Carson City? (Las Vegas, Reno, Johnson Lane: fit in, sales, real estate)

[NurseAnes223]

Thinking about moving to Carson City. I have researched a lot on the city; however, would appreciate some personal opinions. A few questions:
1. I have heard a lot about the wind in the area--- is it really THAT bad?
2. I have also heard about the large population of illegal Hispanic immigrants in the area--is that true as well?
3. I am looking for homes in the price range between 750,000-800,000... any ideas on good, safe neighborhoods? I would like to live in an area with plenty of space, yet close enough to have somewhat nearby neighbors.
4. What are some words that one would use to describe the city of Carson and living in Carson? I understand that it is a small city.
5. How is the healthcare in Carson? Are there plenty of healthcare facilites?
6. How is the quality of the schools in Carson? Are there any good parochial schools?
7. Any other comments or words would be greatly appreciated... thank you very much for your time!

[garth]

Originally Posted by NurseAnes223

Thinking about moving to Carson City. I have researched a lot on the city; however, would appreciate some personal opinions. A few questions:

Well, let's see if I can help . . .

1. I have heard a lot about the wind in the area--- is it really THAT bad?

The wind you're writing about is a seasonal thing. It's more of a summer issue. It's not every day, but on the days that it's around it will start about noon and last until the late afternoon or so.

It can get breezy at times, but it's no worse than the midwest plains and likely of less intensity. I really don't ahve a problem with it, but I'm down in the Carson Valley. You're asking about the Eagle Valley (Carson City).

Depending on where you're located, the wind intensities can vary when they're around. It will be much stronger up in the Washoe Valley, immediately north of Carson City, than it will be in Eagle Valley or Carson Valley.

The same goes for Reno. It seems like breezes will be stronger up there than you will find down our way.

In the winter, like anywhere else, when a storm front comes through there will also be wind. It will last for a few hours, the front will pass, and then it's gone. However, that's a different issue than the one you asked about.

2. I have also heard about the large population of illegal Hispanic immigrants in the area--is that true as well?

Geeze, I need to be careful because this topic can go south real fast. How about this, first, take a look over on the demographics page for Carson City and see what you find.

Second, I am south of Carson City by 15 miles or so. If one indication of an illegal immigrant problem would be dayworkers on the street seeking employment, we don't have any. I have yet to see any day laborers hanging out anywhere, including the Home Depot parking lot, which is at the boundry between Douglas County and Carson City.

3. I am looking for homes in the price range between 750,000-800,000... any ideas on good, safe neighborhoods? I would like to live in an area with plenty of space, yet close enough to have somewhat nearby neighbors.

You can get a lot of house in that range. I'm not completely fluent in Carson City real estate, but you'll find the better areas on the west side of town.

However, why do you want to limit yourself to Carson City? If you're trying to stay out of Reno and the drive through the Washoe Valley, try south of Carson City. You will find the small community of Genoa and then the towns of Minden and Gardnerville.

For that price range, you can get an nice home in/around Genoa, which is the founding town in Nevada. Some homes are Victorian-styled houses and others are found in gated communities on golf courses.

Then, you can pick up some real nice homes in the "Chambers Field" area of Gardnerville. Some will have an acre while others will be in gated areas.

There will also be lots of other nice homes at the top of Johnson Lane and out Buckeye in Minden. Some of these will have wonderful views and be on acres. Many will be horse properties.

The bottom line is that you have lots of options open to you. Of course there will be the 3, 4, and 5+ million dollar homes that are out of your range, but their numbers are insignificant in comparison to everything available to you.

4. What are some words that one would use to describe the city of Carson and living in Carson? I understand that it is a small city.

Do you really want me to do this? Okay . . . let me do it as a narrative rather than just a word or two, okay?

IMO, Carson needs to show more civic pride. They need to clean up the business areas that are just north of the downtown hotel/State government buildings. The businesses and shopping areas look run-down to me.

They also need to beautify the gateways to their town. There's nothing to really tell you that you've entered Carson and their medians and sides of the roadway are unkempt.

