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Is the St. George area livable for a pretty far left non-mormon type?

Original Post
Dallas Branum · · Denver, CO · Joined Aug 2013 · Points: 1,135

Title says it all. I'm looking at the possibility of landing a job in St. George. The job seems great, and I'm stoked to be near(ish) all those desert towers! Not so sure about the city though...

Anyone have any advice? Anything I should consider? Any other towns in the area that may be a better fit? I'm a non-religious, non-conformist, lefty... will I be totally and utterly alone in the area?

Any advice (helpful and not snarky) appreciated!

Tim Stich · · Colorado Springs, Colorado · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 1,520

You might ask Toker Villain on Supertopo. He lives nearby in Toquerville.

luke smith · · Salt Lake City, Utah · Joined Feb 2012 · Points: 121

You wouldn't be totally alone, there are other people who live there and nearby who climb, bike, etc. if you're looking for nightlife and such as far as I know it's not really a good place to move to.

Kevin Mokracek · · Burbank · Joined Apr 2012 · Points: 342

You might try getting to know some of the locals, who knows, if your open minded you might even enjoy spending time with people who are different than yourself.

Todd Townsend · · Bishop, CA · Joined Oct 2010 · Points: 522

As long as you don't like dancing, you should be ok.

stgeorgeutah.com/news/archi…

Dave Budge · · Stanley, ID · Joined Jan 2005 · Points: 255

There is a saying in the West: "Don't move into a cowboy town and complain about the cowboys".

With that in mind, you'll do fine in St. George. Some of the finest non-religious, non-conformist folks I know live down there.

Ben Gleason · · Durango, CO · Joined Oct 2013 · Points: 61

That article is incredible.

Ben Gleason · · Durango, CO · Joined Oct 2013 · Points: 61

What the hell is a "dance hall?" What century do they think this is? I seriously cannot wrap my head around this...

Andrew Shoe · · Graham, Washington · Joined Oct 2013 · Points: 25

That may be the most hilarious news article I've ever read that wasn't published by The Onion. Holy hell I can't believe that was real! My advice to the OP, after reading that, don't move to St George.

oldcali · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Nov 2014 · Points: 0

based upon that article-it sounds like a non conformist, leftist dream-the government is trying to control everything that people do.

Brian Espe · · Western North Carolina · Joined Mar 2005 · Points: 348

This site is becoming increasingly useless. This guy asked for simple advice on the culture of a town and the response has been, "you're a conformist". I know this may be hard to comprehend, but if you don't have information pertinent to the discussion, you could always refrain from saying anything.

St. George is pretty right wing. I went running with my girlfriend once and the locals threw beer bottles at us and screamed obscenities at her. Then again, we were there visiting friends who are a little more progressive.

RedRock Rat · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Dec 2006 · Points: 145

After spending five years living all over Utah and working for the state it can be a little frustrating at times to live within the "prevailing culture". Honesty unless you are planing on discussing politics, sex, and religion on a soap box in the street you shouldn't have any issues. St. George is right next to multiple tourist meccas so a lot of foreign travelers add to the mix. Vegas and Red Rocks are right there. Great skiing just north of there in the Tushers and at Brainhead. The BLM and the local municipality have been working together over the past few years to install a ton of mountain biking trails. You have to plan ahead to buy good alcohol. Yes the beer at the grocery store is crappy ("safety beer") but you can buy it whenever if you need a fix. Sundays become awesome days as 90% of the town is occupied so get out and hit all the popular climbs, trails, etc.

The one truly honest downside is its hard to find a social group unless you bring your own. They are there and once you find them its great but until then get excited about solo missions.

Dow Williams · · St. George, Utah; Canmore, AB · Joined Mar 2006 · Points: 240

My wife and I are professional athletes so it works for us. But each spends a tremendous amount of time on the road. I spend approx 150 nights thus I get my social fix plenty and prefer quiet when in town. So for us it is kind of perfect really....definitely the most central location I could live for what I do and about the same for her.

