When local businesses in your city expand, what is the first major market they expand into? (state, largest)

[PDX_LAX]

You see this often on highways painted on the sides of big trucks, like "Smith and Jones Co." and then under that it will list the cities it covers or has a presence in. So what is typically the first major city businesses in your city expand to?

For example, in my home town of Portland, local companies almost always enter into the Seattle market before any other big city around. In L.A., the population alone drives such an enormous market that companies frequently open up offices in other parts of the area first because there's that much business to be done. "Los Angeles - Riverside - Irvine" and other similar combinations are common for companies around here.

[Chriscross309]

Poca Valley Bank---small example

started in Walton, WV---Roane County--- then moved into Kanawha County, and Putnam County before expanding in its home county of Roane.
Mostly because Kanawha and Putnam counties are two of the states most populated

Go-Mart

founded in Gasaway,WV stayed in and around that area, but then shifted its focus on Kanawha County and Charleston. With that new foundation it quickly emerged and is now one of the regions largest Gas Station Chains

I do realize that these are small companies and don't influence the world/LOL/ but the affect my life