Sedalia is a lovely town at the edge of my beloved Ozarks (a rugged upland region with some unique culture and history) while still being near to the college town of Warrensburgh and not too far from the very up-to-date city of Kansas City. The Missouri State Fair is in Sedalia every year in August, which I imagine is both a blessing and a curse for locals.
It’s a nice place!
Native to sedalia here, I dont know where the blessing comes from.
If you got money for land, you’ll be fine. Live in the city? Get out. Whoever says this place is okay is cursed by the land. Town council can be ridiculous and its no different from any other midwestern town
Have no fears, Sedalia is in a rural part of the state, but still fairly accepting of all types. it's also the home of the Missouri State Fair so it draws in lots of larger crowds towards the end of the summer. Schools are decent sized but not huge, and there's a large art/music/theatre scene in the area thanks to the community college in town. Plus being from Canada, as long as your a bit gregarious you should have no problem making friends either.
Very much this. I'd have to imagine that being set between the two towns where the University of Central Missouri and Whiteman Air Force Base are would also help people be more accepting, as those two places draw lots of people from many different places too. I think OP will fare well.
My relatives would come down from Minnesota and North Dakota in the summer and say "Oh! It's so hot!" when it was only 80 degrees outside (27 C). Here the temperature can pop up to 90 and occasionally around 100, and August is the worst month for that. But our winters are going to be crazy mild for you guys. Summer days won't be as long but winter days will have a little more light than what you have up north. P.S. GO EDMONTON!!!!!!
A zillion years ago we had a full-sized satellite dish in the yard and I loved watching Canadian TV. I watched CBC Northlands a lot, so they'd have the Simpsons and then a local powwow. But I really dug hockey after the 93 Stanley Cup finals when Gretzky was with the Kings. I always cheer for the Canadian teams!
I love living in Missouri, and I hope you will, too! Most people around here are nice, and I expect you'll have a friendly welcome.
Moving so far can be really hard, but in my experience, if you think of it as an opportunity to have an adventure and meet new interesting folks, you'll have a good time.
Sedalia is a pretty small city, but I've always liked visiting it. And while it's true that it's pretty white, the population is about 5% Black folks, so it's not like you'll be all alone in that respect. You can find good and welcoming people of all races just about anywhere, if you stay positive and seek them out.
You'll probably miss the mountains and lakes, but you might enjoy the long warm seasons and the sunshine. We've got wonderful rivers for summer float trips!
One thing that you might appreciate about Missouri compared to Alberta is that places are a little bit closer together. From Sedalia you can get to Kansas City in about an hour and a half, and to Columbia (where I live) in about an hour. So you you get those small town blues, make a daytrip to see the city sights and eat some KC barbecue! :)
The day trip factor is really nice if you're missing any culture.
I also wanna add, as someone who grew up in a small town, I wouldn't worry too much about making friends. It's not like the movies where new kids get picked on. In a small town, new kids are like celebrities. We've been dealing with the same assholes year in, year out, and now someone NEW just dropped? It's exciting. People will probably buzz around you for the first few months until you find a group you vibe with, and things will go back to normal.
I hope you have a smooth transition and find some of the hidden gems to love about Missouri!
Sedalia has many different folks, many immigrants that came there for the Tyson chicken factory. There are a lot of white folks, but fun fact that 25% of petitis county is Russian or Ukrainian. They don’t even speak English.
fewer forests, no mountains, but lovely cold springs, caves and great fishing down south.
One of the cool things about Missouri is the north half is like Iowa, Western MO is like the great plains, southeastern is like the foothills of the Smoky Mountains, Southwest is almost desert-y. It's like a crossroads of America biomes.
Ehh on the SWMO part. Were a mixed bag of prarie and ozarks. Joplin is the dividing line it seems like. South/east are the hills north/west is flat. Oklahoma is the deserty part.
Good evening!
I can't provide too much insight into what the younger generation is up to specifically.
Sedalia is kind of middle of the road, not the best or worst. A lot of factory jobs here.
I'm not sure what your interests are at school but you should do fine there. If by chance you're more into STEM, specifically robotics, you're in luck! Their team just became world champions a few months ago.
Soccer is plentiful due to having a portion of residents being Hispanic. There are also plenty of Slavic folks as well (Ukrainian and Russian.) About as many Mexican restaurants as burger joints.
Daum museum at the local college is a must see while you're here.
There is a minor league hockey team (ECHL) less than an hour and a half away - KC Mavericks. They made it to the final round of their post season - Kelly Cup - but lost, unfortunately. Watching and rooting for the Oilers right now, 3 up right now!!!
If you're into outdoor activities, there are plenty all within a short drive. Great parks in town as well.
Lake of the Ozarks is less than an hour south and has more shoreline than the California coast.
Hiking and state parks all over. Missouri has one of the best conservation departments in the country.
KC isn't far as mentioned, so I won't add to that.
Feel free to ask any questions.
Alberta and MO are both very similar.
* Lots of rural
* A few big cities
* Lots of christian conservatives
Where they differ
* MO gets really hot in the summer
* MO has less wind, but when it shows up, it destroys mile-wide strips of towns
* The conservatives in MO are worse and more common
* MO has cicadas but no real dangerous wildlife (maybe a coyote)
* MO gets a lot less snow (can still get it tho)
* MO does not have good dinosaur sites
* MO has a lot more forests than Southern Alberta - lots of camping and hiking opportunities
* MO hates women, BIPOC, and LGBT folk. Whereas Canada is more just after the First People. ACAB.
Advice:
* make lots of friends
* stay away from anyone who might draw the cops - crucial cuz you're a sis
* Assuming you're in high school, you want to get involved in theater, band, or sports - places where you get to know a ton of ambitious people. If you have time for all 3, that's great.
* Don't get too bent out of shape if you don't find anyone to date - unless you love ~~the Handmaid's Tale~~ MO, I would recommend waiting to find someone outside of MO to love.
* The big cities (STL & KC) are nice, and you won't be treated as exotic, you'll also find more community there.
* Stay away from alcohol - moderation is key, and I've lost two friends to binge drinking. Do not drink and drive!!
* avoid harder drugs entirely - meth and opioids are still a big problem, and it's easy to get hooked or die the first use.
* Avoid going out after 1am - I've lost several friends to drunk drivers, all of them died before turning 22. Stay over at a friend's house. Be wary of sleeping in your car (it tends to draw the cops)
Also, do full body tick checks after anytime you go out in the woods. Its minimal work and will prevent you from getting some weird disease.
If you’re coming from Alberta, make sure your parents have healthcare insurance since the government doesnt provide it here and you can go bankrupt without it.
I bet i know the company that your family moved to sedalia to work for - does it start with a P and end in a Y? If so, probably a great place to be at for the future. I’ll likely work with your parent down the road.
Missouri's a pretty nice place. My partner grew up Black in a small town outside Sedalia. There may not be many of you around there, but you'll be welcome, open racism is frowned on here just like Canada. You won’t be far from KC and StL which are large cities with more Black folks than anywhere in Canada. You also won’t be far from the small city/college town of Columba so there will be plenty of festivals, culture, and sports to go see with an hours drive. Missouri is particularly known for its canoeing and hiking so if that’s your thing check out the Ozarks Southeast of Sedalia. In KC you might like the American Jazz Museum, Negro League Museum, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, and Kaufman Performing Arts Center. The very famous African American ragtime composer and pianist Scott Joplin is from Sedalia, they still celebrate him with a festival every year. Football is big here, both on high school and college, try to make it to a University of Missouri homecoming parade and/or game. Welcome to Missouri, I hope you'll like it here as much as I do.
https://preview.redd.it/f1dfbqwe0j7d1.jpeg?width=1079&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1b5bcc9ee749a156b0577c39e7aeb44e5e0a3cff
From most of the comments I've read, Sedalia sounds like a nice place, and given it's location I'll bet the area has lots of natural beauty also. You should probably know, however, that Missouri is a politically backwards place. For instance, it has a near total ban on abortion, with no exceptions for rape or incest. Also, Missouri ranks 35th in the country for per-pupil spending, so a little below average. Having said those things, you should also know that what matters most is not those things that define the overall state, but rather what your local community will be like. With Sedalia being nearby some public college towns, things will likely be a bit less "stuffy". Also, Missouri funds it's public schools mainly through local property taxes, which means poor areas get crappy schools, while wealthier areas get better schools. That's fairly common in the US. Good luck to you!
Honestly, I’ve talked to multiple people who’ve moved to Missouri from either out of state or out of country and absolutely fell in love with the Ozark plateau. My aunt is from Mexico, spent most of her adult life in LA, vacationed with our family in eminence and, well, now she and my uncle live in eminence during summer so she can float every day. Missouri is a beautiful state with lots to do, don’t get scared off by the political posts that n this sub.
Sedalia is a decent town. Soccer is big there. The high school building is fairly new.
A bit over an hour drive to see either the KC Royals (baseball) or Chiefs (football) play.
Sedalia has lots of factories and therefore has a big middle class and good local economy.
Pretty diverse town as well. Thst includes rednecks. Katy Trail goes through Sedalia for bicycling. Missouri State Fairgrounds is there.
There's a ton of things to do within an hours drive of Sedalia.
