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Some people like Porterville, others don't. Like Tim said it is decent but your view might be different.
But air quality monitoring started 2 years ago in Porterville and the area is turning out to be one of the worse in the Valley for ozone. So far this year, twice as many high smog days in Porterville than Fresno, Bakersfield or Visalia.
I like Exeter but that would be an hour from Bakersfield. On the other hand its near Visalia which has a good but small live music scene. My favorite cowboy music group, the Sons of the San Joaquin, is out of the Visalia area. The Sons of the San Joaquin - Home Page
Yeah, I have been hearing about smog issues. Do people there suffer from smog? I grew up in the sacto region and was aware of smog in Sacramento and Stockton etc. but it never bothered me and lived there for 25 years. Is it so much worse down there? And worse than the Denver area? I know my Dad left L.A. in the early 70s due to insufferable smog. how does it compare with L.A. and the Sacto area?
I am also looking into Exeter, thanks for the info on that. I have heard that Exeter and Visalia are nice, and you concur? Yeah, I remeber hearing about the Sons of the San Joaquin. Never have seen them perform though. If the smog in Porterville is way worse than that would definitely be a discredit.
Please list why you like or don't like the areas you mention, folks, that would be greatly appreciated, so I can have a clear understanding of your opinions.
I find my eyes and sinuses have problems when visiting family in the Inland Empire/Ontario area but not in the SJV. But that is me, everyone reacts differently.
To give you a little comparison between those 2 areas: Days over the federal ozone standard:
Upland: 2008 - 50; 2009 - 48; 2010 - 39;
San Bernardino: 2008 - 62; 2009 - 61; 2010 - 40
Redlands: 2008- 75; 2009- 73; 2010 - 61
Location: Fulltime RV living in the western United States
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I lived my entire life in a small town (Reedley) about 30 minutes outside of Fresno. My husband, son, and I JUST moved to Loveland, CO 6 weeks ago. My brother and his wife have lived here for almost 3 years now, and my parents just bought a house up in Wellington (moving on Saturday). It was kind of funny seeing a thread asking about Fort Collins vs. Fresno area, since I am very familiar with Fresno and all the towns surrounding it.
I cannot in my wildest dreams imagine wanting to move from Fort Collins to Bakersfield or Fresno. I am a bit homesick, but I would never move back. The quality of life here is so much better here in Fort Collins/Loveland that it's kind of sad.
What don't I like about Fresno area of California? First off, it's in California. Where the economy SUCKS and the politics sucks even more (IMO). My husband is a car salesman, and worked at a Ford dealership in the Fresno area and now works at one in Fort Collins. He is literally making at least 4x as much here. It's insane, and we keep wondering why we didn't move sooner!
The air quality in that area is really bad. I suffer from asthma and allergies, and I am feeling much, much better here. I could hardly breathe over there at times. Plus the scorching heat in the summer is less than ideal but worse is the dangerous fog in the winter. I hated it when my husband would have to drive through near zero visibility to get to work. I was always afraid of him being in one of the huge pile ups on the freeway or in one of the fatal accidents on the country roads. The fog is bad. If you don't have to go anywhere, then it doesn't matter, but sometimes the fog comes in early evening and doesn't leave till mid-morning the next day. Being that we lived out in a rural area it was particularly bad. There were many times we literally couldn't see the sides of the road.
I worked for a police department in that area, and learned a heck of a lot about the HUGE gang problem that is prevalent in all the small towns as well as the major towns. The town I lived in is covered in graffiti, and everywhere you go in that area you see graffiti. I kind of got used to it when I lived there, but now that I live here I realize just how bad it was. The crime in many of those towns is really bad. Between gangs and drugs, you just have a lot of problems. I didn't feel safe in many areas of our little town, which is sad because it used to be a nice area. I lived on our family farm, and our house got broken into twice. The last being the week before we moved, which was even more incentive to get out of there. Now I live in a beautiful area, and feel safe walking all over. I no longer have to be looking over my shoulder ever second. My brother says that's one thing he really notices here, too. The lack of feeling like you might be in danger any second.
The illegal immigrant issue in the central valley is also quite a problem. Diversity is great, but when you start only having signs in Spanish, and are told to your face you cannot get a job because you don't speak Spanish (yes, it happened to me as well as friends), it gets old. It's also nice to be able to actually ask questions of workers in stores. Too many times I would try to ask a clerk a question, only to get the reply of "Espanol?" Um, no.
