Where does DC, NoVA, MD wealth come from?

[pebblegrain]

I'm a fairly new transplant here and I'm shocked that these halfway-to-hicksvilles have something like 5 of the top 10 wealthiest counties in America. At first I presumed it was the lawyers, but honestly it never made sense to me.

Someone told me it was from AOL's heyday and these same counties weren't rich in the 80s. True? False?

Do people in government make money? Bribes? Real estate? Who the **** would speculate on a ****** house in Fairfax?

Please educate my ignorance.

 

[StephenHero]

Consulting.

 

[scientific]

here's a clue

 

[Slopho]

Lobbyist and land use attorneys.

 

[texas_jack]

govt spending

 

[giraffe lookout]

I grew up in Alexandria and can attest to the fact that all that stuff out there around Dulles was not there 20 years ago. It's a good question though. Some of it is AOL. A lot of it is also the military industrial complex- places like GD, Raytheon, Orbital etc. Non- DOD gov't consulting is also a huge industry. Then you have maybe the highest concentration of lawyers in the world. Just a guess but it certainly seems that way. Throw a rock at lunchtime downtown and you probably hit a lawyer.

 

[robertorex]

Originally Posted by scientific

here's a clue


the uploader username

 

[cross22]

Many lawyers and finance people+270 Biotech+Dulles tech corridor+government contracting (beltway bandits)+Some of the best public schools in the country that result in a well educated population.

 

[Slopho]

Originally Posted by giraffe lookout

I grew up in Alexandria and can attest to the fact that all that stuff out there around Dulles was not there 20 years ago. It's a good question though. Some of it is AOL. A lot of it is also the military industrial complex- places like GD, Raytheon, Orbital etc. Non- DOD gov't consulting is also a huge industry. Then you have maybe the highest concentration of lawyers in the world. Just a guess but it certainly seems that way. Through a rock at lunchtime downtown and you probably hit a lawyer.

There's no better place to be than downtown at McPherson Square during the summer. Hot chicks abound.

There's a lot of government here, which is one main reason you don't hear about the tea party around these parts. All that goverment spending they would cut would equal a lot of job here.

 

[level32]

Some parts here definitely feel like old money though, whether that is true or not I don't know.

 

[Artisan Fan]

There is bigtime construction money in Leesburg. Lots of that on govt projects. I know the people and I've seen their wine cellars.

 

[texas_jack]

Originally Posted by Artisan Fan

There is bigtime construction money in Leesburg. Lots of that on govt projects. I know the people and I've seen their wine cellars.

Did you chastise them for sucking on the govt teat?

 

[imageWIS]

Originally Posted by texas_jack

Did you chastise them for sucking on the govt teat?

He probably praised them for taking advantage of the 'free-market'.

 

[aphextwin07]

federal contracting

 

[Artisan Fan]

Originally Posted by imageWIS

He probably praised them for taking advantage of the 'free-market'.

Path to wealth:

Building & Construction School in College >> Large Federal Contractor like Hensel-Phelps.