needing info on Porterville (Fresno, Oakland: rent, high crime, Home Depot)

[KGM1978]

Hi, we may be moving to Porterville due to a job. We already have a visitors guide that was sent to us and I know it is a somewhat small city with not too much to offer, unless you go into Visalia.

I am concerned now after reading posts about Visalia about high crime and smog. We live in Phoenix though so is it really any different than here? Of course, the crime in Phx depends on where you live and we have bad pollution. I am also concerned about teh pesticide use.

Does anyone have experience with pesticides and do you worry about it effecting your health? We will not be using it ourselves but where he works would be close to groves. He has asthma and allergies as well and I would hope it wouldn't affect him too much.

also, I heard there is a gym in Porterville. What is it like? Does it have childcare?

[Roaddog]

Crime will be the same as anywhere, it will all depend on where you live, I don't live in portersville but go over there sometimes to eat breakfast at the Black bear dinner i don't see it as being a bad place at all. I live in bakersfield and it's only 45 miles away.

[James1975]

Porterville is a great location, close to the mountains, close to a lake, close to the ocean, and is in Central Cali. I was born and raised there but the air quality, over-poplulation, drugs, crime, and other negatives far outweigh the goods.

Some people LOVE it......in my opinion it's a trap unless you have the option to move again. IF you do move out that way, move up to Springville which is in the foothills and about 15 minutes away from Pottyville.

I personally will NEVER move back.......EVER!

[JAF1976]

You would be making a big mistake moving to Porterville, if you don't have family, or friends there. Basically what James1975 said. The town allways has ben alittle backwards, back in the 80's up until the mid 1990's it was a really nice little town. After about 1995 it went down hill. Air quality is about as bad as you can get. I might have to be moving back there, and I dred the thought. There is a decent gym there called Inshape City. It is open 7days a week, 24 hrs mon through thurs. Visalia is alot nicer town, but the crime there is horrific.

[CalMom50]

Porterville is a nice enough town. Like any other town there are trouble spots. You might want to check out Exeter just a few miles north, down the 65. It is a smaller town close to the national park (Sequoia), less crime, great schools, great family town. Close to the county seat (only 9 minutes east of Visalia) which means we are 9 minutes east of the hospital in Visalia (premium care) and a vast array of Dr.'s. Exeter is a pretty happenin' little town. Call the Exeter Chamber for more info. 559-592-2919

[JAF1976]

Originally Posted by CalMom50

Porterville is a nice enough town. Like any other town there are trouble spots. You might want to check out Exeter just a few miles north, down the 65. It is a smaller town close to the national park (Sequoia), less crime, great schools, great family town. Close to the county seat (only 9 minutes east of Visalia) which means we are 9 minutes east of the hospital in Visalia (premium care) and a vast array of Dr.'s. Exeter is a pretty happenin' little town. Call the Exeter Chamber for more info. 559-592-2919

Exeter is about the nicest town around there by far. My optometrist is there in Exeter. DR Narahara Really nice guy, I go all the way to Ca just to go to him.

[Laredo]

I have lived in Porterville on and off for the last 20 years. I developed my asthma there, but that is because I was working directly with pesticides. Last time I got really sick with pneumonia and bronquitis, and left for another job in the same town. Some people move to Porterville or nearby towns and end up leaving after a couple of years because they get the valley fever or can't stand the air quality.
But this is the way I see it: thank God we don't the same life style as in a big city because then it would be really expensive to live there. And this is precisely why Porterville and the surroundings area including Visalia are growing very, very fast. Too many people coming from the city and you can tell right away. There were about 30,000 inhabitants in 1995 and it went up to 50,000 in 2005 and that is not counting the people from smaller towns who do their shopping in Porterville. Whenever I want to do something I go to the big cities like L.A. or S.F. or S.D But I have lived in those places too and it goes like this. You can barely pay the expensive rent so the leaves you with no money to go out. In smaller towns you live cheaper, but there is not many options for entertaiment. What I do is save my money and go live the life in the city and believe it happens a lot. My sister basically works in one of the smaller towns near Porterville, but never spends the weekends there. She goes to S.D. S.F. L.A or the bay. That is not to say there's nothing to do in Porterville.

[YellowHorse]

Quite simply, If you like that small town atmosphere, you will like Porterville. If you don't, then you won't like it.

Porterville has grown since we lived near there, we still visit my hubby's brother and sister who both live there, they have gotten a Home Depot and other large stores, but you still have to drive into Visalia or Bakersfield if you want to go to a mall.

I loved Porterville's proximity to the lake and mountains, would go up there often to go kayaking and hiking. Beautiful country

[MWJamesLDS]

Originally Posted by JAF1976

Visalia is alot nicer town, but the crime there is horrific.

The crime is horrific? I think thats a bit of an over statment. Granted, Visalia is no Mission Viejo, but its no South central LA, Santa Ana, Anaheim, Oakland, San Bernadino, Compton...I could go on, but I think you get my point. You can live in a good 75% of the neighborhoods and feel perfectly safe. Don't associate with drug dealers or gangbangers and you'll be fine.

[Laredo]

I forgot to mention that recently this year Lowes opened a new store in the new Riverwalk Plaza on highway 190 and Jay Street. They are expecting to open many other new stores in this same plaza in the summer like Best Buy, Ross, TJMaxx, Panda Express, Me'n'Ed Pizzeria, etc. etc. Also, the old regular Target stores was torn down to build a Great Land Target or Super Target. There's also talk that Wal-Mart will follow suit and will build a Super Wal-Mart. I mean, to many people this may be not that much, but to the citizens of Porterville is a huge step forward. We may still have to go to Visalia, Bakersfield or Fresno to do our shopping or for fine dinning. But if these businesses do well, other high end stores may follow (hopefully some day). But then Porterville won't have the nice little town atmosphere.

Top Story: Riverwalk construction begins | porterville, retail, martinez : Recorderonline.com

There is also a new sports complex. It has 11 soccer fields, 3 football fields, more fields, and a lot of parking space and free space. I have been there and I haven't been charged so far. There is also a long walking/bike trail that I used a lot. Of course, for those who gamble there is the Eagle & Mountain Casino near the Indian Reservation. There are lots of rivers... well, I'll stop here. I already sound like an advertisement for the city.