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I just took a trip to Asheville, NC, from Central Maryland, and I felt like I was in a different country. I'd never seen a "Bojangle's" before and never so many whites (rather, I was used to a healthy mix of all types of people). Everyone owned pickup trucks (even in the city). And it was the same in Central/Southern Virginia. I really only felt "at home" when I got back to Centreville, near DC. In that sense, I'd say NOVA is more like MD and the rest of Virginia is more like NC.
However, St. Mary's and Calvert counties, and Charles to a certain extent, as well as most of the Eastern Shore, are more closely related to the Tidewater region of Virginia, whereas NC isn't really very similar in that respect. And, yes, when I travel to Richmond and random towns in the middle of VA, like in Culpeper or Orange counties, it seems more DC/Baltimore/Philly-ish with the old colonial architecture. In other big southern cities, like Atlanta or Charlotte or even Asheville and Raleigh, the cityscape is mostly full of newer developments, with only a few "Colonial" neighborhoods.
So, to sum up, Central and Southern Virginia rural areas are more similar to North Carolina.
All Virginian urban areas and some towns in Central Virginia are more similar to MD/PA.
The Tidewater and Eastern rural areas are more similar to MD/DE rural areas.
I just took a trip to Asheville, NC, from Central Maryland, and I felt like I was in a different country. I'd never seen a "Bojangle's" before and never so many whites (rather, I was used to a healthy mix of all types of people).
Well, apparently you've never been to the food court in Union Station, or to Largo Town Center, or to Iverson Mall, or to Upper Marlboro. There are Bojangle's at all of those locations.
Quote:
Originally Posted by wisvishr0
So, to sum up, Central and Southern Virginia rural areas are more similar to North Carolina.
All Virginian urban areas and some towns in Central Virginia are more similar to MD/PA.
Not really. Richmond is 62.5 sq. miles and it has a roughly one square mile area (if that) that has rowhouses. That's not very similar to DC or Baltimore at all. Culturally, of course, it's absolutely nothing like being in Bethesda, Silver Spring or Landover. And then those places are really nothing like Reading or Wilkes-Barre.
All 3 are similar and I guess it would depend on what part of VA your in. SW VA would be more similar to western NC with it's Appalachian culture.
The Chesapeake region would be more similar to MD as both states share the bay and it's culture.
The Eastern shore (DelMarVa) shares all three. All my trips from DE through eastern NC everything is basically the same. The same stores, chicken houses, corn fields, soybean fields, strip malls, vegetation and architecture. The only difference is that you start to see a few cotton fields once you cross into VA from MD and of coarse the Eastern NC BBQ restaurants in, well, eastern NC.
If one was in NOVA they would probably align VA to MD. The Richmond area to me is like both as well but honestly, I have only really passed through on 95. Though many times, that doesn't say much but I've always thought of Richmond more like Baltimore from what I've seen though I will admit to a lot of that being that they are both close to DC which is a totally different city then pretty much anywhere.
It's been years and I'm sure i'm dating myself but southern MD, VA and NC seemed similar as well with the strip malls and general vibe but that could all be different now because there aren't all the tobacco fields anymore that I remember when I grew up in MD in the 70's/80's.
I'm sure the whole central MD area now with the exception of the bay itself is just one large version of general American Suburbia which could be anywhere.
I just took a trip to Asheville, NC, from Central Maryland, and I felt like I was in a different country. I'd never seen a "Bojangle's" before and never so many whites (rather, I was used to a healthy mix of all types of people). Everyone owned pickup trucks (even in the city). And it was the same in Central/Southern Virginia. I really only felt "at home" when I got back to Centreville, near DC. In that sense, I'd say NOVA is more like MD and the rest of Virginia is more like NC.
However, St. Mary's and Calvert counties, and Charles to a certain extent, as well as most of the Eastern Shore, are more closely related to the Tidewater region of Virginia, whereas NC isn't really very similar in that respect. And, yes, when I travel to Richmond and random towns in the middle of VA, like in Culpeper or Orange counties, it seems more DC/Baltimore/Philly-ish with the old colonial architecture. In other big southern cities, like Atlanta or Charlotte or even Asheville and Raleigh, the cityscape is mostly full of newer developments, with only a few "Colonial" neighborhoods.
So, to sum up, Central and Southern Virginia rural areas are more similar to North Carolina.
All Virginian urban areas and some towns in Central Virginia are more similar to MD/PA.
The Tidewater and Eastern rural areas are more similar to MD/DE rural areas.
Maryland has Bojangle's....
And you never been to Western Maryland because there are some similarities with Western Maryland and Western NC........
Maryland, North Carolina, and Virginia all have similarities....
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