Opinions on Spray/Fossil area? (living, agriculture, move)

[Austenfan]

Hi,

I am a Califonia-certified teacher recently moved back from living overseas. Not the best time, I know, to look for work in Cali but I began the process of certification for Oregon and have been looking for work. One of the jobs is in the Spray/Fossil area in inland Oregon. My questions for anyone who knows these areas is...

-why are the populations so small?
-why do some of these areas have negative population growth? Have major industries left the area?
-what do people do for work in these areas? Is ranching still a going concern?

Thank you

[PNW-type-gal]

Originally Posted by Austenfan

Hi,

I am a Califonia-certified teacher recently moved back from living overseas. Not the best time, I know, to look for work in Cali but I began the process of certification for Oregon and have been looking for work. One of the jobs is in the Spray/Fossil area in inland Oregon. My questions for anyone who knows these areas is...

-why are the populations so small?
-why do some of these areas have negative population growth? Have major industries left the area?
-what do people do for work in these areas? Is ranching still a going concern?

Thank you

The populations are small because the towns are tiny, rural communities well off the main roads: there are many rural, agricultural communities like that all over the country, including California. There are no "major industries" and there never were, which is why people move away.

[bobmulk]

These communities are isolated from larger cities. The lumber industry collapsed twenty-five years ago and took most of the jobs away. I'm not sure what people do for a living--primarily agriculture, a few government jobs, some small businesses. Many retirees.