Philadelphia: America's most underrated big city? (Pittsburgh, York: house, movies, manufactured)

[Rwarky]

America, would you consider Phildelphia the country's most underrated and least respected big city?

[AK123]

No - I'd say that's Houston.

Philly does get some good publicity because of historic sites and the nation's history.

[Colts]

Yes, Philly is underrated. Not sure if I would call it the most underrated city in America, though.

[blkgiraffe]

No it is definatly Houston.

[bigdave01]

I disagree, from reading this board I kind of think that Houston is over-rated. People make it sound like it is New York City or something. I hear much more about Houston than Philadelphia, most people think of Philadelphia as a giant ghetto(which it definiteley isn't.

I think Philly is probably the most under-rated city. Ironically, I also think Pittsburgh would be high up on the list. Out in California most people think of Pittsburgh as very ugly and full of blue-collar steel workers, it is actually a beautiful city.

I have never been to Houston, but I've seen many pictures. It looks like it has a lot of skyscrapers, but also a lot of parking lots downtown. It also appears to go straight to sprawl from downtown.

[AK123]

Originally Posted by bigdave01

I disagree, from reading this board I kind of think that Houston is over-rated. People make it sound like it is New York City or something. ...

Hmm, there may be few too many boosters on this board. But I'm thinking more about other things like television, movies, national news. Most outsiders are completely clueless about Houston except for the negatives, which are almost always exaggerated or even made up entirely.

I think there are a lot of Houstonians who are very defensive and booster the city because they feel they have been put on the level of, say, Baton Rouge (no offense to Baton Rouge, but...). Truthfully, most Houstonians do not think it is like NYC, but more like something just a little behind Chicago. Which would be about right. For the nation's 4th largest city to be totally left out on weather maps, concert stops, and so many other examples is just ridiculous... so people speak up.

[sweetclimber]

I think it is a tie between Philly, Houston and Baltimore

[grapico]

Originally Posted by AK123

Hmm, there may be few too many boosters on this board. But I'm thinking more about other things like television, movies, national news. Most outsiders are completely clueless about Houston except for the negatives, which are almost always exaggerated or even made up entirely.

I think there are a lot of Houstonians who are very defensive and booster the city because they feel they have been put on the level of, say, Baton Rouge (no offense to Baton Rouge, but...). Truthfully, most Houstonians do not think it is like NYC, but more like something just a little behind Chicago. Which would be about right. For the nation's 4th largest city to be totally left out on weather maps, concert stops, and so many other examples is just ridiculous... so people speak up.

size doesn't always equate prominence nor output. I agree houston is underrated, it is not comparable to chicago though in anything other than sheer population.

[blkgiraffe]

Originally Posted by grapico

size doesn't always equate prominence nor output. I agree houston is underrated, it is not comparable to chicago though in anything other than sheer population.

That is where your wrong. Houston has more fortune 500 companies, one of the five cities to house permanent companies in all major arts. Houston can be ranked right along side Chicago when it comes to diversity. Home to NASA, one of the world's largest ports is located here,etc. We might not be on Chicago's level, but were not far from it.

[Awesomo.2000]

Yes Philadelphia is underrated. It is a actual real city with real historic urban areas, amazing colonial architecture, and a very unique vibe. I hate manufactured cities where the downtown is all new skyscrapers with the streetscape looking very manufactured and blah. Philly is everything but that, and one of the most unique and interesting cities in this country.