk. Middle of nowhere, crappy restaurants, horrible drivers, horrible mall and seems like the whole town is blue collar.
I’m going to try and grow my own horseradish this year. I’m pretty excited. Just ordered the seeds last weekend.
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anon_umk0ifu6vj6zi
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Man. That sucks you had to be around so many blue collar people. The horrors you endured have to have left you with memories you can never recover from.
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anon_umk0ifu6vj6zi
Guest
Me too. Love horseradish. Protip: grind that stuff outside.
Norfolk is a nice little city of 24,000 people. Hispanic makes up about 10% of the population there. Lots of Blue Collar jobs available and also plenty of White collar and medical field positions available.
As far as entertainment and dining for its size it has pretty good choices. For restaurants it has pretty good choices along with better than average food. Divots has a pretty good concert calendar every year. Just saw Sarah Evans there early this winter. Live dirt track auto racing. Pretty good high school athletics. JUCO basketball. Choice of three high schools in Norfolk and pretty nice small towns close by. Housing is reasonable in most all price ranges. For its size it really has very few negatives.
As stated it is a 2 hour drive to Omaha or Lincoln. Both Sioux City and Yankton even closer.
As far as entertainment and dining for its size it has pretty good choices. For restaurants it has pretty good choices along with better than average food. Divots has a pretty good concert calendar every year. Just saw Sarah Evans there early this winter. Live dirt track auto racing. Pretty good high school athletics. JUCO basketball. Choice of three high schools in Norfolk and pretty nice small towns close by. Housing is reasonable in most all price ranges. For its size it really has very few negatives.
As stated it is a 2 hour drive to Omaha or Lincoln. Both Sioux City and Yankton even closer.
Divots is a gem for that town. My and and uncle had all three of their kids get married at the reception hall across the parking lot and man it is a great set up. It’s a nice hotel, with rooms that can be pool side. It has mini golf, a bar/restaurant and a reception hall. It was perfect for us. I wouldn’t think many towns of 24,000 have a set up like that.
I’ve had good luck with service, but in Fremont. Food isn’t the best though, but the kids like it.
BWW is living off brand nowadays. They used to have $0.25 wing night. It was awesome. Over time their wings have shrunk, their prices have gone up and there just isn’t much left other than the brand.
My uncle and aunt are both MD’s in Norfolk.... been there a long time....
I'm a blur collar worker myself but the whole city seems like an industrial area, no cool places to hang, just kinda blah.
My hometown. Was nice growing up, now?? Not so much. There's a reason I moved to Lincoln 10 years ago. I like to live in a city where their are better restaurants than Applebees and Whisky Creek.
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