So my advice as a recent "escapee" of California is to stay where you are. If you want a smaller, more rural town, move to one in this area. California used to be a great place to live, and I loved it. But I would never, ever choose to move back there and raise my son there, especially in the Central Valley. JMO
Edited to add: I forgot that many of the smaller towns are literally going broke, and so the quality of life there is diminishing rapidly. The parks/common areas aren't maintained, services are cut, taxes are raised, and jobs are being cut.
Last edited by UltrazGSD; 08-10-2011 at 09:57 PM..
Reason: add info
Thanks, that does help very much. These are all places I am looking into, except Lebec, never heard of it but will investigate. When you say Porterville is decent, what do you feel is wrong with it, or with what do you credit or discredit? I know you said it is remote. Anything else? Yes, i have been told several times about tehachapi, it does sound nice and probably gonna make my short list, thanks for another recommendation.
I don't think of Porterville as a terrible place to live for anyone (particularly you) who is looking for a quiet town to reside in. I used to live in Delano for 3 years after moving from the Monterey bay area, and then finally settling in Bakersfield for now. I much rather prefer to live in Porterville than Delano which is basically a bedroom community supported by very little commercial businesses.
Porterville seems more rural and cleaner, which is more similar to Tulare than to Delano and Bakersfield. It does have a beautiful mountains as a backdrop with plentiful agriculture in the area. The downside is that it is pretty isolated from big cities like Visalia/Fresno and Bakersfield -- but that could be a plus for you.
I also notice that some well known country music singers often perform at Porterville's Eagle Mountain Casino (see here: Eagle Mountain Casino / Entertainment - Gary Allan ). But Fresno and Bakersfield are often bigger destinations for the better known country music stars (We have the Rabobank Arena, but more country music concerts are held at Fox Theater).
BTW, 2010 Census reported that Porterville has a population of about 54,000. Tehachapi around 10,000. Lake Isabella about 3,500. Lebec about 1,500. Shafter, which is the closest to Bakersfield -- is about 17,000.
Out of these places, I think Lake Isabella and Tehachapi has the most temperate climates year round.
I lived my entire life in a small town (Reedley) about 30 minutes outside of Fresno. My husband, son, and I JUST moved to Loveland, CO 6 weeks ago. My brother and his wife have lived here for almost 3 years now, and my parents just bought a house up in Wellington (moving on Saturday). It was kind of funny seeing a thread asking about Fort Collins vs. Fresno area, since I am very familiar with Fresno and all the towns surrounding it.
I cannot in my wildest dreams imagine wanting to move from Fort Collins to Bakersfield or Fresno. I am a bit homesick, but I would never move back. The quality of life here is so much better here in Fort Collins/Loveland that it's kind of sad.
What don't I like about Fresno area of California? First off, it's in California. Where the economy SUCKS and the politics sucks even more (IMO). My husband is a car salesman, and worked at a Ford dealership in the Fresno area and now works at one in Fort Collins. He is literally making at least 4x as much here. It's insane, and we keep wondering why we didn't move sooner!
The air quality in that area is really bad. I suffer from asthma and allergies, and I am feeling much, much better here. I could hardly breathe over there at times. Plus the scorching heat in the summer is less than ideal but worse is the dangerous fog in the winter. I hated it when my husband would have to drive through near zero visibility to get to work. I was always afraid of him being in one of the huge pile ups on the freeway or in one of the fatal accidents on the country roads. The fog is bad. If you don't have to go anywhere, then it doesn't matter, but sometimes the fog comes in early evening and doesn't leave till mid-morning the next day. Being that we lived out in a rural area it was particularly bad. There were many times we literally couldn't see the sides of the road.
I worked for a police department in that area, and learned a heck of a lot about the HUGE gang problem that is prevalent in all the small towns as well as the major towns. The town I lived in is covered in graffiti, and everywhere you go in that area you see graffiti. I kind of got used to it when I lived there, but now that I live here I realize just how bad it was. The crime in many of those towns is really bad. Between gangs and drugs, you just have a lot of problems. I didn't feel safe in many areas of our little town, which is sad because it used to be a nice area. I lived on our family farm, and our house got broken into twice. The last being the week before we moved, which was even more incentive to get out of there. Now I live in a beautiful area, and feel safe walking all over. I no longer have to be looking over my shoulder ever second. My brother says that's one thing he really notices here, too. The lack of feeling like you might be in danger any second.
