How is Rockwall Texas??

[jusforsean]

Anyone know anything abour Rockwall Texas area?? Do they get hir with Tornadoes? How is it there the ups and the downs?
THanks

[TexasStooge]

Hi. Rockwall, TX didn't get any tornadoes or grapefruit size hail, just a decent soaking. That's the same story for my area in Dallas County. However, our neighbors in the Southwestern portion of the North Texas region were having a rough time.

[jusforsean]

Thanks, Is that normal for the Rockwall area or do they get hit with tornadoes?
Anybody live there? How is it? We are thinking of relocating:)

[Dr. Jonah Rainwater]

Rockwall hasn't been hit yet, but the Metroplex does get tornadoes occasionally. An F4 hit Lancaster (southern Dallas county) in 1994, and downtown Fort Worth was hit by an F2 in 2000. Sherman was destroyed by an F5 in 1896. It's always a roll of the dice - according to this page my city (Frisco) has a .05% chance of being hit by a tornado this year.

Eventually it'll happen - just be ready when it does! (and have a camera)

[cheezyWXguy]

Thanks, Is that normal for the Rockwall area or do they get hit with tornadoes?
Anybody live there? How is it? We are thinking of relocating:)

I think that guy gboudx is in rockwall...but he hasnt posted lately (at least from what I know)

[gboudx]

Yeah, I live in Rockwall, and have lived in Rowlett just across the lake, so I know this area pretty well. In my 8 years combined residence in this area, there was never a tornado and a couple instances of marginal sized hail(golfball).

Jusforsean, if there's anything specific you'd like to know, feel free to send me a PM. We love living out here. We're not too far from Dallas, but far enough away that we still have the small town feel. There's a decent selection for shopping and restaurants, and the city is building a new retail area on the lake called, The Harbor. It already boasts a brand new Cinemark theater, and the retail shops are still being built. If you have school-aged kids, the Rockwall ISD has some very good schools at all levels, but where they go will depend on where you live. There's a couple of Christian private schools out here too. FYI, the city has a website you can check on. It's http://www.rockwall.com. Also, we have one of the lowest property tax rates in the metroplex at about 2.56%

[jusforsean]

gboudx: Thanks for the info. Yeah, My dad just bought 5 acres in Terrell and is moving in 3 weeks and my friend just bought a place in little elm. We met someone during Wilma out here from Rockwall and she said it was great. We are going to see how the hurricane season goes this year. Because of the realestate cost here in south florida we arent able toafford a regular home here so we own a manufactured home. During Wilma it was devistated and we are still repairing and dealing with all of it. I hate to have to do it to the kids again we have 3 kids. The thing is we are quite happy here as far as being established with friends, family schools etc. and I hate to have to start from nothing but if we get hit again we are going to have to move out of here because I refuse to pay rent here again. So we are considering Rockwall. From what I see the realestate is affordable and the people are nice. What are some local colleges/universities my husband is a full time student he went back to become a teacher? My concern is that he would not be able to get financial aid out there because we arent "residents", I dont know if they would make an exception or have a special program if we relocate due to hurricane reason? Thanks for your info. Also I know there are alot of churches but is there any jewish population at all? we celebrate both. thanks again.

[gboudx]

Colleges/Universities near to Rockwall are:

Texas A&M at Commerce
Univerity of Texas at Dallas
University of Dallas
University of North Texas - Denton
Southern Methodist University - Dallas but pricey

I think there's a synagogue called Masonic Temple in Rockwall.

[Shoshana]

I'm not too sure that the Masonic Temple is actually a synogogue. I think it's a Temple for Freemasons or something.

There are however quite a few synagogues in the general area - in Dallas, in Richardson and in Plano. Those would all be within comfortable driving distance.

When I lived in the DFW area, Rockwall wasn't a particularly Jewish area, but from what I remember, it's pretty.

You can PM me:)

[gboudx]

When I did a google search on jewish synagogues in Rockwall, TX, that Masonic Temple is what came up. Maybe Freemasons list their temples as synagogues, who knows?

There are certainly more Christian-based churches and places of worship here in Rockwall than any other religious faith. But Rockwall is a small town located in the Bible Belt just like the rest of the DFW area. Baptists and non-denominational dominate Rockwall.

[Shoshana]

I think it's listed because it's a temple. Not all temples are Jewish, but automated systems will sometimes classify temples and synagogues together - and then you find all sorts of interesting places

Try Googling Masonic Temple if you have a minute ...

[jusforsean]

http://www.partypop.com/Categories/Temp ... las_TX.htm
I found this link interesting it gives lots of refrences!

[jusforsean]

I am trying to figure out what a mosonic temple is? Is it for masons? I am confused I was trying to find jewish temples and or community in Rockwall. according to the above list there is a jewish temple inthe 972 area code which i believe is rockwall. I also noticed that rockwall doesnt have any charter schools just regualr public. I know its considered a small town there i think so are the schools large or more on the small side? My sons school here although we are in South Florida only has 156 kids. We chose it overf regualr public school because the regular one is way too big and the rules are unbelieveable. I couldnt deal with that I need to be involved with my kids and the school. At our school you are required to volunteer 30 hours a year which is great because theres always something to do there.