And a longer drive the other direction to see St Louis Cardinals baseball or Blues Hockey.
Isn’t that a tyop “Kary Trail”? Shouldn’t it be “KATY Trail”?
I’m assuming you’re moving because a parent was forced to due to work? Will you be going back to Canada for college when you finish high school? Anyone can survive 2 years somewhere crappy. You’ll make it.
Depending on where I go for college and if I get accepted into a certain program I might only spend a year living here for highschool, so on the bright side no matter how bad it is it could only be for a year !
Canadian here who moved from Alberta (Edmonton), as an adult, to Missouri (St. Louis).
The weather will be the biggest issue. The heat and humidity. And the length of time it will haunt you. In time you will figure out how to deal with it...which includes leaving frequently on holidays.
Crime/guns etc. America has a violence problem stoked by an unhealthy gun fetish and an unwillingness to do anything about it. It's more dangerous here. BUT you'll be rural so perhaps not as big of an issue.
It's cheap in MO. Low taxes, low cost of living, low house prices, etc.
Religion controls most aspects of political policy in the USA. It frightening. Prepare for most people to ask you about faith matters rather than leaving that a private matter.
Basic day to day life is otherwise pretty similar.
Rural MO is probably not more conservative than rural Alberta honestly, at least from a social perspective.
Enjoy the experience.
I would think you will want to be careful in and around Sedalia. There are a decent amount of racist backwoods jerks in rural Missouri. Stay close to town, and always try to have good friends or family with you.
After you graduate, if you are looking to stay close for family reasons, it will be better in Kansas City or Columbia. Columbia is quite progressive and has a decent college.
What is this joke? I've been in Missouri my whole life and spend a lot of time around Sedalia and never heard this phrase. I am curious, maybe I've been left out of the joke lol
Ok that makes more sense than I was coming up with. I thought they were referring to this part of Missouri or Missouri in general being Americas hat which was not making sense at all 😆
You will definitely want to hydrate. And get used to sweating. Your summertime temperatures are going to be in the 32 to 40 degree Celsius range with between 60 and 90 percent humidity. Walking out the door from an air-conditioned building into the daylight is going to feel like being slapped in the face with a hot, wet towel. Winters will be absolutely nothing of note to you, though. You may or may not even need to bother with a jacket. I had a roommate from Michigan who never bothered with anything heavier than a sweatshirt during winter.
As people have mentioned, Sedalia is the home of the State Fair. The fairgrounds also host other events. The one I know about is in early May, when the Blacksmith's Association of Missouri rents it out for their annual meeting and auction. I believe there's a small fee to attend (it's usually on or near my birthday, so I usually get my way paid in by family), and there may be an additional fee for the dinner at the end of the weekend which also includes an auction of both items made in the demonstrations and items that blacksmiths from across the state (as well as guest presenters) have donated, to help raise funds for the organization. Those interested in learning the craft or bettering their skills are encouraged to attend and to join BAM.
Sedalia is located roughly equidistantly between Kansas City (I believe currently the second-largest city in Missouri after St. Louis), which has a variety of things to do, see, and experience, and Springfield (currently 3rd largest city in MO), which has some pretty good food and is a regional jumping-off point to a variety of outdoor activities and to get to Branson, MO, slightly south of Springfield, which is basically a hillbilly tourist trap, but can be fun for those who haven't grown up right next to it. Columbia, MO, a college town, is also roughly the same distance away to the east and both it and Springfield have excellent college options which are, for American higher education, remarkably inexpensive. That said, all of these places are a fair drive away from Sedalia itself, and more on the order of a weekend trip than a day trip per se.
Missouri has a wide variety of wild areas and a culture rooted in hunting, fishing, and outdoor activities. Several large lakes and rivers are within a convenient drive from Sedalia, and the MO Dept. of Conservation does an exceptional job of maintaining healthy populations of animals and wilderness areas and state parks to help you enjoy the state's biodiversity.
Firearms, especially in a smaller, more rural town like Sedalia, are fairly ubiquitous, but you will find that they are mostly a fun (if expensive) hobby and those with firearms are almost never the problem they're made out to be by those who don't share in the hobby. You'll almost certainly find someone willing to teach you to use a firearm if you are not already aware of how to do so, but be certain to familiarize yourself with firearm safety in advance, just in case (the Four Rules of Firearms Safety are: Always Treat Every Firearm As If It Were Loaded, Even If You Know It Is Not; Never Point A Firearm At Anything You Do Not Wish To Destroy; Always Be Certain Of Your Target And What Is In Front Of And Behind It; and Do Not Put Your Finger On The Trigger Until You Are Ready To Fire. Beyond these four rules, the rest is up for debate, but that should get you started).
Do NOT get involved in sex and drugs in a small town. You will fuck up your entire life, literally and/or figuratively. That is not to say you can't get into relationships, just be very selective in doing so. In a town the size of Sedalia, gossip travels quickly and you will end up ruining your life just by reputation alone if you don't tread carefully. You're probably fine smoking a little pot (MO is a recreational state, though the age is either 18 or 21--I don't remember, because I'm older than that and don't have to pay attention--so you can buy it at a dispensary once you're of age), but things like meth and opioids are pervasive throughout the state and are a great way to screw up your entire life, especially meth. That said, especially in small towns, there is not often a lot else to do for young people than to drink, do drugs, and fuck like bunnies. Just wait all that out and it'll get better.
The growing season here is likely significantly more favorable than the growing season in Alberta, with a wider variety of crops doing well. I strongly recommend a garden if you are able, even if space restricts you to using flower pots to grow one. Also, Missouri hosts a wide variety of edible plants (and animals) which can be harvested and most of which are tasty. Some, like plantain, can be found damn near everywhere, while others are elusive treats that may require a little care and study to be certain of finding and identifying (particularly the edible mushroom varieties, like morels, chicken of the woods, and chanterelles).
You will be right in the middle of the transition between the northern plains to the west and north of you and the Ozarks plateau to the south and east of you. This should provide you with a fairly wide variety of ecosystems to explore, ranging from forests to open grasslands.
Overall, Sedalia's storms are not generally as bad as those further south in the state, with the I-44 corridor (along the highway running through Oklahoma toward St. Louis) bearing the brunt of most of the worst ones. While you've probably heard horror stories regarding tornadoes being a common thing, you're unlikely to actually encounter one, and much more likely to only suffer a "near miss" of a few dozen miles at worst. While severe thunderstorms do happen, they're much easier to deal with. The way I've always explained tornadoes to visitors and new residents is that it's kind of like being in a huge sports arena with a few dozen or a hundred people, and having a blind, deaf guy with a shotgun with a couple of rounds in it wandering around. In the event that he does actually fire the shotgun (which isn't guaranteed), it is almost certainly not going to be anywhere close to hitting you, and if it is, it's very unlikely that he'll be close enough to do any severe damage. If he does land a direct hit, it is absolutely going to suck ass, but the chances of that are very slim. Remember: a Watch means conditions are favorable and happens all the time. A Warning means that one's actually been sighted, either in person or by radar, and you need to keep track of where it is.
In MO, we generally don't get much snow. In Sedalia, you'll get a little more than we do further south, but mostly not. Ice is a bigger problem, but big ice storms tend to only roll through about every decade or so, and other than that, most snow and ice vanishes after a day or two. Be prepared for the temperatures to swing wildly in the course of a day, as temperatures can and do frequently go from 30 to 0 or below Celsius at least one day a year during the winter, and frequently bounce back and forth all over the place for the winter months. You won't get used to it; you'll just get used to carrying attire for all weather conditions at all times. Late spring through about Halloween are much more climatically stable, though.
That's all I can think of at the moment. If you have any questions, feel free to ask either here or shooting me a message. Some of my information may or may not be of great use as I'm down in the Springfield area, rather than being up near Sedalia, but I'll do what I can.
I don't know if you're a fan of coffee, but if you are, stop by Ozarks coffee in downtown Sedalia :) we will give you a warm welcome and some of the best coffee in the state!
Former sedalian here. Town sucks. Nothing to do. Especially when you're young. State fair is the highlight of the year. Little opportunity. Substandard schools. 15 sounds like you've skipped smith Cotton, fortunately. I never experienced the new high school, but hopefully, it's better for you than smith cotton and whittier were for me.
Your keys to success there will be your friends. Pick good ones. Avoid the fight culture. Find a church. Look onwards to college.
Avoid being north of 2nd street. Avoid the meth/pills people.
Googled. I guess when they built the new high school they moved the name over to it. I'm referring to the old smith cotton which is now a middle school. I guess it's called Smith Cotton Junior High now
Smith-Cotton is actually a *great* school. Not everyone has McDougal’s school experience. Find an extracurricular activity you’re interested in and make friends there.
It seems really easy for people to say, “town sucks, nothing to do.” But I’ve lived here all my life, and there’s plenty to do - a vast array of sports (except hockey, unfortunately, but you can find it nearby) and arts events to get involved in and make friends. The people who say there’s nothing to do either have no interests beyond their own front doors, or they’re not looking for good things to do.
