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Wow, thanks for all that work. Overall Pitt for the win for most metros and Columbus for the large metros. Thanks
No, Columbus wins the 8 hour category for midsized metros. Pittsburgh is more central for the large metros (over 5 million) for both time ranges.
Of the three cities in the original poll, looks like Columbus is more centrally located.
After including Cleveland and Pittsburgh into the mix though, the Burgh comes out more centrally located for all metro sizes that he ranked within 6 hours drive: large, midsized, and smaller. Cleveland comes in second.
For the 8 hour range, Columbus does edge out Pittsburgh in one category ( mid-sized metros within 8 hours ), and they are tied for the smaller metros. Pittsburgh is more central for the large (over 5 million metros).
For me, the 8 hours category is a deal breaker - I'm not willing to drive that far. 6 is really pushing it and would have to be for a 3 day weekend trip at a minimum.
Isn't centrally located referring to nationwide? What about those west of the Mississippi?
West of the Mississippi River is more thinly populated. Kansas City is the closest major metropolitan area to the geographic center of the 48 contiguous states, but Oklahoma City and St. Louis are the only major metropolitan areas within a six-hour drive (6:10 or less), and the list only adds Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Indianapolis, Memphis and Minneapolis/St. Paul if you expand it to an eight-hour drive (8:10 or less).
West of the Mississippi River is more thinly populated. Kansas City is the closest major metropolitan area to the geographic center of the 48 contiguous states, but Oklahoma City and St. Louis are the only major metropolitan areas within a six-hour drive (6:10 or less), and the list only adds Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Indianapolis, Memphis and Minneapolis/St. Paul if you expand it to an eight-hour drive (8:10 or less).
Is there a reason why you didn't use actually miles? People fly as well as drive.
If ever a thread perfectly captured the essence of the general U.S. forum, its this one.
Let's pick three centrally located metros and argue over which one is most centrally located. Lets also make sure the criteria is stacked beyond any practical application to the real world so the OP's hometown is given the best chance to win.
Using 500 straight distance miles between metropolitan areas with populations of 1,000,000 (million) or greater I came up with the following:
Columbus 23
Indianapolis 22
Cincinnati 21
Pittsburgh 21
Cleveland 20
Almost a statistical tie. There were a couple of near misses. For example Baltimore is 509 mi from Indianapolis and Minneapolis is 511.21 mi. Almost but no cigar.
Using 500 straight distance miles between metropolitan areas with populations of 1,000,000 (million) or greater I came up with the following:
Columbus 23
Indianapolis 22
Cincinnati 21
Pittsburgh 21
Cleveland 20
Almost a statistical tie. There were a couple of near misses. For example Baltimore is 509 mi from Indianapolis and Minneapolis is 511.21 mi. Almost but no cigar.
I don't see the point of this unless you have a personal airplane. Not many people are going to go to the airport and buy expensive tickets to visit random small to mid sized metros. The time in the air to small metros in the vicinity for all of these cities is going to be very similar, around 45 minutes. So it really comes down to how far from the airport you live, what traffic is like, and how far you are going from the destination airport to your actual destination, and what that transportation is like.
The trip time to large 5 million plus metros, and resort areas are probably what matter to the most people. Also, the airports add extra logistical problems that driving usually doesn't, so for short trips less than 300 miles, they're not likely to be time savers or money savers.
I don't see the point of this unless you have a personal airplane. Not many people are going to go to the airport and buy expensive tickets to visit random small to mid sized metros. The time in the air to small metros in the vicinity for all of these cities is going to be very similar, around 45 minutes. So it really comes down to how far from the airport you live, what traffic is like, and how far you are going from the destination airport to your actual destination, and what that transportation is like.
The trip time to large 5 million plus metros, and resort areas are probably what matter to the most people. Also, the airports add extra logistical problems that driving usually doesn't, so for short trips less than 300 miles, they're not likely to be time savers or money savers.
Well I fly. A lot. But that is besides the point. How about commerce? The shipping of good and services by UPS, FedEx and the Postal Service. Lets use Indianapolis as an example. Location is why Indianapolis' UPS operation is only second to Memphis. This is why location is important to Indianapolis.
21st largest airport in the world and 6th largest in the U.S.
8th largest cargo airport in North America
New $1 billion midfield passenger terminal
2nd largest FedEx hub in the world
U.S. Postal Service hub
Multiple commercial distribution centers
8th largest export state in nation within a foreign trade zone
5th busiest state for commercial freight traffic
Well I fly. A lot. But that is besides the point. How about commerce? The shipping of good and services by UPS, FedEx and the Postal Service. Lets use Indianapolis as an example. Location is why Indianapolis' UPS operation is only second to Memphis. This is why location is important to Indianapolis.
21st largest airport in the world and 6th largest in the U.S.
8th largest cargo airport in North America
New $1 billion midfield passenger terminal
2nd largest FedEx hub in the world
U.S. Postal Service hub
Multiple commercial distribution centers
8th largest export state in nation within a foreign trade zone
5th busiest state for commercial freight traffic
Do you see the point now?
I'd consider it a valid point if this was a message board or thread that was focused on shipping logistics.... but it is not. It is a poll based on driving to visit other metro areas, presumably for enjoyment, as that is what the vast majority of people here are focused on. Do you get that?
If you really want to discuss your topic, why don't you start a thread based specifically on shipping of freight. But I doubt many people will be interested.
Last edited by _Buster; 08-13-2015 at 10:58 AM..
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