Would you consider Waldorf Suburban or Exurban? (Baltimore, Bowie: private schools, income)

[Turnerbro]

I feeel like Waldorf is right on the edge where either could be a correct answer. It's developed like a suburb but far enough out to be considered an exurb. Also what would you consider an exurb of D.C?

[Jalux]

Response to Question #1: Suburb.

Response to Question #2: Odenton would be an exurb of DC.

[slowlane3]

Dunkirk and Chesapeake Beach, MD

Davidsonville, MD

Nokesville, VA

Damascus, MD

Poolesville, MD

It's curious how Waldorf starting in the late 1960s, gradually and steadily developed into an un-incorporated city of some 80,000 people while development skipped, or leapfrogged, over Brandywine MD, which remained rural until the 21st century when it's finally getting shopping and housing. I feel this was partly due to Brandywine having septic tanks rather than city water supply, partly because of "white flight" from Prince Georges county into the Charles county school system, and partly because the Saint Charles Development Corporation in the 1960s was able to acquire large tracts of land, simultaneous with the outlawing of "sleazy" slot machines in 1968.

[Turnerbro]

Originally Posted by slowlane3

Dunkirk and Chesapeake Beach, MD

Davidsonville, MD

Nokesville, VA

Damascus, MD

Poolesville, MD

It's curious how Waldorf starting in the late 1960s, gradually and steadily developed into an un-incorporated city of some 80,000 people while development skipped, or leapfrogged, over Brandywine MD, which remained rural until the 21st century when it's finally getting shopping and housing. I feel this was partly due to Brandywine having septic tanks rather than city water supply, partly because of "white flight" from Prince Georges county into the Charles county school system, and partly because the Saint Charles Development Corporation in the 1960s was able to acquire large tracts of land, simultaneous with the outlawing of "sleazy" slot machines in 1968.

At one point didn't Brandywine have an ordinance designed to keep that area exurban feeling? I know much of southern AAC has that. It has created an interesting demographic where most of the blacks are upper middle class, and most of the whites are blue collar "good ole boys"

[Borntoolate85]

Originally Posted by Jalux

Response to Question #1: Suburb.

Response to Question #2: Odenton would be an exurb of DC.

Actually, Odenton is considered suburban, and has been since the 1990s. It has a stop on the Penn Line that's midway between DC and Baltimore, is near Fort Meade, Crofton, Bowie, Severn, and Severna Park. The undeveloped areas nearby are mostly due to environmental protection.

DC exurbs are places more like Urbana, La Plata, Indian Head, Poolesville, Stafford, Warrenton, Purcellville, Mt. Airy (also with Baltimore), and the Bristol/Tracys Landing/Deale corridor.

But for question #1, now with the 301 corridor rapidly developing between Waldorf and Clinton, it has pretty much moved from exurban to suburban in the last decade or so. Sure, the commute is somewhat long, but its basically on the same latitude as Woodbridge and Dale City in Northern Virginia, which are also solidly suburban areas. Traffic is often heavy up until Clinton during the rush hours.

[North Beach Person]

Originally Posted by Turnerbro

At one point didn't Brandywine have an ordinance designed to keep that area exurban feeling? I know much of southern AAC has that. It has created an interesting demographic where most of the blacks are upper middle class, and most of the whites are blue collar "good ole boys"

The Brandywine area still does. The surrounding area is still part of a Greenway Corridor. Brandywine itself was probably designated as a Targeted Growth Area within the rural, or Tier 3, zone. That will limit development to an extent due to a lack of central water and sewer.

[Jalux]

Originally Posted by Borntoolate85

Actually, Odenton is considered suburban, and has been since the 1990s. It has a stop on the Penn Line that's midway between DC and Baltimore, is near Fort Meade, Crofton, Bowie, Severn, and Severna Park. The undeveloped areas nearby are mostly due to environmental protection.

DC exurbs are places more like Urbana, La Plata, Indian Head, Poolesville, Stafford, Warrenton, Purcellville, Mt. Airy (also with Baltimore), and the Bristol/Tracys Landing/Deale corridor.

But for question #1, now with the 301 corridor rapidly developing between Waldorf and Clinton, it has pretty much moved from exurban to suburban in the last decade or so. Sure, the commute is somewhat long, but its basically on the same latitude as Woodbridge and Dale City in Northern Virginia, which are also solidly suburban areas. Traffic is often heavy up until Clinton during the rush hours.

I'm afraid you are erroneous in your understanding of the term.

Exurb: a region or settlement that lies outside a city and usually beyond its suburbs and that often is inhabited chiefly by well-to-do families (Source: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exurb)

With reference to DC, Odenton falls outside of DC proper as well as its outlying suburbs. The very fact that it is situated right with Fort Meade is what makes it a largely self-contained, well-to-do region that nevertheless can be associated with DC in this context (or, as you correctly pointed out, Baltimore).

[slowlane3]

Originally Posted by Jalux

I'm afraid you are erroneous in your understanding of the term.

Exurb: a region or settlement that lies outside a city and usually beyond its suburbs and that often is inhabited chiefly by well-to-do families (Source: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exurb)

Well, if well-to-do families are a requirement, then that eliminates Indian Head and Chesapeake Beach. Indian Head's high school (Lackey) is ranked the lowest of the 7 public HS's in Charles county.

[Baghead]

I even think "well to do" is misunderstood. Middle class makes ends meet, and is not my definition of 'well to do.'

[Jalux]

Originally Posted by slowlane3

Well, if well-to-do families are a requirement, then that eliminates Indian Head and Chesapeake Beach. Indian Head's high school (Lackey) is ranked the lowest of the 7 public HS's in Charles county.

Poor-performing schools are not an accurate indicator of local wealth. Southern Maryland adjacent to DC (e.g. Fort Washington) does not generally possess good public schools, despite high average household income of its residents. Well-to-do families in these parts tend to send their children to private schools, leaving the public schools to less financially-equipped families.