tell me about Longview

[gonzotrooper]

Well where do I begin! I grew up in Longview and graduated from Mark Morris High School in 1980. I still have a bunch of relatives the are still there! I really had a fun childhood in Longview. The schools were alot more involved in the students education and future than they are now. The teachers were fun to learn with and mentored any willing to learn.
I remember fishing in Lake Sacajawea and the Columbia River.or driving up to Mount ST. Helens and sled in the snow. I would camp on Mount Solo which in the west side of town. The Longview Police have always been a little wishy washy. It seems they are very selective as to the enforcement now as they were then. I have seen illegal acts done in front of a officer and he basically went the other way to avoid dealing with it.
When I graduated, I went right into the service. I had to! It was the only way I was going to able to avoid working in the mills or logging industry.
Since then the mills are constantly down sizing and closing. Logging has dropped to the point that lumber and paper have been severly affected.
I saw a wonderful city and surrounding area decay in a slow but steady rate since then.
I really feel a sense or sorrow when I return to visit my mother, grand mother and sisters and see what has happened since the last visit. The crime in the area is a major problem to this day, mainly because there isn't any outlets for the youth to utilize for release or socialize like when you could cruise down Commerce Ave. We would have a blast and my era didn't have any real problems. We just socialized and showed off our cars and ate at the A&W. Remember this in 1977-1980.
I wouldn't move back today even if they payed me!
I can't give a good review because it seems the good has almost all gone.

[pw72]

Well, as much as I like Longview/Kelso, the lyrics to the Green Day song are quite clear. I'm guessing not much action (?) for the band there, and hence the lyrics and subject matter. How interesting that the most famous song about your city is about self-gratification? A definite interesting footnote to the area! But, playfully, just wonderful. Not to mention, one of their best songs!

[Akiravikki]

The posts I have been reading are quite a few years old. Some from before the 2008 recession. I was wondering if there have been any positive changes in Longview since then.
My husband and I are retired and want to move to the PNW to be closer to our children. (Portland). We would be coming from Michigan. Longview seems to have the most affordable housing, but from everything I have read,it is not such a great place to live. Is there anything good about Longview?? Can any one suggest another community?

[CrazyDonkey]

Maybe start a new thread...this one is o-l-d.

I'm not seeing Longview as a "retirement haven", except for those who can't afford to retire anywhere else. Air quality is an issue. There are major flooding issues. Not unique - many resource-dependent cities in SW Washington (Centralia, Aberdeen/Hoquiam, Raymond, etc.) have many of the same problems.

For closer to Portland, maybe look at Battle Ground. Further away, maybe look at Long Beach, Astoria, Seaside, Castle Rock, the Dalles, etc.

[StealthRabbit]

Outside of Longview, Carrolls, Kalama, woodland (cowlitz cty side of river)