Northern Virginia has been a hub of cultural diversity for centuries, with influences from the Southern United States, the Northeastern United States, and beyond. From Colonial Virginian culture to the modern history of legal challenges from local black parents, the culture of Northern Virginia has been shaped by many forces. In recent decades, the region has become increasingly similar to the Northeastern United States, and its culture is further impacted by the growing mobility of people from other states and cultures. The economy and real estate sector of Northern Virginia have also been profoundly impacted by its culture.
The development of a road system in the early 20th century made the slopes of Virginia's Eastern Appalachian mountain range more accessible to automotive culture, while also imposing new demands on habitats and recreational areas. This transition began after the Civil War, when newly liberated African-American residents established communities in Northern Virginia only to be marginalized and make room for railroads, housing for federal workers during World War II, and highways. The displacement of black people from Northern Virginia continues today, although the policies that shape it are less overtly racist than in previous times. The Shenandoah Valley has remained a rich agricultural area in the northern half of the state, while western regions are defined as a bioregion with higher elevation, harder soil content, and more differentiated weather seasons.
This mountainous, coal-rich region is shared by the mountaineering culture of Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, and West Virginia. Andrew Woolf works in the firm's land use and zoning practice group in Northern Virginia. He focuses on securing zoning rights throughout Fairfax, Loudoun, Falls Church, Fairfax City, and Leesburg counties. As a native of Northern Virginia, Andrew has spent much time traveling and writing about the history of land development in the region. He received an award from the Virginia Section of the American Planning Association for his review of Fairfax County's enduring rural landscapes. In addition to policy recommendations, Woolf hopes that residents who read his work will continue to live in Northern Virginia with an appreciation for its history and culture.
To this end, Appalachian Sustainable Development was founded in Abingdon (1999) to promote local agricultural systems and redevelop land that was once dominated by tobacco culture. In total, Virginia has been subject to the action of nature during its modern era, while its non-human environment has been modified to reflect new cultural perceptions.
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