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Are you thinking of moving or relocating to Alpine, Texas? Would you like to know what the quality of life is like living in Alpine?
Joan R. Neubauer reports in this review:
| Weather | | How much crime? | | What are the neighborhoods like? | | What are the people like? | Alpine, Texas enjoys all four seasons. Spring tends to arrive in late February. Daytime highs run from the 50s to the 80s and lows can and often do fall into the 30s and 40s.
Summer arrives sometime around mid-May with spiking temperatures well into the 90s and approaching the triple digits. By this time the rain and the wind have halted and we enjoy the dry heat which only lasts about three weeks.
Fall begins to peek its head around the corner in August with a few cooler days here and there, and the summer monsoon begins. August and September tend to be rainy, but these rains give us the bulk of our annual rainfall, so ranchers especially, are thankful for them.
Winter naturally follows with daytime highs in the 40s for the most part. We can get the occasional odd day with a high in the teens or the 60s. We just never know. Much depends on the jet stream. Nighttime lows can drop into the single digits and light snowfalls are common.
| | Alpine is a small town and is a very safe place to live. Most people don't lock their cars when leaving them parked. Common crimes such as burglary and theft happen, but not often. Drugs, however, can be problematic at times. | | Alpine is divided by the railroad tracks that run through town east to west. The south side of town is largely Latino with traditional, older homes and a few mobile home parks. However, little by little, some areas are undergoing gentrification and people are rebuilding, renovating, and renewing.That side of town is also home to the one Catholic Church in town,Our Lady of Peace.
The north side of town hosts stores, restaurants, newer neighborhoods, and Sul Ross State University. The homes and neighborhoods are an eclectic mix of stick-built, modular, and manufactured. In addition, there are a few mobile home parks. | | Alpine's population of 6,000 is about half Hispanic and half Anglo with a good mix of ages. The older people tend to be less educated than the younger generation. While many young people leave after graduation from high school or college, they often return to raise their families. A significant portion of the population is over 50, however, because Alpine is a retirement destination.The people are warm, inviting, friendly and helpful.
Young, single people who may want a town with a party atmosphere and active dating life may not find Alpine to their liking, mainly because of the smaller population. | | Downtown Area | | Restaurants | | Schools | | Single life | | Downtown is nice and pleasant though limited. | | Many people consider The Reata the best restaurant in town. | | Alpine's public schools are rated well. Smaller classes make for more attention given to each student. | | Opportunities for singles, other than among the university students, is very limited. | | Noise | | town comparison vs. | | Best hospital | | Tourist attractions | | The railroad that passes through town brings a note of nostalgia and noise to the town as engines regularly blow their horns as they pass through town. Though done in the interest of safety, the town is looking for other ways to maintain safety and eliminate the noise. | | Marfa, about 25 miles to the west is also a small town but with a very different feel to it. The cost of living is about the same but many people from the West Coast have settled there so the culture is very different. Those people tend to focus on the arts and have opened a number of art galleries and a few restaurants in town. People from Marfa prefer the more traditional Mexican restaurants and generally focus on family, work, and church.
Fort Davis, a town about 25 miles to the north of Alpine, is the smallest of the three towns. It is the county seat of Jeff Davis County and is a tourist destination. The small main street has some stores and a few restaurants, hotels, and an RV park for guests. Three of the nearby main attractions are Fort Davis National Historic Site, Fort Davis State Park, and the McDonald Observatory. | | The local hospital is Big Bend Regional Hospital and they're very good at handling the most common problems and emergencies. If they don't have the staff or equipment to handle something, they will stabilize a patient and life-flight the patient to a larger hospital in El Paso, Lubbock, Midland, or other appropriate facility. | | Some of the nicest places to visit are Big Bend National Park (80 miles to the south), Fort Davis (25 miles to the north), Monahans State Park (100 miles to the northeast). | | General comments | | | | | | | The town is a lovely place to live and offers a feeling long lost in larger cities. People know each other well and love to socialize. Town festivals are common and most everyone turns out, not only for the festival, but to get together with family and friends.
Alpine offers a warm, homey atmosphere that people come to love. The friendly people readily welcome strangers and offer their friendship and support to tourist and people moving to the area.
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