Pockets of "Southern" Left in NOVA? (Arlington, Alexandria: house, neighborhoods)

[blueva]

I was wondering what areas of NOVA might still have some degree of Southern charm feel left to them? I realize this is pretty much a nill question , since most of it is zero.

However from my experience, I think theres hope

Mildly Southern: Mannasas, Warrenton, Upper Faquier County, Fairfax City

A little Southern: Middleburg, Leesburg, Western Loudoun County

Northern: Reston, Herndon, Centreville, Sterling etc


What do Y'all think?

Leesburg, VA certainly has an air of Southern charm. I did know that in 2006 the Mayor decided to remove the Confederate Flags from the Welcome Sign. Very ignorant, if you ask me- the Sons of Confederate Veterans in the area tried hard to save the sign. At least they have the statue.

Warrenton surely is Southern. Middleburg with the Foxhunting and all, and Christmas at Oatlands.

However, much of Northern Fairfax County feels Yankee, as well as Arlington and Alexandria.

[Darksword]

The last thing I want to see when looking for neighborhoods to move to are waving flags that represent strong ties to bigotry and racism. Not my idea of "Southern charm" but to each his own.

[NOVAmtneer82]

How many times are we going to talk about the "southerness" or lack thereof in NoVa, I don't think a lot of people up here put much thought into it... or even care. In my opinion, I would guess perhaps Middleburg and Warrenton?

And why is it ignorant for Leesburg to remove the Confederate flag from its welcome signs. Like it or not that flag is predominantly used to represent racism and bigotry regardless of how people try to tie it to the Southern way of life.

[Nemesis15]

All of the South from NOVA moved to Stafford and Fredericksburg. Good for them.

[blueva]

Originally Posted by mtneeratheart

How many times are we going to talk about the "southerness" or lack thereof in NoVa, I don't think a lot of people up here put much thought into it... or even care. In my opinion, I would guess perhaps Middleburg and Warrenton?

And why is it ignorant for Leesburg to remove the Confederate flag from its welcome signs. Like it or not that flag is predominantly used to represent racism and bigotry regardless of how people try to tie it to the Southern way of life.

Um, because I have some friends from the Deeper South who are intersted in moving to the DC area for a job, and I think it would be nice for them to find a place that is like home to them.

Dont get me started on the flag. My ancestors died for that flag. Not for slaves, but for independence.

Thanks.

[slim04]

Most towns and governmental entities put their confederate flags up during the civil rights movements in the 1950's and 1960's. It wasn't to honor your ancestors. It was to give the middle finger to the federal government and civil rights organizations fighting for the end of Jim Crow laws, desegregation, and the intregration of public facilities like schools and pools. This whole southern culture & freedom is just revisionism. That might be the reason why you have the confederate flag on your house or car, that isn't why Leesburg or the state of South Carolina had them prominently displayed since the 1950's and 1960's.

[normie]

First of all, I have a problem with this idea of "southern culture." I live in Georgia right now (even though I'm staying up here in VA and looking at homes up here). My small town in the mountains of north Georgia wouldn't appeal to you--you wouldn't think it was "southern." The people there left the "Gone with the Wind" fantasy behind years ago. It's a modern town, pretty similar to NOVA. But it's in Georgia, sweetie, and that means we're most definitely "southern." You can tell because I call people sweetie, even if I never did have a taste for sweet tea. Sweetie is an endearment, sweet tea will give you diabetes.

My point? You can be "southern" and "modern" at the same time.

Do you think you can label a town as "southern" because of restaurants? Here again, my town in Georgia would strike you as "northern." We eat all kinds of food, not just grits. Our restaurants include 6 Italian, 4 Chinese, 4 vegetarian, 2 Thai, and 1 Ethiopian place--but only 1 "southern cooking" restaurant. People work in office parks and recycle and drive Prius' and worry about their 401K plans and do all the same things that "northern" people do.

But getting back to NOVA... if you are looking for people who drink sweet tea and participate in civil war reenactments and say y'all-- you'll find plenty of people like this all over NOVA. There are pockets of "southern culture" throughout, just like there are pockets of Pakistani culture and pockets of Jewish culture and pockets of Chinese culture and pockets of Canadian culture, etc. etc. Every town that I have been to has a little bit of everything. NOVA is one of the most thoroughly diversified places I've seen.

It is ridiculous to try to label NOVA towns as "still southern" and it is ridiculous to say any town is "not at all southern." The neighborhoods here are not that easy to label. And it's a big mistake to assume that the "personality" of 2-3 blocks downtown represent the "personality" of the town.

Is Leesburg "southern" because they have a courthouse and they haven't torn down old buildings on a 4-block stretch of downtown? Ummm, not really--Leesburg, is a lot more than just a downtown area. Leesburg includes a large number of thriving subdivisions that were built in that last 2-3 years. The culture of Leesburg now focuses much more on the huge new Janelia Research Center, not so much on downtown (which, to be honest, is pretty small and doesn't have much anymore but cafes and some old antique shops).

The same is true for Reston. Twenty years ago, Reston was all about modern architecture at Lake Anne. Now, that's a quaint historic district and most people who live and work in Reston don't go there. So it doesn't really represent the "culture" of Reston any more.

[stockdale.35]

Originally Posted by Darksword

The last thing I want to see when looking for neighborhoods to move to are waving flags that represent strong ties to bigotry and racism. Not my idea of "Southern charm" but to each his own.

Wow, then dont go to Pentagon City mall, in the food court there is a stand that sells the Stars and Bars flag 3x5, along with quaint bumper stickers that say "I *heart* G.R.I.T.S".

I think its funny to listen to the tourists response when they see that stuff. The funny thing is they buy the stuff and take it home to the midwest.

[stockdale.35]

Originally Posted by blueva

I was wondering what areas of NOVA might still have some degree of Southern charm feel left to them? I realize this is pretty much a nill question , since most of it is zero.

However from my experience, I think theres hope

Mildly Southern: Mannasas, Warrenton, Upper Faquier County, Fairfax City

A little Southern: Middleburg, Leesburg, Western Loudoun County

Northern: Reston, Herndon, Centreville, Sterling etc


What do Y'all think?

Leesburg, VA certainly has an air of Southern charm. I did know that in 2006 the Mayor decided to remove the Confederate Flags from the Welcome Sign. Very ignorant, if you ask me- the Sons of Confederate Veterans in the area tried hard to save the sign. At least they have the statue.

Warrenton surely is Southern. Middleburg with the Foxhunting and all, and Christmas at Oatlands.

However, much of Northern Fairfax County feels Yankee, as well as Arlington and Alexandria.

Most of the places you metion are, however call it what you want but "Northern: Reston, Herndon, Centreville, Sterling etc" are all growing hodge podge of people from everywhere, so Northern I think not? What is Northern?

As for "Mildly Southern: Mannasas, Warrenton, Upper Faquier County, Fairfax City" I agree with all but Mannassas(used to be but they got pushed out) and Fairfax City.

Winchester for sure, Middleburg(Boxwood,great winery ) area and around, Orange, All along I-81, Old Town Alexandria (has some, you see LOTS of summer dresses, and old money).

[normie]

Middleburg has horses, but the only fox hunting you're going to find there is if the theatre puts on a revival of "Aunti Mame."

A lot of the people I know from Middleburg are Californians (especially the people running the wineries). These days, one of the biggest businesses in Middleburg is the Salamander Resort--it was just built by Sheila Johnson, a media mogul who made her fortune as the co-founder of Black Entertainment Television.

But Middleburg continues to have the same charming personality, whether or not it's "southern."