Larry McMurtry ranks Texas cities: Houston, Austin, Ft Worth, & Dallas (San Antonio: 2013, home)

[JimBaker488]

But then, coincidentally, Larry McMurtry went and upped the ante. In an essay in the current Texas Monthly, McMurtry took it upon himself to rank the state’s six major cities.
“I would now put Houston first by a large margin; it’s a great city,” he wrote. “Next would come Austin and Fort Worth.” Then, with only harsh words, he goes on to put Dallas in fourth place.
“I haven’t enjoyed Dallas since the sixties,” he said. “Dallas is a second-rate city that wishes it were first-rate.”
San Antonio is treated kindly but gets fifth place on McMurtry’s list, mostly because a favorite bookstore closed, it seems. And El Paso is consigned to the bottom because it “just doesn’t feel to me like a Texas city.”
First-rate? Second-rate? Dallas is all right with me | Steve Blow Columns - News for Dallas, Texas - The Dallas Morning News
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[jek74]

Just goes to show you that having mass transit is not everything.

[majicdonjuan]

Larry McMurtry - smart guy. I agree with those rankings more or less.

I like hanging out Dallas but I do think it has a bit of an identity crisis. I also do like Fort Worth better. But I'm not sure either of those really takes away from Dallas itself. It's still a very nice city.

[Oildog]

Moving this to Texas forum...

[Westerntraveler]

Austin is my favorite city in the state.San Antonio is my second favorite.El Paso is my least favorite.I prefer Fort Worth over Dallas but Im not really a fan of either.

[Willsson]

It was reading McMurtry's 'All My Friends are Going to be Strangers', back in the mid/late 70's that I found my appreciation for Houston's hot, muggy, summer weather.

[Cowboys fan in Houston]

Originally Posted by JimBaker488

But then, coincidentally, Larry McMurtry went and upped the ante. In an essay in the current Texas Monthly, McMurtry took it upon himself to rank the state’s six major cities.
“I would now put Houston first by a large margin; it’s a great city,” he wrote. “Next would come Austin and Fort Worth.” Then, with only harsh words, he goes on to put Dallas in fourth place.
“I haven’t enjoyed Dallas since the sixties,” he said. “Dallas is a second-rate city that wishes it were first-rate.”
San Antonio is treated kindly but gets fifth place on McMurtry’s list, mostly because a favorite bookstore closed, it seems. And El Paso is consigned to the bottom because it “just doesn’t feel to me like a Texas city.”
First-rate? Second-rate? Dallas is all right with me | Steve Blow Columns - News for Dallas, Texas - The Dallas Morning News
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I'm so glad he put a lt of thought and analysis into it.

The writer of the editorial, however did an excellent job.

[KathrynAragon]

Well, I'm just as important as Larry McMurtry so here's my two cents' worth.

1. Austin
2. Fort Worth
3. San Antonio
4. Dallas
5. Houston
6. El Paso

I was tempted to rank Houston higher because it's the home town of Lyle Lovett but...well, it was a tie really with Dallas.

[stan4]

Austin would come AFTER Dallas and Houston in my ranking.

[Nairobi]

But wait: I thought Houston was the worst city in Texas and everybody agrees with that? I guess rail doesn't seal the deal after all.

The way I see it, Houston is the most hated because it's the least Texan. But it takes a special person to see what's awesome about this town, and the most special person to say it's #1 in the state. Hi five, Larry.