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Ogden has landed spot among best U.S. cities

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Jack D. | 8:42 a.m. July 8, 2008

Hooray for O-town!

Are you kidding? | 10:02 a.m. July 8, 2008

Ogden is the armpit of Utah. Give me a break!

cuncabo | 10:33 a.m. July 8, 2008

If Ogden is Utah's armpit then what is Magna?

Comments continue below

I drove through Ogden | 10:35 a.m. July 8, 2008

About 8 months ago, and their were prostitues and gang-bangers littering the streets. This was right in downtown in front of the LDS temple that is there. Best place to live? Not when that kind of element is allowed to thrive! As for Washington D.C. it has one of the highest welfare and crime rates in the nation...now how could that be a great place to live? Unless you were a gang-bangin' welfare recipient loser. Who decides these things anyway?

Julianne O | 10:37 a.m. July 8, 2008

I am still a little worried for his safety, but not as much as when he visits his mom!

Re: Are you kidding? | 10:56 a.m. July 8, 2008

Where do you live? Have you ever lived in Ogden?

RE: I drove through Ogden | 11:09 a.m. July 8, 2008

I drove through Ogden...you are an idiot. Have you ever been to Washington DC? It is a great city to visit and live with much to see and learn. Ogden is also improving and making strides. Your comment about "gang-bangin' welfare recipient loser" is only a reflection on your lack of intelligence.

To: drove through ogden | 11:10 a.m. July 8, 2008

I too drove through Ogden recently and was confronted with lots of "shady" looking unemployed young adults, for lack of a better term. Guys with tattoos on their heads, arms, necks, anyplace visible. It was pretty scary, and I'm from DC. Now, you don't know what you're talking about with DC. Crime rates are down drastically in the last 15 years, the city is clean, booming, and there is a tremendous amount of vibrancy. But Ogden, I think not.

armpit man | 11:08 a.m. July 8, 2008

My armpit don't stink at all! Maybe Ogden IS the armpit of Utah.

I'm not from Utah so I'm really not that closed minded.

GK from England | 11:08 a.m. July 8, 2008

Is the article referring to the opportunities for adventure sport in Ogden or what the residents, council and government are doing to turn the city around in general...or both? Whatever the reason, one needs to be careful about such statistics or ratings. Many are exaggerated or even invented in order to help meet hidden agendas. The article also mentions Washington D.C! How can one of the murder capitals of the U.S. have anything desirable about it?

Places I lived. | 11:11 a.m. July 8, 2008

From Mt Olympus Cove/Park City, to Rose Park, Sandy Midvale, Kaysville, Layton to Now Ogden. I will never leave Ogden. It's a great place to live.

I was the victim of crime more in Mt. Olympus and Midvale then any other city. Go figure.

Ema | 11:14 a.m. July 8, 2008

I'm sorry, but The Junction is horribly ugly, especially at night when they light up everything. It doesn't mesh with the charm of the original downtown buildings. It probably has helped to improve the safety of the area, though.

LovingOgden | 11:35 a.m. July 8, 2008

I live in Ogden (after living in San Diego, Salt Lake and Bountiful). My lifestyle here is GREAT. I live on a quiet, tree-lined street. Within walking distance of my my house I can hike, trail run, mountain bike, snowshoe, rock climb, ice climb, golf, play tennis, swim in a city pool and access the University. I can easily ride FrontRunner, commute to work by bicycle, and use the river trails. We now have a charming downtown area and in 30 minutes I can be at Snow Basin. It is also unbelivably affordable. Go Ogden!

Who would have thought? | 11:43 a.m. July 8, 2008

If this can be said about Ogden, the story about Moses parting the red sea is begining to seem more believable.

awesomeron | 11:41 a.m. July 8, 2008

My time in Ogden would take me back about 40 years. That is where my then wife was living when I returned from Southeast Asia. She was working for the IRS. We moved to Tacoma Wa,. Then to Fort Lewis Housing. Then the Baby was Born and shortly there after she went home to Logan, have not heard from her much since. I liked Ogden, I liked Logan Also, I like Utah but its to Cold. Ii never was the Mormons either before or after conversation. They where mostly always nice people, kept any issues they had to themselves, played the love and respect card. Its just Cold. Cache Valley is one of the Loveliest places on the Planet. I will believe the Hookers and Gang Bangers in front of the Temple when I see it. Or maybe your Version of a Gang Banger and mine are different. I don't know the people in Ogden but I know from where they come, and they would not allow that, at least not for very long. Denial may be a deep river in Egypt, but you are not going to mess with their ground or anywhere near it. Without getting a reaction.

