Friendly or unfriendly people in Lynchburg? (Richmond: sales, college, incomes)

[ConceivedinKY51]

I know I've asked a ton of questions about Lynchburg and...YES!...I'm going to visit it before moving. But could I please have opinions about people (in general) in Lynchburg. Are people friendly? I'm living in the Boston, MA area now (not from here) and find people to be very unfriendly. I don't want to move to a southern version of the "lack of hospitality" I've found here. So, please, opinions about the people - friendly or unfriendly - and why you find it to be so. Thanks for everyone's patience with me!

[R0ADRUNNER]

There are friendly and unfriendly here. The majority are friendly. Drive the back roads and the older drivers of the cars you meet wave or acknowledge you someway. The younger ones could care less, if you are lucky they might give you half of the road.

In the mall when it is not busy the people will nod as you pass. Like most places there are times when everything is rushed and people have a lot on their minds.

Most people will acknowledge your presence and even hold the door open for you. But. we even have a few women's lib college students that take offense at this. They go back north when college is out.

Overall, I think you will find us a lot more friendly than most large cities.

When you come to visit, I hope you will be well received.

I have visited Kentucky twice and was impressed with their friendliness.

[Steve Turner]

You will be pleasantly surprised, you can't walk past anyone, that If you make eye contact - they will nod their head, speak or in some other way acknowledge you ! SOO.. don't freak out that when you pass someone on a two lane road, that they wave at you as you pass each other ! Wave Back ! That's The Way It Is. You will run up on the occasional jerk or unfriendly tpye - chances are they were born and raised somewhere else.

[ConceivedinKY51]

Thank you, both Steve Turner and Roadrunner!! You've made my heart glad!!

[badger74]

Get a copy of the new "Where to Retire" magazine. It discusses this and has a good overall look at the area. Should be at major bokkstores, etc soon.

[ConceivedinKY51]

Originally Posted by badger74

Get a copy of the new "Where to Retire" magazine. It discusses this and has a good overall look at the area. Should be at major bokkstores, etc soon.

Thanks, Badger. I tried to find it today at the grocery store but...alas...no luck. Will look for it at the Border's next week.

[VALover]

Today was the first trip I had ever made to Lynchburg, I needed a Kohl's fix. I was surprised at just how nice the people there were. I had to stop for directions and two really lovely ladies pointed me in the direction I needed to head. Then, while shopping in Kohl's I chatted with several people who were extremely nice. At last, I was checked out by one of the women I have ever encountered in retail.

[sandchug]

Speaking as someone who's a Lynchburg native and has since moved (but not too far away!), I can vouch for most of what's said here. I HATED Lynchburg as a kid, because, well, I was a kid. I always saw it as a one-horse town with nothing to do and miles away from civilization.

Now that I've gotten a (little) bit older, I find that I fall in love with it more each time I go back. I despise Wards Road, but I think everyone does. That aside, it's a beautiful city, with a lot of us who have inhabited the Hill City for generations, and love it. I hope you'll be able to find the same spot in your heart for Lynchburg that I've redeveloped after years.

[badger74]

Wards Road probably provides more jobs and income to the city than any other part of town. A major shopping area is a necessary part of being a self-sufficient city meeting most of the needs of the residents. Imagine shopping in L without it. I'd bet sales leakage has gone from very high to pretty low. The only thing lacking is some high-end shops for the upper 5% of incomes. That's a pretty thin market in most towns. Yes if you need a $1000 suit or dress and $500 shoes you need to go to Richmond or DC. That's ok.

[sandchug]

The main problem I have with Wards Road is that they put everything right there within that one area. It makes driving in the area virtually impossible.

If you look at a lot of other reasonably-sized cities, the shopping is a bit more spread-out.

That's the only major complaint I have.