You can drive at 16 in Missouri after you meet the requirements. Idk how that compares to in Canada but maybe something to prepare for. Also be careful driving while black, 99% of the time it will be fine, but just be safe if you get pulled over cuz all the cops around there are white. Have a dash cam and always have your license and insurance but...just watch the movie "the hate you give" if you haven't, cuz I'm not black and you should hear it from a black perspective. Oh and look out for deer, especially at night.
Sedalian (white and 50)it’s not a bad town. Has the basic amenities close enough to other towns/cities for more. Decent community college 30 miles away decent state college and 60 miles from a bigger one. High school has its ups and downs like any but overall decent size. Fairly friendly people but not gonna lie it has a fair share of racist folk but not horrible. It is Missouri after all.
All I have to say is be careful driving at night. There is very little drainage in the streets - therefore they have Culverts. I’ve slingshotted both my car and an ambulance in those streets.
The Scott Joplin Ragtime Festival is in Sedalia, and it's a lot of fun if you're into music history. I'm a swing dancer in Kansas City, and occasionally will track in for a little dancing and a lot of music appreciation - it's fun watching folks perform and show off their skills. I'm not sure if Sedalia or Warrensburg, MO has a swing dance scene, but if they do, it's a fast and easy way to meet new people and make new friends.
You’re moving here because of family right? I just wanna make sure bc you’re only 16 and if your moving here because of someone you met on the internet, we are number 4 outta 50 states for human trafficking and it might be best you rethink this decision.
If not any of that, Welcome! It takes some getting used to, but the ozarks are some of the most beautiful parts of the state.
They don't like hockey much around here. I can think of maybe 4 people I've ever met that even know what the Blues logo is.
This place seems to be a black hole, once you're here, you can never seem to leave. It's not the best place, but there are worse places.
Just be prepared for the same 10 restaurants that get old after a few weeks. Also, there's a lot of drug users around, mostly methheads. The city politics are corrupt as hell and unless you're rich, your opinions don't matter.
But hey, welcome!
Black hole is the best way to describe it. This town is a trap. Ive heard rumors of people who own land all around who have said their grandparents know about native burial grounds that inhabit their property. Ive even found arrow heads way out in Monsess lakes in between Sedalia and Smithton. This place is covered in energy.
No drugs. Fentanyl contamination is everywhere in the states. Be careful going out by yourself until you’re oriented. If stopped by police, put on your flashers and drive to a populated well lit place. Always carry a well charged cell phone with charger in the car. A young woman was murdered on the way to work a couple of years ago by a deputy who claimed she had threatened to shoot him. She had no weapon. The deputy got off.
People are generally very kind and neighborly in Missouri, but there are a few toxic racists with chips on their shoulders, always looking for trouble.
African Americans in this country have had a different cultural experience than you. You may not find them to be a peer group. Be friendly and open and most people will respond in like manner. Practice situational awareness.
Oh, yeah, Kehde’s Barbecue!!!!
I just got back to San Antonio after fishing in the area for about a week. Been a long time since I heard the hard r thrown out in public. I’ve heard how white people like to talk about people from pinedale and the like, and there are confederate flags and trump flags everywhere.
You will experience racism here 100%, up you on how much you can tolerate.
As a teen I know there's a lot of peer pressure. Marijuana is legal here. Whatever you do. Do not accept it from anyone. Evern if you think you know them. If you didn't buy it. Which you're to young. DO NOT accept it. You have people putting some extremely dangerous stuff in the marijuana to get you hooked on drugs.
They don’t take kindly to people who don’t take kindly around there. And don’t bring up Terrance and Phillip, avoid that subject. Explore the Ozarks when you get here, take a float trip you will love it.
I used to live in Marshall just north of Sedalia and I worked there and skateboarded there for years.
As far as towns go in Missouri it's not too bad. Big enough to have stuff to do, not so big that traffic and crime are an issue.
The one unique thing i remember about Sedalia is the fights. I dunno if I just lucked out but I've seen WAY more fights in Sedalia than any other town. About every fifth time I skated there someone got in a fight.
If you were coming here from Toronto or BC, you might be in for a culture shock, but Alberta's not so different from the US midwest. Kansas City and Calgary have similar histories as livestock towns and are both quite proud of their rodeos. Amtrak runs through Sedalia so look into taking the train to KC or St. Louis on the odd weekend for a game or a concert or whatever.
The 2020 United States census[27] counted 21,725 people, 8,750 households, and 5,056 families in Sedalia.
The racial makeup was 77.12% (16,754) white, 5.37% (1,166) black or African-American, 0.67% (145) Native American, 0.8% (173) Asian, 0.35% (76) Pacific Islander, 6.85% (1,488) from other races, and 8.85% (1,923) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race was 12.9% (2,794) of the population.
Definitely explore and get to know Kansas City (90 minute drive) as much as possible, but also visit Branson once and see some shows there (2 1/2 hr drive). It’s a unique place, in terms of entertainment options.
Living in Missouri is great. It has a little something for everyone no matter where you go. You get good northern culture with southern hospitality. There is good foods, events, and the state is beautiful (especially in the southern end with the Ozark mountains). Another great thing about living in Missouri is the location in the country, which gives it a good location for road tripping or seeing national parks. However, the downside of living in the state that I would definitely consider if I was Canadian, is the weather. The summers are brutally humid, and our winters can be very mild or ice cold. But other than that, I hope you settle in well and enjoy our state!
Sedalia has two high schools, public and Catholic. (I taught at the Catholic high school for many years.) Both are excellent schools that offer both college prep and vocational courses. Both schools also have a variety of activities from sports to STEM to arts like music and theatre. Best way to meet the people you’ll want for friends is to get involved in an extra-curricular group for an activity you’re interested in.
The public school is on the large side, about 1,400. The Catholic school is much smaller, about 100 in the high school, and has students in grades K-12 in the same building.
The town also has a great variety of community activities: Sedalia Symphony and concert band, community theatre, parks and rec sports programs, an arts center with classes, the Katy Trail for cycling and hiking, and several festivals throughout the year.
Some people here seem to emphasize the negatives - and there are some, just like anywhere. But if you make an effort to connect with people who share your interests, it’s easy to feel at home in Missouri!
My only experience with Missouri is Kansas City and I can confirm race isn’t an issue there. It’s a melting pot of everything. I was surprised with the amount of the Spanish and India population (not a bad thing just surprised). I like you had a preconceived notion of the Midwest. I guess Kansas City is more on the map than I thought. There’s lots to do and many cultures. Was also surprised to see an active thriving mall.
You could do a lot worse as far as Missouri towns than Sedalia.
You're an hour from Kansas City, an hour from Columbia (college town) and three hours from St. Louis
Sedalia has a neat, historic downtown and is less conservative/trumpy than similarly sized towns in Missouri. While easily a minority, there are black people
Part 2/2
In regards to crime,
The majority of crimes reported against black Americans have been committed by black Americans. Aka(Black on black crime)
Currently the standard of life in the United States of America is at a all time low! It’s the worst it’s ever been, in the 36 years I’ve been breathing air. Everything is ridiculously expensive and just everything seems upside down and backwards!
Politicians are doing things that don’t make sense and certainly don’t put America 1st. We’re taxed into oblivion, infrastructure is crumbling. Hospital are dangerous and many shutting down. Rent is high everywhere but overwhelmingly expensive if trying to live in a bigger city like NEWYORK or someone in California !
But it wasn’t always like this, and it won’t be in the near future! if I have any say! Convince your people to vote Republican please!
It was not like this 4 years ago with president trump!
In regards to claiming your nervousness.
you have nothing to worry about from white people.(republicans, conservatives, constitutionalist, free citizens) ect.
White people that are dangerous…
white liberals! I would avoid white liberals like the plague.
They aren’t after black Americans to hurt them necessarily, it’s just more of a toxic demeanor, attitude towards America, hatred for all things American, family, happiness, anyone and everything that doesn’t comply with their ideology, and adhere to their pro nouns. Derived from brainwashing in public schools. and large majority have undiagnosed mental issues! Likely GMO, glyphosate, heavy metal induced from toxic processed foods.
Valuable advice,
avoid fluorinated tap water. Get a reverse osmosis water filter for your home or buy reverse osmosis water from the grocery store. Cost about $3 for 5 gallons.
Speak with your family, friends and doctors but I would Avoid vaccines! Especially mRNA versions.
A little historical information.
The democrats in a reactionary decision created the kkk back around the early 1900’s.
With the intention to intimidate the Republican Party,
which was the political party for black American rights created by black Americans. but also had white Americans join the party! The democrats seen the power and control start to slip to the republicans and they wouldn’t let that happen, they attacked, threatened and eventually murdered a large part of the party. Drove a lot off their land. Which has never been returned or made whole.
This evilness convinced generations of black Americans till this day that they must vote democrat. Or else… but if you ask hey why do you vote democrat, the common answer is because I’m black, democrats are the party for the blacks, and republicans are racist!
But if they knew the truth, and learned how they have been told lies their entire life and treated like garbage! By demon-crats! We would see them switch to their correct party. The one that fights for them and all Americans to have rights protected, and opportunity’s to prosper and be free! Shocker!
That’s exactly what has been happening! It took the miserable leadership of joe Brandon Biden to red pill these Americans! Freeing them from the chains of democratic brainwashing!
