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My husband and I are considering a move to Montrose, Co. We are retired artists and currently live in Canon City for about a year now. We are seeking a change. I am originally from New York and husband is from Charlotte NC. We do not want big city life at this point but do want more than Canon City has to offer. Hoping to find a small town with easy access to scenic surrounding areas. We have visited Trinidad recently and although the historic structures are amazing along with some of the striking older homes we feel the area appears a bit too depressed for us. We have a limited income so cost of living is a big factor. We don't care for long winters with large amounts of snowfall either. We do like an attractive downtown and a few larger shops on the outskirts. From what I've read so far Montrose seems to fit the bill. Any info about the town would be appreciated. Thanks.
I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings, but Montrose is not going to offer you anything more than Canon City does. In fact, Canon City probably offers more since it's only a hop and a skip from the Colorado Springs metro area and the rest of the Front Range. For those who live in Montrose, the nearest town of any size is Grand Junction which offers nothing near the amenities to be found in the Springs or even Pueblo. Also, the winters in Montrose will probably be slightly harder than what you have experienced in Canon City - maybe even quite a bit harder if a spate of bad winter weather sets in which is not unusual for the Montrose area.
You will be close to all sorts of wonderful places filled with natural beauty - Grand Mesa, the Uncomphaghre Plateau, the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, etc. For some folks this proximity makes up for any drawbacks that Montrose may have. I've always liked the region myself, but its economy, while not as bad as that of Trinidad, still is not exactly booming, either. If you don't have to work to help make ends meet, it shouldn't be too much of a problem.
You might want to visit one of the smaller towns outside Grand Junction such as Fruita or Clifton. These places are still towns in their own right while also being close enough to Grand Junction to take advantage of the amenities offered there. GJ has pretty mild winters and is also close to all sorts of great places in the Colorado out-of-doors. It too is suffering from an economic downturn, however, but this has made rents in the vicinity a better bargain than just about anywhere else on the Western Slope. Good luck with your quest for a new home and do some visiting around before you decide on any one place.
I guess this is as good a place as any to jump in.
I too am considering moving to Montrose. I have some similar questions, so I hope that MariaKay won't mind me adding my questions too.
I'm originally from the West Coast, but for the last several years have been living in the Midwest, which I don't like. I miss mountains, very much!
I have always lived in big or middle-ish big cities, and I realize that Montrose is smaller than that.
Since moving to the Midwest, I have reconciled myself to ordering many things online (because I don't like the selection in some of the local stores). I'm not much for going to shows and movies. Nightlife, forget it. Honestly, the thing I most miss about living on the West Coast was the beautiful scenery, mountain peaks, the desert . . . and Montrose seems closer to that then the flat Midwest.
I've looked at the listing of stores and amenities in Montrose and they seem "okay" to me. Taco Bell? Check. A health food store? Check. Subway? Check. Safeway? Check. Target? Walmart? Check and Check. Hobby Lobby is up in Grand Junction. Okay, not too great, but I usually mail order my supplies anyway...
I am concerned about the winters, but it doesn't sound like they're any worse than the midwest (so it would be a lateral move, weather-wise) and it might even be better in Montrose, since it seems like it's more dry (which I like, since I grew up in an arid climate).
My plan is to earn most of my income via online (I have been doing so for over a decade and am working now to increase that). So hopefully I wouldn't be worrying about finding a local job, though in the past I would pick up some dead-end retail job to make ends meet and would do that again if it came to it.
I'm an artist (painting and ceramics) and while I wouldn't expect to sell a lot of my artwork locally, it would be nice to know if there are some promising communities within a few hours drive that I could go to. I have researched Grand Junction and it does seem like they have *something*.
Is there anything else I should know? My main interest is, I think, the weather and the beautiful scenery. If I can make a dash to Taco Bell once in a while too, that would be great.
As a Colorado native and resident of the Western Slope for 15 years, I'd like to add some info which reflects my perspective of Montrose.
MariaKay: One of the main attractions and reasons for living in Montrose is the incredibly spectacular views of the San Juan mountains. There are numerous photos on-line for you to check out since Mt. Sneffles and the Cimarrons are favorites of professional and amateur photogs. As retired artists, you might also enjoy the short drive south to Ouray, known as the Switzerland of America. It is a quaint town with a natural hot spring, well-maintained and restored Victorian houses. Box Canyon falls, a small but vibrant main street, and is the host to the annual ice climbing competition with international competitors. There are also summer jeep tours to remote areas like Yankee Boy Basin, etc. However, since Ouray sits in a bowl surrounding by the San Juans, the weather is much colder and snowier than Montrose, but great for a day jaunt or a weekend getaway.
