http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/jan/29/arlington-county-among-fastest-growing-in-virginia/"The densely populated Northern Virginia suburbs, close to the District, accounted for half of the state’s overall growth of 259,381 residents since 2010. Fairfax, the state’s largest jurisdiction, grew by 35,171 people to more than 1.1 million residents. Prince William County’s population grew by 29,256, a 7.3 percent increase to 431,258 residents. Alexandria’s population of 151,218 was an 8 percent increase that amounted to 11,252 new residents."
It's ok, with Obama's war on coal, you are sure to pick up votes in Southwest Virginia... OH WAIT...
"Ms. Cai said 33 Virginia localities — most of them outside the state’s urban areas — lost population. All seven of Virginia’s coal-producing counties lost residents from 2012 to 2013, the report said."
So now it seems the five inner counties of NOVA (Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax, Prince William, Loudon) are about 28% of the statewide population. This doesn't include a few other NOVA cities/municipalities, so NOVA is probably about 30% of the state population to date... at least the heavily democratic part of NOVA is...
At this rate NOVA proper will be about 33% by 2020. When you add in Richmond and its inner suburbs + some heavily democratic college towns, you are at about 40% of the state population.
DC is about at capacity so this growth will probably just accelerate... especially after the silver line going deep into Fairfax is constructed.
Basically by 2020 the state population will be about:
40% living in very democratic areas.
30-35% living in swing areas (i.e., Virginia Beach area and outer Richmond/NOVA burbs).
25-30% living in very republican areas.
Obviously it's almost impossible for Republicans to win with that kind of math
