r/Eugene • u/_Pulltab_ • Jun 09 '24
Give me the tea… Moving
Moving to Junction City (working in Eugene) from the Midwest in 2 weeks and am looking for intel from those who have also relocated from out of state (or locals if you’re not sick of invaders). I’ve been researching for months so I’m looking for the really obscure details that never occurred to you until you got there.
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u/ziggypop23 Jun 09 '24
Do you like small town homophobic, racist towns? If so, you’ll love it.
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u/_Pulltab_ Jun 09 '24 edited Jun 09 '24
Nope. Do not. Currently moving from a mid sized mildly progressive (from midwestern perspectives) town (overall MAGA state) for that reason. I think I have a pretty good grasp of JC in terms of that. I’ll be working in Eugene and we’ll probably spend the majority of our free time either in Eugene or out exploring the surrounding areas. It wasn’t at the top of my list but it checked the boxes we needed to check in terms of affordability and availability of housing.
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u/ziggypop23 Jun 09 '24
Just know the culture out there isn’t the best. Went to school out there, have friends with kids out there still. If you really want to get the vibe, join the FB group Junction City community uncensored. It shows the true colors of the town.
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u/CHRickatLRC Jun 09 '24
Moved her 13 years ago from Lincoln NE. Definitely more cool nature opportunities. Also, the weather here is quite midl compared to the midwest. There is, a seemingly West Coast laid back attitude that at times seems to suggest that the goal in life should be to strive for mediocrity. Good health care is harder to find. JC is JC. SOunds like you have the basic vibe. Worked at the state hospital up by there. We love Monroe just a few miles up the road.
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u/Unusual_Pinetree Jun 10 '24
You’ll be fine, people are rough around the edges in JC. It’s the old wealthy white folks in Eugene/Springfield that are the real nightmare. Junction City is growing, I’d say Harrisburg is actually the more preferable living situation just a couple miles up road, quieter, right by river, less through traffic. You are near lots of wonderful nature, 360 degrees take your pick. Ja is not much itself but drive an hour to coast or an hour to cascade range. Corvallis is a an interesting town I would suggest getting to know it for your nightlife/going out to dinner versus Eugene, totally different energy.
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u/bluecrowned Jun 09 '24
Depending on where in the Midwest they're coming from that'll feel just like home. Source: moved from rural southern Illinois. Corn, country and bigotry.
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u/127Heathen127 Jun 09 '24 edited Jun 09 '24
Lol I’m from Iowa and I feel you. Oregon is like a different planet(in a good way, absolutely love it here!!!). Definitely has its problems and I wish it wasn’t so goddamn expensive to live here, but this place has become home and it sure as hell beats the Midwest lol.
Just a funny side note, if you’re from Iowa people here will think you meant to say Idaho lol.
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u/RaveDamsey69 Jun 09 '24
Oregon friend trying to remember where I’m from: “Idaho, Iowa, Ohio…whatever”.
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u/AfterglowLoves Jun 09 '24
Oooh are you familiar with Anna Illinois (about 30 mins south of Carbondale)? I lived there for about 6 months after growing up in Portland and it was such a culture shock.
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u/bluecrowned Jun 09 '24
Yes! I bet. I grew up in Carterville which is about 15 mins from Carbondale. I'm an autistic trans guy so I didn't fit in at all. Oregon was a culture shock in a good way.
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Jun 09 '24
Naturally there are plentiful Trump signs to go along with those homophobic, racist tendencies.
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u/AnotherQueer Jun 09 '24
Isn’t Junction city like the one city in Lane County that voted against it’s education funding bond? I’ve only ever driven through
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u/_Pulltab_ Jun 09 '24
That doesn’t surprise me, honestly. We visited there a few months ago and it was not exactly the vibe I was looking for but it met our goals for housing and it’s close enough to Eugene to be negligible.
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u/Gold_Mushroom9382 Jun 09 '24
What is an education funding bond?
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u/AnotherQueer Jun 09 '24
Measure 20-355: Bonds to improve safety, learning; update schools and athletic facilities for the Junction City School District.
Yes: 43% No: 57%
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u/wexlar Jun 09 '24
Haven’t see the roadside rock n roll dude for a while. Definitely a negative if he’s no longer active.
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u/MushyMollusk Jun 09 '24
I shot him some finger guns just yesterday, so fear not!
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u/BearTheBoroBlower Jun 09 '24
That’s Jack. I’m friends with a neighbor of his. He’s an awesome, crazy guy. Still hootin and hollerin.
JC sucks. But I know a few people that are definitely the type of people it seems you would like.
They are around. But they keep their heads mostly down because the townies are fucking awful.The scandy fest is a good couple of hours. But honestly, it being the best thing JC has to offer, it’s meh.
If you just need a roof. It will do. But definitely try and make real connections elsewhere. All the small towns in the area are slightly different versions of the same thing though, so keep that in mind.
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u/_Pulltab_ Jun 09 '24
Local legend?
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u/blackteeshirt6 Jun 09 '24
Junction Lee Roth, or alternatively David Lee Junction. You’ll know him when you see him. Have your devil horns ready and consider a tongue drop.
