Are Monmouth and Independence suburbs of Salem? (Corvallis, Albany: fit in, for sale)

[iPwn]

Downtown Independence is only about 5 miles from the southwest neighborhoods of Salem, though it seems further because of the small mountain range separating it from the city.

Would you say Monmouth and Independence are bedroom communities of Salem, or do they fit in just as much with Corvallis and Albany?

[GeorgiaTransplant]

Originally Posted by MimzyMusic

Downtown Independence is only about 5 miles from the southwest neighborhoods of Salem, though it seems further because of the small mountain range separating it from the city.

Would you say Monmouth and Independence are bedroom communities of Salem, or do they fit in just as much with Corvallis and Albany?

I wouldn't really call them bedroom communities. It's certainly a commutable distance-but I always considered them to be their own little community. Western Oregon State is a big help in establishing that identity.

[Larry Caldwell]

Polk County has maintained its own identity. Dallas, Monmouth and Independence are their own little micro-metro area. True, more people communte from Independence to Salem than commute from Salem to Independence but, if you have a job in Independence, why in the world would you want to live in Salem?

[Silverfall]

Originally Posted by Larry Caldwell

Polk County has maintained its own identity. Dallas, Monmouth and Independence are their own little micro-metro area. True, more people communte from Independence to Salem than commute from Salem to Independence but, if you have a job in Independence, why in the world would you want to live in Salem?

People live in Salem and commute to Monmouth-Indpendence because many of our schools are better. So that's why they work there and live here. This is typical of the professors at WOU. Most live in Corvallis or Salem and commute to Monmouth.

From a statistical standpoint they are considered suburbs as they get pulled into the broad category of the Salem Metro Area, but I don't think any locals consider them suburbs. I don't think any locals think Salem has an suburbs as most suburbs are the size of Salem.

[Steve Pickering]

West Salem Yes. Kizer Yes. Monmouth or Independence No. Independence is mostly Latino and Monmouth is a very small college town.

[tablemtn]

Monmouth/Independence is not well-connected enough to Salem to be a true suburb. It does get folded into the Census MSA for Salem, but that's because those designations are county-based, and West Salem happens to be in Polk County (the same as Dallas, Independence, Monmouth, Rickreall... even Falls City), as opposed to Marion County (like the rest of Salem).

There's quite a bit of psychological distance between those towns and Salem. When you're looking off to the east from Independence, you don't see Salem... you see some fields, and then a short but steep line of hills.

Those hills make it more difficult to reach Salem in any direct fashion by road. Vitae Springs is a narrow, windy street that can get nightmarish in winter. River Road meanders around the hills for miles before approaching Salem at all. All the indirect routes via Highway 22 require several miles of driving through fields just to reach that thoroughfare.

Now, if ODOT slammed a big wide viaduct from south Salem on top of River Rd., maybe these towns would become real suburbs, but for now, being in Monmouth or Independence certainly does not feel as though you are in suburban Salem.

[iPwn]

Originally Posted by tablemtn

Monmouth/Independence is not well-connected enough to Salem to be a true suburb. It does get folded into the Census MSA for Salem, but that's because those designations are county-based, and West Salem happens to be in Polk County (the same as Dallas, Independence, Monmouth, Rickreall... even Falls City), as opposed to Marion County (like the rest of Salem).

There's quite a bit of psychological distance between those towns and Salem. When you're looking off to the east from Independence, you don't see Salem... you see some fields, and then a short but steep line of hills.

Those hills make it more difficult to reach Salem in any direct fashion by road. Vitae Springs is a narrow, windy street that can get nightmarish in winter. River Road meanders around the hills for miles before approaching Salem at all. All the indirect routes via Highway 22 require several miles of driving through fields just to reach that thoroughfare.

Now, if ODOT slammed a big wide viaduct from south Salem on top of River Rd., maybe these towns would become real suburbs, but for now, being in Monmouth or Independence certainly does not feel as though you are in suburban Salem.

Actually, Monmouth feels mentally close to Corvallis, and Independence to Albany - would you say that's correct?

[Steve Pickering]

Yes.

[iamscott]

No

[Silverfall]

Originally Posted by MimzyMusic

Actually, Monmouth feels mentally close to Corvallis, and Independence to Albany - would you say that's correct?

I don't think so, but this is a matter of opinion.