Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
The Top 5 are pretty much set in stone (NYC, LA, DC, SF, CHI). What about #6-#10? I got:
Boston
Philly
Miami
Las Vegas -Arguably has the most instantly recognizable city out of the bottom 5. The neon lights, the gambling, the mob culture (even though it's gone now), the quickie weddings, the Elvis impersonators, millions of tourists--very iconic as a city of hedonism and excess.
Detroit - scoff all you want, the Motor City still has name recognition and notoriety that most U.S. cities do not.
Not bad.....you could add Seattle, St Louis, New Orleans, Dallas (TVshow & Cowboys make it iconic)
Here's a fun little tool on how individual countries percieve your cities done by Simon-Anholt. Taken from a panel of 20,000 people around the world, it's a pretty good sample size. As good as you will find on here anyways. Not 100% complete because DC and Philly is left out of this 2009 study, among others, which limited to only 50 global cities. But interesting regardless.
Yes, it is amazing because the people in the United States thoguht that the 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6 most im[portant cities in the world were in the U.S.! Now that s provincialism at its most extreme. The Ugly American, who believes that everything is contained within our shores is alive and well.
I truly believe that Vegas (and Miami on a lesser level) needs to be in this conversation. Vegas especially! Look at annual visitors it gets, domestic and international. It does a tremendous job of marketing. It's image is powerful and unique. You know what you are going to get by visiting. Its skyline and strip is instantly recognizable to anyone that pays attention to American culture. It's has one of the most famous slogans in the world "what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas". One of the most famous nicknames as well, "Sin City".
Some of the world's most famous celebrities and icons party there. In the world of music, the most famous DJs in the world spin and have residencies there. Also, World famous icons like Elvis, Sinatra, Liberace, and Celine Dion somehow wind up their careers there. As a convention center, some of the most attended and famous conventions are held there. As far as nightlife/clubs, Vegas is second to none. Clubs XS, Surrender, Tao, Pure, Rain, Tryst, Marquee, Haze, etc are some of the most opulent venues around the world. Fight nights in Vegas are some of the most lucrative and profitable couple of hours of entertainment in the world.
Vegas is basically a "Name Brand". Of course it's not a real city, per se. But really needs to be in the conversation if you really want to speak on it's "iconcism".
And I haven't even touched on it being a mecca for gambling, which built the whole darn thing in the first place. LOL!
I agree. Vegas for all the things you mentioned, and Miami for the instant associations with South Beach, nightlife, spring break and beach culture deserve to be in the conversation. I would put Vegas in the top five, and Chicago and Miami at 6 and 7. Followed by Boston, New Orleans and Seattle. Someone else has mentioned Detroit and I agree that it also belongs in the secondary group. Its name brand as the Motor City is still very strong internationally.
The Top 5 are pretty much set in stone (NYC, LA, DC, SF, CHI).
I would say the top 4 are set in stone. As has been discussed, there is a good argument that Vegas is more deserving to be in the top 5 than Chicago, if we are talking about associations, notoriety and international recognition of the cityscape.
Quote:
Originally Posted by RaymondChandlerLives
Detroit - scoff all you want, the Motor City still has name recognition and notoriety that most U.S. cities do not.
Yes, it is amazing because the people in the United States thoguht that the 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6 most im[portant cities in the world were in the U.S.! Now that s provincialism at its most extreme. The Ugly American, who believes that everything is contained within our shores is alive and well.
Indeed that is amazing and freightening at the same time. Also interesting that Americans view Chicago and San Francisco as more important than LA. I can understand Chicago but SF ahead of LA is puzzling.
Indeed that is amazing and freightening at the same time. Also interesting that Americans view Chicago and San Francisco as more important than LA. I can understand Chicago but SF ahead of LA is puzzling.
Actually a decent argument could be made that Seattle is more iconic than Boston or Philly. But it all depends on what you mean by "iconic".
Seattle is a great city but I don't see what makes it any more iconic than BOS or PHI.
As far as what I think this thread is referring to as "iconic", I think what we mean is kinda like the face, the flagship, the signature, the fingerprint, the mecca, (or whatever you wanna call it) that defines America, American culture, American history, influence, significance, importance etc, to Americans and the rest of the world.