Socially it is a bit of a cave, particularly if you are in the dating scene. Work wise...I recently gave this advice to a partner of mine who has a family and is a nurse in Sacramento and contemplated moving to Utah. Peer group wise in the hospitals he would be impressed in my opinion....work ethic...people who take responsibility and pride in their job...probably a step up from most parts of the country. However, when it came time for advancement, if that is important.....lets be real. Just like any other religion or close knit group, Mormons are taught to take care of their own first and foremost. Who could blame them, they have been severely ostracized in this country over their short history. Would you get passed over for promotion because you were not Mormon and most of your superiors and peers were? Possibly and I say quite likely. Nothing wrong with it, just human nature whether you are Jewish, Christian, Islamic whatever...particularly when they are heavily concentrated..say 60% in St. George I think.

If you have kids, you can take advantage of a great school system (quite amazing, check out the charter schools for a town this size), excellent medical facilities (rich retirement sector) , tremendous outdoor sports town featuring one of the most popular marathons in the country, Ironman, Senior Games, etc.

Plenty of pros....but two serious cons I would think, dating and workplace advancement. As far as likable and accepting, no worries...think about it...I grew up near Nauvoo where Joseph Smith was killed and they were run out of town.....out of the midwest....as a group they know first hand what it is like to be judged....and I would say that makes their eyes more open than the average American Christen today. Just one mans observation.

Good Luck.

Stagg54 Taggart · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Dec 2006 · Points: 10

judging by your previous post, I think you might stick to Hollywood, NYC, or Boulder. I think you would definitely fit in any of those areas.

M Sprague · · New England · Joined Nov 2006 · Points: 5,090

Isn't St George in the fallout zone down wind from a heavily used nuclear test site?

highaltitudeflatulentexpulsion · · Colorado · Joined Oct 2012 · Points: 35

Most of the haters in this thread are absolutely ignorant of how overbearing Mormon culture is, especially so considering we're talking about southern Utah Mormon culture.

Based on environment alone, I would probably move there.

Are you single? If you are, you can pretty much plan on staying that way. Do you like small independently owned business? Give it up. You'll find coffee and beer. Basically, it'll be a small town that will be even smaller once you find your circle.

highaltitudeflatulentexpulsion · · Colorado · Joined Oct 2012 · Points: 35
M Sprague wrote:Isn't St George in the fallout zone down wind from a heavily used nuclear test site?
The wind blew fallout into Snow Canyon during the filming of a John Wayne movie. All or most of the people involved eventually died of cancer. There is some decent climbing there, Ron O has some interesting multipitch routes too. My great grandfathers name is carved into the pioneer cave.
Dallas Branum · · Denver, CO · Joined Aug 2013 · Points: 1,135

Plenty of good advice here! Thanks for that! Dating is definitely a concern as I'm single with no kids. Not so much into the night scene, but would definitely be lonely without a small group of friends to get beers with from time to time.

I never said I couldn't get along with or make friends with folks that don't hold similar opinions. I have plenty of friends and acquaintances from all walks of life. There certainly is something to be said about having a solid community of "your people" though.

Plenty of judgmental dicks on here as well... such is MP!

oldcali · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Nov 2014 · Points: 0

id disagree about whos placing judgment-your simple asking pretty much "can i live in a town with mormons?" is a judgment in itself. If you werent passing judgment on "mormons" you would not need to ask if you could live in a town with the main population in that area-you would assume it would be a non issue.

Plenty of judgmental dicks on here as well... such is MP!

Dallas Branum · · Denver, CO · Joined Aug 2013 · Points: 1,135
oldcali wrote:id disagree about whos placing judgment-your simple asking pretty much "can i live in a town with mormons?" is a judgment in itself. If you werent passing judgment on "mormons" you would not need to ask if you could live in a town with the main population in that area-you would assume it would be a non issue.
I grew up in a small town filled with plenty of mormons, and while I got along with and liked many of them, it certainly wasn't my community. I never said I couldn't live in a community of mormons, and I certainly didn't judge their lifestyle/beliefs. I wasn't being judgmental, just seeing if there was a community of folks in the area other than the generally conservative mormon types, that I may better connect with. Why are people such assholes on here for no apparent reason? You've really go that little to do?
Mark E Dixon · · Possunt, nec posse videntur · Joined Nov 2007 · Points: 974
Dallas Branum wrote: Why are people such assholes on here for no apparent reason? You've really go that little to do?
The majority of posters this time of day are at work, not climbing, hence the bad attitudes.
Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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