Need some info. about Montrose (Grand Junction, Delta: ski resort, for sale, 2015)

[CO.Native.SW]

Montrose is a nice little town in the valley of the mountains.

The good: Its only about a 25-30 minute drive from being in the mountains and is only a short drive to the desert in Olathe, Delta, Whitewater, Orchard City, GJ, etc. Beautiful landscape of mountains in the distance and can access them and the desert very easily.

The bad: lacks the bigger city advantages. By big city in this case, i mean the advantages that GJ would have over montrose. There is much more to do in a GJ than a montrose. However, like i said, GJ and the desert is a short drive from montrose. Once you approach Olathe, you hit the desert areas in western CO.

[lovetobake]

Hello, I am looking into moving into Montrose from a community with increasing gang activity. I would like a safer place or raise my kids. Is this a good place for a young family? My husband loves to mountain bike, and we are both from small towns so the small town doesn't scare us. Just want a safer simpler lifestyle. I am a teacher, does anyone know if it is hard to get a job as a special education teacher? Thanks for any input.

[NW Crow]

A few teaching related links that might help if you haven't already seen them:

Montrose - Exceptional Student Services Home Overview
Montrose County School District Re-1j Average Teacher Salary & How to Become a Teacher
Montrose - Employment Opportunities Overview
Uncompahgre Board of Cooperative Services - UnBOCS - Partner Programs and Agencies (http://www.unbocs.org/partners.htm - broken link)
Jobs --Job Posting (no current openings)
Find Colorado teaching jobs at SchoolSpring.com!


Would you also consider Fruita? Small city next to a larger one, would have more job prospects. Possibly as a transition step?

[CO.Native.SW]

Originally Posted by lovetobake

Hello, I am looking into moving into Montrose from a community with increasing gang activity. I would like a safer place or raise my kids. Is this a good place for a young family? My husband loves to mountain bike, and we are both from small towns so the small town doesn't scare us. Just want a safer simpler lifestyle. I am a teacher, does anyone know if it is hard to get a job as a special education teacher? Thanks for any input.

Montrose definitely fits your criteria with less gang activity. Where are you coming from? Just curious. Montorse and other smaller cities in Western CO have not seen the gang increase that other smaller cities in NorCo and SoCo have seen. For example, Pueblo, Longmont, Greeley, even Loveland. Montrose would be a great choice. Its may or may not be in a desert land of CO, but its definitely not far from Olathe, Delta, GJ, and those desert lands.

[lovetobake]

I am coming from Southern NM. Just a little to close to border, I am afraid. Is it hard to travel out of Montrose in the winter time. We would like to visit relatives in Farmington during the holidays. Are the roads safe to travel on at that time?

[jazzlover]

Originally Posted by lovetobake

I am coming from Southern NM. Just a little to close to border, I am afraid. Is it hard to travel out of Montrose in the winter time. We would like to visit relatives in Farmington during the holidays. Are the roads safe to travel on at that time?

They can either be fine or dangerous as hell. US550 is breathtaking anytime, but can be quite hazardous in winter driving condtions. Of course, you can take the longer route via CO62 and CO145 out of Ridgway down to Cortez, but, going that way, Lizard Head can also be hazardous in a winter storm. Or go out through Norwood, then down to Dove Creek. Dallas Divide and Norwood Hill can be challenging, but nothing like the other routes--usually. I've driven them all in winter--numerous times. If you aren't experienced in winter mountain driving, you really don't belong on any of them in winter driving conditions.

[JesseQ]

So I've been thinking about moving to a smaller city, currently in San Diego California. I was house hunting and stumbled across a 10 bedroom 3.5 bathroom house in Montrose for around $90,000. That immediately threw up a red flag for the house itself, but it got me thinking that there might be something more to it. The area itself might be high crime? Is it a run down ghetto?

If anybody has ever been to Montrose, what was your opinion of the place?

[Colorado Rambler]

Montrose is comparatively safe if you stick to the south side of town. Unfortunately, meth dealers and gang bangers have taken over the neighborhoods that lie near Highway 50 going east bound. Several car jackings have been reported on Highway 50 in just the past few months.

Any real estate you see advertised for less than $100,000 has something wrong with it - you're right on that. There have been several major drug busts by local law enforcement in partnership with the DEA and a number of crank houses are now sitting vacant as a result.

To make matters worse, there has been a large influx of Mormons from near-by Utah. This hard working religious denomination has snapped up most of the local jobs, working for as little as $5.00/hr, and making it all but impossible for anyone else to find a job. Unemployment in Montrose now stands at 20%. Small wonder that ambitious young people have turned to drug trafficking to pay the rent.

