Trinity County Advice Anyone? (Los Angeles, San Francisco: real estate, house, rent)

[ilovewood]

I'm a young ashamed-to-be southern CA native. I've lived in Northern MN and OR and felt more like myself in those places. My wife and I are interested in Northern CA for a different type of life and you could probably guess all of the other reasons.....needless to say we are considering it because it is "away" but not too far from family down here.

What can anyone tell me about the towns in Trinity County, what the general "feel" is, what type of people live there, etc? It appears that there is some affordable land. I am a finish carpenter, but I can do almost any constrution trade well if I put my mind and body to it! I realize that there isn't much opportunity as for as making big money, but I DON'T WANT TO make a lot of money. I value a peaceful, slower, beauty-surrounded life.

Any comments or suggestions?

PS, we plan on home-schooling, and we are commited Christians...

Thanks in advance!

[cre8]

Originally Posted by ilovewood

I'm a young ashamed-to-be southern CA native. I've lived in Northern MN and OR and felt more like myself in those places. My wife and I are interested in Northern CA for a different type of life and you could probably guess all of the other reasons.....needless to say we are considering it because it is "away" but not too far from family down here.

What can anyone tell me about the towns in Trinity County, what the general "feel" is, what type of people live there, etc? It appears that there is some affordable land. I am a finish carpenter, but I can do almost any constrution trade well if I put my mind and body to it! I realize that there isn't much opportunity as for as making big money, but I DON'T WANT TO make a lot of money. I value a peaceful, slower, beauty-surrounded life.

Any comments or suggestions?

PS, we plan on home-schooling, and we are commited Christians...

Thanks in advance!

I spent some time in the area a number of years back, and can say that, for one thing, Trinity County is a whole lot less "trendy" than LA. The people in Trinity struck me as no-nonsense types. Just be who you are and don't pretend; they won't be impressed. People in Trinity County know that it's special precisely because it is NOT Los Angeles or San Francisco. Trinity used to pride itself on not having even ONE traffic light anywhere in the county. Don't know if that's still the case. Weaverville, the county seat, is a wonderful and relaxed town. It's also home to Joss House, the oldest Chinese Taoist temple in California. You're Christian, but I mention Joss House only for its awesome historical value. Trinity is full of history. Mining was big from the late 1800s into the 1900s. The county is comprised mainly of small mountain towns.

You are correct about the economy. It's nowhere near as "fortunate" as Southern California or the Bay. A lot of the work is seasonal. The lumber trade is big. Official County jobs are impossible to land as those who have them never give them up, plus a lot of them are part time on top of it. You could perhaps consider opening your own carpenter shop and establish local customers. Tourism during summer might offer a limited boost for you.

The area is absolutely beautiful, rugged mountains, "the Trinity Alps," pine forests and creeks and rivers throughout. It's warm to hot in the summer, with snow in winter. The main east-west highway, SR 299, can shut down in winter storms, and many roads are often inaccessible for longer periods. In any case, good luck. It'd be interesting to learn how it goes for you.

[kettlepot]

You might be better off in rural Shasta County. The county's larger population and faster growth could provide more economic opportunity, as you would be within commuting distance to more work. However, neither area is bursting with high paid jobs. The rural areas of Shasta county can be just as slow paced as Trinity county. Yes, you'll have those blistering hot Central Valley summers, but on the other hand you won't have as much snow. There will also be a larger Christian community and more home schoolers with which you could find support.

Just a suggestion.

[ilovewood]

Thanks for the info cre8 and kettlepot!
About how long is the drive say from Weaverville to Redding? I imagine it must be pretty windey? So what are some places that are in Shasta county that are up out of the valley be yet not too far from Redding? I've seen some beautiful 40ac parcels in Ono and Igo for about $85k.....are these nice areas? Basically we would like to be around the trees- but not completely surrounded, we would rather be above the extreme summer heat, and we would enjoy some snow. We want to have some land, but be near enough to some sort of a community. What areas would you recommend?