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u/Proud_Cauliflower400 Jun 09 '24
We have a lot of those in each town. (Coburg, Harrisburg, veneta, even Springfield and Eugene.) Springfield used to have the spaceship bicycle little ceasers sign holding guy. I miss that guy.
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u/WTF-is-goin-on-here Jun 10 '24
I wonder, what happened to the spaceship bicycle guy? He always made me smile
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u/Proud_Cauliflower400 Jun 10 '24
I saw him pedaling around Eugene a handful of years back but I haven't seen him since.
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u/One-Pea-6947 Jun 09 '24
The junction city rocker walker. Went to school with his daughter...she was pretty normal.
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u/HitHardStrokeSoft Jun 09 '24
Relocated recently. No sales tax is nice, but work paycheck taxes were 3x what they were in the southwest.. I’m sure it’ll work out at the end of the year but it sucked that my paycheck went down when I got here. Eugene public library is awesome .. you can check out books and also things! It’s really cool. The downtown location is awesome. If you drive in Eugene there’s 3 things that are kinda funny but make sense since it’s a smaller city.1) google maps doesn’t have the lanes correct on most of the downtown roads 2) even if they paint a forward arrow on the street, it can can turn into a turning only lane immediately afterward (especially downtown), and 3) there’s almost no pause between one direction having a red light and the other getting the green.. welcome to town! If you find good food.. post about it.. I’m still exploring stuff.
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u/LMFAEIOUplusY Jun 09 '24
If you don’t live within Eugene City Limits, u can get a library card but you have to pay. Just FYI.
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u/-PC_LoadLetter Jun 09 '24
Some food recs for you... Osteria DOP, Yardy, Rye, The Davis, Jade dumpling and noodle house, the Wheel Apizza, Black Wolf Supper club, Tavern on Main, Shalosh (cart in Public House over in Springfield)
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u/popjunky Jun 09 '24
(Avoid these unless you have a LOT of money.)
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u/RiparianRodent Jun 09 '24
Seriously wtf?!
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u/popjunky Jun 12 '24
Like the main complaint was: moving to JC because Eugene is too expensive. It didn’t used to be.
I’ve enjoyed those places, but I don’t have enough money to eat at any of them more than once a year.
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u/-PC_LoadLetter Jun 09 '24
I certainly don't have a "LOT" of money, and these are still not unreasonable for a date night once a week. Some are more costly than others, but mostly all still mid range restaurants.. Depends on what you order and whether you're also getting cocktails.
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u/popjunky Jun 12 '24
Once a week? Bub, you either have good money, few bills, or both. I don’t know anyone who can drop a Franklin on dinner for two once a week.
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u/-PC_LoadLetter Jun 12 '24
I probably have less bills than most as I'm not an idiot with the money I do make and live relatively frugally in many other areas of my life, but if you knew my income, you'd agree with me that your idea of a lot of money must be that of a child's. Also, I think the only places I listed that we've dropped close to a hundred is rye, Tavern, and black wolf when there are multiple cocktails involved. Every other place is pretty easy to keep it around 60, especially without alcohol. Pretty reasonable.
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u/popjunky Jun 12 '24
I’m not trying to start a flame war here, but also: if you’re pulling in over 35k, you’ve already beat the only meaningful median. And if you’re doing that without raising kids, that’s a LOT of money you’re not spending.
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u/HitHardStrokeSoft Jun 09 '24
Been to osteria DOP and the Wheel.. they are good! The others I have not! Thanks!
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u/happilyretired23 Jun 09 '24
Eugene PL also has a reasonable selection of ebooks & audiobooks you can check out from the comfort of your own internet connection. Just gotta get that library card.
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u/crazyscottish Jun 09 '24
Ok. I lived in the southeast. Spartanburg all the way through Augusta, and bham.
Here’s what I’ve learned since moving to Eugene. But I don’t know JC but you said Eugene.
Rain jackets. Different kinds for different rain. Yeah. You need multiple rain jackets/gear.
Walking. Being a pedestrian is what people do. Riding bikes, too. Eugene is a very pedestrian oriented town. People don’t drive everywhere. Like they do in the south.
We don’t swim at the coast. Unless you have a wet suit. Maybe cannon beach. If the weather is right. Rivers are cold too… I don’t know what’s worse.. having to worry about snakes, alligators, and snapping turtles? Or how cold and fast the water is. Either way? I’m not doing water sports in either the Deep South OR the PNW..
Grow a couple weed plants. There’s no way you can smoke all that by yourself. But it’s legal, and you should. Once.
No matter how crazy you think you are? Everyone around you WILL be and act crazier. It’s the norm here. You seem to work in mental health. So.. yeah. Reality for the rest of us. And, It’s ok to be gay. Most people not from here don’t understand how insane that is in a lot of places.
You know, it doesn’t rain here in the summer. Seriously. 3 months of no rain. Water your outdoor plants if you want them to live. And fire season. That’ll mess you up the first time. Fire season. There’s a fire season. I’ve had cover tickets cancelled due to smoke. Nothing is more beautiful than an orange sky. Nor more terrifying.
