Real Estate Blog - Where is Northern Virginia Exactly?

Home : Blogs : Cindy Jones-Northern Virginia Real Estate & Military Relocation Services : Perspective and News On Northern Virginia Real Estate

Where is Northern Virginia Exactly?

It seemed like a crazy question and then I laughed. The buyer was headed to Fort Belvoir from Arizona they had checked and they couldn't find Northern Virginia anywhere on the map. It just wasn't there.

Oh well actually there isn't a Northern Virginia like there is a North or South Carolina it is just a local term. Where is Northern Virginia

Why do you make the distinction?

Ahhhh we just do. It is more about a difference in economics and politics than anything.

So where are the boundaries?

Hmmm, good question. Before housing developments pushed west to the Shenandoah Valley and south through Fredericksburg we would have said it was a much smaller area. Now with the expanded highways, the commuter options and employment centers are further and further outside of the beltway extending the area we consider Northern Virginia.

Okay well it seems to be clear as mud and I'm looking forward to the move. I think I'll just tell everyone I'm moving to the State of Virginia.

Ummm, just one more little point.

What is it?

Virginia isn't actually a state. It is a Commonwealth.

Oh come on you have got to be kidding me?

No honestly it is.

Can you vote?

Oh absolutely and Northern Virginian's go to the polls in record numbers.

Alright I'll bite what about Southern Virginian's?

Oh there aren't any Southern Virginian's just Virginian's.

Can I ask you one more question?

Sure what is it?

I'm flying into Washington Dulles Airport. That is in the city isn't it?

Sigh. How much time do you have for this explanation?

So if you are relocating to Northern Virginia and have orders to Fort Belvoir rest assured you won't find it on the map anywhere but it is a great place to live with wonderful neighborhoods, loads of commuting options and some slightly confused people trying to figure out where it really is.

Northern Virginia Map

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Cindy Jones

As an Associate Broker with RE/MAX Allegiance in Northern Virginia and native of the area I can assist you whether you are buying, selling or renting a home anywhere in Northern Virginia. For more information about the area or my services you can check VaRealEstateTalk or my Northern Virginia website.

Search all homes available in the Northern Virginia area.

Posted by Cindy Jones-Northern Virginia Real Estate & Military Relocation Services on 04/14/2008 08:20 AM

Comments (23)

Fort Belvoir Relocation in the Moving Channel

fort belvoir, northern va real estate, fairfax county real estate, prince william county real estate

Originally posted at: : Where is Northern Virginia Exactly?

This post has been included in Virginia Information
Post is included in group: WHAT'S HOT IN VIRGINIA
Post is included in group: VIRGINIA
Post is included in group: Posts to Localism
Post is included in group: Military Relocations
Post is included in group: Dedicated Bloggers

23 Comments on Where is Northern Virginia Exactly?

APR

2008

That is too funny! Now you have me thinking about the boundaries of Northern Virginia. I guess there's also Central Virginia (like Charlottesville and Richmond). And what about the abbreviation, NOVA, which is also a TV science show on PBS.

But, I'm a MD guy and I have a hard enough time trying to tell people about the Eastern Shore vs the DC 'burbs.

I once was assigned to a Navy Base in Virginia.

Name was "NorthWest".

Never understood why it was in the extreme SouthEastern corner of the state.

Your blog lends some insight!

JimG

Cindy, this is a very entertaining post and extremely well written. I am familiar with Northern Virginia. I have done work there and my son has lived there. By the way, there are technically 4 commonwealths in the US. Besides Virginia, can you name the other 3?

Cindy, good question! I tend to use the NVAR definition of Northern Virginia -- Fairfax County, Alexandria, Arlington, and Falls Church. Sometimes parts of Prince William County and even Loudoun County can get thrown into the mix. Is Fauquier County still Northern Virginia? What about Stafford County? It can become a confusing muddle sometimes.

I was going to visit my sister in Centreville VG and ended up coming in from the northwest (I forgot which road)...anyway, it was amazing how you went from quaint old...I mean really old homes to suburbia in a flash! I don't know the town, but I made a right turn and BAM! I was in DC! ;-)

Bob Mitchell

ValueList Real Estate Services, Inc.

Cindy... Your post points out that Real Estate is a local business and the services of a local Real Estate Agent are important

Ken

I grew up in the Md suburbs of DC and spent most of my adult life on the Western Shore and commuted to work inside the beltway. I moved to South West Florida when the DC Suburbs extended to Western Maryland, Southern Maryland, the Western Panhandle of West Virginia and the Eastern Shore,

Ken-MD is just as confusing. I love the fact that Baltimore is part of the DC Metropolitian area!

Jim-I'm sure Virginia isn' t the only "state" that the residents have divided up into areas that aren't on any map.

Steve-having been born in DC and lived in the Commonwealth of VA I know about those odd little "states" that aren't really states. If I remember correctly it should be PA, MA & KY! My son who was born in Okinawa used to love the little game in elementary school when the teacher would point to the US Map and ask where were you born? He loved to stand up and say I wasn't born in a state and neither was my mom!

Brian-My ADC map says that it should only be Fairfax, Prince William, Loudoun, Alexandria and Arlington. Now I think you almost have to include Stafford and Fauquier even though they have a different map book :-)

APR

2008

LOL!! Thanks for the good laugh, Cindy.

APR

2008

Tchaka-Thanks for stopping by. Glad if the post gave you a NOVA chuckle!

Northern Virginia is absolutely one of the prettiest areas in the entire United States!

APR

2008

Cindy- My ADC map book has Fauquier, but not Stafford....hmmm... however, I include both in the Northern VA area. Great topic and so true with people relocating to this area.

Now I'm a generous guy and all, but I think it's a stretch...or should I say streeeeeeeetch to add Fauquier County as part of Northern VA. You're getting close to Warrenton by then.

Side question: Is Clark Brothers still on 29?

APR

2008

Cindy, like DC, Virginia isn't a state. Unlike DC, Virginia has representation in Congress! You are a Commonwealth, we are a Colony!

My favorite license plate slogan by far is: Taxation Without Representation

There really isn't anything close to that, so perfect! Was it Eleanor Norton Holmes who came up with that idea? BTW, I love the picture on your AR page Patricia - a little waterfront action. I even see the road i've zipped on from Key Bridge to downtown many times.....K Street if I recall correctly.

APR

2008

Eric-NOVA is a great area. Lots of history, parks and friendly people too :-)

Chelle-just as many areas of the country have their strange quirks about how they name their areas so do we. I love the fact that Northern Virginia is getting bigger and bigger though the land mass is still the same!

Tchaka-Warrenton is NOW commuting distance to DC. I've been involved in two real estate transactions in Warrenton so go figure. If you are asking about the Clark Brothers Gun store in Warrenton yes it is still there. So is the tack store in town too. Some things stand the test of time.

Patricia-you have me on that one. Having been born in DC I used to chide my parents about my status as a citizen. When you fill out most forms they say what state were you born in? Hmmm I wasn't born in one and I don't live in one :-)

these stories scare me....we don't know our way around our own country??? I think everyone had to learn the 50 states in middle school, didn't they????

APR

2008

Bill and Barbara Jo-there are plenty of folks who geography isn't there strong suit. When my daughter was very young she used to be able to name all 50 states in alphabetical order in under a minute. I'll have to test her now that she is in her twenties and see if she can still do it.

This blog does not allow anonymous comments