Living in LoCo
Eastern Loudoun Is Best
Erica Garman at 10:12 a.m., April 30, 2009 (20 comments)
When you first come to know Loudoun County, you quickly realize that there's an obvious difference between living in the eastern and the western parts of the county.
The divide becomes even more apparent in county politics, when issues like land use, sign ordinances and school policies are debated.
In fact, it was just a few years ago, at the height of Loudoun's most recent growth spurt, that many western residents were talking about forming their own county - Catoctin - and suggested Purcellville as its county seat. Residents viewed secession as a last resort to preserve their bucolic countryside in the west from eager land developers.
Apparently, the county "divide" goes back even further.
"Western Loudoun and eastern Loudoun have always been two separate places. The east was part of slave society; the west was settled by Quakers and Germans from Pennsylvania," said Joe Keating, of Waterford, in this 2005 Washington Post article about western Loudoun's possible succession from the county.
Living in LoCo has decided to stir this east vs. west pot, so-to-speak, and we're asking you, our readers: Which do you think is best? East or west?
Personally, I think living in eastern Loudoun is ideal. Mainly because of the proximity we enjoy to both the city (Washington, D.C.) and the country (western Loudoun).
In as little as 30 to 40 minutes (depending on traffic, of course), we easterners can be strolling through world-class museums in our nation's capital, or - if we head in the opposite direction - sipping Virginia wine at a western Loudoun vineyard.
Also, in eastern LoCo it's not that big of a deal to run out for a gallon of milk, buy a pair of running shoes or order a quick to-go meal of pad Thai for dinner. We've got so many grocery, retail and restaurant choices. Because of that, less time is wasted running errands and more time can be spent with our families.
And speaking of families, the suburbs in eastern Loudoun revolve around family and neighbors. Because of our high-density communities, we're obliged to socialize and take care of each other. We have neighborhood barbecues and block parties, we watch each other's kids in times of need, we bring dinner and run errands for sick community members and our families grow up playing together. We're a close-knit group here in the east.
Oh yeah, and I'm fairly certain we've got broadband Internet coverage in all of eastern LoCo. Many of our neighbors to the west still have to make do with dial-up.
So, if you have a second, check out this video we shot on a recent lovely day in eastern Loudoun. In it, I've highlighted some of these "Best of the East" examples. Enjoy! (For those of you using Internet Explorer, click here instead.)
And westerner Loudouners, take heart. Stay tuned for tomorrow's "West Is Best" counterpoint and feel free to log in your opinions in the poll below or in the comments field.
Deal of the Day
$25 Off House Cleaning From Maid To Please!
Maid To Please is offering LoudounExtra.com readers $25 off their first house cleaning, or $10 their third house cleaning.
• View all deals from Maid To Please | All deals
Latest Deal
• $25 Off House Cleaning From Maid To Please! posted: 4/28/09
|
Search Deals and Business Directory |
Your Thoughts...
Are you happy that the school year is over?
Comments:
Note: LoudounExtra.com does not necessarily agree with comments posted below — responsibility lies with the relevant reader alone. Peruse our reader agreement and privacy policy
the countryside is beautiful, peaceful and quiet,not so noisy or busy. You can see the stars and hear the rain.
Posted by swilley (anonymous) on April 30, 2009 at 10:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I prefer western loudoun. No crowds. People are in less of a hurry and more laid back. No HOAs. No forced broadbands. Not everyone needs or wants a harris teeter, chevy chase bank, or starbucks at the corner of each neighborhood.
Posted by mazman128 (anonymous) on April 30, 2009 at 12:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Please tell me why Living LoCo would want to “stir” the East vs. West debate?
One reason that Loudoun is such a wonderful place to live is because of the East, West dichotomy, not despite it.
Phyllis Randall
Posted by philarandall (anonymous) on April 30, 2009 at 12:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
All of Loudoun is great. I live in the West and shame on Loudoun Extra for pushing this.
Posted by LoudounModerate (anonymous) on April 30, 2009 at 1:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
philarandall ... that's a "bingo". We love it all.
Posted by mitlen (anonymous) on April 30, 2009 at 1:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with Phyllis, the differences in the East and West shouldn't be debated - they should be celebrated!
Posted by cheekymonkey (anonymous) on April 30, 2009 at 1:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Western Loudoun should not be a part of Eastern Loudoun, because of the differences. I truly believe that the wants of Eastern Loudoun aren't the same as Western Loudoun.
Catoctin County should be made.
Posted by logcbn1 (anonymous) on April 30, 2009 at 1:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
LoCo should split so that Eastern Loudoun property values aren't depressed by the values in Western Loudoun where the majority of people don't want to live and there is no housing demand. Western LoCo is nice to visit, but not desirable to live in for most people.
Posted by msewel77 (anonymous) on April 30, 2009 at 3:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What about Central Loudoun? We feel so left out!!
