Pro and Cons on Klamath Falls (Portland, Medford: house, rent, income)

[Vertigo]

Originally Posted by michaelcordonnier

Most people I meet who live in Klamath love or hate it. Those who hate it just can not wait to get out.
MC

That's me. I hate it. I've been here a year and I've been miserable 95% of the time.

The nature scenery is beutiful. I will never regret moving here simply because I love to experience new places and meet new people.

But there is just something about this place that just doesn't seem to be right. I'm not sure how to describe it. I've lived in much smaller towns then K-Falls...and the smaller towns had 10 times as much to do.

There is a lot of violent crime for a town of this size. There are over 50 level 3 sex offenders in my zip code alone, and there are three zips in Klamath. Not to mention the murders, gang fights and prevelent Meth use.

People without teeth sporting a mullet often decide to inform me of what a hillbilly redneck state I came from (Iowa).

What they don't understand is that K-Falls makes Iowa look cosmopolitan.

I heard someone once refer to Klamath Falls as Klamtucky.

My apologizes to Kentucky, but that pretty much sums it up.

[zilfondel]

There was a bunch of stuff on the news a couple years back of some criminals on the lam from California... I recall them stopping at K-falls and raping & murdering some nun, and there was some other nasty stuff that happened.

K-falls reminds me of the ****tyness of California. Just kind of dumpy, unlike most of the rest of Oregon. Scenery is beautiful, but it does not feel like the rest of Oregon AT ALL. Perhaps that's because it's filled with Californians... hmm...

[Imperial1904]

I have lived in Klamath Falls and (unfortunately) am moving back. It's an OK place for cost of living IF you have a good paying job.

I have to disagree with what Vertigo said about violent crime. I have mentioned this before in another thread that I am from Southern California and don't see any real gang problems. Gang fights? You're kidding right? I don't think so. Maybe you'll get a bunch of wannabe's slapping each other but other than that, I have not seen one real gang, especially one that would pose any kind of threat to a small town. Murders? A couple murders here and there is no big deal. Like I said, Klamath Falls has no gangs, no gang fights, no gang murders, no drive-bys. There's a bunch of wannabe gangstas imitating what they see on TV. You can walk down any street in the middle of the night and still feel safe, even in the Mills area. A few spots of tagging does not mean it's a ghetto. There is nothing even close to a ghetto in Klamath Falls. Yes, there are weird people. Yes, meth looks to be a problem. Meth has been around for years and just a couple years ago they have started to see a problem in the small towns.

I remember the nuns being killed, but I heard they were transients. Then there's the current headlines of a guy shooting and killing a California boy not too long ago and had a fight in park involving 23 people. I wouldn't be surprised if most of those people were kids looking on like it's cool. Still, IMO that is nothing to worry about. I've seen violent gang fights in person in California, don't think something like that would go down in Klamath Falls.

As far as the graffiti goes, they can tag Sur 13 and Crip all they want but the fact is there are no actual gangs there no matter how hard the wannabe's try.

Now, there are some nice places to live but I think Bend or even Medford would be a better choice IMO.

[sweeetcharity]

We visited Klamath Falls this past summer on our scouting trip and were whole-heartedly disappointed. You know- there are no falls there. They brag of 300+ sunny days - and I would say thats about all they have going for them. The town seemed depressed, very little culture, very little diversity, very little to see, very little to do - except watch the birds. And it seems they are losing that entertainment too due to environmentally unfriendly practices. It also seemed to be a hub for some serious right-winged alternative living communities. We were only there for two days, but couldn't wait to hit the road. A definite low point in the Oregon experience.

[Imperial1904]

Originally Posted by sweeetcharity

We visited Klamath Falls this past summer on our scouting trip and were whole-heartedly disappointed. You know- there are no falls there. They brag of 300+ sunny days - and I would say thats about all they have going for them. The town seemed depressed, very little culture, very little diversity, very little to see, very little to do - except watch the birds. And it seems they are losing that entertainment too due to environmentally unfriendly practices. It also seemed to be a hub for some serious right-winged alternative living communities. We were only there for two days, but couldn't wait to hit the road. A definite low point in the Oregon experience.

I agree. To me, it's a "pass-through" town. It's a limited town, there's no night life, nothing to offer visitors. Only reason people move there is because buying a house is cheap.

