Lack of big cities in areas with 4 seasons in california? why? (San Bernardino: living in, centers)

[Weatherdude123]

why are there no big cities or towns in areas with 4 seasons in california? why is there no big cities in the mountains or cooler areas of california? ive seen other states, like oregon, with huge cities like medford and ashland stationed in a cold area between mountains. same with washington, and colorado, as well as NEVADA. People thrive in such cold places in the east coast, and the pacific northwest, so why no big cities in cool area sin california? im curious. im pretty dumb to be honest.

[Bill the Butcher]

My guess would be that any place in California that actually gets a decent amount of snow, heck even just a little bit of snow like Tehachapi, is going to be in the Mountains. That means you have a lot of uneven and steep terrain. Not as easy to build a big sprawling city like in the more flat North East or even Pacific North West near the coastline.

[expatCA]

Originally Posted by Weatherdude123

why are there no big cities or towns in areas with 4 seasons in california? why is there no big cities in the mountains or cooler areas of california? ive seen other states, like oregon, with huge cities like medford and ashland stationed in a cold area between mountains. same with washington, and colorado, as well as NEVADA. People thrive in such cold places in the east coast, and the pacific northwest, so why no big cities in cool area sin california? im curious. im pretty dumb to be honest.

The big cities are either on the coast because of shipping ports, with a few inland as distributions centers for trucking both in and out of State and for Agriculture farms and their produce.

[2x3x29x41]

Originally Posted by Weatherdude123

why are there no big cities or towns in areas with 4 seasons in california? why is there no big cities in the mountains or cooler areas of california? ive seen other states, like oregon, with huge cities like medford and ashland stationed in a cold area between mountains. same with washington, and colorado, as well as NEVADA. People thrive in such cold places in the east coast, and the pacific northwest, so why no big cities in cool area sin california? im curious. im pretty dumb to be honest.

Redding is similar in population and climate to Medford.

California's three major urban areas are centered around excellent natural harbors, which Oregon's coast lacks. They're too far south and too moderated by the ocean to have the four traditional seasons. Inland California from the Bay area south is too far south to have four seasons at reasonable elevations. And there's no point in building large cities high enough in the Sierra Nevada - or the higher Transverse Ranges (San Gabriels, San Bernardinos) or the high Peninsular Ranges (San Jacintos).

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by Bill the Butcher

My guess would be that any place in California that actually gets a decent amount of snow, heck even just a little bit of snow like Tehachapi, is going to be in the Mountains. That means you have a lot of uneven and steep terrain. Not as easy to build a big sprawling city like in the more flat North East or even Pacific North West near the coastline.

This is part of it. And Medford and Ashland aren't that huge. Someone pointed out Redding as being comparable. The Sierra foothills have population centers, but they're all spread out, which is more sustainable environmentally, instead of conglomerated into one big urban area. The Tahoe area basin has been overdeveloped by earlier standards, given the fragile nature of the lake's ecology, but if you take the population as a whole, on both sides of the lake, you've got a significant population center: at least 70,000 people. Ashland is only 21,000, while Medford is larger, at about 82,000.

[mrsltd]

Places like Alturas, Susanville, Yreka and other such with four solid seasons are not near ANYTHING ELSE that most people, apparently, consider worth their living in them. Probably family or job connections and love of nature/being away from it all are motivations for those that live in these towns.

[Ulysses61]

I live in Mammoth Lakes at 8200 elevation. We got 700 inches of snow last year. Very few people are willing (and some not able) to live in such a climate. We have four very distinct seasons and I wouldn't have it any other way. And while southern California bakes in 100 degrees, it's not been over 80 degrees here all summer.

Most people now want instant convenience and would never tolerate a place like this where the nearest Walmart is 130 miles away, no freeways and only one chain market.

[James Bond 007]

Because the point of living in CA is to NOT have 4 distinct seasons?

After all, if you wanted 4 distinct seasons there are plenty of other states to choose from.

[alanadoodle]

Originally Posted by Weatherdude123

why are there no big cities or towns in areas with 4 seasons in california? why is there no big cities in the mountains or cooler areas of california? ive seen other states, like oregon, with huge cities like medford and ashland stationed in a cold area between mountains. same with washington, and colorado, as well as NEVADA. People thrive in such cold places in the east coast, and the pacific northwest, so why no big cities in cool area sin california? im curious. im pretty dumb to be honest.

I definitely don't thrive in cold places (I'm in MD) and I can't wait to get out of here.

[BeauCharles]

The Central Valley does have four season. It may not snow, but there's a huge difference between winter and summer.