Wise, VA area... What can you tell me? (Roanoke: home, university)

[beekayroot]

Currently living in southwestern Pennsylvania and looking to apply for a job in Wise, VA. Can anyone share any info. with me about Wise or Wise County? Or Southwestern VA in general?

What options are there for social opportunites? Shopping? General thoughts on living in this area?

Thanks, in advance for your help. Hopefully this one hasn't been addressed in the forums already. I couldn't find anything on it.

[roanoker 4]

I assume you are planning to work at University of Va-Wise? It is located in a beautiful part of the state. If you are outdoor oriented the opportunities are endless. The tri cities area is about an hour away and offers "Big city" type of amenities. Southwest VA is full of small towns which stretch from the tri-cities area up I-81 to Roanoke. This part of the state usually votes republican and is quite conservative like most of the South. Many of the people have lived in the same town for years and usually everyone knows everyone else in town. As an "outsider" you will find social activities revolve around the church, not in bars like in more cosmopolitan areas of the Northeast. There is a regional culture in southwest VA, the people are friendly and welcoming if you don't upset them. If you have a job I think it is a great place to live!

[NCN]

I can tell you the people are very respectful of others. My Uncle and Aunt lived there. I think I have some cousins there now. When we went to our Uncle's funeral, it was just a normal funeral to me until we left the funeral home to go to the graveyard which seemed to be across town. The people in cars stopped so we could proceed without any hassle, but then I noticed the people on the streets stopped and the men took off their hats and held them over their chests. I didn't know whether they all knew my Uncle or whether they would have done this for just anybody. He lived on Sandy Ridge. It is beautiful there, but you need good brakes if you visit.

[SCBeaches]

My brother and his wife live in Wise and when I visit, it seems to be a very friendly town and a pretty area. I agree that people's social lives there revolve around their church, not bars, which is very refreshing and wholesome in my opinion.

[beekayroot]

Thanks for the input all... Please continue adding your input; the more, the better.

[ArizonaBear]

A 'useless' piece of trivia here: my birth surname is extremely rare (I was born/raised in the Wash DC area) and there is a family in the Wise area with that same one. It is usually Italian but not in my case.

[JeffConn]

I've only visited there, but it's a lovely area, and i enjoy travelling through all the small towns in the area. Always can find a diamond in the rough. And if you are a radio listener, there is a surprising amount of good listening in the area. There are THREE public radio stations that reach Wise, plus the BEST community radio station i've ever heard: Appalshop Radio.

Radio Stations in Wise, Virginia.

WMMT FM 88.7 | Real People Radio