I don't know anyone in the city I'm about to move to?

[Reflexions P]

I'm about to move to a new city (about 800 miles away) to fill a job position, but I don't know anyone there. I don't know where any agencies or schools are, and I don't know if there are 'racial tension areas' in that city - and if so, which areas I should avoid. My question is: How do I establish a network source of people to inform me before I move there?

[Sarah]

If you could tell us what city you're going to, there could be people here who know information. I totally get the hesitancy about putting your location on the internet, but if it's a big city...it's a big city.

Please tell us so we can help you.

[amygdala1952]

This site not only has a lot of factual information about places but active forums.

http://www.city-data.com/

Also, have you done searches for the name of the city you're moving to? Most cities have a website. Also, you might try doing a google blog search using the city's name.

http://blogsearch.google.com/

[jusjokin12]

What city are you moving too? Check with the local PD as they usually have statistics posted on their web site on crime and crime prevention, etc that is going on.

[A F]

Start by reading the local paper. You can read on line but if it will be a few weeks subscribe because you will get a lot more in the actual paper from ads that give a sense of what different businesses are like, to more letters to the editor, to social and church news. Watch local TV on line. Use net to find 1-3 churches of whatever denomination you are most used to and write to ask them about the community. In a new place the idea of a church family can become very much a reality and a help in getting to know he new place. Do the same with any civic groups Lions, Kiwanis, American Legion, Business persons networking group of which you or family members are a part.

If the area has extended stay motels consider a week or 3 there while you hunt a new place to stay so you can see for yourself what the area is like in each part of the city and what commuting from there to your new job will be like.

If you are already working for the company and just transferring talk to a few people at the same level you will be before you go not just managers and ask their advice about the new city, good areas to live etc. Do it on your own cell not at company expense.

Yahoo answers can be a help too go to the question area local business for the city where you will be and ask questions. Just remember that the answerers are human and their ideas and preferences may differ from your own.