It's the city with a name lost in time! "Madras" may be named so after the Madras type of cotton, originating in the Madras region of India, or the actual city of Madras, India, now known as Chennai! In either case, Madras was originally called "The Basin."
This little city is located in Jefferson County, Oregon, and originally was called "The Basin" because of its placement in a circular valley
It's the city with a name lost in time! "Madras" may be named so after the Madras type of cotton, originating in the Madras region of India, or the actual city of Madras, India, now known as Chennai! In either case, Madras was originally called "The Basin."
This little city is located in Jefferson County, Oregon, and originally was called "The Basin" because of its placement in a circular valley. Madras was officially renamed in 1903, which clearly had something or other to do with the Indian cotton that was now growing locally. The city was incorporated in 1911, and during the Second World War, an Army Air Base was constructed nearby. Now, this airfield is the city and county airport, something of a luxury for such a small town! At last census, Madras had just over 6,000 residents and spanned an area of five square miles.
Moving to Madras, Oregon
Have you been feeling those special feelings about dear old Oregon lately? How sweet! Madras just might have everything you need to be a happy, healthy, and productive member of the human race, so come on over and give it a try!
Apartments and Housing for rent in Madras
Because of the small population of Madras, you might have figured on only a few rental listings. Well, you'd have figured right. Fortunately, the slim pickings are decent places for rent, more often than not a one bedroom apartment. Housing for rent is more difficult to locate, simply because most of it is owner-occupied and those guys just don't wanna leave! Really, that only bodes well for you, if you think about it. Never move into a town where everyone is desperate to run away from their homes...such a situation reeks of alien invasion, or at least some kind of new, incurable Plague.
The rental prices you'll find in Madras are very budget-friendly, like a lot of small, rural towns across the United States. This is what happens when you live next-door to a wheat field on one side and a playground on the other - the pace is slow, and prices are slow to rise. Great news for new residents!
Utilities
Once you've settled on a rental home and have gone so far as to sign the papers, stop and give yourself a quick pat on the back - and then get on the phone with the utility companies. There's nothing quite so depressing as moving into a new apartment and realizing that the electricity and water haven't been turned on yet, or that the wireless will be another week in being set up. Don't let it happen to you!
There are two main electricity providers in Madras and the surrounding area, so give them a call to compare rates and find the best contract for you: Pacific Power, or Portland General Electric Co. The City of Madras is responsible for the provision and maintenance of water services, so you'll either need to call them or stop by the office to set up an account with your new address. There are plenty of cable, TV, and internet service providers to choose from, including Cable TV, Crestview Cable and Wave Broadband, so give the project your due diligence and find the best one. Try to get all this done a minimum of one week before your move-in date; the more time they have to set you up, the better.
Work and Transit
You'd think it goes without saying that one ought to find a job or at least a prospective job before moving into a new city, but, well, sometimes it doesn't. If you're moving to the Madras specifically for a new job, great! If you need some ideas, consider small business consulting, or setting up your own business - enterprise is being well-rewarded right now, as Madras looks for an economic boost. Other successful industries include medical and customer service, as well as local service maintenance. All of these are jobs within the city, which means limited commute times. The local Amtrak provides public transportation, but Madras residents are also pretty big on carpooling and even walking to work.
The Neighborhoods of Madras
There are three main neighborhoods in this city, each with its own unique characteristics:
City Center: Madras is centered, from west to east, along Highway 97. Most businesses have gathered close to it to entice passers-by. The true city center is focused on this stretch of highway as well as the adjacent lands to the east, where small local businesses have made their home. In this section of town you will also find the Madras High School and the Buff Elementary School.
Southwest Culver and Belmont: This neighborhood encompasses the part of the city west of the highway, which is more residential than the eastern side. Housing prices in this section of Madras are the lowest of all the neighborhoods. An added bonus: most homes in this area are within walking distance of the large Friendship Park.
Willowdale and Ashwood: Willowdale and Ashwood are the outlying communities immediately surrounding the eastern portion of Madras. In these rural outreaches, you'll find small houses and some larger homes. Real estate in this sparsely-populated region is the most expensive of all Madras.
Living in Madras
Residents of Madras get to choose between inhabiting a modern urban space, or hiding quietly out in the middle of nowhere, sneaking into the city center every now and then for supplies. Which one do you prefer? Whichever neighborhood you wind up living in, you'll be near several grocery shops, including El Surtidor, Millers Discount Grocery, and Busy Bee Market.
Along Highway 97, you'll be able to find all kinds of dining options for all kinds of moods. Fast-food junkies can flit from Subway to McDonald's to Sonic, then south to Taco Bell, Dairy Queen and A&W. Want something a little more substantial? Try out the Mazatlan Mexican Restaurant, Geno's Italian Grill, or the Hunan Chinese Restaurant.
Madras has an impressive Walk Score of 89, meaning that if you live in the city center or the southwest, you'll be able to run errands on foot without much of a hassle. Go Madras!
