What's the scoop on Pendleton?

[Lootmeister]

Why Pendleton?

Why not The Dalles.

The Dalles is sunny every day, even when its like ten degrees outside.

The town is growing like crazy too. (becoming more modern.)

Check it out, you'll be glad you did. Housing here is still decent too, but not for much longer.

Portland people are finding that the hour commute to the big city isnt a big deal and that the quality of life here is better and getting better all the time.

[dachmom]

The town is growing like crazy too. (becoming more modern.)

Yes, it recently added a Home Depot and an Adult Store! (that's sarcasm BTW)
The Dalles may be growing like crazy population wise, but that's about it. There are still few "family wage" jobs, unless you work at MCMC.

The Dalles..... becoming more modern??? Well, I guess they finally did put a traffic signal at 6th and Cherry Heights after some kid got hit crossing the street. Didn't he die?

[bnewland]

Pendleton is in a very beautiful area if you like wheat fields and open spaces. However, I feel I must warn anyone thinking of moving there that there is an undercurrent of----well, for want of a better word immaturity. First of all the emotional IQ of the residents is fairly low. To give you an example, the most admired people in the city get together during "Round Up" to ride on top of a stage coach in a parade at 10:00 in the morning on a Saturday. This seems quite innocent until you begin to smell the alcohol and realize that they are all drunk; at 10:00 in the morning; in public. Then you realize that the mounted band members are all drunk also. This is just one example. The whole community takes a moral holiday each year during Round UP but to tell the truth they are not much better the rest of the year. I saw a head start teacher with light up "nipples" which flashed under her shirt. This was again in public at about 5:00 in the evening. Yes she was drunk. If you do go, beware of the "Let R Buck Room" where groping is part of the "charm"? The level of violence is quite high as well. This usually involves the local tribe of Native Americans. I have lived around many different cultures in my life and have always gotten along well with others but these people have a chip on their shoulders and they are capable of extreme violence without apparent provocation. Sadly it is a nice place to visit if you like that kind of thing but trust me it is not a place to live.

[bobmulk]

Good God, Chris, no one was asking for your over the top rantings on animal feed lots. Just answer the person's bloody question and try to do it with a minimal amount of rancor from your personal vendetta.

[nbres]

In defense of Pendleton.

Like any other place it has good and bad qualities.

The Good: cheap rents, low cost housing, great weather - sunny and dry, scenic Blue Mountains in the distance, surrounded by beautiful wheat fields, it is quiet and slow paced.

The Bad: it is isolated, the people (and I'm sorry if I offend anyone from Pendleton) are rather provincial, and there is not much to do there if you are not into outdoor activities.

[AMullHead]

Just a little heads up. Umatilla County has over 180 registered sex offenders. The rape statistics are fairly accurate, and I don't think some of these guys care how old you are. They are absolutely NOT all date rapes. In fact most of them aren't. There has also been a fair amount of murders around here lately. If you go to Umatilla County's website, you can view the jail roster. It will give you a pretty good idea of the types of crimes we have around here. I have lived here my whole life, and now that I have kids of my own to raise, I am doing everything in my power to get out of here.

[karlsch]

Originally Posted by bnewland

However, I feel I must warn anyone thinking of moving there that there is an undercurrent of----well, for want of a better word immaturity. First of all the emotional IQ of the residents is fairly low. To give you an example, the most admired people in the city get together during "Round Up" to ride on top of a stage coach in a parade at 10:00 in the morning on a Saturday. This seems quite innocent until you begin to smell the alcohol and realize that they are all drunk; at 10:00 in the morning; in public. Then you realize that the mounted band members are all drunk also.

Not only do they drink too much during the Roundup, we can hear them hollerin' "YEE-HAW!!!....YEE-HAW!!!" all the way down here in Baker City - and we're ninety miles away. It keeps us awake at night. The whole thing is an outrage.

[mwjjpp]

I came to Pendleton from a large city 2 years ago. The culture shock of big city to rural area is huge, so be ready for it.

My opinions:

THE GOOD.
-Relatively safe in most areas. Yes, the percentage of crimes is high, but there are so few people here that you can spot the seedy ones a mile away, and avoid them. Also, the small-town redneck attitude can be beneficial. People will still get involved if they see something fishy going on.
-There is a disproportionately large amount of elderly folks which means there is less "whooping it up" going on. They're just happy to get through another day for the most part.
-Quiet. For all the talk of drinking (and that does seem to be the major leisure activity), this is still the kind of town where you almost never hear sirens, so people always look when they hear one.
-Folks are quite friendly and happy to talk to you.
-Home prices are fairly reasonable.
-The climate. It is high desert which means it's dry, cold in winter and hot in summer, temperate springs and falls w/ lots of sunshine year round.
-Outdoor activities. If you like hunting, fishing, boating, skiing, etc, you have it all within a few hours of Pendleton.
-NO SALES TAX! I LOVE that about Oregon!