Do the country fair. And not just because it’s legal for women to be topless. But because it really is an experience. And every single hippie and freak and weirdo and at least 2 absolutely normal people will be there. Hey It’s dusty. You’ll be hot and dusty. Bring water. And shoes that are older. If you can camp there? You’ll write a book about your experiences.
The food? It’s not the best. But it’s not horrible. Food carts can be more fun than restaurants.
There’s more beer breweries, distilleries, and weed shops in the Whit than most entire cities have. Restaurants, too. You WILL go to Blair alley, ninkasi, Sam bonds, Oakshire…. At least once. Resign yourself to it.
Get used to being asked if you want it made vegan.
That being said? Eugene is actually a college town. It’s quiet from June through September. I’ve lived in college towns. But this is a bit different. It really gets quieter.
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u/popjunky Jun 09 '24
I think you nailed it. Overemphasised the Whit, but otherwise this is one of the better summations of the area.
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Jun 09 '24
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u/popjunky Jun 12 '24
It can be tough. I’ve lived at a few places around town, and the only places where walking has been super hard is south Willamette. But I don’t have too many mobility issues.
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u/crazyscottish Jun 09 '24
Dont hate me. I live in the Whit..
Overemphasize? Meh. Maybe. 😂
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u/popjunky Jun 09 '24
No hate. I’ve had some good times in the Whit, but housing is too expensive and trendy for me anymore.
Still want in on those tacos at Tiny Tavern, though. Nelson’s? Is that what it is?
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u/crazyscottish Jun 09 '24
Ha ha. Damn. Tiny tavern
And no. Nelson’s. Is something different. I don’t even.
Tiny tavern. One time. Back in the day.. my buddy visited me. Here. He fell asleep. I took his 22(m) year old kid down into the Whit. We stopped at tinys. I moved on. He decided to stay there. When he came back to the house?
He said.. “The bartender drank my beer.”
I was like… what? Yeah. He ordered a beer. Went outside to smoke. And came back inside to watch the bartender finishing his beer and put the glass right back where it was at. He saw that. And was like… why. “Why did you take me there? The bartender drank my beer.”
Dude. I was new to the Whit. But Nelson’s? That guy? He’s a good person. And it’s not papa’s soul food. But he’s a semi local guy, that everyone seems to like.
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u/thenerfviking Jun 09 '24
The good things about Junction City are they have the objectively best Grocery Outlet and cheaper gas than most of Eugene. Everything else is pretty meh. If you drive north to Monroe the Corvallis library does a lot of outreach programs and classes there. You’re in between two ways to get to the coast (Alsea Highway and 126).
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u/_Pulltab_ Jun 09 '24
Nice! We drove through Corvallis when we were there a couple of months ago and I’m looking forward to checking it out further. I have about 2 years worth of day and weekend trips scoped out so super excited about that.
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u/Silly_Water_3463 Jun 09 '24
As a one time resident of the coast, my offering is to encourage you to educate yourself on beach and/or coastal hazards if you plan to visit or recreate there and aren't familiar with the ocean. Bigger beach access points will have huge signs discussing those hazards with big graphics. Familiarize yourself with tide tables, etc. Most bait stores, hardware stores, and probably even convenience stores will sell them, and they're cheap. I hope you find Oregon welcoming, and thanks for bringing your helping career with you. :)
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u/gramomster Jun 10 '24
This this this. I currently live in Depoe Bay, and the ocean does not play. Never turn you back on it. Do come in the winter for King Tides on a stormy weekend. Pretty dramatic. Also whales. But definitely educate yourself on how to stay safe, and watch for sneaker waves.
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u/Proud_Cauliflower400 Jun 09 '24
Shhhhhiiiiittt I've been to the coast 20 thousand times, I surfed every weekend for 3 and half years straight, every weekend. I've only almost died twice. Only almost got rescued by a CG heli once. Just stay away from the waves if they are big and disorganized or you see sand getting massively ripped out to sea. Rip tides are easy to spot if you know what to look for. Especially on steeper beaches like gleneden, or what gleneden used to look like in the early 2000's.
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u/Blackwidowwitch Jun 09 '24
I moved to Junction City from Eugene last year, and the one thing you for sure need to know is that the city water is awful. It tastes terrible and rusts silverware, stainless and knives. We were on city wide water restrictions 6 months of last year. We have to buy water every week for consumption. Factor that into your rent savings for sure.
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u/RaveDamsey69 Jun 09 '24
It’s not bad and getting better. People from Eugene tend to assume all rural small town people are backwoods mutant bigots. Not the case at all, it is just mixed politically while Eugene is pretty homogeneous. JC is ok and in beautiful farm country. People in town don’t have a lot of money in general, so yes the town is not that nice but it will have everything you need. It is more affordable so people who work in Eugene are moving there.
It is close enough to Eugene where there is plenty to do. West of town there are lots of beautiful properties, farms, vineyards, Christmas tree farms, a cool old grange that hosts community events. Easy drive to the coast—Newport or Florence. You can take river road or prairie road into Eugene as well but the traffic is not that bad on Hwy 99. Not sure where you are coming from but you did ok, you can always move to Eugene if you want. Being in substance abuse treatment you might be glad to be leaving Eugene after work lol. Good luck and welcome.
