Illinois is lacking a second city (Chicago, Naperville: homes, unemployment rate, YMCA)

[Chicagoland60426]

Originally Posted by Maintainschaos

Central Illinois could "pretend" to be the 2nd city region. I understand that the cities themselves (Peoria, B/N, Springfield, Decatur, C/U) are spaced out, but they're not too far from each other and, combined all together, I think the region is well over 1,000,000 people. That being said, don't forget these single-city dominated states:

Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Colorado, Massachusetts, Georgia, Louisiana, Arkansas, etc...It's not all that uncommon.

Well Louisiana have at least Shreveport and Baton Rouge to back up New Orleans. Beside New Orleans population is currently cut in half.

[linicx]

Sub-forums probably have as more to do with the number of messages than the tier or location. It is quite possible more message go to Las Cruces, NM than all of Central Illinoiis combined. St.Louis is in Missouri. Peoria and Champaign probably get as many questions as B-N. There aren't too many queries for Springield, Decatur or southern Illinois. In any case, it is up to the forum Mods whether or not a sub-forum is added and how many members ask for it.

[thePR]

Originally Posted by Dukester

Heres another view... I live out in Puget Sound North of Seattle and Chicago dominates out here in news. I am not talking politcs either but news in general both good and bad. It dominates over L.A. hands down.

Why is that?

[steve_holt]

Originally Posted by Maintainschaos

Central Illinois could "pretend" to be the 2nd city region. I understand that the cities themselves (Peoria, B/N, Springfield, Decatur, C/U) are spaced out, but they're not too far from each other and, combined all together, I think the region is well over 1,000,000 people.

Bingo. Central Illinois is the second city of Illinois. There are lots of families that split between two of the cities in the region. If we could decrease some of the municipal pride of each city, we could really make progress as far as a region. This would include plans for airports, sporting / convention events, shopping center, and many others.

[linicx]

Central Illinois is regional from border to border. The other 'central Illinois is five countines including Peoria county, but it does not include B=N or Sprinfield.

There is a convention center. airport, semi-pro sports, 7 public gplf courses. 2 malls plus 6-7 shopping centers, 3 hospitals, performing arts, juried art, museums, 60+ city parks, zoo, botanical garden, summer stock, a newly developed riverfront with fitness complex and restaurants, yacht club, 4 country clubs, ice rink, swimming pools, 4 bowling alleys, softball diamonds, symphony, ampitheater, university and college, medical school, history, diverse culture, and a diverse religious community very similar to that of Chicago already in Peoria.

This does not include water sports, hunting, fishing and other venues in the county and surrounding counties. A recreational area the size of the Everglades is half completed and open, a waterpark is in the works for completion this year. Of course it depnds upon the economy.

I don't know how you could bring the areas together as Peoria to Sprinfield is nearly 100 miles, and Peoria to Champaign is 100 miles or more. and there isn't anything between except farms, ranches and Interstate roads. Bloominton to Springfield or Peoria, I think, is about 50 miles.

It is not an impossible project, but to do so one has to buy prme farm land. The appraisal I saw 3-4 years ago on 3/4 Section was a cool half million and rent income was close to 75k a year on unimproved land - mearning there is no home/barns/silo or utilities on the land. It's a huge expense and a big risk before the land is ever graded.

I don't buy into the perceived municiple pride argument between any cities in Central Illinois as the cities are all different. Regardless of the size, we are all farm towns in the heart of the Illinois Grain and Livestock Belt. .

The public is fickle. Tney'll drive 150 miles to see the Cubs and Cards play but they won't drive to the new Mall beause ??? is closer. .

There are already two sub-forums in Illinois. I don't think the Mods will go for three,but I would support it and vote for it. Start a Poll.
.

[sandwalk]

I always found this issue quite interesting ever since I moved to DeKalb to attend college. I am originally from Ohio, a state that is not dominated primarily by one large city; which, IMO, is what helps make Ohio unique, offers diverse city/urban cores, and presents tremendous opportunity (if only it wasn't so manufacturing-dependent). Where I go to school now in Illinois is not too far from the Chicago suburbs (technically DeKalb is in the Chicago MSA) and I almost never hear people talk about the other "main" cities of Illinois (with the exception of Rockford, B-N/ISU etc); everything is Chicago-centric. Don't get me wrong, I like Chicago very much (and could see myself planning a career here), I just wonder what Illinois would have been like had there been more large urban centers like Ohio.

A little comparison (2007 population estimates USCB)

OHIO

Akron ~700,000 MSA
Canton ~400,000 MSA
Cincinnati ~2,100,000 MSA (includes areas of Indiana and Kentucky)
Cleveland ~2,100,000 MSA
Columbus ~1,800,000 MSA
Dayton ~835,000 MSA
Toledo ~650,000 MSA
Youngstown ~575,000 MSA (includes areas of Pennsylvania)

*there are numerous other urban clusters/areas with over 100,000 people, not really worth including here


ILLINOIS

Bloomington-Normal ~164,000
Champaign-Urbana ~221,000
Chicago ~9,500,000 (includes areas of Indiana and Wisconsin)
Quad Cities ~375,000 (includes areas of Iowa)
Peoria ~371,000
Rockford ~353,000
Springfield ~207,000
St. Louis Metro East ~700,000


.........not really sure what my post proves/means, but I just think the comparisons between states and within states are interesting!

[Avengerfire]

Thanks for your input or spin...

Originally Posted by sandwalk

...Where I go to school now in Illinois is not too far from the Chicago suburbs (technically DeKalb is in the Chicago MSA)...

However,I do have to tell you DeKalb IS NOT in the Chicago MSA.

[Maintainschaos]

Originally Posted by linicx

Central Illinois is regional from border to border. The other 'central Illinois is five countines including Peoria county, but it does not include B=N or Sprinfield.

How can you say that Peoria is central IL and that B/N and Springfield aren't?

[linicx]

Central Illinois is from western border to eastern border. B-N is in McLean County.

Peoria, Fulton, Tazewell, Mason and Woodford Counties are refered to locally as "central Illinois" or the Heart of Illinois. It no doubt, refers to the local viewing area long before Peoria stations were able (or allowed) to transmit to McLean County s they do today.

I do not know how, or if, the state defines any area by county.

One of the reasons Ohio has larger areas is because it was settled 15-20 years before central Illinois. One of hte first pioneers settled in 1805. The central Illnois we know didn't settle until after 1825. Also Ohio was heavy in manufacturing whereas central Illinois is was and is still farm country. Holt Manufacturing which is today Caterpillar didn't start up until the next century. In the very earliest years the Peoria economy was built on distilleries, breweries and meat packing plants - due to the proximity of the Illinois River. It was replaced by manufacturing and foundries and a thriving downtown. The face of the Woolworth's and World Drug that was downtown changed when the bus replaced the electric rail and business began to appear North and Northeast of the river area which begat Ideal Troy and the Upper Free Bridge, and Old Toothpick was replaced by the Frankin Street Bridge - the only lift bridge in central Illnois and maybe on the river. And now it is reinventing itself again. Peoria can never be accused of being stoggy or stoic. I think the first McDonald's came to Peoria in 1958. By then Steak N Shake had been in Peoria for 10 years or more. Peoria has a colorful history if nothing else..

[whatever you want]

Originally Posted by Dukester

Heres another view... I live out in Puget Sound North of Seattle and Chicago dominates out here in news. I am not talking politcs either but news in general both good and bad. It dominates over L.A. hands down.

That's really weird Dukester....I live in the same state and we hardly EVER heard the city mentioned at all in the local news until the Blago thing hit and then the only time was in reference to the political landscape.Back to no news about it again.