Tell me about the areas surrounding Columbia (Baltimore, Ellicott City: low crime, high school)

[irishmom]

Originally Posted by Contriver

Well, yes I am single and in my 20s, but I am also a full-time dad. And as an involved parent, I like to choose activities that involve both me and him. Thats why I like Columbia, it appears that there are alot of family-oriented events/things to do there.

I'd love to live in NYC BTW Maybe someday when my little guy is all grown up I will try it, although most likely I won't be single by then

Ok since you are a devoted full time Dad ignore the NYC night life advice...LOL

Columbia would suit you well there are many single parents here and you will have a great time with your son. Just be sure to check the schools he will attend prior to buying anything...they are all good but still with in good there are great and just ok...so check them out in person. Good luck!

[Thruway]

Originally Posted by irishmom

Interestingly enough they are right in the middle so you get two sets of stations...the DC and Baltimore ones so you can watch either or both news. Now I'm still a Yankees, Giants, and Rangers girl so I'm not into the local sports teams....but from what I see they are split pretty evenly between the Ravens and Redskins and most are into the Orioles as the Nationals just started and don't have a huge fan base yet. Also the Washington Post and Baltimore Sun are evenly read and distributed here. So I would say you get to pick or do both.

Hey, I live outside DC and I am a Yankees, Giants, and Rangers guy!

Let me ask, isn't it great that whenever the Yankees, Giants, and Rangers are in town they load up DC and BAL with their fans?

I gotta ask too don't you find DC and BAL sports fans to be inferior novice fools compared to NY fans?
Not only do they not the game or support their teams as well but they just are so immature.
I can not stand Orioles, Redskins, or Caps fans, though the Caps and Orioles both have small fanbases.

What about you, and how are Ravens fans, not many in Northern VA.
Is football in BAL much bigger than baseball like it is in DC too?

[irishmom]

Originally Posted by tberg224

Hey, I live outside DC and I am a Yankees, Giants, and Rangers guy!

Let me ask, isn't it great that whenever the Yankees, Giants, and Rangers are in town they load up DC and BAL with their fans?

I gotta ask too don't you find DC and BAL sports fans to be inferior novice fools compared to NY fans?
Not only do they not the game or support their teams as well but they just are so immature.
I can not stand Orioles, Redskins, or Caps fans, though the Caps and Orioles both have small fanbases.

What about you, and how are Ravens fans, not many in Northern VA.
Is football in BAL much bigger than baseball like it is in DC too?

Well given that I would head back to NYC in a heart beat if given the chance I find all here to be somewhat inferior to there, sorry but after 32 years as a New Yorker it's hard to leave it behind. Although the reason we left the city is because we wanted our kids to be in a better place, and they are so it's all good. As for the fans here I think they are about the same as the fans anywhere except there are so many transplants here lots of people aren't rooting for the home teams as much as they are for their hometown teams. I think the teams here are a poor substitute for most. Ravens fans are nuts but are the most loyal amongst the local teams, they do seem to have a large fan base. The Orioles are drowned out by the visiting fans most days, but there are some loyal ones here and there. Football is definitely bigger here, from what I see, than baseball is.

[isis297]

Irishmom, what part of MD are you in?

I only went to O's games when I was in my late teens for the fun of being in the stands, getting on the screen, etc. LOL LOVE football but miss the Stallions though the Ravens have had some pretty amazing seasons. Too bad the guy who runs it made such a bad first impression on me when he began trying to turn every aspect of it into a money maker for him above just owning the team. Love the coach though. I would definitely say football is bigger back there than baseball.

[terryandtouey]

Hi. Newbie to the forum, here. Not new to the O's though. Go Birds!! (Boo Yankees!) ;-D (Though, I too would go back to NYC in a NY minute if it were more affordable.)

Has anyone here gone to see the Bowie Baysox or the Frederick Keys? Minor league teams seem to be pretty popular in MD and I've been meaning to go for the longest time. If you're in Columbia, it'd be about 30-40 minutes to get to either of these fields, traffic allowing.

[terryandtouey]

Originally Posted by boltzst

In all actuallity, I have the same question. But I'd like to ask, or add this to the request:

are there any areas around Columbia that will be mentioned that have a more conservative base in the schools and somewhat rural? (15-20 minutes to walmart/target) and still not 'neckish

-----------------------------------

Maryland has many conservative pockets. Parts of PG county, and Anne Arundel are still conservative. However, more solidly so are the counties on the Eastern Shore, in Southern MD, and to the west of Balt./Columbia in Central MD. (And on into Western MD)

Frederick County (and city of Frederick), is about 20-30 minutes west of Columbia on I-70 and is very conservative. However, it has been growing like mad as a bedroom community for both Balt and DC. (It's at the juncture of I-70 and I-270)

Carroll County is also growing, borders PA's York and (I think) Lancaster counties. Beautiful landscape! But perhaps because it is off the interstate, growth has been much slower than in Fred.

Northern Montgomery Co. tends to be a mix of liberal and conservative, the liberals having the edge.

All of Maryland's agricultural areas are under pressure of urban sprawl and Mont Co has an "Ag Reserve" area in which the transfer of ag. land is strictly(?) regulated. I'm not sure, but Carroll Co. may also have an ag. reserve area. Don't quote me on that.

I hope this is helpful.

[irishmom]

Originally Posted by isis297

Irishmom, what part of MD are you in?

I only went to O's games when I was in my late teens for the fun of being in the stands, getting on the screen, etc. LOL LOVE football but miss the Stallions though the Ravens have had some pretty amazing seasons. Too bad the guy who runs it made such a bad first impression on me when he began trying to turn every aspect of it into a money maker for him above just owning the team. Love the coach though. I would definitely say football is bigger back there than baseball.

Columbia...and yes I think the Ravens had some great seasons and won over a lot of fans and have built loyalty that way. Unless a major team is playing (Yankees, Red Sox, etc.) the stands at the O's games are half empty most of the time.

[Thruway]

Originally Posted by irishmom

Columbia...and yes I think the Ravens had some great seasons and won over a lot of fans and have built loyalty that way. Unless a major team is playing (Yankees, Red Sox, etc.) the stands at the O's games are half empty most of the time.

I love seeing the Orioles get invaded, so you're saying Baltimore is much more football crazy than baseball, that they would never get invaded in football and this is not just due to the Ravens being better, on a whole Baltimore=football first and foremost?

[irishmom]

Originally Posted by tberg224

I love seeing the Orioles get invaded, so you're saying Baltimore is much more football crazy than baseball, that they would never get invaded in football and this is not just due to the Ravens being better, on a whole Baltimore=football first and foremost?

Oh I really don't know, but the Ravens games are definitely full of Ravens fans much more so than the Orioles games are full of Orioles fans. I don't know why but it seems that way to me. The Orioles are selling these packs to kids that are like $20 a piece...you get a hat, I think a sticker for your car, and 15 games for this. So I'm thinking they are trying to drum up fans.

[JKF]

I grew up in that area and what folks have been saying about Columbia is spot on. As far as conservative community goes, I would not call Columbia that, far from it I would say. So, Boltzst Columbia is a liberal city, with an active and vocal environmental movement and gay community. If you are looking for a slightly more conservative area than Howard County, try Anne Arundel County, but over all Maryland trends Middle of the road to Liberal. I know Harford and Carroll county are fairly conservative but these are a greater distance to the Columbia area than Anne Arundel.