Why Cant West Texas Grow? (Houston, Austin: employment, living, prices)

[whitegiant]

I am just wondering how come all of these people moving to texas and just plain texans in general no one seems to be moving to West Texas. Everyone just wants to go to the overgrown towns that are always congested and getting more and more expensive to live in . West texas has many larger towns but no one wants to move to them. Lubbock Amarillo El Paso Odessa Midland. Yes they are growing but they are not growning like the rest of texas. We have a great climate and the larger cities have good jobs. So im just wondering what the reason is behind people kinda avoiding West texas.

[Canine*Castle]

I wouldn't want to live there because I don't think it's pretty at all. Where I live in central Texas at least has some beauty to it. West Texas reminds me too much of the California desert, just too unappealing to the eye. That's just my dislike; others may find is beautiful.

[atxcio]

I think it is just a matter of time. Right now, the region doesn't have enough population or employment opportunity to support growth of the cities to the next level. Water may also be a problem, I'm not sure. But as the TX population continues to grow, and the regional population follows, I would expect one or more of the West Texas cities to become a "large" city (>1M metro area).

[cobolt]

I personally don't want to see West Texas overrun by a population influx. Part of West Texas' charm is that it's NOT like the rest of Texas, and that's a good thing!

[Cathy4017]

Originally Posted by Canine*Castle

I wouldn't want to live there because I don't think it's pretty at all. Where I live in central Texas at least has some beauty to it. West Texas reminds me too much of the California desert, just too unappealing to the eye. That's just my dislike; others may find is beautiful.

And Central Texas has just been ruined (IMHO) by the HORDES of people coming in, with all of the negatives. It's beautiful, yes, but it won't be too many years until there are so many people there that water issues become a serious problem.

Traffic has become a nightmare, and the infrastructure cannot keep up. Everybody wants to move to the Hill Country/Austin/Central Texas. There is no comparison between what it is now and what it was 30-40 years ago, and that is not a compliment.

If I ever come back to Texas, it will be to my native West Texas--probably either the Alpine/Ft Davis/Marfa area, or possibly the Del Rio/Amistad area.

Thank God West Texas isn't for everybody--or it would be overrun as the Hill Country is over time.

[Cathy4017]

Originally Posted by cobolt

I personally don't want to see West Texas overrun by a population influx. Part of West Texas' charm is that it's NOT like the rest of Texas, and that's a good thing!

AMEN to that, Cobolt. I wouldn't live anywhere else in Texas if I were to come back!

[Cathy4017]

Originally Posted by whitegiant

I am just wondering how come all of these people moving to texas and just plain texans in general no one seems to be moving to West Texas. Everyone just wants to go to the overgrown towns that are always congested and getting more and more expensive to live in . West texas has many larger towns but no one wants to move to them. Lubbock Amarillo El Paso Odessa Midland. Yes they are growing but they are not growning like the rest of texas. We have a great climate and the larger cities have good jobs. So im just wondering what the reason is behind people kinda avoiding West texas.

I grew up in WT, so it's "home" to me, and always will be.

BUT....as much as I loved Lubbock when I was going to Tech--and having spent most of my working life in Midland, I doubt I could go back to either city to live after having left! They're both neat cities in their own right, but.....

The part of WT where I grew up (Texas Highways places the town in "the Hill Country", but I disagree with that, and it should be in the Big Bend area) is more hilly, rough canyonlands, mesas, etc. than L, A, M-O. I don't think I could ever go back to that flatness and lack of hills/mountains again, and I think that's why it will never grow as much as the Hill Country/Houston/DFW, etc. have. I personally love the semi-arid/desert myself, but I've always loved mountains, and I don't think I ever want to live where I cannot see them again.

So, my return to Texas would be limited to EP, Alpine-Ft Davis or maybe even Del Rio/Amistad. Del Rio and vicinity have sizeable hills, mesas and canyons--very beautiful (to me) semi-arid desert country.

I just don't see West Texas growing like the rest of the state--not for a long time.

