This page is divided into three sections:
When doing radio interviews or when giving lectures, I'm often asked where
the "perfect" place
is for a survival retreat. The short answer is: There is none. Granted, there
are a lot of places that are much better than others, but there is no single "one
size fits all" perfect place. Like buying a pair of boots, the decision
has as much to do with the size and shape of the foot as it does the maker
of the boots. Everyone has their personal needs and expectations, as well
as their own ideas of how a retreat should be configured. (See my Profiles page
for many examples that show this diversity.) Some people prefer dry climates
while others can't stand them. Some folks like the
feeling
of privacy provided by a wall of trees where others would feel claustrophobic.
Some need the stimulation of exposure to the arts, while others could care
less. And some have good health, while others need to live close to medical
specialists.
Even more importantly, before deciding where you might move, you have to weigh
the Risks and Benefits of moving at all. From an actuarial standpoint,
you might have nearly as good a chance of living to a ripe old age if you stay
in the suburbs.
It all depends on your personal "worst case scenario". If your envisioned
worst
case is an economic depression similar to that of the 1930s--with a relatively
intact infrastructure--then you might conclude that there is no need to relocate.
(You can just "stock up" and stay put where you are.) But if your worst
case is a full scale whammy--such as a terrorism campaign that levels cities
and/or causes a long term grid-down societal collapse, then you will probably
want to move to a remote, lightly populated farming region with plentiful water.
I'm not in the business of making scenario-based decisions for people. Those
decisions are up to you, as an individual. Once you decide that you definitely
want to move, then, yes, I certainly have some good suggestions on potential
locales for you.
As a Christian, I believe that any major decision should be
preceded
by prayer. Seek God's providence for your life. You can only do that
if you have repented of you sin and have begun a Christian walk. In deference
to the nature
of this forum and the wide range of views held by my readers, I won't go into
great detail about this. But you know where I stand.
Deciding exactly where to relocate is not an exact science. You can gauge
the potential threat and plan accordingly. But you can never be sure what will
happen and where you will truly be safe. But you can sleep well, knowing that
at least your percentage chances will be higher if you make the move.
There is an apocryphal story about a man who was living in Virginia in the late
1850s. He could see the U.S. Civil War brewing, and he wanted no part of it.
He realized that his native Virginia was likely to be heavily contested territory,
so he set about finding the safest place possible where he could shelter his
family during the coming war. After much searching and deliberation he finally
found a peaceful place that was far, far away from where the anticipated the
battles would occur. He moved his family up to Pennsylvania--a little farming
town called Gettysburg.
Basic Criteria
Once you have selected a potential region to concentrate on, select an experienced
local real estate agent. Odds are that you won’t be able to find one
that specializes in retreat properties. So it may take a while and a few false
starts before your agent starts showing you the right type of properties. The
following is a basic criteria list that you can give a real estate agent. (Tailor
to suit your particular needs):
Plentiful water--preferably spring fed or an artesian well. (Pumped well water would be an inferior second choice.)
Good exposure for gardening and photovoltaics.
Not on a flood plain.
Southern exposure (for those reader in the northern hemisphere, naturlich)--particularly important at higher elevations"Panoramic views.” This usually means a hilltop location with open fields of fire and defendable terrain. The concept of holding high ground goes back to pre-history. Yes, I know, that this is mutually exclusive with the concept of having a house that is not in line of sight of any major road. TANSTAAFL. Decide on one or the other. But don't buy a place that has neither attribute.
A diverse and healthy local economy.
Minimal noxious weeds. (Russian Thistle, Teasel, Russian Knapweed, Yellow Star Thistle, etc.)Not in the path of real estate developers. Look at where suburban developments have been established in the county. Suburban tracts tend to follow a “line of march” in certain directions—especially where there is level terrain. Note that in most regions row crop farmland and orchard land is at the greatest risk because it is easy to subdivide. Put on your thinking cap and do some extrapolation. If your intended area is in the path of the sprawl within 10 to 15 years then start looking in a different direction in less advantageous terrain, or a little further out of town.
If it has an existing house, a house with fireproof/ballistically-protected (e.g. masonry) construction. Note: If it is also in an earthquake prone area, you might weigh the odds in this regard and opt instead for more earthquake safe timber-frame construction.
Low housing costs. As discussed in detail in some of my previous blog posts, don’t overlook examining as many factors as possible including home and car insurance rates, property taxes, and so forth. This useful Internet tool compares cost of living in two cities.
My personal preference is to select a retreat in a mixed farming/ranching/timber
region in low-humidity western state, preferably in the inland northwest. I
generally discourage folks from living in coastal regions for health reasons,
risk of tidal waves or hurricanes, oil tanker mishaps, visits by foreign terrorists,
and the outside chance of dramatically rising or falling sea levels in the
event of a climate shift. I also discourage relocating to anywhere within 150
miles of the Mexican border. (Note: I'm not a racist--just a realist.
The crime rate is higher near the border, and in the event of civil war in
Mexico or any number of variations on TEOTWAWKI there could be a huge influx
of illegal immigrants.)
The following data (also available in an Excel spreadsheet) describes 19 western states. After much consideration, all of the eastern states were intentionally excluded from this analysis because they are all either downwind of nuclear targets and/or are in areas with excessive population density. (See my post on population density, back on August 5, 2005.) This wasn't just the result of subjective bias. I try to use the dispassionate mindset of an actuarial accountant.
Take a look at this
population density map of the US, Mexico, and Canada. Sometimes
a picture truly does tell a thousand words.
You will also
note
that
I
didn't mention
overseas locations with retreat potential. That is outside of my area of
expertise. I would appreciate hearing from folks who have viable retreats
in other countries.
I will gladly post your letters to the blog. (Anonymously, of course.)
As evidenced recently with Hurricane Katrina, population density is perhaps the most crucial factor to consider when selecting a safe haven. The big cities on the Gulf Coast are hell holes, whereas the small towns are getting by fairly well. I know that this will cause acrimony with a lot of my readers who live east of the Mississippi River, but the plain truth is the East has too much population! Unless you are among the uber-rich and can afford to buy an elaborate fully hardened bunker with HEPA filtration deep in the Smoky or Appalachian Mountains with a five year food supply, I firmly believe that you will be safer west of the Mississippi. That is just my opinion, so your mileage may vary (YMMV). However, before you write me a tirade about how wrong I am and how safe you'll be in upstate New York, please re-read my August 5th through August 10th posts. Also, take a long hard look at the "Lights of the U.S." photo maps at: www.darksky.org. A picture tells a thousand words.
When thinking about where you’d prefer to buy your retreat and/or retirement home don’t just look at climate. Look at all the factors. Depending on your age and interest in true independence from “the system” you might also consider factors like home schooling laws and home birth laws.
Here is my overall Retreat Potential ranking of 19 western states, which I will explain in detail:
1 Idaho
2 Montana
3 Oregon
4 Washington
5 Wyoming
6 Utah
7 South Dakota
8 North Dakota
9 Arizona
10 Colorado
11 Nebraska
12 Kansas
13 Texas
14 Nevada
15 New Mexico
16 Arkansas
17 Oklahoma
18 Louisiana
19 California
As a point of reference, here is an excerpt from Boston T. Party's Gun Law ranking (for the 19 states on my list), from Boston's excellent book Boston's Gun Bible.
