Which is more urban, with more of a "big city" feel: Albuquerque or Phoenix? (live, state)

[KerrTown]

Albuquerque seems to be cosmopolitan because it's the Southwestern art center. Santa Fé and Taos looked very artsy with their architecture and the art shops in their downtowns. It is well known as the place where Georgia O'Keeffe settled and lived out the rest of her life.

Phoenix is known for bland sprawl in the hot desert valley with mountains as a backdrop, retirees and transplants from the North (including the Midwest), call center jobs and political agitation. I don't know much about Prescott but I heard it's an "upscale" resort area with natural red rock beauty with some antique shops.

[BacktoBlue]

I like Albuquerque more than Phoenix but Phoenix feels bigger

[LAX-PHX]

Originally Posted by KerrTown

Albuquerque seems to be cosmopolitan because it's the Southwestern art center. Santa Fé and Taos looked very artsy with their architecture and the art shops in their downtowns. It is well known as the place where Georgia O'Keeffe settled and lived out the rest of her life.

Phoenix is known for bland sprawl in the hot desert valley with mountains as a backdrop, retirees and transplants from the North (including the Midwest), call center jobs and political agitation. I don't know much about Prescott but I heard it's an "upscale" resort area with natural red rock beauty with some antique shops.

What is it with all the Phoenix vs. Albuquerque threads? It's like comparing apples and oranges. There's no question Phoenix has a bigger city feel. Aside from the fact it's 4 and a half times larger than Abq. it has more density. There's not many cities you can say that about but Phx. actually has more density. Not to mention freeways, light rail, many more resorts and dining options, sports, etc. You seem to be buying into the anti-Phoenix propaganda which seems to be all the rage these days. Believe me if Phoenix was such a hole it wouldn't have grown as large as it has. There has to be a reason it's been one of the fastest growing cities in the country besides affordability. Also I think you are confusing Prescott with Sedona. Prescott is more main street America and not really known for resorts like Sedona which is near the red rocks.

[KerrTown]

Originally Posted by LAX-PHX

Also I think you are confusing Prescott with Sedona. Prescott is more main street America and not really known for resorts like Sedona which is near the red rocks.

Correct. It's easy to forget Sedona when the largest city (and the locus) in Central AZ is neighboring Prescott.

But Albuquerque seems to be bigger because of the population layout in NM being centralized in Northern NM; in-and-around Albuquerque-Santa Fé in particular; while the rest of the state is sparsely populated.

[LAX-PHX]

Originally Posted by KerrTown

Correct. It's easy to forget Sedona when the largest city (and the locus) in Central AZ is neighboring Prescott.

But Albuquerque seems to be bigger because of the population layout in NM being centralized in Northern NM; in-and-around Albuquerque-Santa Fé in particular; while the rest of the state is sparsely populated.

Phoenix's population is spread out but so is Albuquerque's. Even though Phoenix isn't as dense as many cities it still dwarfs Abq. I really don't see the comparison. Tucson vs. Abq. might be a more valid comparison. To me comparing Phoenix to Abq. would be like comparing San Diego to Fresno or Seattle to Boise. They just aren't in the same league.

[DANNYY]

I like Phoenix more, and it also feels like the bigger city. Albuquerque should be competing with Tucson & El Paso in this regard rather than Phoenix. In my opinion, Phoenix is the king of the desert Southwest, followed by Las Vegas next.

[bradly]

This is an awful thread.

Albuquerque is alot smaller. It has around 528,000+
Phoenix is alot larger, spread out...... 1.4 Million +

Albuquerque is a way better city, alot cooler in temps. And more friendly.

[number32]

Albuquerque is smaller, but Phoenix is population is much bigger then Denver's but it doesn't have an urban feel like Denver.

[AZLiam]

Originally Posted by KerrTown

Albuquerque seems to be cosmopolitan because it's the Southwestern art center. Santa Fé and Taos looked very artsy with their architecture and the art shops in their downtowns. It is well known as the place where Georgia O'Keeffe settled and lived out the rest of her life.

Phoenix is known for bland sprawl in the hot desert valley with mountains as a backdrop, retirees and transplants from the North (including the Midwest), call center jobs and political agitation. I don't know much about Prescott but I heard it's an "upscale" resort area with natural red rock beauty with some antique shops.

I don't know what your hate-on for Phoenix is (or if you are just trolling), but you're from Houston and you're calling out Phoenix for it's sprawl? BTW, YOU may think that Phoenix is known for retirees, but it's actually one of the youngest cities. Using words like "seems", "is known for" and "I heard" just tells me that you really don't know much about any of these cities.

[Howest2008]

Originally Posted by KerrTown

Albuquerque seems to be cosmopolitan because it's the Southwestern art center. Santa Fé and Taos looked very artsy with their architecture and the art shops in their downtowns. It is well known as the place where Georgia O'Keeffe settled and lived out the rest of her life.

Phoenix is known for bland sprawl in the hot desert valley with mountains as a backdrop, retirees and transplants from the North (including the Midwest), call center jobs and political agitation. I don't know much about Prescott but I heard it's an "upscale" resort area with natural red rock beauty with some antique shops.

The only city comparible to PHOENIX in that region is DENVER and
DENVER has a more URBAN VIBE than PHOENIX , but ALBUQUERQUE
Please Give Me A Break , the only city comparible to ALQ is EL PASO
TEXAS...and ALBUQUERQUE wins that shot out......LOL..TUCSON
would win if put up against ALBUQUERQUE , but not by MUCH....