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u/One-Pea-6947 Jun 09 '24
You're downvoted for a reasonable answer... listen to the experts. Only one road to get to eugene. River and Prairie don't exist and everyone is awful there. Don't get me wrong, I had to go to school there in the 90s but thankfully grew up in the coast range nearby. Now at least junction city has a large latino population and a tienda and at least one taqueria. I don't know if the cops are as awful as they were, I always skirt around it to go to I5 north...
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u/Z0ooool Jun 09 '24
You should be aware there is, like, one highway into Eugene from Junction City.
We don't get a lot of traffic in Eugene, but that is one area which can experience some congestion.
Otherwise, it's a quiet town. Not a lot going on, but the airport is close and housing is cheap!
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u/_Pulltab_ Jun 09 '24
Spent a lot of time going up and down the highway. I remember thinking it was probably going to be a little hairy during the commute.
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u/No-Front4365 Jun 10 '24
Yep avoid River Road during commuting hours. Literally the worst drivers and the worst traffic where the Beltline on/off ramps are. I live off River Road and I avoid it like the plague during high traffic times.
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u/erika1972 Jun 09 '24
I think there’s a highway and a road. Two ways. But yeah, traffic during the usual hours.
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u/Prairiegirl321 Jun 09 '24
When driving on the main highway through Junction City, stay in the right lane. Cuz if you try to use the left lane, even though it looks faster, invariably someone in front of you will be making a left hand turn, and you’ll be stuck behind them. No turn lane despite quite a bit of steady traffic. And do not speed.
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u/sassyanddry Jun 09 '24
I lived in Indiana (mostly rural but some suburban) for my entire life up until 2021, move to another metropolitan area and realized big city life wasn't for me, then moved to Eugene. I don't know about Junction City, but I can say without a doubt that Eugene feels like the coolest parts of the midwest (if you're familiar with Indiana it has a similar vibe to Bloomington), it's ridiculously beautiful, the weather is a million times milder...basically it has a lot of the "charms" of the midwest to where you won't feel home sick, but also the added natural beauty to make it lightyears better. To me, it feels like a mega upgraded version of where I wanted to live in Indiana. And I def realize this may sound like an insult but I promise it's not, there's a lot more to do here.
A lot of people on this subreddit will complain about Eugene, but as someone who's from a similar part of the country, and honestly the one that only (just barely lmao) ranks above the deep south, I can say the only reason I would move out of here is if I got priced out or an apocalyptic level natural disaster happened
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u/_Pulltab_ Jun 09 '24
Hello fellow ex-Hoosier!
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u/happilyretired23 Jun 09 '24
There are a few of us lurking here :) First thing I can say: Eugene is a vast improvement over Evansville. Then again I suspect hell would be a vast improvement over Evansville.
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u/_Pulltab_ Jun 09 '24
I’m in Fort Wayne. We always kind of considered Evansville part of Kentucky. lol.
Fort Wayne has been good to us over the past 50 years but holy hell are we ready to GTFO.
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u/sassyanddry Jun 09 '24
Ok hell yeah then you’re going to like it, especially if you’re left leaning. I lived in Richmond and Greenfield and the only reason I’m going back to either is to see family, and while I love them I’m even dreading that lmao
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u/sunduckz Jun 09 '24
As someone else mentioned - tons of wineries in the area with live music on weekends! Most of them serve beer too if that’s more your speed. So that’s something fun at least!
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u/mommmmm1101 Jun 09 '24
Why Junction City?
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u/_Pulltab_ Jun 09 '24
After scouting out the western side of Oregon we landed on Eugene and I got a job there working in substance use treatment. Finding housing in Eugene proper was challenging. I’m coming from an extremely low cost of living area so we had to manage our expectations for housing.
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u/mommmmm1101 Jun 09 '24
Understood. Just also manage your low expectations of JC. If you’re from a small town without much of anything to do, you’ll be fine. There just isn’t anything there.
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u/_Pulltab_ Jun 09 '24
We stayed there last time we were up. It was… underwhelming for sure.
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u/-PC_LoadLetter Jun 09 '24
I used to have a coworker who lives in JC. He used to rave about Smok'n Gingers BBQ truck out there. South end of town. The Kento teppan truck is also pretty good, assuming it's on par with the one in Coburg.
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u/RiparianRodent Jun 09 '24
I’m not sure how much of the online discourse you’ve been seeing between Eugene and Portland, but public compassion seems to be shifting away from substance abusers. Though Western Oregon outwardly projects an extremely liberal image, internally there is less willingness to cater to the homeless population. A lot of people have started moving out of Portland, either across the river to Vancouver or someplace else. At any point, if there is a vote on legislation funding homeless relief efforts, the voting results may surprise you.
I only bring all of this up because it seems like this is the career you’re starting out in, and the landscape may shift in the not-too-distant future
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u/_Pulltab_ Jun 09 '24
I appreciate your thoughtful response. I have noticed that shift as well.
