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This article describes how Toronto has surpassed Chicago in population, an impressive feat no doubt, although Houston will probably surpass Chicago at one point in the distant future:
Toronto surpassed Chicago in City Proper population over 3 years ago. The difference now would be even more great - probably 2.9 million for Toronto vs 2.7 million for Chicago. Of course - Chicago anchors a larger if somewhat more sprawly metropolitan area. No doubt though, Toronto as a city and metropolitan area is growing considerably faster than Chicago.
The Guardian is a British publication for all those who may think this is Canadian horn blowing.
Toronto surpassed Chicago in City Proper population over 3 years ago. The difference now would be even more great - probably 2.9 million for Toronto vs 2.7 million for Chicago. Of course - Chicago anchors a larger if somewhat more sprawly metropolitan area. No doubt though, Toronto as a city and metropolitan area is growing considerably faster than Chicago.
The Guardian is a British publication for all those who may think this is Canadian horn blowing.
True, but the author is a Torontonian. So it is, in essence, a Torontonian humblebragging about how his city. So it's still horn blowing.
Also, Toronto is indeed bigger than Chicago now (and has been for a few years), but Toronto moved quickly up the rankings due to a city-suburb consolidation. One of Illinois' biggest challenges today is the number of municipalities. In fact, Illinois has the most city jurisdictions of any state in the U.S. So the state government has led a big push towards municipal consolidation. I wouldn't be shocked if in 25 years, Chicago merges with Cook County to create a city of 5.2 million.
DuPage County, a county of 930,000 people, adjacent to Cook County, now has the power to unilaterally dissolve any and all local governments within its territory: http://www.chicagotribune.com/ct-wht...-20-story.html. And the state is pushing for that power to be given to all counties.
This article describes how Toronto has surpassed Chicago in population, an impressive feat no doubt, although Houston will probably surpass Chicago at one point in the distant future:
True, but the author is a Torontonian. So it is, in essence, a Torontonian humblebragging about how his city. So it's still horn blowing.
Also, Toronto is indeed bigger than Chicago now (and has been for a few years), but Toronto moved quickly up the rankings due to a city-suburb consolidation. One of Illinois' biggest challenges today is the number of municipalities. In fact, Illinois has the most city jurisdictions of any state in the U.S. So the state government has led a big push towards municipal consolidation. I wouldn't be shocked if in 25 years, Chicago merges with Cook County to create a city of 5.2 million.
I didn't look at the author of the article. Tbh I didn't read the article in any great detail because you usually don't find balanced information so I just glossed over it. I kind of winced when this was posted and to be fair - a Torontonian did not post this article in the forum. We've been down this Chicago v Toronto thing many times.
As for city proper yes - they are based on arbitrary borders. Indeed if the surrounding cities in the GTA decided to amalgamate you can also increase the city population of Toronto from 2.8 or 2.9 to well over 5.2 million. Driving from Toronto through Mississauga, there is nothing separating those cities except a line on a map - they are as built up areas contiguous. Same with Pickering and Toronto or Vaughan and Toronto etc etc..
The arbitrary city proper borders in place right now are interestingly comparable in area (about 242 sq miles for both Toronto and Chicago city proper). Within those comparable and currently established borders there are now more people in Toronto - its growing faster and becoming more dense. The separation between the two is expected to continue be in Toronto's favour so it'll reach 3 million, 3.5 million within that equivalent area before Chicago does as long as no further creative border work is done in both city propers.
If you compare metro regions I stick by what I said, Toronto as a region is growing faster than Chicago as a region. How each define their arbitrary borders is less important than growth within the region which each city anchors and it isn't horn blowing to conclude that as a growth story - Toronto and its region are simply growing at a faster clip than Chicago and its region. There are probably some unfair advantages for Toronto being the primary city in its country and receiving a much larger proportion of immigrants/refugees in comparative terms - but it is what it is.
Is the view in Canada of Chicago as a "rust belt" city wherea Toronto is a "new millenium" type of city, a New York of Canada?
No, there is no NYC of Canada. In 25 years Toronto is expected to be less than half the size of NYC today, so it is pointless to make the comparison. Not to mention these two cities are very different.
No, there is no NYC of Canada. In 25 years Toronto is expected to be less than half the size of NYC today, so it is pointless to make the comparison. Not to mention these two cities are very different.
I expect Toronto's "growth" to subside in the coming years.
That's cool. I consider toronto to be in the same tier as chicago or San Fran Sisco in terms of impact rather than an la or new York.
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