1 Idaho
2 Louisiana
3 Wyoming
4 Montana
5 Arizona
6 New Mexico
7 Texas
8 Oklahoma
9 Nevada
10 Utah
11 Colorado
12 South Dakota
13 Kansas
14 Arkansas
15 Oregon
16 Nebraska
17 North Dakota
18 Washington
19 California
And as yet another point of reference, here are the same 19 states, ranked
by the length of their growing season (in the warmest part of each state):
1 Arizona
2 Texas
3 Louisiana
4 California
5 Nevada
6 Oregon
7 Washington
8 Idaho
9 Utah
10 Kansas
11 Arkansas
12 New Mexico
13 Oklahoma
14 Colorado
15 Wyoming
16 Montana
17 Nebraska
18 South Dakota
19 North Dakota
Why not Alaska?
A year ago, I heard one “expert” on the radio recommend Alaska
as a retreat destination because it has the lowest population density of any
State, and has low taxes. IMHO, he couldn’t be more wrong! The biggest
problem is that from an economic standpoint, Alaska is essentially a big offshore
island.
Many essential items are shipped or flown in. What happens when the ships and
planes stop arriving? It won’t be pretty--at least not in Alaska's cities.
(Ironically, although it is the most lightly populated state, Alaska has the
second highest crime rate in the country!) Coastal Alaska is also earthquake
prone. Further, you may think that because of the North Slope oil that the
state will have plentiful fuel. Bzzzzzt! Wrong answer! There is insufficient
refinery capacity of meet Alaska’s “domestic” needs, and
insufficient transport to get refined fuels where they are needed. (Current
transport is geared to distributing fuel and lubricants brought in from the
Lower 48--not locally produced fuel and lubricants.) So the little
fuel left in Alaska post-TEOTWAWKI will be jealously guarded--doubtless saved
for critical tasks like running farm tractors and chain saws. So there will
be virtually none available for fishing boats or between-town commerce.
In a long term collapse, the residents of Alaska's densely populated coastal
cities will likely starve and/or freeze to death. Meanwhile, those in inland
towns, albeit better fed, will be geographically isolated so that commerce
with the coast will be difficult if not impossible. Bush pilots will eventually
be grounded due to lack of fuel, lubricants and spare parts. The only people
I foresee surviving are a few seasoned Sourdoughs and native tribe members
that still have well-honed outdoor survival skills and are still capable of
reverting to a self-sufficient mode. The best set up for this would be a small
settlement on a clear water (non-glacial) stream with an active salmon run
and a couple of productive “fish wheel” salmon traps.
Another consideration is that the Alaska Pipeline is vulnerable to frost heaving
and rupture if the power grid goes down. (It is not widely known, but grid
power is used to run thousands of refrigeration elements that keep the permafrost
frozen around the pipeline supports.) My prediction: In the event of TEOTWAWKI,
the Al-Can highway will have heavy traffic with heavily-laden pickup trucks
carrying beau coup gas cans, going in both directions: Greenhorns
from the lower 48 thinking that Alaska is the place to be and Alaskan Citizens
who realize that Alaska is not a viable place to stay in a long term Crunch.
And Why Not Hawaii?
Just as in Alaska, what happens when the ships and planes stop arriving? Too
much population (1,250,000 and growing!) and too little self-sufficiency.
Lousy gun laws, too. The only thing that Hawaii has going for it is a mild
climate and the fact that each island produces its own power—albeit
with imported fuel. If and when the North American grid goes down, it will
be something that Hawaiians will see reported on the evening news. Yes, I
know, fish are plentiful and you can walk through the jungle and forage enough
fruit in just an hour to feed your family for a day. But the two-legged predators
will be out in force. It probably won't be safe to go out
fishing or foraging. Perhaps the residents of some of the smaller
islands will pull through a Crunch. Certainly they might on Ni`ihau--the
small western
island reserved for natives only and their traditional lifestyle--subsistence
agriculture, and fishing. But of course: “Haoles need not apply…”
Taxes and Cost of Living
Before making a move to another state, be sure to research the various tax
rates and
the relative cost of living. These web site might prove useful:
Overall
Tax Burden by State
State
Income Tax Rates
State
Sales Tax Rates
Cost of Living Comparison
Population: 5.1 million.
Population Density: 44.7 per square mile (Rank 7 of JWR’s top 19 states).
Area: 114,000 square miles (rank 6 of 50).
Average home insurance cost: $438/yr. (rank 30 of 50).
Crime Safety Ranking: 48 of 50.
Boston T. Party’s State Firearms Laws Ranking: 91%.
Per capita income: $24,988 (rank 37 of 50).
ACT & SAT Scores Ranking: 25 of 50.
Plusses: Mild winters at lower elevations. Has the nation’s top rating
in “education freedom” (the state is at the forefront of the charter
school movement.) Open carry of handguns is legal and perhaps the most commonplace
in the Lower 48.
Minuses: Intensely hot summers at lower elevations. Fairly high population
density (by western states standards.) Water is scarce in much of the state.
Very high crime rate! Expensive car insurance rates. (Because it has the highest
car theft rate in the nation.) Nuclear targets. Proximity to the Mexican border.
Some
northern
parts of the state
are recommended
(with
provisos). Has a high ratio of illegal aliens. Note: I probably should have
given Arizona a higher ranking, due to its favorable gun laws and long growing
season. However, its very crime rate, high insurance costs, and proximity to
the Mexican border pushed it down the list.
JWR’s Combined Retreat Potential Ranking: 9 of 19.
An Arizona Citizen Adds the Following Comments
Just adding some thoughts on your assessment of Arizona. There are two
Arizonas, the lower half at an average elevation of less than 3000
feet, and the half up on the Colorado plateau at 5000-8000 feet, and the two
are totally different. You are absolutely correct about Southern Arizona being
too populated, too close the border, and too much crime, almost all of which
is in metropolitan Phoenix. If ones does their research (and I am not going
to spell it all out here), there are some locations that come in very high.
First check your groundwater availability, some areas have intermittent surface
water, and no aquifer. Other areas have excellent, clean, well flowing, deep
aquifers. You will probably have to put in a well, either wind or solar powered.