Also a short drive south of Montrose is the town of Ridgway, notably reknown as the area where True Grit was filmed. En route to Ridgway one drives by the Ridgway State Park and reservoir, filled by the Uncompaghre River on its way north until it converges in Delta with the Gunnison River. About an hour's drive into the mountains from Ridgway is Telluride and Mountain Village. There's plenty of info on-line about ToHellYouRide and MV since it's a favorite of numerous celebs who ski and/or own property and/or flock to the film and jazz festivals there.
For scenic drives, you may also want to google the Million Dollar Highway (550 south) from Ouray to Silverton and Durango. Incredible spectacular views but extremely dangerous since there are no guard rails and it's closed in winter because of possible avalanches.
Have you checked out Durango? Pricier than Montrose but there's a lot more going on there because of its active downtown which is a big tourist draw along with the narrow gauge railroad that winds from Durango to Silverton and back.
There's also a sizable college population so lots of eateries and shops.
Concerning Montrose weather, nothing definite can be said about the seasons except that we have all four. Yes, we get snow. Sometimes so little that it "doesn't stick", meaning that it usually melts before sundown. Some winters, we get inches but. so far as I know, not feet of snowfall, which does stick and hangs around for a week or more. As a New Yorker
you must be familiar with the bundling up in layers in winter and switching to cottons in summer. Yes, it's a hassle but integral to living in most of Colorado.
As for cost of living, according to Sperling's Best Places, Montrose ranks 100, which means that it's equivalent to the national average (or is it the national median?). Housing prices have climbed back up locally since the market here was very active this season but hasn't reached the pre-recession highs. Property tax varies but is usually around $900+ for a 2000 sf, 3 bed, 3 bath house on about 1/4 of an acre. Delta, about 30 miles north of Montrose, is considerably less but lacks some of our amenities. Utilities consist of DMEA (co-op electric company), Source Gas and/or propane if rural, Montrose City sewer, water, trash and recycling pick-up, and phone/internet/tv. DMEA runs in the $80+ range for a newer 2000 sf house, Source Gas ranges from low $30s in summer to +$100 in winter, unless you have a wood/pellet stove to supplement the natural gas. The city utilities usually average around $60-70 a month. The only increase is in the amount of water you use. As for phone, tv and internet, I use Charter, which runs $110 a month. There are other options such as Dish TV, etc.,but Charter has the fastest internet speed.
For marketing, there are two City Markets, one Safeway, a 24/7 Walmart and Natural Grocers.
In addition to the market pharmacies, there is a Walgreens.
Regarding medical, there is only Montrose Memorial Hospital and one Urgent Care. Many major trauma cases are transferred to Mercy Hospital in Grand Junction, otherwise, Montrose Hospital seems to serve our community well. You might want to investigate health insurance options and
explore general practitioners/specialists before you decide to relocate. With all of the recent changes, some doctors are no longer accepting or restricting taking on new patients.
Elvira310: Although I'm a native Coloradan, I grew up in LA, have lived in the Midwest, East Coast and places in-between so you may be able to relate. First of all, Montrose is a lot like America used to be. Pretty safe, friendly people, clean air, great water and a heck of a lot slower than any big city, although we now have about five or six traffic lights instead of just a couple. But it's still rare to even hear a horn honk because people are more patient, polite and civil here.
Being a small "city", Montrose does have some drawbacks. Number one is that there is a lack of things for teenagers to do unless they're involved in sports. Many of the youth are parents before they've even gotten to college or had a chance to explore the world. There are only two theatres and one drive-in, one bowling alley, and lots of parks. The city has begun major improvements in Baldrige park, adding a water sports kayaking feature. The city has also broken ground for a modern, acres-huge, mega-bucks recreation center to be built over the next couple of years. The rec center will be a great asset for Montrose.
RE selling your paintings and ceramics, there are art galleries and shops here in Montrose, primarily on Main Street, although I don't know how profitable they are. The local library sponsors an art show at least once a year featuring local artists and in summer there is Main in Motion every Thursday night. The Main Street shops stay open, the street is cordoned off to vehicular traffic, and local food vendors, artists and musicians ply their wares to the crowds of
locals who stroll down Main. There is also a small co-op shop called The Creative Corner on Main which features local potters, stitchers, jewelry makers, etc. They jointly cover the shop rent and rotate working in the store.
Telluride and/or Ridgway and/or Ouray and/or Durango/Pagosa Springs may be more lucrative markets. Those areas are more upscale and shoppers generally have more discretionary income than Montrose residents. Grand Junction has Mesa Mall and strip malls but I don't think there are many specialty galleries there except on their renovated Main Street, which is pretty active.
