Reardan (Spokane, Walla Walla, Cheney: employment, hospital, property)

[suz]

Hello everyone,

I'm hoping someone can give us some information on Reardan...I've Googled it to no avail, all I can find is demographic data and "did you mean Redding, CA?".

What I want to know is all the good stuff you can't glean from figures and percentages.

Such as how bad of a commute would it be from Reardan to Medical Lake, or Reardan to Spokane? What is the terrain like? Mostly plains or is it rolling hills, or are there mountains out that far? Given its small population, is it a place that doesn't take too kindly to newcomers (hard to imagine any place in WA is like that) or is it a friendly, pleasant place? Now, by friendly, I mean neighbors that don't go around bothering you trying to get the dirt on you all the time- such as it is here in the south. We like people that acknowledge your existence, a little chit-chat, but let you keep to yourself if you are so inclined. (we're both introverts!)

What types of businesses are there in Reardan? What types of services? Would one have to drive far to get the essentials- food, fuel, supplies, etc. or is Reardan "self contained" ? For the most part, are the people there ranchers, farmers and the like? How much do utilities cost, on average? Can anyone estimate the cost of drilling a well or doing up a septic?

Yes, I know a lot of questions, and hopefully I've not aggravated anyone. Thanks to any that can shed some light on Reardan!

[jabm67]

Major caveat: I haven't been in Reardan since the mid-1970's. I went to high school in Medical Lake. Consequently, all I can answer are the questions about physical circumstances. It was a tiny place back then, embedded in the north end of Washington wheat country, and since we lived on Fairchild AFB, we tended to head eastward into Spokane far more often than we went west toward Reardan. I can't say we ever went there intentionally, only passing through to get somewhere else.

I'd think a commute from there to Medical Lake and back is certainly doable ... a classmate of mine did it. To Spokane is possible I suppose, but that's a long trek.

[suz]

Thank you!

My fiance will most likely work at Eastern State Hospital in Medical Lake, he works at a similar facility here in NC. I'm not too worried about work for myself, in the field I'm in. We are wanting to be well away from the activity of the city, but within 40 miles. Far enough away to be isolated, but still close enough to do a bi-weekly run to town for supplies and food and all. We're looking for lots of land, and from the research I've done and where we've visited, that gives us Mead, Medical Lake, and Cheney. Deer Park I think would be too far for him to drive, especially since Medical Lake seems to be his first choice for employment. Deer Park would work out I suppose, since his second option is Mt. Spokane State Park, though he really doesn't want to do the Ranger thing again.

The only place we didn't have time to check out was Reardan, which seems like an unexplored possibility.

Would you have any other suggestions for us, as far as towns we should look into? We're open to any kind of landscape except for that endless, endless completely treeless wheaty look say between Walla Walla and Colfax. Three solid hours driving through that was more than enough to last us for a lifetime.

Thanks again!

The only reason we're considering Reardan is that one property we're seriously considering is partially treed and looks to be on a mountainside, with some open ground. However, that's based on the photos in the listing and I think it may be somewhat NE of Reardan. Does that type of terrain sound right for that area?

[WendyK]

It sounds like the property you are looking at is not actually in the little town of Reardan, but in an outlying area within the Reardan school district which is pretty widespread. Some parts of Reardan school district are in Lincoln County, some in Spokane county and there's even a small portion of Ford, which is in the Reardan district that is in SW Stevens county. Anywhere on the western side of SPokane county or eastern Lincoln county would be an easy commute to Medical Lake for your fiance.

[jabm67]

Northeast of Reardan ... you're heading up toward the woods around the Spokane River or maybe Deep Creek and the terrain is rougher and more wooded.

The only place I might add to your list is Spangle. That's due south of Spokane, but the distance might be within your range. There are trees there, and it's a decent little town (as recently as five years ago I drove through it reasonably often). The commute to Medical Lake from there is on the long side but possibly within the limits you indicate.

Cheney is a substantial town, with EWU there. It is self-contained in the way you suggest.

There isn't going to be much in the way of trees in the area south and west of Medical Lake, once you get out of its immediate vicinity. Northward and eastward you're more likely to encounter trees.

[suz]

Ah yes, after finding the address for the Reardan property, I used the google satellite map funtion and ta da! It's waaaaaay north of Reardan, up near the river. Oh well...

Thank you both so much for your help! I'll just add that information to my stack. I'm the neurotic researcher/planner and he's the laid-back one. Lucky him!

thanks again