Solar power has an advantage in that it can be hidden better, but it had the
disadvantage of being more technologically complex. [JWR Adds:
The folks at Solarjack/SunPumps
of Safford, Arizona are both knowledgeable and reputable PV powered
pump dealers. I first did business with them in 1991.] With a
good well, you not only have drinking water, you can grow crops. There are
large concentrations of LDS members
in some areas, this is a good thing to look for, crime is low, and they make
good neighbors, even if you are not LDS. Land is reasonably cheap ($200-$500/acre)
out of the towns a few miles, but you will have the added expense of your well,
which will cost $12-$15K including the windmill or solar, and solar electric
generation for lights, and other power, which can add that much again, for
a modest system. Game is available, and the population density is these localized
areas is measured in square miles per person. My nearest neighbor is 3/4 of
a mile away, the next closest is two miles in the opposite direction, and more
than 3 miles each in the other two directions,yet there is a town of about
5000 people, only 9 miles by rough road, away. (The place I selected, allows
my retreat to not be seen from the little traveled rutted dirt road in front
of my place; the only indication that someone is even there, is a slightly
overgrown track leading over a low ridge through some trees, from a nondescript
barb wire fence gate. After one rainstorm, the track looks like it hasn't been
traveled for months. The CONEX boxes
are painted olive drab, and hidden by trees. blackout curtains are used at
night in the neutral colored dwelling, you cannot see the place, day or night,
from 40 yards away, even though there are large meadows on two sides, as I
made sure at least some trees were between the open areas and the structures.)
Cattle and crops are grown in the area, and there is game, ranging from rabbits
to antelope to elk. Topography ranges from savannah, to juniper to tall pines,
depending on the elevation. You are close enough that you can work/live in
Phoenix, if needed, yet have a retreat available less than 200 miles away,
just know ALL the ways out of town, and have stuff propositioned. And, if you
have the money for $20-40K an acre, there are a few select areas in the 4000-5000
foot elevation that have year round running surface water, good flat ground
for crops are isolated, surrounded by high mountains and easily defended, as
the only two roads in, can be easily defended, or blocked - AZDoug
Population: 2.67 million.
Population Density: 50.2 per square mile (Rank 5 of JWR’s top 19 states).
Area: 53,187 square miles (rank 27 of 50).
Average car insurance cost: $721/yr. (rank 30 of 50).
Average home insurance cost: $494/yr. (rank 19 of 50).
Crime Safety Ranking: 8 of 50.
Boston T. Party’s State Firearms Laws Ranking: 66%.
Per capita income: $21,995 (rank 49 of 50).
ACT & SAT Scores Ranking: 23 of 50.
Plusses: Low property taxes.
Minuses: High population density (by western states standards.) Tornado prone
(ranked #5 out of top 20 States). Poverty. The Arkansas economy barely scrapes
by, even in good times. The state has a fairly large welfare dependent under
class. This could prove problematic in the event of TEOTWAWKI.
Poorly educated populace. For example: High school graduates, percent of persons
age 25+, (2000 stats): 75.3%, versus 80.4% nationwide. Bachelor's degree or
higher, percentage of persons age 25+, (2000 stats): 16.7%, versus 24.4% nationwide.
Note: Look for natural gas producing areas so that you can run your pickup
on “drip” oil. (See my posts in the Archives on
alternate fuels.)
JWR’s Combined Retreat Potential Ranking: 16 of 19.
A Recent Relocatee to Arkansas (and Regular SurvivalBlog Contributor) Comments:
I researched for several years and made five trips to Arkansas in 18 months or so and as a "retreat" area North Central Arkansas wins on many levels for my needs. The statistics you quote, I'm sure, are valid as an overall state average, BUT most of the population seems to be in the Southern and West/East portions of the state and that seems to be where most of the tornados occur, and also where welfare recipients live. [JWR adds: This adds credence to my theory that tornadoes are mysteriously guided by some unseen force toward single-wide trailer parks.] There is a very homogenous population in this area with lots of well-attended churches and close family ties. One does not need a Bachelor's to take over Dad's logging or sawmill business or river/fishing guide business. Up here in the North Central area in the Ozarks things are really not fitting your averages. My criteria on a new AO was an sparsely populated area, a longer growing season than the maybe 90 days I had [in northern Nevada] for the last 16 years, better/shorter winter season, water availability, less expensive cost of living for basics, and lack of bureaucratic interference. The northern counties of Arkansas seem to fit the criteria perfectly. So far my propane, building supplies, fencing, food costs, and car insurance/license/tags are far less than I had been paying. Yes, the education system is poor and conventional jobs are scarce. However, the folks are friendly to newcomers without being nosey, one does not seem to need a permit for doing any improvements to property, and self-employment (under the table income) is rampant here and the work provided to customers is excellent. Land is, in my opinion, very cheap here to buy compared to lots of other areas in the U.S. - averaging $500-to-$1000 per acre with the higher pricing on lakeside properties. Good fishing, good hunting, good weather, good friends - just what I was looking for. Cities are cities anywhere one goes and that seems to be where the "problems" or potential problems congregate. Rural is rural, by the same token. I know your focus is/has been communities of like-minded folks banded together for safety and survival. I, personally, think that will happen much more shortly after a SHTF scenario than before such an event(s). I, like many others I know, have been laying the groundwork for that latter scenario, but it's not that comfortable to do it now, in advance. The plans are there, ready to put into action, but in the meantime, we are all working on our own plans for now and in the future and we stay in communication regarding such plans while still maintaining our privacy and property, if that makes sense to you. We, amongst my friends, know who will/can do what and provide what in most any disaster and we keep those plans in mind while we develop our individual projects.
Population: 34 million+.
Population Density: 214 per square mile (Rank 1 of JWR’s top 19 states).
Area: 158,706 square miles (rank 3 of 50).
Average car insurance cost: $765/yr. (rank 23 of 50).
Average home insurance cost: $592/yr. (rank 9 of 50),
Crime Safety Ranking: 39 of 50.
Boston T. Party’s State Firearms Laws Ranking: 30%.
Per capita income: $32,149 (rank 8 of 50).
ACT & SAT Scores Ranking: 37 of 50.
Plusses: Mild climate and a long growing seasons in most parts of the state.
High wages.
Minuses: Excessive population density, high crime rate, copious smog, high
cost of living, aggravating traffic, earthquake prone, over-inflated real estate
prices, expensive building permits, restrictive zoning, high sales tax (as
much as 8.5% in some counties!), draconian gun control laws, MTBE-tainted municipal
and well water, high income and property taxes, multiple terrorist and WWIII
targets, mediocre public schools, a cluttered radio spectrum, a state budget
crisis that has reduced the state’s bonds to junk bond status, a proliferation
of anti-small business and environmental regulations, exploding illegal immigration,
anti-home schooling legislators, expensive car registration, high car insurance
rates, the highest worker’s compensation insurance cost in the nation
($5.23 per $100 in payroll!), high health insurance rates, a very litigious
and biased court system, and an ever-expanding socialistic Nanny State.
California K-to-12 students ranks 48th of the 50 states in academics. California
is definitely not recommended,
except perhaps for those committed to the anti-gun pacifist school of survivalism
and willing to home school their kids, and then only if you live in
the most remote portions of the state--far northern California. (Such as Humboldt,
Modoc,
or
Trinity County) or perhaps the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.(Such
as the Bishop or Lone Pine areas.)
JWR’s Combined Retreat Potential Ranking: 19 of 19.
JWR adds: I included California in my rankings of 19 states partly to show some contrasts to the other states listed. Because so many SurvivalBlog readers live in California, I hope that this serves as encouragement for them to "vote with their feet."
