Advice about Humboldt county / Arcata / Eureka (McKinleyville, Fortuna: city hall, rentals, crime rates)

[North Idaho]

I am researching a possible move to in or around Arcata for a potential new job - what I reading on various forums and threads is troubling - high crime rates (especially Eureka) / high housing costs / not so great weather. I have been there and know it is beautiful - but maybe not such a great place to live??? I'd appreciate any advice.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by North Idaho

I am researching a possible move to in or around Arcata for a potential new job - what I reading on various forums and threads is troubling - high crime rates (especially Eureka) / high housing costs / not so great weather. I have been there and know it is beautiful - but maybe not such a great place to live??? I'd appreciate any advice.

Liking or disliking Humboldt Co is very much a love/hate game, there is little inbetween as it is a different world. Is the weather crappy? That depends. If you are ok with not seeing much sun (anytime of the year) you will be fine. The summers are cool and the nights always nice, but yes, it is foggy and yucky much of the time. Some people love this. Crime, I think most of trhe crime is anythng but violent, but there is a lot. I suppose do to the economy and drug use. I don't know about the cost of housing, but I can't believe it is all that high. Of course you are comparing it with Idaho am sure.

We lived in Eureka during the height of the Timber industry era and we found it even depressed then. My husband was in management, working for a large Timber company. We felt isolated and our kids were not happy or as happy as usual. For us, it was anything but heaven. For many others it is God country, (pretty it is) Hopefully others will be able to jump in and give you their take on the area. Oh, we got great crab meat as well and there were some cool places to eat. One of the positives: it is the only place we ever lived where there was not a lot of pressure to keep up with the Jone's, which was great for the kids.

Nita

[eureka1]

I'm sure housing is high compared to Idaho and the weather is typically cool. You can look all that stuff up. I live in the south area (Cutten) and since I moved back in '93 the only crime of which I have been a victim was last Hallowe'en when some a-hole took both our pumpkins and smashed them in the street. Humboldt County is an acquired taste. You really have to live here awhile to know whether you'll like it or not. Having a job before you move is really important. North Idaho (are you from Sandpoint?) is very conservative compared to Humboldt County. You may have to make some adjustments. All I can suggest is : read the local papers online(the Times-Standard, the North Coast Journal, the Arcata Eye) and visit for as long as possible before making up your mind. Good luck.

[S. Pearce]

During the designated period, simple rentals in Eureka generally required posting a $1000 deposit regardless of size. Even the preferred rental units in complex but modern apt. complexes were stated as high robbery areas. Due to the designation of Eureka in the Emerald Triangle of marijuana growing/selling, it seemed that users tended to want to grow marijuana in their residences regardless its availability on the street. Thus, rentals tended to have an old and exhausted appearance. Developers do not build because there is not enough rental traffic to suggest new units can be maintained as safe and the quality of construction maintained. On the other hand, the City clearly was trying hard, while I was there, to rehab...rehab...rehab.... But that is not where the crux of the problem lies. This is a social will issue. Until there is a realization that to have an appealing city that invites residential settlement, locals and City Hall together must fight the terms of marijuana use. Devoted users who want to grow in their residences have to stop it, or made to stop with extremely high penalties. A push is already coming from the drought and the need to conserve water, not waste its use to destroy the interior of a rental property.

I came away wondering if L. Frank Baum was prescient about Eureka when, in "The Wizard of Oz" he set out literally the path frought with danger leading to the Emerald City, and the movie version well showed a fellow traveler clawing, scratching and fighting her way up and over the hill away. Same in Arcata, McKinleyville, Fortuna, Rio Dell and down the coast. Crescent City puts on a very conservative face, however. If you move there, be prepared to run for office; there is a whole "developer's" set of issues going on there. Make it the pretty place it can be despite its maritime denizens history.