What is really considered "Northern Virginia"? (Arlington, Alexandria: neighborhoods, living)

[BKmachine]

As the years go on the borders seem to change due to DC sprawl. But culturally where would you draw the line at? For me Arlington, Alexandria, and Fairfax county all seem to favor each other when it comes to culture. However Arlington/Alexandria and Prince William county are very different. As a matter of face Prince William county to me comes off as very historically southern, especially around Manassas where you see "southern this, southern that" every time I visit family out in Prince William co I get this weird feeling inside of me, like I'm in the south now. Stafford and Fredericksburg I don't consider NoVa because of the big cultural differences I see. In order to be a suburb of a city normally there would be some sort of common ground between two. Loudoun county also seems to be too far to be considered NoVa to me.... not location wise but culturally.

[hilsmom]

there are parts of PWC and Loudoun that are less Southern/rural than others. FWIW, PWC and Loudoun are included in umbrella organizations that do regional planning because while they are generally exurbs, there are enough commuters to DC to make them relevant to area-wide groups. I THINK that is as far as they go, though.

[FindingZen]

I think what makes Northern Virginia unique is that it not only melds together northern and southern cultures but also national and international influences. Add to that the high cost of living and doing business that encourages both employers and employees to locate further and further away from the DC/Beltway core and the definition of Northern Virginia continues to expand figuratively and literally.

Given all of that, my personal definition of NOVA is rather expansive: Alexandria City and the Counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William, Stafford, Spotsylvania as well as the City of Fredericksburg. Fauquier County as well as Winchester City/Frederick County seem to be becoming part of the conversation more often on this forum though I'd leave it up to said residents to decide whether they would consider themselves at this point to be Northern Virginians.

[spencgr]

Originally Posted by BKmachine

Loudoun county also seems to be too far to be considered NoVa to me.... not location wise but culturally.

Can you be specific? What, culturally, differentiates Loudoun from Fairfax county?

Originally Posted by BKmachine

In order to be a suburb of a city normally there would be some sort of common ground between two.

This is pretty flawed logic. What is the common ground between The Main Line and Camden, both suburbs of Philly? For that matter, what's the common ground between Temple Hills, MD and McLean, VA?

[CAVA1990]

I'm officially declaring it everything North of the James and East of the Blue Ridge. There may be a few pockets of (futile) resistance in there to mop up but I'm confident victory will soon be ours.

[snowdenscold]

This is stolen from another forum:

[11KAP]

the pentagon. that's it.

[selenityk]

For me, it would be anything north of Fredericksburg and east of I-81.

[Forehead]

I think Snowdenscold's map is pretty appropriate at this point. Growing up inside the Beltway in the 80's/90's, I know Loudoun was still "out there" and PW was a place you traveled past to get to King's Dominion. Loudoun has exploded in both growth/money and the northern parts of Prince William are starting to really resemble the neighborhoods I remember growing up.

I'm not sure I'd count Fauquier yet, a lot of it is still pretty rural, and Fredericksburg still feels too far south to me to be part of NOVA, but it has clearly expanded.

[Mr. Benz]

Its simple everything with a 703/571 area code...any suggestions that Prince William County is not apart of Northern VA is an insult! Need any more proof look at the counties that went blue in the area after the election