The illegal immigrant issue in the central valley is also quite a problem. Diversity is great, but when you start only having signs in Spanish, and are told to your face you cannot get a job because you don't speak Spanish (yes, it happened to me as well as friends), it gets old. It's also nice to be able to actually ask questions of workers in stores. Too many times I would try to ask a clerk a question, only to get the reply of "Espanol?" Um, no.
So my advice as a recent "escapee" of California is to stay where you are. If you want a smaller, more rural town, move to one in this area. California used to be a great place to live, and I loved it. But I would never, ever choose to move back there and raise my son there, especially in the Central Valley. JMO
Edited to add: I forgot that many of the smaller towns are literally going broke, and so the quality of life there is diminishing rapidly. The parks/common areas aren't maintained, services are cut, taxes are raised, and jobs are being cut.
Hi...I remember you commenting on one of my other threads, very nice, and have always had excellent imput. Very knowledgeable and helpfull. What can I say...this was a very good, and helpful reply, thank you again!!
Also, welcome to Larimer County. Did you go to the fair? I didn't make it this year. Loveland, is a very nice community, peaceful and quaint. Your points are well received. I know that Fort Collins/Loveland are great places to live and are definitely superior to many places in CA. One of the first things we noticed upon moveing here was how friendly and happy everyone is. Imagine....happy people??? And friendly??? The fact that there is hardly any graffiti to be found and crime is very little is definitely a truth and a plus for this area. I agree you can feel safe any time of the day or night taking walks. I walk my dog durnig the day and evenings all the time here in town and sometimes in Loveland and it is peaceful and safe. The few people out often wave or say hello, its great.
My issue is that I am terribly homesick for CA. Why? Well, I was born and raised there and left not so enthusiastically 3 years ago. But really want to return. But part of me doesn't. It is so nice here as you say, and so many people have told me about the political, economic, and social collapse its in. Makes me hesitant to return. I am a "home" person. And therefore really miss the state I grew up in and always feel like a foreigner in these other states. But Colorado is nice. These areas here are really nice, as well as Berthoud, Longmont is ok, Boulder, Broomfield. I spent some time in Colo. Springs too, but prefer it up in NoCo. I now live in FoCo. There are alot of knicknames for these towns around here the locals use. lol.
So, your husband works in here in Ft. Collins? At the Ford dealer? Thats good for him! Thats a great place so I hear. I guess coming from the Fresno area you probably don't think the traffic is bad in the Fort? We think its terribly congeted for the size of town it is. But it keeps getting rated as one of the best small town to live in so ALOT of people are moving here from all over. Plus all of the students. If we stayed around here we would probably look at Windsor, Wellington, Loveland, Berthoud, Lyons...maybe Boulder. Lots of great towns around here to choose.
ALL of your points are well received and will seriously use them in my consideration. I had bad allergies in California too. Was about to have to start shots, but since I moved I don't hardly have any at all. Thanks for addressing my concerns and your advice was well thought out.
I don't think of Porterville as a terrible place to live for anyone (particularly you) who is looking for a quiet town to reside in. I used to live in Delano for 3 years after moving from the Monterey bay area, and then finally settling in Bakersfield for now. I much rather prefer to live in Porterville than Delano which is basically a bedroom community supported by very little commercial businesses.
Porterville seems more rural and cleaner, which is more similar to Tulare than to Delano and Bakersfield. It does have a beautiful mountains as a backdrop with plentiful agriculture in the area. The downside is that it is pretty isolated from big cities like Visalia/Fresno and Bakersfield -- but that could be a plus for you.
I also notice that some well known country music singers often perform at Porterville's Eagle Mountain Casino (see here: Eagle Mountain Casino / Entertainment - Gary Allan ). But Fresno and Bakersfield are often bigger destinations for the better known country music stars (We have the Rabobank Arena, but more country music concerts are held at Fox Theater).
BTW, 2010 Census reported that Porterville has a population of about 54,000. Tehachapi around 10,000. Lake Isabella about 3,500. Lebec about 1,500. Shafter, which is the closest to Bakersfield -- is about 17,000.
Out of these places, I think Lake Isabella and Tehachapi has the most temperate climates year round.
Thanks for the info...I really appreciate it! Porterville was on my short list, yes. It sounded like a great place. My dad had been through there alot years and years ago, but I imagine it has changed. CA towns change fast. You mention Tulare? What is that town like...also one that I am considering. Can you compare it with Porterville? You said you live in Bakersfield? How would you best describe it? All my dad says is that its too hot...lol. Thanks for you info thus far, immensely helpful!!
FresnoFacts: Thanks for the smog info...I will try to see how it compares to the Denver area.
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