Is This An Accurate Map of Virginia's Regions?

[Veritas Vincit]

I'd say the main cultural difference in rural Western VA is whether a town is desirable to retirees/2nd home owners from the D.C. metro (+ other major NE metros). That presence will change the vibe of a place dramatically i.e. you go from a place where the only store is a Dollar General to a place with fine dining restaurants, organic stores etc.

[costellopresley82]

Roanoke is a little out of place compared to most Virginia cities. It wasn't even chartered until after the Civil War, for one. It also has an industrial feel to an extent, similar to cities in West Virginia or even Pennsylvania/Ohio. I agree that it has a stronger connection with southwest Virginia than the Shenandoah Valley.

Petersburg is a crossroads town in Virginia, IMO. On one hand, it has a connection with Southside and the North Carolina Piedmont (Oxford, Durham, etc.) via I-85. On the other hand, it is clearly connected to Richmond via I-95. Therefore, I'd say Petersburg is a transition zone between Southside and Greater Richmond.

There are a few counties in extreme Southside that might as well be included in North Carolina's regions, too. For example, Mecklenburg County is in the Triangle's media market (WRAL, etc.).

[Serious Conversation]

Originally Posted by Veritas Vincit

I'd say the main cultural difference in rural Western VA is whether a town is desirable to retirees/2nd home owners from the D.C. metro (+ other major NE metros). That presence will change the vibe of a place dramatically i.e. you go from a place where the only store is a Dollar General to a place with fine dining restaurants, organic stores etc.

Rural western VA could be everything from Lee County to Winchester.

I live in Bristol, less than a mile as the crow flies from the VA line. Abingdon is the somewhat "moneyed town" in the extreme southwestern part of VA, with the nicer restaurants, health food stores, etc. It's a nice little town of 8,000 in a rural area. It's a totally different vibe than Grundy, Norton, or Jonesville, which are isolated in the butt end of coal country.

[Lusitan]

Interesting map. I wonder if the post-pandemic trend toward telework, resulting in fewer people commuting into cities like Washington and Richmond will have any long-term impact on how people define areas of the state.

In any case, I’m in the Shenandoah Valley ... and there’s no place I’d rather be!