Dear Mr. Rawles,
I'm a CA resident and a CA high school history teacher, and just read your
retreat observations regarding my state. My experience with out-of-state
critics of CA is that they often exaggerate wildly about conditions here
as well as frequently blame voters here for the conditions we have (I've
voted against all aspects of the present socialist nightmare but look what
we have). In your case, however, I can honestly say that your analysis and
summary are 100% accurate and spot-on. I regret only that your summary isn't
printed in the Op-Ed section of the Los Angeles Times and circulated.
FWIW, I am looking for a teaching job elsewhere so I can get the heck out [of
California] before TSHTF. When it happens here, it will make Katrina's aftermath
look like a kindergarten dance. Take care and keep up the great work, - S.
Mr. Rawles,
I love your site. It is the first thing that I read in the morning now. I just
wanted to point out Alameda County [California] sales tax is now 8.75%,
the highest in the state except for Catalina Island! I drive to Monterey
(the nearest county with the state minimum 7.25% sales tax) for any decent
sized purchase, except autos because the DMV charges you by the county
of residence. BTW, the county listed on the registration determines your
insurance and whether or not you need a smog inspection. (yes some counties
don't require smog tests or not as stringent tests) if you have property
or a friend with an address you can use. Modoc County car insurance will
be much cheaper than Alameda County, I guarantee you.
Since the hurricane, I have doubled my efforts and consolidated down my BOB,
working on one for my wife's car. I picked up three times the amount of canned
goods this last weekend at our regular shopping trip (stuff we actually eat
on a regular basis). I sold a few more of my excess firearms, put the funds
towards supplies and hard money investments (no debts except mortgage) one
benefit of CA gun laws is that no 'out of production' guns can legally be brought
into the state for sale This includes vintage Smiths and Colts and even recent
stuff like Colt Delta Elites. So the price of these in the People's Republic
of Kalifornia (PRK) is way out
of whack compared to the rest of the country, as seen by prices on the firearm
auction sites. I sold a few old S&Ws that I was into for $200 and $300
for $650 and $750.. just because you can't 'legally' get them here! After I
move to free America, I can repurchase at lower prices if I want. Acreage properties
in Modoc, Plumas and Trinity or Sierra counties up in extreme northern CA as
you suggest are way too expensive (relative to acreage on the Oregon or Nevada
side of the line) now, There is little to NO industry or jobs up there
and logging is being legislated out of existence. Unless you have money or
have
a home-based job that you can do from your computer, good luck up there. Possibly
as a retreat location but you are still sometimes 4-8 hours drive to some of
those places on Friday night from the [San Francisco] Bay area. Double or triple
that time in Katrina like escape traffic on I-5 or I-80. Though fishing and
hunting up there is second to none!
BTW some of your profiles are awesome. If I had even 1/100 of Bill Gates' budget
mine would be even better. - T.L.
James,
You sure hit the nail on the head when you wrote about California, and the
northern counties of Humboldt and Trinity. Life IS different up here, but you
still have to contend with the lunatics down south, and the stupid laws they
make. (Not to mention that some parts of Humboldt (Arcata) are just full of "hippy" types....Yes,
there are many left, and this is where they pooled.) Many people up here just
do not seem to understand that they ARE subject to these laws. I have been
told not to worry so much about certain things, because even the cops (up here),
just don't care. But the bottom line is the fact that this creates a huge "if
they want ya, they got ya" type situation. Now most people already live
with this to some extent, but it is FAR worse out here. Then there is the fact
that the people that were born and raised out here, if they are under 30, just
have no idea what it's like to live in a semi free state. Some just cannot
believe it when I tell them what is still legal in a state like Florida or
Wyoming. It is very sad. This is a beautiful part of the country, with a great
climate...but I know I will not be able to stand it long. - Gung-Ho
Population: 4.3 million.
Population Density: 41.3 per square mile (Rank 8 of JWR’s top 19 states).
Area: 104,000 square miles (rank 8 of 50).
Average car insurance cost: $881/yr. (rank 11 of 50).
Average home insurance cost: $571/yr. (rank 12 of 50).
Crime Safety Ranking: 26 of 50.
Boston T. Party’s State Firearms Laws Ranking: 74%.
Per capita income: $32,434 (rank 7 of 50).
ACT & SAT Scores Ranking: 15 of 50.
Plusses: A low “total tax burden” of 8.4%. Has a high rating in “education
freedom” for home schooling (ranked #8 of 50).
Minuses: Fairly high population density (by western U.S. standards.) The emerging
Nanny State mentality is also troubling.
Parts of the state are recommended.
JWR’s Combined Retreat Potential Ranking: 10 of 19.
Population: 1.3 million (and about 2.1 million cattle.)
Population Density: 15.5 per square mile (Rank 15 of JWR’s top 19 states).
Area: 83,437 square miles (rank 13 of 50).
Average car insurance cost: $608/yr. (rank 48 of 50).
Average home insurance cost: $326/yr. (rank 50 of 50).
Average Home Price in Clearwater County: $112,725
Average Home Price in Idaho County: $109,500
Average Home Price in Kootenai County: $112,849
Average Home Price in Latah County: $118,325 (skewed because of the large number
of 120+ acre farms and ranches)
Crime Safety Ranking: 9 of 50.
Boston T. Party’s State Firearms Laws Ranking: 97%.
Per capita income: $23,727 (rank 41 of 50).
ACT & SAT Scores Ranking: 15 of 50.
Plusses: Low Very low crime rate. (For example, it ranks second from the bottom
in car thefts of the 50 states.) Low property taxes. Inexpensive building
permits. Minimally intrusive government. Inexpensive car registration ($20
to $50 per year, plus a one-time-only $15 plate fee.) Low car insurance rates.
Low health insurance rates. Extremely low home insurance rates. (An average
of $326 per year. Ranks #50 in the country!) The most wilderness area in
any of the 48 Continental United States. (Only Alaska has more.) 21.6 million
forested acres. Minimal gun laws. Class 3 guns (machineguns short barreled
rifles and shotguns, and suppressors) are legal to own after the $200 Federal
tax and background check. Open carry of handguns is legal and fairly commonplace. CCW permits must be
issued unless someone has a prior criminal record. (“Non-discretionary.”)
No CCW permit is required for concealed carry outside of city limits. Vehicular
carry of loaded guns is legal and very common. Automatic knives are legal
to own and carry. Minimally regulated home schooling. Low population density.
Low elevation portions of the state have a fairly mild climate. Hunting and
fishing are excellent in many parts of the state, so there will be no shortage
of protein WTSHTF. High ratio of horse ownership, so I anticipate that transportation
will be available in the event of a long term TEOTWAWKI. By 2025, Idaho is
projected to be the 40th most populous with 1.7 million people. (It is currently
the 39th most populous state.) Affordable property: The median home price
for all of Idaho is $105,403. One useful web site: Idaho
Department of Commerce Community Profiles.
Minuses: Has a relatively high state income tax. Sadly, 63.7% of Idaho’s
lands are owned by federal government. (Mostly National Forest and BLM land.)
