Pro and Cons on Klamath Falls (Portland, Drain: crime rates, homes, private schools)

[mddd]

Originally Posted by Dan G-man

I am in search for country living, Good people, Clean air, sunny days, fishing and hiking for the rest of my life.

Klamath would fit that bill--

however with prices dropping you might consider Bend. It has more to offer in the way of activities, hospitals stores.

The range of outdoor activities around Bend is unbeatable.Close to Cascade Lakes, downhill skiing, hiking, biking, etc.

Medford is another good location

[NotoriousOIT]

I lived in Klamath Falls for four years, I went to college there. I actually just got back from there, I went to my friends' graduation! I'd forgotten how much I liked the area...it's very pretty. I may end up moving back there in a couple years if my husband decides he wants to transfer to Oregon Tech.

The only real drawbacks about living in K-Falls are the lack of anything fun to do outside of hunting and fishing (I swear the entire town shuts down at 5 pm Friday and doesn't open till 9 am Monday) and the incredibly hateful hardcore religious fundamentalists...I never saw so many cars plastered with judgmental, hellfire-and-brimstone Bible verses and "Jesus Saves" decals until I moved there. The atmosphere is gradually getting better though, there's a natural foods store downtown now.

[playamama]

Originally Posted by Cynthia Blue

Hmm interesting. My husband and I are considering moving to Oregon or Washington State when I retire in about 7 years. I would like something dog friendly (I do a lot of dog agility), and semi-rural but not too far from a largish city. We are not night-life people and mostly stick to ourselves. An acre would be great.

We are now in Salt Lake City, Utah, and I'd really like someplace warmer in the winter... but from what I'm reading neither Oregon or Washington are warmer unless you are on the coast.

I'm just looking at options, now. My husband might still have to work, so that is a concern, too.

I am a born Oregonian and have lived here all my life with the exception of a 3 year stint in the Oklahoma/Kansas area. I have lived all over the state with the exception of the extreme northeastern part. Bend used to be lovely till some stupid magazine rated it the best placed to retire. Now it's a little California in the center of my state. Klamath Falls really isn't that bad, you just have to use common sense just like you would in Portland or any other place you live unless you live in the middle of 800 acres surrounded by a security fence. The corridor from Roseburg to Ashland, now there is a strange little area for you. I currently live in that area and wow! Absolutely bizarre extremely violent crimes. Ashland being the least offensive but it is a hippie bohemian type community and if you are looking for that, it's the place to go. Meford has had two drive by shootings in the past year at one of the high schools. As far as the coast being warmer? LOL! We used to go over when they would get those very rare days (and I mean extremely rare) where it would hit in the 80's and 90's and watch people who were obviously not from here go jumping in that water thinking it was going to be like the ocean off the coast of southern Cali and they would come up screaming and there skin blue! The Oregon coast isn't warm, it rains a ton but it is beautiful and the only beach in the United state where from border to border it's 100% public land.

[playamama]

Originally Posted by NotoriousOIT

I lived in Klamath Falls for four years, I went to college there. I actually just got back from there, I went to my friends' graduation! I'd forgotten how much I liked the area...it's very pretty. I may end up moving back there in a couple years if my husband decides he wants to transfer to Oregon Tech.

The only real drawbacks about living in K-Falls are the lack of anything fun to do outside of hunting and fishing (I swear the entire town shuts down at 5 pm Friday and doesn't open till 9 am Monday) and the incredibly hateful hardcore religious fundamentalists...I never saw so many cars plastered with judgmental, hellfire-and-brimstone Bible verses and "Jesus Saves" decals until I moved there. The atmosphere is gradually getting better though, there's a natural foods store downtown now.

Hey, you can't undercut the Black Dog downtown. That place is a great place to chill, drink a beer and play pool.

[eller900]

Looking at a job in Tulelake, CA. Would it be possible to live in Klamath Falls and commute to Tulelake. How far is it? Google earth says 25 miles (40min). Seems like it should be a bit faster. Are there any other communities between Klamath Falls and Tulelake worth checking out? Thanks for the advice!

[PNW-type-gal]

Originally Posted by eller900

Looking at a job in Tulelake, CA. Would it be possible to live in Klamath Falls and commute to Tulelake. How far is it? Google earth says 25 miles (40min). Seems like it should be a bit faster. Are there any other communities between Klamath Falls and Tulelake worth checking out? Thanks for the advice!

Depends on what you want for size. Klamath Falls is the largest city in the area, but there are several smaller cities. Merrill, OR is about the same size as Tulelake, CA.

I don't know anything about California's tax structure, though. If you live in Oregon and work in another state, you WILL pay Oregon income tax, but I don't know how California treats non-resident income. I can't imagine they'd be very lenient about it, though...

[HRM2]

The older ones in power here don't want K Falls to grow. Most of them own businesses and they don't want the competition. They have done a bang up job keeping jobs out of K Falls in the past. Boeing for one. The battle is still on for Costco.We got a Home Depot finally . This little town is neck deep in shady deals and shady politicians. Its trying like heck to grow in spite of it all though.

[HRM2]

Traveling from KFalls to Tulelake will take you 40mins or more cause the road you have to travel is littered with farm traffic, trucks, and maniac drivers in a hurry to get to work. We've commuted it before and we finally moved. Its a very dangerous road between the two towns. You could live in Merrill Oregon which is probably half way between KFalls and Tulelake. A much smaller town, quiet, But if you weren't born there you won't make any friends. Just to give you a feel for Merrill it was posted in the Speed Trap of America website as being right out of the Dukes of Hazzard. The local cop there stopped us once a week when we first moved there for 4 weeks until we got rid of our out of state tags. Then after that we never saw him.

[kpaq]

I really don't like Klamath Falls. I have a lot of family there and I find it really depressing. Many extreme conservatives, but a lot of younger people are pretty laid back. To me, it just feels like a dead farming town. It seems like it would have been cool back in the 70s, but it's pretty dead now. Very few places to go out to on a Friday night (besides Cowgirls 3 maybe...). The busiest place in town would be Wal-Mart, and the bowling alley is a popular hangout also.

[DorothyandToto]

Wow, where to start? I should have known when I asked the gas pumper (Don't get me started on how RETARDED it is to have someone pump your gas) to put 30 gallons in the Uhaul I was returning and he asked me how he was supposed to be able to do that. I replied a $1.50 a gallon, 30 gallons, about $45. My friend who helped me move down here was being sarcastic and said, "No, $47.89!" The gas pumper replied, "Oh yea, because of the 9 tenths of a cent." So began my journey in Oz. These people are just plain WEIRD! I have a three year old girl, I just hope she doesn't sustain any long term mental setbacks from the three years we have to spend here. I can't find a private school here that isn't bible thumping affiliated, what is that about? I am assuming the Liberals here have a secret handshake and that I just haven't learned it yet. Or, no, there aren't any Liberals in Klamabama? I've been in similar situations in Alabama, but you always knew it was coming because there wasn't a paved road for over 20 miles in any direction, literally. Here there is no warning. I mean granted, you half expect it if you're in Walmart, but it is everywhere here. Everywhere. I think I've met Daryl, Daryl, and his other brothers Daryl, and their family tree has a sign hanging on it that says "Klamath Falls-falls not included." Where do all the people not from here hang out? Please, help Dorthy survive Oz.