Is Idaho welcoming toward the Hispanic community? (Boise, Meridian: houses, live)

[Val. V]

Hi,
Sorry to say that we are yet another family from California looking to relocate to Idaho. I never thought I’d leave sunny San Diego but it’s so crowded and expensive here not to mention the politics; I won’t say more about that.
My concern is that I’ve never lived anywhere outside of San Diego where it is so diverse. I have two daughters that are half white but look more like me, brown. I’ve never worried about race or even thought twice about it until now. Will they be embraced in our new community? We’re looking at Meridian, Eagle, and a Cour deAlene.

[volosong]

Depends. I'm up north, a small town a few miles away from Coeur d'Alene. Personally, I have no issues with Hispanics. I've done some geology work in southern Mexico, (Terra Caliente, Rio Balsas area, State of Guerrero), and found Mexicans to be among the most kind, generous, friendly, and honest people I've ever met. Having spent my whole pre-retirement life in SoCal, I can also speak/understand the Spanish, (if they don't speak too rapidly or talk technical/philosophical).

However, I was horrified with a neighbor lady who has cancer that I've been helping. She is originally from the Seattle area and spoke very harshly about some local workers marking the street in preparation for the installation of fiber optic network cables. When she asked them some questions, they feigned ignorance of English and wouldn't answer her. She went ballistic and talked rudely to them, (and anyone else who listened). This just happened the other week.

Normally, Idahoans are pretty accepting of everyone and displays of open racism is rare. However, you can never know under the surface. I was very surprised by my neighbor's reaction. Not a lot of Hispanics around here and I very rarely hear Spanish anymore. They are around because I've seen a few here and there. I strongly suggest coming for a visit and seeing for yourselves.

[Val. V]

Thank you. We will be out for a visit real soon.

[oregonwoodsmoke]

I hope you are well prepared for the gigantic change in weather. If you visit soon, you will find lovely weather but summer doesn't last long and what you get the rest of the year is going to seem harsh for someone who has always lived in San Diego which has the best weather in the USA.

[oldafretired]

There are a few a-holes everywhere. No different in CA or ID. I really don't think you'll have any problems with being Hispanic up here. In fact there are a whole bunch of ex-Californians up here. Seems like most of the people I meet are from CA. I'm next to a small town just north of Volosong and my next door neighbors on both sides of me are from CA and at least 4 houses in a row (including me) are from CA. My ethnicity is East Asian and have had no problems due to that in my 5 1/2 years up here.

[nowhereman427]

Originally Posted by Val. V

Hi,
Sorry to say that we are yet another family from California looking to relocate to Idaho. I never thought I’d leave sunny San Diego but it’s so crowded and expensive here not to mention the politics; I won’t say more about that.
My concern is that I’ve never lived anywhere outside of San Diego where it is so diverse. I have two daughters that are half white but look more like me, brown. I’ve never worried about race or even thought twice about it until now. Will they be embraced in our new community? We’re looking at Meridian, Eagle, and a Cour deAlene.

Another consumer who has come to realize this place is not what it is all cut up to be.
Good for him and family
Caldwell has a high Hispanic population.

[nowhereman427]

Originally Posted by oldafretired

There are a few a-holes everywhere. No different in CA or ID. I really don't think you'll have any problems with being Hispanic up here. In fact there are a whole bunch of ex-Californians up here. Seems like most of the people I meet are from CA. I'm next to a small town just north of Volosong and my next door neighbors on both sides of me are from CA and at least 4 houses in a row (including me) are from CA. My ethnicity is East Asian and have had no problems due to that in my 5 1/2 years up here.

Are you in CDA or Boise area?

[stealheadrun23]

Originally Posted by Val. V

Thank you. We will be out for a visit real soon.

I just returned from a first-time visit to the CdA area and I was surprised by the number of non-white people I did observe. Granted, CdA is highly tourist oriented and so to some degree the people I saw may have been tourists. I encountered several different groups of white-ish people speaking what I assume were different Eastern European languages. But in any case I definitely saw several Hispanic and black people and I didn't notice any hostility. I observed an Asian couple at a diner in Hayden having a friendly conversation with the staff.

I am going to recommend for best results you make no mention of which state you are from without being prompted. To the extent there is anything to be concerned about, being from California is probably the real target on your back. If you make no mention of it though I found all the people I dealt with to be friendly.

[banjomike]

There's a much higher Hispanic population in the south than in the north I think. It's mostly due to the big agriculture in the south here.

Right now, there are lots of spud farmers who are very unhappy with the recent border closures; there are Mexican families who have come here to work the spuds from planting to harvest, and then have gone back home for the winters. Some of these folks have been doing this for 50 years, and their farm owners have come to depend on them.

They have all made deep multi-generational friendships here too, so when they can no longer come north, it's a bad situation for both. And since they grow our food, bad for the rest of us too.

[oldafretired]

Originally Posted by nowhereman427

Are you in CDA or Boise area?

North of CdA.