Q's on Walla Walla (Seattle, Spokane: homes, theater, YMCA)

[Rhiannon29]

My husband has a job opportunity in Walla Walla that stands a pretty decent chance of working out and I wanted to know more about the area, specifically the racial climate there. I'm black and my husband is white, and, incidentally, he was born in Eastern WA and raised in Western WA, so he is not going to unfamiliar territory at all...But I am! From what I've read, it's seems like a very cute town that's growing, but still affordable (for now, anyway), and a good place to raise kids; I feel excited about the possibility, but because Walla Walla is so small and there aren't a lot of black people in WA in general, I'm curious about the situation there. Any info would be helpful. Thanks!

[Yerdua]

I came to the Walla2 area from the northeast, and attended colleges here to receive my teaching certification. I can honestly say that there is little cause for alarm about mixed race marriages or couples or even families in this area. The schools and colleges specifically train people to respect cultural differences among people. As in any city, there are areas where there's a concentration of one race or another (usually between Hispanic and "white") [or non-Hispanic], but I'm sure that you and your husband won't have any trouble finding an area in which you are comfortable. My advice? Don't sweat the small stuff, and just be yourself. That's what I've found that Walla Wallans are all about.

[Rhiannon29]

Originally Posted by Yerdua

I came to the Walla2 area from the northeast, and attended colleges here to receive my teaching certification. I can honestly say that there is little cause for alarm about mixed race marriages or couples or even families in this area. The schools and colleges specifically train people to respect cultural differences among people. As in any city, there are areas where there's a concentration of one race or another (usually between Hispanic and "white") [or non-Hispanic], but I'm sure that you and your husband won't have any trouble finding an area in which you are comfortable. My advice? Don't sweat the small stuff, and just be yourself. That's what I've found that Walla Wallans are all about.

Yerdua, thank you so much for responding to my post. I had forgotten about the posting until today and when I checked, low and behold I had some feedback! My husband has since been offered the job and we are indeed moving to Walla Walla. All what you said makes a lot of sense and I think we will be fine there. I actually welcome the change of pace and environment. How long have you been in Walla Walla? I know the city has changed a lot within the last ten years with the wine industry and all. Do you know what the projected rate of growth for the city is? I know there is also a lot developmental interest in the area as well. Thanks again!

[Binx]

Walla Walla is a nice place to live. It is a quiet retirement town but also
hosts Whitworth College. It's just now beginning to wake up after the last 25 years of no-growth. It will have a four-lane highway soon to the TriCities
which has more shopping, entertainment and activities. TriCities is also more diverse in population. Walla Walla is a slow-paced, sleepy town. You could live in TriCities and commute easily to WW. TriCities has the river and great schools. WWallans go to TriCities to shop at the Kennewick mall which also has the only Costco in SE Washington. I would look at property or homes between WW and TriCities which is where the growth and commercial business will ultimately expand if growth continues. Great catholic school system in WW as well as three big parishes on the same street. Two hospitals one is Seventh Day and one is Catholic. Property taxes are high. Lots of hunters and fishermen
in this area with the Blue Mountains right there. The area is overly saturated with wineries, tourists aren't enticed
enough to this area because it's out in the middle of nowhere. Two years ago wineries lost 25% of their grapes
due to the freezing cold temps. It can get alot of snow or sometime hardly any. Black ice is worrysome when
driving in the valley in the winter as is the fog....lots of fog in the winter!!!

[Blindtom]

Whitworth College is in Spokane.
Whitman College is in Walla Walla.

[mlee70]

Walla Walla is a nice place to visit or possibly attend college. The town is very cute, however, there is not much to do. Walla Walla is isolated and rural. It literally is in the middle of nowhere. There is no where for kids to swim during the hot summer days, unless you drive 20 miles. The community voted down the ballot measure for a pool for the children on Nov 8, 2006/ The town does not seem very child oriented. Walla Walla caters to the students at Whitman, and the adult community. Also, people in Walla Walla are VERY VERY cliquish. Outwardly people are friendly, but when it comes down to it, they have a saying in Walla Walla and that is "It is who you know." There are people there who are competing for jobs that are easily aquired in mid size communities. Also, there is a fairly large hispanic population, however, the latin influence is practically non existent. Cinco de Mayo does not appear to be celebrated. I lived in Walla Walla for a long 3 month period. Between the dust storms, cliquish community,lack of entertainment, and no where to swim during the 100 degree days, I left for a better quality of life! Good luck.

