What US STATE is the BEST for a Survivalist? PRO & CON...

[EX121]

OK I put in my plug for north Central Idaho, eastern Washington.
Idaho, (Clearwater & Salmon river) low population, long growing season in the vallies, wild fruit trees & blackberries, abundant game, steelhead & salmon runs & my favorites natural hot springs.
E, Washington, the same, biggest problem the 206ers (wet siders) egressing along I-90. Mid state very dry 9 inches of rain or less, with no power no water pumped up hill from the Columbia.

[Davar]

I have been really looking into West Virginia , once into the mountains it is very rural , but close enough to civilization to visit family . The season's are pretty decent and if on the other side of the mountains it should be pretty safe from nukes . I can bug out to my retreat ( if my offer goes through ) in about 2 hrs and it has fresh water and abundant wildlife . Not a good typer , so pro's cheap ( for where I live now ) to buy , pretty low population , easy to get to , close enough to make it back the east coast in a short time if needed .

We're building in West Virginia starting this summer. Presently I'm in central colorado, and I can tell you one thing, it would be VERY hard to homestead here if you had to grow ANYTHING! My neighbors in WV seem to be the kind of neighbors you find in the 50s, good folks, who show hospitallity. It's an exact opposite from the yuppy filled colorado town I currently reside in. Stinking californians ruined this town.

[BeckyinTX]

I'd like to know more about Texas...

But from what I have seen and heard, here are my concerns:
1. Lots of arid land (gardens without irrigation would be tough) Game will only go so far... even fishing.
2. Border problems / desire by some to reclaim Texas for Mexico & Mexicans
3. Unemployment and crime in big cities...

Rmpl

Most of Texas is not arid. I live in east Texas aka the "piney woods". It's green everywhere you look. Fall & spring gardening. Lots of lakes (no less than 6 within an hour of me). Large rural population where hunting, fishing, butchering, gardening, raising livestock, preserving food, etc. are commonly held skills & the materials required to do them plentiful. We have a huge supply of natural gas & lots of trees for firewood. Water wells & self contained sewer systems are common. Lots of medical here which means lots of folks with medical skills. East Texas is conservative politically & most are Christian. There's an abundance of cattle, chicken farms, & wild game. Rarely does it stay below freezing more than a day or two but it's hot & humid in the summer with temps up to 105. The citizenry is well-armed with the skills to use those arms. The border situation will be handled when the folks have had enough ;). Texas has a more stable economy than many other states, lessening the hardship on the average person. Hopefully our elected officials will continue to be fiscally conservative, pro business, pro individual rights, & low taxes. We have no state income tax nor local income taxes. The citizenry has an ingrained distrust of government & self-sufficient mindset that has been handed down from generation to generation (the cowboy is the poster child for this line of thinking).

[arcangel911]

I would give my vote for parts of Washington, Idaho, and Montana.

I think that Jim Rawles was going for the Montana as a good retreat location because their is a lot of area to get lost in and the it's the whole seclusion and also- people are lazy, which means they will stick to the main roads long before they venture out into the wilderness, over mountainous terrain and so forth.

Idaho- well, there isn't much there in some places.

Eastern and Western Washington have it's advantages and disadvantages- lots of people in the main cities, but outside of those cities it is pretty rural and in some places desolate.

My vote for me, is Montana and or Idaho. Please understand that if you have spot already, happy and are prepped for that area- more power to you and I wish you god's grace. I am still single, probably going to be heading up that way. I have always preferred the mountains to many things.

I grew up in the Central Valley of California, so I know a bit about hot ugly weather, crime, illegal immigrants (the lazy ones) and all the fun stuff that is in our nightmares.

[Klayton]

I would give my vote for parts of Washington, Idaho, and Montana.

Only problem I have with these choices is, Jet Stream contamination. The three states you named are in direct airflow from any major happenings of that crap hole known as China, Russia, and to a smaller extent Korea and Japan.

My vote (if I was rich, which I am not): Texas (very close to the border= out of above mentioned jet stream hazard) or Alaska. The huge downfalls of Alaska are, EXPENSIVE AS ALL GET UP (land, supplies, everything), and very short growing seasons. Can it be done, of course it can. But makes for some rough land,which makes for some tough men and women...

[arcangel911]

Texas, I have been too, and they have a great state. So all you Texans out there, be proud of your state.

The only thing I worry about in Texas is the immigrants. With a down economy or grid, they will more than likely start to return to their original country after they become more "locust" than they already are. Now, I know you all are cheering in some regards for that, but at the same time, that means a lot of OPSEC issues and wanders that don't speak english, large "families" and are usually armed. So they do speak "GUN".... hopefully, you do too ;)

[2682nscovell]

Michigan
Pros:
Plenty of areas for hunting, trapping, fishing.
Huge number of folks who enjoy the outdoor life.
Affordable land.
Plenty of trees.
Did I mention plenty of fishing?

Cons:
Shorter growing season: snow on the ground from October to April, even longer in the UP
Clay soil
State income tax

You also have Detroit

[Boyd]

You also have Detroit

Detroit is sorta a ghost town now a days..

[2682nscovell]

Detroit is sorta a ghost town now a days..

Yeah, but it has a high population of morons that would love to kill you for your food. Don't get me wrong, I live right outside of Philly... That's even worse. Of course you have Cleveland south of you.

[Boyd]

Yeah, but it has a high population of morons that would love to kill you for your food. Don't get me wrong, I live right outside of Philly... That's even worse. Of course you have Cleveland south of you.

don't forget toledo, pontiac, redford, and further north where I live.. Flint Mi... Murder capital of the world per capita..

God, Guns, Glory... not in any particular order... 2 of 3 save you for the last ;)

[hagbard]

I'm in Soviet Kanuckistan (SW Ontario) so US States aren't an (easy) option. Southern Ontario is actually very densely populated, but has great farmland. I'm going out later this week to explore the options though my wife isn't keen on the ideal spots (with low populations) and thinks (knows) I'm a nut.

[Erg]

To take a preemptive strike at the title question, without reading through the entire thread, I'd have to say...not California! :p

I'd say that it's not so much the political map barriers (states) that would determine the optimal place for a survivalist. Especially since a good survivalist can survive in any environment. In regards to a G.O.O.D location to ride out TEOTWAWKI; the important things to look for is low enough latitudes to have optimal garden growth and less harsh of winters, plenty of water, and geographically sound area for defense of the inevitable mobs of non-preppers willing to steal your resources.

However, if the original question is for the everyday 'get-of-the-grid, survivalist and little government believer then there is no singular state that is best to move to. I'd say there is quite a few. One just has to take into consideration all laws, regulations and limitations which the states' govern property owners, parents and gun-toting citizens with.

Definitely too much to consider to pinpoint one single state.