To some Oregonians, all of Oregon’s woes are caused by Californians making Oregon, well, like California. Big houses, plastic surgery, flashy wealth, and a general disregard for the slow-paced style of Oregon life are often quoted as what it means to be “Californian.” The huge bump in Salem Oregon real estate prices was squarely placed on the heads of these folks by some locals. So, really are Californians the only ones that have been moving into Oregon?
Forbes has this cool map that shows the influx into Marion county. The black lines represent those moving here and red lines are those moving away. Not surprisingly those moving away from Oregon to sunny climates such as Arizona and Texas. I’ll admit, especially after this dismal start to summer, that the gray can get irritating. Personally, I was thinking about some kind of sacrifice to the Sun Gods who have apparently abandoned we Oregonians…but I digress. While I am not a hot weather person, I can see the desire some folks would have to head to a warmer climate.
I have to say that I always thought that the Californians are coming was a bit of a crock. I work with so many people relocating to Salem Oregon from all over the country that I really don’t see that imbalance. Unfortunately, this map indicates that indeed the largest influx into Marion county is from California. Just for the heck of it, I clicked on Polk county, which has part of Salem as well, and um…yep…Californian’s again.
So much for debunking that local sentiment. Anyone got a horse and some lanterns? The Californians really are coming.
P.S. Dear Californians…Salem has an improving restaurant scene and we’d love to see more great local (ie, no chains) restaurants here. If you want to open a restaurant, come on up, I say 🙂
That is a very cool map. If the recent nice weather doesn’t hold up, I’m with you on the sacrifice idea. 😉
Is there a good Greek restaurant in Salem yet?
All right…two for sacrifices to the Sun Gods. I’m thinking it should involve some kind of strawberry margarita. ;-D
Here’s my spin on native Oregonians disliking Californians. The founders of this state were foreigners looking for a better place to live. They had adventurous spirits and heard of the bounties that the northwest offered. The slogan “Oregon is for dreamers” describes perfectly how I felt about myself and my family for moving to this state from California. It would be nice to shut the door after me but in doing so we would lose the outsider perspective that truly appreciates what Oregon has to offer. I would go so far as to say that my life more closely resembles that of our founders then the lives of most native Oregonians that have never left the state.
Salem Man, I have some relocating clients from the east coast and I was talking about the “nature” of Oregonians and he made this very appropriate comment I thought…he said, “I’ve been an Oregonian all my life and just didn’t know it.”
The problems Oregon has are really problems of growth. Not about any specific influence.