[cre8]

Originally Posted by ilovewood

Thanks for the info cre8 and kettlepot!
About how long is the drive say from Weaverville to Redding? I imagine it must be pretty windey? So what are some places that are in Shasta county that are up out of the valley be yet not too far from Redding? I've seen some beautiful 40ac parcels in Ono and Igo for about $85k.....are these nice areas? Basically we would like to be around the trees- but not completely surrounded, we would rather be above the extreme summer heat, and we would enjoy some snow. We want to have some land, but be near enough to some sort of a community. What areas would you recommend?

Weaverville - Redding is about an hour's drive one way. Weaverville - Eureka, aprox 2 hours o/w, if this helps give you more perspective. And yes, 299, though a state route, is windy the whole way from Redding to Eureka.

Can't offer much about Ono, but Igo has some remote parts. If you're a hermit and like total seclusion, this might be for you, at least this is my memory of the place. Had some friends who lived way back in the woods there for a while. It was far too remote for my tastes.

I'm not going to claim any deep knowledge, but I remember Shingletown on the east side of the Sacramento Valley as offering a welcomed respite from the valley heat during summer. Higher in elevation than Redding, Shingletown is 20-30 degrees cooler in summer. It gets snow in winter but not as much as in the Trinity Alps. Shingletown is kind of a gateway spot for Lassen Park, so it gets tourists and campers passing through. It's big for horse ranches, to my understanding.

[notmeofficer]

If you get above about 3000 feet it definitely stays cooler.. Redding has a great economy for tradespeople.. finish carpenters.. Its bloody hot here in the summer.. IGO and ONO are both hotter than heck.. colder in the winter.. and getting pretty far out
but there are some good real estate buys further away from downtown..

trinity county is definitely more rural.. more alternative living..

dont forget siskiyou county.. up near the oregon border... very nice.. more rural

[kettlepot]

To be honest, ILW, I have very little direct experience with the rural areas of Shasta County and I no longer live in the area. All I can do is give you names, and suggest you look at a topographical map, and ask the other board denizens about them. If the areas are still on the valley floor they'll be hot. Besides Igo and Ono, you might look at French Gulch and Old Shasta too, though Old Shasta might be too close to Redding for your tastes.

Personally, I wouldn't try the Weaverville to Redding commute. I traveled from Redding to Eureka once, and it took 4 hours not 3. If you are trying to reach a job site at a particular time and you get stuck behind a logging truck, you could easily arrive very late and very frustrated. But maybe it will remind you of driving on the 101 and you'll feel right at home.

But definitely consider northern and northeastern Shasta County too. The northeast is a drier climate, but still lots of trees in the area. And like all of California, it's a dry heat.

[ilovewood]

Thanks everyone for your help! I think I have a lot of researching and exploring to do....

[notmeofficer]

I should have added... redding is really the hub up here and most people from smaller communities come here for amenities or higher grade medical care..
whats important top understand is the road system.. so pull out a map..
for example.. Shingletown and Weaverville are more rural.. more green trees .. pines etc...but the caveat is that they are both located on main feeder road.. (44 and 299) one accident or winter snow can close them and youre stuck in your little community..

last year it wasn't the snow but the forest fires.. they closed 299 in Weaverville for a long time... and trying to negotiate alternative routes could take you hours..literally

I live in N/E redding.. out by Shasta lake.. a couple of minutes to the Pit arm... its nice.. hot summers are a killer but its quiet without being more than 30 minutes to town...

Were already experiencing a forest fire.. I see the borate bombers overhead and smell the smoke.. its up north somewhere of me... its going to be a bad fire season..I feel it. thats what you get to live with here (and why water is VERY important with rural property)... it cost me 1000's to bring a 8 inch line in and have a fire hydrant... worth every penny

[Charms4all]

Trinity County is the best..I love it! If you are looking for something closer to redding but want to live in trinity county, Lewiston is out that way..
Dont know much on how the real estate costs are but..
anyway hopes this helps.. I love it here. yes 299 can be closed once in awhile, but hey there is always some problem in everytown.. at least we dont have all the gang fights, drive bys murdering and so forth going on..
hopes this helps