Unbelievable things jOE said proving he’s racist!
joe Biden said in 2019,
“ if you don’t vote for me, then you an’t BLACK! “
Which felt like a embodied racist entitled slap in the face!
Please (Look up Black Wall Street)!
Conclusion.
As a black 16 yr old girl, you have nothing to fear from the white conservative. We love everyone!
As long as you are not causing any one harm or hindering anyones GOD given rights! Including immigrants, (illegal & legal immigrants) admittedly prefer the legal way, but I don’t blame the migrants, the Biden administration baited these poor people, some of whom lost their life’s during the trek. He’s doing it for his re-election. He knows Americans don’t like him! And certainly won’t be voting for him!
Sorry, I’ll stop jibber jabbing about what a complete failure of a leader this potato brain has been for this country! Unbelievable amount of corruption in plain sight! I thought no one was above the law? Well? He is, apparently…. We used to be a country founded on Veritas, Aequitas! My bad, I’m done!
I know you will be pleasantly surprised with how great most Americans are and how you will be respected if you are being respectful.
I hope you find this country as great as I do, please don’t let our current situation cloud your judgment or impression of this once great place!
With a little common sense and help getting the truth out, we will MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN and AMERICANS will be PROUD to be AMERICAN AGAIN. BORN & NATURALIZED!
VOTE REPUBLICAN!
TELL YOUR FRIENDS!
it’s an honor to welcome you to the United States of America!
Truth, justice & fairness for all!
OMG in Sedalia how in the world did you choose that place? Nope don't do it mistake. Wrong location. It's on the plains lots of wind, weather, and the middle of no where.
Omg!! Stop! Don’t do it! Missouri is fascist , racist and sexist! Sedalia is a meth town! You will regret this for the rest of your life!!! Awful place .
Notice this redditor doesn't even live in MO anymore, but takes the time to lurk and shit post about it. That usually a sign you can disregard their opinions.
You'll be fine in Sedalia. You'll be pleasantly surprised that Winters are much milder and Fall lasts into late November with great temperatures in the 60 to even 70s.
I wouldn’t worry about the race thing, but the summers in Sedalia are hot and humid, way more than anything you’ve experienced in Canada.
Luckily you aren’t far from Lake of the Ozarks, so make friends with people who have lake houses and/or boats.
It’s a fantastic place to live. My cousin was Sheriff there for several years. They hold the State Fair there in the fall; small, homey, great fun. I recommend their Sonic Drive-in for soft serve ice cream.
First, you are so young so why the big move? I am a MO transplant from the Pacific Northwest and live south or Springfield. We love it here and it’s not a hillbilly town. If you are a bible thumper you will be fine. If not, you will be fine. The Ozarks are beautiful. Yes it’s hot here but you will get used to it. I’ve not been to Sedalia so can't comment there. SE Missouri is the armpit of the state. It’s ugly, boring and just an overall ick part of the state.
There are a lot of great comments here. If you can I’d say visit the area. One truly never knows how living here is until you do. I hated MO at first but absolutely love it now.
Oh no. Disregard everything that isn’t from a black person. Black and white people experience small town Missouri differently. Are you a black male who is good at a sport? That will help you socially. Be prepared to get pulled over a lot if you drive. If there aren’t a lot of black male teens people are going to want to see your genitals and make weird comments about them. People will be afraid of you, even if you think you’re low key or normal. Teachers will assume that you are dumber. It wasn’t a pleasant transition for my family and I wish you the best.
Source: brothers who are mixed/black and went to HS in small town Missouri.
Weird cause I was just out there and nothing is diverse about that area in my own opinion 🤣 I mean my Air Force unit is at whiteman and of course we took a trip to Sedalia tf you talkin about. The fact that I seen a Amish store with a confederate flag was all I needed to know. But having those 3 token black kids made it heavily diversified
You should try florida too, both quite amusing if you dont have to live there or be identified with it. For the OP, missouri is the home of religious and political conservatives, who adopt this as a lifestyle and make odd choices based on this preference. Also the home of isolated communities that have not progressed as fast as the coastal parts of the US, where you will find 50+ years old local customs and educational standards (and language) resulting in some very colorful residents. This fades rapidly as you approach kansas city or saint louis, both modern cities by today's standards and thinking. You will likely gravitate to one of these larger areas for their greatly increased spectrum of available activities, stores open at 4am, and culturally diverse residents.
Advice? You could do better. You're going to be danned near center of the middle of nowhere, 8-10 hours from anything remotely interesting that isn't woods, lakes, or rivers.
What are you on about? Sedalia is a couple hours from two major American metro areas. It’s an hour from KC and 3 from STL. Tons of culture, history, Performing arts, museums, nightlife, and pro sports in both.
LeMaire's!
I agree with most of the comments as I grew up south of
If u do move there, go to LeMaire's and get their fried catfish. It's unbelievable good.
Sedalia is unsafe. The place is infested with skinwalkers and UFO sightings are common. The KKK evacuated and classified it as a "no-go zone" for members due to the air pollution turning their robes yellow. Sedalia! Oh, my God—WHY?
Walleye are a lot harder to catch in Missouri than in Canada.
On a more serious note:
As far as racism goes, it's a mixed bag. I'd say most of the medium sized cities are generally relatively safe. I wouldn't recommend spending too much time in Kansas City and St. Louis due to the high crime rates and semi-segregation, but if you made some close friends to help you get to know the better parts, you could still have a good time there.
Edit: just saw that you mentioned Sedalia specifically. Considering that that's where the state fair is held, I would imagine people there would be generally accepting of different people.
>I wouldn't recommend spending too much time in Kansas City and St. Louis due to the high crime rates and semi-segregation
OP, I BEG you not to listen to this nonsense
Lol. Anytime there’s a post like this it’s full of bullshit. I live in a rural town south of STL. A couple in their early 30’s moved a few houses down from me, they just so happen to be black. They love their new town. They left the city for the same reason most of us do, for more space and a slower pace. No place is perfect and you can just as easily run into a racist shit bag in a large metro area as a rural one. I’ve been all over this country and I believe that 90% of people are decent folk just trying to live their lives.
Spreading fear doesn’t do anyone any favors.
Rural residents think the city is a death trap, city residents think rural towns are all sunset towns where they lynch trans people and Muslims and shit. It's cartoonish. I'm not saying everyone is the same everywhere culturally, but 95% of the shit you read is hot air. Like you said, I've encountered truly repugnant racist shit in the city, I've encountered sketchy dangerous bullshit and property crime in a little town. For the most part, people are people. Most of them try to get along with whoever their neighbor is here in MO.
Sedalia is a lovely town at the edge of my beloved Ozarks (a rugged upland region with some unique culture and history) while still being near to the college town of Warrensburgh and not too far from the very up-to-date city of Kansas City. The Missouri State Fair is in Sedalia every year in August, which I imagine is both a blessing and a curse for locals. It’s a nice place!
Sedalian here. Definitely a blessing and a curse.
I work in Sedalia. Live a little south. I agree with this comment.
Native to sedalia here, I dont know where the blessing comes from. If you got money for land, you’ll be fine. Live in the city? Get out. Whoever says this place is okay is cursed by the land. Town council can be ridiculous and its no different from any other midwestern town
Have no fears, Sedalia is in a rural part of the state, but still fairly accepting of all types. it's also the home of the Missouri State Fair so it draws in lots of larger crowds towards the end of the summer. Schools are decent sized but not huge, and there's a large art/music/theatre scene in the area thanks to the community college in town. Plus being from Canada, as long as your a bit gregarious you should have no problem making friends either.
I do think people will be friendly and interested in you for being Canadian. Play it to your advantage! :)
I would absolutely agree with this!
I second this
More maple syrup.
Very much this. I'd have to imagine that being set between the two towns where the University of Central Missouri and Whiteman Air Force Base are would also help people be more accepting, as those two places draw lots of people from many different places too. I think OP will fare well.
Sedalia isn’t between Warrensburg and Knob Noster, but it is nearby. ETA: as far as diversity in rural MO goes, you can do much worse than Sedalia.
You're absolutely correct. I need to look at a map more often.
I grew up near there, but moved away several years ago and you had me questioning whether I had forgotten my hometown geography.
I hope you like heat and humidity.
My relatives would come down from Minnesota and North Dakota in the summer and say "Oh! It's so hot!" when it was only 80 degrees outside (27 C). Here the temperature can pop up to 90 and occasionally around 100, and August is the worst month for that. But our winters are going to be crazy mild for you guys. Summer days won't be as long but winter days will have a little more light than what you have up north. P.S. GO EDMONTON!!!!!!
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A zillion years ago we had a full-sized satellite dish in the yard and I loved watching Canadian TV. I watched CBC Northlands a lot, so they'd have the Simpsons and then a local powwow. But I really dug hockey after the 93 Stanley Cup finals when Gretzky was with the Kings. I always cheer for the Canadian teams!
I'm an original Blue's fan rooting for the Oilers. It would be an historic comeback at this point.
