Longview, WA

Longview is situated in the southwestern corner of Washington State. About 36,000 residents call Longview home. The city is nestled at the convergence of the Columbia and Cowlitz Rivers and occupies about 14 square miles. Interstate 5 runs through Longview. Located near Portland, Oregon, and 135 miles south of Seattle, Washington, Longview is linked to Rainier, Oregon, by the Lewis and Clark Bridge. Longview residents and visitors can reach the Pacific Ocean to the west within 90 minutes of driving. If heading east, they can enjoy the Cascade Mountains. On clear days, the volcanic Mount St. Helens can be easily viewed from Longview.

EDUCATION

The city of Longview has eight public elementary schools, three public middle schools, and two public high schools. When it comes to higher education, Longview is served by Lower Columbia College, the oldest junior college still in operation in Washington State. More than 7,000 students are enrolled in one of the college's more than 50 professional/technical training programs, and most professional/technical graduates are employed within nine months of completing their schooling.

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

Longview has been traditionally known for its timber and manufacturing capabilities, but the forward-thinking city has helped pave the way for expanded economic development to help grow the economy and stabilize the tax base. For example, construction has recently been completed for the 180-acre Mint Farm Industrial Park. Zoned for heavy and light industry, the industrial park is easily accessible to railways, water and air transport, and the major freeway in the area, Interstate 5.

Longview is supported by a variety of manufacturing companies, which benefit from Longview's access to major transportation. Some of the largest employers in the area are Weyerhaeuser and Longview Fibre Paper and Packaging Inc., both of which benefit from the abundance of timber in the Longview area. Other major manufacturers include newsprint company NORPAC, liquid packaging company Pacific Lamination, hydrogen-peroxide manufacturer Solvay Chemicals, and chlorine and caustic soda manufacturing company EquaChlor.

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

One of the most unique aspects of Longview is its downtown area, which offers a variety of shopping and dining options and galleries. The Longview Downtowners is a nonprofit organization that was created to help promote, preserve, and enhance the downtown experience for visitors and residents alike. The organization assists in street beautification projects, economic development, and pedestrian safety.

In general, Longview is a very vibrant area. There are 12 neighborhoods in the city that offer a variety of homes, from fixer-uppers to new homes that run more than $1 million. Settings for homes include acreage, city views, waterfront and mountain views:

• West Longview: Mostly single-family homes, with three to four bedrooms, are found in this suburban neighborhood. The education level of residents is low to moderate, and most who dwell in this neighborhood are manufacturers and laborers.
• City Center: Apartment complexes are primarily found in this neighborhood, where most residents have a high level of education. Many individuals here have managerial, sales and service, and government jobs.
• Longview Heights: This suburban setting consists mostly of single-family homes, which provide residences for individuals who have a substantial education. Many residents of Longview Heights hold positions in management and other professional careers.
• Coal Creek/Eufaula: This rural neighborhood is accented by farms. The primary structures for the neighborhood are single-family homes. The education level of the residents is moderate, with most individuals holding jobs as manufacturers and laborers.

FAMILY FUN

There are a number of recreational organizations and activities available to residents and visitors of Longview:

• The Boulevard: This community program is open to Longview middle and high school teens, providing them with a safe, supervised, drug-, tobacco-, and alcohol-free environment. The Boulevard features pool tables, air hockey tables, Xbox, a computer lab with high-speed Internet access, foosball tables and movies.
• Late Night: The local YMCA offers this program for middle and high school teens, with a variety of recreational activities offered.
• Dance: There are a number of dance academies featured in the city of Longview that provide dance courses to students.
• Outdoor Activities: The city offers participation in classes such as archery, basketball, soccer and cheerleading. There are also many opportunities for hiking, fishing, boating and walking. Some of the most popular trails and parks in Longview include Cowlitz River Trail, which runs from Castle Rock to Longview; Elochman Loop; and Lake Wenatchee State Park.

For residents and visitors who enjoy winter fun, Longview hosts an annual Christmas Parade and Civic Center Lighting Festival every December.

LOCAL MEDIA

• The Daily News has been in operation since 1923. It is the primary newspaper for Longview, as well as the surrounding area, and received the Pulitzer Prize in 1981 for local, general or spot reporting after Mount St. Helens showed signs of erupting the year before.