They also need to make some smarter tax decisions. For example, they chased out a WalMart and a Home Depot. Instead, Douglas County (i.e., Minden, Gardnerville) said, "Come on down." We'll let you build just over the country line in our county so you're closer to us, but not so close that we have to see you and deal with your traffic. You'll be right over the border from Carson City."

What this does is give all the tax dollars to Douglas County but place the view and traffic impact squarely on the shoulders of the south part of Carson City. I don't think that was a smart decision that they made, but I'm happy that Douglas County gets the benefits.

5. How is the healthcare in Carson? Are there plenty of healthcare facilites?

There's a nice new hospital at the north end of Carson City. It's not a Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN) or Scripps Institute (San Diego, CA), but it's not a cow-town mini-hospital, either. Then, you'll be something like 45 minutes to bigger places in Reno, if they're needed for something that the Carson hospital can't provide.

6. How is the quality of the schools in Carson? Are there any good parochial schools?

I don't know. I don't have school age children. However, if you're willing to consider Douglas County (Carson Valley) instead of Carson City/County (Eagle Valley), I hear that the Catholic school and the Missouri Synod Lutheran school have good reputations.

7. Any other comments or words would be greatly appreciated... thank you very much for your time!

As you can tell, I'm really up on Douglas County instead of Carson City/County. One big difference is that Douglas has a better tax base than Carson City/County. For example, Douglas has the Stateline hotels on Lake Tahoe. Douglas also has the retail on the north end of the County that Carson chased out.

Finally, the towns in Douglas County also seem to have more civic pride. They look cleaner and better to me than Carson City. Just take a look at the pictures I posted on the Minden, NV page of CD and you will see what I mean.

These were some of the issues I considered when we made out decision. We could have bought something in Carson, but we said, "No." Douglas County turned out to be our place . . . and we haven't regretted our decision.

I hope that's been of some help. If you have any specific quesitons, please post or DM me. Good luck to you.


On Edit: Here's a link to a map where you can see the close relationship between the vairous towns I mentioned. You may have to zoom it out once you get there so you can see the big picture.
Click here for a map showing locations of Carson v. Minden

[olecapt]

Unlless you will have a tight role in the State Government or such don't liive in Carson City. .In this part of the world you want to get out a ways.

Try the Gardnerville/Minden area. Get a couple of acres out with a view.

Garth and I don't allways agree...but on this one go south from Carson City.

I live in Las Vegas and visit only to lobby the legislature and such. But I have friends in the area. I decided a long time ago that if I ever ended up there it would be in Gardnerville/Minden or the rurals close by.

[garth]

Originally Posted by olecapt

Garth and I don't allways agree...but on this one go south from Carson City.

I live in Las Vegas and visit only to lobby the legislature and such. But I have friends in the area. I decided a long time ago that if I ever ended up there it would be in Gardnerville/Minden or the rurals close by.

I think we agree often enough. Come on up olecapt. I'll take you to "Jethro's" new Beverly Hillbilly Casino when it opens up. Maybe they'll have a possum stew buffet to try.

[norm]

Garth,

Thanks for the very informative post, Carson City was also on my list of possibilities (after Reno). What are the winter like in Douglas Cty relative to snow amounts?

[garth]

Norm,

For example, so far this year we've had two different days of snow. Each time it amounted to about 1" on the ground on the valley floor of Douglas County. The first time it lasted for about a day if the roads remained untouched. The second one was gone from the roads in about a half day. In both cases, it remained on the lawns and shaded parts of the yard, but that just made it pretty, and the roads were cleared quickly.

Of course, it also depends on the elevation. Remember, Douglas County goes all the way up to the shores of Lake Tahoe, so the elevation will vary from about 4700 feet up to 7000 feet. It'll actually go even high to the top of some peaks, but the main towns and roads fall in that range.

During those snowfalls, areas of up Carson City got a little more snow. Then, north of Carson through the Washoe Valley, even more snow fell. It's the Washoe Valley between Carson and Reno that is known for getting hit harder than other adjoining areas.

