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.
^^ Intersting...what's the reason for that? Not saying you're wrong, just interested in hearing the reason.
I personally think Philadelphia is often overlooked because it doesn't seem to have a flagship industry.
NY is obviously the king of the country. Home to Wall St, etc, etc. So there's no question as to why it's the most well known.
Washington DC is home to the Federal Government. Boston is known as a Mecca for higher education. It's also a well-known technology. Philadelphia has a good economy and it thrives in several areas...but it doesn't have that flagship industry that people would associate the city with.
That's what I think.
That's a good point. I would say Philadelphia's modern industries -- that is, those after the decline in manufacturing on which Philadelphia's economy was long dependent -- are actually not that dissimilar from Boston's. The "meds and eds" sectors are pretty strong here, too, although I fully concede Boston has a larger higher educational industry. Outside of that, pharmaceuticals are big in the area (Wyeth, Rohm & Haas, Pfizer, etc.) Interestingly enough, Philly has more lawyers per capita than NYC, so it has a pretty disproportionately large legal industry, too. Overall, though, it has a pretty diverse economy, which certainly isn't a bad thing.
That's a good point. I would say Philadelphia's modern industries -- that is, those after the decline in manufacturing on which Philadelphia's economy was long dependent -- are actually not that dissimilar from Boston's. The "meds and eds" sectors are pretty strong here, too, although I fully concede Boston has a larger higher educational industry. Outside of that, pharmaceuticals are big in the area (Wyeth, Rohm & Haas, Pfizer, etc.) Interestingly enough, Philly has more lawyers per capita than NYC, so it has a pretty disproportionately large legal industry, too. Overall, though, it has a pretty diverse economy, which certainly isn't a bad thing.
That's definitely not a bad thing. However it could be one of the reasons it's often overlooked.
All the time I here people say that Philadelphia is a big, important city, yet everyone says the "main" and most important cities of the corridor are DC, New York and Boston. I'm confused. Is Philadelphia one of the main cities of the corridor or is it like Baltimore, Hartford and Providence?
Yeah I wouldn't include Philadelphia as part of the main cities at all, I guess I also happen to over look Philadelphia as I see it often as a Baltimore, etc...
How about pharmaceuticals as Philly's flagship industry? I tend to agree with others that Philly is kind of lost in NYC's shadow. If you divide the Corridor into sub-regions, Boston dominates the northern end, Washington is the obvious major center at the southern end, while NYC is the first city people will usually think of to represent the middle. Philly just kind of becomes an afterthought as one of the other middle cities, simply because it's too close to NYC to represent a separate area.
However, the lack of a flagship industry is an interesting suggestion. Philly is such a major player in pharmaceuticals, as I understand, that this could stand out. But pharmaceuticals may not get as much attention as the industries that dominate the economies of other Northeastern cities. It lacks the cultural prestige of being the great education center that Boston is, the powerful punch of Washington's politics and New York's finance industry, or the glamor of NYC as a center of entertainment. It may be that the lack of a flagship industry is not so much as a problem as the presence of an economic mainstay that many people don't see as having a lot of glitter.
By the way, I like Philly. Regardless of the attention the city does or does not get, Philadelphians have reason for serious pride in their home.
It seems strange that people seem to think that Philly falls into the category of a smaller overlooked East Coast city, when in fact it is the second largest city on the entire East coast, only behind Nyc. I mean besides the fact that it paved the way for almost every city in this country it still remains a very important city in the US.
All the time I here people say that Philadelphia is a big, important city, yet everyone says the "main" and most important cities of the corridor are DC, New York and Boston. I'm confused. Is Philadelphia one of the main cities of the corridor or is it like Baltimore, Hartford and Providence?
Philadelphia is often overlooked as the drive between NYC and DC/Baltimore swerves just east of the city, which is odd as the city is the 5th largest (or 6th largest if you include the big suburb known as Phoenix) city in the U.S. As a resident of Philly I find it frustrating that it is overlooked given its stature in terms of history, commerce and infrastructure. I guess it can be attributed to the overall American retardation in terms of geography.
"Philadelphia is often overlooked as the drive between NYC and DC/Baltimore swerves just east of the city".
This is a very good point. Both the New Jersey Turnpike and I-295 completely bypass Philadelphia to the east. When you travel the Bosh-Wash corridor getting through and around New York City, Washington, even Baltimore can be a major problem. To say the least!
But when traveling on the turnpike it is like Philadelphia is not even there. Or at least it seems like a smaller city like Wilmington. All you really see a sign or two that say "Philadelphia next exit"!
I do not understand how Philadelphia faded from the national limelight so much. Even here on City Data, people often seem suprised to see Philadelphia has such a nice skyline or has so much history.
"Philadelphia is often overlooked as the drive between NYC and DC/Baltimore swerves just east of the city".
This is a very good point. Both the New Jersey Turnpike and I-295 completely bypass Philadelphia to the east. When you travel the Bosh-Wash corridor getting through and around New York City, Washington, even Baltimore can be a major problem. To say the least!
But when traveling on the turnpike it is like Philadelphia is not even there. Or at least it seems like a smaller city like Wilmington. All you really see a sign or two that say "Philadelphia next exit"!
I do not understand how Philadelphia faded from the national limelight so much. Even here on City Data, people often seem suprised to see Philadelphia has such a nice skyline or has so much history.
You beat me to it. Philadelphia is a major and important American city, with the best "grinder" -- provolone and prosciutto -- that I've ever tasted in my life.
But the NJ Turkpike totally bypasses Philly when you're en route from NY to DC/Baltimore.
Does anyone know the exact reason why I-95 was not continuously extended up the East Coast? It stops north of Philly. If you're going between DC and NY, you have to take the Turnpike for continuous road travel.
Philadelphia does suffer from its proximity to the other, more important city. DC and New York are BOTH more important that Philadelphia. Boston is a good 3 hours from the closest "big" city, so it really isn't overshadowed by New York as much as Philadelphia is overshadowed. The overshadowing effect makes Boston appear more important than Philadelphia, which isn't the case.
I appreciate that Philadelphia has been able to retain its strong identity despite being sandwiched between two other cities with major influences.
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.
Check the GDP's of each metropolitan area.... 
.
