 |
The Ozark Heritage Festival
is held in
Piedmont each October. Ellington's Spring Fever Festival, Old
Greenville Days, the Blackpowder Rendezvous, Freedom Fest and the
Wayne County Saddle Club horse show and rodeo are also held annually.
Gads Hill is the scene of the first Missouri train robbery by Jesse
James. Piedmont is near the highest point in Missouri: Taum Sauk
Mountain.
Other attractions are Mingo
National Wildlife Refuge, Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park, Elephant
Rocks State Park, Fort Davidson and Big Spring.
The lake area has
a multi-faceted economy, not dependent on only one thing. Tourism is a
sizeable factor. So is the timber industry. Agriculture is primarily
cattle ranching, but there is some cropping too. Retail, manufacturing
and mining are also part of the economy. One of the fastest growers in
the area is a software company. State and federal agencies provide
considerable employment too.
If you are
considering moving here to retire, bear in mind that there is
already a sizeable retirement community in the lake area, complete
with senior centers. Others have found pleasant, affordable living
here and can help you make the move most comfortably. Some folks buy
property here for recreation now, retirement later.
Area schools are "AAA" rated, yet compared to some city tax rates,
education is a bargain here. Three Rivers College at Poplar Bluff is
the official post-high school |
|
educational facility for the area. Mineral Area College at Park
Hills and Southeast Missouri University at Cape Girardeau offer
additional opportunities.
Quality care is
available at Clark Mountain Nursing Home, Brent B. Tinnin Manor and
elsewhere in the region. Ambulance service and helicopter for
emergencies are available.
There are two
clinics in Piedmont for regular medical care. They're affiliated with
hospitals in Poplar Bluff. Ellington also has two clinics and a
hospital.
|
|
