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Is the Marine Corps Base in Quantico the southern boundary of Northern Virginia? |
I enjoyed the varied opinions printed in the May 11 Viewpoints section concerning whether or not our area is a part of Northern Virginia.
I guess I'm a "come hither" myself. I was born in Fairfax in 1970, and my family moved to Partlow in 1975 after my mom was hired as a teacher in Spotsylvania County.
However, coming here at that age leaves me with few memories of life anywhere else.
I remember when Spotsylvania Mall was built. I remember when State Route 208 was only two lanes to U.S. 1.
While I respect the views that others may hold about our area, I don't think I can join Fredericksburg on any map with Northern Virginia. There are common traits between the two, but even more differences.
In my mind, the Marine Corps Base at Quantico has always been the dividing line, specifically for two reasons.
The first is that's the demarcation between the 703 and 540 area codes.
The second is that I'm not aware of any municipal cooperation between Stafford and Prince William counties.
Stafford, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, and others south and east work together in various ways, such as water and sewer, parks, solid waste, buses, and the jail.
I believe Prince William has similar ties to its neighbors, just not to its south.
There's yet another reason that makes it hard for me to lump our region in with Northern Virginia, and ironically, it was printed in the same issue of The Free Lance-Star.
Lance Roeske's "Commuter Crossroads" column brings to light possibly the biggest difference between Fredericksburg and Northern Virginia.
If we are a part of that region, why don't workers here make the same wages as workers do there?
Leonard F. Riddle Jr.
Spotsylvania
