Sulphur Springs has one of the only see-through public restrooms in the whole world. It may sound like a funny concept at first, but in reality, it is only those inside the restroom who can see out, not those outside who can see in. Otherwise, it would just be creepy and embarrassing!
The city is the county seat of Hopkins County, Texas and the 162nd largest community in the state. There are 15,449 people living in about 6,000 households in Sulphur Springs. The weather is classified as humid subtropical, with warm, sticky and humid summers, and winters that are generally mild to cool. The city is roughly 50 miles from Dallas, with other smaller settlements like Greenville, Commerce, and Mt Pleasant all within easy distance by car. There are a couple of large lakes to the south -- Lake Tawakoni and Lake Fork -- while two smaller local lakes -- Lake Century and Lake Sulphur Springs -- sit right on the city's doorstep.
Moving to Sulphur Springs
With about 6,000 homes in the area, you're looking at quite a few vacant properties. That makes it a relatively open market, so your hunt for an apt for rent in Sulphur Springs shouldn't be quite as dire as it might be elsewhere.
Property Breakdown
About 40% of the properties in the city are occupied by renters, so it's obviously a good renter's market. High-rise buildings account for 20% of the housing here, so renters seeking apartments for rent will have no trouble finding a few options. Studio apartments for rent, however, are rare, so it's likely that you'll have a pay a bit more for that one-bed place if you're moving on your own. Anyone towing a group will have lots of options as three-bedroom properties make up 50% of the whole market.
Prioritize Your Needs
It's not easy to achieve everything you might want from a new place, so prioritize what's most important to you. Are you going to be commuting to Dallas? If so, a property nearest Interstate 30, which runs through the south of the town, might be best so you can hop on and off without having to wind through town. Are you more interested in being near the lake at the top of town or is space important to you? Come up with a list and it'll help you narrow down your search.
Get Prepared
No matter where you move to, you're going to need enough money to put down your first month's rent and cover the security deposit. Also, handing over letters of employment and proof of income will really help you move fast. Obviously, if you already work in the area, or if you have a job lined up, this will help. Moving on a whim and hoping to find work isn't the best way to go, and you might find it more difficult to secure a place if this is what you're doing!
Neighborhoods in Sulphur Springs
Sulphur Springs is made up of four central neighborhoods surrounded by a larger suburban area that circles them all. Anyone looking for an apartment will want to search centrally. Anyone with aspirations of a large family home will need to look further afield.
City Center: The lovely Coleman Park and Lake Coleman are here, where you'll find soccer fields, baseball fields, tennis courts, a disc golf course, a fishing pier, and much more. Events are also held here through the year, and it's a popular meeting point for local people.
Texas Street / State Loop: Residential area right in the center of the city, with several boutique shops and local businesses.
Como Street S / Whitworth Street: Cut through by Interstate 30, there are a mix of apartment buildings and rental houses here, which is great for anyone commuting to Dallas. There's a Walmart Supercenter in the south, along with two -- yes, two -- Subway restaurants. I guess shopping does make you hungry.
Church Street / State Loop: This neighborhood just catches the corner of the downtown area, with a famous and beautiful landmark, Hopkins County Courthouse, here. Several restaurants are available for your enjoyment, including El Charro and Muddy Jake's Sports Bar and Grill. Go a bit further out of the center and you'll find Heritage Park and Museum.
Rockdale: Rockdale is a neighborhood that surrounds all the others, stretching off for miles in each direction. It's dotted with larger houses, ranches and farms, and is home to Sulphur Springs Airport as well as Sulphur Springs Lake and Century Lake.
Living in Sulphur Springs
The motto of the city is 'Great Parks, Great People,' and that kind of sums up what they're going for in Sulphur Springs. The city has been going through redevelopment for a long time and will continue to do so until they're satisfied (if they ever are!). Colman Park is certainly the main feature for outdoor fun with all its amenities, while Buford Park and Pacific Park are also popular.
In the downtown area, people flock together to socialize and celebrate. There are free movies shown in the square every Friday night, an interactive fountain that lights up with ultraviolet light, and a great farmers' market that flourishes when in season.
If you're talking food, you just know you're gonna find some great burgers and steaks in the city, and it doesn't disappoint there. The ingeniously named Burger and Fries is great if you want some local meat, while Bodacious Bar-B-Q and Braum's are also really popular local eateries.
When it comes to transport, you're pretty well placed away from the big city but close enough to dip in and out when you want. Dallas is reachable easily via Interstate 30, while there are several state highways that connect with other local towns if you happen to work nearby. The city doesn't have its own run transit system, but it's entirely walkable -- so as long as you live close to the center, everything is within trotting distance. If not, though, a short car journey will bring you closer to the action.