Welcome to City-Data.com Forum!
U.S. CitiesCity-Data Forum Index
Go Back   City-Data Forum > U.S. Forums > Washington > Vancouver area
 [Register]
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
View detailed profile (Advanced) or search
site with Google Custom Search

Search Forums  (Advanced)
Reply Start New Thread
 
Old 03-14-2010, 07:55 PM
 
7,743 posts, read 15,812,782 times
Reputation: 10451
You also forgot to mention about the flooding problem Centralia and Chehalis has that still needs to be fixed. The more severe one being back in... 2008(?). The pictures looked scary.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message

 
Old 03-14-2010, 09:25 PM
 
23 posts, read 41,698 times
Reputation: 21
How could I forget? But I'm pretty sure the big one was in Dec 2007 when the entire area from here to the coast, along the river, flooded. BTW....I was in the Dec 2007 flood where I sat in an unfinished attic with several elderly tenants, waiting out for the waters to receed. It came in at 4 feet here but much worse for others, depending on the elevation of where one was. However....this is a flood plain and always has been. It all depends on WHERE you live in Centralia or Chehalis. When I spoke with a gal from FEMA, she showed me satellite pix and explained that MOST people were not affected by the flood when you add all of the populace up. Again, it depends on the elevation of where your house sits. A few blocks away from here people sat on dry ground. And talk about how a community comes together. WOW! Its almost unbelievable how everyone worked to rebuild and support eachother. Perhaps this is why it is such a close and tight-knit community.

On the bright side, after the 2007 flood, the levy in question was fixed. All of this involved the Army Corp of Engineers and certain elites thinking we had "time on our side" since the flood before was considered the 100 year flood. Since only 11 years had passed and another flood came (Dec 2007) and IT was then called the 100 year flood, the public outcry from the citizens was loud and clear; hence, the levy being fixed. And that particular levy held and then some. I am a witness to the fact as I stood on the top of it during the peak flood levels, back in Jan 2009, and watched in amazement as that cold, riverwater was held back.

Now there is a huge project in the talks and about to be underway to fix most, if not all of the levies, so as to preserve and protect the entire area. I only know this because my husband was involved in a meeting, through the college, which laid out the plans. From the looks of it, the next major levy to be addressed and fixed will be the one on the west side of I-5, near the hospital.

All that being said, I STILL would encourage others to consider this area as a safe, beautiful and awesome place to reside. Just depends WHERE you are located when it comes to the threat of "getting wet." Honestly, I'm more worried about earthquakes here than flooding. At least with a flood you have several days notice to prepare. At least you can get away from it if you are aware and able, thanks to the river watch system in place where you can moniter "up to the minute water levels" at any given moment.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 03-16-2010, 10:42 PM
 
23 posts, read 116,192 times
Reputation: 11
Thank you for the info on Chehalis/Centralia. It really is a nice area! I do remember hearing about that flood 3 years ago, thank goodness the levy issue was fixed! Unfortunately with my husband needing to go to Portland 1-2 times per week, it is a bit to far than he wants.

Any more thoughts on areas? I like La Center, but it looks like it gets a bit more rain. We have been leaning toward Ridgefield, but recently heard the schools are really not that great. I know Camas schools are about the best, but I just think the area is getting too crowded.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 03-17-2010, 01:14 AM
 
23 posts, read 41,698 times
Reputation: 21
Insofar as areas, I can only give info on Centralia/Chehalis, as I'm not familiar with anywhere else. I have heard some people speak well about Longview. Perhaps that area is worth looking into. I do wish you well on your research and choice of location. Good luck!
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 03-19-2010, 05:28 AM
 
1 posts, read 3,068 times
Reputation: 10
Lisa,
Everyone has pretty much told it how it is, but here's my two cents. I grew up in the Hockinson area and can not have asked for a better place. It is an absolutely beautiful area with plenty of space and great access to just about anything. The grocery store, gym, ect.. are 12 minutes away and downtown Portland can be had in 30 minutes. If you want hilly, consider that part of the Hockinson school district is down at 270 feet and the other half reaches up towards 1500. [ Don't worry about the country roads, you'll be driving them at night in the fog half asleep in no time ] Depending on where you are at, views of Mt. Hood are fantastic, as well as what's left of Mount St. Helens.. The lower areas get snow around twice a year, while the higher elevations see it closer to a dozen or so times. Mt. Hood Meadows, a great ski area is 70mi (90min), for winter fun, and boating is even closer at the lakes or on the river during the summer.