[Vertigo]

Well, the "gangs" I was talking about you are essentially correct about. They are just wannabes toting guns. Like a gang, but not officially organized. The fight involving 23 people at Kiwanis park was indeed between two groups who saw themselves as gangs.

And the 15-year-old boy who was killed in the hotel was a result of gang-type activity.

Murders....hear about them at least once a month. As frequent as a large city? No. Frequent for a small town? Absolutely. As I've said, I've lived in many small towns...never seen one with the amount of problems this one has. And this town is PSYCHO right-wing. I'm not politically inclined whatsoever, but for god's sake (no pun intended) Rush Limbaugh is not the lord reincarnated!!!!!

As for your social life...kiss it goodbye in Klamath. There is ZERO to do here unless you dig cage fights and monster trucks.

I can't believe someone would come back here after escaping! I can't wait til the day I leave!

[Cornerguy1]

Murders....hear about them at least once a month. ----vertigo

If you're hearing about murders once a month, you need to get down to the Sherriff's office pronto because neither the police department or the local media seem to be aware of this trail of carnage.

In September, 2002, a visiting nun was attacked and murdered by a transient who came into town on a freight train.

In March, 2006, a 15-year-old was shot and killed at the River Inn Motel by another teanager after an arguement.

In December, 2006, a retirement home manager was shot and killed after having an arguement with a 65-year-old resident of the retirement home.

Which ones did I miss?


While these events are certainly tragic, 3 murders in 5 years is a long way from one per month.

Klamath surely isn't everyone's cup of tea, and even Iowans are allowed to get homesick, but to portray Klamath as a gang-riddled, murderous meth lab is not only unfair; it's untrue.

We visited Klamath Falls this past summer on our scouting trip and were whole-heartedly disappointed. You know- there are no falls there. ---sweetcharity

That's just too funny. You mean you weren't impressed with the fountain at the west end of Main street? You expected Niagara west?

Sadly, Klamath Falls certainly can't compare in culture to Duluth or Iowa, but there's no need to run down the monster truck show. Personally I prefer the New Year's Eve Bull riding extravaganza at the fair grounds, but to each his own.

I was never heavily into those plays and impressive live concerts put on at the Ross Ragland Theatre; not nearly "New York" enough, dontchaknow.

With all due respect, sweetcharity, a 2-day visit seems a rather short period of exposure on which to base opinions of:

very little culture, very little diversity, very little to see, very little to do - except watch the birds.

[LarryMorris]

To many Californians moving up or speculating on teh market. It's also about as far away from an oil refinary as you can get.

[Imperial1904]

Originally Posted by Vertigo

Well, the "gangs" I was talking about you are essentially correct about. They are just wannabes toting guns. Like a gang, but not officially organized. The fight involving 23 people at Kiwanis park was indeed between two groups who saw themselves as gangs.

And the 15-year-old boy who was killed in the hotel was a result of gang-type activity.

Murders....hear about them at least once a month. As frequent as a large city? No. Frequent for a small town? Absolutely. As I've said, I've lived in many small towns...never seen one with the amount of problems this one has. And this town is PSYCHO right-wing. I'm not politically inclined whatsoever, but for god's sake (no pun intended) Rush Limbaugh is not the lord reincarnated!!!!!

As for your social life...kiss it goodbye in Klamath. There is ZERO to do here unless you dig cage fights and monster trucks.

I can't believe someone would come back here after escaping! I can't wait til the day I leave!

As cornerguy pointed out, the murder at the hotel was a result of an argument, hardly gang violence at all.

You may think you hear about murders every month but from what I've seen, they just repeat the same headline with new information. If "gangs" are toting guns and there are alot of "gang fights" how come the assaults are low as well as violent crime totals?

I'm going back to save a little money and then get out. It's not because the "crime" is so bad for the size but because small towns like Klamath Falls has a sufficating feel.

Cornerguy, there are a couple more murders to add.

2002 - I think 1 person was shot execution style; drug related.
2005 or 2006 - Murder-suicide by elderly roomates.

That's it in a 5 year span, not quite enough to add up to 1 murder a month.

[Cornerguy1]

Thanks, Imperial.

That'll teach me to let my Herald-News subscription lapse.