Estacada?? (Portland, Silverton, Sandy: for sale, city hall, crime rate)

[aplwh]

Any input on this city? Family friendly, good schools, welcoming?

Thanks.

[parteira]

I'm interested in Estacada too. My family is considering a move to Oregon, thinking about Silverton, Estacada, Mt. Hood areas

(X-posted in Silverton thread)


We are late twenties, crafty, liberal, nature-loving, snow-loving, community-loving people. We have previously lived in DC, Mass, San Francisco, LA, Seattle, and Olympia.

All the ideal things we're looking for (and hoping to find at least a few):
-within an hour or two of a major airport.
-somwhere where people are having babies--I am a midwife, so communities with predominatly aging populations won't work.
-a town that is failry integrated with nature, e.g, has trees, parks, not overly concreted out.
-nearby wilderness is important to us
-friendly population
-a creative community....people making things, public art, etc.
-a community that works at keeping itself vital and relevant

We're planning a visit in May, but any feedbcak in the interim is much appreciated!

[Raymont]

I just moved from Estacada. It's not a bad town. It get's a bad rep, probably from people who never lived there. I was there for 4 years and never had any problems.

Rarely any major crime. Schools seem good. Message me any questions and I will answer them to the best of my knowledge.

[4theluvofgold]

Estacada isn't bad at all. I lived in the nearby Eagle Creek for 10 years of my life. Wasn't bad at all. If you are looking for the snow, the foothills will have it. Estacada is only 500' in elevation. Sandy is just under a 1000'. The places both have awesome wilderness areas.

I liked Eagle Creek for the more rural feel. I had the towns nearby. PDX is within 2 hours (Including traffic) and there are definetly babies being born.

Lots of starter families who already have 1 kid get there and plan on 1 or 2 more. Sandy is 12 miles away, and Mollala is 20 miles south. The area is a semi dense rural area. You would have a nice range to be a midwife in.

If I chose an area to buy I'ld go for up on Wildcat Mt, Dover district, or Up on Curin rd to George rd area. They have space, but neighbors, and decent areas. Eagle Creek is nearby too for a scenic river thats not too big like the Clackamas.

[SantaClues]

parteira: I'm sure this too late, but for anyone else who might come a-lookin'... Estacada's a fine place; small-town folk and all that. Lots of hunting. Lots of gun enthusiasts. Lots of beat-up 4x4 trucks. There's three elementary schools in the district. There's a junior high and a high school, but local critics claim the graduation rate is extraordinarily low. There's one city park. But trees? Hooo-whee! We've got more Christmas tree farms than anyone! There's an unusually high number of thriving churches here, for a small town, so you're in luck if you're Pentecostal, Baptist, Lutheran, Mormon, Jehovah's Witness, SDA, Catholic, Mennonite, AG, or quaint, generic up-in-the-hills Bible thumper. Not a lot of noise from Wiccans and assorted weirdos here. The OCA got pretty good traction here with their anti-gay measures a few years back. We've got a handful of anti-war goobers who get out on the highway and wave peace flags on the weekends. They look pretty demoralized, presumably because the current administration is carrying on wars pretty much in the footsteps of the last one. If you want to move into the city limits there's an application process. I suppose every place does that. You have to go to city hall and fill out the necessary paperwork. Since you've admitted political leanings, they'll want to know what kind of liberal you are. You know -- are you the kind of liberal who says, "You can have your life and I can have mine and that's ok" and really means it? Or are you the kind of liberal who preaches respect for other points of view, but then breathes indignant fire about turning the heat up to 72 degrees? Are you one of those smelly environmentalistas who actually believe there's something sophisticated about a guy with a greasy ponytail and who live to tell people where they can go and what they can drive and force-feed them dope-laced granola? The city will want to know because Estacada is historically a logging town and a lot of guys around here are still real men. None of that metrosexual crap. And surly loggers don't cotton to nosy neighbors. Just something to think about.

[pdxMIKEpdx]

So SantaClues..........Get yer Buck yet?

Your post looks like a joke on the surface, but I think you have somehow captured Estacada's true personality.

The town was founded in 1905 as a camp for workers building dams on the Clackamas river.
After that was over, logging became a mainstay.
After the logging boom ended in the 70's and 80's, Estacada survives by becoming a forest recreation gateway.
Up until 10 to 15 years ago, Estacada was considered way out in the sticks.
A lot of the old attitudes still remain even as Estacada now changes into the center of the bedroom community for affluent former Portlanders playing with their five acre hobby farms.
There is Tri-Met bus service from Estacada to Portland BTW.


-a creative community....people making things, public art, etc.
-a community that works at keeping itself vital and relevant

The above two things.........not so much.

[whit1282]

Estacada is a great place to live, raise a family (good schools) and own a service related business. I've lived here for 16 plus years, I know. The pristine Clackamas River is in our backyard (boating, fishing, Etc.) and the Mt. Hood National Forest (hiking, camping) is right down the road. You can buy a house with five acres and get a farm deferral to grow Christmas trees or pumpkins, Etc. Or you can live within the city limits as I do where it is still safe to walk 1/2 mile in town to the local market @ 10pm without getting mugged.

Considering Estacada is only 1/2hour to 40 minutes from Portland the crime rate is very low. The art community is very prominant...just come look around at the 10 plus murals that beautify the city. And speaking of beauty...the state hwy (224) that brings you here is under an ODOT beautification project that will greatly enhance our city's curb appeal.

Come visit our happy little city (pop 2695) we have many great little coffee shops and some very good restaurants...if you visit Tuesday-Saturday from 8am to 2pm you can enjoy a home cooked breakfast or lunch @ Harmony Bakery. Yum!

[malachai23]

...and don't forget "Granny's"!! (I heard it was up for sale, I sure hope it's still there) Granny's has the BEST milkshakes and ham & cheese sandwiches in the world.

[Wicked Felina]

Originally Posted by whit1282

...if you visit Tuesday-Saturday from 8am to 2pm you can enjoy a home cooked breakfast or lunch @ Harmony Bakery. Yum!

I second that! I rarely get out that way much anymore, but I luvluvluv Harmony Bakery.

Estacada's gotten a bad rap over the years, in part because of the goings-on at the hot springs and various encampments in the forest...but that is some gorgeous country as you head out of town on 224. I think I'll go visit and see what ODOT's been doing to Hwy 224! I can stop in at Harmony Bakery ~

[malachai23]

Originally Posted by Wicked Felina

I second that! I rarely get out that way much anymore, but I luvluvluv Harmony Bakery.

Estacada's gotten a bad rap over the years, in part because of the goings-on at the hot springs and various encampments in the forest...but that is some gorgeous country as you head out of town on 224. I think I'll go visit and see what ODOT's been doing to Hwy 224! I can stop in at Harmony Bakery ~

I'm jealous - if I were there right now I would be doing the same... sounds like a great idea!

Yah, it's a shame about the hotsprings & such. I used to spend so much time up around Estacada engaging in various "forest activities" (camping, hiking, hotsprings, etc) and never ran into any problems until the early 2000s. Very unfortunate.