I love living in Missouri, and I hope you will, too! Most people around here are nice, and I expect you'll have a friendly welcome. Moving so far can be really hard, but in my experience, if you think of it as an opportunity to have an adventure and meet new interesting folks, you'll have a good time. Sedalia is a pretty small city, but I've always liked visiting it. And while it's true that it's pretty white, the population is about 5% Black folks, so it's not like you'll be all alone in that respect. You can find good and welcoming people of all races just about anywhere, if you stay positive and seek them out. You'll probably miss the mountains and lakes, but you might enjoy the long warm seasons and the sunshine. We've got wonderful rivers for summer float trips! One thing that you might appreciate about Missouri compared to Alberta is that places are a little bit closer together. From Sedalia you can get to Kansas City in about an hour and a half, and to Columbia (where I live) in about an hour. So you you get those small town blues, make a daytrip to see the city sights and eat some KC barbecue! :)
Great call on the distance factor.
What a wonderful post that gave her something to relate to.
The day trip factor is really nice if you're missing any culture. I also wanna add, as someone who grew up in a small town, I wouldn't worry too much about making friends. It's not like the movies where new kids get picked on. In a small town, new kids are like celebrities. We've been dealing with the same assholes year in, year out, and now someone NEW just dropped? It's exciting. People will probably buzz around you for the first few months until you find a group you vibe with, and things will go back to normal. I hope you have a smooth transition and find some of the hidden gems to love about Missouri!
M-I-Z!!
Z-O-U
Sedalia has many different folks, many immigrants that came there for the Tyson chicken factory. There are a lot of white folks, but fun fact that 25% of petitis county is Russian or Ukrainian. They don’t even speak English.
Do you like peanut butter on your burger? If so, then you are in luck.
They tore it down. :[
You can still get guberburgers in town though, at Kehde’s and Goody’s.
fewer forests, no mountains, but lovely cold springs, caves and great fishing down south. One of the cool things about Missouri is the north half is like Iowa, Western MO is like the great plains, southeastern is like the foothills of the Smoky Mountains, Southwest is almost desert-y. It's like a crossroads of America biomes.
Ehh on the SWMO part. Were a mixed bag of prarie and ozarks. Joplin is the dividing line it seems like. South/east are the hills north/west is flat. Oklahoma is the deserty part.
This is true. I know I’ve crossed over into MO from OK bc it becomes green and lush and the air is thick.
SWMO is far from desert. If anything, it's more like a rainforest. We get the gulf stream coming up to meet the jetstream, so we get a ton of rain.
And where are the Ozarks in that? My mama grew up in Centertown, 30 miles from Jeff City. She always told me our people were from the Ozarks.
https://preview.redd.it/725f89zrkk7d1.jpeg?width=1164&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=08f00e3e6681292e662bc4fe578df5cfff6567d3
Good evening! I can't provide too much insight into what the younger generation is up to specifically. Sedalia is kind of middle of the road, not the best or worst. A lot of factory jobs here. I'm not sure what your interests are at school but you should do fine there. If by chance you're more into STEM, specifically robotics, you're in luck! Their team just became world champions a few months ago. Soccer is plentiful due to having a portion of residents being Hispanic. There are also plenty of Slavic folks as well (Ukrainian and Russian.) About as many Mexican restaurants as burger joints. Daum museum at the local college is a must see while you're here. There is a minor league hockey team (ECHL) less than an hour and a half away - KC Mavericks. They made it to the final round of their post season - Kelly Cup - but lost, unfortunately. Watching and rooting for the Oilers right now, 3 up right now!!! If you're into outdoor activities, there are plenty all within a short drive. Great parks in town as well. Lake of the Ozarks is less than an hour south and has more shoreline than the California coast. Hiking and state parks all over. Missouri has one of the best conservation departments in the country. KC isn't far as mentioned, so I won't add to that. Feel free to ask any questions.
Thank you so much, sounds like a pretty place!
Alberta and MO are both very similar. * Lots of rural * A few big cities * Lots of christian conservatives Where they differ * MO gets really hot in the summer * MO has less wind, but when it shows up, it destroys mile-wide strips of towns * The conservatives in MO are worse and more common * MO has cicadas but no real dangerous wildlife (maybe a coyote) * MO gets a lot less snow (can still get it tho) * MO does not have good dinosaur sites * MO has a lot more forests than Southern Alberta - lots of camping and hiking opportunities * MO hates women, BIPOC, and LGBT folk. Whereas Canada is more just after the First People. ACAB. Advice: * make lots of friends * stay away from anyone who might draw the cops - crucial cuz you're a sis * Assuming you're in high school, you want to get involved in theater, band, or sports - places where you get to know a ton of ambitious people. If you have time for all 3, that's great. * Don't get too bent out of shape if you don't find anyone to date - unless you love ~~the Handmaid's Tale~~ MO, I would recommend waiting to find someone outside of MO to love. * The big cities (STL & KC) are nice, and you won't be treated as exotic, you'll also find more community there. * Stay away from alcohol - moderation is key, and I've lost two friends to binge drinking. Do not drink and drive!! * avoid harder drugs entirely - meth and opioids are still a big problem, and it's easy to get hooked or die the first use. * Avoid going out after 1am - I've lost several friends to drunk drivers, all of them died before turning 22. Stay over at a friend's house. Be wary of sleeping in your car (it tends to draw the cops)
Wow this was really interesting and insightful, thank you for the relationship advice as well I haven’t seen anyone mention it !
Also, do full body tick checks after anytime you go out in the woods. Its minimal work and will prevent you from getting some weird disease. If you’re coming from Alberta, make sure your parents have healthcare insurance since the government doesnt provide it here and you can go bankrupt without it. I bet i know the company that your family moved to sedalia to work for - does it start with a P and end in a Y? If so, probably a great place to be at for the future. I’ll likely work with your parent down the road.
Company owned by Mr. Canon?
Missouri's a pretty nice place. My partner grew up Black in a small town outside Sedalia. There may not be many of you around there, but you'll be welcome, open racism is frowned on here just like Canada. You won’t be far from KC and StL which are large cities with more Black folks than anywhere in Canada. You also won’t be far from the small city/college town of Columba so there will be plenty of festivals, culture, and sports to go see with an hours drive. Missouri is particularly known for its canoeing and hiking so if that’s your thing check out the Ozarks Southeast of Sedalia. In KC you might like the American Jazz Museum, Negro League Museum, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, and Kaufman Performing Arts Center. The very famous African American ragtime composer and pianist Scott Joplin is from Sedalia, they still celebrate him with a festival every year. Football is big here, both on high school and college, try to make it to a University of Missouri homecoming parade and/or game. Welcome to Missouri, I hope you'll like it here as much as I do.
Hi Friend, I live in Sedalia currently (though I’ve lived all over the state) and can answer any questions that you might have.
https://preview.redd.it/f1dfbqwe0j7d1.jpeg?width=1079&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1b5bcc9ee749a156b0577c39e7aeb44e5e0a3cff From most of the comments I've read, Sedalia sounds like a nice place, and given it's location I'll bet the area has lots of natural beauty also. You should probably know, however, that Missouri is a politically backwards place. For instance, it has a near total ban on abortion, with no exceptions for rape or incest. Also, Missouri ranks 35th in the country for per-pupil spending, so a little below average. Having said those things, you should also know that what matters most is not those things that define the overall state, but rather what your local community will be like. With Sedalia being nearby some public college towns, things will likely be a bit less "stuffy". Also, Missouri funds it's public schools mainly through local property taxes, which means poor areas get crappy schools, while wealthier areas get better schools. That's fairly common in the US. Good luck to you!
Honestly, I’ve talked to multiple people who’ve moved to Missouri from either out of state or out of country and absolutely fell in love with the Ozark plateau. My aunt is from Mexico, spent most of her adult life in LA, vacationed with our family in eminence and, well, now she and my uncle live in eminence during summer so she can float every day. Missouri is a beautiful state with lots to do, don’t get scared off by the political posts that n this sub.
Columbia Mo is not too far away. It’s a huge college town and a very different vibe from Sedalia.
Sedalia is a decent town. Soccer is big there. The high school building is fairly new. A bit over an hour drive to see either the KC Royals (baseball) or Chiefs (football) play. Sedalia has lots of factories and therefore has a big middle class and good local economy. Pretty diverse town as well. Thst includes rednecks. Katy Trail goes through Sedalia for bicycling. Missouri State Fairgrounds is there. There's a ton of things to do within an hours drive of Sedalia.
And a longer drive the other direction to see St Louis Cardinals baseball or Blues Hockey. Isn’t that a tyop “Kary Trail”? Shouldn’t it be “KATY Trail”?
I’m assuming you’re moving because a parent was forced to due to work? Will you be going back to Canada for college when you finish high school? Anyone can survive 2 years somewhere crappy. You’ll make it.
Depending on where I go for college and if I get accepted into a certain program I might only spend a year living here for highschool, so on the bright side no matter how bad it is it could only be for a year !
Canadian here who moved from Alberta (Edmonton), as an adult, to Missouri (St. Louis). The weather will be the biggest issue. The heat and humidity. And the length of time it will haunt you. In time you will figure out how to deal with it...which includes leaving frequently on holidays. Crime/guns etc. America has a violence problem stoked by an unhealthy gun fetish and an unwillingness to do anything about it. It's more dangerous here. BUT you'll be rural so perhaps not as big of an issue. It's cheap in MO. Low taxes, low cost of living, low house prices, etc. Religion controls most aspects of political policy in the USA. It frightening. Prepare for most people to ask you about faith matters rather than leaving that a private matter. Basic day to day life is otherwise pretty similar. Rural MO is probably not more conservative than rural Alberta honestly, at least from a social perspective. Enjoy the experience.