But at least that provides a "really big back yard" for hunting and
cutting firewood. Cold winters at the higher elevations. (Look for property
in the low river valleys if you can’t stand snow!) Low wages compared
to most coastal states.
JWR’s Combined Retreat Potential Ranking: 1 of 19. (JWR’s
top choice!)
Population: 2.6 million.
Population Density: 31.7 per square mile (Rank 10 of JWR’s top 19 states).
Area: 82,000 square miles (rank 14 of 50).
Average car insurance cost: $688/yr. (rank 36 of 50).
Average home insurance cost: $593/yr. (rank 8 of 50).
Crime Safety Ranking: 23 of 50.
Boston T. Party’s State Firearms Laws Ranking: 68%.
Per capita income: $27,374 (rank 27 of 50).
ACT & SAT Scores Ranking: 4 of 50.
Plusses:
Minuses: Little crop diversity. Few local firewood sources. Tornado prone (ranked
#2 out of top 20 States). High car insurance rates. High home insurance rates.
The flat terrain is difficult to defend. (Because there are too many avenues
of approach.)
JWR’s Combined Retreat Potential Ranking: 12 of 19.
Population: 4.5 million.
Population Density: 94.2 per square mile (Rank 2 of JWR’s top 19 states).
Area: 47,751 square miles (rank 8 of 50).
Average car insurance cost: $928/yr. (rank 30 of 50).
Average home insurance cost: $721/yr. (rank 2 of 50)
Crime Safety Ranking: 50 of 50.
Boston T. Party’s State Firearms Laws Ranking: 94%.
Per capita income: $23,090 (rank 45 of 50).
ACT & SAT Scores Ranking: 34 of 50.
Plusses: Mild climate. Low property taxes. Firearms freedom.
Minuses: Coastal Louisiana and +/- 50 miles inland is in the hurricane zone.
Very high population density (by western U.S. standards.) Louisiana has the
lowest crime safety ranking the U.S.! (New Orleans is ranked one of the least
safe cities in the country: It is ranked #13 in the “Top 20 Most Dangerous
Metropolitan Areas.) The second least well-educated population of any state--ranked
49 of 50. Very high car insurance rates. Extremely high home insurance rates.
(Average of $721 per year. Ranks #2 in the country!) In a true TEOTWAWKI situation,
folks in some rural areas may see non-Cajuns as expendable “outsiders.” High
humidity (over 60% in the southern half of the state.) Low wages.
Some northern portions of the state are recommended, with strong reservations.
Note: I probably should have given Louisiana higher ranking, due to its favorable
gun and tax laws and favorable climate--at least in the northern half of the
state. However, its extremely high crime rate and high insurance costs pushed
it far down the list.
JWR’s Combined Retreat Potential Ranking: 18 of 19.
JWR Adds: Note that I wrote the following long before Hurricane Katrina arrived in September of '05. I certainly was right when I warned "Coastal Louisiana and +/- 50 miles inland is in the hurricane zone"--but I didn't need to be any sort of sage with arcane knowledge to figure that out...
Population: 903,000.
Population Density: 6.1 per square mile (Rank 18 of JWR’s top 19 states).
Area: 147,000 square miles (rank 4 of 50).
Average car insurance cost: $671/yr. (rank 38 of 50).
Average home insurance cost: $451/yr. (rank 26 of 50).
Crime Safety Ranking: 10 of 50.
Boston T. Party’s State Firearms Laws Ranking: 92%.
Per capita income: $22,518 (rank 46 of 50).
ACT & SAT Scores Ranking: 8 of 50.
Montana Agriculture reference: http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/narratives/MONTANA.htm
Montana Crops: Potatoes, sugar beats, sorghum, alfalfa, grass hay, and grains.
Plusses: Very low crime rate! Very low population density. Minimal gun laws.
Good schools. A very non-intrusive government. (For example, in the 1990s there
were a few years with no daylight speed limit on most of Montana’s highways
outside of city limits.) Low car insurance rates.
Minuses: Very cold winters, especially east of the Great Divide, and a short
growing season. (The number of frost free days range from 139 days in Glendive
to just 39 days in Ovando!) Insufficient crop diversity. Low wages. Montana's
missile fields are still in the Russian target structure.
Lower elevation areas west of the Great Divide (and upwind of the missile fields)
are recommended.
Note: I probably should have given Montana a lower ranking, due to its cold
climate and short growing season. However, because of Montana’s favorable
gun laws, low crime rate, and light population density, I bumped it up the
list.
JWR’s Combined Retreat Potential Ranking: 2 of 19.
A Recent Relocatee to Montana Adds The Following:
Jim: I am not a religious nut when I tell you the Holy Spirit impressed my
entire family we were all to leave where we lived and head to Montana. So
I started visiting
the real estate web sites searching for homes that might fit our particular
requirements. We arrived with a list of 46 homes in a binder sorted by area/city
etc. After
spending seven days working out of the Flathead Lake / Kalispell area and looking
at 28 homes we were discouraged. We looked at properties up to $450,000. Price
was not the issue. The issue was being at peace with our purchase. After seven
days my son in law called to say we should go up to Eureka and look at the
houses we had printed out for that area. So I called a realtor's agent and
gave her a list of eighteen properties with the liberty to weed out those that
she thought would not fit. We looked at eight properties and one twice.
All of the properties appeared to belong to Christians of one flavor or another.
Some we met just outright stated they were believers. After leaving the realtor
we discussed the merits of one property some more. It had all the things we
require: five bedrooms, two for offices, 2 plus acres, multiple bug out routes,
two tillable acres, about two feet of snow per year, plenty of wood nearby,
a lake filled with ducks and geese. Plus we have plenty deer, elk, bears, game
birds, chickens in the spring, and more available land in the general area.
The growing season is 158 days. The land is sub irrigated and we have a deep
thirty gallon per minute well. Water is just seven feet down. After several
hours of contemplation, some prayer the Holy Spirit simply said you will be
safe here. After purchasing we learned the seller failed to disclose the presence
of a questionable unrecorded easement and spring. These undisclosed issues
will work themselves out in time. We are about 20 miles from the Canadian Border.
I am an American, so I will stay here regardless of what happens. This is a
very nice home, but it may just prove to be our base camp while establishing
something more remote. In the coming times of confusion, I believe that boldness,
good planning, stealth and mobility will be key to retaking our nation. The
wind currents are favorable to protect us from most fallout. We are situated
on the edge of a valley between two mountains. I can close the roads with chain
saws and some old vehicles stored nearby without trouble. The hillside provides
three good LP/OP positions with
places for many spider holes. Bug out into the National Forest is behind the
home or down the road. The plus side of living here is that most of the people
profess to be Believers without ever asking them. There are the drug pushers
and users in the high school and we will gather their names for future reference.
Everybody works hard at whatever they do. The down side of moving to a non-affluent
area is that the people do not have the wherewithal to prepare for what is
coming. Some are on welfare. So if they do not leave they will eventually become
part of the problem. The only thing I will be able to help them with is seed
and prayer. Unless we get a windfall my family of twelve is all I can prepare
for.
