Why are so many American cities so dead? (crime, place, population)

[FLA17]

You never see people walking around in a lot of them. With some of them it makes sense because of crime or whatever but with others it doesn't. I'm going to make a list of all the "dead" and alive cities I've been to. I especially don't understand this in the south where the weather should allow people to be out and about.

DEAD
buffalo
detroit (obviously)
houston (no clue why)
raleigh
jacksonville
tampa
orlando
fort myers
lakeland
gainesville
cincinnati (dont know why)
philly
huntsville
knoxville

ALIVE
pittsburgh
nyc
boston
chicago
columbus ohio
atlanta
nashville
charlotte(somewhat)
richmond (somewhat)
DC(somewhat)
Baltimore
miami(somewhat)
savannah
greenville sc (somewhat)
lexington
macon (looked dangerous though)

[Natural510]

It basically has to do with the advent of suburban life post-WW2, and the "white flight" from urban areas that went with it. Many cities are seeing population growth and a return to density involving those same upwardly-mobile people who would've fled for the suburbs in years past; others still have a long way to go.

[Trimac20]

What do you mean DC and Miami are 'somewhat' alive? DC has tons of streetlife.

Memphis is another that belongs in your 'dead' category.

[cacto]

So a city is alive if people walk and dead if they drive?

[Duderino]

Originally Posted by FLA17

You never see people walking around in a lot of them. With some of them it makes sense because of crime or whatever but with others it doesn't. I'm going to make a list of all the "dead" and alive cities I've been to. I especially don't understand this in the south where the weather should allow people to be out and about.

DEAD
buffalo
detroit (obviously)
houston (no clue why)
raleigh
jacksonville
tampa
orlando
fort myers
lakeland
gainesville
cincinnati (dont know why)
philly
huntsville
knoxville

Heh. Sorry, but Philly is sorely, sorely out of place here. To be sure, Philly can stand to improve its vitality in many areas, but it's still among the most active cities in the country in terms of street activity/vibrancy.

[BPP1999]

Philadelphia is dead? Give me a break. Next thread, please.

[kidphilly]

Getting Off the Train and Walking Down Locust Street to Rittenhouse Square - YouTube

[Dub King]

Your list is flat-out wrong. How obnoxious.

Originally Posted by FLA17

You never see people walking around in a lot of them. With some of them it makes sense because of crime or whatever but with others it doesn't. I'm going to make a list of all the "dead" and alive cities I've been to. I especially don't understand this in the south where the weather should allow people to be out and about.

DEAD
buffalo
detroit (obviously)
houston (no clue why)
raleigh
jacksonville
tampa
orlando
fort myers
lakeland
gainesville
cincinnati (dont know why)
philly
huntsville
knoxville

ALIVE
pittsburgh
nyc
boston
chicago
columbus ohio
atlanta
nashville
charlotte(somewhat)
richmond (somewhat)
DC(somewhat)
Baltimore
miami(somewhat)
savannah
greenville sc (somewhat)
lexington
macon (looked dangerous though)

[ForYourLungsOnly]

The closest thing to "dead" as far as cities go is Gary, IN...and even THAT isn't "dead".

[CinciFan]

What a terrible list. I can tell you from experience that Cincinnati, and especially Philly, are far from dead. Philly is one of the most vibrant/alive cities I have ever been to.