How southern is Richmond? (Poquoson: live, stores, agricultural)

[LIFL]

Follow up question, how much of a city is Richmond, using DC, or New York as comparison?

[roanoker 4]

My description of Richmond is Charming. Is it southern? Not anymore from my observations. The suburban sprawl reminds me
Of northern Va and many other cities in this region with their endless sameness. Kudos to the historical society there in
Preserving those magnificient buildings such as the state capitol and the old Broad Street train station. I love the Va Museum!

[Octa]

Originally Posted by isles20

Follow up question, how much of a city is Richmond, using DC, or New York as comparison?

If by DC or NYC you mean the downtown sections such as the National Mall and Times Square then it's nothing like those cities. If by DC or NYC you mean the neighborhoods that locals do their daily business in daily, then Richmond is more like that. Richmond is very quaint . Downtown is pretty busy during business areas and there are certain sections of the city throughout various neighborhoods that are active Thursday-Saturday night with people out and about bar hopping and going to various clubs. The first Friday of every month are the art walks where a bunch of galleries open up and the underground music scene compliments it.

Richmond is unique and seems to be more like cities such as Portland in it's atmosphere. It's not the type of city you would go to if you wanted to experience the hustle and bustle of a 24 hour city.

[curlydubs]

Originally Posted by isles20

Follow up question, how much of a city is Richmond, using DC, or New York as comparison?

Octa's post above is very accurate. I see Richmond as a miniature version of a really big city. It has some of the undergraound arts and music of a much bigger city. It has some great historic neighbirhoods with restaurants and bars.

I like to think you can get a very authentic, urban experience in this city for a very affordable price. It is very, very very unique in this regard.

[BuiltforSin]

Originally Posted by Charlesaf3

Used to be southern. Now mid Atlantic and full of northerners who wanted a good life with better weather

LOL This is very accurate.

[Mutiny77]

I think it's very interesting that people here are saying that Richmond is no longer Southern because of all the transplants, it's progressiveness, young people, etc. We have all of that in spades here in Atlanta, much more so than Richmond, yet you'd be hard pressed to find someone who's actually knowledgeable of Atlanta declare that it's no longer Southern. Now it's not as quintessentially Southern as, say, Savannah or Birmingham, but even with all of the transplants, young population, sizable LGBT community, heavy-rail transit, heavy media/film presence, etc., Atlanta is unmistakably Southern.

I guess it's just interesting how different people gauge "Southernness."

[Charlesaf3]

I don't think Richmond was as southern as Atlanta to start with... And I actually don't find Atlanta as hipster/fun/progressive etc. either, barring a few nooks and crannies like 5 points/Virginia highlands. I could happily move to Richmond from Boston, but no way would I live in Atlanta. It's exactly the sort of city that I avoid like the plague. A much better comparison to Charlotte than Richmond.

[Mutiny77]

Originally Posted by Charlesaf3

I don't think Richmond was as southern as Atlanta to start with

I disagree. I mean the South actually starts in Virginia and Richmond had a pretty substantial agricultural economy with tobacco and all, whereas Atlanta was founded as a railroad economic venture. And I know y'all get tired of hearing the whole "capital of the Confederacy" thing, but it's a very pertinent fact right about now.

... And I actually don't find Atlanta as hipster/fun/progressive etc. either, barring a few nooks and crannies like 5 points/Virginia highlands. I could happily move to Richmond from Boston, but no way would I live in Atlanta. It's exactly the sort of city that I avoid like the plague. A much better comparison to Charlotte than Richmond.

Taking your personal bias out of it for a minute, the point is that all of the reasons that were cited for Richmond's "unSouthernness" applies to Atlanta even more so, yet Atlanta doesn't deny its Southernness.

And for the record, Atlanta has several hipster/fun/progressive nooks and crannies (Midtown, Old Fourth Ward, Little Five Points, Grant Park, East Atlanta Village, Castleberry Hill, downtown Decatur, Edgewood, Kirkwood, Inman Park, etc.), not just a few.

[dansemacabre]

Richmond is very southern. It's definitely what I'd call the Bible Belt. It's interesting how the state just divides in two like that. Richmond is millions of times more southern than the DC suburbs. Down in Richmond, everyone walks a little slower. Southern grocery stores and foods. Lots of chicken places to eat. And the accents... so distinctly southern. The people there definitely refer to it as the south. Tobacco factories... Marlboro. Statues of confederate generals. Don't listen to anyone who says it is not the South. The South is alive and well in Richmond.

[Poquoson7]

Richmond is NOT the bible belt, when was the last time you were "down" there?