Finally, from what was reported on the news and what I saw in the pictures, Reno got even more snow than Carson and us. No matter what year we're considering, that seems to be the situation. Washoe Valley stretch gets the most, along with Reno itself to a lesser degree, followed by Carson and then Douglas County.

Of course, elevation and variations from year to year will again come into play, so those aren't hard and fast rules. However, it tend to be that way for the valley floor areas.

Something else to remember is that these towns on the eastern side of the mountains are in the rain shadow of the Sierra Nevada. With storms tending to come in from the west and northwest, the west and top of the Sierra Nevada will get dumped on while the east side and gets far less. Much of the time the top will get snow and nothing falls on the east slopes and valley floors. That's a big reason why places like Carson City, Douglas, and Reno will get less than anything facing the other way.

After all of that, the winter is young so we'll have to see how things turn out this year. A normal expectation would be that the towns in the Carson Valley (Minden, Gardnerville) should get 4, 5, or maybe 6 different days of an inch or two of snowfall where it will last on the roads a couple days or so each time. One year will be more, but another will be less, but those are good expectations.

Rare will be the day when you'll find chain restriction on US395 through the valley floor. However, if you go south into California or west into the Sierra Nevada on US88 or 207, chain restrictions will often come into play well after snowfalls.

Luckily, there's little reason to head through US88, unless you live up in the mountains, or down US395 unless you're headed to Mammoth for skiing. If you stick to the towns, few will be the years when you will need chains. Should the rare day come when chains are required in the valley floor, all you need to do is wait one more day to go out. Again, that will be the rare day in the rare year.

I hope that helps.

[Nature Guy]

I've been a resident of Carson City, Nevada, for about six years. Having moved here from the mountains above Los Angeles (Idyllwild), and being in that general area for twenty years, one would reasonably assume that "wacky", off-the-mark, illogical behavior would apply. Amazingly, Carson City "takes the cake" for the most dangerous, upsetting and generally hostile place I've lived, thus far! Let me put it this way....I can count on one hand the "pleasant, helpful encounters". The disturbing, odd, dangerous and hostile encounters would take about FOUR HANDS to count!

These negative encounters were wide-ranging, encompassing everything from rude, incompetent sales clerks at checkout counters, to mentally disturbed neighbors, to extremely rude and dangerous drivers and a sprinkling of strange, upsetting encounters with the "general public" at gas stations, in stores, etc. Having grown up in the San Francisco suburbs, I am genuinely shocked at the hostile "red neck" community in Nevada. The favorite bumper sticker here reads, "We don't care HOW you did it in California". The old time locals here are largely very angry and disapproving of all the Californians who have moved here, while the Californians are annoyeoy Having lived in the SoCal region, as mentioned earlier, I clearly see Carson City rocketing with great speed towards becoming a sort of congested, out-moded Anahiem, California. If you've ever been to SoCal, you get my drift. And yes, all these things can happen anywhere, I suppose. But I NEVER experienced them to the degree that I've had here. When I step out my front door, I nervously wonder if I'll return without getting into a car wreck or a fist fight with someone here!

And it's no surprise to me that Nevada was labeled the MOST DANGEROUS state in the entire continental U.S. for the fifth year in a row, by a research firm who came to this conclusion by tallying up all the data compiled by the law enforcement firms across the nation. Worst yet, Nevada also has the HIGHEST SUICIDE rate of anywhere in the U.S. Need I say more? Anyone considering a move to anywhere in Nevada BEWARE. Statistics don't lie. Be good to yourself and your family. AVOID NEVADA.

And YES, there is an enormous Hispanic population in Carson City, due largely to the "helpful, inviting policies" of Nevada, which make it all too easy for illigal immigrants to live and work here. Jobs are scarce here, also. On the plus side, the weather is not completely objectionable! Winters are very cold, with about two feet total per year. Summers are VERY hot, with two or three months averaging 90+ most of the time. The best part, is there's virtually NO air pollution, such as one would find in L.A., California.

All things considered, though, I would steer clear of living in Nevada, unless you own a large business here. I'm currently assembling my "escape" plans, and will NEVER return, once I'm out of here. Lesson learned!