Last, but not least, Montrose suffers from an infestation of Poor Wills. These birds hide out in the daytime near the Ute Cultural Center south of town. Come dusk, they take to the air in overwhelming numbers, diving for flying ants and any other insects around. They often make a startling booming noise as they head into their downward dives. Quite disconcerting to say the least. I was once caught at the Ute Center with evening coming on and found myself surrounded by flying, diving, booming poor wills. I could have practically reached out my hand to touch them. Think of Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds." Spooky!

But don't just listen to me. Jazzlover should be along any moment to describe the dreadful economic future ahead for western Colorado. so be forewarned! If you insist on moving to Colorado, I suggest Ophir, instead of Montrose.

: D

Okay, I'm just pulling your tail. I'm joking, mods. Please don't ban me!

The truth is, I've been thinking of moving to Montrose, myself. It's a nice small town with many amenities and a beautiful setting. Grand Junction is about an hour away if you need something that can only be found in a larger community. Housing is as reasonable as you can expect in these troubled times and there are jobs - especially if you're willing to commute along the corridor to GJ. And there really are Poor Wills, but they are way cool. It's really fun if you are lucky enough to run into a group of them diving for their dinner some evening. They are pretty birds close up and their antics can make you feel like you're flying right along with them.

I'm planning a trip to check out Montrose for myself in the next few weeks. I haven't visited up there in a while, and I want to see if it's changed much from what I remember.

I'm sure some current Montrose dwellers will post some more up to date info for you.

OK. Now I'm going to go hide from the mods in the "retiring on a Shoe String Forum." They'll never find me there!

[JesseQ]

Haha...you had me there for sure! I'm glad that it isn't infested by drug dealers and gangsters. Hopefully I'll be able to make a trip out that way sometime soon. Are the locals friendly enough?

Also, I am 27 years old. I would imagine that the locals are um...seasoned? Seen a few more winters than myself? What are the chances of a 27 year old, single, white male making a living for himself in Montrose? About my only work experience is in automotive repair, which I would LOVE to get away from.

[sesamekid]

Originally Posted by Colorado Rambler

Montrose is comparatively safe if you stick to the south side of town. Unfortunately, meth dealers and gang bangers have taken over the neighborhoods that lie near Highway 50 going east bound. Several car jackings have been reported on Highway 50 in just the past few months.

Any real estate you see advertised for less than $100,000 has something wrong with it - you're right on that. There have been several major drug busts by local law enforcement in partnership with the DEA and a number of crank houses are now sitting vacant as a result.

To make matters worse, there has been a large influx of Mormons from near-by Utah. This hard working religious denomination has snapped up most of the local jobs, working for as little as $5.00/hr, and making it all but impossible for anyone else to find a job. Unemployment in Montrose now stands at 20%. Small wonder that ambitious young people have turned to drug trafficking to pay the rent.

Last, but not least, Montrose suffers from an infestation of Poor Wills. These birds hide out in the daytime near the Ute Cultural Center south of town. Come dusk, they take to the air in overwhelming numbers, diving for flying ants and any other insects around. They often make a startling booming noise as they head into their downward dives. Quite disconcerting to say the least. I was once caught at the Ute Center with evening coming on and found myself surrounded by flying, diving, booming poor wills. I could have practically reached out my hand to touch them. Think of Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds." Spooky!

But don't just listen to me. Jazzlover should be along any moment to describe the dreadful economic future ahead for western Colorado. so be forewarned! If you insist on moving to Colorado, I suggest Ophir, instead of Montrose.

: D

Okay, I'm just pulling your tail. I'm joking, mods. Please don't ban me!

The truth is, I've been thinking of moving to Montrose, myself. It's a nice small town with many amenities and a beautiful setting. Grand Junction is about an hour away if you need something that can only be found in a larger community. Housing is as reasonable as you can expect in these troubled times and there are jobs - especially if you're willing to commute along the corridor to GJ. And there really are Poor Wills, but they are way cool. It's really fun if you are lucky enough to run into a group of them diving for their dinner some evening. They are pretty birds close up and their antics can make you feel like you're flying right along with them.

I'm planning a trip to check out Montrose for myself in the next few weeks. I haven't visited up there in a while, and I want to see if it's changed much from what I remember.

I'm sure some current Montrose dwellers will post some more up to date info for you.

OK. Now I'm going to go hide from the mods in the "retiring on a Shoe String Forum." They'll never find me there!

Oh boy - you had me going for the whole first half of your comment!!

a Mormon take-over? really? car-jackings? swarms of dive-bombing birds? In Montrose??

Too much excitement for me!

I always thought of Montrose as a nice little place, stopping there for lunch on my travels.

But next time I will be on the lookout for Morman bird carjackings