Moving from a mill town to a ‘will town’
January 22, 2017
Recently, author August Wallmeyer penned two editorial series, one for the Richmond Times-Dispatch and one upcoming for the Roanoke Times focusing on his new book, “The Extremes of Virginia.” He correctly identifies that there are two separate and unequal commonwealths, as many of us are well aware.
There is NoVa, Virginia near and north of I-64, plus near and east of I-81 and west of the Chesapeake Bay; and the rest of Virginia, RoVa. This pattern is no different than any other state in the union. It exists everywhere.
NoVa has benefited from large public investments in two areas during the 20th Century: research and development (at places such as universities and federal facilities) and advanced manufacturing facilities (such as ship yards).
