Is Northern VA really *THAT* different from Richmond? (Alexandria, Woodbridge: to live, moving)

[ss20ts]

Originally Posted by 01va571

TRUE, TRUE, TRUE

I don’t know how many people I have known from Nova who have distanced themselves from the state of Virginia PERIOD. Ask someone from anywhere in Northern Virginia where they are from, 90% of the time you will get the "im from DC" answer. Because DC is more important you know, what good has ever came out of DC? I mean I know that’s the our capital but lets break this down Honestly, highest AIDS rate in the nation, Murder capital for about 9 years in the 90's to early 2003, The mayor gets caught with hookers and crack, The next mayor bragged about the murders, harshest gun laws in the US, open air drug markets all over the place, has one of the most polluted rivers in the US, and snobs and bad drivers, YEEEEAAAH!

And yet people associate themselves with that rather than they're own state they live in. SAD.

So are you saying you're packing your bags and moving to DC this afternoon? hehehehe I'm feeling the love! LOL

[guyincognito]

Originally Posted by 01va571

TRUE, TRUE, TRUE

I don’t know how many people I have known from Nova who have distanced themselves from the state of Virginia PERIOD. Ask someone from anywhere in Northern Virginia where they are from, 90% of the time you will get the "im from DC" answer. Because DC is more important you know, what good has ever came out of DC? I mean I know that’s the our capital but lets break this down Honestly, highest AIDS rate in the nation, Murder capital for about 9 years in the 90's to early 2003, The mayor gets caught with hookers and crack, The next mayor bragged about the murders, harshest gun laws in the US, open air drug markets all over the place, has one of the most polluted rivers in the US, and snobs and bad drivers, YEEEEAAAH!

And yet people associate themselves with that rather than they're own state they live in. SAD.

Why are you so concerned with what Northern Virginians call themselves? Most people from a large metro area will tell others the city rather than the state they are from (Think "I'm from LA", "I'm from Chicago"). Saying "I'm from Virginia" just delays the inevitable follow-up question of where in Virginia. Saying "I'm from Fairfax" will draw blanks stares from people not familiar with the area. All this insecurity from people about how they stack up against Northern Virginia is ridiculous...

But to answer the question, I'd say Richmond and Northern Virginia are pretty different. First, Northern Virginia is mostly sprawling suburbia, while Richmond is an actual city. Northern VA has a lot of jobs, a lot of wealth, and all the +/- associated with that (many different job opportunities, a lot of traffic, better pay, higher cost of living, more stress, better schools). Culturally NoVA is faster-paced and probably attracts more status-seekers, which ups the smugness level a tad. NoVA is also more button-down and white-collar. I think you would find the variety of cultural and social events much higher here than down there.

[01va571]

Originally Posted by guyincognito

Why are you so concerned with what Northern Virginians call themselves? Most people from a large metro area will tell others the city rather than the state they are from (Think "I'm from LA", "I'm from Chicago"). Saying "I'm from Virginia" just delays the inevitable follow-up question of where in Virginia. Saying "I'm from Fairfax" will draw blanks stares from people not familiar with the area. All this insecurity from people about how they stack up against Northern Virginia is ridiculous...

But to answer the question, I'd say Richmond and Northern Virginia are pretty different. First, Northern Virginia is mostly sprawling suburbia, while Richmond is an actual city. Northern VA has a lot of jobs, a lot of wealth, and all the +/- associated with that (many different job opportunities, a lot of traffic, better pay, higher cost of living, more stress, better schools). Culturally NoVA is faster-paced and probably attracts more status-seekers, which ups the smugness level a tad. NoVA is also more button-down and white-collar. I think you would find the variety of cultural and social events much higher here than down there.

I’m not concerned with anything involving Northern Virginia, you can believe that. I lived in that area for quite some time, so my criticism comes out clean with how I feel about the area. That’s all I have to say about that.