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u/RaveDamsey69 Jun 09 '24
We have always needed substance abuse counselors though, and now more than ever. Back when we had zero homeless funding and before M110 it was much easier to get people into detox. We used to take people into Buckley House basically on demand. Now there is so little access to treatments and detox it is a crisis. Oregon is a national embarrassment when it comes to access to treatment even moreso because we have so much funding available compared to other states. OP your job is safe if you want it, we need you.
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u/_Pulltab_ Jun 09 '24
That was my take on it as well. It’s awful that they (legislators) have put the state in this kind of situation.
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u/MushyMollusk Jun 09 '24
Don't sleep on Benny's Pizza Joint in Monroe. It's very good pizza, and only the best places in Eugene are even close to it and would come down to personal preferences.
Otherwise, ya, check out Grocery Outlet.
Drive in the right lane through JC if you don't want to get stopped every time somebody wants to take a left.
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u/itsnotleeanna Jun 09 '24
Bugsys in Junction is not a place I would have visited just because. But I have a friend whose band plays there occasionally… When we go support him we are a racially diverse group that have all enjoyed ourselves. Their food is pretty decent too :) Also, can’t miss the Scandi festival every year.
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u/Wrong-Leg-3781 Jun 09 '24
Grew up in junction city. Moved away when I was 19, best decision. Still have so much family who lives there. Everytime I visit nothing has changed, cannot decide if that is a good or bad thing.
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Jun 09 '24
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u/_Pulltab_ Jun 09 '24
Yikes. 🤮 I grew up on a well, so… guess I’ll adapt. But gross.
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Jun 09 '24
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u/_Pulltab_ Jun 09 '24
I did see that one. I had an interview scheduled with them but wound up deferring. Glad I did.
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u/gingerjuice Jun 09 '24
My parents lived in JC for 30 years. They had a little hobby farm there. We stayed in their place when we first got here in 1994. I wasn’t wild about the layout of the town in that they have no left turn lanes. It’s pretty because it’s green and there are loads of flowers and cute farm animals. It’s a small town with a country feel and a strong Christian community. The city water is polluted with nitrates from farm runoff.
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u/Frosty_Molasses_1141 Jun 09 '24
Ok, well on a positive note, JC has some really decent wineries nearby.
But I agree with pretty much everything else people are mentioning here. We have friends with children who live there, and they have to come into Eugene for almost everything. It seems to frustrate them when planning groceries, work, socializing, etc.
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u/dwayne-billy-bob Jun 09 '24
Well, if you work in substance abuse counseling and want to live in JC, you won't have far to go to find clients.
JC has plenty of issues and if they're not enough, drive 99 into Eugene. The stretch from Beltline to downtown is....yikes on (stolen and chopped up) bikes.
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u/AdSilver3605 Jun 09 '24
It's a small town with everything that comes with that plus because it's close to Eugene you get some people with jobs in Eugene moving there because they don't like how liberal/woke/whatever the "big city" supposedly is. But it's more affordable, so you also get people moving there for that. I think you know all that.
The good: I'm visible queer and have never been harassed there (although I often wear my 4-H pride shirt when I go to any small town in Oregon for safety.) The thrift stores in Junction City are usually pretty good. Nice Grocery Outlet. It's not far to some nice parks (Junction City Archery Park and Lake, Harrisburg Riverfront Park, Thompson's Mill, Finley Wildlife Refuge, Alsea Falls). Nobody seems to know about the Harrisburg Area Museum and it's pretty cool for learning about the area. I know a few people who go to Faith Lutheran Church and they are always working on service projects that do actual service - like snacks for kids in the community. I've heard it's easier to get a GP in Junction City than Eugene/Springfield (where it's a problem.) There's a cool Indian restaurant in Harrisburg and a coffee drive thru with a patio and good waffles til 4pm. Scandinavian Festival is fun. If I get priced out of Eugene it's high on my list of options.
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u/seaofthievesnutzz Jun 09 '24
how does wearing a shirt provide safety?
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u/AdSilver3605 Jun 09 '24
If you are wearing a4-H shirt, rural folks assume you might be queer (or whatever) but you're one of them. Also 4-H and pride together breaks rural bigots brains.
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u/seaofthievesnutzz Jun 09 '24
I'm exceedingly skeptical that telling people you are queer is some kind of hack to not make them bigoted. Youth mentorship and being queer screams groomer in my understanding of the redneck paradigm.
"Wait our neighbor is a fucking f@g? O but he mentors kids? Shit ok he's cool."
-No redneck ever.
