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. 
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.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
No Hassle-No Pressure-Just Straight Talk About The Northern Virginia Real Estate Market
Military Relocation Specialist serving military families relocating to and from the Pentagon, Fort Belvoir, Quantico MCB and all of the Military District of Washington installations.
Licensed in Virginia
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?
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,
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?
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.
Eric-NOVA is a great area. Lots of history, parks and friendly people too :-)
Nice post. Just to expand (?) on it a bit:
Oh there aren't any Southern Virginian's just Virginians.
Well, almost all Virginians would call themselves Southerners, even those in Northern Virginia (even if there isn't a Northern Virginia). And what about West Virginia--part of Virginia before the Civil War (or War Between the States or, perhaps as Virginians who consider themselves Southerners would call it, "The War of Northern Aggression." And if you take a look at a map, West Virginia is actually North of Northern Virginia, so maybe there is no real Northern Virginia any more--just West Virginia (which is the true North). Huh?
As for flying into regional airports, what about National Airport? (Or Reagan National, if you prefer.) That must be in the city, right? It's so much closer in. But, no. National Airport is in Arlington . . . Northern Virginia (if you accept the dubious premise that there is a Northern Virginia). Except, of course, that that area of Virginia used to be part (for awhile) of the District of Columbia. If you look at a map of the District, it looks as if someone took a bite out of its southwestern region . . . which is pretty much what happened.
And we haven't even touched on the subject of Southern Maryland which, thankfully, is not where that couple was moving! But to drive from Virginia into Maryland (which no one in their right mind really wants to do--traffic problems, nothing wrong with Maryland, hon!), you cross over a bridge named for a Virginia (Woodrow Wilson) who made his name by serving as governor of New Jersey (definitely North) before being elected President.
Somehow, I think I just added to the confusion!
Well no, very few Northern Virginians of the past few decades consider themselves Southerners. Old timers and those not really in the area might.
Arlington County was actually part of Virginia before being taken by DC, then returned some years later.
Speaking of National Airport, I was there a few weeks ago and had time to kill so I walked through the former 'waiting area' and looked at all the pictures from way back (I believe the 40s) through now. My memories only span 30 years, but the change in that time has been significant.
Donald-you forgot the fact that for some reason people also think the Pentagon is in DC when it is in Arlington. Thanks for adding to the confusion. Now we will never get anyone to move here :-)
Tchaka-my memory span is a bit longer :-) I CAN remember when the street cars were running in DC and Shirley Highway was a four lane road. We used to sit on the grassy bank at Ridge Rd to watch the fireworks on the 4th of July. My mother considered it a days drive to get to Centreville on a 2 lane winding Braddock rd. Not sure all of the changes are positive but the area has changed.