I'm confused:Is SA nice or not? (Houston, Dallas: home, neighborhood)

[TexHwyMan]

We are the 29th largest metro

Actually, not to split hairs, but we're 28th now. We'll likely be 26th by the time the next Census rolls around.

I agree that media DMA is not a fair measure. In SA's case especially, we lose a large chunk of what would normally be our DMA because of the close proximity of Austin. If you look at a national population density map, SA sits at the very SW corner of the area of general higher density, so the area we're left with for our DMA just happens to be the more sparsely populated hinterland.

[manthechange]

Trnmeon made some good points...don't let the "SA ra-rah" clique on here get to you.

Dvlpr, you hit the nail on the head! I wholeheartedly agree with everything you said.

I'd just like to say that it's strange to me how so many people get so bent out of shape on this board when anyone says anything negative about San Antonio - like it's a sports team or something. That is a foolish attitude to have.

[TexHwyMan]

Originally Posted by trnmeon

San Antonio,...lacks the infrastructure and economical significance of other top 10 US cities.

Hardly. Just off the top of my head:

• We're in the top 10 for Fortune 500 HQs.
• Rand McNally's business and marketing atlas ranks us as a "national business center" (I believe their designation is "1-A").
• We're a "standalone" city in national AP news reports (meaning it's just "San Antonio", not "San Antonio, Texas").

[TexHwyMan]

Originally Posted by trnmeon

The city itself may have 1.2 million people, but the metropolitan area only has marginally more.

The city has a population of about 1.3 million, the metro area about 2 million. That means the metro area has 53% more people than the city, which certainly isn't "marginally more".

[Spock's Beard]

I am on the fence, so I'll just list what I like and don't like.

What I like:
-The old buildings downtown
-the northside part of town
-the choices of universities




What I don't like:
-old buildings always getting destroyed for "progress"
-Every neighborhood in the damn city has a gang/crime problem, and it's completely taken over many nice neighborhoods like the one I used to live in as a kid.
-half the major concert tours have a habit of skipping San Antonio. I am still a little bitter that SA is the only major US city GnR never played in.

[Bowie]

Originally Posted by TexHwyMan

I agree that media DMA is not a fair measure. In SA's case especially, we lose a large chunk of what would normally be our DMA because of the close proximity of Austin. If you look at a national population density map, SA sits at the very SW corner of the area of general higher density, so the area we're left with for our DMA just happens to be the more sparsely populated hinterland.

I agree that ranking by SMSA would be fairer, but since the last census used for SMSA ranking was taken 8 years ago, I didn't think it would reflect recent growth. I picked DMA because it was the most readily available alternative that I am familiar with.

Could someone post a ranked list of San Antonio's peer SMSAs using a post-2000 adjusted estimate for population?

[TexHwyMan]

Originally Posted by Bowie

I agree that ranking by SMSA would be fairer, but since the last census used for SMSA ranking was taken 8 years ago, I didn't think it would reflect recent growth. I picked DMA because it was the most readily available alternative that I am familiar with.

Could someone post a ranked list of San Antonio's peer SMSAs using a post-2000 adjusted estimate for population?

22. Pittsburgh, PA....2,355,712
23. Portland-Vancouver-Beaverton, OR-WA....2,175,113
24. Cincinnati-Middletown, OH-KY-IN....2,133,678
25. Cleveland-Elyria-Mentor, OH....2,096,471
26. Sacramento--Arden-Arcade--Roseville, CA....2,091,120
27. Orlando-Kissimmee, FL....2,032,496
28. San Antonio, TX....1,990,675
29. Kansas City, MO-KS....1,985,429
30. Las Vegas-Paradise, NV....1,836,333
31. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA....1,803,643
32. Columbus, OH....1,754,337
33. Indianapolis-Carmel, IN....1,695,037

(Source: Annual Estimates of the Population of Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas)

[ryneone]

Originally Posted by TexHwyMan

22. Pittsburgh, PA....2,355,712
23. Portland-Vancouver-Beaverton, OR-WA....2,175,113
24. Cincinnati-Middletown, OH-KY-IN....2,133,678
25. Cleveland-Elyria-Mentor, OH....2,096,471
26. Sacramento--Arden-Arcade--Roseville, CA....2,091,120
27. Orlando-Kissimmee, FL....2,032,496
28. San Antonio, TX....1,990,675
29. Kansas City, MO-KS....1,985,429
30. Las Vegas-Paradise, NV....1,836,333
31. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA....1,803,643
32. Columbus, OH....1,754,337
33. Indianapolis-Carmel, IN....1,695,037

(Source: Annual Estimates of the Population of Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas)

Of all these numbers it is amazing how California and Florida have hit a population growth wall.

[da jammer]

I'm not really sure what all the numbers and rankings etc have to do with the concerns of the OP

Please understand folks that both the positive and negative facts, thoughts and opinions of the city and surrounding communities are welcome here in the forum...all we ask is that everyone keeps it civil and we stay close to the original topic. Thanks folks.

[songinthewind7]

I lived in San Antonio for 3 years before moving to the small town in Fredericksburg which is a little over an hour away. I was in fredericksburg for 3 years and got used to the small town living. I'm saying this in regards as to what you said about crime and looking over your shoulder all the time. In any big city, there is more crime. I'm back here in S.A. now temporarily and it is a lot different than calm quiet Fredericksburg (where you don't have to be paronoid all the time) but it's a great city.
I live in the north central part of town which seems to be safe. I know of some other areas that are safe as well but there will still be crime and you should always look over your shoulder.
If anything, you may have a problem getting used to the heat and humidity but I can think of more positives than negatives about San Antonio.