Best/Worst independent city in Virginia? (Norfolk, Chesapeake: best city, schools, college)

[Alanboy395]

To respond to the best/worst counties threads i figured on doing a best and worst independent city thread.

My nominees:

Best City: Chesapeake (great schools, close to everything, great looking)

Worst City: Manassas Park (no city in VA manages to do less with more, Manassas residents bash it for crying out loud)

[PaperTrail]

I think one would be remiss not to mention Martinsville in the worst city category. That's not to take away from people who live there (I like the hardworking people there), but the city is dying on the job front, and there's just not a lot of opportunity there. And it's even losing what little bit of quaitness it may have possessed.

As for best city, that's a tossup with so many good candidates. Chesapeake probably would get my vote for "best," though there are others that I actually like better.

[damian]

Chesapeake functions more like a suburb than a true city....the "cities" in Va to me are along the lines of Norfolk, Portsmouth, Richmond, Roanoke, C-ville, Newport News (although NN has alot of suburban elements), Alexandria, etc

[tarp]

Worst city: Emporia

Best independent city in VA: Alexandria

Arlington really functions like a city but within a county government framework. If it were an actual city, I would say Arlington would be the best.

[Steven2149]

Haha... I would say Martinsville or perhaps Danville for worst. Again, nothing whatsoever about the character of the people.. .lots of good hardworking people. The cities, however are absolutely uninspiring. They have both been devastated by loss of jobs through outsourcing and a failure of city leaders to plan for things like that. There is quite a resistance to change as well.

Emporia... another place that doesn't have much to like.

Best ---- I'm very partial to Roanoke, but there are some very nice cities. Abingdon has lots of charm and character. Of the coastal cities, i'd have to say that i like Norfolk. Many people would laugh at that, but this place is absolutely loaded with character. Lots of history as well.

[Alanboy395]

Originally Posted by tarp

Worst city: Emporia

Best independent city in VA: Alexandria

Arlington really functions like a city but within a county government framework. If it were an actual city, I would say Arlington would be the best.

if Alexandria was not part of NoVA (which i totally despise) i'd put it up there with Chesapeake.

I wouldn't put Arlington in the best or worst category. Nicely planned city (just NOT for me.) Same thing with my hometown Hampton, which is small-town charm in a mid-sized city but the City government is really in serious need of an overhaul.

[Waterboy526]

Best: The City of Fairfax. It still has that small town charm, civic support, etc, and it's located right in the middle of Fairfax county.

Worst: who knows

[Lynch Vegas]

Best independent city:

Charlottesville - it's surrounded by Albemarle county but is politically independent.

Pros:

UVA adds diverse, enlightened population
Small town charm with some big city amenities - shops, restaurants, etc.
Beautiful surroundings in the nearby mountains and rolling farmlands
College sports
Good concerts, bars, nightlife

Cons:

Very expensive for a small town (because of all the pros listed above)
The ultra-rich liberals are a little much. The hippies are fine.

Worst independent city:

Hopewell

Pros: Riverfront

Cons: all beat up looking and pretty rough

I know that Martinsville and Danville are pretty depressed, but at least they are in naturally pretty parts of the state. Martinsville still has the raceway and Danville is actually starting to re-emerge from the ashes (albeit, slowly)