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Raleigh. Much more educated, progressive, and prosperous
Birmingham is like the relative you have that you know is smart and has potential to do better, but is too trifling and worrying about their glory days when they were younger to move forward in life and has an inferiority complex towards family members that have done better (which would be Atlanta or even Nashville in this case).
Birmingham would have been a better location for a hub because it's more central to the Southeast than Atlanta is, but hindsight is 20/20. For example, if it wasn't for the Research Triangle Park, Raleigh would be about where Greensboro is today.
It's not really state capital status that gives Raleigh an edge, but RTP which is a huge jobs magnet, being the largest research park in the world. State leaders were very progressive and visionary in establishing it. Without RTP, Raleigh would be half the size it is today (or less) and much slower-growing.
I'd also add that Raleigh's economy is boosted by the fact that it has the state's largest university in it (NC State). So, the trifecta of being the state capital, having the largest university and being the largest city within the Research Triangle are the catalysts to Raleigh's succcess and desirability.
Here's something to consider when comparing the two cities economically: Alabama county files biggest municipal bankruptcy - Yahoo! News (http://news.yahoo.com/alabama-county-seeks-file-biggest-municipal-bankruptcy-001117903.html - broken link)
Raleigh. Much more educated, progressive, and prosperous
Birmingham is like the relative you have that you know is smart and has potential to do better, but is too trifling and worrying about their glory days when they were younger to move forward in life and has an inferiority complex towards family members that have done better (which would be Atlanta or even Nashville in this case).
Birmingham would have been a better location for a hub because it's more central to the Southeast than Atlanta is, but hindsight is 20/20. For example, if it wasn't for the Research Triangle Park, Raleigh would be about where Greensboro is today.
Worrying about the glory days?, what glory days?. This city has had a rough and tumble history since day one.
Here's something to consider when comparing the two cities economically: Alabama county files biggest municipal bankruptcy - Yahoo! News (http://news.yahoo.com/alabama-county-seeks-file-biggest-municipal-bankruptcy-001117903.html - broken link)
I saw that and thought a deal was worked out to avert this. Bummer.
I saw that and thought a deal was worked out to avert this. Bummer.
Yeah it sucks to say the least, but this is what happens when you have a lack of local state leadership, and a governor unwilling to use his power to prevent this.
The mountain coming through the city really makes for a dramatic landscape. I think it's the suburbs that make it so pretty. The last time I was there, there was a huge difference between the East and West side of that mountain.
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