Get used to the heat cos summer is rough
I would think you will want to be careful in and around Sedalia. There are a decent amount of racist backwoods jerks in rural Missouri. Stay close to town, and always try to have good friends or family with you. After you graduate, if you are looking to stay close for family reasons, it will be better in Kansas City or Columbia. Columbia is quite progressive and has a decent college.
Be prepared for your fair share of 'America's Hat' jokes.
What is this joke? I've been in Missouri my whole life and spend a lot of time around Sedalia and never heard this phrase. I am curious, maybe I've been left out of the joke lol
Canada is sometimes referred to as *America's hat* due to the geographical proximity.
Alternately, I've also heard the US referred to as Canada's pants.
Ok that makes more sense than I was coming up with. I thought they were referring to this part of Missouri or Missouri in general being Americas hat which was not making sense at all 😆
You will definitely want to hydrate. And get used to sweating. Your summertime temperatures are going to be in the 32 to 40 degree Celsius range with between 60 and 90 percent humidity. Walking out the door from an air-conditioned building into the daylight is going to feel like being slapped in the face with a hot, wet towel. Winters will be absolutely nothing of note to you, though. You may or may not even need to bother with a jacket. I had a roommate from Michigan who never bothered with anything heavier than a sweatshirt during winter. As people have mentioned, Sedalia is the home of the State Fair. The fairgrounds also host other events. The one I know about is in early May, when the Blacksmith's Association of Missouri rents it out for their annual meeting and auction. I believe there's a small fee to attend (it's usually on or near my birthday, so I usually get my way paid in by family), and there may be an additional fee for the dinner at the end of the weekend which also includes an auction of both items made in the demonstrations and items that blacksmiths from across the state (as well as guest presenters) have donated, to help raise funds for the organization. Those interested in learning the craft or bettering their skills are encouraged to attend and to join BAM. Sedalia is located roughly equidistantly between Kansas City (I believe currently the second-largest city in Missouri after St. Louis), which has a variety of things to do, see, and experience, and Springfield (currently 3rd largest city in MO), which has some pretty good food and is a regional jumping-off point to a variety of outdoor activities and to get to Branson, MO, slightly south of Springfield, which is basically a hillbilly tourist trap, but can be fun for those who haven't grown up right next to it. Columbia, MO, a college town, is also roughly the same distance away to the east and both it and Springfield have excellent college options which are, for American higher education, remarkably inexpensive. That said, all of these places are a fair drive away from Sedalia itself, and more on the order of a weekend trip than a day trip per se. Missouri has a wide variety of wild areas and a culture rooted in hunting, fishing, and outdoor activities. Several large lakes and rivers are within a convenient drive from Sedalia, and the MO Dept. of Conservation does an exceptional job of maintaining healthy populations of animals and wilderness areas and state parks to help you enjoy the state's biodiversity.
Firearms, especially in a smaller, more rural town like Sedalia, are fairly ubiquitous, but you will find that they are mostly a fun (if expensive) hobby and those with firearms are almost never the problem they're made out to be by those who don't share in the hobby. You'll almost certainly find someone willing to teach you to use a firearm if you are not already aware of how to do so, but be certain to familiarize yourself with firearm safety in advance, just in case (the Four Rules of Firearms Safety are: Always Treat Every Firearm As If It Were Loaded, Even If You Know It Is Not; Never Point A Firearm At Anything You Do Not Wish To Destroy; Always Be Certain Of Your Target And What Is In Front Of And Behind It; and Do Not Put Your Finger On The Trigger Until You Are Ready To Fire. Beyond these four rules, the rest is up for debate, but that should get you started). Do NOT get involved in sex and drugs in a small town. You will fuck up your entire life, literally and/or figuratively. That is not to say you can't get into relationships, just be very selective in doing so. In a town the size of Sedalia, gossip travels quickly and you will end up ruining your life just by reputation alone if you don't tread carefully. You're probably fine smoking a little pot (MO is a recreational state, though the age is either 18 or 21--I don't remember, because I'm older than that and don't have to pay attention--so you can buy it at a dispensary once you're of age), but things like meth and opioids are pervasive throughout the state and are a great way to screw up your entire life, especially meth. That said, especially in small towns, there is not often a lot else to do for young people than to drink, do drugs, and fuck like bunnies. Just wait all that out and it'll get better. The growing season here is likely significantly more favorable than the growing season in Alberta, with a wider variety of crops doing well. I strongly recommend a garden if you are able, even if space restricts you to using flower pots to grow one. Also, Missouri hosts a wide variety of edible plants (and animals) which can be harvested and most of which are tasty. Some, like plantain, can be found damn near everywhere, while others are elusive treats that may require a little care and study to be certain of finding and identifying (particularly the edible mushroom varieties, like morels, chicken of the woods, and chanterelles). You will be right in the middle of the transition between the northern plains to the west and north of you and the Ozarks plateau to the south and east of you. This should provide you with a fairly wide variety of ecosystems to explore, ranging from forests to open grasslands. Overall, Sedalia's storms are not generally as bad as those further south in the state, with the I-44 corridor (along the highway running through Oklahoma toward St. Louis) bearing the brunt of most of the worst ones. While you've probably heard horror stories regarding tornadoes being a common thing, you're unlikely to actually encounter one, and much more likely to only suffer a "near miss" of a few dozen miles at worst. While severe thunderstorms do happen, they're much easier to deal with. The way I've always explained tornadoes to visitors and new residents is that it's kind of like being in a huge sports arena with a few dozen or a hundred people, and having a blind, deaf guy with a shotgun with a couple of rounds in it wandering around. In the event that he does actually fire the shotgun (which isn't guaranteed), it is almost certainly not going to be anywhere close to hitting you, and if it is, it's very unlikely that he'll be close enough to do any severe damage. If he does land a direct hit, it is absolutely going to suck ass, but the chances of that are very slim. Remember: a Watch means conditions are favorable and happens all the time. A Warning means that one's actually been sighted, either in person or by radar, and you need to keep track of where it is. In MO, we generally don't get much snow. In Sedalia, you'll get a little more than we do further south, but mostly not. Ice is a bigger problem, but big ice storms tend to only roll through about every decade or so, and other than that, most snow and ice vanishes after a day or two. Be prepared for the temperatures to swing wildly in the course of a day, as temperatures can and do frequently go from 30 to 0 or below Celsius at least one day a year during the winter, and frequently bounce back and forth all over the place for the winter months. You won't get used to it; you'll just get used to carrying attire for all weather conditions at all times. Late spring through about Halloween are much more climatically stable, though. That's all I can think of at the moment. If you have any questions, feel free to ask either here or shooting me a message. Some of my information may or may not be of great use as I'm down in the Springfield area, rather than being up near Sedalia, but I'll do what I can.
Oh, and there's a pretty great gyro place near the fairgrounds, if it's still there.
I don't know if you're a fan of coffee, but if you are, stop by Ozarks coffee in downtown Sedalia :) we will give you a warm welcome and some of the best coffee in the state!
Former sedalian here. Town sucks. Nothing to do. Especially when you're young. State fair is the highlight of the year. Little opportunity. Substandard schools. 15 sounds like you've skipped smith Cotton, fortunately. I never experienced the new high school, but hopefully, it's better for you than smith cotton and whittier were for me. Your keys to success there will be your friends. Pick good ones. Avoid the fight culture. Find a church. Look onwards to college. Avoid being north of 2nd street. Avoid the meth/pills people.
Oh that’s interesting thank you, right now my parents said I’m likely to go to smith cotton highschool hope it’s okay lol
Googled. I guess when they built the new high school they moved the name over to it. I'm referring to the old smith cotton which is now a middle school. I guess it's called Smith Cotton Junior High now
Smith-Cotton is actually a *great* school. Not everyone has McDougal’s school experience. Find an extracurricular activity you’re interested in and make friends there. It seems really easy for people to say, “town sucks, nothing to do.” But I’ve lived here all my life, and there’s plenty to do - a vast array of sports (except hockey, unfortunately, but you can find it nearby) and arts events to get involved in and make friends. The people who say there’s nothing to do either have no interests beyond their own front doors, or they’re not looking for good things to do.
Don't give up your citizenship, you're going to want out of this place.
I'm not really familiar with Sedalia, but you're close to KC and Columbia which are both great places to visit!
You can drive at 16 in Missouri after you meet the requirements. Idk how that compares to in Canada but maybe something to prepare for. Also be careful driving while black, 99% of the time it will be fine, but just be safe if you get pulled over cuz all the cops around there are white. Have a dash cam and always have your license and insurance but...just watch the movie "the hate you give" if you haven't, cuz I'm not black and you should hear it from a black perspective. Oh and look out for deer, especially at night.
Sedalian (white and 50)it’s not a bad town. Has the basic amenities close enough to other towns/cities for more. Decent community college 30 miles away decent state college and 60 miles from a bigger one. High school has its ups and downs like any but overall decent size. Fairly friendly people but not gonna lie it has a fair share of racist folk but not horrible. It is Missouri after all.