THE BAD.
-The medium security correctional institute. Many of the inmates' families move here to be close, and bring their drug/alcohol/etc. problems with them. Also, medium security means lots of pedophiles and other sexual predators housed there.. and many of the inmates choose to live in Pendleton once they're released. This may be why the rape percentage is high (and no, they are NOT "date rapes").
-The economy - there is no economy. There are no decent jobs, and the town seems hell-bent on economic suicide. Most local realtors say the city has made it difficult to build, which explains why everything here is so bloody OLD. Also, there is a vicious good-old-boy network protecting the old, small business owners. Ergo, the lack of shopping and growth. As annoying as they may be, I tend to look at big box stores as an indicator of an area's economic health. And the only big box in Pendleton is the region's smallest Walmart.
-High percentage of low income households... including all the stereo-typical problems that follow. Higher percentage than any of the other places I've lived.
-Health care - one small hospital (St. Anthony's). Never been there, but most locals say drive to Walla Walla or Kennewick if you can. Also, Pendleton is not usually a target destination for doctors, so the good ones don't tend to stay for very long (if they come here at all).
Social Atmosphere - adults are friendly on the surface. Yes, most are uneducated and unsophisticated, but they're also unpretentious and down-to-earth. The biggest issue I've run into is the cliques. From what folks say, the cliques around here start in grade school, solidify in high school, and remain fixed for life. So, if you're an outsider who doesn't drink or like rodoes, good luck making friends. Also, there's very little interest in the outside world among some of the native Pendletonians. I know of at least one 24 year old who has never even been to Portland (which is only 3 hours away).
-Old housing. Yes, prices are fairly reasonable, but you're going to have to spend lots of money on remodeling after you buy. And good luck finding someone to do the work. Quality labor is almost non-existent here.
-The Native American reservation and casino here. Don't know if it's from years of oppression or what, but Natives here have a high proportion of drug/alcohol abuse including all the crimes that go along with that.
-The climate. It is high desert which means it's dry, cold in winter and hot in summer.
-Entertainment. There is almost nothing to do here unless you drink, or you're the outdoors type. Our entertainment usually involves either going to the library, or driving an hour to Walla Walla or the Tri-Cities.

[nbres]

Originally Posted by mwjjpp

I came to Pendleton from a large city 2 years ago. The culture shock of big city to rural area is huge, so be ready for it.

My opinions:

THE GOOD.
-Relatively safe in most areas. Yes, the percentage of crimes is high, but there are so few people here that you can spot the seedy ones a mile away, and avoid them. Also, the small-town redneck attitude can be beneficial. People will still get involved if they see something fishy going on.
-There is a disproportionately large amount of elderly folks which means there is less "whooping it up" going on. They're just happy to get through another day for the most part.
-Quiet. For all the talk of drinking (and that does seem to be the major leisure activity), this is still the kind of town where you almost never hear sirens, so people always look when they hear one.
-Folks are quite friendly and happy to talk to you.
-Home prices are fairly reasonable.
-The climate. It is high desert which means it's dry, cold in winter and hot in summer, temperate springs and falls w/ lots of sunshine year round.
-Outdoor activities. If you like hunting, fishing, boating, skiing, etc, you have it all within a few hours of Pendleton.
-NO SALES TAX! I LOVE that about Oregon!

