Regional Guide: Northern Virginia
If you're moving to Virginia from some place else and don't know where to start, let me give the low down on our fair Commonwealth. Virginia is a medium to average sized Commonwealth that is divided into five main regions: Northern, Central, Hampton Roads, Shenandoah Valley, and Southwest/Highlands. Some of these regions overlap each other, and some have smaller enclaves within each region As discussed before , Northern Virginia stretches as far south as the city of Fredericksburg, but to most people it is the immediate Washington D.C. Metro area (a radius of about 25 miles). In this post, I will discuss Northern Virginia, and what that means...
Northern Virginia: (D.C. METRO, Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax County, Reston, Herndon, Prince William, Loudoun (East), and Stafford County towards Fredericksburg)
The Potomac River belongs to Maryland.........
When people talk about "NOVA" this is it: Washington, D.C. Anything that is within a 15-25 mile radius of Washington D.C. and relatively close to the Potomac. Even though Fauquier county (Warrenton) , and Fredericksburg is geographically within the Northern Virginia zone, it is not generally considered part of the region. We distinctly note that there is a difference in geography vs cultural aspects and relevance. In recent years, Fredericksburg has become a part of the Northern Virginia commute, but it isn't part of what most people mean when they speak of this region. NOVA proper is Fairfax County, Arlington, Alexandria, Prince William, and the Eastern tip of Loudoun County (Even Leesburg is "pushing it") and this is the area people have in mind. Northern Virginia is the most expensive costs of living in housing and taxes-although relatively inexpensive compared to much of the East Coast. The culture of NOVA is urban and suburban, with a lot of military and government employees. Southern hospitality in recent years falls more to the bottom of the list, while maintaining status and materialism has been pushed forward. Most people who live in the area do not consider themselves Virginians or Southerners. When asked , usually they reply they are form "D.C.", not Northern Virginia, or Virginia. Not everyone knows what "NOVA" is, outside of Northern Virginia.
Fairfax County, once abundant in wheat and tobacco farms, is now the "hub" of Northern Virginia living. Fairfax County is one of the most populous counties in all of Virginia . Fairfax County includes towns that were built for the purpose of D.C. commuting. Reston, Virginia is a prime example of early days of the region's suburbs. Beginning in the 1960's, Fairfax county started to become very developed in land close to the district. Loudoun, Prince William, Fauquier, and Stafford were very much on the outskirts, and some parts remain that way til this day. If you move to this area be prepared for : lots of traffic and long commuting times, higher priced housing and taxes, lots of government employees, and in general, a more liberal and aloof area. Government employees have encroached upon nearly half of Fairfax County, and most of the area is full of unnatural citizens. In the 1980's, Tyson's Corner Mall and Potomac Mills were all the rage. Such large shopping malls have become outdated in recent years. This detracted from some of the local economy. It is worth visiting Arlington national Cemetery , as well as Robert E. Lee's boyhood home in Alexandria. And of course, Mt. Vernon , the home of George Washington.
Outer NOVA: Fredericksburg, Stafford, Western Loudoun, Fauquier:
In the outskirts of Western Northern Virginia you may find the pace of life a lot slower and more enjoyable. Loudoun and Fauquier County boast the title of "Hunt Country". Point to point steeple races, foxhunts, grand estates, old Virginian plantation homes, and many horse enthusiasts dot the region. Many wineries are also found here , as the soil and climate are rich for grape vineyards. Much of the War Between the States was figured out in this region as well- including tales of Colonel John Mosby and his Rangers. Further to the South lies the city of Fredericksburg, the southern tip of the Northern Virginia region. Fredericksburg is a colonial city which contains Mary Washington college, lots of shops and fine dining areas, and great historic battlefield sites from 1860s. The heavy traffic patterns also seem to fizzle out here, and you start feeling more like you're truly in Virginia. Purcellville in Loudoun County is also home to the newly founded Patrick Henry College. It has gone from a rural farming community to a small college town. You will find many quaint villages in the county of Loudoun as well as Fauquier. Somehow yet untouched by the rapid growth of the Washington D.C. area in the past half century.
Commuting: In recent years some people have moved as far South as Fredericksburg to commute to the D.C. Metro area. The traffic on 1-95 in the last 10 years has increased dramatically. Plan ahead. A drive up from Richmond takes at least 2 hours (if lucky an hour and a half), but plan on 3 hours at least to get to your destination. Traffic going west of the D.C. Metro has also increased. Leesburg Pike (Route 7) is a mess between 4- 7 PM. As a rule of thumb, morning traffic will be headed towards Washington, D.C. Afternoon and evening traffic is headed west and south , from the city.
