Virginia has a lot of history, beautiful scenery, and different kinds of culture. But not every town in the country is a great place to live. There is a lot of crime in some of them, and the economy or the environment is bad in others. People are leaving these seven Virginia towns as soon as possible.
1. Emporia
The city of Emporia is in the southern part of Virginia. It is the poorest city in the state, which is a strange title. Most households in Emporia make less than half of the average income in the state, which is $25,742. It’s crazy that 40.5% of people live in poverty and 10.9% are unemployed. There is also a lot of crime in Emporia. More than four times the national average, there are 1,038 serious crimes for every 100,000 people living there.
2. Johnson City
The loss of jobs in the textile and furniture businesses has also hurt the city of Martinsville in southern Virginia. Since 1980, more than half of the people who lived in the city have left. There are now only about 12,000 people living there. There are 31.8% of people in Martinsville living in poverty, and the typical household income is $28,793. The city has one of the highest rates of drug overdoses in the state, and 11.4% of people don’t have jobs.
3. Good luck
There are a lot of environmental and pollution issues in the city of Hopewell in central Virginia. There are many chemical plants, paper mills, and power plants in the city. These have made the air, water, and land dirty. People have called Hopewell the “City of Smokestacks” and the “Chemical Capital of the South.” There is also a lot of crime in the city. More than four times the national average, there are 1,019 serious crimes for every 100,000 people living there. A family in Hopewell makes an average of $41,305 a year, and 19.6% of its members live in poverty.
4. St. Petersburg
Petersburg is a city in central Virginia with a long past. It was a major site of battle in the Civil War and a cultural hub for African Americans. But the city has also had many problems, such as race segregation, urban decay, and bad money management. There are a lot of crimes in Petersburg. More than four times as many serious crimes happen per 100,000 people as in the rest of the country. It costs $35,528 a year to live in Petersburg, and 27.9% of families are poor. Only 15.6% of adults in the city have a bachelor’s degree or higher, which shows that not many people have gone to college.
5. Mary Ann
The town of Marion is in the southwestern part of Virginia. It is known for its old downtown area and closeness to the Appalachian Trail. But the town has also been hurt by the opioid crisis and the loss of manufacturing jobs. There are a lot of crimes in Marion. More than four times as many serious crimes happen per 100,000 people as in the rest of the country. A typical household income of $32,551 is found in Marion, and 23.8% of people living there are poor. The town has one of the highest rates of drug overdoses in the state, and 8.7% of people don’t have jobs.
6. Danville
Danville is a city in southern Virginia that used to be a big center for tobacco and textiles. But the city has been getting worse since the 1980s when many of its companies shut down or moved overseas. There is a lot of crime in Danville. More than four times the national average, there are 1,019 serious crimes for every 100,000 people living there. The average household salary in Danville is $34,951, and 25.9% of people living there are living in poverty. The unemployment rate is 9.8%, and the typical home value in the city is one of the lowest in the state.
7. Roanoke
Roanoke is a city in western Virginia that is known for its cultural sites and beautiful setting in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Some bad things about the city are that it has a high cost of living, a low standard of life, and not many different types of businesses. There is a lot of crime in Roanoke. More than four times the national average, there are 1,015 serious crimes for every 100,000 people living there. The average household salary in Roanoke is $41,483, and 21.9% of people living there are living in poverty. With a property tax rate of $1.22 per $100 of estimated value, the city also has a lot of debt.
In Conclusion
These are some Virginia places where people are running away as fast as they can. There are many reasons why they are moving, such as environmental problems, high crime, low income, or bad schools. There may be some good things about these places, but they are not enough to make up for the bad things. As a result, a lot of people who live there are looking for better chances elsewhere.