[gboudx]

I doubt you will find a Jewish community in Rockwall, let alone the entire metroplex.

The 972 area code is not specific to Rockwall. I think it was implemented to cover the majority of phone numbers north and east of I-635.

I'm not sure what a charter school is, but Rockwall does have private school choices. Most of them are Christian-based schools though. My oldest kid goes to a public school. I don't know what sort of teacher:student ratio you are looking for, but my kid has about 15-17 kids in his class.

Are y'all really moving out here? Just curious, because I remember you asking about Rockwall back in November.

[Shoshana]

972, 214 and 469 area codes are all Dallas area codes. Everyone has to dial 10 digits because those 3 area codes coexist. 972 started out being for numbers outside LBJ Freeway (635) but that ended when 469 was overlayed. Rockwall is in that too - you can have any of the 3 area codes living in Rockwall.

Area codes in the Dallas area


North Dallas, Richardson and Plano do have a thriving Jewish community. Rockwall itself might not have a community, but I can assure you that there is an existing Jewish community in the area. I'm not as familiar with the rest of DFW.

Helpful links:

Dallas Area Synagogues - list from the Dallas Virtual Jewish Community

Jewish Federation of Dallas

JCC

Dallas Jewish Community Foundation

[jusforsean]

.Wow. Thanks yeah gboudx: I did ask about it after Wilma because thats when I met that lady from there and I was checking it out. Then my best friend bought a house in little elm and I sent my dad to check it out and he bought 5 acres in Terrell so here I am still stuck here because I cant sell my house right now and we are waiting to see how this hurricane season is. We are keeping texas as a plan b. If we get deystroyed again this year we will have no choice but to pick up and leave and thats where we are going. Its nice to talk to people from Texas because I know nothing about it. We are looking for a family place where we can safely raise our kids. We dont even go to temple but my husband is jewish so it would be nice to know there are other jews around in case we get the urge to share some matzoh one day Otherwise we go exactly go to church either. But thats neither here nor there. Thank you all for your input. Seems like texas has nice people. Thats what everyone says!

[gboudx]

Terrell is a nice, small town. It's been growing quite a bit over the past 8-10 years, but it's still small. I hope your Dad enjoys it there. Terrell was put on the map recently due to hometown legend, Jaime Foxx's success with the movie "Ray".

BTW, there was a tornado last night in an area about 20 miles north of my house, which is in northern Rockwall county. This is the closest we've been to a tornado since we've been here for almost 11 years.

[jusforsean]

wow, thanks. Scary I mean where are people suppose to go? I guess you cant avoid all natural disasters you just have to choose which ones you want to deal with. Alot of people are moving to texas. Hey why dont they have basements in texas? Just curious. Funny how the cost of living in texas is lower than here. Especially in insurance all kinds and food i think too. But the pay rate is the same it seems. Pretty cool. Realestate here is crazy 350000 and up to touch a 3/2 house. Its crazy. I payed 20,000 for my manufactured home here. And I pay lot rent and taxes as well. Did the tornadoe touch down? Supposedly Rockwall is an area that doesnt get many tornadoes so is little elm. I will let my dad and friend be the guni pigs lol.

[Dr. Jonah Rainwater]

Rockwall hasn't been hit yet, but the Metroplex does get tornadoes occasionally. An F4 hit Lancaster (southern Dallas county) in 1994, and downtown Fort Worth was hit by an F2 in 2000. Sherman was destroyed by an F5 in 1896. It's always a roll of the dice - according to this page my city (Frisco) has a .05% chance of being hit by a tornado this year.

Eventually it'll happen - just be ready when it does! (and have a camera)

Speak of the devil, oy vey - an F3 hit just 15 miles northeast of my house last night.

Here's an interesting graphic showing past tornadoes in Collin County:
Rockwall County is about 1/4 the size of Collin County and right next door, but that map might help you determine your odds of being hit.

Also, I happen to be a Jewish Texan. There aren't any synagogues in Rockwall County that I'm aware of, but every denomination is represented in North Dallas. I go to a Reform temple called Adat Chaverim in Plano. My aunt goes to Beth Torah, a Conservative shul in Richardson, which is a bit closer to Rockwall...there are many others in the area as well. The largest congregation in the Metroplex, Temple Emanu-El, has about 2,500 members. If you'd rather not deal with Dallas traffic (it's not as bad as say, Houston, but it's still bad), there are probably some small local congregations in Rockwall conducting services in peoples' living rooms.

[Shoshana]

That F3 in Collin County surprised me. Dunno why - it's the right time of year, but still..

As far as other stuff re Rockwall - if you want to buy kosher food or Passover food, you'll find that in North Dallas too. But N Dallas isn't really all that far.