Local Opinions on Best Places to Live in NOVA

[Denton56]

Saganista,
People who live in the towns of Herndon and Vienna, and the cities of Fairfax and Falls Church, can run for mayor or town council, just like Gaithersburg and College Park, in Maryland. Except cities in Virginia also have their own school systems, unlike Maryland towns.

[dkf747]

Originally Posted by handy man88

It's almost like people living in Gaithersburg telling friends they live in "North Potomac."

That's a funny example, in this discussion, since North Potomac is not an incorporated city.

BTW, to the other poster, Maryland is the same as Virginia. Look how big "Silver Spring" is. "Silver Spring" does not actually exist. It's actually Montgomery County. If that doesn't work, then look at "Germantown".

[saganista]

Originally Posted by Denton56

Saganista,
People who live in the towns of Herndon and Vienna, and the cities of Fairfax and Falls Church, can run for mayor or town council, just like Gaithersburg and College Park, in Maryland.

Yes, I know. My point was to contrast the situation in those four places (among others) to that in McLean or Chantilly or any other unincorporated place.

Originally Posted by Denton56

Except cities in Virginia also have their own school systems, unlike Maryland towns.

State law requires cities to have their own de jure school systems. This is also unlike Virginia towns. The de facto situation may be different. Fairfax City for instance owns four schools, but these are actually operated by Fairfax County Public Schools under a contract signed between the County and the City when City status was first established in 1961.

[saganista]

Originally Posted by dkf747

BTW, to the other poster, Maryland is the same as Virginia. Look how big "Silver Spring" is. "Silver Spring" does not actually exist. It's actually Montgomery County. If that doesn't work, then look at "Germantown".

Yes, several other examples of significant unincorporated areas in states other than Virginia have also been validly raised. I shall have to raise these in general with my regional economist friend and ask how he compares and contrasts the situation in those states with that in Virginia.

None of this, however, alters the fact that Virginia's overwhelming predominance of unincorporated areas is likely to be unanticipated by those seeking information about NoVa in advance of potentially moving here, nor does it diminish the obligation of those seeking to supply such information to do so while conveying the important implications that arise from this relative lack of local organization and governance.