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This is something that is interesting to me, as this forum has members from all over the nation, and even Canada. What are the Top 50 U.S. Cities as of right now, in 2015?
Cities change over time and lose/gain prominence. There was a time Detroit was certainly a top 10 city, and most everyone agrees today it is probably closer to 20 than 10...
When thinking of this topic, I'm not asking about "tiers", per se, although if that's how you choose to categorize in order to answer, that's cool. Also, im not particularly asking for cities to be placed in order, unless you feel like an order is necessary. I'm already of the impression that there are only 11 true "major" cities (NY, Chi, LA, SF, DC, Boston, Philly, ATL, Miami, Houston, Dallas in no order) in the country today, so my biggest thing is the most important regional cities next. And 50 is a large number, I only settled on that as an even-out because there are 50 states. If you want to shrink the pool, be my guest...
The criteria I judge are the normal factors: economy, education, influence in pop culture, finance and wealth, diversity of economy, diversity of population, historic significance, etc. A new wrinkle I never considered before is a city's potential within the next decade, how that influences their ranking. And because most of us are American on here, this gives me a chance to see what the general American socio-demographic nerd views our cities, rather than what we read in publications...
So is Birmingham a top 50 city? Oklahoma City? Rochester? Newark or Jersey City? Oakland? All comments are helpful; nothing is out of bounds here as I'm simply trying to gauge American perspective on the importance of our cities...
When thinking of this topic, I'm not asking about "tiers", per se, although if that's how you choose to categorize in order to answer, that's cool. Also, im not particularly asking for cities to be placed in order, unless you feel like an order is necessary. I'm already of the impression that there are only 11 true "major" cities (NY, Chi, LA, SF, DC, Boston, Philly, ATL, Miami, Houston, Dallas in no order) in the country today, so my biggest thing is the most important regional cities next. And 50 is a large number, I only settled on that as an even-out because there are 50 states. If you want to shrink the pool, be my guest...
I would add Seattle as #12 to your top major city list and call it a day
Maybe because I'm from the East Coast, so Seattle isn't generally spoken of here, but is it really a major city? Because I look at Miami/Dallas/Boston/Philly as 'probably' the bottom four of the top 11, in no order. For Seattle to be included, it'd essentially have to be considered as equal weight to those four cities. And I just see it as a clear, significant step behind those four. Again, I am from the East, so I just may not have a handle on Seattle's stature. Would you say it's all-in-all of equal weight to any of those four?
I generally think of Seattle as being in that crowded middle tier of cities like Detroit and Baltimore, cities that are a clear step (or two) behind Miami/Philly/Dallas/Boston. Speaking of which, yes I guess the "major city" phrase can be stretched to include a grip of cities, but the 11 I listed, I just feel are self-sufficient and of a greater international profile than anywhere else here. Detroit and Baltimore both were unquestionably "major" at one time; today, I think it's debatable. Although I'd say Detroit is probably closer to being major because it is larger, straddles an international border and has the benefit of being the only major city in its state/general area. Both have definitely lost prominence over the years, though...
And I disagree about Oakland. I'm not certain how I'd rank a top 50 myself, but I feel like it has to have a place somewhere. It isn't a typical suburb, and pretty much is what the Bronx or even Queens are to New York. Oakland would definitely be an important city of it weren't close to SF....
And I can't figure out whether OKC is truly one of the Top 50 cities in the nation....
Yes Seattle and Detroit are major important cities like Miami/Philly/Dallas/Boston and others are. and none of these cities are 2 tiers above the other.
Detroit and Windsor combined make an area of 5.7 million which is in the top 10 in population.
Miami's GDP is in the 200B range with Seattle and Detroit. The rest of the cities are in the 300B range however.
As for fortune 500 companies. Dallas has the most at 21 (ranking even higher than LA... wow). Detroit and Boston tie at 13. Seattle comes in at 10. Philly has 8. and Miami has 7. I was actually surprised that Baltimore doesn't have any fortune 500 companies in their area but their close to DMV.
Idk what metric your using to come up with only 11 major cities but as of right now I see at least 3 or 4 more that can hang with your list. Unless population is your biggest factor, if so then you still have to at least include Detroit and Phoenix before the population really dips down.
Yes Seattle and Detroit are major important cities like Miami/Philly/Dallas/Boston and others are. and none of these cities are 2 tiers above the other.
Detroit and Windsor combined make an area of 5.7 million which is in the top 10 in population.
Miami's GDP is in the 200B range with Seattle and Detroit. The rest of the cities are in the 300B range however.
As for fortune 500 companies. Dallas has the most at 21 (ranking even higher than LA... wow). Detroit and Boston tie at 13. Seattle comes in at 10. Philly has 8. and Miami has 7. I was actually surprised that Baltimore doesn't have any fortune 500 companies in their area but their close to DMV.
Idk what metric your using to come up with only 11 major cities but as of right now I see at least 3 or 4 more that can hang with your list. Unless population is your biggest factor, if so then you still have to at least include Detroit and Phoenix before the population really dips down.
Ah, I see what you're saying. According to gdp, I have to include Seattle if I include Miami, but Detroit and Phoenix are a little ways behind. Yet, according to population, I have to include them ahead of Seattle...
To answer your question, I don't consider population a huge factor, but strength of economy, I most definitely do. I am open to considering Detroit a major city, largely because of its historical significance to the nation, added to reasons I listed earlier. But I have a hard time calling Phoenix a major city. It's a big city, but "major"? On what metric? Besides population growth, I see no reason, and again, population growth is not essential, though there is an amount of importance. Raleigh is exploding in growth, for example, and while firmly within the top 50, it isn't a "major city" by any metric besides growth..,
Yes Seattle and Detroit are major important cities like Miami/Philly/Dallas/Boston and others are. and none of these cities are 2 tiers above the other.
Detroit and Windsor combined make an area of 5.7 million which is in the top 10 in population.
Miami's GDP is in the 200B range with Seattle and Detroit. The rest of the cities are in the 300B range however.
As for fortune 500 companies. Dallas has the most at 21 (ranking even higher than LA... wow). Detroit and Boston tie at 13. Seattle comes in at 10. Philly has 8. and Miami has 7. I was actually surprised that Baltimore doesn't have any fortune 500 companies in their area but their close to DMV.
Idk what metric your using to come up with only 11 major cities but as of right now I see at least 3 or 4 more that can hang with your list. Unless population is your biggest factor, if so then you still have to at least include Detroit and Phoenix before the population really dips down.
Minneapolis is right behind Miami in terms of GDP and ahead of Detroit. It also has more Fortune 500 companies than Seattle, Miami, and Detroit. It's definitely in the same tier as Seattle and Detroit.
Minneapolis is right behind Miami in terms of GDP and ahead of Detroit. It also has more Fortune 500 companies than Seattle, Miami, and Detroit. It's definitely in the same tier as Seattle and Detroit.
Ehh I think Minneapolis is still widely considered in the Portland, Denver tier. Below Seattle.
And I can't figure out whether OKC is truly one of the Top 50 cities in the nation....
By the numbers, it is. The metro area has almost 1.4 million in population and the city's economic growth isn't doing too bad right now. When it comes to actual quality of life and real amenities, I have a difficult time thinking of any other city that punches so far below its weight. OKC, given its size and economic strength, should be much better than it is. For one reason or another, the city can't seem to attract the kind of amenities or quality urban development that comparably-sized and smaller cities around the country are able to get.
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