Kathleen-Jeannette Evansville, IN

Evansville incorporated in 1817 and thrived as a commercial town due to its Ohio River location. Riverboat trade, coal and hardwood lumber were major economic drivers. Following World War II, housing demands expanded the city to the west and east. Following a devastating recession from 1955 to 1963, Evansville became home to businesses such as Whirlpool, Alcoa and General Electric and became the hub of the trade economy for Indiana, Kentucky and Illinois. Evansville provides a stable and diverse economic base for the region – major employers, including Atlas Van Lines and Bristol-Myers Squibb, provide employment for many residents in the metro area. The Children's Museum of Evansville provides interactive programs for curious minds, and the city sponsors a month-long Christmas celebration called Holly Days.

Interesting restaurants and night spots abound in this small community. Stop for breakfast or lunch at the Carousel Restaurant, and enjoy home cooking away from home. This longstanding, locally owned eatery lets you choose a healthy-start breakfast, such as Egg Beaters or a bagel and fruit, when you don't feel like diving into a tasty plate of biscuits and gravy. For lunch, snack on a sandwich, sip soup or sink your teeth into fried catfish with a side of pasta. Another favorite in the area, the Cork 'N Cleaver, an award-winning Southwestern-style steak and seafood house, has an acclaimed salad bar. In addition to prime rib and charbroiled, blackened or baked salmon, the chef prepares an eye-popping pecan-crusted chicken, Santa Fe shrimp and Ahi tuna. The best place in the neighborhood to meet up with friends after work is the Marigold Bar. The clean, cozy and comfortable atmosphere puts you at ease from the moment you sit down. Order an awesome burger here, or munch on cheese balls while you enjoy the affordable drinks. The Ri Ra Irish pub features imported, draft and domestic beers in addition to a full menu, indoor tables, outdoor seating with a view of the Ohio River and a private room for throwing your bachelorette or birthday party. Local and regional acts perform traditional Irish music here, and European and national soccer tournaments often play on the big-screen TVs.

The Metropolitan Evansville Transit Systems (METS) manages transportation with fix-stopped buses and para-transit vans, and three cab companies operate in the metro area. No public parking garages exist in the neighborhood, although there are three inexpensive or free ones approximately 2 miles to the west in downtown Evansville. The neighborhood easily connects to east-west I-69, north-south State Highway 41 and east-west Route 66. Most errands require a vehicle, but the neighborhood ranks second in Evansville for walkability, and the wide streets provide ample room for bikers.

The regional Wesselman Park Complex features a playground, par-3 golf course, a softball diamond and the Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve. The preserve has a lush 200-acre forest filled with virgin bottom-land hardwood and more than 300 varieties of wildflowers and 150 bird species. A variety of mammals also call this park home, and it is heralded as a "national natural landmark" and a "state nature preserve." It also has nearly six miles of trails for you to explore.

The cost of living in the Kathleen-Jeannette neighborhood is the same as the cost of living in downtown Evansville. A bus ticket costs $1 per ride, with an unlimited monthly pass running about $60. A one-bedroom apartment rents for about $557, and a beer at the local pub sets you back around $3. Gas is about one percent lower than the national average.

The super-regional Eastland Mall on North Green River Road provides a diverse selection of shopping options and includes a children's play area, a carousel and seasonal events. Dillard's, Macy's and JCPenney exist as well as Coach, Sephora, Victoria's Secret, and American Eagle Outfitters. The Washington Square Mall host Sears and Anna Le's Twice Chosen Bridal Consignment Shop. Simpson's Food Fair supermarket in the Covert and Lodge Shopping Center is clean and easy to navigate. Besides food, the store makes your shopping trip a one-stop experience in which you can purchase postage stamps, money orders, gift cards, phones and plans. You can also pay your utility bill, cash a check, send a fax and make copies here. Schnucks grocery and Wesselman's supermarket also provide residents with grocery necessities. Spend a Saturday afternoon picking up beads and equipment for your latest beading project or choosing a piece of handmade jewelry to wear with that special date-night dress at Busy Beedz Design. This shop happily hosts home beading parties and offers in-house classes. Do like the celebrities do and take your pick of semi-precious stones, cultured pearls, Swarovski crystals, glass, sterling silver and 14-karat-gold findings – Jessica Alba, Hillary Duff and Natalie Portman all buy fabulous beaded jewelry fashions from this shop. When you need fishing supplies for your next outdoor adventure, visit Bait Bucket to buy tackle and minnows by the dozen or pound, nightcrawlers by the dozen or in flats or crickets in a tube or by the thousand. You can also purchase your license here.