Rio Linda Resident (Sacramento, Stockton: crime, house, neighborhoods)

[Viewer]

Has anyone lived in Rio Linda for quite a while? If so, what are the positives about living there? Does anyone know when those flood pictures of Rio Linda were taken? Is crime much of a problem for those not interested in drugs or gangs?

[pulsev2]

I've only lived in rio linda for a year and a half, and those flood pics are across the street from me. Youre looking at approx. 6 in. of water in a low lying parking lot. Sacramento currently installing new storm drainage, AND no flood danger here according to FEMA maps. Natomas is the flood concern.. Love it here, and crime is relatively low.

[ButterflyUK]

I grew up in Placer county. I wouldnt live in Rio Linda.

[JenniferLynn]

Aren't there any nice parts of Rio Linda? Any nice parts with an acre of property?

[wburg]

Rio Linda isn't really big enough to have nice and not-nice parts.

[Guevera]

All the long time sac area residents advise staying away from Rio Linda, but I thought it was charming, rural feeling but close to the city, and a decent place to live for regular people who can't afford the still ridiculous prices of, say, Eldo hills....

That said, I've lived here only two years, and only briefly considered Rio Linda.

To read all the talk on this forum and other places about neighborhoods you'd think that any place regular folks can afford is a cesspool. Median family income here's about 50-55k a year.... means affordable home is around 150k. If everywhere you can buy a house for that is really a pit, than those "sac is all ghetto" people are right.

[Viewer]

Thanks so much for sharing your perspectives and opinions. To me, Rio Linda has sort of a 'hodge-podge' appearance, with some very nice homes on very large lots, a few areas of housing developments, and scatterings of homes from nice-ish, to modest, to really dumpy. I like the ruralness of the area and the option of larger lots and think some of the areas with horse property lots have a nice open space appeal. It seems nice to be not far from more urban shopping etc. too. Maybe the potential flooding problem is being dealt with, to prevent that kind of disaster. I did see a program once that focused on the Sac rivers and levees, which noted that the many levees are old, underminded and will eventually give way.

[Inthesierras]

After the floods in 95 and 97, The Sac. Area Flood Control Agency (SAFCA) made some major improvements to the creeks and the drainage canals/levees on the Rio Linda/Natomas border. Hopefully that will help with the flooding. They tore out some homes off of Rio Linda Blvd and made the improvements next to the high school and horse arena. Ask around town about the flooding and problem areas. Many long time residents work locally and will gladly tell you about the floods of 86, 95, and 97. Some can even tell you about the flood in the 1950s that covered most of Rio Linda.

On a different topic, does anyone know if the guy in the wheelchair that owned a lion still lives behind Westside school? The lion roar was a little unsettling. When the flood of 97 happened, that guy packed 15+ animals, including the lion and a goat, into an old chevy van and headed to Reno. A classic Rio Linda story.

[Viewer]

Thanks so much for your interesting post. No doubt the long-time locals are a great source of information. I've heard that Dry Creek is a bit of a misnomer. I think I will try looking up info about those flood years you mentioned. On the news tonight, there was a segment about a levee leaking in the Stockton area.

And on that different topic, I've seen a lot of animals in Rio Linda, but nothing approaching a lion! Is that a 'Rio Linda Legend' or the real deal? (The guy and his lion moved away, right? I thought my only concern would be aggressive dogs!)

[Inthesierras]

Originally Posted by Viewer

Thanks so much for your interesting post. No doubt the long-time locals are a great source of information. I've heard that Dry Creek is a bit of a misnomer. I think I will try looking up info about those flood years you mentioned. On the news tonight, there was a segment about a levee leaking in the Stockton area.

And on that different topic, I've seen a lot of animals in Rio Linda, but nothing approaching a lion! Is that a 'Rio Linda Legend' or the real deal? (The guy and his lion moved away, right? I thought my only concern would be aggressive dogs!)

The guy with the lion was real. I asked the local sheriffs service center and the guy had the proper permits. I am not sure if he came back after the flood in 97. Before that time, you could hear the lion roar at Westside Elem. and the softball diamond next door on West 2nd Street. The roar was off in the distance, but it sure got your attention.