Atlanta's national status (Dallas, Boston, Martin: find a job, centers, airport)

[meep]

Recently had a discussion with a friend from Denver. She mentioned that Atlanta doesn't really offer any noticeable exlcusivity from any other decent sized city.

Can Atlanta really be classed with cities like Pheonix, Denver and Seattle? Ive always assumed it was a city with the same amount of offerings of a Houston or A Philly? it feels that way, at least.

What do you all think? What distinguishes Atlanta?

[robertpolyglot]

It has overtaken Boston metro in terms of population, now being the 9th largest in the nation. It is more in a league with Houston than it is with Phoenix or Denver.

Atlanta is so strategically located, smack in the middle of the large N.E. population centers, So. Fla. as a port of entry for Latin America, and the Midwest. For that reason, the cultural amenities are top-notch. Not only that, the previous either white or black population mix in the metro area has given way to inbound migration from other ethnic groups from all over the world. It is the "nerve center" of a huge region. While the same can be said for Denver, sitting mostly alone in the Rocky Mountain region, that metro area has a ways to go to reach Atlanta's size and cultural status.

[meep]

Thanks. i do not have too much to add as i am new to city comparisons. I think extensive heavy rails can be a distinguishing characteristic too.

[robertpolyglot]

Originally Posted by meep

I think extensive heavy rails can be a distinguishing characteristics too.

Very glad you mentioned this. Atlanta did it right, and the centerpiece of their public transit system is heavy rail, as it is for Boston and Philadelphia.

Denver, Seattle, Phoenix and 4th largest city HOUSTON have light-rail sytems which, in many areas, share the road with vehicles.

MARTA, upon which a ride can be an eye-opener every now and then, really is a world-class system for a newer metro area of its size.

[bryantm3]

i want people someday to say "new york, los angeles, chicago, atlanta" when they're listing cities in the US. not population wise, necessarily, but one that has a unique culture of its own that's well known across the us.

there seems to be cultural connotations across the us with those first three cities, and naming them immediately brings about associations, with new york for example, subways, kosher food, central park, empire state building, etc. when someone says "atlanta" we don't have those same sorts of characteristic themes because we're pretty spread out and every part of atlanta is different from the next. that's good of course, but it would be nice to have a united sense of community in addition to having different parts of town.

[NYbyWAYofGA]

Originally Posted by bryantm3

i want people someday to say "new york, los angeles, chicago, atlanta" when they're listing cities in the US. not population wise, necessarily, but one that has a unique culture of its own that's well known across the us.

there seems to be cultural connotations across the us with those first three cities, and naming them immediately brings about associations, with new york for example, subways, kosher food, central park, empire state building, etc. when someone says "atlanta" we don't have those same sorts of characteristic themes because we're pretty spread out and every part of atlanta is different from the next. that's good of course, but it would be nice to have a united sense of community in addition to having different parts of town.

Trees...?

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by NYbyWAYofGA

Trees...?

aTlanTa

[mrmocha413]

14th largest concentration of Fortune 500 companies nationwide, Alpha - world city status (on par with Zurich), 17th largest GDP in the world (PwC), busiest airport in the world, vibrant arts/culture/food scene...is it the pinnacle of tourist cities in the USA, no but it is noteworthy to see Atlanta once in your lifetime. Atlanta is distinctly its own, visit it to experience it because the words cannot describe it for you. Definitely more on par with cities such as Dallas, Houston, Miami, and Seattle...Denver and Phoenix have nothing on Atlanta. Globally it can stands among Johannesburg, Barcelona, Istanbul and New Delhi. It also has secured several good Sister City Alliances! GOOO ATLANTA!

[Staysean23]

When I think of Atlanta I always thought of Martin Luther King and the Whole civil rights movements. Also black gay capital. I know black gays that come from France Europe Africa Canada etc to attend Black gay pride weekend.

[MathmanMathman]

Originally Posted by meep

Recently had a discussion with a friend from Denver. She mentioned that Atlanta doesn't really offer any noticeable exlcusivity from any other decent sized city.

Can Atlanta really be classed with cities like Pheonix, Denver and Seattle? Ive always assumed it was a city with the same amount of offerings of a Houston or A Philly? it feels that way, at least.

What do you all think? What distinguishes Atlanta?

Actually, I think Philly has an identity problem. Other than sports, we never ever talk about or hear about Philadelphia. Atlanta has more of a national presence than Philly.

But I think Atlanta is thought more of as a business place. A place to find a job. Denver has the outdoor/mountains image...deserved or not. Part of the problem is that Atlanta wants to erase or censor its past.