Kinda like how Mcdonald's is 'iconic' in the American fast food industry.
Seattle is a great city but I don't see what makes it any more iconic than BOS or PHI.
Its skyline, which is probably more recognizable internationally than Boston's or Philly's.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mrjun18
As far as what I think this thread is referring to as "iconic", I think what we mean is kinda like the face, the flagship, the signature, the fingerprint, the mecca, (or whatever you wanna call it) that defines America, American culture, American history, influence, significance, importance etc, to Americans and the rest of the world.
Kinda like how Mcdonald's is 'iconic' in the American fast food industry.
By those criteria you are right that Boston and Philly are more iconic. Yet I bet you if you go abroad and play word associations with people you will probably get more hits with Seattle than Philly.
Location: northern Vermont - previously NM, WA, & MA
10,748 posts, read 23,813,296 times
Reputation: 14660
Quote:
Originally Posted by mrjun18
Seattle is a great city but I don't see what makes it any more iconic than BOS or PHI.
As far as what I think this thread is referring to as "iconic", I think what we mean is kinda like the face, the flagship, the signature, the fingerprint, the mecca, (or whatever you wanna call it) that defines America, American culture, American history, influence, significance, importance etc, to Americans and the rest of the world.
Kinda like how Mcdonald's is 'iconic' in the American fast food industry.
An iconic building and instantly recognizable skyline for starters
Space Needle (http://www.flickr.com/photos/nramsey/2837995657/ - broken link) by nramsey (http://www.flickr.com/people/nramsey/ - broken link), on Flickr
Then there is brand recognition
Starbucks (http://www.flickr.com/photos/spryken/3121400519/ - broken link) by spryken (http://www.flickr.com/people/spryken/ - broken link), on Flickr
Seattle's Best Coffee (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rachaelvoorhees/2533139736/ - broken link) by rachaelvoorhees (http://www.flickr.com/people/rachaelvoorhees/ - broken link), on Flickr
Bill Gates' keynote at CES 2008 -3 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14435569@N06/2174874534/ - broken link) by joakimbage (http://www.flickr.com/people/14435569@N06/ - broken link), on Flickr
Nordstrom Look ! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/aum123/5520213978/ - broken link) by aumsbunnga (http://www.flickr.com/people/aum123/ - broken link), on Flickr
Boeing 787 N787BA First Flight (http://www.flickr.com/photos/steeldreams/4188903594/ - broken link) by steeldreams (http://www.flickr.com/people/steeldreams/ - broken link), on Flickr
amazon.com (http://www.flickr.com/photos/niffgurd/3369762622/ - broken link) by Mark Griffith (http://www.flickr.com/people/niffgurd/ - broken link), on Flickr
and just for good measure
Peral Jam, Rock Werchter (http://www.flickr.com/photos/destandaardonline/4764612640/ - broken link) by De Standaard (http://www.flickr.com/people/destandaardonline/ - broken link), on Flickr
Jimi Hendrix Statue - Seattle (http://www.flickr.com/photos/9328755@N06/623185849/ - broken link) by davidleesanders (http://www.flickr.com/people/9328755@N06/ - broken link), on Flickr
pike place market (http://www.flickr.com/photos/matthewphx/375787993/ - broken link) by MatthewPHX (http://www.flickr.com/people/matthewphx/ - broken link), on Flickr
Grey's Anatomy Season 1-4 DVD Boxset (http://www.flickr.com/photos/40798709@N07/3799838063/ - broken link) by geniusmark30@yahoo.com (http://www.flickr.com/people/40798709@N07/ - broken link), on Flickr
Sleepless In Seattle (http://www.flickr.com/photos/nishiology/212584420/ - broken link) by nishiology (http://www.flickr.com/people/nishiology/ - broken link), on Flickr
Fremont Troll (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rundle/258035013/ - broken link) by Jonathan1982 (http://www.flickr.com/people/rundle/ - broken link), on Flickr
Last edited by Champ le monstre du lac; 01-03-2012 at 03:46 PM..
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Amazing
