Top 10 densest 'looking' areas? (comparison, places, America, population) - City vs. City - City-Data Forum

1Milehigh · 01-22-2013, 09:52 AM

They have an awesome thread currently going on the world forum (see link below) that is debating the top 10 densest places in the world. The argument is situated on visual photos and realistic numbers of population, buildings, and sheer monstrosity of vertical cities around the globe. Very few pictures in the thread support North American cities outside of the NY and Chicago. I would like to investigate dense neighborhoods through the lens of US cities with the exception of Vancouver, Montreal and Toronto to demonstrate density in US neighborhoods/cities. *Photos are welcomed and much needed.

P.S. I will go on record that there are some areas in US sunbelt cities that will surprise some people with their urban canyons, vertical prowess, and neighbor foot traffic. #ijs

Top 10 densest places in the world?

nei · 01-22-2013, 10:14 AM

Here's some busy looking New York views. Scroll around this block:

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Heral...+York,+NY&z=17

this neighborhood about 10 miles east:

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Flush...56.41,,0,-0.64

lots of people here:

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Union...60.15,,0,-4.51

the South Bronx has busy areas:

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Bronx...343.83,,0,3.41

lots of tall buildings here:

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=432+p...,0,-13.52&z=16

above central Park:

http://cityparksblog.files.wordpress...pg?w=600&h=380

2e1m5a · 01-22-2013, 10:22 AM

Here is a great picture that shows how dense South Philadelphia and Center City are. There is continuous development at least 6 Miles North, Northwest and Northeast of Center City that is not viewable.

All sizes |

http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4132/5...1c9befba_b.jpg

kidphilly · 01-22-2013, 10:28 AM

Philly is very structually dense city

This type of development probably is pretty continuous over about 60-70 sq miles with continuity (well pretty close, this area of South Philly may be the most specific form of compressed continuity but the remainder is pretty similar)

It also interesting that nearly all pictured especially in foreground is or has been significantly gentrifying over the last decade or so

The diagonal street in the middle is now one of the hotter neighborhoods in Passyunk Sq (traditionally an Italian enclave) with an explosion of new great restaurants

1Milehigh · 01-22-2013, 11:40 AM

Not every pic shows San Francisco's densest. However, you get a snapshot of some of the neighborhoods (e.g. Marina, North Beach, etc).

1Milehigh · 01-22-2013, 12:12 PM

In comparison, a few pics of Montreal neighborhoods (St. Laurent, Ville Marie, Rosemont - Le Petite-Patrie).

Atticman · 01-22-2013, 01:36 PM

Here are two pics of Toronto density:
This one shows the Eastern half of downtown looking North. Most of the huge towers of the financial district are just out of view to the West.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8350/8...b0135641_h.jpg

This one shows the Western side of downtown near the lakefront with Etobicoke and Mississauga in the distance.
http://i1322.photobucket.com/albums/...3/Dec/2391.jpg
Both pics by Skyjacked

Downtown skyline from the West. The towers in the Northern part of the skyline at Bloor-Yorkville are out of frame on the left.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8485/8...6da3cebc_b.jpg

Zoomed-in shot of the main downtown cluster.
http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/i...DSCF8559-2.jpg
Both pics by Jasonzed

Here's a good shot showing most of the downtown area.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8065/8...a780a1_k_d.jpg
Pic by ronnie.yip

RightonWalnut · 01-22-2013, 01:37 PM

It depends what you mean by dense. It can mean a few things.

Overall city and neighborhood density? The ranking would probably look like this:

1. New York City
2. Chicago
3. San Francisco
4. Philadelphia
5. Boston
6. Los Angeles
7. Washington D.C.
8. Baltimore
9. Pittsburgh
10. Hoboken/ Union City/ Jersey City/ Newark urban area

Central Business District density would probably look like this:

1. New York City
2. Chicago
3 tie. San Francisco/ Philadelphia
4. Boston
5. Washington D.C.
6. Pittsburgh
7. Baltimore
8. Seattle
9. Los Angeles
10. Miami/ Houston/ Dallas

Skyline density would probably look like this:

1. New York City
2. Chicago
3. San Francisco
4. Philadelphia
5. Miami
6. Boston
7. Honolulu
8. Seattle
9. Minneapolis/ Pittsburgh
10. Houston/ Los Angeles/ Dallas

So the answers could change depending on the criteria, but one thing for sure is 1-4 tends to stay the same IMO.

RightonWalnut · 01-22-2013, 02:01 PM

1Milehigh · 01-22-2013, 02:51 PM

When you look at Philadelphia and Toronto, some angles you can get lost as to which is which.