Why do people leave Colorado? (Denver, Colorado Springs: movers, lawyers, job market)

[Mike78613]

Originally Posted by elemental

The courage to make the change is applauded and now that you have seen another side, you are anxious to return. After 9 years, it might be like moving here for the first time. Let us know how you fare upon your return. Better to run the course of a gypsy then a hermit!

Thanks! I just wanted to let everyone why I enjoy posting on here
I love both states and what I was told by other few Texans that made the move to CO and then came back, they said they were treated like crap. I just wanted to say that when they ask me where I am from, I'll tell them how it was and what I mentioned above is true. Hope that Colorado residents know that I am here and was from here. Most of my life was there, but I was young and still kid'ish. Now starting a family, Austin is not it. I want my kids to see snow for the holidays like I did. I want them to know how it feels to shovel snow (ok , just kidding about that, but I am sure they would be honored to to it) my son loves to work on the yard, clean the leaves out of the pool. So I can't see that he would not enjoy making excusses to not shovel the snow. Well ok, he has to adapt to the colder weather 1st. lol

[jazzlover]

Originally Posted by steveco.

So would you say that it has lost its historical value? Maybe by destroying some of the more historical aspects of the town. How many people live there? I ask all these questions because I really want to take a weekend trip down there some time. I have heard some good things about the monarch ski resort to and was going to check it out this year

Monarch is a long way from Durango (like about 250+ miles). Durango's population was just under 14,000 in the 2000 census, probably more now. La Plata County was just under 44,000 in 2000--no doubt way more now, judging by the amount of growth in the last 7 years. Back in the 60's, I would guess the county population to have been well less than half that. Back then, the city of Durango was probably about 10,000.

[Mike78613]

Originally Posted by steveco.

Ive never been there, but what has been the biggest difference since then? Population? Sprawl? Running water??

IMHO, when I was back there from
1991-1996 (High School days). Gangs were really heavy at my schools, unlike it was for my older brother that graduated from the same school back in 1987 (we're 10 years apart). I will say this, but probably not 100% true, but from what I seen/saw/experienced was that from those years when GANG RAP was huge, the gang violence started coming popular. The style of Snoop Doggy (rapper) To-PAC (Spelling) Dr. Dre (that all come to mind) was very hip. The boom boom music and the kill a cop rap songs started to go wild in my High School. Couple of people I knew got shot at , at our local Basketball courts. There was a heavy transplant of West Side California residents that were coming. Probably the one that were low income and came from like compton that relocated this way. Also the Military (Fort Carson) it did not help.

It was wild and pretty scary. I did not like it! It was a small reason why I bailed then. I am sure it has changed a good bit since then.

(oh, no I dont like rap music)

But increase of population was the most effective reason why I saw people leaving.

[Rumblebelly]

Originally Posted by jazzlover

I think you have hit the head on some things pretty well. A lot of people that I see leaving Colorado for good these days are not the newcomers (who still think it is paradise compared to whatever hell-hole they moved out of--like suburban southern California, for example), but old-line natives (like me) and long-time residents that can't stand what the state is becoming. When people like that--who have deep roots, strong ties and memories, and a deep love for a place--basically give up on it, it is not a good sign. From some friends I have from California (believe it or not, I do have them), I have heard that the same thing started happening there about 20 years ago or so, and is intensifying every day there.

I'm widely viewed on this forum as a bitter curmudgeon, but I think people like me are often the "conscience" of a place, as well as having the institutional memory needed to bring some continuity to the governance of the place. When they are gone, it's very easy for the same mistakes to be made over and over again. Nobody is left to remember "when we tried that once before." Unfortunately, there are a lot of people today who have no respect for experience, wisdom, common sense, or traditions. They, in their arrogance and ignorance, think that THEY know better. That's a sure road to destruction.

The sprawl is pretty much happening everywhere though. People just want to make a decent living for themselves and their kids. As long as we all keep making babies and extending our lifespans, it'll just keep getting worse and many more quaint communities will be engulfed by growth.

[_Charles_]

I grew up in Colorado. My parents and most of my brothers and sisters (and now their families) live all over the state. Heck I could accurate draw a map of the state from memory.

In short here is what newcomers face:

1. Suburban Chicago's cost of living and Misssissippi's wage and salary scale. This is the number one thing that drives many newcomers back out of the state.

2. A fractured social situation - nope, sorry folks - Colorado ain't a friendly place- never has been.

[Investrman]

I lived in Woodland Park, CO and Colorado Springs, CO. And I spent time traveling the whole state before deciding to move there back in 1996. But sadly, a divorce the following year is what drove me out of there several years. Today, I am missing many friendships I made there of the local people and the environment the state can offer anyone. I did come out this past June to see one of my sons who graduated highschool.