The schools in Hockinson are second to none, though I will concede that they can be relatively 'clique' depending on what age you're kids are entering at. However, with so many people in the area now I'm wont be an issue. Overall the people are great and friendly and the population is pretty well mixed of both conservatives and liberals. In all likelihood you will get to know your neighbors well (I've had the same ones for 20 years) and enjoy a great sense of community. There are also a number of great churches in the area if thats your thing.

This part might not be quite as PC but its true. While still being relatively rural, the Camas and Hockinson area avoid the 'hick' stigma that people tend to associate with La Center, Ridgefield, Battle Ground, or really anywhere that is farther out than Salmon Creek to the North and Camas to the East.

Overall I think it is obvious I'd recommend the Hockinson/Camas area over La Center and day, but definitely check it out and see for yourself! I have no doubt that you'll love it here!
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 03-24-2010, 02:50 PM
 
Location: vancouver, wa
5 posts, read 9,625 times
Reputation: 10
There is an area to the West of LaCenter called "View" for a reason. Go to google maps and insert the following address, which is the "View Market" "10713 Northeast 379th Street; La Center". Check it out.

For the most part you'll have trees or view, but it's hard to have both, other than a view of trees

DISCLAIMER: I'm a realtor and I'm terribly biased about all of Clark County! candrews@ziprealty.com
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 05-11-2010, 11:36 PM
 
7 posts, read 17,507 times
Reputation: 11
My sister's kids are in La Center schools, she finds it to be a good school. La Center is a nice small town, gets a little bit of a bad rep because it has two casino's but the police are really good. My sister lives right in town and has not had any problems. When we've gone trick or treating at Halloween the police officers patrol and hand out candy to the kids. La Center is very hilly/beautiful area.

Ridgefield is similar, I don't know anyone who has kids in their schools. Over all for schools in the area I've heard the most good about Hockinson & La Center.

Hockinson is very rural. The 'city of' has a gas station/minit mart, a store, hair salon, restaurant, seems like there's a car repair shop... Definitely small, small town but great school from what I hear. Also hilly and pretty.

About trees around the house... I agree it's good to have sun to keep off the mold & moss. You can always remove the trees if all else is good.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 05-12-2010, 12:54 AM
 
321 posts, read 1,131,559 times
Reputation: 151
Stay away from Battle Ground. It's not that it's a bad town - I've lived there for a short time and found it pleasant enough with some pretty countryside - but the schools are awful.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 05-12-2010, 03:11 AM
 
Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
34,605 posts, read 57,568,971 times
Reputation: 46013
Camas has good schools as well

Quote:
Originally Posted by JennieO View Post
...
About trees around the house... I agree it's good to have sun to keep off the mold & moss. You can always remove the trees if all else is good.

Not if you live in a 'scenic protected area'

The 'friends of the Gorge' watch from Oregon our (WA) every move with binoculars. Cut down a tree, you are toast. Paint your house an unapproved color, you'll be painting it again (after you get out of jail and pay your fines) . And we 'get' taxed extra for his privilege! (only in Clark County, other counties recognize CGNSA dwellers are not able to fully utilize their properties, so assessor deducts value.)
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 05-13-2010, 10:46 AM
 
Location: Oxygen Ln. AZ
9,319 posts, read 18,689,911 times
Reputation: 5764
Our daughter and son in law are moving to Washougal next year. I am starting to panic a little and hate to see them that far away. We have looked at some properties to build a tiny home on in the Clark county area and were blown away by some of the taxes on just the land..maybe a typo or something. We can practice there, but would need to be within a reasonable drive to the town. I am so stressed and would have liked to see them pick just about any other state. LOL
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.

Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.


Reply
Please update this thread with any new information or opinions. This open thread is still read by thousands of people, so we encourage all additional points of view.

Quick Reply
Message:


Settings
X
Data:
Loading data...
Based on 2000-2020 data
Loading data...

123
Hide US histogram


Over $104,000 in prizes was already given out to active posters on our forum and additional giveaways are planned!

Go Back   City-Data Forum > U.S. Forums > Washington > Vancouver area
Similar Threads

All times are GMT -6.

© 2005-2024, Advameg, Inc. · Please obey Forum Rules · Terms of Use and Privacy Policy · Bug Bounty

City-Data.com - Contact Us - Archive 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37 - Top