Does Chicago feel like the third largest city? (Fulton, Mark: beach, transit)

[bmw335xi]

I've never lived in Chicago but have traveled there a few times. I would say it FEELS like the second biggest city in the United States, NYC being number one. Los Angeles looks big on a map, but when you are there just feels like mostly small 1970s single family homes and strip malls.

[japster28]

I voted 2nd largest years ago. I would say my perspective has changed a bit. Chicago may feel about as large if not larger than Los Angeles. But perhaps in a way, LA feels more cosmopolitan. Whether that makes a city feel larger or more worldly, I'm not sure yet!

[Chicago_Person]

Originally Posted by japster28

I voted 2nd largest years ago. I would say my perspective has changed a bit. Chicago may feel about as large if not larger than Los Angeles. But perhaps in a way, LA feels more cosmopolitan. Whether that makes a city feel larger or more worldly, I'm not sure yet!

I think LA feels like a bunch of small towns that got connected.

[NOLA101]

Most commentators on this thread aren't being honest, IMO.

Anyone who has been to LA knows it's enormous and feels much bigger than Chicago. LA is a beast, twice the size of Chicago, and in some ways rivaling NYC and Mexico City in terms of vast, endless urbanity. Chicago is much, much smaller.

LA is like a North American version of Tokyo. A massive centerless, interconnected blob of endless medium-dense neighborhoods, but linked by freeways rather than rails.

[japster28]

Originally Posted by NOLA101

Most commentators on this thread aren't being honest, IMO.

Anyone who has been to LA knows it's enormous and feels much bigger than Chicago. LA is a beast, twice the size of Chicago, and in some ways rivaling NYC and Mexico City in terms of vast, endless urbanity. Chicago is much, much smaller.

LA is like a North American version of Tokyo. A massive centerless, interconnected blob of endless medium-dense neighborhoods, but linked by freeways rather than rails.

They might be dishonest. I personally think everyone has their own criteria so I wouldn't be surprised about differing opinions. Also this is the Chicago sub so there certainly will be bias.

Your assertion about Los Angeles is sort of how I feel about the city. I used to think Chicago felt significantly larger than LA. My opinion began to change after several long hours spent around Griffith Park. For me, they're still neck and neck. But that probably stems from my preference for density. A dense built out city makes things seem much larger with less IMO. Also, the freeway's are totally a contributing factor. There's always a constant stream of traffic while I-94/90 tends to clear out better after peak travel times.

Some examples of this are Taipei, or Montreal. Their urban areas are dwarfed by Chicago and especially by LA. But due to their urban layout are very competitive when I try to compare "size". Of course, it's all arbitrary and up to personal preference.

[BigLake]

Originally Posted by NOLA101

Most commentators on this thread aren't being honest, IMO.

Anyone who has been to LA knows it's enormous and feels much bigger than Chicago. LA is a beast, twice the size of Chicago, and in some ways rivaling NYC and Mexico City in terms of vast, endless urbanity. Chicago is much, much smaller.

LA is like a North American version of Tokyo. A massive centerless, interconnected blob of endless medium-dense neighborhoods, but linked by freeways rather than rails.

LA is most certainly a beast. It definitely is -- and in most cases -- feels like America's second largest city. However, if we are being honest here, if anyone spent time in the central business district for *any* amount of time, they would leave with the very real impression that Chicago is by far a much more massive and vibrant city than LA. LA just seems small in comparison as far as the urban core goes. Not really a comparison. As far as metro though, LA is a beast, as you say. It just goes and goes and goes.

[ElizaJR]

I live in Chicago, and for me, it feels like the second biggest town. There are too many people, tourists, and the streets are overcrowded. But I love my city, and for me, it is the best place to live )

[KoNgFooCj]

Originally Posted by personone

Of course. Even though this thread is old. KoNgFooCj seems interested in resurrecting old threads of Chicago on topics like this. But, Chicago absolutely feels like the 3rd largest cities. Massive downtown. The Loop is only one part of downtown.

River North, West Loop, and much of the Gold Coast (including a small slice of Old Town) are part of downtown. These are the more "social" downtown sections where you find lots of nightlife, dining, shopping, etc. I agree that most of the Loop can clear out at after business hours, but the other downtown neighborhoods are live and bustling. Then add onto that the endless numbers of neighborhoods (many of them almost setup as mini-cities with their own shopping/dining/nightlife spots) on the North Side, West Side, and South Side, and Chicago absolutely feels like the 3rd largest city!!!

But NYC feels larger. LA also feels much larger because of how spread out it is.

I actually think it looks *and feels like the 2nd Largest. Just that guy calling Philly "tiny" and over exaggerating his measurements is why I responded.

Sure, Philly is substantially smaller than Chicago, but I wouldn't say it's tiny compared to Chicago. I actually think in some parts Philly is even more urban, or at least more like New York, than Chicago.

[Master Jay]

Good day, I have not yet had the opportunity to visit New York, nor Los Angeles. I have only been to San Francisco/Oakland on the west coast, and in South Carolina on the east coast... So until further notice, Chicago has been my personal FIRST largest city. And truthfully, I am happy enough with said status.

[Koji7]

Originally Posted by BigLake

LA is most certainly a beast. It definitely is -- and in most cases -- feels like America's second largest city. However, if we are being honest here, if anyone spent time in the central business district for *any* amount of time, they would leave with the very real impression that Chicago is by far a much more massive and vibrant city than LA. LA just seems small in comparison as far as the urban core goes. Not really a comparison. As far as metro though, LA is a beast, as you say. It just goes and goes and goes.

Agreed BigLake the city of Chicago is much larger and dense than LA and it probably always will be. They’re just laid out differently with different lifestyles in so many ways. And from the air both are ginormous but LA really is on steroids!