If "Margaritaville" and "American Soldier" are your anthem, you'll be a little closer to home in Clinton, Oklahoma -- the birthplace of Toby Keith!
Clinton is a small city, surrounded by large rolling hills that are sure to offer inspiration to any painters and poets. It's the perfect place for somebody who wants to work in one of the larger cities of Oklahoma, but would rather live in a quiet country environment. The city was founded by two men, J.L. Avent and E.E. Blake and is named after a judge, Clinton Irwin. The small city has a friendly feel to it as most folks in the community enjoy getting to know each other and like to take advantage of the few small community events that it hosts. The city is always looking for ways to improve the quality of life for its residents and as such, it recently opened a new indoor water park. The population is just over 9,000 people and is quickly growing as the city's popularity grows and name spreads.
Moving into Clinton
Moving to Clinton, OK can be a wonderful experience for the right people. The small southern feel that the city offers quite a change for people who are used to larger cities, and most new residents readily embrace it. Just make sure you smile at your neighbors when you pass them on the street - a little southern charm goes a long way in a small town.
Renting an apartment in Clinton
If you are looking for a new home in Clinton there are a few good ways to find apartments for rent. The first one is to look online; many apartments will show their listings online, which will make it easy for you to compare prices. Most residents are friendly and chatty, so it doesn't hurt to ask locals in Clinton which apartments they like best. Most people in the city will have their preferences and can tell you a little bit about which apartments they like as well as which ones to avoid.
When it comes to forms and documentation, it doesn't matter if you are looking for a one bedroom apartment or a two bedroom apartment or something else -- you will still need to make sure that you have the same things ready to get an apartment as in any other city. This includes a copy of your ID or birth certificate, your credit report, bank statements, pay stubs, letter of employment, references and anything else your landlord might request. This will save you the hassle of having to run around gathering it all after you've found an apartment that you really like!
Having good credit may save you a great deal of money and you will want to make sure that you have a deposit ready. Most apartments will require one to two month's rent up front as a deposit so make sure you have enough to cover this! Don't be afraid to ask your landlord plenty of questions about the apartment, too. It's okay to ask if there are any pest problems, if anything leaks or is in need of repair. You want to be sure you are moving into the best possible apartment for you!
Before signing on the dotted line
Before you sign any contracts make sure you understand everything that you are agreeing to. The last thing you want is to be stuck in a bad contract. If you are working with a realtor but they are dodging your questions, or not completely explaining the contract, go find someone else. It's always better to be safe than sorry, especially in housing, make sure that you understand the agreement completely before you sign on it. One of the most important terms to understand is how much notice you need to give before you move out as well as how much notice they need to give you before they ask you to move out. You don't want to spend your life savings moving in and decorating only to find out they are raising the rent and looking for new tenants 8 months later!
Neighborhoods in Clinton
Since Clinton is a relatively small city there are no neighborhoods. Instead, the city itself is considered its own neighborhood and is broken down into a few different subdivisions within it. It's located right where Route 66 and Route 183 intersect, so it's quite a commercial hub for the area. There are a good number of shops and restaurants here, especially on Gary Avenue. Try some of the local favorites, like Adam's Route 66 Italian Villa or Montana Mike's Steakhouse! Most people here have a pretty short commute time and in general there is very little noise from cars and less pollution, too. It's a small city and, depending where you live, you might even be able to walk to get your groceries and do your daily chores, too! If you are into nature, you'll be happy to know the city is home to a number of pretty parks. Lions Park and Nance Park are on the east side of town and McLain Rogers Park is located right in the center! Of course if you're living here, you'll get familiar with the famous Route 66 Museum, located right here in Clinton! It's one of the town's claims to fame and you can learn a lot about the storied past of the area and the legendary highway. And if you need to get to Oklahoma City, whether its for work or for pleasure, you can easily hop on the highway and zip into the big city in no time.
Living in Clinton
Residents of Clinton love to support the local high school football team, the Red Tornadoes. It's typical to find packed stands on a Friday night under the lights, and for good reason - the team has won more state championships than you can count on two hands (16)!
The small town feel of Clinton is very welcoming, especially to people who enjoy having a good scenic view and a lot of peace and quiet. There's hardly any traffic, and hearing a honking horn is practically inexistent in this quaint town. Overall Clinton is a great environment for anyone who is looking for a place that offers wide, open spaces with easy accessibility to the highway and plenty of nearby conveniences.