Deseret News | Dixie's growth surges 48%

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Dixie's growth surges 48%

Phil | 1:06 a.m. March 20, 2008

Boy, that Dixie is a real jim dandy! I wonder how much it will grow in the next few years.

Convinced | 3:32 a.m. March 20, 2008

I moved to Washington county 8 years ago to retire. This decision was based on a number of things. Affordability, climate, crime rate, geographics, and population. Since then I have a different perspective on this area. I now think it is the three O's. Overly hot, overpriced, and overated. I,m ready to go back North.

St. George | 6:21 a.m. March 20, 2008

This is why we need the new Airport, and the Lake Powell Pipeline

Comments continue below

liberal larry | 7:19 a.m. March 20, 2008

If we keep up our mindless growth, and sprawl, we can be just like California, albeit with out the ocean, and great weather.

Anonymous | 7:42 a.m. March 20, 2008

We use to live in Washington County and I have to agree with "Convinced." The housing prices were through the roof--I personally saw several families lose their homes, not because they were living behind their means but because they couldn't afford the tiny home they were living in for the palty wages they were paid. Also, I found the culture there to be absolutely stifling. When my neighbor moved in the first thing he asked me was: "Are you LDS." Not my name, do I like it here, but are you lds. That's pretty much sums up my existence there. I moved from that god-forsaken place and have never looked back.

Just a Guy | 7:49 a.m. March 20, 2008

If you look at history for the past 50 years or so... St George has doubled in size every ten years. So why is this story a suprize to anyone.

Looks like that power plant down there is a good idea after all. Gonna need some power for all those new homes!!!

bob hope | 8:03 a.m. March 20, 2008

like anonymous says, as soon as you move into a neighborhood you have the relief society, the brotherhood knocking on your door well for me anyway, and they are shocked if you are not active. I also faced the problem of looking for a decent priced home on my 10 bucks an hour wage. It makes no sense here, we build all these houses that only a select few can afford and if we are lucky maybe you can afford a townhouse, well in my case I ended up buying my parents home for what they owed on it. Also the city council here is a joke, same with the mayor, for example look at the new water features in the middle of town. We are constantly in a drought and we are going to use more water? c'mon.

Conejo | 8:58 a.m. March 20, 2008

Those darn St. Georgians. "Are you LDS"? I'm wondering why someone would move to a Utah town with "Saint" in the name and think it was going to be a diverse experience. LOL.

thank you for leaving | 9:17 a.m. March 20, 2008

I live in St. George and love it. I am grateful that Convinced and Anonymous found solid reasons to leave. One of the real attractions of this area is the fact that few people can "make it" here, because there are fewer jobs that can support real families. I am glad there are certain barriers to entry here, otherwise St. George would become too much like Las Vegas or California. There are worse things to be asked than "are you LDS?" That's funny that it affected you so much. When we moved to SG, our next door neighbors were drug dealers. Of course, we didn't know this when we bought our home. Fortunately, within 12 months the drug-mom died and the rest just moved away. Who would you rather have next door? I wish more people would move away from "this god-forsaken place" Sounds like the smog and traffic and inversions up north or in California or LV make a better fit for you.

Respect SG | 9:36 a.m. March 20, 2008

I have lived in SG for many years, and I love it. Houses are overpriced, which stinks. However, this place is a great area if you love the outdoors. I have never lived in a neighborhood that asked if I was LDS. To tell you the truth, they didn't care. They wanted to know about us, not our beliefs. If the SLC people think they are so innocent, they might want to re-evaluate their neighborhoods. I like SLC, but people seem more judgmental there. All places have their positives and negatives.

I'm curious | 9:40 a.m. March 20, 2008

What is the fundamental basis of the Washington County economy? What leaves Washington County in exchange for the electricity, water, fuel, food, and and truckloads of consumer goods that flow into it? Is it farming, ranching, mining, energy, manufactured goods, what?
I suspect the basis of their economy is people bringing in money from elsewhere for tourism and retirement. What have I missed? What will happen to Washington county in more austere times when there is far less discretionary income floating around?

BRENT M | 9:52 a.m. March 20, 2008

For folks who find St George or any other environment "stultifying". I heartily recommend our marvelous interstate highway system. It can take you quickly away this or any other place which makes you feel like you are serving a pre-mature sentence to purgatory. Also "thanks for leaving" wrote an article to the point.

Not quite right | 10:09 a.m. March 20, 2008

What isn't addressed here is the number of unoccupied homes that exist in Washington County. In the past ten years, population may have increased 40%, but the capacity for population has more than doubled. The economy has been almost exclusively construction driven - and there's been enough construction that the population grwoth could continue for the next decade with no additional construction. The problem with that, of course, is that no new construction means no mew impact fees, which will even further pinch government operations in an economic slowdown.

