FT Knox area

[CGWildcat]

I can read all about it on the internet, but do we have anyone that is truly familiar with the area? Economy? Lifestyle? Opinions on army in that area? My name has been forwarded for a job there on base. You folks know before anyone else :)

[suncat05]

I lived out that way for awhile before I left Louisville. Nice area geographically, nice people. Can't tell you about the housing market there because I haven't been to or visited the area since the early '80's.
The area is very, very supportive of the post & Army personnel.
Louisville is just a short drive away, Elizabethtown is a great community with plenty to do, lots of parks in the area, overall it would seem to be a really nice area to live in should you decide to take the position.
Mind you now, this is how it was when I lived out that way. I liked it. Anything outside of Louisville is a positive.

[dethbylt]

Fort Knox and the immediate surrounding area are on the rebound. Radcliff (immediately off post) became a ghost town until the HRC moved in to fill the void left by the Armor. Elizabethtown is your best bet, IMO. It has nice neighborhoods, compared to the enarby towns, good shopping, interstate access, and an excellent parks and recreation system. My favorite is Freeman Lake park.

Knox in and of itself is much improved in the last few years. They tore down one of the two golf course to make way for better housing (on the Wilson Rd side), and the facilities have been greatly improved. Some of the old armor training facilities are run down, but that is because they arent used as much any more. The only thing I can say bad about Knox is that they Patton museum is a waste of time now that the Armor portion has been sent to Ga with the Armor school.

[KSRBEvans]

I've worked at Ft Knox for many years, as has ETWNAPPEL. Sounds like dethbylt works there or around there, too. (Didn't know that!)

The post has gone through a lot of changes since BRAC and is now more modern. It used to be home to the Armor Center but it moved to Benning. Knox is now home to Human Resources Command, 3rd Brigade 1st Infantry Division (3/1) and many other commands such as Cadet Command (whose Commander is our CG), Recruiting Command, 3rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command, etc.

I'd say the economy around Ft Knox didn't suffer as much during the recession because BRAC was happening during that time. It created a net influx of more permanent-party Soldiers and civilian workers than were here before BRAC. But it still looks a lot like most military towns look, especially the closer you get to post.

Personally, I'd rather live in Louisville than Etown/Radcliff, but it's all what you like. It can be a drive from Louisville (anywhere from 30-50 minutes, depending on where in Louisville you live--for me it's 40), but IMHO the advantages you get from living in Louisville outweigh the shorter drive from living in Hardin County.

Shoot me a PM if you want to discuss more specifically.

[UKHistory]

I grew up there. Radcliff grew as a town due to the military presence. Quite a few retired army families there. Radcliff is more diverse than many Kentucky communities. Many friends of mine growing up had ties with Korea, many were army brats stationed in Germany for a while.

Radcliff itself lost a lot businesses before BRAC moved in and really was becoming more of a ghost town.

My mother and stepfather moved to Elizabethtown. Hardin County has been dry in the past but recently allowed restaurants to sell alcohol. I can't recall if grocery stores can do that as well.

Nice restuarants in Elizabethtown (nice for small communities). Shopping mall, a multiplex. It is a good, quiet place to live.

Best of luck with your job opportunities.

[CGWildcat]

Position is a GS-13 Instructional Systems Specialist with the Army Accession Command dealing with Jr ROTC. Currently, with the CG as GS-11.

Would be a huge uptick in pay, lower taxes, etc. Reloc. expenses may be authorized too! Finally be able to own more than the dirt on my shoes. Might be single, might not. Not sure how that news will go over. I can always get direct shipments of my favorite wines out here. Of course, my name has been bumped up. I may be #7 out of 8 and never hear another word about it. Who knows.

[Catonahottinroof]

I live in Brandenburg. My kids go to school in Radcliff and I travel the roads daily. Post traffic is terrible from Etown in the morning, and likewise going south towards Etown in the afternoon. Since I live NW of post, the traffic isn't a problem for me, but is a nuisance between post and Elizabethtown.
Housing is tight in this area due to the recruiting command placing full time residents in the area, rather than the 16 week variety.

[kingcat]

Radcliff/Vine Grove boy my whole life....fifty seven years as of today ;) I may be slow responding to any questions but I'll be glad to help if I can By the way, some new apartments went in right next door to me and only two minutes from the Vault as well as only a stones throw from the gate itself. Very nice and reasonable too

[dethbylt]

I dont live in the area, but I occasionally have reasons to be there. One is business related, the other is hiking and geocaching the area parks. The Greenbelt (I think) is the name for the series supported by the city government. That is a dead horse though - the parks are awesome!

A GS job on the local economy (especially a 13) should put you ahead of the cost of living locally. The area is nice enough, but the general populace is lower on the income scale than some of the other local communities. I like either E-Town or the southern side of Louisville for access to the interstates and surrounding communities.

One of the remaining few Popeye's restaurants is in E-Town too. Damn that is good chicken.

