# Anyone familiar with southern West Virginia? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 10, 2015, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-familiar-with-southern-west-virginia/719713 "2015-05-10T18:02:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2015, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-familiar-with-southern-west-virginia/719713/21 "2015-05-13T03:07:45Z")
I hate to tell you this, but Michael Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Symphony seldom include southern West Virginia in their touring schedules. ---
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2015, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-familiar-with-southern-west-virginia/719713/22 "2015-05-13T03:46:10Z")
> [@mind\_the\_gap](#): > > Are there any Dopers out there who live in/near southern West Virginia? Mrs. Gap and I have been looking for a retirement house and have seen some very affordable and charming houses in this area. I realize it’s coal country and somewhat depressed, but in general, what’s it like to live there? We currently live in the north S.F. Bay area and the prices are so insane that retirement here is a non-issue except for the wealthy or those who have owned their property for years. We were both born and raised in areas with “4 season” climate so winters aren’t a problem to us. I’ve never lived there, but I drove through the region and visited friends many times. My impression is the same as what others have said. It is beautiful rural country with some pristine wilderness and charming farms and small towns. On the downside, there is not a trace of culture for hundreds of miles, poverty is endemic, and traveling in winter is extremely difficult. If you look at some parts of rural Virginia, you can get the same low cost of living and rural landscape without being so far from the nearest big city. ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2015, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-familiar-with-southern-west-virginia/719713/23 "2015-05-13T10:54:11Z")
I was born and raised in Morgantown, and while there are more amenities in north central WV than the rest of the state (plenty of modern housing developments, more and better medical care), I would caution against moving to anywhere near Morgantown itself. It’s become a very divided town-gown place, with the university basically running everything. They’ve allowed developers to swamp what’s basically a small town with \*way \*more student housing than the roads can accommodate. Locals feel like they don’t have a voice in such affairs. Traffic there can be worse than in Baltimore. The influx of prosperous out-of-state students and university professionals has resulted in economic and cultural polarization. And crime is worse than people realize. Along with the rising meth and heroin problem, there’s always been a surprising amount of random town-gown violence. Decades ago, while walking on the WVU campus, a friend of mine was badly beaten by a group of locals in a truck who apparently mistook him for an out-of-state student. Nothing ever appeared in the papers - the university exercises control over such incidents, for PR reasons. I myself once escaped a similar pursuit on a rural road while back home visiting - my Honda Civic and Maryland license plates were enough to elicit redneck hatred. ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2015, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-familiar-with-southern-west-virginia/719713/24 "2015-05-13T14:00:35Z")
I am a lifelong WV resident thus far - born and raised in Southern WV, currently living and working in Northern WV. The comments so far as pretty accurate - southern WV does have spots where you have access to more cultural opportunities, but honestly, I only visit my parents (who still live in Mingo County) a couple of times a year because there’s not that much to do. I mean, you’re looking at a 30 minute drive or thereabouts to get to a movie theater or a Wal-Mart. Personally, I like living in Marion County - you’re near enough to Morgantown, Clarksburg/Bridgeport, and even Pittsburgh for access to cultural stuff, but the population density and housing prices remain more reasonable. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2015, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-familiar-with-southern-west-virginia/719713/25 "2015-05-13T16:29:30Z")
> [@P-man](#): > > I grew up in Bristol and couldn’t see living there now. When we retire? Maybe, I’m not sure. I definitely prefer the DC area. I lived there for 5 years back in the mid-1990s, strongly prefer the DC area, and wouldn’t dream of moving back to Bristol. But that’s by comparison with the DC area. If I were choosing between Bristol and somewhere in southern WV well removed from Charleston, I’d take Bristol in a heartbeat. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-familiar-with-southern-west-virginia/719713.md?page=1)