How did NYC, Philly and Chicago managed to brace the westward shift?

[btownboss4]

Originally Posted by kyb01

Right. Nothing special.

NYC was the major entry point for immigrants into the country and lots of them stayed. Philadelphia was also a pretty big entry point for immigration and lots also stayed to work in the Workshop of the World which was one title Philly had for decades.

Philly's population had a worse trajectory than Boston and Providence comparable to Hartford. While NYC didn't decline, Manhattan did.

Philly didn't have exceptional growth compared to Boston, Cincinnati, Baltimore or Providence, it just had a lot more space between it and the Western cities that they didn't have enough time to catch up.

In fact since the 70s Boston has gained ground of Philly for example as a Northeastern city.

[DavePa]

Originally Posted by TheTimidBlueBars

If anything, I think we're more "flyover" now than before. A half-century ago, we were truly the "second" American city and a place people cared about. Now LA has far surpassed us in the public eye, and a few other cities like Seattle, Austin, San Francisco, and Houston are catching up, if not already past us.

I disagree Chicago is seen as .... "flyover" today. A century ago NYC skyrocketed and the AL Capone (a New Yorker) era was to effect Chicago's reputation then too. But clearly over the last 20-years Chicago has been reclaiming and gaining glory it lost and clearly despite their impressive growth .... some Sunbelt cities today. Chicago still manages top billing in Corporate expansion and relocations. Mostly as a Headquarters city which shows increased esteem and recognition too.

Its core clearly has
- INCREASED in recognition and interest.
- INCREASED in record tourism and visitation
- has a arguably top 3 retail downtown shopping street in the Nation in the "Magnificent Mile" clearly increased in recognition that Versace and Dior located stores on Rush St.... just off the Mag Mile kinda a arrival to lure them.... . https://www.google.com/maps/@41.9001...7i13312!8i6656
- Millennium Park takes from Navy Pier.... the Top Midwest Attraction and in visitor count by cell phones... declared in the Top 10 in visitors in the Nation where Central Park NYC is and the Washington DC Mall.
- even on C-D now it wins polls that just a couple years ago might not.
- New Yorkers do not see it as flyover .... perhaps the only Midwest city they do not any more. (maybe in winter)
- in fine dining the city has some Top restaurants with acclaim to hotels and in so many fine dining places of its own.
- built a highly residential core today it did not have 30-years ago even...
- has acclaim and recognition for its skyscrapers over a SF and LA. Just no Golden Gate, Disney or Hollywood and a Beverly Hills and has winters.....

Though SF/SJ region with Silicon Valley increased its esteem..... I'm not sure LA has increased its esteem last 20-years? Still Hollywood is its boast and world recognized .... but Chicago clearly has increased its recognition with even TV shows set and filmed there and Top movies have filmed there too and NOT as a replacement for another city. But as itself. IMO