Geography of Northern Virginia

Every region of Virginia is different, but Northern Virginia (NOVA) may be "more different than most" compared to the Rest of Virginia (ROVA). The region is often described as the economic engine" of Virginia.

Those who live in the region, and even those who visit, might wonder:
- How did Northern Virginia ended up as the fast-growing, traffic-clogged, high-energy economic engine of the state?
- Why are local roads near the Fairfax Campus of George Mason University named "Braddock" and "Ox"?
- Who was "Prince William" to have a whole county named after him?
- Who lived on the Potomac River before John Smith sailed up to Little Falls in 1608?
- Why do all roads lead to Alexandria (or do all roads lead away from that place)?
- If Reagan National Airport was closed due to security concerns, what should happen to that site?
- How will Northern Virginia development patterns have to change, in order to save the Chesapeake Bay?
- Why was Alexandria/Arlington once part of the District of Columbia, but "retroceded" back to Virginia?
- Will the protection of Buckland and the acquisition of historic sites such as Rippon Lodge generate a positive economic return to Prince William County?
- Will the former prison at Lorton may emerge as the premier performing arts center in the suburbs?
- Will Gainesville develop into an Edge City like Tysons Corner... or will Fairfax County intercept that growth, with MetroWest at the Vienna Metro station and redevelopment along Route 1?
- Will extending Metro to Loudoun County create "smart growth" on the Dulles Toll Road corridor west of Tysons... or will the Silver Line have no more impact that the Orange Line did west of Ballston?
- How could Loudoun County attract more tourists?
- Could Alexandria attract cruise ships?
- What will be the future of the Manassas Battlefield, after "build out" of Western Prince William County?
- What should replace the Mirant Power Plant in Alexandria?
- Why, after we flush the toilet in Centreville, do people end up drinking that wastewater in Fairfax and Dale City?
- How should "lessons learned" from Arlington and Fairfax urbanization be applied in Loudoun, Prince William, Stafford, or Fauquier counties?
- Why did Metro make the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor in Arlington into a superstar for "new urbanism..." but Stafford, Loudoun, and Prince William can't build comparable town centers?
- Can Fauquier retain its agricultural land base? Can Loudoun retain even a sliver of farmland, west of Route 15?
- What 1960's housing developments and 1990's "vinyl villages" should be protected as historic sites for the future?
- Ugh, just where is the "edge" of Northern Virginia?