SLC gal | 11:52 a.m. July 8, 2008

Just today, MSN.com is reporting Ogden as a city where it is better to rent then buy a house.... yep, what a great city.....

Smell factor | 11:57 a.m. July 8, 2008

I can't stand even going in to the big "O", the dog food smell is horrible! I can't believe that nothing has been done about that.

Reality | 12:09 p.m. July 8, 2008

Last time I was in Ogden, I had the unfortunate experience of having to go to 21st and Madison. I saw several drug deals go down and several "working women". It reminded me of downtown Compton. I was disgusted.

Sub-Odeon | 12:11 p.m. July 8, 2008

I recently spent about 6 months looking for a home in north Davis and central Weber counties.

I quickly learned that Ogden was absolutely NOT where I wanted to settle my family. Lots of crime, lots of unemployed types wandering about, gangs... When I got to my new Reserve unit, many of the other Soldiers were cops or corrections officers who spoke of Ogden having some of the highest and worst crime in northern Utah.

My wife and I ultimately found a nice older home in Sunset, south and west of Ogden. Since living there, it seems to be South Ogden and North Ogden are worthwhile, but when I ride the buses through ogden proper... Yeesh. 612 is a roughneck route and it's fascinating to have lived in Tacoma for a few years, then ride the busses through Ogden, and hear the same conversation, "Hey man, how long you been out? I just got out! Yeah, dope. They got me. Wasn't the first time. So-and-so is in now. I saw him last week. How is your sister? She broke parole, right?"

Charming, it is not.

I live 15 minutes away | 12:41 p.m. July 8, 2008

And I couldn't disagree more with the article.

This is nothing but slacker journalism. You report (likely from a press release) Outside magazine saying Ogden has undergone a "metamorphosis into an adventure-sports capital" but you don't back it up. You mention D.C., but all you tell us about Ogden is that it has "two kayak parks...and the Junction features a climbing wall, vertical wind tunnel and a standing surf wave."

This is the metamorphosis? Sounds like Cabela's or REI put up shop. An outdoor shopping center? Wow. Never seen that before. By the way, there are urban kayak parks all over the country. And did you know that they have standing surf waves on cruise ships now? I hardly charge that that industry is competing with "adventure-sports capitals" across the globe.

Sorry, it'll take more than a plein air mall and a few urban bike trails for O-Town to become an "adventure-sports capital."

Try these cities first: San Diego, Chicago, Boston, Seattle, Portland, Burlington, Olympia, Madison, Boulder, Coeur d'Alene, Hilton Head/Beaufort, Hot Springs or Easton.

Good luck with that metamorphosis, Mayor Godfrey. Maybe you can still get your advertising money back from Outside because of the false claim.

Bernie | 12:45 p.m. July 8, 2008

Ya thats right, Ogden is the only city in Utah with shady people, drugs, and gangs. You people obviously have never lived or spent any time in Ogden. You think Ogden has problems? What about Pioneer Park? What about Utah County being the drug capital of Utah? Or maybe Utah County's drug problem is okay because they abusers are white and rich. Every city (especially West Jordan) has crime problems. Ogden is an awesome place to live and to have your kids grow up in. I grew up in Ogden and would never trade it for anything. All cities have crime and drugs.

You think Ogden is like downtown Compton??? This tells me that 1. You have never been to Compton because there is no "downtown," because it is part of East L.A., which is not downtown L.A. and 2. East L.A. has cleaned up a lot in recent years and many areas look nicer than Pepperwood in Sandy. You probably should actually visit places and not just base your opinions and stigmas.

God Bless O-Town!

been there, seen it | 12:51 p.m. July 8, 2008

I was there last Sept for a reunion in No. Ogden, the park area was nice. BUT stayed downtown in major hotel and took a walk in early evening to the temple. On way back a "group" of boys were passing me in crosswalk and one leaned in and said "B...h". I don't get that here in So. Cal as I know the gang towns/areas to avoid and when see obvious gang member never give them any "look" to get trouble. My cousin was shocked to hear I walked and said it was not safe there. Also saw some guys smoking pot in hotel parking lot near back entrance. Where is their security?

