How diverse is the Spokan area? - 11/18/2006

I am interested to know your experience if you have lived in the Bay area and non-white and currently living in the Spokan/C'dArlene area. I visited the place this past weekend as a possible relocation spot. It seemed very cold. Much appreciated for your comment. I would like to know how much diverse is really in this area or is it 99% white. Would you live in the Idaho side?

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Moved to Spokane in late 2002 from Orange County a - 10/15/2006

I moved my family of four here in 2002 and my only regret is that I did not do it 10 years earlier. Leaving such a congested poluted area with very high cost of living to Spokane was a true Godsend. The cost of living especially the cost of housing is very affordable. The four seasons allows many options in outdoor activity and the hassle factor associated with these activities is very low. Everything is very affordable and easy to get to relative to Southern California. There are five ski resorts within 45 minutes to 1.5 hours from my home and there are 20 or so lakes to water ski on in the summer. The coolest part is that there are really no long lift lines in the winter and very little crowds when you water ski. There are so many places to snow ski and water ski and the population taking these activities in on any weekend is limited as there are less than 500,000 people in Spokane and Coeur d'Alene and most of them do not take part in these activities. And as for cheap, daily lift tickets do not top $50 per day and most resorts charge as little as $27. Come visit and you will stay a lifetime.

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Quality of Life is Great in Spokane - 10/11/2006

I love living in Spokane! Compared to California, New York and other higher priced locals, Spokane's quality of life is great! Prices of homes are affordable, there is skiing nearby, lakes, good jobs and a mild climate! I love it here. I feel like it's an undiscovered treasure.

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Spokane is awesome! - 10/11/2006

I moved to Spokane from Walnut Creek, California and I love it here! There is no traffic during rush hour, job growth is great, home prices are affordable, people are friendly and the weather is mild. No earthquakes, no hurricanes, no tornadoes and no traffic! You can have your $500K - $800K homes in California and keep them! You can still buy a nice place in Spokane between $150K - $250K and they are nice places to live! If you can stand a couple snowfalls each year, you will love it here! You get 4 seasons!

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Loving Spokane - 10/4/2006

I moved to Spokane from Orange County a couple of years ago. While Spokane is a little bit "red neck", it is not the unsafe place that Ann makes it out to be. It has a great central park on the river with beautiful falls. I go down with my kids all the time. While it is not the cultural capital of Washington it is a much better place to raise kids than Orange County. If you love the outdoors there is no better place to be. Within an hour you have at least 50 lakes and the mountains. I will never go back to California. I suggest Ann actually get out of her car a visit Spokane. By the way the concerts and musicals are great. If you don't want to go that leaves one more open seat for me!

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Ever been to Stockton, CA - 9/28/2006

I just moved to Northern ID about 3 months ago and Spokane is the nearest city, unfortunatly it is no city I want to go to.If you have ever been to Stockton CA it looks very similar and probably has similar crim stats. I would not feel comfortable/safe going to a concert but knowing they don't have too many I guess I won't be tempted.Lets put it this way the locals here call it Spocompton, lol

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SPOKANE, TRAILER PARK OF THE NW - 9/25/2006

Was listening to the radio in Spokane today, they had a great comment. One of the guests said, "Spokane is kinda like the trailer park of the Pacific Northwest!" I think that about sums it up, much better than I could have said it!

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Life In Spokane - 2006 - 9/8/2006

I've been living in Spokane for about 8 months, 2006. Spokane is no longer as geographically isolated as it once was, but the city still seems to have a feeling of isolation. Spokane sits on the far east side of Washington state and it feels like it! As a broadcaster I've lived all over the USA and Spokane reminds me of Jacksonville and Charlotte. Like those two towns, Spokane is kinda country, conservative and generally lacking for those who like to live in cool places. As an example there has been only one major contemporary music concert in the first 8 months of 2006, Black Eyed Peas. If you're into Country things are better, but if you're into Urban or Hip Hop, it is worse. This is the most non-diverse city I've ever lived in. Many people here work two jobs, because wages are so low. The local law enforcement is very gung ho about writing traffic tickets, you know, like in a very small town. There are currently 2 cases of police brutality in the Spokane news today. The downtown area is very blighted. Great restaurants are few. If you're into hunting or fishing or boating, this is a good area. Local TV in Spokane is big on covering auto accidents and running many local car dealer commercials, as in most small markets. You'll notice many people smoke here. On the plus side, the country is beautiful. There are excellent places to hike, but not nearly as many as near Seattle or Portland. There are several excellent ski areas. There are beautiful lakes, mountains and forests!