[Pippa]

Okay, let me just spit out some random thoughts. I lived there.

Walla Walla is clean. It is also a GREEN oasis on the eastern side of the mountains. It has rolling hills around it and a funny mixed up population. There is a huge Mexican community, a lot of farmers, a lot of left liberals due to Whitman, the prison right there so lots of people that work at the prison AND College Place right next door, which is a cute yet bizaar little ALL seventh day adventist town that has a college.
I would not say that it is a retirement town, whatsoever.
Whitman, which is a very good 4 year liberal art school is in the center of town. There are a lot of cultural activities centered around Whitman. There are TONS of professors and their families that live there as well.
There are actually a ton of musicians and artists in that town considering that it's not that big. Yes, lots of theater and a jazz society, etc etc.
What else....oh, the weather. It's great, in my opinion because you get the beautiful four season. Lots of sun. There's a river running through the cute little downtown and a resorvoir that people swim in right outside of town, in the summer.
Okay, racial stuff. There ARE hicks there for sure. I lived there about 10 years ago (I've been back recently as well) and there are very few black people there. Interestingly enough, the community college there has quite a few black students due to sports recruiting, and Whitman does too.
It's pretty up and coming all and all.
One thing-it is a little winding road to getting out of Walla Walla from either side-going North OR West to the Tri-Cities. This is no biggie but in the winter, it can be a little sketchy with ice, etc.
Also-to get to Portland is easy-about 4 hours. To get to Seattle is actually A LOT longer because you would have to either go through Portland/Vancouver area first and then drive up north OR go over the Cascades, which in winter, again is not always an easy option. Anyway, Portland will be the closest big city, unless you want to hit up Spokane.
I think it's a great place to raise kids and a good, supportive community.
Good luck and email if you have any more questions.

[jaguartrax]

Hmmm well I currently reside in Walla Walla and have so for many years. It is a pretty lush town compared to most other towns in the area. We have several beautiful parks, a bmx track that is the best in the state, an abundance of wineries, three colleges all within 10 miles of each other, and an award winning restored downtown.
You won't find a decent mall, but we have a 12 plex cinema and just 10 miles over in Oregon one of the last remaining drive in theatres. No we don't have a large pool for our kids but again 10 miles away in Milton-Freewater, Oregon they have a wonderful aquatic center with slides and a sand volleyball pit.
Racially, we are predominatly white with a large population of hispanics.
Our schools are wonderful and have even started bilingual classes in some of the elementary schools as well as secondary schools. I must admit that we do have a reputation for being cliquish. That I would say is Walla Walla's main fault.But we really are a mix of farmers and seniors, professionals and families. But I have lived in 5 different cities as a child and would say Walla Walla is a great place to raise a family.
As far as nothing to do here well lets see........
kids love the bmx track, hikers enjoy our mountains, horseback riders and nature lovers enjoy our Rooks park, ice hockey and skating at our ice chalet located downtown, wine drinkers enjoy our vast tasting rooms, cyclists love our rural winding roads, Our ymca is top notch for the work out crowd.......I guess I could go on and on but I really hate it when people complain about the lack of things to do here. I hope this post gives everyone a little slice of what Walla Walla is really like.

[monk]

Originally Posted by Rhiannon29

My husband has a job opportunity in Walla Walla that stands a pretty decent chance of working out and I wanted to know more about the area, specifically the racial climate there. I'm black and my husband is white, and, incidentally, he was born in Eastern WA and raised in Western WA, so he is not going to unfamiliar territory at all...But I am! From what I've read, it's seems like a very cute town that's growing, but still affordable (for now, anyway), and a good place to raise kids; I feel excited about the possibility, but because Walla Walla is so small and there aren't a lot of black people in WA in general, I'm curious about the situation there. Any info would be helpful. Thanks!

Walla Walla is a nice town, u should not have any problems w the black and white situation, i have lived here all my life and i love it here. liveing here is an outdoorsman's dream come true But findeing work w out some type of college will be hard the only major incomes in this town is working at the prison, key tech, if u dont have some type of college.Im not a big believer in the school systems around here, if u have trouble they try to help but just pass u on through the system. I have a friend that graduated in 01-02 and still to this day can barely read. but for an over all rateing of the town and i give it a 100% and u will have no problem w being black.

[heleendavig]

Hello- Might retire in Walla Walla and was wondering about the quality of the healthcare system there.Are there specialists for the senior citizen crowd? Any info is greatly appreciated.