Does Chicago feel like the third largest city? (living, things to do)

[nowincal11]

IMO, Chicago both feels and resembles the 3rd largest city. So when you go to the Loop on a weekend, it's kind of cool for it to be empty, but with all the buildings there. Then you walk a few miles north on State and you are downtown with throngs of people. Then you walk to Rush Street with all the people milling around in the summer and having a good time at the bars.

Chicago is a massive city. Houston doesn't even feel like a big city.

LA is just like Chicago and NYC. I think LA feels bigger than NYC due to the massive urban middle density sprawl and the sheer size of LA County.

[300zxtwinturbo]

Of course Chicago feels like either the third or second largest city, but houston definately feels like a big city in many many areas. But not as big as chicago. Bigger than anywhere else ive been except the top three. Some other contenders in the mix that feel way bigger than their ranks are D.C and the San Francisco bay area.

[sunnyandcloudydays]

Originally Posted by 300zxtwinturbo

Of course Chicago feels like either the third or second largest city, but houston definately feels like a big city in many many areas. But not as big as chicago. Bigger than anywhere else ive been except the top three. Some other contenders in the mix that feel way bigger than their ranks are D.C and the San Francisco bay area.

Density
From what I gather Houston is just sprawl basically its the whole county
of course its going to be large if you take that much land in a major metro.

[sunnyandcloudydays]

Originally Posted by ole69

Wait, since 26-square-mile Manhattan island (1 of the 5 boroughs of an admittedly larger city) is more crowded during business hours than Chicago, Chicago doesn't feel like the 2nd largest city?

I'm not following your logic here. Maybe if you mentioned how LA seemed bigger to you and why, it would make more sense.

Also, having worked in the Wall Street area and now in the loop, I'll take the loop any day. I'm one of those weird people who prefers my sidewalks to be LESS crowded though.

LOL, I dont get the logic here either.
Question are the boroughs the same as our counties? Never quite understood that one. but I am getting the feeling it is maybe i am wrong but would really like to know.
was each borough at one time an actual city in reg brooklyn?
Its just odd to me how you can annex in the land and compare to chicago
granted way back in the day chicago annexed alot of areas like beverly
just curious.

[300zxtwinturbo]

If you don't know the city of houston, and visit someone who lives in the burbs, and the only thing you see is massive freeways for miles and miles through sprawl, then yea you will get that idea. But standing in main street square yesterday, or market square; their aren't many places in the country that are decidedly more urban. Although chicago is definately one of them. Along with perhaps 4 other cities.

[ole69]

Originally Posted by sunnyandcloudydays

LOL, I dont get the logic here either.
Question are the boroughs the same as our counties? Never quite understood that one. but I am getting the feeling it is maybe i am wrong but would really like to know.
was each borough at one time an actual city in reg brooklyn?
Its just odd to me how you can annex in the land and compare to chicago
granted way back in the day chicago annexed alot of areas like beverly
just curious.

you know, I'd never thought about it. I knew that brooklyn was king's county, and queens was queen's. but it looks like each borough is its own county.

[Belmont11]

Originally Posted by ole69

you know, I'd never thought about it. I knew that brooklyn was king's county, and queens was queen's. but it looks like each borough is its own county.

You lived in NYC for 10 years and didn't know that each borough is a separate county? Brooklyn is Kings County; Queens is Queens County; Bronx is Bronx County, Staten Island is Richmond County and New York (Manhattan) is New York County. These five areas were consolidated in 1898 into New York City. New York is Manhattan; people in the other boroughs refer to Manhattan as New York. All cities annexed surrounding towns; Chicago for example annexed Lakeview etc. The problem is the older cities are land-locked while the sunbelts cities like Houston have lots of empty room for growth.

[Belmont11]

Originally Posted by nowincal11

IMO, Chicago both feels and resembles the 3rd largest city. So when you go to the Loop on a weekend, it's kind of cool for it to be empty, but with all the buildings there. Then you walk a few miles north on State and you are downtown with throngs of people. Then you walk to Rush Street with all the people milling around in the summer and having a good time at the bars.

Chicago is a massive city. Houston doesn't even feel like a big city.

LA is just like Chicago and NYC. I think LA feels bigger than NYC due to the massive urban middle density sprawl and the sheer size of LA County.

Within a 1.5 miles from State/Madison you are past Rush Street so I'm not sure where a few miles up State Street are and then you come into Rush Street...State/Rush Street nightlife area is 1/2 mile from Chicago to Division...

[ole69]

Originally Posted by Belmont11

You lived in NYC for 10 years and didn't know that each borough is a separate county? Brooklyn is Kings County; Queens is Queens County; Bronx is Bronx County, Staten Island is Richmond County and New York (Manhattan) is New York County. These five areas were consolidated in 1898 into New York City. New York is Manhattan; people in the other boroughs refer to Manhattan as New York. All cities annexed surrounding towns; Chicago for example annexed Lakeview etc. The problem is the older cities are land-locked while the sunbelts cities like Houston have lots of empty room for growth.

Yeah. How dare I?

[Belmont11]

Originally Posted by sunnyandcloudydays

LOL, I dont get the logic here either.
Question are the boroughs the same as our counties? Never quite understood that one. but I am getting the feeling it is maybe i am wrong but would really like to know.
was each borough at one time an actual city in reg brooklyn?
Its just odd to me how you can annex in the land and compare to chicago
granted way back in the day chicago annexed alot of areas like beverly
just curious.

Didn't think I'd have to defend my opinion so much but the post, again, was ''feel'' like 3rd largest city...imo, no...it's not really all that busy and has nothing to do with city square mile size so I guess I don't follow the logic here when I know Chicago is a large city area wise; I never stated that Chicago was a small city...