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u/GarpRules Jun 09 '24
I grew up in the Midwest, and JC is a lot like many of the small towns around there. People here will tell you it sucks but it’s just okay. They have just okay schools, just okay amenities, and just okay folks. You’ll hear racism, but consider the source - Eugene people literally stand on street corners waving pride flags and will call anything less than that racist, so people just living their lives without a BLM t-shirt are considered racist in that context. JC has two big annual events, Functional 4 Junction which is the largest classic car show in the immediate area and the Scandinavian festival, which is a typical small-town fest with vendors, events and a pretty good vibe. You’ll want to get a water bottle machine, as the water does kinda suck. Access to Eugene is quick and the surrounding area is great, if overpopulated by Midwest standards. It’s a rare day of hiking, fishing, or being out in the woods for any reason without running into other people. Your biggest challenges will likely include adjusting to the weather (the rain locks in for months at a time with grey skies and no sun) but at least you don’t have to shovel rain, the expense (cost of living out here is no joke), and the attitude toward mental health - People on the west coast just see the whole subject differently. You’ll see crazy people standing on the street muttering or yelling at passersby and nothing will be done about it. You’ll see people injecting drugs and nodding off in random places. Coming from the Midwest it comes off as cruel, but the lens out here is that they should be free to live their lives as they choose. Driving out here is a little different. We have a mix of people from all over the country, so you get aggressive city people mixing with no-hurry hippies and rural folks. One thing that’s different from the Midwest are nice-holes. People will, for instance, stop to let you make a left turn and try to wave you where they think you want to go, and then get pissed if you don’t do as they say all the time letting traffic back-up behind them. That’s enough of a primer. Good luck to you.
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u/cgabv Jun 09 '24
oh my god the roads downtown. i’ve been here for almost a year and i still sometimes get confused as to which roads go which way. or some roads will be 2-way that turn into a one way, or sometimes you’ll suddenly be in a turn-only lane with 500 feet to switch lanes. you have to be pretty vigilant when you drive around for the first few months. no sales tax is awesome though!
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u/YetiSquish Jun 09 '24
Do NOT miss the Oregon Country Fair
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u/PaulC_EUG Jun 09 '24
Yes, but be aware there is very little “country” in the Country Fair. It’s a three-day Brigadoon of ‘60s Hippie culture with all which that entails!!
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u/CleanCubexo Jun 09 '24
I moved here from San Jose and I love it. There are a lot of parts of Eugene that have bike paths, but are inaccessible to cars, especially by the river. Those are my favorite parts of the city
Even for a city of this size, every little neighborhood has a brewery and a food truck court. All of them are worth trying out
There are some undesirable qualities, but there’s bad drivers and downtrodden vagrants in every zip code
I hope you have a good time here :)
P.S. if you ever venture into Springfield, Wuack Taco has my favorite burritos in Lane County
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u/Opurculum Jun 09 '24
I grew up up in Junction city. The town revolves around farming. As a mixed race family, we experienced hate crimes. There is a big meth problem. The infrastructure of the town is not suited for the boom in population growth. There are frequent water restrictions. If you experience allergies get ready to suffer! The positives include the Scandi fest and the cruise in.
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u/Goodfella1133 Jun 09 '24
We’re in a similar boat. Only, I’m moving to Eugene from the Oregon coast for a job in Junction City (mental health). DM if your looking for friends.
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u/LiquidEug Jun 09 '24
Check out The Track and Field Olympic Trials at Hayward Field June 21-30 (weekends are best). It makes the Olympics more interesting and there are usually a couple world records set.
Not sure if I can post this link, so mods can let me know if I screwed up but this a hype video for the new Hayward build for the Track and Field World Championships
https://youtu.be/JDlYbkV_8aY?si=z8pPc7r0kr8RfKzX
Grab tickets day of off Ticketmaster
If you want to understand the track culture in Eugene, watch the movie “Without Limits”
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u/happilyretired23 Jun 09 '24
Unlike Indiana, the National Forests here are well-staffed and have tons of trails (I managed to hike every single trail in the Hoosier NF; doubt I'll ever finish the list in Willamette NF and Umpqua NF). If you like hiking, you've come to the right place. AllTrails is kinda hit-and-miss; for the real intel, you want hikeoregon.net and oregonhikers.org .
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u/confitgaric420 Jun 09 '24
I moved to Springfield (right next to eugene) from Chicago 5 years ago, and let me say it's been one of the best decisions I have ever made. Food is not as good out here, but you find your spots. But the outdoor life here is top notch. It's a change of pace in lifestyle for sure but for me it's been very rewarding!
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u/_Pulltab_ Jun 09 '24
Awesome! That’s what we’re looking forward to.
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u/confitgaric420 Jun 09 '24
Hour to the coast, half hour to mountains, hot springs, amazing hikes, weather is wild summers are nice and almost zero rain for 4 months and winters don't get that cold but it is cold and rainy. Takes a little to get used to but seasonal depression is rrsl out here. But finding a good group of people to hang with and going on adventures keeps the midn sane. But overall I have even enjoying life 1000% more out here than the midwest
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u/Commander-Cisko Jun 09 '24
Every street intersection in oregon is a legal crosswalk so pedestrians can be anywhere and you are obligated to stop. Be very careful cause they don’t understand the concept of momentum
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u/Traditional-Skill462 Jun 09 '24
Fellow Midwest transplant here. Lived in Eugene going on 15 years. Feel free to DM me when you arrive—happy to buy you beer and share what I can.
