Columbia: DC or Baltimore suburb? (Ellicott City, Laurel: school, college, live in)

[columbiatc]

I grew up in Columbia up until my early teens and was always confused about whether it was a DC or Baltimore suburb. I moved a couple hours north and as I got older I came to the conclusion that it was a Baltimore suburb, since all the stores sell Ravens gear and I was much more familiar with the Baltimore Sun and WBAL TV-11 News than the Washington Post and local DC news. I went to school with a bunch of kids from Baltimore but didn't know any at school that were from DC, and now that we're in College most of my old classmates live in Baltimore or Columbia still, no one lives in DC.

However, somebody recently informed me that most people in Columbia consider it to be a DC suburb. How'd you come to that conclusion? Does anyone on here from Columbia consider it to be a DC suburb?

[MrRational]

Originally Posted by columbiatc

...was always confused about whether it was a DC or Baltimore suburb.

I think it all depends on whether your bed faces south or east...
and probably where your family is/was from.

[smitity]

Its both. Alot of people there work in DC, alot work in Baltimore. Geographically its closer to Baltimore, has the 410 area code, and gets Baltimore stations, but you also get DC stations there and see lots of Redskins fans. So if you work and have family closer to DC, its a DC suburb, and the same for Baltimore.

[bmorefella]

Originally Posted by columbiatc

I grew up in Columbia up until my early teens and was always confused about whether it was a DC or Baltimore suburb. I moved a couple hours north and as I got older I came to the conclusion that it was a Baltimore suburb, since all the stores sell Ravens gear and I was much more familiar with the Baltimore Sun and WBAL TV-11 News than the Washington Post and local DC news. I went to school with a bunch of kids from Baltimore but didn't know any at school that were from DC, and now that we're in College most of my old classmates live in Baltimore or Columbia still, no one lives in DC.

However, somebody recently informed me that most people in Columbia consider it to be a DC suburb. How'd you come to that conclusion? Does anyone on here from Columbia consider it to be a DC suburb?

Baltimore originally Columbia was a planned community built by Baltimore developer James Rouse. Up until the early 90's Columbia was about 90 percent Baltimoreans. Not so much anymore, I would say its about 60/40, and still leans a little towards Baltimore. I do know this, IT'S OVERRATED, I'll take Ellicott City all day!

[carroll4628]

I don't know anyone who considers it a DC suburb. But then when I'm traveling and someone asks, where are you from? The answer is typically, "Columbia/EC/HoCo - it's between Baltimore and DC (or DC and Baltimore)."

I think people from DC say it's a DC suburb, people from Baltimore say it's a baltimore suburb and all the other people not from the area (like me) say what it is - between Baltimore and DC.

[Tom Lennox 70]

I think definitely Baltimore area. Howard County is included in the Baltimore metropolitan area, and Howard County news is covered by the Sun as, and NOT in the Washington Post's local section or by the Washington Times. There are also a lot more Ravens and Orioles fans in Columbia, and I think more people commute to Baltimore than DC. I also know quite a few people who commute to Columbia from Baltimore County.

[MrMaryland455]

its both..........its a dc suburb and baltimore suburb......just look it up......

[Mahatma X]

Both... the same way Laurel can be claimed as a Baltimore suburb.

[David_J]

Columbia is more like a suburb of Baltimore, but I do see how it can be considered as a suburb of DC.

[DC2PG]

baltimore