Sensitive question about relocating to Virginia

[mccamp]

Originally Posted by vixter9

non-prohibitive cost of living...interesting....agreed that it is beautiful there...I love the mountains and I was born and raised in that area. However the scenery is not what she was concerned about and not ever other place in the entire world is as racist ...not only racist but concerned with "who knows who"...it is a small southern city after all. Surrounded by small southern towns...in-between the mountains...Rocky Mount, Boones Mill, Troutville....don't think Cave Springs is a town but hey, have you checked out the "scenery" in that part of town. Actually Roanoke is still pretty segregated as far as where people live....just saying...

We've seen segregation--mostly socio-economic--no matter where we lived. Boston in particular is segregated. Minneapolis. Memphis. Raleigh-Durham. Even London (but London is segregated on religious grounds. Muslims vs. Christians and Jews.)

We've lived in all of these cities, and all have been segregated. The poorer people lived in a certain part of the city. IN some cases, the poor people were black. In other cases, they were a mix of white, black and hispanic.

We're in a solid middle class neighborhood in SW City and we have lots of diversity on our block. That's what makes me think that the segregation is somewhat based on socio-economic factors instead of race or creed.

Roanoke is a "who-knows-who" place. It's about on par with Boston. (And Boston is really bad with the "who-knows-who.") I often wonder if that has more to do with human nature than with geography. It would be interesting to investigate.

Every city has its good and bad qualities. The secret is finding a place that makes your soul sing, where you feel at home and where you can put down the roots that will help you sustain a happy life. For some folks, Roanoke is it. For others, not so much.

[goatladyva]

we live in a very small town 2 stop lights in the mountains mixed races here very friendly both black business owners and other races would love you and hubby to visit us we are retired and loving it!! we have a goat farm and are enjoying our retirement with nature and lovely people in the area come see this area the goats would love to meet ya too

[GROVE51]

i come from southboston,mass and i now live here in roanoke,va. And i think roanoke,va. Is a lot better then southboston,mass were i use to live! Up in boston,mass there is more racism in boston then here in roanoke!! And yes i do love liveing here in roanoke,va.!!!

[sissy77]

My husband and I retired to Virginia in 2005 and paid 15 thousand for 3 acres and biult a 2500 sq. ft house for 98 thousand the well was 5 thousand and the septic tank 15 hundred taxes are 800 a year and auto insurance 600 . The house is 3bed 3 and half bath with a full basement that was 20 thousand the house was another 98 thousand . It has 2x6 stud walls and triple pain windows . Now with so many foreclosures you can really get a good bargain here . The area I live in is deverse and I have not seen anything else. the area I live is rural and that may have something to do with it .We are 15 minutes from North Carolina 20 minutes from Martinsville and thirty minute from danville you can check out dan river association of realtors to check out prices .It is much cheaper here than New Jersey /

[nyctransplant]

It's not nice to sterotype...........it goes hand in hand with these types of problems.
I'm from the north and the south. I live in both places. Born in the north, but i am not the stereotype you express. On the other hand - in virginia and south carolina and even florida - i've seen and heard racism and the n-word tossed about frequently and with venom, since the election. And i've seen pushy and rude and intrusive even in the most "genteel" areas of the south. It's the person, and ignorance- not the group, not the city, not the state. I think it's less in the roanoke area or anywhere education and diversity is valued. Roanoke's a nice city with folks from all over living, working, and going to school there.