WHAT DOES the term Northern Neck mean to you?

Many would say it's the geographic term that applies to the four counties--Westmoreland, Richmond, Northumberland and Lancaster--on the peninsula formed by the Rappahannock and Potomac rivers.

But that argument is by no means unanimous.

Many would put King George County into the mix, noting that it has more in common with those four counties than any others around it.

There are others who would look for an answer in Colonial times, when King Charles II granted a Northern Neck charter that included land from the Chesapeake Bay to the headwaters of the Rappahannock and Potomac rivers.

Under that definition, Stafford County and other localities get tossed in, stretching all the way up to Alexandria.

While all the historic and governmental definitions are important, I'm interested in the day-to-day definition used by most folks for the region.

To that end, let's put the matter to a vote of sorts.

You, gentle readers, are the ones who'll settle this, at least in this space.

Use e-mail, regular mail or a fax machine to share those thoughts on what the term Northern Neck means to you.

If you think it's the four counties mentioned above, use the information in the attached box to get in touch and say so, along with your reasoning.

If you think King George is a part of it, share that sentiment with me, along with your argument for that definition of the Northern Neck.

And if you believe that good ol' King Charles II is the one who defined the term in Colonial Days, and want to include counties stretching way up to the north, tell me that as well, along with your argument as to why.

As usual, please include a few basic facts with your response.

I need your full name, where you live (i.e. Stafford, Westmoreland) and a daytime phone number where you can be reached.

In recent years, I've gotten responses--some of them heated--about my definition of the term.

I believe it's the one that's the simplest to see.