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u/TotalWarthog1110 Jun 09 '24
I grew up in the south and moved to Eugene a few years ago, my family currently lives in the midwest so I know the vibe there too. Like i’ve seen some other people say, if you like doing things outdoors you’ll have plenty to do here. Talk to some locals to find some good spots. Chula’s has acceptable mexican food, and there’s a lot of great pizza here. The coast is a great weekend trip, it’s only an hour away, but bring layers because it can be windy and brisk even in the dead of summer. We take trips to Portland sometimes too for good shopping. My best advice though is not to let the pessimism of locals get you down. We have a lot to offer here even though people love to complain! Check out the eugene saturday market too :)
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u/bluecrowned Jun 09 '24
Uhh the foothills are big but they're not actually mountains. Bring an umbrella and be prepared to be teased for using it. Everything's expensive. If you like hiking you're in the right place.
Also, everything catches fire in the summer. There will be smoke. Possibly even evacuations. It turns the sun red and its hard to breathe. It's fun!
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u/_Pulltab_ Jun 09 '24
I read something on another sub (or maybe here) about the umbrella thing. lol. Luckily I hate umbrellas. They are a pain in my ass. I have a large selection of hoodies and ball caps and haven’t melted yet.
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u/505ismagic Jun 09 '24
Smoke is an issue, but JC is not at much risk of evacuation, relative to communities in the mountains. It doesn't have the large forest lands up against town. Field fires are easier to handle.
Fire season tip: tape, a cheap box fan and 20x20x1 furnace filter will clear most of the smoke from your flat. You really don't want to breathe that stuff all day long. Mount the filter upstream of the fan.
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u/Gold_Mushroom9382 Jun 09 '24
Don’t they have a race track? I vaguely remember going to Junction City to watch the races with my dad. Or, was it Cottage Grove?
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u/Any_Feature_9671 Jun 09 '24
I lived in Eugene for like 30 years from Midwest I moved to JC like 3 years ago .its a very quiet town mostly people who work in the trades and grass farmers.i was told it was a meth town in the 90.But I assume they are all dead now .the “function in Junction “is a car show to help fund the schools since they can’t vote yes on a school funding and as stated the Scandinavian festival.other than that is a quiet town outside of Eugene .it doesn’t have the homeless situation like Eugene so that’s good .but I’d say waaaay better to live than bumtown
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u/Fantastic_Baseball45 Jun 09 '24
If you will be spending more time in Eugene, why not live there as well?
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u/TaraNewhole Jun 09 '24
There's a guy that lives in an assisted living facility and goes down to the BIMART and gets twisted on mouth wash.
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u/websupergirl Jun 09 '24
I'm not sure I would want to commute from JC to Eugene every day though ...
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u/PunkishPenguin Jun 09 '24
I can't believe nobody has mentioned Junkyard Dogs. It's a famous restaurant in Junction City that was on the show Diners, Drive-ins and Dives hosted by Guy Fieri (the dude with spikey blonde hair). They even have a mural of him commemorating his visit. You can't miss it. It has great burgers/hot dogs and people travel from all over to visit it.
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u/EBTblueLiner Jun 09 '24
The Alsea falls rec area is great. I lived in Eugene and commuted to work in Monroe. Just take 99 and the express way to get in and out of town.
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u/Jthundercleese Jun 09 '24
I worked in JC for 3 years. It's not great. There was one nice cafe and a decent Mexican restaurant. Didn't really meet anyone memorable for anything good apart from the Junction City Rocker Walker. Pretty sure that's his label anyway. You'll know him when you see him. He's a staple there. You're probably better off doing your socializing in Eugene.
People speed a LOT on 99. With the flow of traffic sometimes you'll find yourself doing 75 in a 55. So just be conscious of that considering police speed traps occasionally.
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u/Infinite-Ad6560 Jun 09 '24
Income tax, property tax, gas tax at both state and local level. Trying to get more restrictive gun laws
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u/Fabulaur Jun 09 '24
I have something that no one has yet mentioned, and it's obscure and minor, but you might notice it. I am also originally from a 'mid sized mildly progressive town in a red state', and have been here for over a decade. I didn't notice it so much until I went back to my hometown for a visit but- it's really dirty here. I mean, the streets are filthy. The sidewalks are filthy. Stuff is just more grungy. It's not the fault of people, it's just that nature conspires to keep everything more... nature-y. There is much less wind here than in the Midwest, so dirt doesn't just blow off of things. It rains a lot in the winter but doesn't get that cold so moss and mold is everywhere. There are also more trees that emit various types of gak that gets on your car, your house, etc. "The Pollening" is a thing here, and it is not just about allergies. It's just something you live with and you get used to it, but I have to admit I was astonished when I went back to visit the fam and everything was just so clean.
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u/_Pulltab_ Jun 09 '24
Super interesting. I wouldn’t think of it, you’re right. But it makes a lot of sense.
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u/Subject-Bug9836 Jun 09 '24
Grew up in JC… I have a Masters from the UO, but I did have to avoid all the drugs and rebel flags to graduate with the 98 other people who managed to not drop out. I get the pull since it’s cheaper than Eugene, but I’d never choose to live there.
