Tell me about Charlottesville, Virginia!

College Search & Selection
1

<p>So I don't really know if this is the best place for it, so hopefully the mods will put it some place appropriate, but that still has lots of traffic.</p>

<p>This is a little bit different than most threads, but I think I can get some useful information as UVa is a popular enough place on CC.</p>

<p>Basically, I'm beginning the process of looking at various locations to complete my residency, and Charlottesville is one of those places. I really don't know anything about the town or Virginia, but I'm curious. So if you know anything about the town, please tell me about it.</p>

<p>What's the weather like?
What are locals like?
What things are there to do?
What sort of cultural events are there?
What's the "feel" of the town like? Does it feel big or small? Is everything focused on the University, or does it's size mean that there are other things going on too?
What about the socioeconomic features?
What's the housing market like, or are there nice (better than typical college student) apartments available at a reasonable price?
What are town politics like?</p>

<p>Keep in mind:</p>

<p>1) I'll have just turned 26 if I end up there. What I'm looking for is at least slightly different than the average poster on CC.
2) I'm currently very single - so I'm not particularly worried about things like quality of schools or job markets or things that might become more important if I were in a serious relationship.</p>

<p>Any other information you can share would be greatly appreciated.</p>

2

<p>If you like the outdoors there are beautiful hiking trails right in the area. In the winter you can ski in 1/2 an hour. If you like to golf there are some beautiful golf courses as well. That's about my depth of experience LOL
I do have a close friend who has lived there for 20 years ( since we graduated). She does private catering and is always telling me about different famous people that she has catered for- athletes, politicians, musicians, etc. Apparently a lot of wealthy people have weekend homes in the area. It is in a very pretty area, though somewhat isolated.</p>

3

<p>Nice medium sized town. Good amount of local shopping. Housing is a little expensive for central Va. Weather is moderate with hot humid summers. Politics are liberal progressive. Incomes are mixed with lots of wealth and a fair amount of poor. Overall a good place. Traffic sucks for a small city.</p>

4

<p>I would prepare myself for the summer weather, which is very hot and humid. The town has a small feel, and it is an older Southern town. There are lots of restaurants, mainly casual. There used to be a great arts movie theatre called Vinegar Hill, but I'm not sure if it's there anymore or not. There is an ice skating rink downtown. The downtown mall has quite a few eating establishments and small shops. At the university, a lot of things revolve around the undergrad scene. I'm not sure what it's like for a more adult student, but if you'd be in one of the specialty grad schools that is in a separate area of the campus, perhaps it's different. Be prepared though for football games which can really take over the town. You will need a car to get around and to get in/out of C'ville.</p>

5

<p>Also the street pattern is inscrutable. Prepare to get lost several times until you figure it out.</p>

6

<p>Also try this</p>

<p><a href="http://www.city-data.com/forum/virginia/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.city-data.com/forum/virginia/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

7

<p>Thanks for all the info so far...</p>

<p>I'm not really worried about the summers or football saturdays, based on where I grew up (Kansas City) and where I went to undergrad. In fact, the football saturday comment will be a + in Charlottesville's assessment. What about the winters?</p>

<p>What's the reputation of the Medical Center? I would be looking at doing a residency in pediatrics there. </p>

<p>Also I don't know what "a little expensive for central Va." means. I'm coming from the midwest, so I expect it to be a little bit more expensive than I'm used to, but a little bit more objective description would be useful.</p>

8

<p>I can give you some informaiton.
C'ville is a 'university town' - a small city with the extra amenities and diversity brought to it by the university. </p>

<p>Weather? - Four true seasons. Spring and fall are as gorgeous as it gets, summers hot and humid, winters fairly mild, but with a few 4"+ snows.</p>

<p>Locals? - Friendly and a bit southern, but there are fewer and fewer "locals." Increasing 'No Va' feel - many people are from somewhere else. Many retirees coming, but overall it is a 'young' town. Reportedly, close to highest per capita rate of international travel in US.</p>

