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I feel Richmond is still pretty Southern, the roots run deep there.
Despite Richmond being only 100 miles from D.C. though, I believe Raleigh/Durham to be more progressive, modern and much more important.
The flight offerings from each are pretty telling. While Richmond is basically only connected to various hubs, Raleigh supports daily nonstop flights to places as varied as London & L.A. that RIC can only dream of.
I feel Richmond is still pretty Southern, the roots run deep there.
Despite Richmond being only 100 miles from D.C. though, I believe Raleigh/Durham to be more progressive, modern and much more important.
The flight offerings from each are pretty telling. While Richmond is basically only connected to various hubs, Raleigh supports daily nonstop flights to places as varied as London & L.A. that RIC can only dream of.
Very accurate. Richmond is actually the least progressive out of Virginia's three large metros. DC being first, Hampton roads being second and then Richmond coming in last. Raleigh/Durham is the second most progressive behind Charlotte and doesn't soley rely on a university like Richmond (VCU).
The two cities do share their similarities, but they're definitely not identical. A relative in the car, a Raleigh native, said Richmond reminded her of Pennsylvania. I feel like that's a little too far, but I can see what she means coming from Raleigh.
The whole Research Triangle metro barely has any history on the same level as Richmond. In fact, while Richmond was serving as the Capital of the Confederacy, Raleigh was a tiny state capital. For the longest time, the whole Raleigh/Durham region wasn't as populated and suburban as it is today. It was actually a little backwoods! The RTP boom changed everything, with the Research Triangle suddenly zipping past Richmond in growth. With all the growth came the suburban sprawl, and you better believe we have A TON of sprawl around Raleigh that isn't slowing down at all. It's a somewhat similar situation around Richmond but to a lesser extent. I drove around the whole metro today, and I had many "This reminds me of Raleigh/Durham and Winston-Salem" moments but I also received a different vibe. If this makes sense, Richmond definitely feels both Upper South AND East Coast. You could say the same regarding Raleigh, but to a lesser extent as I feel like Raleigh is more southern.
All's I know is Raleigh's skyline is far sexier than Richmond's:
Raleigh:
Richond:
Richmond's is so very plain and boring. A bunch of blocks with windows.
I feel just the opposite; while Richmond's skyline is boxier, it's larger and gives more of an impression when driving through. Its location along the James River is also a plus.
Wow, take a close look at both photos and explain to me how the skyline of Raleigh is better than Richmond's.....the MWV building alone is much more aesthetically appealing than any of the Raleigh offerings. The foreground of a deserted highway also can't compete with a river dotted with islands and rapids.
Actually, I love the fact that I-95 goes directly through Richmond, therefore giving a ton of people the opportunity to see the city/skyline up close. I'll always remember the giant cigarette on the side of 95, and the old train station. In North Carolina, I-95 and I-85 don't go through Raleigh, only I-40. I do love my hometown of Raleigh, and our skyline isn't bad. But, I'm jealous that Richmond actually has a river flowing through.
Very accurate. Richmond is actually the least progressive out of Virginia's three large metros. DC being first, Hampton roads being second and then Richmond coming in last. Raleigh/Durham is the second most progressive behind Charlotte and doesn't soley rely on a university like Richmond (VCU).
For the record. the Charlotte metro may be a little larger in population than the Triangle; but that gap is closing and more relevant to the point you are making; The Triangle is considered far more progressive than Charlotte.
I've driven through Richmond many times and while it has some cool older buildings and definitely a much richer history than Raleigh; the fact that you go past a water treatment plant that smells like raw sewage when you are nearing downtown on 95 doesn't really give the greatest first impression. To be fair I haven't really spent much time exploring the city's neighborhoods.
For the record. the Charlotte metro may be a little larger in population than the Triangle; but that gap is closing and more relevant to the point you are making; The Triangle is considered far more progressive than Charlotte.
That's very debatable and completely depends on how one defines "progressive."
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