First of this is a conservative county/city that voted very well for president Bush in 2000.
Property costs in this area are low compared to most of California. The area is still rebounding from the spotted owl disaster for logging. The biggest employer is the state prison at Pelican Bay. It is considered to be the most secure prison in America and the worse for prisoners.
Being twenty miles from Brookings/Harbor, Oregon, you can buy your clothes, tv and other items with no sales tax in Brookings. Oregon has no sale tax. California's income taxes and property taxes versus Oregon's are lower.
The fishing for salmon and steelhead on the Smith River probably exceeds most Alaska rivers. The biggest steelhead on the American West Coast are Smith River steelhead. Up north 20 miles is the Chetco River with massive King salmon and abundant steelhead. 20 miles north of Brookings/Chetco is the Gold Beach Area with the mouth of the Rogue River! Great King salmon, Coho, steelhead and 1/2 pounders. Then you have the Elk River and Sixes River up by Bandon!
Some of the greatest wilderness areas in America would be just out your back door.
Winters are mild compared to Alaska, it seldom freezes in the Crescent City to Brookings areas as this is a Banana Belt Area.
There are a lot of nice pre fab home developments in the area, and most lots and acreages will allow you to install a nice pre fab on your lot!
Crescent City has an airport. In one hour you can be in Eureka and two hours in Sacamento. I don't know about flights from Portland!
The coast line from Crescent City to Port Orford, Or is one of the most beautiful coast lines in the world. If you like to fish in the ocean, you can fish for salmon, rock fish and trap Dungeness Crabs right out of the Crescent City harbor. Or you can bring your boat up to the mouth of the Chetco or the Rogue during the salmon season. No motor boats are allowed on the Smith River, which may be the most beautiful river in America.
I pinged fishhawk who grew up in the nw part of California and his sister works and lives in that area. He could help you re newspaper and other data!
If you love the outdoors, fishing and hunting, and want mild weather, Crescent City, Ca. may be your answer!
I have my freezer full here and talk to the folks over in the North Coast rain. Actually I love both places so have the best of two worlds. Aloha from Maui
You're right, It's a beautiful region but the downside is it is in California. If I decided to move back to California, I would probably pick Weed, Yreka, ar Weaverville. Small towns but 4 seasons.
No matter how conservative the interior of the state is, the coastal metropoli set the agenda and I don't like that agenda. (I have guns-some illegal in Kali)