Anyone have anything good or bad to say about Danville, VA?

[Flaxbee]

Looking for a happy medium -- mid-sized town (approx. 50,000) yet with easy enough access to a bigger city (Greensboro NC) or DC via train. I've lived in LA, NYC, DC and Atlanta, but the last 5 years have been in much, much, much smaller towns (2,000 - 10,000) and want something larger (50,000 to 150,000) but not big cities. I love big cities, just not to live in anymore...

[Rabrrrrrr]

1. I'm sure lots of people do.

Though I can't back that up with any actual data.

[Flaxbee]

2. well, thanks.

Would you guess good, or bad?

[NewWaveChick1981]

3. Danville's been economically depressed since the closing of the

Dan River Mills plants there and other manufacturing facilities. Cost of living is fairly cheap, but there isn't much to do there. I live in High Point, adjacent to Greensboro, and it's definitely within your criteria. The International Home Furnishings Market happens twice a year, which is the only time we really have any traffic issues. The side of town I live on is about six miles from Greensboro. Hubby and I used to live in Greensboro, but when we bought our house, we got it in High Point because it was closer to where I worked at the time. High Point is 20 miles from Winston-Salem with easy access to US 311 and I-40 and six to ten miles from Greensboro. Housing is a relative bargain here. :) Not much to do here either, but it's closer to Greensboro than driving in from Danville. And Greensboro's a pretty thriving city.

[LostinVA]

4. No idea -- but I liked living in Greensboro

[Flaxbee]

17. what about Greensboro did you like?

Maybe we'll look at a few of the bigger towns, like Greensboro or W-S... any pros/cons?

[LostinVA]

21. Greensboro

Cons: traffic and development have skyrocketed since the early 90's. Real estate going up.

Pros: Big city with all the good big city stuff (shopping, etc.), but with REAL neighborhoods, lots of parks, trails, huge running and cycling community, lots of colleges/culture (museums, etc.), etc., decently liberal for NC, great public library, in between beach and mountains, lots of good restaurants -- GREAT barbecue! Also, close to Asheboro -- great zoo!

It's most nicer than Winston.

I live there from 1982-1991, then 1998-2000, and visit there several times a year.

[lizziegrace]

5. We have family in Winston-Salem and Greensboro

I really like Greensboro. Winston I'm not too sure of. I visited Danville about 10 years ago and wasn't particularly thrilled with the city.

[RevCheesehead]

6. I prefer Winston to Greensboro.

But that's probably because my worst church experience ever was in an old milltown community church. x(

I've been through Danville a couple of times. Don't have much to say about it, but it did look sort of depressed (economically, that is).

[okole1169]

7. It's close to Martinsville...??

You could learn to like NASCAR....

[Flaxbee]

8. Hm. OK, doesn't sound great....

We also like Mt. Airy ... sort of on the other side of Winston Salem. I guess we'll just have to take a trip up to that area and look around...

Thanks for the input, everyone.

[lizziegrace]

9. I don't know if you're committed to the Piedmont area

but if I could, I'd move to the Asheville in a heartbeat. :)

[Flaxbee]

11. live near there now.

And it's a possibility, though for business reasons we'd like to be able to take a train into DC in under 5-6 hours. Asheville is lovely, but isolated...

If this country had ever gotten its act together, high-speed train travel would make all this strategizing unnecessary, but noooo, we're hooked on gasoline and driving. Bah.

[Withywindle]

20. I grew up very near Mt. Airy

Just up the mountain and barely on the VA side from there.

As I remember, not a lot to do. I don't know what you do for a living, but Mt. Airy's so small the opportunities aren't great. And that area is pretty economically depressed.

[RoyGBiv]

10. Virgil Cane is the name ...

...and I served on the Danville train, 'till Stoneman's cavalry came and tore up the tracks again.

That's really all I have to say, and I don't think it's particularly relevant to the present.

[speedoo]

13. Begging your pardon, but The Band is always relevant, IMO.

witness:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXn5VRLzAwk

[RoyGBiv]

15. Ahhhh...

Thanks.

Had a hellacious day today, and that just about made it all better.

Bonus that the sound is actually good, which seems to be rare on YouTube videos.

[speedoo]

16. The Last Waltz DVD is on my must acquire list.

Along with Black and White, the Roy Orbison tribute concert.

Both masterpieces.:hi:

It's amazing what some some good music can do, isn't it?

[RoyGBiv]

18. Quite ...

I started hearing that, and I could feel the stress melt away.

It's on my must acquire list now as well. Thanks again.

:toast:

[jpgray]

12. All I know is it's a mighty rough road from Lakesburgh to Danville

[u4ic]

14. I do!

It's easy to spell...:D

[Withywindle]

19. Er....it's not Galax?

Which is a good thing. Except at Fiddler's Convention time.

(I'm from Carroll County, I not only can say that, I'm all but obligated to.)


Have you considered Blacksburg or Charlottesville if you want a small VA city that's got some jobs and some progressive people? Those are both college towns (VPI and UVA respectively) and have some decent culture. Roanoke too. And Charlottesville has ready train access to DC, etc.

[JVS]

22. Virginia is for Losers!

[Leopolds Ghost]

23. Fayetteville is supposed to be nice... Durham, too

Although Durham's reasonably big and surrounded by Raleigh sprawl.

[kwassa]

29. Fay'vull is pretty backwards, I've heard. Very Red.

[lildreamer316]

24. I live in Jamestonwn (Greensboro).

Danville is nice, that I've seen. I agree there's not much to do, but they have a BEAUTIFUL main street area with lots of historic houses and in the spring it is gorgeous. I guess it depends on what you're looking for.
I personally really like DC.
Did NOT like the feel of Lynchburg.(Jerry Falwell didn't help!)
Best of luck!!

[taterguy]

25. If train access to DC is your goal

I'd check AMTRAK route's and schedules. A town between Greensboro and Raleigh would probably be your best bet. Last time I checked there were two daily trains to DC. One in the middle of the night that went north from Greensboro to Charlottesville then DC. One that leaves every day around 9 AM that goes via Raleigh and Richmond.

[Flaxbee]

26. yeah, Greensboro is on both the Carolina Piedmont and the

Crescent line, and Danville is on the Carolina Piedmont line -- Danville is only about an hour from Greensboro. One train per day leaves Danville about 5am and gets into DC around 10am, returning train around 6:30pm. So, for DC meetings, I could get up there and back in the same day, if need be.

I consult, so can set up almost anywhere. And being in Danville (or near), I could commute into Greensboro if need be. Not really interested in a long commute, but I had a 2 hour commute each way when I lived in No. Virginia so scooting into Greensboro doesn't sound that bad....

Sounds like I'll be going to look closely at Greensboro/Danville areas.

My husband and I aren't really fond of Richmond. I'd consider Charlottesville, my husband for some reason doesn't like it much but is willing to check it out again, as it's been almost a decade since he's been there.


edited for clarity

[Eurobabe]

27. Try Charlottesville, it's much more progressive

and cool.

Sorry, Danville sucks and it is red.

[Phillycat]

28. Well, it's politically repugnant.

That would be enough to put me off...