Can you suggest the best small town??? (Orange, Susanville: buying, living in)

[spritedfriend]

Small CA towns with friendly people???

Does anyone know of any small Northern (Jefferson State) California towns that have great people, and land that feels good?


Energy that is peaceful and pure.
People who like new-comers.
Locals who are not territorial or nosy.
Natural life style kind of town.
A good verity of ages of people.

Local Jobs not important. Fancy stores not important.

Air and water quality are very important!

Good community is very important.

A little about us.
We will be buying land only. We want to find a small town with nature respecting people. A good place to make good friends and neighbors.

We are looking into certain Northern California counties. Shasta, Tehama, Siskiyou, Lassen, Trinity, (maybe South Humboldt if property is affordable, NO North Humboldt), Modoc, Plumas, or Butte.

Area has to have affordable acreage and nice people.
We prefer nice warm summers, and sunny days. We can handle cold winters and the kids like snow. Don't mind a good four seasons. Prefer long growing season. Less people is better, but good people is a must. Don't mind seculsion. Prefer good roads, but we are used to wild mountain roads, so we can handle it.

Don't really want to be that close to volcanoes, but near is fine.

LOVE safe peaceful roads!

We like making music and art. The outdoors and adventures. Hiking, exploring, gardening and nature. Horses and farm life. We would like a place that would somewhat fit these interests.

It would be nice to be near a town of some kind, not really a city. The size of the town isn't as important as the people within the town.

Forests are pretty much a must, though burnt forests are fine as well.
Would prefer to live outside of the forest fire areas, but we are pretty used to that drill. I would prefer a change though.

We are already very used to small towns. Both my husband and I have grown up in small towns, and are currently living in one.

We have already spent many years researching, and now it's time to do the leg work physically looking at the areas and asking others their opinions. We currently live in Northern California. It would be very nice to have other people's advice and experiences with all of the nice little mini areas of Northern California.

Thank you! Thank you!

and...

Thank you!

[Mr5150]

Originally Posted by spritedfriend

Small CA towns with friendly people???

Does anyone know of any small Northern (Jefferson State) California towns that have great people, and land that feels good?


Energy that is peaceful and pure.
People who like new-comers.
Locals who are not territorial or nosy.
Natural life style kind of town.
A good verity of ages of people.

Local Jobs not important. Fancy stores not important.

Air and water quality are very important!

Good community is very important.

A little about us.
We will be buying land only. We want to find a small town with nature respecting people. A good place to make good friends and neighbors.

We are looking into certain Northern California counties. Shasta, Tehama, Siskiyou, Lassen, Trinity, (maybe South Humboldt if property is affordable, NO North Humboldt), Modoc, Plumas, or Butte.

Area has to have affordable acreage and nice people.
We prefer nice warm summers, and sunny days. We can handle cold winters and the kids like snow. Don't mind a good four seasons. Prefer long growing season. Less people is better, but good people is a must. Don't mind seculsion. Prefer good roads, but we are used to wild mountain roads, so we can handle it.

Don't really want to be that close to volcanoes, but near is fine.

LOVE safe peaceful roads!

We like making music and art. The outdoors and adventures. Hiking, exploring, gardening and nature. Horses and farm life. We would like a place that would somewhat fit these interests.

It would be nice to be near a town of some kind, not really a city. The size of the town isn't as important as the people within the town.


Thank you! Thank you!

and...

Thank you!

That's quite a laundry list.

I can speak about Southern Humbolt. Not a welcoming place for newcomers. Too much dope growing and many people have moved there to get away from people.

IMO you will find the welcoming types in Eastern CA. Plumas would be my first choice-near Quincy, but I will admit that I am partial to the Sierras. What I would suggest is to visit your top three choices for a week and take in the feel of the place.

[clongirl]

Grass Valley sounds like a good fit.

[Ceece]

I am quite sure you can find something that physically meets your need. The thing about people is that you can't peg them. They may be friendly and welcoming or they may take an instant disliking to you. Plus, whoever is there now may not be when you get there, etc. There are good and bad people everywhere so you can't focus on that at all.

Maybe something near Burney or Susanville would work.

[humboldtrat]

Check out Quincy and the surrounding area in Plumas County such as Meadow Valley. Jobs are not easy to find in most rural towns. Official site for travel and visitor information for Plumas County, Northern California

[ladoll]

I was about to suggest Julian, but it's in southern California.

[spritedfriend]

Thank you all for your replies!

I like the idea of the north eastern areas. We pretty much decided against Southern Humboldt unless someone presents us with amazingly affordable land.

The energy of the land says a lot about what kind of people are drawn to it. Certain places attract a lot of sweet people. I'd like to narrow out my searching to towns if at all possible, so that we aren't spending tons of time driving around all of the counties. We do have limited time.

I like so many (most) of the areas in Northern California. What I am looking for is a certain town. There are so many mini towns out there that I am not going to find on my own unless by accident (especially out in the mountains). Any experiences with certain towns or suggestions? I know that I would not suggest to someone like me the town that I am currently living in. So even "stay away" suggestions (and reasons why), are much appreciated.


Just for fun...

lets say a disaster hits the town.

Would the town pull together and help each other out?

Or would people have to fend for themselves, and defend their properties from their crazy neighbors?

I am not saying a disaster is ever going to happen. It's just a good way to understand what I mean by good energy in certain towns.

Any suggestions on towns??? Experiences? Stories? Funny antidotes?

Thank you again to everyone who already relied!!!

I will look into those suggested areas and try to find good small towns within them.

I would love to hear about any towns and what others have experienced within them.

Thank you!!

[spritedfriend]

What about Montague, Fort Jones, Hornbrook, French Glen, Alturas, Dorris, McCloud?

Please does anyone have descriptions or advice about any of those towns?
People, community, growing season, etc.
Nice places for children.

We have been debating on how Montague is pronounced...

[Mr5150]

Originally Posted by spritedfriend

Thank you all for your replies!

Just for fun...

lets say a disaster hits the town.

Would the town pull together and help each other out?


I am not saying a disaster is ever going to happen. It's just a good way to understand what I mean by good energy in certain towns.

Where I live this is the case. I think 90% of small towns in Eastern CA are like this.

[DMenscha]

Originally Posted by spritedfriend

Any suggestions on towns??? Experiences? Stories? Funny antidotes?

5150 and I live about 30 miles apart and I think you'll find all small towns are full of folks that come together in cases of emergency or common loss.

The funniest ANTIDOTE I know of is the joke about sucking rattlesnake venom out of a bite. But it's not a family rated joke.