US Captial in Between NY and Philly, almost a reality (state, largest)

[kidphilly]

Well frankly I can not imagine what the region would like considering a city the size of DC in between NYC and Philly. Growing up in Bucks County PA I think I am glad this didn't happen, but talk about magalopolis.

Think that would have solidify one contigious urban area in between and interesting to ponder.

That would probably have made for zero comparison on the most powerful/important region in the US.

Basically 3 of the largest US MSAs in an area the size of the Houston metroplex, yuk I am glad I can see great towns like New Hope just outside of New York and Philly, that would have been a mess

Mercer County, NJ | The New National Capital

[Akhenaton06]

But would Philly have grown to be as large as it is today with the close influence of the nation's capital?

[kidphilly]

Good question, though at the time Philadelphia was the 2nd largest (population wise) English speaking city in the world, the location would have been 30 miles from Center City Philly and 40 miles south of Manhatten. Technically Mercer County NJ (where the proposed capital would have been) is consider part of both the New York and Philly MSA due to its location. Main arguments in this area are who to root for Yankees/Mets/Phillies or Eagles/Jets/Giants

[LiveFrom215]

In effect it would be just one continous city across a healthy chunk of central Jersey. I don't even want to think about what the traffic would have been like. What few rural areas that remain in the region would probably have been obliterated. I think the planners had enough foresight to imagine that possibility....which is kind of amazing....and that was at least part of the reason they placed DC where it is, aside from the obligatory political wrangling. Good move. Philly and NYC seem to be slowly growing into one giant city anyway, but ANOTHER city between them the size of DC in the mix....it would be almost unlivable, IMHO.... *jeez*