Five growth areas in the United States (Los Angeles, job, beach)

[justme02]

Originally Posted by grindin

Well, I didn't know how OK's casinos compared to Shrveport's. I know Louisiana has different gambling from OK, right?

I've been to Hollywood Casino in Shreveport though. I was too young to gamble there at the time, but I remember it having a great buffet.

I guess I thought DFW folks would've been going to Thackerville more because it takes about 90 minutes to drive up there vs. the 2.5-3 hrs it takes to get to Shreveport.

I've been stuck on traffic on I-10 between Lake Charles and Houston before. It seems like half of Houston was driving back home that weekend, LOL (it was a Sunday evening).

Most people I talk to go to Oklahoma to gamble because its closer. When they have more time they will drive to Shreveport or fly to Vegas. Shreveports casinos are alot better than the ones on the border, but the distance is a huge factor.

[adavi215]

Originally Posted by grindin

I'm incline to agree, but don't forget Tampa Bay and it's connections to Orlando!

Im always confused as to what Richmond and HR relate to more-- the BosWash Corridor or the Piedmont Corridor. Richmond has ties to NE corridor in many ways, but there is a huge gap between Richmond and Raleigh-Durham. The connections (economically) are there, but for some reason, I don't know why I don't see Richmond and RDU as "connected" in the way I see how RDU is connected to the Triad and Charlotte. However, the distance betweeen RDU and Richmond is roughly the same distance between Atlanta and Greenville/Spartanburg, metro areas generally considered to be a part of the same growth corridor.

Hampton Roads has a massive military presence (home to the Atlantic fleet, etc.), I've always seen HR as being more connected to DC than to the Piedmont/I-85 corridor.

I'm confused. I need some clarification from the Virginians and North Carolians about this.

Concerning your question about HR and Richmond being connected to RDU-Atlanta allow me to give you my opinion:
HR and Richmond are more connected to DC than they are RDU. That being said they are connected to the BosWash corridor and not the Southeast corridor. I wish I could find that satellite image of lights and then you can really see this connection.

[Mgyeldell]

Originally Posted by adavi215

Concerning your question about HR and Richmond being connected to RDU-Atlanta allow me to give you my opinion:
HR and Richmond are more connected to DC than they are RDU. That being said they are connected to the BosWash corridor and not the Southeast corridor. I wish I could find that satellite image of lights and then you can really see this connection.

I agree HR and Richmond are more connected to DC and BosWas than PAM. There are cultural differences betweeen Richmond and RDU that cannot be denied. Than its it almost completely rural between RDU and Richmond/Petersburg area of virginia with little small towns, no town of real size in VA or NC. Then I see no real straight connection between RDU and HR.

The only area I can see in Virginia part of PAM would be the Danville Virgnia Area because of the Connections by road between Danville and the Triad.

[adavi215]

Originally Posted by Mgyeldell

I agree HR and Richmond are more connected to DC and BosWas than PAM. There are cultural differences betweeen Richmond and RDU that cannot be denied. Than its it almost completely rural between RDU and Richmond/Petersburg area of virginia with little small towns, no town of real size in VA or NC. Then I see no real straight connection between RDU and HR.

The only area I can see in Virginia part of PAM would be the Danville Virgnia Area because of the Connections by road between Danville and the Triad.

I would agree. There is also Elizabeth City,NC connected to HR. Southhill is pretty close to Raleigh albeit mildly.

[Akhenaton06]

Originally Posted by grindin

I'm incline to agree, but don't forget Tampa Bay and it's connections to Orlando!

Im always confused as to what Richmond and HR relate to more-- the BosWash Corridor or the Piedmont Corridor. Richmond has ties to NE corridor in many ways, but there is a huge gap between Richmond and Raleigh-Durham. The connections (economically) are there, but for some reason, I don't know why I don't see Richmond and RDU as "connected" in the way I see how RDU is connected to the Triad and Charlotte. However, the distance betweeen RDU and Richmond is roughly the same distance between Atlanta and Greenville/Spartanburg, metro areas generally considered to be a part of the same growth corridor.

Hampton Roads has a massive military presence (home to the Atlantic fleet, etc.), I've always seen HR as being more connected to DC than to the Piedmont/I-85 corridor.

I'm confused. I need some clarification from the Virginians and North Carolians about this.

Good point to bring up. I think I see Richmond and HR as more connected to DC because they are geographically closer than the heart of the I-85 Piedmont region. The Triangle is part of that region undeniably, but residents of that region might be just as prone to taking a trip to DC rather than heading down to Atlanta, again due to proximity.

[grindin]

^^Okay, I see what you all are saying. I've driven the route between Atlanta and DC MANY times, and believe me, it's very rural between Richmond and RDU. It's also quite rural betwen HR and RDU as well. Obviously, the Richmond-DC connections are a lot more pronounced.

Thank you all for the clarification.

[Akhenaton06]

Oh trust me, the times I've driven to DC from Charlotte, I absolutely DREAD that stretch between Durham and Richmond. South Hill is the closest thing you get to civilization.

[adavi215]

Originally Posted by Akhenaton06

Oh trust me, the times I've driven to DC from Charlotte, I absolutely DREAD that stretch between Durham and Richmond. South Hill is the closest thing you get to civilization.

And we all know about the megapolis of South Hill. Lol!

[rnc2mbfl]

Originally Posted by Akhenaton06

Good point to bring up. I think I see Richmond and HR as more connected to DC because they are geographically closer than the heart of the I-85 Piedmont region. The Triangle is part of that region undeniably, but residents of that region might be just as prone to taking a trip to DC rather than heading down to Atlanta, again due to proximity.

The Triangle is much closer to DC than the Atlanta. The Gap between Raleigh and Richmond is very rural. That's probably the key to using that gap as a natural boundary. But, interestingly enough, that gap is one of the reasons why it's faster to travel to DC...well, at least until you get really close to DC.

[rnc2mbfl]

Originally Posted by Akhenaton06

Good point to bring up. I think I see Richmond and HR as more connected to DC because they are geographically closer than the heart of the I-85 Piedmont region. The Triangle is part of that region undeniably, but residents of that region might be just as prone to taking a trip to DC rather than heading down to Atlanta, again due to proximity.

Interestingly enough, I-85 starts in the greater Richmond area at Petersburg.