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By nose dive I mean lose its station at the height of power not necessarily decay.
Detroit has fallen the hardest in the last 50 years but what about Charleston? It was once the second wealthiest city by the end of colonial America. Now it's just a charming city.
IYO, what is the most fallen American city in all of American history?
I wouldn't consider Charleston as to have "Fallen". They more or less found their niche as to what kind of city they want to be. Charleston has a more solid identity than most I would say.
Yes. Buffalo I believe, was 10th largest at one time.
Off the top of my head, other cities that have cascaded greatly from their former prominence are:
Galena, IL
Butte, MT
Cairo, IL
Altoona, PA
Johnstown, PA
Glouster, MA
Troy, NY
Savannah, GA
New Orleans, LA
Youngstown, OH
Rochester, NY
New Bedford, MA
Newark, NJ
Camden, NJ
Gary, IN
Niagara Falls, NY
Pueblo, CO
Pittsburgh, PA
Bridgeport, CT
Flint, MI
East St Louis, IL
There is a big difference bewteen stunted growth cities (Cairo, New Orleans, Butte, Galena) and cities that declined (Detroit, Newark, Buffalo)
That is an amazing list, Ben Around. (rep. point)
I would add Marblehead and Salem, Mass. to the list.
As one whom lives in Charleston I sort of agree that it should top the list. Not that it has objectively declined-no, its a top tourist destination and has a growing economy and population. But, when compared to other cities that were in its peer group in colonial days it has been sadly left in the dust.
Charleston was the premier city of the South until the civil war, when cities like Atlanta took the lead and never looked back. I think the fact that Atlanta was burned to the ground helped them look to the future more than Charleston did. Charleston was much more concerned with the preservation of history than achieving anything remotely important. Even today, any growth downtown is hampered by height restriction and government housing not far from the tourist districts.
But, alas, that is what they want I guess. Charleston is definately a unique city and has found a niche. There are a 100 Charlottes but only 1 Charleston. Still, I wonder how it would be if history happened differently. I think it would be sort of a Boston of the south.
So, as far as cities losing importance in the last 200-300 years, Charleston wins hands down.
Possibly Lowell, MA... not #1, but I'd say it's up there.
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