There's also the issue that many of those homes are not full-time residences, they're second homes - so people are being counted as residents in two places, not just one. (Their legal residence will be wherever they think the taxes are lower.)

OnlyTheStrongSurvive | 10:32 a.m. March 20, 2008

We must make our borough government accessible to the views of the entire community and open to suggestions and new ideas and try to market this county as a desirable community where young families will want to move and raise their families; otherwise older people will move in who do not want to support taxes for education and other public goods. We do not need another retirement community. Those kinds of people should move to St George or Idaho. It is just making way for the truly productive; nothing personal.

OnlyTheStrongSurvive | 10:43 a.m. March 20, 2008

correction:

Those kinds of people shouldn't move to St George but to Idaho.

thanx

St. George is GREAT!! | 11:52 a.m. March 20, 2008

Where else in Utah can you enjoy a blue sky and sunshine during the winter months--certainly not in northern utah!! I've lived on the wasatch front and the inversion is disgusting, to say it nicely. The red cliff reserves, red vistas accented by lava flow mesas, zion national park, snow canyon state park, sand hollow reservoir, Pine Valley, Dixie State College events... the list goes on-- St. George is BEAUTIFUL!! To those that had a bad experience here and complain about your LDS neighbors, you should have gone outdoors more instead of trying so hard to become offended! Sure it's hot during the summer months, so go swim or go up to Pine Valley! And yes, the housing market is over-priced right now, but MANY places are! Utah's Dixie (Saint George and surrounding areas) is still Utah's "HOT SPOT" and I'm not just talking about the weather!!

St. George Resident | 12:45 p.m. March 20, 2008

To Just a Guy: NONE of the power generated in the proposed power plant is coming to Utah. You should be better informed before you spout off!

Sorghum Lapper | 12:59 p.m. March 20, 2008

I came to Washington County in 1981, and I selfishly wish they had closed the doors just after I got in. (Many people who have moved here since I did have thought the same, of course.) The growth has brought nothing good but restaurants and retail. The traffic has become horrible. It's still a great place to live, however, especially if you have come from the frozen North. If you don't like it here, don't think you are doing anyone any favors by staying or that anyone will miss you when you leave, whatever your reason may be.

Half Empty | 3:35 p.m. March 20, 2008

. . . and we're not too excited about the crime and gangs brought by our bounteous growth and popularity.

Can't have it all.

huh? | 3:57 p.m. March 20, 2008

When I moved to Salt Lake I was also repeatedly asked if I was LDS - But ironically, I was never asked that by someone who actually was LDS.

Sly | 4:48 p.m. March 20, 2008

And where is St. George going to get its water?

Love It!! | 6:35 p.m. March 20, 2008

We live in St George and love it!! We used to live up North, and do not want to go back! Blue Skies (all the time), great people, LDS or not (noone cares here!) If you don't like it Fine stay away! More fun for us, and less traffic!

Peter | 6:56 p.m. March 20, 2008

We are about to learn that St. George is not recession proof. It is predicted that house values will drop by at least 30% over the next 18 months and will take 5 to 10 years to regain. I hope my neighbors did not buy their vacant homes as an investment.

tired of taxes | 7:13 p.m. March 20, 2008

Peter- add the slowing growth and empty investor homes to the fact that they intend to saddle the population of Washington and Iron counties with the billion dollar plus pipeline debt and there could be major financial trouble ahead for the region.

cricker1 | 8:35 p.m. March 20, 2008

St. George is awesome! We came here from San Diego (which sells itself as "America's Finest City", which might be true) and we like SG almost as much, in a different way. Whoever was complaining about the "horrible traffic" in SG doesn't know what they're talking about.

I'm sure it's not for everyone, and that's ok, but it's a great plact to live. Thank goodness for AC, 3 months of very hot weather are tolerable in return for an overall great lifestyle.

John in AZ | 10:04 p.m. March 20, 2008

I lived in St. George during my elementary school years (East Elementary) from the early 70s to the early 80s. I now live in Mesa, AZ. I am so happy that I had the great blessing of growing up in Dixie! It's sad to me to go back and see all of the growth. The black hill looks horrible! I am happy to see that The Frostop and Taco Time are still there!! St. George will always be my home!

jason in AZ | 10:38 p.m. March 20, 2008

I used to visit St. George all the time since my grandparents lived there. It's a great place that my wife and I hope to one day retire to. For now, I need the job opportunities provided by a larger city, but I would love to be spending my days in Dixie hiking in Zions or swimming with my kids in the cool aquatic center in Santa Clara.

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