Heard it before.... | 12:54 p.m. July 8, 2008

I've heard these kind of stories before. Some magazine from somewhere far away rates the best places to live. The results always make people who really know wonder what the writers were smoking. Ogden is NOT a desirable place to live. It is a scary place.

Rich | 12:56 p.m. July 8, 2008

I don't understand why people talk trash on Ogden. It is part of our beautiful state, and has some great stuff going for it. Why do people feel the need to disrespect Ogden?
I lived there for 13 years and loved it. I now live in Salt Lake because of my job, but I still Ski at POWDER MOUNTAIN!!!!

Born in East L A | 1:00 p.m. July 8, 2008

Bernie, Bernie.....check your map. Compton is nowhere near East L A.

WHAT magazine? | 1:09 p.m. July 8, 2008

Some "outdoor" magazine owned/advertised in by the very people that the mayor is cultivating to spend taxpayer money?

Let's have an INDEPENDENT view.

DEAR BERNIE:
Where do YOU live? Within the Ogden City limits, OR in a suburb? North or South?

To date, I've noticed that ALL of the Ogden boosters come from the suburbs (as do I, a non-booster, who moved out 35 years ago).

been there, seen it | 1:11 p.m. July 8, 2008

Re: Bernie's comments - yes Ogden is not the only town in Utah or elsewhere hit by drugs but I did not see the gangs and OPEN drug use in the other Utah towns I have visited in my lifetime. BUT Compton is not part of East L.A.,it's a city near the 91 fwy and East L.A.(not a city) is actually a part of the City of L.A. on other side of the 5 fwy. Different worlds, I used to go to East L.A. to visit(ex)in-laws with no fear but would NEVER go through it now - are you nuts or just part of the element? If you live there, you know the areas to avoid but don't risk it if you don't.

Basketkase | 1:20 p.m. July 8, 2008

To the Ogden bashers out there:

Tell me how many universities West Jordan, Draper, Murray, Midvale, and West Valley have. How many mountain biking and rock climbing opportunities exist mere minutes from these cities? What about the headquarters of several large ski companies, including Solomon? Is West Jordan 20 minutes from the site of the 2002 olympic downhill race courses? How many homes are in the hills of West Valley (are there even hills on the west side?)? Does Sandy have a kayak park? Does it even have a river suitable for kayaks? Can you take your boat to one of several reservoirs within a ten-minute drive from Draper?

Ogden is a truly unique city. If you've ever ventured into the hills and benches of town, you'll wonder how the reputation of the city ever became as bad as it is. Even downtown is great. The traffic and parking problems of Salt Lake are notably absent.

For you Ogden-haters, I say keep hating. Let us enjoy our two rivers, mountains, trails, culture, reservoirs, cheap housing, and peace. I've lived in Salt Lake, and coming back to Ogden was such a relief.

O-Town Forever | 1:23 p.m. July 8, 2008

I find the comments on this board hilarious. Sounds like a bunch of people in Utah are jealous because they do not offer what Ogden offers. Sure Ogden has had its storied past but what city hasn't? And the point of the article was to show how towns have changed and having lived near Ogden for over twenty years I have seen that change first hand and it has been nothing short of amazing.

For those of you that have bad impressions of Ogden I invite you to come visit again and see for yourself what is going on. Ogden is the third best place in the country to live. Sorry SLC and Happy Valley the bubble over O-Town has popped and the country is realizing how great of a town Ogden really is.

To: Smell Factor | 1:30 p.m. July 8, 2008

I'll take the smell of dog food over the stench of Salt Lake's oil refineries any day. Last I checked, the fumes from dog food don't cause cancer.

MATT | 1:35 p.m. July 8, 2008

Ogden has some serious potential...seems to be sputtering to a start, but this will take time and more progressive leadership coupled with more community activists who have all but abandoned the city for other communities surrounding the city. Look at IHC for example. Why not build inner city? This is a city without true grassroots leadership.

re: SLC Gal | 1:36 p.m. July 8, 2008

That same report also listed 30 other cities including the Salt Lake Area. I am assuming you live in SLC, so if that is your criteria, you better move.