I am 64 years old and splitting six cords of wood. We have sufficient food
to carry us for a good while plus seed, game, and fish. We will be putting
in a garden and canning vegetables and storing, smoked meats (am building a
smoke house in the spring). We are putting up enough fuel to last us for at
least two years. My priorities are water, food and seeds, fuel, fire heat,
natural medicine, clothing, shoes, trade goods, tools, trade coins etc. We
have sufficient weapons and supplies. Our choice of weapons are .45 ACP, .22,
.223, .308, plus other hunting calibers. We would like to see things remain
stable for two more years so I can pay this place off, but can get by if things
crash ten minutes from now. All of us need to remember if we have a real financial
crash as the result of any disaster, all of us will be in the same boat. This
includes the bankers as well. The crash will be worldwide. We who survive the
crash, food riots, anarchy, civil war and the attack on America that follows
can purchase property for reasonable prices with real money. My home insurance
is about $1,000 per year but my rural auto insurance just went down. License
plates for vehicles twelve years and older are a onetime $76. Food costs are
not too bad yet. We make a weekly trip to the larger stores in Kalispell to
buy in bulk. We are filling our fuel tanks quietly. I recently learned that
before 911 there were sixteen Border Patrol in the area. Now there are about
seventy. They appear to have police powers twenty five miles south of the Canadian
border and they act like we Americas were the enemy. Something to remember
when you move close to the Canadian border.
Lord bless you and your family with happiness and joy. - M. in Montana.
Population: 1.7 million.
Population Density: 21.9 per square mile (Rank 12 of JWR’s top 19 states).
Area: 77,355 square miles (rank 15 of 50).
Average car insurance cost: $649/yr. (rank 42 of 50).
Average home insurance cost: $499/yr. (rank 18 of 50).
Crime Safety Ranking: 12 of 50.
Boston T. Party’s State Firearms Laws Ranking: 64%.
Per capita income: $27,630 (rank 26 of 50).
ACT & SAT Scores Ranking: 5 of 50.
Plusses: Low crime rate.
Minuses: Tornado prone (ranked #4 out of top 20 States).There
are missile
fields (see map) Few local firewood
sources.
JWR’s Combined Retreat Potential Ranking: 11 of 19.
Population: 2 million.
Population Density: 18 per square mile (Rank 13 of JWR’s top 19 states).
Area: 110,561 square miles (rank 7 of 50).
Average car insurance cost: $937/yr. (rank 7 of 50).
Average home insurance cost: $479/yr. (rank 21 of 50).
Crime Safety Ranking: 49 of 50.
Boston T. Party’s State Firearms Laws Ranking: 76%.
Per capita income: $29,506 (15 rank of 50).
ACT & SAT Scores Ranking: 25 of 50.
Comments: One editor listed in the acknowledgements stubbornly insists
that my ranking below is unfair to parts of Nevada. Nevada is really “a
tale of two states”: Las Vegas and then all the rest. Las Vegas has the
same urban problems as Los Angeles, which affects the insurance and crime numbers
above. Las Vegas has a severe desert climate that is hostile to agriculture,
and most residents are dependent on water from elsewhere. Las Vegas is not
worth of consideration, and its influence on the state’s statistics conceals
a very viable and potentially desirable relocation alternative in Northern
Nevada.
Plusses: No income tax, relatively pro-gun ownership, except for Clark County's
(Las Vegas) handgun registration laws. Northern Nevada, particularly Reno and
the Carson Valley (which will be listed second tier relocation region in my
subsequent posts) have mild summers not requiring air-conditioning, ample water
from snow melt from the Sierra Nevada mountain range, widespread ranching and
hay production, better schools than Las Vegas, and solidly conservative political
demographics (except for inner Reno). Healthy economy with many companies relocating
from California. Northern Nevada is considered an ideal off-the-grid solar
power location, with plenty of sun during the moderately chilly winters.
Nevada is not recommended for a survivalist with a small to
moderate budget. However, for someone who is wealthy and who can stand the
climate, Nevada should be bumped up a notch or two. Taxes will be a big issue
for you—and Nevada has no income tax. As someone “of means” you
will be able to afford lots of food storage, voluminous fuel storage, and a
large greenhouse to make up for the hot summers/cold winters climate of the
Nevada high country. (See my posts in a week or two for specific recommendations
within Nevada.)
Minuses: Expensive land in the more desirable areas with plentiful water. May
suffer from the "Golden Horde" effect--a huge wave of refugees and
looters pouring in from more populous California in in the event of an abrupt TEOTWAWKI.
Water is scarce in Nevada, at least south and east of the Sierras.Also consider:
extremely high crime rate (Las Vegas severely skews this statistic), minimal
agriculture (except for some hay growing and ranching in the northern portions
of the state), high sales tax, expensive car registration for newer cars (but
a friend in Nevada reports that a 10-year-old vehicle that was originally purchased
for $50,000 costs only $68 per year to register), exploding population growth
(the fastest in the U.S. due primarily to Las Vegas), the lowest church attendance
rate in the country (ranked 50 of 50 - the state is more libertarian than conservative),
and heavy dependence on gambling for tax revenue. Has a low rating in “education
freedom” (ranked #47 of 50). While Nevada's calculated per capita “tax
burden” is 12% higher than the national average for all 50 states, much
of this comes from tourist gambling revenues, so those non-gamblers in
their prime earning years may still find Nevada to be a relatively low tax
haven. Nevada has refreshingly lax incorporation laws. There is a risk that
statewide political control could shift to the pro-tax liberals of Las Vegas
(although the state Constitution requires a 2/3 majority to create an income
tax). Some central and northern regions of the state with plentiful surface
water are recommended—but with provisos.
JWR’s Combined Retreat Potential Ranking: 14 of 19 (Note: I’d
probably rank it at 7 or 8 if it weren't for Las Vegas.)
Population: 1.8 million.
Population Density: 14.8 per square mile (Rank 15 of JWR’s top 19 states).
Area: 121,593 square miles (rank 5 of 50).
Average car insurance cost: $828/yr. (rank 14 of 50).
Average home insurance cost: $450/yr. (rank 27 of 50).
Crime Safety Ranking: 44 of 50.
Per capita income: $21,931 (rank 48 of 50).
Boston T. Party’s State Firearms Laws Ranking: 87%.
ACT & SAT Scores Ranking: 30 of 50.
Plusses: Low population density. Minimal gun laws. People in New Mexico's rural
areas are already highly self-sufficient, out of economic necessity.
Minuses: Proximity to Mexican border. Water is scarce in much of the state.
(Many families haul all of their drinking water from town and store it in large
cisterns. That would have dubious utility in a TEOTWAWKI-style
collapse.) Economically, New Mexico is essentially like a Third World country within the
U.S. The least well-educated population of any state. Expensive car insurance
rates. Unfortunately the most mild climate zone in New Mexico (the southwest
corner) is also very close to the Mexican border. Low wages. High crime rate.
Note: Look for natural gas producing areas so that you can run your pickup
on “drip” oil. (See my posts in the Archives on
alternate fuels.) Some portions of the state with low population density are
recommended.