Yes, I will say this as a former resident of Colorado and what I found in depth. The problems surrounding the stigma today as they started when I first arrived there from PA in 1996, was the massive population growth mainly from Californians in the 1990's that came to everywhere (Texas seemed to be other major state for transplants), driving up real estate prices, costs of living, and individuals getting into the legal system and other governmental positions, seemingly to try to change Colorado from laws to the environment to just about anything that was the former Colorado experience (and what I knew and fell in love with) to what the very Californians left California for!? You will hear the term "Californado" today and that is why. Sadly all the boom and expansion seems ot have met a cap now, as Colorado Springs is the largets town of forclosures in USA for many months and many of the former high tech jobs lured from the west coast have or are closing up and leaving, and even word the US Olympic Center may move out of town adds a major blow to the Springs itself. So ample housing, but you need to be sure of a job, as it was not what it was 10 years ago.

It is a weird diconomy of sorts, and I will tell you as a former transplant coming from PA, the true local born Coloradans are the best people you will or can ever meet anywhere you go in the USA in my opinion. I moved there respecting them and their state (for what it was), but as other posters have stated, there is very clear evidence many have come with BIG monies and try to change Colorado to what they left, and to me, that is plain wrong and what is at the crux of the underlying anti-sentiments you will hear today living there.

[jazzlover]

Originally Posted by Investrman

I lived in Woodland Park, CO and Colorado Springs, CO. And I spent time traveling the whole state before deciding to move there back in 1996. But sadly, a divorce the following year is what drove me out of there several years. Today, I am missing many friendships I made there of the local people and the environment the state can offer anyone. I did come out this past June to see one of my sons who graduated highschool.

Yes, I will say this as a former resident of Colorado and what I found in depth. The problems surrounding the stigma today as they started when I first arrived there from PA in 1996, was the massive population growth mainly from Californians in the 1990's that came to everywhere (Texas seemed to be other major state for transplants), driving up real estate prices, costs of living, and individuals getting into the legal system and other governmental positions, seemingly to try to change Colorado from laws to the environment to just about anything that was the former Colorado experience (and what I knew and fell in love with) to what the very Californians left California for!? You will hear the term "Californado" today and that is why. Sadly all the boom and expansion seems ot have met a cap now, as Colorado Springs is the largets town of forclosures in USA for many months and many of the former high tech jobs lured from the west coast have or are closing up and leaving, and even word the US Olympic Center may move out of town adds a major blow to the Springs itself. So ample housing, but you need to be sure of a job, as it was not what it was 10 years ago.

It is a weird diconomy of sorts, and I will tell you as a former transplant coming from PA, the true local born Coloradans are the best people you will or can ever meet anywhere you go in the USA in my opinion. I moved there respecting them and their state (for what it was), but as other posters have stated, there is very clear evidence many have come with BIG monies and try to change Colorado to what they left, and to me, that is plain wrong and what is at the crux of the underlying anti-sentiments you will hear today living there.

Couldn't have said it better . . .

[ditto]

I can think of reasons to leave Colorado...

Traffic
Pollution (Denver)
Altitude
Dryness
Brown for 6 months out of the year
Horrible drivers & dangerous road conditions
Home prices (please don't compare 'em to California, NY, etc.)
Cookie-cutter tract home communities popping up overnight
Small lot sizes
Planning ahead is somewhat unheard of
Lack of entertainment, restaurants, etc. outside of Denver
Men outnumber women in many locations (kind of rare in the USA)
People somewhat distant (mentioned before in many other threads)
Unpredictable weather
Can stay cold for long stretches (obviously)
Ridiculous, out of control growth

Although this thread is based on why people leave, I'll throw in a few positives:

Decent, fairly friendly people
Nice, comfortable weather certain times during the year
Snow
Mountains
Neat mountain towns
Big on sports, 3 pro teams
People tend to mind their own business
Plenty of outdoor activities

[adamandbrooke]

We moved out of Colorado in 2003 to TX due to a job. We are now waiting for a child to finish her high school (to not disrupt her in this critical time) and then we are out of here. Not one of us in our family doesn't wish could move back tomorrow. We miss the mountains so much. No job is worth leaving CO once we get back there!

[ditto]

Originally Posted by adamandbrooke

We moved out of Colorado in 2003 to TX due to a job. We are now waiting for a child to finish her high school (to not disrupt her in this critical time) and then we are out of here. Not one of us in our family doesn't wish could move back tomorrow. We miss the mountains so much. No job is worth leaving CO once we get back there!

Cant blame you. If I lived in Texas, I'd want to be back in Colorado in a heartbeat!