Most people are basing their opinions on isolated incidences or old preconceived notions. Many people who actually live in Ogden quite like it. A good chunk of the salt lake valley also has the same problems mentioned about Ogden.

Also Washington DC is a big city. I am sure there are places you don't want to go at night, but that doesn't mean there aren't great places to live and lots of things to do there. My Grandma lives in Holladay and her house got robbed, does that make Holladay the 'hood?

Ogden = YIKES!! | 1:39 p.m. July 8, 2008

I lived in Ogden for a short time. Made the mistake of buying a house vs renting. It only took me 6 months to know I needed to move back to SLC. You can't compare the problems of an entire city to Pioneer Park. Granted every city has it's issues but, Ogden? WOW, has lots of issues.

Having lived there, I will agree that there is plenty of recreational opportunities. I mtn biked, skiied, hiked, boated at Pineview, roller-bladed the park way, blah blah blah... You get that anyhere along the wasatch front. Eden would be a great place to live.

Try comparing a city like Holladay or Cottonwood Heights that has all that + no crime, no gangs, no slums, no dog food aromas, better schools, wonderful parks, an educated government, access to 4 world class ski areas within minutes, Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons, camping at our fingertips, no traffic, excellent freeway access......

This is the best Outdoor could come up with? YIKES!!!

to "SLC gal" | 1:40 p.m. July 8, 2008

I suggest you take a look the the Utah real estate market. You'll find that in every city (not just Ogden) it's better to rent right now than to buy. Prices are dropping 2% per month in Utah. It's not a good time to buy until prices begin to find a support level.

OgdenINScottsdale | 1:45 p.m. July 8, 2008

My family lived in Europe for 8 years (the first 8 of my life) before moving to Ogden for another eight. We lived in a charming tudor on East 25th Street and I had the best childhood one could dream of. Great neighborhood, great school (Polk Elem., Mt. Ogden Middle, Ogden High), great natural setting, lifelong friends. Then my parents moved to Layton - I was unchallenged in my classes and we never even got to know our neighbors in our cookie-cutter home. My parents still regret their move to Layton over Ogden. I have since moved to the NW Chicago suburbs after high school and then went on to attend Arizona State University. I graduated in May and I'm living and working in Scottsdale. All I can say is I still rave about my experience in Ogden, and I look forward to the day when I can go back. Great job Ogden for working to constantly improve yourself no matter how much the naysayers try to bring you down. Ogden may have been the armpit of Utah at one time, but it is quickly become apparent that this ugly duckling is blossoming into a beautiful swan. God bless.

Anonymous | 1:48 p.m. July 8, 2008

It was interesting reading about Ogden. I was hoping it could one day be like it was when I was there in the 50's, but no place is like it was in the 50's.

I live in Tennessee, but always love coming back to visit Ogden. I hope it does get to be the beautiful downtown that we would all love to see. I'll be there in August to check it out again.

Let's face it | 1:53 p.m. July 8, 2008

Midvale/West Valley/Magna/Kearns/ and west of the freeway SLC are scary places to live. I would much rather live in Ogden... Atleast they are doing a major clean up and trying to change.

Ema | 1:58 p.m. July 8, 2008

To be fair, the Ogden area is quite large and their honestly are some very nice parts of it. But I would not choose to live in the more central parts.

AzJazzFan | 1:59 p.m. July 8, 2008

Horay for O-town! I went to Weber St for a quarter and have visited friends there, thus I am no expert but it seems like a very nice place to live. In any place you will see undesirable people, they may just be passing through or may be innocent outside of some bad habbits. Ogden is in a good setting and appears to be a nice place to live and have recreational opportunities.

Ryan | 2:03 p.m. July 8, 2008

Ogden is no different than any other city of a certain size. There are some places where you go, there are some places where you don't go. It just so happens that I am planning on moving my family out of Ogden, but we're not running away with bullets whizzing past our heads. That's just ridiculous. I'd much rather live in Ogden than in parts of the Salt Lake valley.

Ryan W | 2:07 p.m. July 8, 2008

SLC Gal,

Like most places, Ogden has it's good places and not so good places. I don't know if you were paying attention to the MSN.com list that showed Ogden as a better place to rent than buy, but right above it on the list was the Salt Lake area. Plus, what does that have to do with how nice of city it is? The MSN list was discussing rental prices relitive to purchase prices... not, how nice a place was to live.