JWR’s Combined Retreat Potential Ranking: 15 of 19.
Population: 642,200.
Population Density: 9 per square mile (Rank 17 of JWR’s top 19 states).
Area: 70,700 square miles (rank 17 of 50).
Average car insurance cost: $601/yr. (rank 49 of 50).
Average home insurance cost: $426/yr. (rank 33 of 50).
Crime Safety Ranking: 2 of 50.
Boston T. Party’s State Firearms Laws Ranking: 61%.
Per capita income: $24,708 (rank 38 of 50).
ACT & SAT Scores Ranking: 6 of 50.
Plusses: very low population density. Extremely low crime rate. Extremely low
car insurance rates. With the decline in family farming, the state has actually
de-populated, leaving real estate prices low. In eastern North Dakota, in-town
lots can be had literally for free--to encourage
re-settlement. For various economic and demographic data, see: http://www.DiscoverND.com
Minuses: Brutally cold winters. Short growing season.With the de-population,
crop diversity has decreased. (Practically a monoculture.) Many small towns
in North Dakota now lack key commerce such as grocery stores, hardware stores,
and so forth. (People in many small towns are now forced to drive long distances
to do their weekly shopping.) Some small towns in the de-populated regions
are verging on desperation, hence the aforementioned "free lots"offers.
(Some schools are being closed for want of pupils.) North Dakota has major
nuclear targets, so I only recommend that you look west (upwind) of the missile
fields. It is estimated that in a full scale nuclear exchange Russia might
direct up to 1/3 of its ICBMs at the Dakotas! Unfortunately the missile fields
are all WEST (mostly upwind) of Grand Forks (which is on the eastern border).
Also, much of North Dakota is downwind from the missile fields in Montana and
Wyoming, at least with the prevailing winds. That makes it less than inviting
in a nuclear war scenario. North Dakota also has highly regulated home schooling.
JWR’s
Combined Retreat Potential Ranking: 8 of 19.
Population: 3.4 million.
Population Density: 48.5 per square mile (Rank 6 of JWR’s top 19 states).
Area: 70,000 square miles (rank 18 of 50).
Average car insurance cost: $736/yr. (rank 26 of 50).
Average home insurance cost: $612/yr. (rank 5 of 50).
Crime Safety Ranking: 33 of 50.
Boston T. Party’s State Firearms Laws Ranking: 80%.
Per capita income: $23,650 (rank 42 of 50).
ACT & SAT Scores Ranking: 23 of 50.
Plusses: Minimally regulated home schooling.
Minuses: Fairly high population density (by western U.S. standards.) Fairly
high crime rate. Tornado prone (ranked #3 out of top 20 States) High home insurance
rates. (Average of $612 per year. Ranked #5 in the country!) Low wages. High
car insurance rates. High population density (by western U.S. standards.) Low
wages. Tribal governments create an extra layer of bureaucracy within the Indian
reservation boundaries.
JWR’s Combined Retreat Potential Ranking: 17 of 19.
Population: 3.4 million.
Population Density: 35 per square mile (Rank 9 of JWR’s top 19 states)
(The highest density is in the northwest part of the state. It is much lower
elsewhere, particular eastern 2/3rds of the state.)
Area: 97,000 square miles (rank 10 of 50).
Average car insurance cost: $704/yr. (rank 35 of 50).
Average home insurance cost: $343/yr. (rank 47 of 50).
Crime Safety Ranking: 18 of 50.
Boston T. Party’s State Firearms Laws Ranking: 65%.
Per capita income: $27,660 (rank 25 of 50).
ACT & SAT Scores Ranking: 10 of 50 (tied with Washington).
Plusses: No sales tax. Very low home insurance rates. (Average of $343 per
year. Ranks #47 in the country!) Has a high rating in “education freedom” (ranked
#5 of 50), since Oregon has relaxed home schooling laws. Relatively low car
insurance rates.
Note: In the late 1970s, the much-respected survival writer Mel Tappan touted
southwestern Oregon--particularly the Rogue River Valley--as a survival haven.
But that was back when California had a population of only around 20 million
people. Today, I'm not sure that southwestern Oregon will have sufficient geographic
isolation to be immune from California's "Golden
Horde" in the event of an abrupt TEOTWAWKI.
Presently, I recommend the Grande Ronde Valley of eastern Oregon. I will have
more on specifically recommended Oregon locales in subsequent posts.
Minuses: High property taxes. Creeping Californication.
Second lowest church attendance rate in the country. Restrictive zoning and
expensive building permits in many western counties. Private party gun sales
at gun shows were recently banned. All transactions involving modern (post-1898)
gun at gun shows must now be processed through a FFL-licensed
dealer, with the requisite paperwork. Sadly, since gun shows are the
best place to find a decent selection of used guns, and since many
metropolitan newspapers now refuse to run gun ads in their classified sections,
I consider this change in the Oregon law a significant hit against firearms
freedom.
Parts of the state are recommended, (with reservations).
Note: I probably should have given Oregon a lower ranking, due to its mediocre
gun and tax laws. However, its favorable climate and long growing season pushed
it up the list slightly.
JWR’s Combined Retreat Potential Ranking: 3
of 19.
South Dakota:
Population: 754,800.
Population Density: 9.78 per square mile (Rank 16 of JWR’s top 19 states).
Area: 77,100 square miles (rank 16 of 50).
Average car insurance cost: $618/yr. (rank 46 of 50).
Average home insurance cost: $380/yr. (rank 42 of 50. )
Crime Safety Ranking: 4 of 50.
Boston T. Party’s State Firearms Laws Ranking: 69%.
Per capita income: $25,958 (rank 34 of 50).
ACT & SAT Scores Ranking: 12 of 50.
Plusses: Very low population density and crime rate! A low “total tax
burden” of 8.9%. Low car insurance rates.
Minuses: Cold winters and a short growing season. Like its northern sibling,
South Dakota has major nuclear targets, so I only recommend that you look west
(upwind) of the missile fields.
JWR’s Combined Retreat Potential Ranking: 7 of 19.
A SurvivalBlog Reader Adds:
Having just left South Dakota after 16 years
there, I might add concerning the cold and short growing season: 20 below
for weeks on end, pretty hefty wind on top of that, and a 90 day growing
season if you are lucky. One year I had to replant beans
3 times, the last after they were snow killed in June. Another drawback
for the state is lack of potable water. My well put out 5 GPM and
that was considered a good well and at it was 300 feet deep, to boot. The
majority of the water there is very alkaline, or from natural hot water
underground
sources and extremely heavy on the minerals. That really plays havoc with
water faucets and water heater elements. Lastly, there is no wood in the
state to speak of for heating purposes either except pine, in the very
western part of the state. Best, - "Mrs. Golf"
Texas:
Population: 20.8 million.
Population Density: 77.9 per square mile (Rank 4 of JWR’s top 19 states).
Area: 266,800 square miles (rank 2 of 50).
Average car insurance cost: $759/yr. (rank 25 of 50).
Average home insurance cost: $880/yr. (rank 1 of 50).
