Pullman, Colfax area? (Seattle, Spokane, Palouse: real estate, public schools, landlord)

[lovinthemailman]

Hello,

I've been accepted to WSU in Pullman. I'm a middle-aged student with a family. We live in Southern CA (can't wait to get out!). I used to live in Spokane in the early 1980s and really liked it so I expect a positive experience with moving to Eastern WA.
My question is about rural living in proximity to WSU. We enjoy our rural lifestyle and hope to continue to have chickens etc. when we relocate. I have looked at real estate up there online a lot and really like the look of Colfax. Can you have chickens in your yard in Colfax ?
What is it really like to live there (Colfax, Pullman, Albion, Waverley)? Do they clear the streets after snow efficiently? Is there still a place for rural living not too far away? How tolerant is the community to newcomers?
Thanks for any insights

[StealthRabbit]

Colfax, my destination of choice , (but not my spouse ...) maybe some folks over here could help,
http://www.onecho.org/
check out their pics. especially harvest!! (I'm a prairie boy at heart)
It would be a great spot, quite close to Pullman w/o having to drive through Colfax (25mph=tickets, please beware )

I've heard Colfax is a bit clannish (can be tough on newcomers, so some have told me). St. John was real friendly when I was checking things out last spring. A friend of mine likes Clarkson, The Snake River could be a plus in the summer, but is also accessible from Onecho. (nice park at the dam) Points north and east of Pullman are more scenic / trees.

[lovinthemailman]

Thanks Janb. Clannish, huh? We are a racially mixed (Asian/Caucasian) couple with children. Would this be a problem for the community ?

[StealthRabbit]

I doubt your racial composition would be a problem. Just that there are the 'ole-timers' / big immigrant families who protect and stay to their own,,, I.E. getting fully integrated into community (as business owner, activist, leader) might be tough. I doubt if temporary WSU abode in Colfax would be problematic. Certainly not in Pullman. Pullman has pretty good stats for public schools, and they do have a nice year-round community pool (which is important to me...) You can probably find an 'outlying place'. Would be ideal if you could link up with a farmer who has an extra residence on one of their farms. (not uncommon, might need some work..., they often appreciate having someone around to watch their property)

[HotIdahoProperties]

I've heard that a lot of communities are not overly friendly to outsiders. I agree with Janb, a lot of 'ole-timers'..Pullman, and Moscow are pretty open.

[RodFarlee]

Mailman, I just wanted to concur that Colfax is the neatest small town with good local shopping and schools within a radius of Pullman.
As you have a family, I wanted to mention that Colfax's small schools are "merely" excellent, while Pullman is one of the top districts in the entire state. So that's a tough choice, but one in which you can't go wrong!
Just for balance though, boiled Folger's is it, I've never found coffee up to Northwest gourmet standards in Colfax. Pullman, no problem!

[computergirl59]

Depends if in city or outside city limits. Landlord if rent. People usually very friendly in small towns. Weather 4 seasons, lot less rainy for hours rain or cloudy days as find in western Wa. Lower humidity too in summer. From a lady who was born and raised in the Seattle area for over 20 years. Pets or livestock to be able to have also depends on local ordinances too. You all will not be sorry if relocate to this area. Jani

[jabm67]

I was WSU faculty in Pullman 1996-2000; we have friends who are rural there. No chickens or other livestock in town, but outside the city limits, you can have 'em if you want. Pullman plows its streets and is a decent place to live ... as long as you stay off College Hill, where the student drunken-party-loud presence is strongest.

Other nearby towns include Uniontown and Colton (to the south on 395), and Palouse (to the north). I confess I have only been through Albion once and know nothing about it. I also confess I loathe Colfax, but that's a grudge I've nursed for over 30 years ... the place is/was a notorious speed trap, and I flatly refuse to drive through it.

The schools anywhere in that area other than Pullman are going to be a step down, and an even larger step down if you go to Idaho.

[lovinthemailman]

Thanks. I appreciate the input.

[CougLover]

Learn to drive in the snow! Hwy 195 between Colfax and Pullman has been known to close due to accidents. The commute from Colfax to WSU is about 30 minutes if you don't get behind a tractor or combine. Alot of people live in Colfax and work in Pullman, there is a vanpool from WSU that travels it. Traffic is detoured through Albion. Which by the way, Albion has no 'services' no store, gas station. Only a post office. Colfax probably has about 50 students per grade, elemetary split into classes of about 20 per teacher. I doubt the chickens will be accepted, why do you want those in your yard anyways??? You will be inviting racoons and skunks to eat them. Plus their mess. The alternative direction not metioned is town of Palouse off Hwy 27.