if Rust Belt has been hurting for so long, then why are so many people still there (construction, live in)

[Gnutella]

Originally Posted by Neuling

"Pittsburgh could be a nice place to live, but its local culture is so intensely hostile to the young, the single, the highly educated, and newcomers, that it is likely to remain in a state of social, cultural, and population decline."

Right on. So hostile to young people that it's the only major U.S. metro in which the median age is expected to decrease in the next 20 years. So hostile to the highly-educated that the city proper has the ninth-highest percentage of college-educated residents of any U.S. city, and the fourth-highest percentage of residents with advanced degrees. (That's 'cuz all the smart people leave, ya know.)

For proof of Pittsburgh's social decline, look no further than its crime rate, which is among the lowest of all U.S. metros with 1,000,000+ population, and for proof of Pittsburgh's cultural decline, look no further than the G20 Summit last fall.

[DANNYY]

Originally Posted by Gnutella

Right on. So hostile to young people that it's the only major U.S. metro in which the median age is expected to decrease in the next 20 years. So hostile to the highly-educated that the city proper has the ninth-highest percentage of college-educated residents of any U.S. city, and the fourth-highest percentage of residents with advanced degrees. (That's 'cuz all the smart people leave, ya know.)

For proof of Pittsburgh's social decline, look no further than its crime rate, which is among the lowest of all U.S. metros with 1,000,000+ population, and for proof of Pittsburgh's cultural decline, look no further than the G20 Summit last fall.

I agree Pittsburgh has a lot more going for it than he thinks.

[MassVt]

Originally Posted by OmShahi

I agree Pittsburgh has a lot more going for it than he thinks.

Pittsburgh is already coming back; its focus is now on education and healthcare; I personally know 3 physicians who have left Boston for Pittsburgh is the past decade, with its low cost-of-living being a major attraction..

And I'm also starting to hear of some good news for GM in Detroit, and Chicagoland is still growing; the Rust Belt is far from dead..

[ckhthankgod]

Originally Posted by MassVt

Pittsburgh is already coming back; its focus is now on education and healthcare; I personally know 3 physicians who have left Boston for Pittsburgh is the past decade, with its low cost-of-living being a major attraction..

And I'm also starting to hear of some good news for GM in Detroit, and Chicagoland is still growing; the Rust Belt is far from dead..

I found this too: Syracuse, Ithaca among few leaders in adding construction jobs

[tallydude02]

Originally Posted by MassVt

Pittsburgh is already coming back; its focus is now on education and healthcare; I personally know 3 physicians who have left Boston for Pittsburgh is the past decade, with its low cost-of-living being a major attraction..

And I'm also starting to hear of some good news for GM in Detroit, and Chicagoland is still growing; the Rust Belt is far from dead..

Pittsburgh itself is coming back. The city has really transformed itself since steel mill/coal mine bust. I get giddy everytime I drive through the tunnel and see the magnificent skyline. Sometimes I wish Pittsburgh would grew really fast so we can get new residents, but I don't like seeing what happened to some Sunbelt cities with uncontrolled growth and overcrowded schools.

However, some of the surrounding mill towns are still stuck in the past and quite poor. You can even drive 30 minutes from the city and see Appalachian poverty and stereotypes which are worse than the well-known Appalachian areas.

[UKUKUK]

Get this guys, in Detroit, especially in the suburbs, everyone isn't a black criminal... I know that's news to a lot of posters on CD, but it's true.

On that note, I can't wait to return to the Berkley/Royal Oak/Ferndale area of MI.

AMAZING small town feel with all the big city amenities, fairly walkable too! It's nice to go down a street lined with classic 2 story homes with yards, each one unique, with a different family with a different story in each. I think it embodies all of what it means to be "American" in that no matter how tough times are, we're all in this together.

I love Michigan, and want to live there someday. I want to go to my kids' hockey games and have my unique home in a neighborhood full of unique homes and be able to walk to the 7/11 down the street. I want to have four seasons. I want my conservative AND liberal politics. I want my friendly, middle class blue and white collar neighbors. I want a cheap cost of living and a lot of bang for my buck. I want the soul that's found in Detroit area clubs' music. I want the vibrant options of different middle eastern and south asian food found in Dearborn. I want the world class universities in Ann Arbor and Lansing. I want the Detroit riverwalk and Ambassador bridge. I want all of the heart, no matter how pretty it is at this moment. I hope it'll come back in full force someday, but until then, the treasure of Detroit is mine I love the city, I love the people.

I don't need your silly snow capped mountains, I've got something prettier. I don't need your white sand beaches, I've got something more relaxing. I don't need a $500,000 condo next to a bunch of dance clubs and upscale restaurants...

I just need to be home. I need to be in a place where I belong, where I am happy. A place where I can leave my mark and feel comfortable with that. I want a good place for my family to begin, and a good place for it to continue. I want a place with values, soul, and most importantly... I want a home... Detroit and its suburbs throw those things at me in all the right amounts.

The land of Sleeping Bear Dunes, cherries, Mackinac everything, Cadillac, "Up North", doorwalls, unique carbonated beverages, and really fast drivers...

Ah... How I miss you.

[UKUKUK]

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Some pics of "home"

[DANNYY]

Originally Posted by UKUKUK

Some pics of "home"

Detroit is a very beautiful city.

[LINative]

UK, I think your the first person who has tried to help Detroit's image here on City Data. Unfortunately you have your work cut out for you! But I seen how New York and now increasingly Philadelphia came back, so keep hope alive!

[Chicago60614]

I keep getting this sense that people from outside the Midwest or Northeast think the RUST BELT is this huge region that's all depressed/declining manufacturing.

There are areas that totally fit that description, but it's hardly that midwest = rust belt. There are towns like that in the Midwest, but of the total population of 64 million or whatever, the people actually living in "rust belt" areas are definitely a minority.

There are places like areas of Detroit, Cleveland, Youngstown, etc. that are poster children of Rust Belt, but most people in the Midwest aren't associated with manufacturing, and many live in the suburbs of Chicago, or Columbus, or Springfield, or Madison, Des Moines, Omaha, Minneapolis, small towns in Michigan, Kansas City, Indianapolis, resort towns in Wisconsin, Iowa City, etc, etc.

Rust belt areas are more notorious for what they stand for, but that would be like saying everyone who lives in San Francisco is gay, everyone in LA has blond hair and surfs 24 hours a day, everyone in New York is an investment banker, people in the DC metro all work for the federal government, and metro Miami is only made up of Cubans. You're missing the majority, and only focusing on the stereotype.

Rust Belt is a small and diminishing subset of the greater region.