Crime Safety Ranking: 41 of 50.
Boston T. Party’s State Firearms Laws Ranking: 82%.
Per capita income: $27,752 (rank 24 of 50).
ACT & SAT Scores Ranking: 47 of 50.
Plusses: Has a high rating in “education freedom” (ranked #6 of
50), since Texas has relaxed home schooling laws, but the public schools are
far below average. Texas is just plain huge. The population density
figure cited above is skewed by the Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston metro areas.
A lot of Texas out in the hinterboonies is very lightly populated.
Minuses: High population density (by western U.S. standards.) Major population
centers. Very high crime rate. Hurricane prone (ranked #1 of the coastal states.)
Coastal Texas and +/- 50 miles inland is in the hurricane zone. Extremely high
home insurance rates. (Average of $880 per year--ranked #1 in the country for
2005--but probably soon to be surpassed by Louisiana.) High ratio of illegal
aliens. Some rural parts of the state are recommended, with reservations.
JWR’s Combined Retreat Potential Ranking: 13 of 19.
Population: 2.23 million.
Population Density: 26.2 per square mile (Rank 11 of JWR’s top 19 states).
Area: 84,900 square miles (rank 11 of 50).
Average car insurance cost: $718/yr. (rank 32 of 50).
Average home insurance cost: $378/yr. (rank 43 of 50.)
Crime Safety Ranking: 14 of 50.
Boston T. Party’s State Firearms Laws Ranking: 76%.
Per capita income: $23,436 (rank 44 of 50).
ACT & SAT Scores Ranking: 7 of 50.
Plusses: A great state to live in if you are a LDS (Mormon)
Church member. On average Utah has the best prepared families in America.
(By church doctrine, one year of food storage is considered mandatory.) That
is commendable. The norm for home construction in the state is to include an
extra large pantry to accommodate storage food. (Commonly called a “fruit
room” in LDS parlance.) Nearly every LDS ward has its own food storage
cannery. Fairly low crime rate. (Utah has two of the safest metropolitan areas
in the country: Orem, ranked #7, and Provo, ranked #9.) The only significant
street crime is on the west side of Salt Lake City. Low car insurance rates.
Minuses: Ground water is scarce in parts of the state, so check on well water
before buying. Utah might be a poor retreat/relocation choice if you are not
a LDS Church member. Non-LDS members of any religious persuasion are derisively
called “gentiles.” If you are not LDS, you might be ignored or
perhaps even seen as conveniently expendable when push comes to shove. In practice,
many LDS families do not have a true full year of storage food. Highly regulated
home schooling.
JWR’s Combined Retreat Potential Ranking: 6 of 19.
Washington:
Population: 5.9 million.
Population Density: 86.6 per square mile (Far less in the eastern half of the
state!) Very high population density (by western U.S. standards.) (Rank 3 of
JWR’s top 19 states).
Area: 68,100 square miles (rank 20 of 50).
Average car insurance cost: $803/yr. (rank 19 of 50).
Average home insurance cost: $428/yr. (rank 31 of 50).
Crime Safety Ranking: 30 of 50.
Boston T. Party’s State Firearms Laws Ranking: 57%.
Per capita income: $31,230 (rank 11 of 50).
ACT & SAT Scores Ranking: 10 of 50 (tied with Oregon).
Plusses: Low property taxes in some of the eastern counties. (But rising!)
Whitman county Washington taxes rose 80% from 1988 to 1995. In 2002,
the annual tax bill was $3,047 on a $200,000 home. (Second highest in the state.)
The median home value in 2000 for Washington was $168,300, up 38 percent
since 1990, adjusted for inflation. The average statewide property tax rate in
Washington is $13.53 per $1,000 of assessed value.
Minuses: Creeping Californication. Highly regulated home schooling. Fairly high
crime rates in the Western counties and in the larger cities in the eastern half
of the state—such as Spokane, Yakima, and the Tri-Cities (Richland/Pasco/Kennewick)
region. A draconian business gross receipts tax of 1.5%-to-3%. Marginal gun laws.
Very high sales tax. (8.8%)
Parts of the state are recommended. (See my detailed retreat locale recommendations
posted starting September 24, 2005.)
Note: I probably should have given Washington a lower ranking, due to its mediocre
tax and gun laws. However, like Oregon, its favorable climate and growing season
pushed it up the list.
JWR’s Combined Retreat Potential Ranking: 4 of 19.
A Reader in Washington Adds:
Sales taxes vary per county over a very wide range.
Gas tax is $0.28 per gallon.
Just for fun, check out this link for "major" taxes in the Evergreen
state. Yikes.
http://dor.wa.gov/content/taxes/MajorTaxes.aspx
There are also more than a few badges (not obvious, but there nonetheless if
you know what to look for) at our local gun shows at the County fairgrounds.
Keeping an eye on who, what, and how much. Not particularly comfortable about
that one. Best Regards, and keep up the good work. - T.S.
Population: 493,780.
Population Density: 5 per square mile (Rank 19 of JWR’s top 19 states).
Area: 97,800 square miles (rank 9 of 50).
Average car insurance cost: $646/yr. (rank 44 of 50).
Average home insurance cost: $484/yr. (rank 20 of 50).
Crime Safety Ranking: 7 of 50.
Boston T. Party’s State Firearms Laws Ranking: 93%.
Per capita income: $27,372 (rank 28 of 50).
ACT & SAT Scores Ranking: 16 of 50.
Plusses: Low population density, very low crime rate, no income tax.
Low car insurance rates.
Minuses: Brutally cold winters, especially at higher elevations. Minimal growing
season. (Snow has been reported in every month of the year in every county
in Wyoming!) There are missile
fields (see map) in the southeast corner of the state. (Part of the large
array of missile sites that overlaps into northern Colorado and parts of Nebraska.)
These ICBM missile silos would
be primary targets in the event of a full scale nuclear exchange.
Wyoming is not recommended for a survivalist with a small to moderate
budget. However, if you are someone who is wealthy and who can stand the cold,
Wyoming should be bumped up to your top choice. Taxes will be a big issue for
you—and Wyoming has no income tax. As someone “of means” you
will be able to afford lots of food storage, voluminous fuel storage, and a
large greenhouse to make up for the severe climate. Look for natural gas producing
areas so that you can run your vehicles on “drip
oil.” Anyone considering relocating to Wyoming should read Boston
T. Party’s novel Molon
Labe, which depicts a Libertarian political coup in the state, as
part of the nascent “Free States” migration movement. Two related
groups are currently encouraging libertarians to move to New Hampshire and
Wyoming to create a political sea change. See: www.freestatewyoming.org and www.freestateproject.org.
Note: I probably should have given Wyoming a higher ranking, due to its favorable
gun and tax laws. However, its severe climate and minimal growing season pushed
it down the list. If you can stand hard winters, by all means consider
Wyoming a top choice.
JWR’s Combined Retreat Potential Ranking: 5 of 19.
Copyright 2005, 2006, 2007. All Rights Reserved by James Wesley, Rawles -
www.SurvivalBlog.com™
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