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Re: Is everyone welcome? - 8/24/2006

I am relocating back to Spokane and have been visiting Spokane every year for 20 years. Each year I visit EWU and have noticed a large number of Asian students attending. They must feel welcome and I have no knowledge of anything contrary. I have several family members in Spokane including a brother-in-law from Egypt. He misses his culture but has made a very nice life for he and my sister. Fred Alloway

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Is Everyone Welcome? - 8/22/2006

I am thinking of relocating to the Spokane/Liberty Lake area. My son-in-law is Asian. I want to live in a place where my daughter and her family will feel comfortable visiting. Any input, please?

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Cost of living - 8/14/2006

Other than gas and utilities, the cost of living increases are quite reasonable.

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Back Home - 8/11/2006

Thirty-six years after graduating from EWU, my wife and I are moving from Scottsdale, Az. to Spokane. After much thinking and spending time in Spokane every summer; we are trading Scottsdale winters for Spokane summers and all the natural beauty in and around Spokane. The residential view properties are awesome as are the many lakes, the Spokane river and Manito Park. All will be cherished by us. The Alloways

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Not too bad - 8/5/2006

Crime rate is high. Meth seems to be a major problem here. If that was not the case this place would be awesome!

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Relocating to Spokane - 7/31/2006

My husband and myself are thinking about relocating to Spokane from Portland. Is housing costs still low and affordable? Is crime really bad? What is the overall qulaity of life like up there? Thans for any info....

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Four Season City - 7/31/2006

Spokane is a four season city. Some snow in the Winter...comes and goes and generally is less than 4-5 inches at a time. Generally it snows in January and maybe a little in February. We get little rain and if we do it is in March and April. Summer is fantastic in that it gets over 100 degrees about 1-3 times a summer, generally is in the 80's, dry, but the best part is that you can be guaranteed 30 degree drop off in the night time from the daily high. Falls begin right after school starts in September and the leaves on the trees make it fantastic. What a great place to live.

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Feels like home... - 7/17/2006

I went to grad school in Spokane (Eastern Wash. U.)and had previously worked and lived in Pullman, and in locales around North Idaho (I was a Forest Service nomad). My wife, son, and I are now in southern Indiana. Spokane has mild winters for its latitude and sunny, dry, short, hot summers. Very nice autumn and spring, though they seem short. Urban planners have had some success making the city pop - the downtown core has some vibrant areas. Access to trails and bike routes is good. Winter sports are right at hand. It's a beautiful area and close to many more beautiful landscapes. Poverty is high and widespread in many parts of the inner city, so property crime is a bit high. Homelessness is an in-your-face issue in this area too. Spokane is a provincial town, the capital city for a huge area, extending into southern British Columbia, Central Idaho, and western Montana. Lots of health care specialists. Entertainment is pretty good, including a symphony orchestra and good theatre. There are three amateur hockey teams of different levels, and lots of recreational hockey leagues, plus minor baseball and arena football teams. And EWU football and Gonzaga basketball. Housing has been getting pricey around Spokane in the past few years, but it is still not that bad, although it is probably approaching incongruity with the overall low-wage economy of the area. Spokane is a working-class town that is more upscale than your typical midwest city, there is some Seattle-Portland shiek, but not too much yet. I hope to move back there, its the place that most felt like home to me in all the many places I have lived (including N. Carolina, Florida, Utah, Upper Michigan, Northern Idaho).

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Crime - Sergeant Alan - 6/25/2006

So, is the crime index on this site or elsewhere? And are you referring to the City, County, or outlying areas? This would be really useful info. I live on the border of a large city with relatively high crime, but little or none in our little city. Thanks, to all who post opinions. Bob

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Watch Out For The Assessor - 6/22/2006

City's going broke due to lack of sound management - Solution seems to be to tax the homeowners to death - Incompetent leadership is going to force people out of their homes - However, there seems to be enough money to pay for health benefits & pensions - go figure !!!!!!!!!!

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Police Sergeant - 6/20/2006

Looking at Crime Index

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Spokane - 6/6/2006

We have just moved here, 3 days ago, to early to tell,but looks very promising.

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