How "Southern" is Charlottesville? (Richmond, Leesburg: crime, plantation, to move)

[ConceivedinKY51]

Originally Posted by cassidygal

I was afraid of that. But was hoping maybe there was a gem in a sunnier part of the country that I hadn't heard of! Enough people I know had mentioned Charlottesville that I thought perhaps it was one of those places.

Try Atlanta!!

[ConceivedinKY51]

Originally Posted by vanyali

It's because Southerners feel inferior to Northerners, so they go to great pains to put them down and distinguish themselves from them as much as possible.

Goodness!! Having lived both places I think it's the exact opposite!!

[moedog2]

Lots of misinformation on this thread. First, for those that who think Virginia in general is the epitome of Southern life--you obviously have not lived in the deep South. Virginia left that station during World War 2 when hundreds of thousands of people moved into the state from other areas to work in defense industries. No other southern state experienced this influx. At the end of WW2, most other southern states lost population as people moved north and west but Virginia continued to grow rapidly. It was not until the sixties that other southern states began to grow in population and wealth---Virginia therefore had about a twenty year head start on the rest of the region. The result is that by the 21th century, eastern VA, where the vast majority of the population lives, sociologically and economically more closely resembles the mid Atlantic states of MD, PA, Del, than places such as SC, GA, AL. Charlottesville is an extreme example of this, except the area is much more wealthy and better educated, and more liberal politically, than most of the mid-Atlantic. Almost any statistical analysis will verify this. A good example of this is last Tuesday's election where Obama carried the city of Charlottesville with over 70% of the vote--surrounding Albemarle County also voted strongly for Obama.

[magickal]

Originally Posted by cassidygal

I'm a native New Englander, and love the Northeast. In particular, I adore Portland, Maine. Generally speaking, I love everything about Portland (and New England in general) ... except the weather. I am looking for a city in a warmer & sunnier part of the country, but which has a culture similar to that of Portland.

A few people I know have recommended Charlottesville, Virginia -- but from what I can tell, Charlottesville is a lot more conservative/Bible Belt than Portland & New England more broadly speaking. Now, I'm not a knee-jerk liberal. But I am looking for someplace where, on average, people are tolerant and open-minded, and where the populace is generally well-educated. If we start a family, I don't want my children exposed on a daily basis to overt racism, sexism, and religious bigotry as part of the culture. I have lived in the South before, and, unfortunately, have found far, far more of those ugly characteristics than in New England.

Any ideas on other warmer/sunnier cities that a Portland-lover would love?

Cassidy,

I was hoping to be able to move to Boston (from Georgia) in May, but Life has redirected me toward Charlottesville. For the record, I am all too familiar with your concerns. Whether or not either of us are taking a step forward with our moves, I certainly look forward to associating myself with minds that ask questions such as yours.

I recently visited Charlottesville and not only is it beautiful, but the people I met were rather impressive; the few that were religious were very open-minded and non-judgemental. Though I have lived all over the US, I am generally known as a Southerner... so, from that perspective, I would like to "honestly" welcome you and your family. Maybe I will see you there.


Best regards.

[Rhett_Butler]

Originally Posted by moedog2

Lots of misinformation on this thread. First, for those that who think Virginia in general is the epitome of Southern life--you obviously have not lived in the deep South. Virginia left that station during World War 2 when hundreds of thousands of people moved into the state from other areas to work in defense industries. No other southern state experienced this influx. At the end of WW2, most other southern states lost population as people moved north and west but Virginia continued to grow rapidly. It was not until the sixties that other southern states began to grow in population and wealth---Virginia therefore had about a twenty year head start on the rest of the region. The result is that by the 21th century, eastern VA, where the vast majority of the population lives, sociologically and economically more closely resembles the mid Atlantic states of MD, PA, Del, than places such as SC, GA, AL. Charlottesville is an extreme example of this, except the area is much more wealthy and better educated, and more liberal politically, than most of the mid-Atlantic. Almost any statistical analysis will verify this. A good example of this is last Tuesday's election where Obama carried the city of Charlottesville with over 70% of the vote--surrounding Albemarle County also voted strongly for Obama.

But I don't believe Obama won Albemarle, did he???

Yes, NoVA is spreading and it is NOT in any way "southern".... Some like that way of life, some do not...

Now travel down to Lynchburg or over into the valley and try telling them they aren't "southern"...... (Betcha don't make it back alive.. )

[vaguy87]

Originally Posted by Rhett_Butler

But I don't believe Obama won Albemarle, did he???

Yes, NoVA is spreading and it is NOT in any way "southern".... Some like that way of life, some do not...

Now travel down to Lynchburg or over into the valley and try telling them they aren't "southern"...... (Betcha don't make it back alive.. )

Obama won Albermarle County by 58%: https://www.voterinfo.sbe.virginia.g...00_003_s.shtml

[Rhett_Butler]

Did he really??? Well, C'Ville with UVA had been growing increasingly liberal, so I guess it was only a matter of time...... Not to mention this was the time if it was going to happen....

[GROC]

Originally Posted by ConceivedinKY51

REAL Christians are not RACIST or SEXIST!! Plus, I find it rather repugnant and rude for northerners to "assume" that if they're in the south that's what they're going to encounter. I've lived in the north and the south and the only difference I find is that the racists and sexists in the south are more HONEST about their racism and sexism than northern racists and sexists are.

YES, so true! and from this honesty, sprang the civil rights movement, back in the 60's.
If "progression" or a "new way" of thinking hadn't come about, would racial hatred, segregation and lynchings, still exist in the South today?....perhaps... because to some on this board Southerners don't like change or progression!........that is not my opinion just what had been previously stated.

[GROC]

Originally Posted by Rhett_Butler

Well, when the east and west fight a war let me know..... Yeah, I know it was 143 years ago that the Civil War ended, but the rivalry is still pretty intense...

It is??...perhaps only in the minds of Southerners. That may be the biggest difference between the North and the South...us Northerners let go of the Civil War, 143 years ago!

[GROC]

Originally Posted by Rhett_Butler

Again showing how people just don't get it....

Northern transplant: "This is rediculous!!! Up NORTH I could buy beer on Sunday!!!!"

Southerner: "Well here you can't."

Northern transplant: "Well that's just stupid!!!"

This is the type of attitude that pisses the typical southerner off (just one VERY minor example).



"Let's build more shopping. Where's the Walmart? Where's the Mall? You have to build them to attract more people to this town so that we can continue to tax everybody and make this town prosper!!!!"

Hey.... Maybe the town is fine the way it is... Maybe sky-scraper dreams isn't what a small town southerner aspires to???

Again, southerners typically don't like the way things are in Massachusetts. Thus, they do not move there.

People from Massachusetts moving to the south isn't even that big of a deal, but the south is going to resist it when these people push to make it more like Massachusetts.

Sorry it seems so obvious to the typical northerner that the way things are done up north are so much better. The typical southerner disagrees. Since the northerner has moved south, guess who wins the discussion???

"Progressive" is a loaded term. It implies "advancement" or some kind of "betterment of society". If southerners are happy with their society it isn't seen as "progressive", it's seen as digressive to a way of life they don't want.

and what exactly is "more like Massachusetts"? I'm sensing you have limited experience and knowledge about Massachusetts, but then again, most of your comments on this board have come from the hip.