Beautiful scenery we've got. Arid climate we also have. The elevation here is almost 6000 feet, the air is extremely dry, contrary to this month's almost daily drench. Summer's here can reach high 90s or even top 100 so virtually every house has a swamp cooler and/or air conditioner. Humidifiers sell well here. Winters can dip down to below zero, usually just by a notch or two, and usually just for a day or two.
As comfortable as it is living in Montrose, I do miss the range of activities available in a larger city. There is no Norton Simon, Getty, architectural, industrial, aerospace, etc. type museums here. While there is a plethora of art, it is predominately if not exclusively "western". At times I long to view a Picasso, a Van Gogh, an Andy Warhol, a Turner... ANYTHING but western.
The variety of restaurants is also very limited. Yes, there is a Taco Bell. There's also a Taco John, two Mickey D's, a Burger King, a Subway, an Arbys, a Wendy's, Chilis, Appleby's and more. There are also two Chinese restaurants, one Thai, plentiful Mexican places, a few coffee shops, a deli and a bagel shop, etc. But to me a true deli has chopped liver, white fish and matzo ball soup on its menu. And a bagel shop has lox! There's not a single place that offers French cuisine, much less something eclectic like West African or Middle Eastern. Oh, I forgot, there is a Nepal buffet and a new Himalayan restaurant, so it seems that Montrose is indeed broadening its borders.
The job market is very limited here. BAs and even MAs end up being clerks, waiting tables, doing low level health care or other "temporary" jobs until something "opens up", which often doesn't happen. The pay scale is almost laughable, but then the cost of living is relatively low, so... it's a trade-off. Of course there is a professional level of higher earners but the division between exists and is evident.
A third or more of the population is 55+; transplants primarily move from California, Texas, Arizona, Long Island, etc. Some residents summer here and winter in warmer climes. Montrose is predominately Republican, has reportedly in excess of 100 churches, and the city population is approximately 18,000+. The county encompasses Montrose, Olathe, Nucla and Naturita.
The Montrose Daily Press is the local paper for the city. The Daily Sentinel services Grand Junction, the Delta Independent serves Delta, then there are free papers such as The Watch (I think), Beacon (for seniors), etc. There is a glossy magazine, Montrose, which features local residents, businesses and happenings which is informative. And of course, Montrose has its own website, a Chamber of Commerce and visitors center... all of which are worth investigating before relocating.
All of this is obviously just one person's perspective. Hopefully it's been interesting and helpful. Good journeying on your searches.
Around the Corner on Main Street is a nice local art gallery, yes, mostly Western but some nice stuff.
I visit an elderly friend who is retired in Montrose. She retired from Ridgway, but started her family in Montrose many years ago, so knows the town very well. She has located all the things of "city" interest- a nice coffee shop, specialty films on Sundays at the beautiful Art Deco movie theater downtown. She does feel people are a bit close-minded, but then, she votes Democratic, so… Montrose Memorial has a new-ish Cancer Center, which means she doesn't have to go to GJ anymore for care. There is an excellent hospice service (complete with very cool thrift shop downtown).
A pretty drive to the pleasures of Ridgway and Ouray, less than an hour away. I'd consider it for retirement (dry weather!) but do know that it is many miles from any semblance of a big city and non-Western art.
Good post, lookeeloocie. I agree with most of your points but here's a few I disagree with...
Quote:
Originally Posted by lookeeloolucie
Elvira310: Although I'm a native Coloradan, I grew up in LA, have lived in the Midwest, East Coast and places in-between so you may be able to relate. First of all, Montrose is a lot like America used to be. Pretty safe, friendly people, clean air, great water and a heck of a lot slower than any big city, although we now have about five or six traffic lights instead of just a couple. But it's still rare to even hear a horn honk because people are more patient, polite and civil here.
I couldn't disagree more. I came to the town as an outsider and was treated like an invalid by most of the natives and long-time residents. They all think the outsiders ruined their community. As a business manager, our branch suffered greatly because the people who were in key positions were from outside of the area. Mind you, I work for a company that is the best in the industry.
Quote:
Being a small "city", Montrose does have some drawbacks. Number one is that there is a lack of things for teenagers to do unless they're involved in sports. Many of the youth are parents before they've even gotten to college or had a chance to explore the world. There are only two theatres and one drive-in, one bowling alley, and lots of parks. The city has begun major improvements in Baldrige park, adding a water sports kayaking feature. The city has also broken ground for a modern, acres-huge, mega-bucks recreation center to be built over the next couple of years. The rec center will be a great asset for Montrose.
