How the Northwest won
Countless reasons lure residents to Washington, Oregon and Idaho
Derrick Skaug
The Daily Evergreen
Published: 02/11/2009
Some religions advocate working hard to reach heaven. Many atheists believe humans should create a heaven on Earth. My conundrum is that I have already found my heaven. The great Northwest is the geographical love of my life.
My father and mother are lifelong residents of Spokane. Both of their parents were lifelong residents of Spokane. My mother's parents traveled the country and the world, yet decided that the Northwest is the place for them. My grandfather, who has been to nearly every state, proudly proclaimed to me that Washington was his favorite state, with Oregon a close second.
The Northwest truly deserves its great moniker. Its economy is stronger, its air cleaner and opportunities greater than any other region in the country.
The Washington State Office of Financial Management reported in 2007, “about two–thirds of the state population growth is from persons moving to Washington." This migration is attributed mainly to Washington's economic strength.
In the last few years, Washington has been one of the few states to vastly outperform the rest of the nation during the lead-up to the current economic recession. The U.S Census Bureau reported in 2008 that Washington's “per capita income of $28,290 was higher than the national average of $26,178. Eight percent of Washington families are living in poverty, compared with 9.8 percent nationally.” While visiting Las Vegas, I noticed my nose was constantly filled with grime. The air in the Northwest is cleaner. In 2007, Forbes ranked Oregon the second “greenest” state and Washington third. Idaho even made the list ranking 12th. Portland was ranked the greenest city in 2007 by Forbes. In 2008, Business Facility ranked Seattle the greenest city.
Due to Washington's successful attempt to diminish smoking, its air and citizens are healthier. Our infant mortality rate is the lowest in the nation and we have been ranked the 10th-healthiest state in the latest America's Health Ranking Report.
The politics are nearly as clean as the air. Political scandals are the exception rather than the rule in the Northwest. According to the 2006 Department of Justice Report, Oregon had the lowest rate of public corruption convictions. Party identification aside, Gov. Chris Gregoire looks pretty good compared to Rod Blagojevich or Eliot Spitzer.
Our progressive stance on education in Washington has paid off. According to the U.S Census Bureau, Washington state has a higher percentage of college graduates than the national average. I am proud to be a product of Washington's public school system from K-12, and even now here at WSU.
Aside from the numbers, there is just something special about the Northwest. We have four distinct seasons and the winters are not too bad, most of the time. The West Coast is beautiful, and Priest Lake in northern Idaho might be the closest thing to paradise.
Everyone's idea of perfect is different. Yet to me, the perfect idea was born when the pioneers answered the call to travel west.
