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Good news
The statistics released by the Rappahannock-Rapidan Planning Commission reveal some very good news.
Things aren’t changing too much in Rappahannock. That which has changed has, for the most part, been for the better.
Take the population. In the five-county study, Rappahannock had the slightest increase in the group. During the 1970’s the county grew quite a bit — in 1970 the population was 5,199 and by 1980 it had jumped to 6,093. That’s about 89 people a year moving into Rappahannock.
Since 1980 the situation has been appreciably different. If the 1984 estimate proves to be correct, we’ve had a growth rate of less than two persons a year since the beginning of the decade.
The population explosion in neighboring counties such as Fauquier and Madison just isn’t happening here. Please understand that we don’t have anything against people, per se, but with the hordes do come problems.
Take a drive on Broadview Avenue in Warrenton and attempt to cross the road. Traffic congestion is the nasty result when too many people invade a community.
While our housing situation is not the best, particularly in providing for the poor, we do not have the exorbitant prices found in the other areas.
We also don’t have to endure other symbols of growth such as the seemingly endless restaurant chains, the pollution, the noise...ad infinitum.
Washington was the only incorporated town in the summary to. actually lose population. The old historic village just might have a«hance of remaining that way.
The number of crimes reported was indeed good news. Although they increased slightly in 1983 over the preceding two years, the crimes were less than half of the 1980 total. Still, we will not be content until crime is totally eliminated — a worthwhile goal, we believe.
The fact that Rappahannock had the highest per capita personal income increase in the study shows a healthy trend. A jump of 31% in income between 1980 and 1983 is noteworthy by any standard.
The study revealed some other good news. Although our teachers are the lowest paid in the five-county summary, the salaries have risen significantly in the past few years. They are also fairly close to the salaries found in neighboring counties. They seem reasonable.
We have other figures for which we might crow — our unemployment rate is not bad, our retail sales have risen and there’s more money in the bank.
Things aren’t too bad in Rappahannock County — kind of quiet, but we like it that way.
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