Which metro area has the best suburbs? (NYC, state, places)

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by rogead

Boston: what I like about the Boston suburbs is that most of them have their own identity, perhaps because they are so old and grew independent of Boston proper. I spent a year in Boston going to school. I lived in Malden, which isn't even one of the best known suburbs, and I found that relatively obscure city to have a wonderful history of its own.

Many of Denver's suburbs were once independent towns as well, for example, Wheat Ridge, Arvada, Golden (was once the territorial capital), Boulder (still thinks it's separate) and its burbs such as Louisville, and Lafayette, Littleton, Castle Rock. Aurora is almost 300 K people; Arvada and Lakewood are >100,000.

Originally Posted by US-Traveller

South Metro Denver, Colorado

The south metro? It has some of the most stereotypically "suburban" areas in the metro. The only places in the above list that are in the south area are Littleton and Castle Rock. Much of the area with "Littleton" addresses is not actually in Littleton, and is very "suburban" in character.

[jayp1188]

Boston suburbs are the best suburbs in my opinion, followed by DC, and then New York.

Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, and Detroit have some great suburbs too.

[Infamous92]

Originally Posted by OmShahi

Lol largest suburb in USA = Mesa, AZ. Over 420,000 people. That must fry your mind, right?

Can't forget Hempstead, NY (Long Island) which has a population of 765,000. That's about 200,000 more people than the NYC borough of Staten Island.

[DANNYY]

Originally Posted by Infamous92

Can't forget Hempstead, NY (Long Island) which has a population of 765,000. That's about 200,000 more people than the NYC borough of Staten Island.

I've always wondered about this and I guess this would be the opportune time for me to ask as well.

Is Long Island considered a city? Or is it the geographical name for the island that houses many other cities?

[Infamous92]

Originally Posted by OmShahi

I've always wondered about this and I guess this would be the opportune time for me to ask as well.

Is Long Island considered a city? Or is it the geographical name for the island that houses many other cities?

Its mostly a geographical name for the island, and the NYC Metro is also divided into "mini-regions" and Long Island is one of them.

Long Island isn't a city, its made up of 4 counties that house multiple towns & cities (including half of NYC), however most of the time its just the suburban counties of Nassau & Suffolk that are referred to as Long Island.

If Long Island was its own city the population would be 7 million, it would dwarf Jacksonville, FL (physically the largest city in the U.S.) by being the size of Rhode Island.

[caphillsea77]

Originally Posted by Katiana

Many of Denver's suburbs were once independent towns as well, for example, Wheat Ridge, Arvada, Golden (was once the territorial capital), Boulder (still thinks it's separate) and its burbs such as Louisville, and Lafayette, Littleton, Castle Rock. Aurora is almost 300 K people; Arvada and Lakewood are >100,000.

The south metro? It has some of the most stereotypically "suburban" areas in the metro. The only places in the above list that are in the south area are Littleton and Castle Rock. Much of the area with "Littleton" addresses is not actually in Littleton, and is very "suburban" in character.

Though I love Colorado, I thought a lot of Denver's suburbs seemed mediocre, like they could be in Ohio if not for the Front Range on the western horizon. I would of thought towns like Golden and Lakewood to the west heading toward the mountains would be where the most desireble area with lots of $$$ as they have a great view of the city and at the mountains doorstep, but not so. Seems all the yuppy suburbs are south along I-25, makes sense I guess because that's where the lions share of the employment is with all the office parks along that corridor.

Of course Boulder is in a league of it's own. Most Boulderites would cringe at the thought of being called a "Denver suburb" even though it pretty much is. Though at some point they will build an arched sign over US Hwy 36 saying "The peoples republic of Boulder". I like Boulder, it's a beautiful city with a very attractive downtown. I love the view of the Flatiron mountains just a stones throw from town. The wierd factor (the bed wetting liberal, hippy, crunchy types) can be a little overwhelming but I guess that gives it character. It's definitely one of America's trendiest college towns.

One of the most interesting exurb/suburbs I have ever seen was Franktown, right outside of Parker. It looked like the Southfork Ranch on the TV show Dallas. On a rolling prairie with lots of horses, and stunnig views of the Front Range and city of Denver with the extended mid-rise skyline extending to the south down I-25. Large properties with lots of acreage and some of the biggest most lavish homes I have laid eyes on. Very nuveau riche though, one can tell the affluence has only been around for 25 years or so and that it was a one horse town not that long ago.

I miss Denver!!!!

[DANNYY]

Originally Posted by Infamous92

Its mostly a geographical name for the island, and the NYC Metro is also divided into "mini-regions" and Long Island is one of them.

Long Island isn't a city, its made up of 4 counties that house multiple towns & cities (including half of NYC), however most of the time its just the suburban counties of Nassau & Suffolk that are referred to as Long Island.

If Long Island was its own city the population would be 7 million, it would dwarf Jacksonville, FL (physically the largest city in the U.S.) by being the size of Rhode Island.

That's very informative! Thank you for clearing up my misconception of Long Island!

Jacksonville is massive, it's a city and a county, unbelievable. The metro area is quite small though by population.

[nysfla]

San Francisco and DC

[LovinDecatur]

Originally Posted by MplsTodd

Birmingham: Homewood

Augh, how could I forget about Birmingham? Mountain Brook is IMO one of the loveliest suburbs in the U.S.

[LovinDecatur]

Originally Posted by US-Traveller

People clearly haven't been to suburban Chicago. The North Shore is perhaps the most stunning collection of suburbs I have ever seen. Old money personified by director John Hughes in Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Pretty in Pink, Home Alone, & the Breakfast Club. Also brought to super stardom by Mean Girls, The Weather Man, & Risky Business. DuPage & the Barrington Area are also stunning.

Oh, believe me, there is plenty of love out there for the North Shore suburbs. I used to love visiting my cousin in Lake Forest; she was a great tourguide to the area. Chicago suburbs are festival-crazy like nowhere else I've seen...always something going on there.