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So in your opinion the BIllion (if not trillion) dollar gamming industry in Las Vegas is not a Business?? Get Real!! As far as Fortune 500 companies go-so what. For years G.M. was number one. It.s about ready to fade into oblivion (unless Toyota buys it). Downtown Las Vegas is currently undergoing a revival probably not matched by many (if any) large American city. Las Vegas is a Growing, Dynamic, Diverse, Energetic city like no other on Earth.
Atlantic City has casinoes as good and it is on the ocean!
I'm from Los Angeles and currently live in Vegas and these threads are interesting. I remember an article in The Readers Digest in the early 70's titled, " Watch out Chicago, move over Los Angeles, here comes Houston!" I was 11 and angry before I ever knew the extent of a city's overall 'worth'. GreggB loves Las Vegas and I kind of like it but I'm an Angeleno and you'll be able to tell from my writing. Las Vegas has a small downtown core. You could have cruised down Fremont at night bathed in 80 degree weather and more light than you would have ever found anywhere in the world. Now, it's a covered mall, closed to traffic. Unimaginable projects are rising in the mid-strip area mostly and I would have to call Vegas the actual "Biggest little city in the world", my apologies to Reno. Only cities like Macau and Dubai have an answer for what Vegas is turning into. Vegas is always overbuilding, then there is a 4 to 7 year pause.. then it explodes all over again, changing itself completely, imploding older properties, saving nothing. Vegas is the gaming capital of the world, but not the entertainment capital it says it is. That little moniker belongs to my hometown, but Los Angeles is not propped up by it as stated by Vendela. L A is the most diversified city in the world, ethnically and culturally. Peter Jennings said as much during the Olympics in 1984. L A doesn't have to use any one industry as a crutch as it's the capital of small business, but Hollywood is the most dominant export anywhere. Los Angeles is the leading port of entry in this country and has been for almost 4 decades. And speaking of ports, compare the numbers in 2000 when talking about New York/New Jersey's 79 million metric tons to La/Long Beach's 199 million metric tons, this country's only superport. I could go on and on, I don't see any real 'drawbacks' like Vendela does, except for population and water, but L A always gets it's water, historically. Let's see,.. the best big city location in the world, great, world class universities and the most diversified, popular culture ever known to man. Los Angeles also isn't as vulnerable to terrorist attack like the more centrally designed cities of San Francisco or that most vunerable location of all, New York, so that's another thing, plus Los Angeles officially topped 4 million a few weeks back, has as many people as you would find in New York state in the area and is to add 6 million by 2025-2030. But then, it's just crappy little la-la land. Right, BearBranch? Easydoesit?
Atlantic City has casinoes as good and it is on the ocean!
Atlantic City has a good physical location on the Eastern Seaboard, but the town has seen much much better days. It's fine for a day-trip if you live by NYC or Philly, but it's definitely nowhere near the type of destination draw as Las Vegas.
Speaking of Vegas, one thing that hasn't been mentioned about the town is that it has quickly turned into the country's #1 convention city within the past decade (overtaking my hometown of Chicago). I see this as an indication that businesses are becoming more accustomed to looking at Vegas as more than merely a gambling town, so I'm a bit more bullish on its growth prospects (certainly when compared to any of the cities located in the Northeast and Midwest). Plus, the convention aspect diversifies the tourism base of the city - not only is it for vacationers, but also for the conventioneers that are on expense accounts, as well.
From 1776 through 1999, the following cities (areas) were -- in my opinion -- the predominant urban areas in the United States of America in terms of commerce, culture, social activities, music, arts, sciences and politics (in no particular order):
1) New York
2) Philadelphia
3) Chicago
4) Los Angeles
5) Detroit
6) Boston
7) Washington D.C.
8) San Francisco
9) Texas (Dallas & Houston)
10) Miami
Although I still feel that each one of these cities will continue to play major roles in the American scene (and always will), I would like to offer my projection regarding what the "NEXT" 10 major, influential urban growth and development areas will be for the next 100 years or more -- the 21st Century:
1) Phoenix
2) Atlanta
3) North Carolina (Charlotte & Raleigh/Durham)
4) Las Vegas
5) Orlando
6) Seattle
7) Austin TX
8) Nashville
9) Denver
10) Anaheim / Orange County CA
Honorable Mention For The "NEXT" 10 Cities: Louisville KY, Albuquerque, Memphis, Kansas City, San Antonio, El Paso, San Jose, Tampa / St. Pete
Notice the shift that I believe will take place (and is currently taking place) as more Amercans choose to live in warmer climates.
Anyone agree or disagree? Want to add your city and explain why? Remember, this list is not based on population. It is based on where I feel the best and brightest people will be moving to over the next century and the cities that may begin to influence American culture the most during that same period of time.
Honestly, doesn't it seem like whenever anyone mentions they are moving to a new city, isn't the new city they mention almost always one of the cities I listed as the "NEXT" 10 or one of my Honorable Mention cities? Truthfully, a lot of Americans are shying away from the historical mega-cities in favor of these newer urban areas.
Am I on target with this list?
i'd say phoenix, las vegas, and denver may have a little trouble with water over this coming century that could limit some things a bit, at least in terms of sustainable populations.
Your info is from 2006 - The Dallas area now has 24 Fortune 500 companies and Houston has 23.
Dallas area has 6.3 million in population while I believe Houston area is around 5 million.
It hilarious how people from Dallas are always ready to attack Houston, cmon grow up! First of all Dallas+Arlington+Fort Worth dont have 6.3 million people, its more like 6 million, and Houston is not "around 5 million" its 5.6 million. Its completely ridiculious how people from DFW exagerate soooo much! good try thou, dallas still sucks when compared to Houston, Houston has the world's largest medical center, its the energy capital of the world, one of the largest ports in the world! and what does dallas have? oh yea they got the Cowboys! lol, and they suck too!
1) Phoenix
2) Atlanta
3) North Carolina (Charlotte & Raleigh/Durham)
4) Las Vegas
5) Orlando
6) Seattle
7) Austin TX
8) Nashville
9) Denver
10) Anaheim / Orange County CA
I definitely agree that Charlotte (banking) and the Raleigh Durham area (research) will continue to thrive. I also agree with Denver, Austin, Seattle, and Atlanta. I think Vegas and Phoenix will have to grapple with sustainability issues. I also think Minneapolis will be a player.
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