THE BAD.
-The medium security correctional institute. Many of the inmates' families move here to be close, and bring their drug/alcohol/etc. problems with them. Also, medium security means lots of pedophiles and other sexual predators housed there.. and many of the inmates choose to live in Pendleton once they're released. This may be why the rape percentage is high (and no, they are NOT "date rapes").
-The economy - there is no economy. There are no decent jobs, and the town seems hell-bent on economic suicide. Most local realtors say the city has made it difficult to build, which explains why everything here is so bloody OLD. Also, there is a vicious good-old-boy network protecting the old, small business owners. Ergo, the lack of shopping and growth. As annoying as they may be, I tend to look at big box stores as an indicator of an area's economic health. And the only big box in Pendleton is the region's smallest Walmart.
-High percentage of low income households... including all the stereo-typical problems that follow. Higher percentage than any of the other places I've lived.
-Health care - one small hospital (St. Anthony's). Never been there, but most locals say drive to Walla Walla or Kennewick if you can. Also, Pendleton is not usually a target destination for doctors, so the good ones don't tend to stay for very long (if they come here at all).
Social Atmosphere - adults are friendly on the surface. Yes, most are uneducated and unsophisticated, but they're also unpretentious and down-to-earth. The biggest issue I've run into is the cliques. From what folks say, the cliques around here start in grade school, solidify in high school, and remain fixed for life. So, if you're an outsider who doesn't drink or like rodoes, good luck making friends. Also, there's very little interest in the outside world among some of the native Pendletonians. I know of at least one 24 year old who has never even been to Portland (which is only 3 hours away).
-Old housing. Yes, prices are fairly reasonable, but you're going to have to spend lots of money on remodeling after you buy. And good luck finding someone to do the work. Quality labor is almost non-existent here.
-The Native American reservation and casino here. Don't know if it's from years of oppression or what, but Natives here have a high proportion of drug/alcohol abuse including all the crimes that go along with that.
-The climate. It is high desert which means it's dry, cold in winter and hot in summer.
-Entertainment. There is almost nothing to do here unless you drink, or you're the outdoors type. Our entertainment usually involves either going to the library, or driving an hour to Walla Walla or the Tri-Cities.

I think you got Pendleton right.

Except the library in Pendleton sucks. They moved it into what I think was an old Junior High. I remember the library had some old magazines and few books. People in Pendleton don't read much. Is there at least one book store in Pendleton now?

[Dolphinswink]

I've been reading this forum for some time now but this thread about Pendleton got me to register so I could respond

I was born and raised in Pendleton. Spent my first 7 years in Pendleton and attended Lincoln and Hawthorne schools before moving to Helix where I went to school there for 7 years. Then my soph/jr years in hs were in Pilot Rock and finally for my senior year, I graduated from Pendelton H.S.

As a young person then, Pendleton was quite boring for me but it helped to keep active in school sports and summer camps.

I left Pendleton as soon as I graduated from HS in '83 but visited approx. once a year since I still had lots of family there.

Visiting Pendleton has been fun for me but has never been a place I'd like to live. Probably b/c I lean towards the liberal side of life and had a hard time with the lack of diversity in Pendleton (for lack of a better word and I mean no offense.)

Not much has changed there, IMO, with the exception of Walmart.

The Med Sec prison that's now there was put up after I moved or close to it anyway. My Mom worked at the State Hospital there for over 20 years and left Pendleton when it was converted to a prison.

My grandmother passed away five years ago and loved Pendleton. I haven't been to Pendleton since she passed away but family reunions every August were a lot of fun for us. Sometimes some of us would stay through to Round Up, but for me personally, once you've seen one Round Up, you're pretty much seen 'em all lol

If one likes coffee, the best place in town, in my ever so humble opinion, is the Great Pacific Wine & Coffee house downtown on Main. I know the owner and it was pretty much the only place in town where I felt comfortable with being myself.

Pendleton has long made me feel ... :: searching for the right words :: ... uptight I guess - tense. Like I couldn't completely relax there but again, that's probably because I like diversity in life and don't do well in communities that are as conservative as Pendleton is.

Granted, I have not lived in Pendleton since before '83 .. and when visiting, I'd have a good time but after 3-4 days, I'd have my "fill" and be feeling the itch to get going.

I agree with the weather .. perfect four season climate there. The Blue Mountains are a great place to visit for camping, hiking, skiing, etc .. Wallowa Lake is beautiful and worth the visit.

Columbia River is also a great place to go for boating, fishing, and camping. I remember family trips to Hat Rock state park and it was like a whole other world

If one likes to shop, I agree that best places to go would be up to Walla Walla or the Tri Cities or better yet, over to Portland - when the weather is nice, the Gorge is a fabulously beautiful drive between Pendleton and Portland.

Lots of seniors in Pendleton who are very active in the community. I became well involved myself b/c my grandmother liked to stay busy with volunteer work and headed up a lot of stuff there up until a couple years before she passed away.

Small towns don't always equal small minds ... and Pendleton has pockets of people who could give a hoot if you're gay, non white, foreign, etc and yet others who do care. As a gay person myself, I never felt too comfortable there.

Sorry for the long rant ... E. Oregon is really beautiful country and I love to visit it, but it's not my first choice to actually live there.

Different strokes ...