Do Richmond people feel an affinity to Baltimore? Baltimore from a Richmond comparitive? (Chesapeake: best towns, violent crime)

[molukai]

When someone from Richmond says they are going to Baltimore, the response would be "Don't buy drugs, it's not good for you."


Baltimore Is the U.S. Heroin Capital, ABC News: Part I: Baltimore Is the U.S. Heroin Capital - ABC News

[JCrock]

Short answer to the question of Richmonder's "affinity" is "None". We know it's there, some of us us do pull for the O's and Ravens (I'm more of a Nats and Redskins guy myself), some will occasionally bounce up to hit the Baltimore bar scene as a change of pace from Richmond and DC nightlife. Any true social, cultural or economic connection simply does not exist unless someone has personal ties to the city. Washington ties are much stronger because a large part of the Washington Metro region is Northern Virginia which is very much connected to Richmond socially, politically and economically. Nothing against Baltimore, simply put if Richmond disappeared tomorrow people in Baltimore would hardly notice and if Baltimore disappeared tomorrow people in Richmond would hardly notice. DC and the Potomac River is simply a giant cultural, economic and literally (ever tried getting across the Wilson Bridge) traffic road block between our two cities.

[VASpaceMan]

I grew up kind of near by both and have been researching cities in the region for a place to settle. I'd say Balitmore has somewhat of a southern feel to it (the people), in ways it feels more southern than DC, Northern Virginia, but there's definitely a NE feel in some ways. Baltimore is more industrial. Baltimore has a much bigger city feel to it. I think Richmond has really cleaned up alot of it's crime problem, it used to be murder capital of the US, but Baltimore continues to be extremely dangerous. I've seen people who have tried to stick with Balitmore because it does have a lot of cool things about it (e.g. Hopkins, historical houses, the Harbor, low cost NE city) but who've given up saying they think it'll never be "fixed". The crime problem seems to be irretractable.

[mcleanexec]

Bmore has the Wire. Richmond has the real life Wire in Churchill and Petersburg.

Bmore is Inner Harbor, Richmond has the james river.

Bmore has two Pro Sports Teams, Richmond has a double AA baseball team.

Bmore is building a major casino, richmond is just paving some roads.

Yes, i agree. Good comparison.

[tcave360]

Originally Posted by mcleanexec

bmore has the wire. Richmond has the real life wire in churchill and petersburg.

Bmore is inner harbor, richmond has the james river.

Bmore has two pro sports teams, richmond has a double aa baseball team.

Bmore is building a major casino, richmond is just paving some roads.

Yes, i agree. Good comparison.

lol :d

[murksiderock]

There is no "affinity" from either end...

But there does exist similarities between Richmond and Baltimore. From the surface, a lot of the similarities aren't noticeable, because of the sheer size difference. Baltimore is much bigger and overall more urban. However, Baltimore is kind of "weak" urban--it certainly isn't in the same sphere of urbanity as DC, and thats where the similarities with Richmond begin. The older, more historic areas of both Richmond and Baltimore have quite a lot in common, and Richmond does have a few neighborhoods that are similar in appearance to Baltimore. The major difference is architechture, because Richmond's is more diverse, whereas Baltimore is seemingly an unending stretch of rowhouses--good ones, bad ones, ugly ones, pretty ones. The difference in architechture helps create a perception that they are not similar in other ways. Demographically, they are similar, as well. I could write another paragraph highlighting the similarities...

Either city having an affinity for the other? Hell no. But are Baltimore and Richmond in some ways alike? Hell yes, and the onlyy people who wouldnt agree are those who aren't very familiar with either city...

Baltimore definitely has a more NE vibe, but that comes with the location and the the fact that it isn't far from and also has similarities to Philly. Notwithstanding, there is traces of Southern-ness in the city and amongst its people. On the othrr end, Richmond does have a more SE vibe, and that in part due to its location and the things it has in common with Southside VA and Hampton Roads. However, as is the case with Baltimore, Richmond does have traces of Northern characteristics. Both cities are somewhat hybrid and in an era of diversifying/redefing their identity...

[muppethammer26]

Baltimore and Washington is more similar to Delaware, Philadelphia, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, etc. than Baltimore and Washington is to Richmond, Norfolk, etc. Throughout History, Baltimore and Washington has been receiving Irish, Italian, German, Jewish, Dominican, Puerto Rican, Black, etc. migrants from around the world and were employed in Baltimore and Washington's factories and each of the ethnic group has a neighborhood in Baltimore and Washington similar to the ones in Philadelphia, New York and Boston. Richmond and Norfolk, on the other side, only has Non-Ethnic Whites and Blacks. Baltimore and Washington's neighborhoods are very similar to Philadelphia and New York. Richmond's neighborhoods look more southern than Baltimore.

[Armyvet1]

Richmond is a southern city, not a northern one. Richmond is also the state capital and was home to the confederacy. Richmond has a deeper southern root then NYC, Philly, Baltimore,

[snatale1]

Originally Posted by Tiger Beer

It seems Baltimore and Richmond are somewhat of the same vein. It does seem that Baltimore is associated with the North, and Richmond is associated with the South. But, beyond the association, they seem similarly built - density, etc. They are both within striking range of Washington DC.

That being said, it does seem like Baltimore has some social issues with racial problems, economic woes, deterioated city image, drug issues, etc. That being said, they've also built quite a bit around the Harbor, and trying to pull themselves up more.

How drastically similar or different is Richmond. Does Baltimore seem like a completely differnet world altogether?

I think all east coast cities are sorta alike in many ways, but Baltimore is a major city and Richmond is more like a busy town. As a Northerner living in Richmond I can tell you most Northerners wouldn't consider Maryland the North, but I also wouldn't really call Richmond (or VA really) the South. The Mid Atlantic title fits them both pretty well I think, just kinda a mix of both worlds which is why it works.

[Charlesaf3]

Richmond isn't southern. It is mid Atlantic.