Posted by truthseekerva (anonymous) on April 30, 2009 at 3:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This might be a beneficial in-fun discussion if any of the qualifiers were clear cut, but they never are.
A location has absolutely no geographic reality here without the modifier of an issue, usually divisive.
Where I live is either eastern, southern or central Loudoun depending on what people want to say "no" to in terms of service, or "yes" to in terms of ambience advocacy.
"Western" Loudoun was two thirds of the County two downzonings ago, and that is part of why it was thrown out in court.
In some newspaper articles on the old CPAM issue, "rural" Loudoun began at the Fairfax line--this paper referred to "the vast swath of rural farmland surrounding Dulles Airport". Ahhhh, yes, that describes 606 to a tee!
The Catoctin County movement began with the 2003 elections, when a minority in the rural area discovered that they could not recall supervisors they couldn't vote for in the first place.
The report they briefly published (presented in Fauquier County, and at lunchtime on an Easter break weekday to a handfull in Purcellville) assumed a tax increase, a complete gifting of all county school properties and other public services, and massive subsidies to the new county for a startup.
Between land use deferrals (including "open space" on parcels too small to subdivide)and massive service support of a duplicate school system as well as "rural economic development" for a dwindling supply of farmers and a growing number of hobbies (which engender their own deferrals), there is no tax base present in the rural area to support the level of service there.
If there were an economic basis for Catoctin County, the county would already exist.
There is beauty in all of Loudoun.
I don't think fostering the divide, which really does no good in addressing any of the inequities resulting from the existence of that divide, is beneficial for anyone.
Posted by BarbaraMunsey (anonymous) on April 30, 2009 at 5:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with Phyllis, this post is useless and un-productive.
I also agree with Barbara fostering the East-West divide without much content is not beneficial.
Posted by bcoe (anonymous) on April 30, 2009 at 6:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I have to agree with Barbara, Phyllis, and all those agreeing with them. Loudoun is a beautiful place - east, west, south, north, central. We Loudouners DO need to work TOGETHER, though, because we do have many problems and challenges ahead. We need to come together through recognition of our commonalities. If we don't know what these are, perhaps we should turn our attention towards figuring it out.
Posted by momof2 (anonymous) on April 30, 2009 at 6:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
There are equity issues. The west pays less in taxes (lower property values) and cost more per person for services such as schools and fire/rescue. The people in the transition zone expect shiny new schools to match their homes but without rolling the cost for that infrastructure into their home price. The east rolled the price of infrastructure into new homes through proffers. (The land for many of the eastern Loudoun schools were donated by developers for zoning exceptions and that cost was passed on to buyers; now easterners we are paying megabucks for school sites in the center and west for people who haven't moved in yet or paid any taxes. A $75/year Fire and Rescue donation was required of all new subdivision homes in the east but now everyone is paying for the new fire stations in the west.) If Eastern Loudoun wasn't subsidizing the cost maybe fewer people would choose to waste 5 acres of land for a home far from work and services and instead purchase and renovate some of our foreclosures in the east. I hope people remember that gas can quickly return to $4/gallon when they consider 40 mile commutes just so they can afford a 5,000 sqft home.
Posted by EdwardMyers (anonymous) on April 30, 2009 at 6:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
wow.
I'll join in with Phyllis.
I love all parts of Loudoun and rely on businesses in many parts of this county and have friends across the county too. Though I'd be much happier with fewer strip malls and more good roads.
Posted by insideoutblog (anonymous) on April 30, 2009 at 6:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I've lived in both Eastern and Western Loudoun, and prefer Eastern Loudoun. I thought I would like Western Loudoun, until I moved there and had to drive to Eastern Loudoun for everything.
Posted by getla3 (anonymous) on April 30, 2009 at 8:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Perhaps these would be better topics: private schools -v- public schools; Target -v- WalMart; cats -v- dogs; hot fudge banana brownie ice cream sundae -v- fruit for dessert...etc...
(BTW: my answers: public, Target, dogs, and sundae...)
Posted by Triciah (anonymous) on April 30, 2009 at 9:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The differences between East and west are really minute... At least the Western Loudoun that is labeled.
The Western Loudon described in this article is really the part of Loudoun County west of Leesburg.
Western Loudouners don't want to be lumped together with the eastern loudouners because they want to be left out of the selfish eastern loudouners and secessionist northen Virginians.
All these people are coming in from all throughout the country and attempting to claim all the tax dollars of VA.
We do not want to be separated from VA because we are more loyal to our state, we have a stronger sense of gratitude and duty to and for our home state.
We do not appreciate being labeled as traitors from our fellow Virginians because a group of largely non-native "Virginians" want to separate from Richmond.
But of course we have no problem with secession as long as we aren't forced into it against our will.
Posted by JoshuaThompsonM3 (anonymous) on May 27, 2009 at 10:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Dont have an account? Sign up!
Post a comment