What is an exburb?

[Anonymous]

Exurbs are generally what were small villages in the extant areas that have become subsumed into a metropolitan area but still hold an independent status. Ashburn and Herndon are good examples of an exurb (and a bad example of human land use patterns).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:[u]

that often is inhabited chiefly by well-to-do families.

Whose definition is this?

Merriam-Webster's:

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exurb

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Exurbs are generally what were small villages in the extant areas that have become subsumed into a metropolitan area but still hold an independent status. Ashburn and Herndon are good examples of an exurb (and a bad example of human land use patterns).

Herndon is not an exurb.

[Anonymous]

Is Ashburn considered an exurb?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Centreville is literally right next to manassas, so that's a little funny.

It is also right next to Fairfax on the other end. What is your point? It must be an exburb because it is near another exburb? By that logic Arlington must be part of the city since it is next to the city.

[Anonymous]

What about Maryland? Is Olney and exurb? Gaithersburg?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What about Maryland? Is Olney and exurb? Gaithersburg?

I wouldn't consider Olney or Gaithersburg exurbs. Clarksburg definitely, and maybe Germantown or Burtonsville.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What about Maryland? Is Olney and exurb? Gaithersburg?

I wouldn't consider Olney or Gaithersburg exurbs. Clarksburg definitely, and maybe Germantown or Burtonsville.

Burtonsville?

It's close to Ho Co and not that far from Baltimore. It's right around 29, and 198 takes you to 95 in minutes.

You do realize that towns around major highways aren't really that "far out."

Once people start fleeing the cities, these exurbs will no longer exist. Howard was farmland years ago, with the exception of Columbia - not so true now. same could be said for Olney

You can't stop development.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What about Maryland? Is Olney and exurb? Gaithersburg?

No I think those are both regular suburbs. The easiest definition is just to say like PP suggested, anywhere that doesn't "touch" DC. (I suppose Fairfax County doesn't really "technically" touch DC but that's only because of Arlington and Alexandria.)

Frederick, MD is an exurb. It's harder to say for the suburbs between DC and Baltimore because people could choose to live there if one person works in DC and the other in Baltimore and they want to split the commute.

[Anonymous]

Ashburn doesn't suck. I don't live there, but I have friends who do and I absolutely understand the appeal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Centreville is literally right next to manassas, so that's a little funny.

It is also right next to Fairfax on the other end. What is your point? It must be an exburb because it is near another exburb? By that logic Arlington must be part of the city since it is next to the city.

It's only funny because they are basically the same distance from the city, yet some consider one fine and the other soooooo far.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Centreville is literally right next to manassas, so that's a little funny.

It is also right next to Fairfax on the other end. What is your point? It must be an exburb because it is near another exburb? By that logic Arlington must be part of the city since it is next to the city.

It's only funny because they are basically the same distance from the city, yet some consider one fine and the other soooooo far.

What map are you looking at? Yes, they are next to each other, but Manassas is on the far side of DC from Centreville and clearly farther.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What about Maryland? Is Olney and exurb? Gaithersburg?

Waldorf, parts of Calvert and Howard counties

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Centreville is literally right next to manassas, so that's a little funny.

It is also right next to Fairfax on the other end. What is your point? It must be an exburb because it is near another exburb? By that logic Arlington must be part of the city since it is next to the city.

It's only funny because they are basically the same distance from the city, yet some consider one fine and the other soooooo far.

...says somebody from Manassass who doesn't like it being labeled an exurb. I'd generally treat 28 as the suburb/exurb dividing line to the west, fair or unfair as it may be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ashburn doesn't suck. I don't live there, but I have friends who do and I absolutely understand the appeal.

I fail to see what you can access in the close-in suburbs that you can't access in Ashburn (e.g. ethnic restaurants, recreation, retail). For those who do not have to commute downtown or who work in the Dulles corridor it's a great place to live. I think its aesthetics are what invoke the high level of snobbery.