Neat map. Virginia has a large population heavily concentrated in three areas (Richmond, Hampton Roads, and DC Suburbs) but since we have independent cities we don't make this list.
Neat map. Virginia has a large population heavily concentrated in three areas (Richmond, Hampton Roads, and DC Suburbs) but since we have independent cities we don't make this list. I always find it interesting how Richmond is ranked, because the greater Richmond area is more than a million strong but the city itself is just above 200,000.
Driving through nearly anywhere in the Hampton Roads or NoVa areas nearly drives me beyond the point of sanity.
Quote from: Nic on July 21, 2014, 05:19:28 PMDriving through nearly anywhere in the Hampton Roads or NoVa areas nearly drives me beyond the point of sanity. Solution: don't drive.
I'm not in one of the 146. Are you?http://www.businessinsider.com/half-of-the-united-states-lives-in-these-counties-2013-9
Quote from: hybrid on July 21, 2014, 02:30:48 PMNeat map. Virginia has a large population heavily concentrated in three areas (Richmond, Hampton Roads, and DC Suburbs) but since we have independent cities we don't make this list.Fairfax, VA is on the list. I, too, live in an independent city, not a county, but the counties* on either side of me are on the list, so .... sort of.* since when is the District of Columbia a county?
Quote from: Will on July 21, 2014, 12:24:07 PMI'm not in one of the 146. Are you?http://www.businessinsider.com/half-of-the-united-states-lives-in-these-counties-2013-9Nope. Just curious, are you an I on the Myers-Briggs?
Quote from: thefinancialstudent on July 21, 2014, 06:43:27 PMI guess I never paid attention before but I noticed that the midwest and southern states have many more counties than the west. Any historians know of a reason for that? I would have assumed CA had way more counties than OH's 88, but that's clearly not the case.It has a lot to do with the era in which they were settled, and also with physical geography. The West was settled much later than the rest of the country mostly in the early 20th century. In the other states local governments could not be reached and truly local without them being smaller in the age before cars. For example in my state of Kansas where we have 105 counties many with only a few thousand residents, state law from the early days of the state prescribes minimum and maximum geographic sizes of counties. From my reading, they were set up in such a manner so a person on horseback could reach the county seat to conduct necessary business by riding no for no more than one day. For states that were populated later telephones and automobiles extended out the range greatly so the need for small geographic counties was reduced.By the way, I do not reside in any of the 146 largest counties.
I guess I never paid attention before but I noticed that the midwest and southern states have many more counties than the west. Any historians know of a reason for that? I would have assumed CA had way more counties than OH's 88, but that's clearly not the case.
Quote from: Cherry Lane on July 21, 2014, 05:21:38 PMQuote from: Nic on July 21, 2014, 05:19:28 PMDriving through nearly anywhere in the Hampton Roads or NoVa areas nearly drives me beyond the point of sanity. Solution: don't drive.That would be a long walk from Chesterfield! I try not to drive up there unless I absolutely have to.
Georgia has more counties than any other state in the Union
Quote from: Nic on July 21, 2014, 05:55:59 PMQuote from: Cherry Lane on July 21, 2014, 05:21:38 PMQuote from: Nic on July 21, 2014, 05:19:28 PMDriving through nearly anywhere in the Hampton Roads or NoVa areas nearly drives me beyond the point of sanity. Solution: don't drive.That would be a long walk from Chesterfield! I try not to drive up there unless I absolutely have to.Cherry Lane must be confusing Richmond with Portland or NYC.... If you want to go to Trader Joe's or Whole Foods or the Apple Store you are going to Glen Allen, a good 12-15 miles from Richmond and no easy way to bike there. It's a 30 minute drive by highway from my house on the Richmond border of Chesterfield. You can live in Richmond without a car, but it's tough. Suburban sprawl is the rule around here, not building dense and tall like in NY.
Quote from: Cherry Lane on July 21, 2014, 05:07:27 PMQuote from: hybrid on July 21, 2014, 02:30:48 PMNeat map. Virginia has a large population heavily concentrated in three areas (Richmond, Hampton Roads, and DC Suburbs) but since we have independent cities we don't make this list.Fairfax, VA is on the list. I, too, live in an independent city, not a county, but the counties* on either side of me are on the list, so .... sort of.* since when is the District of Columbia a county?Fairfax County (1.1mil+) ≠ City of Fairfax (20000+). If we included all the adjacent 'counties' of the 146, then many more would see where they live on the list but that is a different statement. I live in the DC metro area yet am not in one of the 146 (City of Alexandria).County equivalents are probably being used so all counties, parishes (LA), boroughs (AK), independent cities, consolidated cities, and any other admin or statistical area similar to a county would be included. Washington DC is a county equivalent for comparison purposes.
Quote from: hybrid on July 22, 2014, 08:40:38 AMQuote from: Nic on July 21, 2014, 05:55:59 PMQuote from: Cherry Lane on July 21, 2014, 05:21:38 PMQuote from: Nic on July 21, 2014, 05:19:28 PMDriving through nearly anywhere in the Hampton Roads or NoVa areas nearly drives me beyond the point of sanity. Solution: don't drive.That would be a long walk from Chesterfield! I try not to drive up there unless I absolutely have to.Cherry Lane must be confusing Richmond with Portland or NYC.... If you want to go to Trader Joe's or Whole Foods or the Apple Store you are going to Glen Allen, a good 12-15 miles from Richmond and no easy way to bike there. It's a 30 minute drive by highway from my house on the Richmond border of Chesterfield. You can live in Richmond without a car, but it's tough. Suburban sprawl is the rule around here, not building dense and tall like in NY.Wasn't referring to Richmond, actually, but NoVa. I don't complain about traffic (much) here in NoVa because I don't generally drive in it.On the other hand, I should add I completely agree with Nic's comment about Hampton Roads. Traffic there is terrible and there doesn't seem to be an alternative.
I guess I never paid attention before but I noticed that the midwest and southern states have many more counties than the west.
Yup- Maricopa County, AZ #4. Oh- summer sucks here.