Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I don't know why people think Rust Belt cities don't have nice neighborhoods, public institutions, suburbs, parks, beaches, etc. Perhaps they don't understand what a "Rust Belt" city is? Rust belt cities are those which thrived in the old 20th century industrial belt of the US. Before industry left, there were lots of well-paying industrial jobs and strong unions making for a robust economy. The industrialists who came from these cities contributed heavily in the city's culture and public facilities (theaters, libraries, parks, etc.). Well paid management created a demand for good schools and pleasant neighborhoods for themselves. Just because many areas of these cities look like "dumps" doesn't mean these cities were always dumps. Even some of today's "dumpy" areas, the bones are still good.
I was surprised by how pleasant some parts of the Detroit metro area are. You hear Detroit and you don't necessarily have positive associations, but being there I realized that it's really not that different from a lot of American cities in that there's 'bad parts' but also a lot of nice stuff around it. Walking down a leafy street in Grosse Pointe and then taking your boat out onto the lake..it's nice, nicer than many places in far more hyped metro areas.
While it may not be remarkable that a rich area is nice, I mean it's the same everywhere isn't it? It's not like the poorest parts of L.A., Oakland or Palm Beach county are all that hot to be around either.
Completely agree. Detroit metro has the 13 largest economy in the country. I'm not at all surprised there are nice areas. Every city has nice, middle, and poor areas.
I don't know why people think Rust Belt cities don't have nice neighborhoods, public institutions, suburbs, parks, beaches, etc. Perhaps they don't understand what a "Rust Belt" city is? Rust belt cities are those which thrived in the old 20th century industrial belt of the US. Before industry left, there were lots of well-paying industrial jobs and strong unions making for a robust economy. The industrialists who came from these cities contributed heavily in the city's culture and public facilities (theaters, libraries, parks, etc.). Well paid management created a demand for good schools and pleasant neighborhoods for themselves. Just because many areas of these cities look like "dumps" doesn't mean these cities were always dumps. Even some of today's "dumpy" areas, the bones are still good.
I'm not a big Detroit fan, having lived there years ago when the city was almost at its nadir. But even then, it was clear that the old money left some spectacular cultural monuments that few outside of metro Detroit knew existed.
The main branch of the public library is magnificent and can hold a candle to any library in the U.S.
A lot of these Rust Belt cities have problems like you wouldn't believe. But they also have some treasures that nobody outside them would really believe either.
I live just a mile from beautiful Lakewood Park on Lake Erie. Edgewater beach just ten minutes away.
Lakefront properties along Lake Erie have been featured on HGTV in my area.
Nice! The great lakes are such a wonderful resource for recreation and water sports. Great for boating and water craft. I also like the historic light houses and maritime feel, similar to that of coastal regions.
Nice! The great lakes are such a wonderful resource for recreation and water sports. Great for boating and water craft. I also like the historic light houses and maritime feel, similar to that of coastal regions.
Duluth, Minnesota is plopped in the midst of a massive pine forest on the shores of Lake Superior. It is (un)surprisingly active and outdoorsy for a rust belt city.
So Duluth's geographical location? Or that people don't realize it's a rust belt city at all?
For the record, I love Duluth.
The thing I wish people would realize is that "Rust Belt" is a term that describes certain cities in a region. Not every city in a region. Madison, WI is not a Rust Belt city. I wouldn't describe Columbus, OH as one either.
So Duluth's geographical location? Or that people don't realize it's a rust belt city at all?
For the record, I love Duluth.
The thing I wish people would realize is that "Rust Belt" is a term that describes certain cities in a region. Not every city in a region. Madison, WI is not a Rust Belt city. I wouldn't describe Columbus, OH as one either.
While Duluth certainly has a strong connection to the Rust Belt (it's where most of the iron ore that went to the furnaces in Rust Belt cities Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Buffalo was shipped out of), I agree that Duluth is NOT a Rust Belt city.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
