Can anyone tell me about Shasta county (Redding, Merced: houses, job market)

[calestine]

I am looking for some insider perspectives:

How is the economy/job market?
Is Shasta county particularly liberal or conservative?
What is the cost of living and such?
How is the environment?
How is public transportation?
Are there a good number of parks and public areas to meet your neighbors?
How is the educational system?
What are the people like?
Do they have a night life worth talking about?
Is there a music scene?

Feel free to answer any or all... any help is appreciated!

[kettlepot]

Shasta County is conservative. 40 years ago blue-collar middle of the road union Democrats were strong here, but the demise of the timber industry flipped the county to the Republicans. It is now one of the most Republican areas in the state.

Public Transportation is limited. The city of Redding does have a bus system, but since the city is such a sprawl, it's effectiveness is limited.

Cost of living is average. Housing is significantly cheaper compared to the rest of California, which makes it about average when compared to the rest of the country.

People who have moved from wealthy suburbs of large Metros say the schools are subpar, however, the test scores tell a different story. The high schools score reasonably high, but that might be because the numbers of immigrant children are below average compared to the rest of the state. Shasta and Enterprise High Schools are rated about 900-1100 nationally, based on curricula and test scores, and matriculation data out of however many thousands of high schools are out there across the country.

The cities and towns of Shasta County are generally park poor because the area is so rich in national forests and recreation areas.

Shasta County ALWAYS has a higher than average unemployment rate. However, the margin above the national rate has been trending down in recent decades. During the 1970s you could always count on the rate being 5% more than the national rate. Now it seems to be about 2-3% higher than the national rate.

The people - hmmm. It's probably bifurcated between the educated professional class and the cast offs of the now dead timber and construction industries. The general materialism of the people at least back in my day was not very high. Fashionable cars, clothes, houses were not a social necessity. They certainly didn't hurt, but weren't a requirement to achieve coolness.

[Just Rachel]

And it gets extremely hot in the summer....Redding does anyway. Up to 120.

[notmeofficer]

Kettlepot has is pretty close to the money

Originally Posted by kettlepot

Shasta County is conservative. 40 years ago blue-collar middle of the road union Democrats were strong here, but the demise of the timber industry flipped the county to the Republicans. It is now one of the most Republican areas in the state.

True

Public Transportation is limited. The city of Redding does have a bus system, but since the city is such a sprawl, it's effectiveness is limited.

True

Shasta College does offer its own busing from far away areas to school.. pretty cool

Cost of living is average. Housing is significantly cheaper compared to the rest of California, which makes it about average when compared to the rest of the country.

Agree

Its not as cheap as it was.. but there are also 2000 homes on the market and you can get deals now

People who have moved from wealthy suburbs of large Metros say the schools are subpar, however, the test scores tell a different story. The high schools score reasonably high, but that might be because the numbers of immigrant children are below average compared to the rest of the state. Shasta and Enterprise High Schools are rated about 900-1100 nationally, based on curricula and test scores, and matriculation data out of however many thousands of high schools are out there across the country.

Look carefully

Dont be fooled by scores... like all statistics they get heavily managed. While these aren't the worst schools in California they certainly aren't stellar. We see many of them converting to "charter" so they don't have to meet the same standards,, they say they are this and that like environmental education etc... bull pucky.. they couldn't meet the standards
The cities and towns of Shasta County are generally park poor because the area is so rich in national forests and recreation areas.

Shasta County ALWAYS has a higher than average unemployment rate. However, the margin above the national rate has been trending down in recent decades. During the 1970s you could always count on the rate being 5% more than the national rate. Now it seems to be about 2-3% higher than the national rate.

Thank you lowlifes.... we do have a lot of people using social welfare

The people - hmmm. It's probably bifurcated between the educated professional class and the cast offs of the now dead timber and construction industries. The general materialism of the people at least back in my day was not very high. Fashionable cars, clothes, houses were not a social necessity. They certainly didn't hurt, but weren't a requirement to achieve coolness.

Bingo.. although 5 years ago a Mercedes wasnt a normal car here... now I see L.A. bimbo types appearing.. it is changing