I have a close friend who is planning on quitting her job, (8 years as a veterinary assistant despite having no HS diploma or GED) leaving her apartment in a beautiful area, pulling her daughter out of the best elementary school I’ve ever seen, (it has an afterschool program that looks after her daughter five days a week for 3 or 4 hours til she’s off work; for which she pays – $50 a YEAR) and moving up to Humboldt county. She has a vague idea of starting her own business, probably something pet-related.
I notice the unemployment rate there is 2 or 3 percent higher than nationally. I know she’s a grown woman, and if it’s really what she wants to do, I won’t try to stop her. But I promised her Dad on his deathbed I’d look after her, and I don’t think she has a realistic idea of what it’s like outside of the Bay Area.
She is not a pot smoker, so it’s not even that she’s after. What can you guys tell me about the economy, the public schools, etc. there? (no way can she afford a charter school.)
Thanks.
A lot of current employment data can be found here:
http://www.calmis.ca.gov/htmlfile/county/humbo.htm
The unemployment rate is 11.5% vs the state average 11.1%. Out of 45k total jobs, 41k are service providers and 27k of those are non-government service providers, ie. hospitals, hotels, stores etc.
Anecdotally, I spent a few days there a few years back and it is very pretty. From what I gathered, the logging and fishing industries are shadows of their former selves, there is little agriculture, and the tourism business is kind of small and seasonal. Did I mention it’s a really nice place to visit?
Are you sure she’s not moving there for pot related reasons? Because my first reaction to your friend’s ‘plan’ was “What the hell is she smoking?”. I won’t belabor the point, but it’s an exceedingly dumb idea.
Lived in Humboldt county for 5 years in the early/mid 2000’s. I would not move there with out a job or a large fund to start my business. The unemployment rate, as said above is higher than the national rate. The downtown areas of both Eureka and Arcata are cute and attempting upscale (succeeding sometime) but almost always have some empty storefronts. As said above, lumber and fishing have fallen off the proverbial cliff and so ecotourism and small business and the local cash crop make up the backbone of the economy. (Note I’m not an expert in any of this , just someone who lived there.)
Humboldt is a HUGE county so I’m going to assume she’s moving to Arcata or Eureka and not Garberville or up in the hills somewhere. If she is moving to the hills that is a totally different scenario than being in Eureka/Arcata.
You don’t say how old her daughter is but Freshwater School is a fantastic grade school, that goes to grade 8 last I knew. Jacoby Creek is another great school, in Arcata. Beyond that greatschools.org is a fantastic resource for choosing schools. A high school in Arcata just got named one of the 20 best in CA: Northcoast Preparatory and Performing Arts Academy, Arcata.
Also please note charter schools are free, in my experience. There may be some with tuition but I’ve never heard of one. Private schools ask for tuition though may provide scholarships.
I will say that Humboldt county in my experience is very very friendly. There is something of the rugged individualist, while still reaching out and creating community (maybe because its so far from civilization!)
Hope that helps.
It is beautiful. But the economy is terrible. There are many pockets of isolated people.
Many people are avid do-it-yourselfers, so starting a service business is difficult. The atmosphere is casual, so luxury services are also naturally rarely needed.
There is a university and a college close by each other, so jobs for people with formal education are hard to come by. Many highly educated people work for minimum wage.
The people who have money are largely retirees or growers or former growers who invested their earnings into legitimate businesses. And a few who inherited from when lumber and fishing were king.
Many business relationships are “inbred” and cultivated among family relationship lines.
There’s a huge meth problem.
Your friend needs to buy a dehumidifier immediately for the damp.
But beautiful doesn’t even begin to describe…