Stevens County, Wa community traits

[PS90]

Originally Posted by jem22

Hey 3Pony. Having lived and worked throughout the NW, including the counties of Bonner, Kootenai, Spokane, Stevens, King, and Snohomish, I’ve got a pretty good handle on the demographic pulse of each area. Based on your criteria, which includes proximity to Spokane, cultivation of the Arts, and preference for an open community, the only locations within Stevens County I can even remotely recommend are the those considered ‘bedroom’ communities of Spokane; i.e., Loon Lake and Suncrest. Anywhere north and you’ll likely encounter the same provincialism and backward mentality toward the Arts you wish to avoid.

To illustrate, in my encounters with residents located in Colville (Stevens County, WA), the opening question is not, ”what do you do?“ but “who are you related to?” WTF?

This runs entirely counter to the standard pleasantries considered appropriate in polite, democratic society. This has DICK to do with urbanites imposing themselves on rural locals. It’s called common decency vs marginalizing human beings based on family lineage. I’m world traveled including third world, but Colville Washington tops the charts where provincial behavior is concerned. There is almost what I’d consider a feudal cast system at play in economically depressed, under-educated Colville. For this reason I refer to Colville as, ‘Little Appalachia.’ While in the area I did make friends, but they all came from some place else. In short, expect to remain the perennial outsider if you’re not related to any of the “old names.” I echo 509's sentiments regarding the sorry state of Stevens County Library system. Buildings and infrastructure are antiquated, websites lag behind neighboring counties, and circulation caters to pedestrian tastes. This is not the case in neighboring counties with similar demographics. Tax payers should't have to resort to online book sellers for titles that should be available at their local library.

In light of this, you might consider Deer Park, a bedroom community of Spokane, but because it’s in Spokane vs Stevens Co., it offers superior services sans provincialism, affordable acreage, open community, and short, easy commute to Spokane. Alternatively, the community of Rathdrum, ID offers affordable, wooded/pastured acreage within relatively short commute to Spokane. Rathdrum retains it’s rural character, but has experienced enough outsider influx to dilute provincialism, and because it’s situated between two urban centers (Spokane and Coeur d’Alene), you may find attracting both artists and their supporters an easy task.

Since I was in the same general predicament, I just wanted to mention to the OP that I have experienced NONE of what jem22 has mentioned.

As I stated above, I knew NO ONE when I moved to Colville to take a job offer, three years ago.

Sure, there are a lot of people in these parts who are related - but it's no different in any other small town in Eastern WA (and I suspect that it's no different than most other small towns anywhere in the USA), but I haven't noticed any resentment for not being a "multi-generation-er". In fact, my wife and I have more friends here than we've had in a long time - and many of them are from long-term families in the area. And we already know and are greeted by name by cashiers at Safeway, middle-school administrators, etc.

Again, this may be the point-of-view of someone who grew-up and has lived in small towns all his life vs. a big-city point-of-view, IDK.

[Walkaboutcda]

Originally Posted by PS90

Since I was in the same general predicament, I just wanted to mention to the OP that I have experienced NONE of what jem22 has mentioned.

As I stated above, I knew NO ONE when I moved to Colville to take a job offer, three years ago.

Sure, there are a lot of people in these parts who are related - but it's no different in any other small town in Eastern WA (and I suspect that it's no different than most other small towns anywhere in the USA), but I haven't noticed any resentment for not being a "multi-generation-er". In fact, my wife and I have more friends here than we've had in a long time - and many of them are from long-term families in the area. And we already know and are greeted by name by cashiers at Safeway, middle-school administrators, etc.

Again, this may be the point-of-view of someone who grew-up and has lived in small towns all his life vs. a big-city point-of-view, IDK.

Having been born and raised there it's good to know that things aren't as dire as jem22 thinks they are.

[3Pony]

Wow, truly appreciate all of the feedback. You folks have given me a good start, thanks!

[twinkletoesAK99]

3Pony,

Don't even THINK about moving to Chewelah! That is the WORST town I've ever lived in in my entire life! All the things you mentioned that you DON'T want are alive and well there. People move OUT of that town to get away from all of the clannish type nonsense you mentioned.

Then throw in a whole bunch of tweekers, meth heads, constant burglaries to supply the tweekers, then entire apartment complexes FULL of those types and people with all kinds of mental disorders. All of the businesses go belly up sooner than later and it was rated the poorest town in all of Washington State.

Then, there are the "special" people who think they own the whole town and everybody that lives there and see everybody as prey to use and rip off. All with the "towns" blessings. Stepfordville comes to mind.

Springdale, from what I've heard is even worse. Nothing but drugs.

Like others have mentioned, Deer Park is very nice, very pretty surroundings, open minds, good shopping, services, culture all you want in Spokane. How about Republic? Olde town theme.

[PS90]

Originally Posted by twinkletoesAK99

3Pony,

Don't even THINK about moving to Chewelah! That is the WORST town I've ever lived in in my entire life! All the things you mentioned that you DON'T want are alive and well there. People move OUT of that town to get away from all of the clannish type nonsense you mentioned.

Then throw in a whole bunch of tweekers, meth heads, constant burglaries to supply the tweekers, then entire apartment complexes FULL of those types and people with all kinds of mental disorders. All of the businesses go belly up sooner than later and it was rated the poorest town in all of Washington State.

Then, there are the "special" people who think they own the whole town and everybody that lives there and see everybody as prey to use and rip off. All with the "towns" blessings. Stepfordville comes to mind.

Springdale, from what I've heard is even worse. Nothing but drugs.

Like others have mentioned, Deer Park is very nice, very pretty surroundings, open minds, good shopping, services, culture all you want in Spokane. How about Republic? Olde town theme.

*Sigh* Another one of these one-post wonders. Lots of hyperbole and absolutely no actual facts.

[twinkletoesAK99]

PS90,

Hyperbole? I don't think so. Move there and find out. Go into Safeway in the evening and you'll see what lives there. Tweekers and riff-raff.

[elkotronics]

Is there a hospital in Chewelah? Probably being hit up for painkillers big-time.

[Yeledaf]

Originally Posted by elkotronics

Is there a hospital in Chewelah?

Isn't that a C & W song?

[elkotronics]

Isn't that a C & W song?

Could be, Yel.

[Yeledaf]

(Sung to the tune of "Put Another Log on the Fire", by Waylon Jennings)

Is there a clinic in Chewela,
Where I can get myself some pills?
Don't need a rod or a reel, a
Coupla Vicodin provide my thrills

When I get to itchin like a hound dog
Opiods are all I need to smile
So take me to that clinic in Chewela
So I can feel euphoric for a while!