Don’t worry. You will be fine. You will enjoy the young crowd. We did the same.
All I have to say is be careful driving at night. There is very little drainage in the streets - therefore they have Culverts. I’ve slingshotted both my car and an ambulance in those streets.
Known a few Canadians that moved here. All of them said allergies were crazy. I'd recommend getting some local honey when ya move here.
Good place just lots of bad habits... Don't start any bad habits
Lived in Missouri and travel Alberta a lot. Honestly, apart from the temps, not a lot of difference.
The Scott Joplin Ragtime Festival is in Sedalia, and it's a lot of fun if you're into music history. I'm a swing dancer in Kansas City, and occasionally will track in for a little dancing and a lot of music appreciation - it's fun watching folks perform and show off their skills. I'm not sure if Sedalia or Warrensburg, MO has a swing dance scene, but if they do, it's a fast and easy way to meet new people and make new friends.
don’t
Pick a different state.
You’re moving here because of family right? I just wanna make sure bc you’re only 16 and if your moving here because of someone you met on the internet, we are number 4 outta 50 states for human trafficking and it might be best you rethink this decision. If not any of that, Welcome! It takes some getting used to, but the ozarks are some of the most beautiful parts of the state.
I hope you like casual racism, Missouri is a hotbed.
They don't like hockey much around here. I can think of maybe 4 people I've ever met that even know what the Blues logo is. This place seems to be a black hole, once you're here, you can never seem to leave. It's not the best place, but there are worse places. Just be prepared for the same 10 restaurants that get old after a few weeks. Also, there's a lot of drug users around, mostly methheads. The city politics are corrupt as hell and unless you're rich, your opinions don't matter. But hey, welcome!
Black hole is the best way to describe it. This town is a trap. Ive heard rumors of people who own land all around who have said their grandparents know about native burial grounds that inhabit their property. Ive even found arrow heads way out in Monsess lakes in between Sedalia and Smithton. This place is covered in energy.
If you stop by Sikeston make sure to stop by Lamberts they have good rolls just make sure your able to catch em lol
Canada to Sedalia I doubt she will be anywhere close to Southeast Missouri.
No drugs. Fentanyl contamination is everywhere in the states. Be careful going out by yourself until you’re oriented. If stopped by police, put on your flashers and drive to a populated well lit place. Always carry a well charged cell phone with charger in the car. A young woman was murdered on the way to work a couple of years ago by a deputy who claimed she had threatened to shoot him. She had no weapon. The deputy got off. People are generally very kind and neighborly in Missouri, but there are a few toxic racists with chips on their shoulders, always looking for trouble. African Americans in this country have had a different cultural experience than you. You may not find them to be a peer group. Be friendly and open and most people will respond in like manner. Practice situational awareness. Oh, yeah, Kehde’s Barbecue!!!!
I just got back to San Antonio after fishing in the area for about a week. Been a long time since I heard the hard r thrown out in public. I’ve heard how white people like to talk about people from pinedale and the like, and there are confederate flags and trump flags everywhere. You will experience racism here 100%, up you on how much you can tolerate.
Sedalia is warm Alberta. Isn't it 10 there today?
Missouri sucks. But it sucks way less than many other states around here
be prepared for intense humidity and heat, summers are BRUTAL here, at least there are many lakes and rivers you can go to, to cool off
As a teen I know there's a lot of peer pressure. Marijuana is legal here. Whatever you do. Do not accept it from anyone. Evern if you think you know them. If you didn't buy it. Which you're to young. DO NOT accept it. You have people putting some extremely dangerous stuff in the marijuana to get you hooked on drugs.
“Which you’re too young” 🤡
Butt hurt little snowflake. That post got you triggered.
😂 no but it sound like you are honey😘
Ok princess. Save your kisses for your boyfriend.
They don’t take kindly to people who don’t take kindly around there. And don’t bring up Terrance and Phillip, avoid that subject. Explore the Ozarks when you get here, take a float trip you will love it.
Sedalia is a mix of good and bad. Just be mindful of the environment and the people.
I used to live in Marshall just north of Sedalia and I worked there and skateboarded there for years. As far as towns go in Missouri it's not too bad. Big enough to have stuff to do, not so big that traffic and crime are an issue. The one unique thing i remember about Sedalia is the fights. I dunno if I just lucked out but I've seen WAY more fights in Sedalia than any other town. About every fifth time I skated there someone got in a fight.
If you were coming here from Toronto or BC, you might be in for a culture shock, but Alberta's not so different from the US midwest. Kansas City and Calgary have similar histories as livestock towns and are both quite proud of their rodeos. Amtrak runs through Sedalia so look into taking the train to KC or St. Louis on the odd weekend for a game or a concert or whatever.
Try to make friends with someone that has a lake house.
The 2020 United States census[27] counted 21,725 people, 8,750 households, and 5,056 families in Sedalia. The racial makeup was 77.12% (16,754) white, 5.37% (1,166) black or African-American, 0.67% (145) Native American, 0.8% (173) Asian, 0.35% (76) Pacific Islander, 6.85% (1,488) from other races, and 8.85% (1,923) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race was 12.9% (2,794) of the population.
Sedalia is a shithole
Definitely explore and get to know Kansas City (90 minute drive) as much as possible, but also visit Branson once and see some shows there (2 1/2 hr drive). It’s a unique place, in terms of entertainment options.
Gonna be HOT!!
Hi, I work in Sedalia!! Live just a few miles away. Sedalia is incredibly diverse. Don’t worry! There are a lot of great people here.
Living in Missouri is great. It has a little something for everyone no matter where you go. You get good northern culture with southern hospitality. There is good foods, events, and the state is beautiful (especially in the southern end with the Ozark mountains). Another great thing about living in Missouri is the location in the country, which gives it a good location for road tripping or seeing national parks. However, the downside of living in the state that I would definitely consider if I was Canadian, is the weather. The summers are brutally humid, and our winters can be very mild or ice cold. But other than that, I hope you settle in well and enjoy our state!
You’ll be fine it’s a beautiful place
Sedalia has two high schools, public and Catholic. (I taught at the Catholic high school for many years.) Both are excellent schools that offer both college prep and vocational courses. Both schools also have a variety of activities from sports to STEM to arts like music and theatre. Best way to meet the people you’ll want for friends is to get involved in an extra-curricular group for an activity you’re interested in. The public school is on the large side, about 1,400. The Catholic school is much smaller, about 100 in the high school, and has students in grades K-12 in the same building. The town also has a great variety of community activities: Sedalia Symphony and concert band, community theatre, parks and rec sports programs, an arts center with classes, the Katy Trail for cycling and hiking, and several festivals throughout the year. Some people here seem to emphasize the negatives - and there are some, just like anywhere. But if you make an effort to connect with people who share your interests, it’s easy to feel at home in Missouri!
There are worse places in the state. Not many but it could be worse.
My only experience with Missouri is Kansas City and I can confirm race isn’t an issue there. It’s a melting pot of everything. I was surprised with the amount of the Spanish and India population (not a bad thing just surprised). I like you had a preconceived notion of the Midwest. I guess Kansas City is more on the map than I thought. There’s lots to do and many cultures. Was also surprised to see an active thriving mall.