Agreed with everything except the section in bold. The rec center will become an albatross within 10-15 years. The way the ballot measure was passed was questionable as well. The sales tax increase affects all Montrose county residents, yet only residents who live within the city limits were able to vote on the measure. Had county residents been included, the measure likely would have failed.
There are far better ways for the city to spend $30 million than this - several schools need updating and they need to do something that will increase economic growth (i.e. invest in a small community college).
Quote:
Beautiful scenery we've got. Arid climate we also have. The elevation here is almost 6000 feet, the air is extremely dry, contrary to this month's almost daily drench. Summer's here can reach high 90s or even top 100 so virtually every house has a swamp cooler and/or air conditioner. Humidifiers sell well here. Winters can dip down to below zero, usually just by a notch or two, and usually just for a day or two.
Compared to the rest of the Western Slope, the scenery in Montrose is mediocre at best. Now, it's better than say, Pueblo, but after living in Durango for 2 years, I wasn't impressed with the scenery at all.
Quote:
The variety of restaurants is also very limited. Yes, there is a Taco Bell. There's also a Taco John, two Mickey D's, a Burger King, a Subway, an Arbys, a Wendy's, Chilis, Appleby's and more. There are also two Chinese restaurants, one Thai, plentiful Mexican places, a few coffee shops, a deli and a bagel shop, etc. But to me a true deli has chopped liver, white fish and matzo ball soup on its menu. And a bagel shop has lox! There's not a single place that offers French cuisine, much less something eclectic like West African or Middle Eastern. Oh, I forgot, there is a Nepal buffet and a new Himalayan restaurant, so it seems that Montrose is indeed broadening its borders.
The restaurant scene in Montrose is indeed mediocre. You can add the fact that there isn't a decent Italian restaurant to your list
Quote:
The job market is very limited here. BAs and even MAs end up being clerks, waiting tables, doing low level health care or other "temporary" jobs until something "opens up", which often doesn't happen. The pay scale is almost laughable, but then the cost of living is relatively low, so... it's a trade-off. Of course there is a professional level of higher earners but the division between exists and is evident.
This (in my opinion) is the biggest problem with Montrose. The job market is non-existent, which is why I don't understand what keeps people in that town. The lack of a higher education institution prevents them from attracting employers, and when driving through town, I couldn't help but notice the number of empty commercial buildings.
Let's Go There, thanks for your comments and differences of opinion. Your input is very informative for prospective businesses considering a relocation to Montrose, but you've painted a very broad stroke of negativity when you said that "They all think the outsiders ruined their community." I'm not understanding how transplants in key positions directly caused your branch to "suffer greatly." What industry are you in? Was your business unable to obtain permits/licenses/approvals, or otherwise function at optimal levels because of the attitudes/machinations of local residents? I'm just curious.
I agree that the schools here need updating, but still feel that the rec center will be a definite asset.
BTW, the renamed Colorado Mesa University has had a branch in Montrose since 1991. And Pahgre's has reopened at its Oxbow location.
Regarding your other points of disagreement, let's just agree to disagree.
I was also wondering what the timeline was for your Montrose experience and have you relocated to a more suitable city?
Let's Go There, thanks for your comments and differences of opinion. Your input is very informative for prospective businesses considering a relocation to Montrose, but you've painted a very broad stroke of negativity when you said that "They all think the outsiders ruined their community." I'm not understanding how transplants in key positions directly caused your branch to "suffer greatly." What industry are you in? Was your business unable to obtain permits/licenses/approvals, or otherwise function at optimal levels because of the attitudes/machinations of local residents? I'm just curious.
I agree that the schools here need updating, but still feel that the rec center will be a definite asset.
BTW, the renamed Colorado Mesa University has had a branch in Montrose since 1991. And Pahgre's has reopened at its Oxbow location.
Regarding your other points of disagreement, let's just agree to disagree.
I was also wondering what the timeline was for your Montrose experience and have you relocated to a more suitable city?
I lived in Montrose from the Spring of 2013 until the Fall of 2014. I have since moved to Denver - I'm much happier here. The year and a half I spent in Montrose was a low point.
I worked for a supply house in the construction industry. I had customers flat out tell me that they didn't trust me because I was from outside of the Montrose-Delta-GJ corridor. Considering that I was also a transplant to the Durango area and didn't have any issues with the people there, I found this very strange. In addition to this, the business people I dealt with in Montrose operated in a way that made me question how they stayed in business (unorganized, high maintenance, unpleasant, unethical, etc.). Our organization is very structured and well-managed, so maybe it wasn't conducive to the way these businesses in Montrose operated.
To me, Montrose is so isolated and insular that the people don't know how society and business works today. The town is stuck in the dark ages in a lot of ways. Glad I was able to move on.
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