[Allandi]

I think I will rent to test the waters near Mound House. But moving in for political purposes, to vote to defend brothels, attack zoning, and defund schools, repel parents and establish a childfree town.

[Chinga]

Isn't it funny, this nature guy seems to be scared of "rednecks" who don't like Californians.

Funny, I moved to Nevada from California and never had that problem, and I live where there are a whole lot of what he would call "rednecks"

I guess Nature guy just does not fit in well. He probably tells everyone how they did it in California and trust me.. no one wants to hear it.

Yes, "We don't care how you did it in California". I for one HATED the 8 years I lived in that freak show of a state.

To me, Nature Guy, it sounds like you have a very bad case of Anxiety. Do you get stressed out easily? Feel lightheaded often? Have racing thoughts? You may want to up your vitamin B dose or get some Prozac.

[guinnessjim]

Originally Posted by Nature Guy

I've been a resident of Carson City, Nevada, for about six years. Having moved here from the mountains above Los Angeles (Idyllwild), and being in that general area for twenty years, one would reasonably assume that "wacky", off-the-mark, illogical behavior would apply. Amazingly, Carson City "takes the cake" for the most dangerous, upsetting and generally hostile place I've lived, thus far! Let me put it this way....I can count on one hand the "pleasant, helpful encounters". The disturbing, odd, dangerous and hostile encounters would take about FOUR HANDS to count!

These negative encounters were wide-ranging, encompassing everything from rude, incompetent sales clerks at checkout counters, to mentally disturbed neighbors, to extremely rude and dangerous drivers and a sprinkling of strange, upsetting encounters with the "general public" at gas stations, in stores, etc. Having grown up in the San Francisco suburbs, I am genuinely shocked at the hostile "red neck" community in Nevada. The favorite bumper sticker here reads, "We don't care HOW you did it in California". The old time locals here are largely very angry and disapproving of all the Californians who have moved here, while the Californians are annoyeoy Having lived in the SoCal region, as mentioned earlier, I clearly see Carson City rocketing with great speed towards becoming a sort of congested, out-moded Anahiem, California. If you've ever been to SoCal, you get my drift. And yes, all these things can happen anywhere, I suppose. But I NEVER experienced them to the degree that I've had here. When I step out my front door, I nervously wonder if I'll return without getting into a car wreck or a fist fight with someone here!

And it's no surprise to me that Nevada was labeled the MOST DANGEROUS state in the entire continental U.S. for the fifth year in a row, by a research firm who came to this conclusion by tallying up all the data compiled by the law enforcement firms across the nation. Worst yet, Nevada also has the HIGHEST SUICIDE rate of anywhere in the U.S. Need I say more? Anyone considering a move to anywhere in Nevada BEWARE. Statistics don't lie. Be good to yourself and your family. AVOID NEVADA.

And YES, there is an enormous Hispanic population in Carson City, due largely to the "helpful, inviting policies" of Nevada, which make it all too easy for illigal immigrants to live and work here. Jobs are scarce here, also. On the plus side, the weather is not completely objectionable! Winters are very cold, with about two feet total per year. Summers are VERY hot, with two or three months averaging 90+ most of the time. The best part, is there's virtually NO air pollution, such as one would find in L.A., California.

All things considered, though, I would steer clear of living in Nevada, unless you own a large business here. I'm currently assembling my "escape" plans, and will NEVER return, once I'm out of here. Lesson learned!

dude...you moved from a resort town of <4000 people in SoCal (i lived in LA for 3 years and would never refer to the San Jacinto's as being above LA....your not even in LA county....actually, riverside county doesn't even touch LA county) to a small city in NV and you are trying to compare them? apples and oranges, my angry fellow.

you bash on NV for illegals, yet don't even mention CA in the same breath. you claim stats w/o citing sources regarding crime and danger...i suppose it is hard to argue w/ your source if you never give it to us (saying you heard it on the news is not a source).

it's clear you have decided you don't like it here...and i hope you find whatever it is that makes you happier. but why you gotta bash on a place that many of us like? or do you consider yourself the moral and social compass for the rest of us?

i guess it doesn't matter....good luck w/ your "escape plans"