[TT Dave]

I think Canine Castle pretty much summed it up above. I'm a native of West Texas and have lived out here most of my life (Abilene native, and living there again). When I travel to other parts of the state people often say "Oh, I couldn't live out there, it's ugly and there's nothing to do there" There are many parts of West Texas that are very flat and ugly, but I think people sometimes assume it's that way in all parts of West Texas, which is not true. In far West Texas out in the trans-Pecos region (Alpine, Marfa, Fort Davis, Big Bend, etc.) there are some very scenic areas with relatively large mountainous regions. It's still a desert environment out there but IMO it's beautiful. For others, the cities out here are just too remote and isolated for them. When I lived in Midland people would say stuff like "Yeah, I've heard Midland is pretty nice and has a nice airport but it's just too far out in the middle of nowhere", etc. Probably the biggest factor is the lack of plentiful jobs out here, so most people naturally migrate to the metro areas more. For me, it's relative. Even though jobs don't pay as much out here, it also cost much less to live out here than the metros. I would rather not have all the traffic and hassles the metros have, but most people seem to prefer the lifestyle of the larger cities I suppose. I would prefer to have some scenery and I like the Hill Country area the most in that regard, however, I still like West Texas for the reasons I stated above. As the old saying goes; "One man's food is another man's poison". I suppose that's very true.

[Canine*Castle]

Originally Posted by Cathy4017

And Central Texas has just been ruined (IMHO) by the HORDES of people coming in, with all of the negatives. It's beautiful, yes, but it won't be too many years until there are so many people there that water issues become a serious problem.

Traffic has become a nightmare, and the infrastructure cannot keep up. Everybody wants to move to the Hill Country/Austin/Central Texas. There is no comparison between what it is now and what it was 30-40 years ago, and that is not a compliment.

If I ever come back to Texas, it will be to my native West Texas--probably either the Alpine/Ft Davis/Marfa area, or possibly the Del Rio/Amistad area.

Thank God West Texas isn't for everybody--or it would be overrun as the Hill Country is over time.

I don't live in the Hill Country and I agree; it is getting too crowded. There is still unspoiled and pretty land left in my part of central Texas and I shall hope in my life time, it doesn't disappear entirely. Actually, there is a lot in the HC as well but the prices are astronomical.

You speak the truth about the HC and it's sad. I'm glad where I am isn't that bad yet. Trust me, I stay away from the traffic. I live a simple life in rural Texas and it suits me fine. Of course, going some place where no one lives would be better yet, but I may never get that lucky. I'm blessed though to live with few people around me...still too many...but few.

I do miss mountains as I'm from southern CA, but thank gosh we actually have rolling hills and prairies in central Texas. They're not mountains, but I'm glad it isn't totally flat here.

[Canine*Castle]

Originally Posted by TT Dave

I think Canine Castle pretty much summed it up above. I'm a native of West Texas and have lived out here most of my life (Abilene native, and living there again). When I travel to other parts of the state people often say "Oh, I couldn't live out there, it's ugly and there's nothing to do there" There are many parts of West Texas that are very flat and ugly, but I think people sometimes assume it's that way in all parts of West Texas, which is not true. In far West Texas out in the trans-Pecos region (Alpine, Marfa, Fort Davis, Big Bend, etc.) there are some very scenic areas with relatively large mountainous regions. It's still a desert environment out there but IMO it's beautiful. For others, the cities out here are just too remote and isolated for them. When I lived in Midland people would say stuff like "Yeah, I've heard Midland is pretty nice and has a nice airport but it's just too far out in the middle of nowhere", etc. Probably the biggest factor is the lack of plentiful jobs out here, so most people naturally migrate to the metro areas more. For me, it's relative. Even though jobs don't pay as much out here, it also cost much less to live out here than the metros. I would rather not have all the traffic and hassles the metros have, but most people seem to prefer the lifestyle of the larger cities I suppose. I would prefer to have some scenery and I like the Hill Country area the most in that regard, however, I still like West Texas for the reasons I stated above. As the old saying goes; "One man's food is another man's poison". I suppose that's very true.

Alpine is okay, but no place I would actually pack up and move to. I checked it out once thinking of relocating to a drier climate. The humidity and more rain in central Texas makes it prettier even though the summers are often unbearable. We've been lucky so far this summer, not too bad yet.

What I hated the most about Alpine (well, not really Alpine) is the drive out there and outside of the town. It was just too terribly flat and barren for so many miles and miles. I just couldn't deal with that, but that's just me. As far as city living.....no way.....never.