Info on Lynchburg and Charlottesville (Bedford, Blue Ridge: house, school, university)

[nickel]

Hello everyone. I'm looking for info about Lynchburg. I've seen some really nice homes online in the $200,000- $300,000 range. I've heard that Lynchburg is very conservative "bible belt" is this true? I'm looking in the Charlottesville area also, it seems like a nice college town but the home prices are on the high side. We're coming down to Charlottesville at the end of the month from Michigan to go house hunting. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thank You.

[Elquemataranas]

I've lived in Lynchburg now for six years, and YES, it tends to be VERY conservative. Though he doesn't run the city, Jerry Falwell, is well liked by many (to my chagrin). I'm pretty liberal and I've had to bite my tongue so much that it's constantly bloody.

It's affordable but the social conservatism is tough to stomach.

[htlong]

well jerry can make even me a pretty conservative, wince with some of his statements, but i feel its better than all out liberalism like san francisco, but hey i may be wrong,
my two cents is if you move to lynchburg you will have access to smith mt lake, a man made lake about 40 miles long with mts reflecting in the water ...almost as pretty as tahoe. well worth the trip to lynchburg just to see it!

[roanoker 4]

Lynchburg lies at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. For scenery and friendly people, it is a great place to live and raise a family. Yes, it is home to Jerry Falwell and oddly most people in this region aren't very fond of him. I could never understand why he has ever been taken so seriously on the national level. Come to visit this area, you will be surprised and don't let one person prevent you from experiencing what this beautiful region has to offer!

[hodologica]

Never been to Lynchburg. I have been to Smith Mtn Lake once and it's pretty nice, though I disliked the motorized craft.

I live in Charlottesville - 6 years now. Its very liberal and artistic. (The country around it is somewhat conservative.) It has a really vibrant downtown - an outdoor mall of several blocks, mostly closed to cars, which can be thronged with up to 1000s of people. What else do you want to know about it?

[jballa]

Definately come check out the Lynchburg/Amherst/Bedford area when you are this way. Several informative sites you may want to consult before making the trip are

www.virginia.org (virginia's tourism site, well designed)

www.lynchburgmls.com (mls house hunting, serves a dozen counties)

quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/maps/virginia_map.html (city/county map)

By the way, if you're a heretic or a saint.. most people in the Lynchburg don't even pay attention to the fact or notice that Jerry Falwell is based in Lynchburg. Other than driving by Liberty University, and noticing that people are a little more charitable/friendly than most its the same as anywhere in VA. You can live life the way you want without little falwells following you around condemning you to damnation (within the law of course).

Good Luck, and enjoy your trip.

[Jamie23]

Charlottesville is amazing! I went to school there and stuck around for a couple of years. It's liberal and has lots of culture, great downtown, amazing local restaurants!

[bleu]

Hello. I am thinking about moving to Charlottesville. I have heard mixed reviews about the place. I am trying to find out what kind of population lives there? Are the people there pretentious? Are there young prefessionals? Recent graduating grad students? Are people religious? Judgemental or laid back?