Highlights in NOVA:
Wineries
Robert E. Lee's boyhood home in Alexandria
Mount Vernon, home of George Washington
George Mason University
Historic Estates and Plantation Homes
Horse Country
Urban and Suburban Living
Civil War Battlefields
Museums
Counties: Loudoun, Prince William, Fairfax
Cities: Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, Manassas
Nearby Environs: Faquier County, Warrenton, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, Stafford
Northern Virginia: (D.C. METRO, Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax County, Reston, Herndon, Prince William, Loudoun (East), and Stafford County towards Fredericksburg)
When people talk about "NOVA" this is it: Washington, D.C. Anything that is within a 15-25 mile radius of Washington D.C. and relatively close to the Potomac. Even though Fauquier county (Warrenton) , and Fredericksburg is geographically within the Northern Virginia zone, it is not generally considered part of the region. We distinctly note that there is a difference in geography vs cultural aspects and relevance. In recent years, Fredericksburg has become a part of the Northern Virginia commute, but it isn't part of what most people mean when they speak of this region. NOVA proper is Fairfax County, Arlington, Alexandria, Prince William, and the Eastern tip of Loudoun County (Even Leesburg is "pushing it") and this is the area people have in mind. Northern Virginia is the most expensive costs of living in housing and taxes-although relatively inexpensive compared to much of the East Coast. The culture of NOVA is urban and suburban, with a lot of military and government employees. Southern hospitality in recent years falls more to the bottom of the list, while maintaining status and materialism has been pushed forward. Most people who live in the area do not consider themselves Virginians or Southerners. When asked , usually they reply they are form "D.C.", not Northern Virginia, or Virginia. Not everyone knows what "NOVA" is, outside of Northern Virginia.
Fairfax County, once abundant in wheat and tobacco farms, is now the "hub" of Northern Virginia living. Fairfax County is one of the most populous counties in all of Virginia . Fairfax County includes towns that were built for the purpose of D.C. commuting. Reston, Virginia is a prime example of early days of the region's suburbs. Beginning in the 1960's, Fairfax county started to become very developed in land close to the district. Loudoun, Prince William, Fauquier, and Stafford were very much on the outskirts, and some parts remain that way til this day. If you move to this area be prepared for : lots of traffic and long commuting times, higher priced housing and taxes, lots of government employees, and in general, a more liberal and aloof area. Government employees have encroached upon nearly half of Fairfax County, and most of the area is full of unnatural citizens. In the 1980's, Tyson's Corner Mall and Potomac Mills were all the rage. Such large shopping malls have become outdated in recent years. This detracted from some of the local economy. It is worth visiting Arlington national Cemetery , as well as Robert E. Lee's boyhood home in Alexandria. And of course, Mt. Vernon , the home of George Washington.
Outer NOVA: Fredericksburg, Stafford, Western Loudoun, Fauquier:
In the outskirts of Western Northern Virginia you may find the pace of life a lot slower and more enjoyable. Loudoun and Fauquier County boast the title of "Hunt Country". Point to point steeple races, foxhunts, grand estates, old Virginian plantation homes, and many horse enthusiasts dot the region. Many wineries are also found here , as the soil and climate are rich for grape vineyards. Much of the War Between the States was figured out in this region as well- including tales of Colonel John Mosby and his Rangers. Further to the South lies the city of Fredericksburg, the southern tip of the Northern Virginia region. Fredericksburg is a colonial city which contains Mary Washington college, lots of shops and fine dining areas, and great historic battlefield sites from 1860s. The heavy traffic patterns also seem to fizzle out here, and you start feeling more like you're truly in Virginia. Purcellville in Loudoun County is also home to the newly founded Patrick Henry College. It has gone from a rural farming community to a small college town. You will find many quaint villages in the county of Loudoun as well as Fauquier. Somehow yet untouched by the rapid growth of the Washington D.C. area in the past half century.
Commuting: In recent years some people have moved as far South as Fredericksburg to commute to the D.C. Metro area. The traffic on 1-95 in the last 10 years has increased dramatically. Plan ahead. A drive up from Richmond takes at least 2 hours (if lucky an hour and a half), but plan on 3 hours at least to get to your destination. Traffic going west of the D.C. Metro has also increased. Leesburg Pike (Route 7) is a mess between 4- 7 PM. As a rule of thumb, morning traffic will be headed towards Washington, D.C. Afternoon and evening traffic is headed west and south , from the city.
Highlights in NOVA:
Wineries
Robert E. Lee's boyhood home in Alexandria
Mount Vernon, home of George Washington
George Mason University
Historic Estates and Plantation Homes
Horse Country
Urban and Suburban Living
Civil War Battlefields
Museums
Counties: Loudoun, Prince William, Fairfax
Cities: Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, Manassas
Nearby Environs: Faquier County, Warrenton, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, Stafford
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