Longview — how bad is it? (Olympia, Castle Rock: to rent, unemployment, place to live)

[hamellr]

Originally Posted by israel5959

Help please...I'm moving to Kelso soon from Fresno Ca and plan to try and find work in Portland.Is that a good move or not???

No, it's not. It's going to be a long commute to Portland. Expect at least an hour a day each way just to cross the river, and another 30-45 minutes on top of that. There are only two bridges that cross the Columbia River and both can get crowded, especially I-5. A new bridge might be built soon, but if so it's going to be a toll bridge.

You can cross the Longview Bridge, but that adds another 20-30 minutes as you need to pass through a couple of other towns that have several stop lights on the highway.

You also may end up still paying incomes taxes to Oregon, even though you'd be a Washington Resident.

[Luv2byte]

I love our little town! Been here 20yrs. Stay out if bad areas & no problems, just like anywhere else. Only thing worse than drugs & crime (never had an issue in 20yrs) is longshoreman mentality of entitlement & exemption from the law (they are slowly learning it's not that way).

If you live in WA but work in OR you still must pay OR taxes.

[Cinebar]

Originally Posted by hamellr

No, it's not. It's going to be a long commute to Portland. Expect at least an hour a day each way just to cross the river, and another 30-45 minutes on top of that. There are only two bridges that cross the Columbia River and both can get crowded, especially I-5. A new bridge might be built soon, but if so it's going to be a toll bridge.

This is all what I was thinking, too.

If the OP has their heart set on Small Town, Washington, while working in Portland, there are a couple of other options a little closer to Portland, such as Kalama and Woodland.

North of Longview, there is Castle Rock and Vader (I've never been there) and Toledo, but much farther from Portland.

Having moved out of the Vancouver/Battle Ground area six years ago, I would NOT recommend anywhere around there if you're looking for a small town. When I moved to Battle Ground over thirty years ago, it was literally a one stoplight town - very rural and sweet. No more. You couldn't pay me enough to live there again; I don't even like that mess on I-5 around the new Battle Ground exit south through Vancouver. Worse than driving through Portland, in my opinion.

I now live in a town with a population of around 500 (a little less than 60 miles northeast of Longview).

[Jecscheer]

Originally Posted by time4family

Thank you all for your very friendly and helpful input. I really appreciate it.

If you feel like driving an hour and a
half to 2 or 3 hrs to work. Have fun.

[Howard61]

So is the meth problem still big there? I've looked at the local newspaper and see someone hauled in for drugs every day or so, but hte blotter in general is small (compared to Houston). I am really more interested in schools starting wth elementary school and how much the mills foul the air (I have lived near a pulp mill before - ugh!). Where can you live with no stink at all? Same commute as the poster, about 30minutes any direction. Thanks!

[Sobefobik]

Originally Posted by Howard61

So is the meth problem still big there? I've looked at the local newspaper and see someone hauled in for drugs every day or so, but hte blotter in general is small (compared to Houston). I am really more interested in schools starting wth elementary school and how much the mills foul the air (I have lived near a pulp mill before - ugh!). Where can you live with no stink at all? Same commute as the poster, about 30minutes any direction. Thanks!

Drugs are a big problem in Longview, especially if you live in the highlands (The area off of Industrial way right next to the mills. It gets better the higher the numbers are. 200 and 300 blocks are BAD). Longview is pretty rundown except for a few areas.

Sorry to say, but the air is very very bad. The entrance to Longview has several mills and the dump. It reeks when you drive in. Longview is surrounded by several mills, so it does stink most of the time. The air is almost sticky from it. On some days it's so bad it actually smells like there's a sewage leak.

"Where can you live with no stink?" Haha. I would recommend Columbia Heights up in the hills (North Longview). The further out you drive the further you are from the mills and the smell. This area is actually quite nice if you can get out far enough into the country. The area around Lake Sacajawea is also nice, but you are still going to get the mill stench because you're in town. There are many beautiful, old houses down in this area especially on the east side of the lake.

Schools are ok. I recommend North Lake Elementary and Columbia Heights Elementary. Monticello is a bad middle school with a lot of fights and drugs. Cascade is better. Mark Morris and RA Long high schools are comparable, but I prefer RA Long because of its old architecture and it seems to have a better reputation.

[Jecscheer]

I agree. This place is ****. I moved here having fallen in love with a sweet little house, I wish now that I could pick up my house and move it.

[hdbabe49]

Could some one tell me if Longview has hard or soft water? Thanks.
I just moved here from Portland and my hair doesn't feel good anymore! Just a wondering.

[Jecscheer]

I believe its hard. Try getting a filter for your shower; I have one and it helps, alot. Though its an added expense. But you probably will feel alot better about the water you bath in, and drink. I also have a water filter; filtrete water station and pitcher. They do pretty well too for drinking and cooking water.

[kayy911]

I'm pretty sure you can get some good glimpses of Longview on the show 'COPS.'