Small towns and Richland, Oregon

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Hi all, I just got back from my Christmas leave. This year instead of going home to Alaska we all went to stay with my Mom in Salem, Oregon for three weeks.
Since we were staying in Oregon for the first time in many years I went to Richland in eastern Oregon to visit with my Dad, its a town of 175 people next to the Brownlee reservoir.
The area is stunningly beautiful and would be ideal for homesteading but the town and many other small towns in the area are dieing out, there just arent any jobs to be had to support a family and if you make items or grow produce to sell for cash there aren't enough people to sell to. The people in these small town are either retired (like my dad) or a rancher. In this case the timber industry supported the area until the bottom dropped out and the mills shut down. It made me sad to see such a pretty area slowly turning into ghost towns.
For the life of me I couldnt think of a single way to make enough money to support a family, much less revitalize the town. From comments on other threads the same pattern is happening all over, small towns are just fading away all over America. It really seems to be shame to me to lose these small towns, there's a certian mindset to the people in these towns that you dont seem to find anywhere else, its very welcoming and a real comfy feel that just seems to "fit" real well.

Any comments?

Dave

-- Dave (Ak) (daveh@ecosse.net), January 01, 2001

Answers

Dave, I agree that areas of economy in Oregon are hurting due to the constraints on the timber industry. I have been in the area you mentioned the last three or four years each summer. I don't remember Richland, But Halfway down the road a dozen miles seems to be doing OK. Joseph, about a hundred miles due north, is prospering. Baker City and LaGrange to the West are doing just fine. I wonder if this is due to local leadership, or just a consolidation of towns that is happening all over the West due to improved transportation methods.

-- JLS in NW AZ (stalkingbull007@AOL.com), January 01, 2001.

I love Eastern Oregon, if I were younger I would buy a ranch over there. We spent 2 weeks this past fall driving & camping in E. OR. We use to like Joseph but it has gotten too glitzy, what use to be a nice old end of the road ranch community, now is taking on the trappings of Aspen, Vail, and other too expensive places. I suppose they are trying to save themselves but what happens to these towns that go that way is, eventually the farm & ranch families that have been there for generations, can't afford to live there anymore and sell out to developers, hopefully Oregons land use laws will prevent some of that. Considering the price of land in south western OR. eastern oregon is cheap and it is beautiful high desert country.

-- Hendo (OR) (redgate@echoweb.net), January 01, 2001.

I think Richland is beautiful! We drove up the Snake River Gorge (gravel and took forever) and wound up a steep dirt road into Richland. At that point it looked like the Promised Land. I have a special spot in my heart for that part of the country too. I thought about moving there at one time, but again, economics and family proximity was too much of an issue.

-- sheepish (rborgo@gte.net), January 01, 2001.

Oh my goodness. I look at the forum daily and when I came across Richland, Oregon I was speachless. You see I live in Richland. I totally agree with the reason why our community is dying out but I would like to let you know that many people are trying to live here successfully. My husband is a 3rd generation "richlandlite" and we live in the homeplace both his parents grew up in at one time or another. We live very simply and most young families who do live here are ranchers. I work for a non-profit organization in my home and we do very well. Of course we don't drive new cars/pickups or have fancy clothes. We grow almost everything we need and don't buy unless we have the cash and absolutely need it. We enjoy our way of life. Many ask us if we make a good living...my response is we make a good way of life.

Anyway, our school is about to close because we only have 17 students including our twin boys. I really think that will be the breaking point. Talking with many families and individuals of Richland, the problem always lies with everyone else but them. I take blame for part simply because we don't purchase many items for here. They are too expensive for us and that of course doesn't help the ecomony. Some people believe that the town wasn't willing to open up more land for people to build houses. We don't have anything for people to rent here. Some people blame the ranchers because they aren't willing to let go of land for some developement for work.

Yes, our town is beautiful and it is our home. I can guarantee that most people who live here love it and we pretty much get along. The history is strong here and people are respected by their name and hard work.

It is hard to live here but anyone can do it...if they are willing to give up a few things. I know of several people who drive 39 miles to Baker to work daily. I also know that manual labor here is always available if you are willing to work.

I would love to hear from anyone. If you are ever in the area you can usually find friendliness at the "coffee shop" and here the latest news from the area.

Krista Dennis, nacsdc@pinetel.com

-- Krista Dennis (nacsdc@pinetel.com), January 02, 2001.


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