I lived in Ogden for a long time. I now live in downtown SLC. I prefer SLC myslef, but that doesn't mean that Ogden is a bad place. There are areas in SLC much more rough than Ogden.

As for homeless people and these so called "gang bangers" I personally see a lot more in Salt Lake. I can't tell you the last time a person asked me for money in Ogden, it happens almost every day in Salt Lake, but so what, it has nothing to do with how much there is to do in one city or the other.

A lot of you people are stuck up jerks.

Rose | 2:10 p.m. July 8, 2008

Ogden is Utah's other West Valley, but in the other direction.

Hookers? | 2:12 p.m. July 8, 2008

I've lived in Ogden for 27 years and have never seen a prostitute walking the streets. Maybe thos who see things like this are out looking for it. Enjoy, fellas.

Glad to see it | 2:14 p.m. July 8, 2008

I was born in "Og" and back in the day, it was Utah's second city. Glad to see it make a comeback, let's hope it continues.

Anonymous | 2:18 p.m. July 8, 2008

I am glad all the silly bubble people don't like Ogden cause it keeps them out.

O-Town is fine | 2:18 p.m. July 8, 2008

Ogden gets a bad rap. It's not near as bad as it was, and currently isn't any worse than many other cities in Utah. I hitched a ride up there on the front runner a few weeks ago just to try it out and see Ogden. I was impressed. Downtown is getting much better, and more vibrant (albeit its still in its transitional phase. Better to be transitioning for the better, than for the worse, don't you agree Sandy?) And it's almost weekly that we hear about some new company relocating to Ogden and setting up headquarters and adding x amount of jobs. I say good for Ogden.

been there, seen it | 2:32 p.m. July 8, 2008

so I gather the reason it is rated high by that group is due to the outdoor activities and not the work to improve the problems with bad elements but hopefully they will get that in control too. I did like the north side and almost every city in U.S. has a section that needs work on. Too bad the nice towns in Utah have been hit w/same problems found elsewhere but it takes time and $ to revitalize and credit is deserved for the effort. Utah needed to be more alert before it got so bad but I have faith in the majority (from all backgrounds and faiths) that they will be able to take back their towns. I have such fond memories of vacations spent throughout Utah visiting family and the good is still there, just need to avoid the bad areas like any other state.

In defense of D.C. | 2:36 p.m. July 8, 2008

I have lived in the D.C. area for the last few years. Some parts of town, like downtown, the area surrounding the Mall, and Northwest D.C., are very nice. I have a few co-workers who live in Northwest and they love it. Southeast D.C. and that part of Maryland are kind of scary, but certain parts of D.C. have improved substantially. (Fortunately for me, I live in Virginia. The Maryland suburbs north of D.C. are also good places to live.)

I know the discussion is about Ogden, but I have never been to Ogden so I cannot comment. I have heard that Ogden is a little rougher.

I grew up in Salt Lake County and went to school and started my career in Utah County, but not once did I have a reason to go to Ogden. Maybe that's telling, but maybe not.

Ben Lomond | 2:46 p.m. July 8, 2008

I just moved my family here from Kaysville and work in the heart of downtown. I've never seen a single drug deal or "prostitutes lining the temple grounds". I hope you closed minded jerks stay in your bubbles, nothing wrong with a little color and spirit. Ogden with its history, accessability, color and energy is the best place in Utah. Everyone can find something wrong with every community in the state. Sadly Glendale just had a horrible event happen there. Not really fair to paint the entire community with that brush....

gratedane | 2:47 p.m. July 8, 2008

Ogden has a lot of untapped potential and this article recognizes that. Just the view of the mountains alone from anywhere in the Ogden area is a heart-stopper. As a native-Utahn now living in the East, some of you Utahns who bash Ogden take it for granted. It's a million-dollar view, and the Ogden river "running through it" is fantastic adn just needs to be cleaned-up and made visually and physically accessible. Yes, I lament the short-sightedness of leaders 28 years ago who approved the tearing-down of the grand JC Penney building on the corner to make room for the "mall," which is now but a bad memory. We can't bring the JC Penney building back, but there are enough older, charming buildings on 24th street and around to preserve and enhance the area. You have to hand it to Mayor Godfrey --love him or hate him, he had a vision and stuck to it, and now, is begining to pay off. Congratulations!

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