Why do Coloradans Hate Transplants so Much? (Greenwood Village, Aspen: real estate, renter)

[Rambler21]

I've lived in lots of places throughout my life, but I've never met residents so opposed to non-"natives" as here in Colorado.

Why do residents act this way? You rarely see things like bumper stickers proclaiming "native" status in other states (maybe Texas). There's this blatant and unapologetic superiority complex.

Nearly every local news article on FB is littered with comments blaming those originally from other states (especially California and Texas) for traffic, cost of living, etc. Everyone seems convinced people are moving to Colorado strictly for legalized marijuana which has never been proven. I moved here for a job like most.

Can someone explain the hate to me?

I find it to be ridiculous and childish behavior.

[Vision67]

I've not experienced that.

But perhaps it's simply the fact that more people coming in drive the costs of living higher for those who have lived here for a longer time.

For example, in another thread there is a discussion about how the cost of rent is increasing far more quickly than local wages. If you are a renter with a fixed income, this can easily force you to leave. A 10% per year increase doubles your rent in about 7.2 years. {(1.1**7.2)=1.98}

Another very big deal is the traffic. I-25 reminds me more and more of the 405 in LA every day.

[Texas Ag 93]

Originally Posted by Rambler21

Why do residents act this way? You rarely see things like bumper stickers proclaiming "native" status in other states (maybe Texas). There's this blatant and unapologetic superiority complex.

I always felt that the Colorado Native declarations were due to the fact that they (natives) considered themselves to be something of an "endangered species" due to the high number of transplants. In any event, whenever I encountered someone who was a native, I was usually unaware of that fact until I solicited that information myself. They didn't go around advertising it, let alone demonstrate any hatred of transplants.

[Indigo Cardinal]

Originally Posted by Texas Ag 93

I always felt that the Colorado Native declarations were due to the fact that they (natives) considered themselves to be something of an "endangered species" due to the high number of transplants. In any event, whenever I encountered someone who was a native, I was usually unaware of that fact until I solicited that information myself. They didn't go around advertising it, let alone demonstrate any hatred of transplants.

I think a lot of this. I think it started off as a lighthearted joke that got a bit edgier over the years. I moved here in 1998 when a lot of other people did, and I swear it seemed for years most of the license plates I was seeing were from other states--obviously people did change them over eventually, but there were always more people moving in. And in my field, I've yet to work in a department where most of the people are from Colorado originally. At best, there's usually only one native, and the rest of us are transplants. And initially, most of my circle of friends were transplants as well. Sadly, many of them had have to move out of state, so now my circle of friends here in Colorado is probably half native, half transplant.

[TCHP]

Originally Posted by Rambler21

I've lived in lots of places throughout my life, but I've never met residents so opposed to non-"natives" as here in Colorado.

Why do residents act this way? You rarely see things like bumper stickers proclaiming "native" status in other states (maybe Texas). There's this blatant and unapologetic superiority complex.

Nearly every local news article on FB is littered with comments blaming those originally from other states (especially California and Texas) for traffic, cost of living, etc. Everyone seems convinced people are moving to Colorado strictly for legalized marijuana which has never been proven. I moved here for a job like most.

Can someone explain the hate to me?

I find it to be ridiculous and childish behavior.

Have you been the recipient of this angst or is this simply observed from the venting on social media? Most natives will tend to be cordial and polite in face to face interactions and for many, it was this friendliness and sense of community that began drawing people to move here in the days before widespread social observations were easy done from the couch.

Bashing transplants has actually long been a Colorado sport, going far back beyond any of our times. I believe it actually began in the 1890s during a significant miners strike across the state when a consortium of mine owners began importing quarry miners from Missouri to replace the striking local workers.

In my lifetime I do recall Texans being common targets in the 1970-80s and then Californians being the butt of many jokes in the 80-90s. Yes, it has typically all been in good natured fun and actually manifested itself in the great CO vs TX tomato war for a period of time. Lately, it does seem to have taken on a bit of venom as prices of real estate have rapidly escalated and populations has rapidly increased.

[NorthDenverGirl]

I feel like the keyboard warriors make it seem worse than it really is.

Yes the native stickers are mildly obnoxious but I am yet to have someone in the real world say anything to me, now online, particularly in facebook groups, it's a whole other story.

[Gorges]

I have not experienced this at all, but literally everyone I know has moved here in the last 5 -7 years.

[maciesmom]

"Native" parapharnelia is nothing new and not limited to Colorado. I remember it back in the 70s in California. Yawn.

[Katarina Witt]

Originally Posted by TCHP

Have you been the recipient of this angst or is this simply observed from the venting on social media? Most natives will tend to be cordial and polite in face to face interactions and for many, it was this friendliness and sense of community that began drawing people to move here in the days before widespread social observations were easy done from the couch.

Bashing transplants has actually long been a Colorado sport, going far back beyond any of our times. I believe it actually began in the 1890s during a significant miners strike across the state when a consortium of mine owners began importing quarry miners from Missouri to replace the striking local workers.

In my lifetime I do recall Texans being common targets in the 1970-80s and then Californians being the butt of many jokes in the 80-90s. Yes, it has typically all been in good natured fun and actually manifested itself in the great CO vs TX tomato war for a period of time. Lately, it does seem to have taken on a bit of venom as prices of real estate have rapidly escalated and populations has rapidly increased.

Agree with the bold. Like all this "lighthearted" stuff, it can get ugly. It's not just Texas and California. There's Nebraska. The CU-Nebraska rivalry got nasty at times. My SIL is from Massachusetts, and the anti-NE Patriots stuff got very nasty one year at a Super Bowl party he and DD attended.

Originally Posted by maciesmom

"Native" parapharnelia is nothing new and not limited to Colorado. I remember it back in the 70s in California. Yawn.

Yes, I remember that too. (Lived there for a short time in the early 70s.)

[Scott5280]

I am a Co native from one of the original pioneering families on the Western slope; think Ute Indian wars, last great train robbery, the gold rush, operated original Aspen grocery, ggf was mayor of Breck.
About ten years ago I was driving out of a gas station in Greenwood Village with California plates on, guess this truck along side couldn't deal with that and yelled, 'go back to California and ruin your own state."
Had several other jackwagons make comments back than while driving CA plates. The natives I know could care less where people are from. I agree with another poster above, Texas and Colorado used to trade friendly Barb's. The California hate was in the 90's to early 2000's. I know more transplants here than natives by far these days, ironically I have had more than my fair share of Co natives as neighbors in CA.