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u/YetAnotherRaindog Jun 09 '24
Having lived in Indiana and Ohio, I think you'll find Oregon a liveable (but expensive) place to be. The weather is much milder here in the winter (use a raincoat, not a umbrella) and hotter and drier in the summer. Get out of JC to the coast now and then (Florence is less touristy than Newport) and be sure to trek to the many waterfalls in the area. Take advantage of Eugene AND Corvallis independent bookstores.
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u/Slight-Somewhere-697 Jun 10 '24
Groundwork Organics farmstand is amazing for produce during spring/summer/fall
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u/syfalunri Jun 10 '24
Well, they don't sell booze at the gas stations and if you use the wrong pump and try getting it yourself they'll get mad about it. Cheese curds are only good if you get them from the coast, hardly any good diners around either. Say goodbye to Kwik Trip and Aldi too. Scenery and jobs are great around here though. (Moved to JC from wisconsin)
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u/EyeJustSaidThat Jun 10 '24
I moved to JC last year and work in Eugene. I've been in Eugene for 7 years now but moved there from Colorado. I'm not a social person so much of the event scene in JC would be better coming from others but I'll give you what has been noteworthy for me:
The town is asleep after about 10pm every night. Don't expect anything to be open. I'm told that the police chief of the town is a real ball buster, so don't give him or the department a reason. The local pharmacy, Caris, on the North side of town does good work but you will encounter all the same headaches of our Healthcare system with them as anyone else. Call before you drive over to make sure your doctor actually sent over the scrip before just assuming it will be there, etc. The urgent care office is also the only primary care doctors office in town, so they have limited hours and do things a bit differently that you might expect. There was a classic car and truck parade going on a weekend or two ago that I guess happens yearly. Only minor traffic disruption along the main street, Ivy. At least some parts of the town have major mosquito issues in the summer. So be aware to deal with that.
That's all that comes to mind right away. Hope things go smoothly for ya.
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u/No-Customer4343 Jun 10 '24
I moved from Minnesota to Veneta (a small town 10 minutes outside of Eugene) because houses were cheaper and I thought meh how bad could it be? We sold our house and moved into Eugene 3 years later. Mostly because of the schools. Would have done it sooner if we could have. I like to go to Junction City for the Scandinavian Festival but that’s it. I hope you have better luck. If you are kidless you may be able to deal with it.
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u/_Pulltab_ Jun 10 '24
We looked at Veneta as well. We’re empty nesters so the education issue doesn’t directly impact us. We considered the fact that this might be a 2-3 year place to land while we further scope out the region.
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u/thirdeyegrind Jun 10 '24
Are you buying or renting?
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u/_Pulltab_ Jun 10 '24
Buying
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u/thirdeyegrind Jun 10 '24
Did you already find a house to buy?
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u/doorman666 Jun 10 '24
The water in Junction City is really gross. Hi sulfur and iron content. You can't drink it. Not great to shower on either.
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u/sloop_john_c Jun 10 '24
I moved from SF Bay Area to Eugene almost five years ago. As people have said, the lack of multi-ethnicity is pretty stark and you cannot find good Mexican, Indian or Asian food compared to the Bay Area. Maybe being from the midwest, that won't be as much of an issue. Lots of good craft beer, cider and wineries if you're into that. Eugene, being a college town, as a fair degree of music and cultural things to do, but again, compared to where I'm from, once you've done them, you've done them. The amount of outdoorsy options is great. And no traffic compared to where I came from is a plus. People in Eugene complain about the traffic, but they've never driven in the SF Bay Area during rush hour, which last from about 1pm to 7 pm on Fridays.
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u/Secretsserendipity Jun 10 '24
Do not go over by the laundromat and the apartment complex by it, homeless population is insane and they will most certainly harass you. (I lived in jc for two years)
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u/walkuphills Jun 10 '24
Butter is shaped differently. Fred Meyer is not related to Meijer, but Meijer is named after a guy named Fred. Market of Choice is overpriced, Winco's got good deals. You can make a left turn at a red light on to a one way street. People tend to drive the speed limit, or way over it. In cities, they drive slow, on wind-y mountain roads they drive fast af. I was used to a standard 5 mph over every where you go. The roads do not have proper drainage. There will be hydro plane puddles in places you won't expect them to be. Howdy is a common word, but there are very few cowboy hat wearers. Its really polarized here, or people are more vocal about there opinions.
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u/No-Front4365 Jun 10 '24
Ok so I haven’t been there in a while but when I worked in JC 5 years ago, the cafe inside the RV service place was surprisingly good! I still haven’t found a better Monte Cristo.
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u/Tnt9099 Jun 10 '24
My grandparents live in Junction City and my Grandfather was on the City Council. Family Friend who attended council meetings gave up on local politics as the city didn’t want to do anything to revitalize itself. Everyone went psychotic when property taxes went up to pay for schools. Cops are so corrupt that even conservatives here hate theme.
Water goes brown occasionally, they need a new filtration system I think. I’ve heard the name “Junction Shitty” go around before. They also voted down an educational funding bond for their schools.
Scandinavian Festival is nice though. And it’s a small town which it will work for ya if you like that.
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u/dooqbooper Jun 09 '24
Junction City hosts a Scandinavian Festival in the Summer.