[popalnet]

Originally Posted by Richmonder27

I would say so. Because Richmond feels like you are truly in the South. Northern Virginia is much more transient. And also, Northern Virginians (many whom are not from the area originally), are all hung up about Virginia's Confederate History and want nothing to do with being a Virginian, and will declare they are not from Virginia but from "The DC Area"

They also like to believe they are more cosmo and sophisticated, when actually their culture is quite banal and vanilla. Richmond has more hipsters and artsy stuff that Northern Virginia could ever hope to have.

Richmond has a lot more charm than Northern Virginia.

There are some beautiful areas of Northern Virginia- mainly "hunt country"- I grew up there. And the people aren't so bad- don't get me wrong...


But to me- Richmond has much more personality.

I agree. Virginia does suck and is it so country. Nothing but a bunch of rednecks with a country southern accent. Everyone is overweight because they eat nothing but smoked pork and drink budweiser and whiskey.

There is only one very small piece of Virginia that is not Virgina. And that is Northern Virginia. There are still a few rednecks that live there, but thank god they're slowly moving out to places like west virginia and Richmond.

[popalnet]

Originally Posted by popalnet

I agree. Virginia does suck and is it so country. Nothing but a bunch of rednecks with a country southern accent. Everyone is overweight because they eat nothing but smoked pork and drink budweiser and whiskey.

There is only one very small piece of Virginia that is not Virgina. And that is Northern Virginia. There are still a few rednecks that live there, but thank god they're slowly moving out to places like west virginia and Richmond.

Sorry Richmonder27. I was being a punk, once again.

[ScottVA]

I grew up in NOVA. Spent many a field trip in DC. This area as someone said before is VERY diverse. If you have any hang-ups about other cultures or ethnicities, stay away because you will probably find that this is not the area for you- that's not to say that Richmond isn't diverse. I think it's just more so up here.

As for DC proper, I try to stay out of that place unless Im going to a Nat's game, which isn't that often. I try to stay outside of the beltway. I grew up in the Woodbridge area. In 95, I moved to Omaha, NE and told people there that I was from "Northern VA- about 30 miles south of DC". I'm sure there are people from NOVA that associate themselves with DC, but not me. I moved back in 97 and am still here. I'll probably stay here the rest of my life unless I hit the lottery. Then, you can find me in Hawaii and the Carribbean.

[DC's Finest]

You hillbillies crack me up!

[oleo]

I grew up in Richmond, been living in Northern VA for about 6 months.

They are totally different.

[Richmonder27]

Originally Posted by guyincognito

Why are you so concerned with what Northern Virginians call themselves? Most people from a large metro area will tell others the city rather than the state they are from (Think "I'm from LA", "I'm from Chicago"). Saying "I'm from Virginia" just delays the inevitable follow-up question of where in Virginia. Saying "I'm from Fairfax" will draw blanks stares from people not familiar with the area. All this insecurity from people about how they stack up against Northern Virginia is ridiculous...

But to answer the question, I'd say Richmond and Northern Virginia are pretty different. First, Northern Virginia is mostly sprawling suburbia, while Richmond is an actual city. Northern VA has a lot of jobs, a lot of wealth, and all the +/- associated with that (many different job opportunities, a lot of traffic, better pay, higher cost of living, more stress, better schools). Culturally NoVA is faster-paced and probably attracts more status-seekers, which ups the smugness level a tad. NoVA is also more button-down and white-collar. I think you would find the variety of cultural and social events much higher here than down there.

On The CONTRARY . Richmond is just as white collar if not more than Northern Virginia. In fact, Richmond is old money. Northern Virginia mostly new money and tackyness. Richmond has tons of cultural events, art galleries, etc Richmond is everything Northern Virginia wants to be, without the arrogance and attitude. Northern Virginia offers almost nothing Cosmopolitan. Its mostly suburban types. You are way off!

[Richmonder27]

Originally Posted by popalnet

Based on what you are saying, "hunt country", then you will be much happier in Richmond. Not that Richmond is a hunting haven, but you will not like Northern Virginia. What is your point?

I lived in Loudoun County until I was 18. My family is from Richmond I know both sides of the spectrum.