<p>Things to do/ events? Great restaurants of all types, great local theater, beautiful countryside, hiking, running, riding, university sports spectating and active local leagues for participating, largest arena in VA - monster trucks to Springsteen, multiple university lectures, proximity to D.C. and Richmond...Check out C-VILLE</a> Charlottesville's news & arts weekly | Charlottesville VA news music culture dining</p>

<p>Feel of the town? Still University focused, but other areas are growing - industry, research and federal government.</p>

<p>Socioeconomic? Wide spectrum. Lowest unemployment in VA and one of lowest in country (even during past recessions).</p>

<p>Housing? Expensive. UVA not really a 'residential' school and most students live in areas adjacent to campus, driving up prices in town. Lot's of development pressure in surrounding areas.</p>

<p>Politics? City - very liberal. Immediate surrounding area - getting liberal.</p>

<p>And the traffic is getting awful - many new people and no new roads.</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

9

<p>I can give you some informaiton.
C'ville is a 'university town' - a small city with the extra amenities and diversity brought to it by the university. </p>

<p>Weather? - Four true seasons. Spring and fall are as gorgeous as it gets, summers hot and humid, winters fairly mild, but with a few 4"+ snows.</p>

<p>Locals? - Friendly and a bit southern, but there are fewer and fewer "locals." Increasing 'No Va' feel - many people are from somewhere else. Many retirees coming, but overall it is a 'young' town. Reportedly, close to highest per capita rate of international travel in US.</p>

<p>Things to do/ events? Great restaurants of all types, great local theater, beautiful countryside, hiking, running, riding, university sports spectating and active local leagues for participating, largest arena in VA - monster trucks to Springsteen, multiple university lectures, proximity to D.C. and Richmond...Check out <a href="http://www.c-ville.com%5B/url%5D"&gt;www.c-ville.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Feel of the town? Still University focused, but other areas are growing - industry, research and federal government.</p>

<p>Socioeconomic? Wide spectrum. Lowest unemployment in VA and one of lowest in country (even during past recessions).</p>

<p>Housing? Expensive. UVA not really a 'residential' school and most students live in areas adjacent to campus, driving up prices in town. Lot's of development pressure in surrounding areas.</p>

<p>Politics? City - very liberal. Immediate surrounding area - getting liberal.</p>

<p>And the traffic is getting awful - many new people and no new roads.</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

10

<p>The Med Center has an excellent reputation despite that baby switching thing years ago. Really, it's very good. I'd guess a decent 2br apt in town would run around $1000/mo. There are lots on Craig's List.</p>

11

<p>Why is it that people have said UVa is a more conservative school, but then people are saying here that C'ville is full of liberals?</p>

<p>Are the locals more liberal than the college students? Or is Charlottesville only liberal compared to the South?</p>

12

<p>thanks again everyone, really good stuff, and some good websites to use as resources in the future. Charlottesville is the most "university-centered" place I'm looking at (as the majority of major academic medical centers tend to be located in larger cities), but it's possible I'll post a couple more of these types of threads in the future.</p>

13

<p>C'ville is eminently civilized and a wonderful place to be a 20-something. Thanks to the law school and other post-graduate programs there are lots of people beyond undergrad age. Good restaurants, beautiful buildings, four seasons but not a lot of snow (though they have trouble dealing with it when they get it). Usual upscale shopping strips just of of town--Whole Foods, Barnes and Noble, Ben and Jerry's.... Charming pedestrian mall in old downtown area. Amazing scenery nearby. Great pride in their M. Jefferson, but they could do worse. The place is usually ranked as one of the most livable cities in the US and on the basis of repeated visits I'd agree.</p>

<p>Caveat: it is not a major metro area, and the airport is small so you usually have to take a connecting flight to Charlotte or Atlanta or DC, but that is manageable. Richmond and DC are close enough for day trips if you have time or need.</p>