Is Birmingham a "major city"? (Mobile, Greenville: to live in, move to)

[Rubi3]

Birmingham is a major city.......................in Alabama.
.
.
Period.

[sleepless in Bham]

Originally Posted by cpg35223

Okay. Here's the definition:

Major -- Any city where I live.

Minor -- Any city that isn't privileged enough to have me as a resident.

There. I hope that clarifies matters somewhat.

Well what makes Birmingham major/not major to you?..these should be interesting answers.

[birminghamster]

Here's my idea:
Tier 1 - National super-major city: MSA 3 million+
Tier 2 - National major city: MSA 1.75-3 million
Tier 3 - Regional super-major city: MSA 1.2-1.75 million
Tier 4 - Regional major city: MSA 500,000-1.2 million

[birminghamster]

Originally Posted by Rubi3

Birmingham is a major city.......................in Alabama.
.
.
Period.

And the southeast

[cpg35223]

Originally Posted by sleepless in Bham

Well what makes Birmingham major/not major to you?..these should be interesting answers.

It was a joke about relativism with a kernel of truth. We always magnify the importance of the place where we live and rank other places by their relationship to us. I mean, Mexico City is the most populous city on the planet by the count of many, but it really doesn't figure into my thinking much. While I'm a well-read individual who has traveled a bit, there are cities in China with a population of 10 million of which I've never heard.

[cpg35223]

Originally Posted by Rubi3

Birmingham is a major city.......................in Alabama.
.
.
Period.

Sayeth the Okie from Muskogee.

[birminghamster]

Originally Posted by cpg35223

It was a joke about relativism with a kernel of truth. We always magnify the importance of the place where we live and rank other places by their relationship to us. I mean, Mexico City is the most populous city on the planet by the count of many, but it really doesn't figure into my thinking much. While I'm a well-read individual who has traveled a bit, there are cities in China with a population of 10 million of which I've never heard.

And, on the opposite end of the spectrum, Auckland is considered a major city by many.

[kgartm1185]

Originally Posted by PortCity

I'm sorry but in no way does greenville feel like a metro of over a million or a csa of 1.4 million. Maybe 700k but 1.4 million is a stretch Birmingham has that feeling but not Greenville.

Actually it kind of does, it is just spread out. But you have to live here to know that, not in Mobile, Al, which doesn't say that you know a lot about how a large metro "feels".

[Rubi3]

Originally Posted by cpg35223

Sayeth the Okie from Muskogee.

LOL. Doesn't matter where I'm from, hon, what matters is where I've been.

[raj kapoor]

Originally Posted by JoeTarheel

They didn't tear down the Loew's Grand, it burned down. That kind of takes away your credibility in my opinion.

You are completely overlooking the main historic core of Atlanta, Fairlie-Poplar....it's near the Candler Building but not on Peachtree, so a lot of visitors miss out on it. As I posted earlier, you should really look into it if you're truly interested in historical buildings. It's almost all 19th and early 20th century buildings - commercial buildings - it is 25 square blocks and one of the largest and most intact historic districts in Atlanta. Fairlie-Poplar, Atlanta - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Also, Castleberry Hill is a 19th century warehouse district turned into lofts and restaurants/bars Castleberry Hill - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I'm not trying to convince you to take my word for it...look into it for yourself so we don't continue having the same conversation. This thread is about Birmingham - not Atlanta.

The area you refer to is just my point. I am referring to large historic buildings of which it has few. The city is thirty years older than Birmingham and should have had more. They would have been built after the begining of the twentieth century.

As to the Loew's my credibility is just fine. I was standing across the street shooting it with a new camera as it happened. The stone facade was scorched but the building stood. Yes it was gutted but worse has been salvaged. We are currently restoring our second historic theatre. (an old vaudeville house) Atlanta was late to the table when it comes to being responsible with its civic assets. It was always a tear down and build bigger place therefore it has little texture. As I wrote before, I have spent half my life in Atlanta so please don't suggest I don't know my way around. The insurance building next door to Loew's caught fire as well but just gutted one floor. This is where Georgia Pacific was buillt. 'Tear down and build.'

You are correct. I give the Atlanta references on this thread to you with all due respect.

Nice to chat with you,
raj