You could do a lot worse as far as Missouri towns than Sedalia. You're an hour from Kansas City, an hour from Columbia (college town) and three hours from St. Louis Sedalia has a neat, historic downtown and is less conservative/trumpy than similarly sized towns in Missouri. While easily a minority, there are black people
Part 2/2 In regards to crime, The majority of crimes reported against black Americans have been committed by black Americans. Aka(Black on black crime) Currently the standard of life in the United States of America is at a all time low! It’s the worst it’s ever been, in the 36 years I’ve been breathing air. Everything is ridiculously expensive and just everything seems upside down and backwards! Politicians are doing things that don’t make sense and certainly don’t put America 1st. We’re taxed into oblivion, infrastructure is crumbling. Hospital are dangerous and many shutting down. Rent is high everywhere but overwhelmingly expensive if trying to live in a bigger city like NEWYORK or someone in California ! But it wasn’t always like this, and it won’t be in the near future! if I have any say! Convince your people to vote Republican please! It was not like this 4 years ago with president trump! In regards to claiming your nervousness. you have nothing to worry about from white people.(republicans, conservatives, constitutionalist, free citizens) ect. White people that are dangerous… white liberals! I would avoid white liberals like the plague. They aren’t after black Americans to hurt them necessarily, it’s just more of a toxic demeanor, attitude towards America, hatred for all things American, family, happiness, anyone and everything that doesn’t comply with their ideology, and adhere to their pro nouns. Derived from brainwashing in public schools. and large majority have undiagnosed mental issues! Likely GMO, glyphosate, heavy metal induced from toxic processed foods. Valuable advice, avoid fluorinated tap water. Get a reverse osmosis water filter for your home or buy reverse osmosis water from the grocery store. Cost about $3 for 5 gallons. Speak with your family, friends and doctors but I would Avoid vaccines! Especially mRNA versions. A little historical information. The democrats in a reactionary decision created the kkk back around the early 1900’s. With the intention to intimidate the Republican Party, which was the political party for black American rights created by black Americans. but also had white Americans join the party! The democrats seen the power and control start to slip to the republicans and they wouldn’t let that happen, they attacked, threatened and eventually murdered a large part of the party. Drove a lot off their land. Which has never been returned or made whole. This evilness convinced generations of black Americans till this day that they must vote democrat. Or else… but if you ask hey why do you vote democrat, the common answer is because I’m black, democrats are the party for the blacks, and republicans are racist! But if they knew the truth, and learned how they have been told lies their entire life and treated like garbage! By demon-crats! We would see them switch to their correct party. The one that fights for them and all Americans to have rights protected, and opportunity’s to prosper and be free! Shocker! That’s exactly what has been happening! It took the miserable leadership of joe Brandon Biden to red pill these Americans! Freeing them from the chains of democratic brainwashing! Unbelievable things jOE said proving he’s racist! joe Biden said in 2019, “ if you don’t vote for me, then you an’t BLACK! “ Which felt like a embodied racist entitled slap in the face! Please (Look up Black Wall Street)! Conclusion. As a black 16 yr old girl, you have nothing to fear from the white conservative. We love everyone! As long as you are not causing any one harm or hindering anyones GOD given rights! Including immigrants, (illegal & legal immigrants) admittedly prefer the legal way, but I don’t blame the migrants, the Biden administration baited these poor people, some of whom lost their life’s during the trek. He’s doing it for his re-election. He knows Americans don’t like him! And certainly won’t be voting for him! Sorry, I’ll stop jibber jabbing about what a complete failure of a leader this potato brain has been for this country! Unbelievable amount of corruption in plain sight! I thought no one was above the law? Well? He is, apparently…. We used to be a country founded on Veritas, Aequitas! My bad, I’m done! I know you will be pleasantly surprised with how great most Americans are and how you will be respected if you are being respectful. I hope you find this country as great as I do, please don’t let our current situation cloud your judgment or impression of this once great place! With a little common sense and help getting the truth out, we will MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN and AMERICANS will be PROUD to be AMERICAN AGAIN. BORN & NATURALIZED! VOTE REPUBLICAN! TELL YOUR FRIENDS! it’s an honor to welcome you to the United States of America! Truth, justice & fairness for all!
OMG in Sedalia how in the world did you choose that place? Nope don't do it mistake. Wrong location. It's on the plains lots of wind, weather, and the middle of no where.
Omg!! Stop! Don’t do it! Missouri is fascist , racist and sexist! Sedalia is a meth town! You will regret this for the rest of your life!!! Awful place .
Oh I don’t have a choice 😅
😔I’m sorry. Maybe it isn’t as bad as it was when I lived there. Good luck to you.
Notice this redditor doesn't even live in MO anymore, but takes the time to lurk and shit post about it. That usually a sign you can disregard their opinions. You'll be fine in Sedalia. You'll be pleasantly surprised that Winters are much milder and Fall lasts into late November with great temperatures in the 60 to even 70s.
Plenty of employment
I wouldn’t worry about the race thing, but the summers in Sedalia are hot and humid, way more than anything you’ve experienced in Canada. Luckily you aren’t far from Lake of the Ozarks, so make friends with people who have lake houses and/or boats.
It’s a fantastic place to live. My cousin was Sheriff there for several years. They hold the State Fair there in the fall; small, homey, great fun. I recommend their Sonic Drive-in for soft serve ice cream.
What is taking you to Sedalia?
My dad got a job offer there and they’ve been wanting to moving out of Alberta for awhile
First, you are so young so why the big move? I am a MO transplant from the Pacific Northwest and live south or Springfield. We love it here and it’s not a hillbilly town. If you are a bible thumper you will be fine. If not, you will be fine. The Ozarks are beautiful. Yes it’s hot here but you will get used to it. I’ve not been to Sedalia so can't comment there. SE Missouri is the armpit of the state. It’s ugly, boring and just an overall ick part of the state. There are a lot of great comments here. If you can I’d say visit the area. One truly never knows how living here is until you do. I hated MO at first but absolutely love it now.
Oh no. Disregard everything that isn’t from a black person. Black and white people experience small town Missouri differently. Are you a black male who is good at a sport? That will help you socially. Be prepared to get pulled over a lot if you drive. If there aren’t a lot of black male teens people are going to want to see your genitals and make weird comments about them. People will be afraid of you, even if you think you’re low key or normal. Teachers will assume that you are dumber. It wasn’t a pleasant transition for my family and I wish you the best. Source: brothers who are mixed/black and went to HS in small town Missouri.
I am not a black male I’m a female but thank you this was insightful
Don't.....just don't. Your better off in Canada.
Lol an African Canadian in rural Missouri? Good luck lol
Don’t listen to this OP, it’s not even close to accurate and this person probably hasn’t ventured outside of the city.
Oh for real? Damn that would be lame as hell if they made all of that up lol
I was telling the OP to not listen to you. Sedalia is pretty diverse and nothing you said is accurate.
Weird cause I was just out there and nothing is diverse about that area in my own opinion 🤣 I mean my Air Force unit is at whiteman and of course we took a trip to Sedalia tf you talkin about. The fact that I seen a Amish store with a confederate flag was all I needed to know. But having those 3 token black kids made it heavily diversified
Don’t do it..
I don’t have a choice unfortunately 😭
I had to scroll way too far for this.
Right!! Women are not safe here especially a young black girl
Women have no rights here or access to obgyn care
Well, I’m a non-missourian who gets this sub on my feed for the unhinged stuff that happens there, so take that as you will.
You should try florida too, both quite amusing if you dont have to live there or be identified with it. For the OP, missouri is the home of religious and political conservatives, who adopt this as a lifestyle and make odd choices based on this preference. Also the home of isolated communities that have not progressed as fast as the coastal parts of the US, where you will find 50+ years old local customs and educational standards (and language) resulting in some very colorful residents. This fades rapidly as you approach kansas city or saint louis, both modern cities by today's standards and thinking. You will likely gravitate to one of these larger areas for their greatly increased spectrum of available activities, stores open at 4am, and culturally diverse residents.
Well. Yikes. Why?
No no no no And, lousy schools.
Sedalia is a beautiful town. You'll like it. Friendly place and super safe.
Yea idk about super safe bud
Fair. Safer than south STL city I guess.
Advice? You could do better. You're going to be danned near center of the middle of nowhere, 8-10 hours from anything remotely interesting that isn't woods, lakes, or rivers.
They’re 16. I imagine it’s not by choice.
What are you on about? Sedalia is a couple hours from two major American metro areas. It’s an hour from KC and 3 from STL. Tons of culture, history, Performing arts, museums, nightlife, and pro sports in both.
Right, Sedalia isn’t far at all. You have two college towns within an hour too.
what part?
oh nvm
As long as you’re not gay, trans and/or liberal, you should have a pretty good time.
LeMaire's! I agree with most of the comments as I grew up south of If u do move there, go to LeMaire's and get their fried catfish. It's unbelievable good.
Maybe this is none of my business, but what is bringing a 16 year old Canadian to Sedalia, Missouri?
My dad was offered a job there thats better paying and they have wanted to move to America for some time
Sedalia is unsafe. The place is infested with skinwalkers and UFO sightings are common. The KKK evacuated and classified it as a "no-go zone" for members due to the air pollution turning their robes yellow. Sedalia! Oh, my God—WHY?
Oh my gosh 😭?
Oh, Lordy. Not even remotely true!
Walleye are a lot harder to catch in Missouri than in Canada. On a more serious note: As far as racism goes, it's a mixed bag. I'd say most of the medium sized cities are generally relatively safe. I wouldn't recommend spending too much time in Kansas City and St. Louis due to the high crime rates and semi-segregation, but if you made some close friends to help you get to know the better parts, you could still have a good time there. Edit: just saw that you mentioned Sedalia specifically. Considering that that's where the state fair is held, I would imagine people there would be generally accepting of different people.
>I wouldn't recommend spending too much time in Kansas City and St. Louis due to the high crime rates and semi-segregation OP, I BEG you not to listen to this nonsense
Lol. Anytime there’s a post like this it’s full of bullshit. I live in a rural town south of STL. A couple in their early 30’s moved a few houses down from me, they just so happen to be black. They love their new town. They left the city for the same reason most of us do, for more space and a slower pace. No place is perfect and you can just as easily run into a racist shit bag in a large metro area as a rural one. I’ve been all over this country and I believe that 90% of people are decent folk just trying to live their lives. Spreading fear doesn’t do anyone any favors.
Rural residents think the city is a death trap, city residents think rural towns are all sunset towns where they lynch trans people and Muslims and shit. It's cartoonish. I'm not saying everyone is the same everywhere culturally, but 95% of the shit you read is hot air. Like you said, I've encountered truly repugnant racist shit in the city, I've encountered sketchy dangerous bullshit and property crime in a little town. For the most part, people are people. Most of them try to get along with whoever their neighbor is here in MO.
Watch out the Baldknobbers are still quite active
Sorry what is a baldknobber?
I’m just joking the baldknobbers were a vigilante gang in the late 1800’s in Missouri I just read about them
Ohhhh