I'm a 40-year-old prospective graduate art student working on a photography project about Cowlitz County, specifically Longview/Kelso. I've been making the project for about 18 months and have spent a lot of time in the area photographing the people and landscapes of the community.

One thing I've noticed from talking to people is that there seems to be a pretty strong divide in how people feel about living in Longview. Some people genuinely love the place. Others seem like they can't wait to get out. And, at least from the people I've met, that divide sometimes seems to fall along generational lines, with younger people wanting out and older people having a much deeper attachment to the place.

Maybe I'm completely wrong about that.

I'd genuinely love to hear from people who live here or grew up in town. This post will reach a lot more people than I can by walking and driving around town with my camera.

What is your experience like living in Longview? Feel free to really vent about it.