[KSRBEvans]

Radcliff/Vine Grove boy my whole life....fifty seven years as of today ;) I may be slow responding to any questions but I'll be glad to help if I can By the way, some new apartments went in right next door to me and only two minutes from the Vault as well as only a stones throw from the gate itself. Very nice and reasonable too

Happy birthday, Kingcat! :fam24:

[suncat05]

Happy birthday kingcat!

[CatinIL]

CG, good luck to you. I've always said when I retire from my job here in StL, I would like to get a part-time job at Ft. Knox, Mammoth Cave or on a golf course in that area so I can be close to Nolin Lake.

[CGWildcat]

Thanks guys. Have no idea if I'll be a true contender but looking at the job, finances, tax rates, job security, and being back in KY, unless there are some glaring issues I haven't considered, I'd be crazy not to take this if I get that far.

Hope you had a great birthday Kingcat.

[jazyd]

Happy birthday Kingcat

And coastlie, if you get it you better come to miss for a deer hunt and great eating

[CGWildcat]

Happy birthday Kingcat

And coastlie, if you get it you better come to miss for a deer hunt and great eating

Count on that Mr Skip!

[jazyd]

[season starts the sat before thanksgiving and ends last day of January. Limit is one buck per day, 3 per season and 5 does per season :)



QUOTE=CGWildcat;56328]Count on that Mr Skip![/QUOTE]

[uklandrn]

My aunt and uncle live in Brandenburg - which is Meade County. My uncle worked at Ft. Knox for 30 years - and drove the 15 or so miles to work. Brandenburg is a small KY town. There is a couple grocery stores, and of course a few fast food places - but the majority of the people do their big shopping in Louisville. It is about 50 minutes away. The people are super nice - but I think most KY towns are like that.

[CitizenBBN]

My aunt and uncle live in Brandenburg - which is Meade County. My uncle worked at Ft. Knox for 30 years - and drove the 15 or so miles to work. Brandenburg is a small KY town. There is a couple grocery stores, and of course a few fast food places - but the majority of the people do their big shopping in Louisville. It is about 50 minutes away. The people are super nice - but I think most KY towns are like that.

Fast food in the same town where you live? a couple, in the same county? What big city place is this? lol.

there's still just one fast food chain in my home county. was talking to a guy at an auction a month or so ago and there still isn't a single one in his county. I think you've gotten all citifed out there in Seattle, forgot where you done come from. ;)

I guess I could live anywhere, but not sure I could handle rural life very well. was great growing up there but I've gotten way too accustomed to having all the stuff close and in downtown having a couple of dozen places to go eat and drink within a few blocks walk. I could handle something more rural if it were a beach town or in the Keys. Of course Key West is the best of both worlds for me. Beer within an easy walk and it's freakin' warm.

Would be great to have Coastie so close. Could definitely hook up for some shooting and such. If he says those gang tats were done while he was asleep as a practical joke I believe him and there's nothing unmanly about basic black cocktail dresses.

[MickintheHam]

Thanks guys. Have no idea if I'll be a true contender but looking at the job, finances, tax rates, job security, and being back in KY, unless there are some glaring issues I haven't considered, I'd be crazy not to take this if I get that far.

Hope you had a great birthday Kingcat.

I know a number of people who have moved from California over the last few years. One of our major suppliers was based near San Francisco. He packed up the business, rented a warehouse in Connecticut, and opened up shop in that place. He is originally from Connecticut and left there because of high taxes 25 years ago. He said the difference is night and day when it comes to taxes and regulation. He said the liberals in Connecticut are not so "in your face". So, Coastie, I imagine moving anywhere in Kentucky will be a major increase in income for you. Of course you are welcome to come down to Alabama. Folks here are a lot like Kentuckians. Taxes are actually a little less.

[CGWildcat]

Thanks for the continued input. I'm playing the waiting game now with fingers crossed. I have to agree with Citizen, I enjoy a more rustic life vs. rural now. To me rustic is just a little farther out in the suburb. I've grown to enjoy my creature comforts. Had dinner with good friends last weekend and I shared with him about my news. He grew up in Napa, loves the area, all his family here, and has worked his way to the top as bank president. He flat out said, "Roger, if I didn't have family here, I'd be gone from California tomorrow morning!"

Unless the job is just horrible in some form or fashion (and provided I can find that out before signing on the dotted line) in my mind I'm already there. Meanwhile, I'll open another bottle of wine tonight, build a fire in the pit, and contemplate!

[CGWildcat]

Sequester hits. Email from the Army yesterday saying sequester has made them place a hiring freeze. The email did say they hope to fill the position once the freeze is lifted but till then, I'm stuck here for the winter....:tongue08:

[CitizenBBN]

"Sequester". Because "America's Leaders are Useless Failed Gits" is just too long to type.

[CGWildcat]

triple like
"Sequester". Because "America's Leaders are Useless Failed Gits" is just too long to type.

[suncat05]

"Sequester". Because "America's Leaders are Useless Failed Gits" is just too long to type.

I know a few choice names they could accurately be called, but I can't say that kind of stuff here on a family site. :mad0176: