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Both of these cities are Just outside a much larger cities MSA, but which is better
Nightlife-
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Rockford has always been such a question mark as someone living in Chiago for 10 years now. I mean it's not that far away, just 25 miles from the east side of Rockford area to the northwest side of the Chicago area.
There are well over 500,000 people living in that connected string of cities from Rockford up to Janesville - yet you really never hear ANYTHING about that area on a national level. I mean 500,000 isn't anything to sneeze at, yet I doubt many Americans have ever really heard of Rockford.
Then you go 50 miles up the road from Rockford and you hit Madison, with around 550,000 people - yet almost everyone has heard of that city (for obvious reasons).
Rockford just seems one of those "ho hum" kinda places. Doesn't make a fuss, just "is". I have noticed that the Rockford metro is more and more being sucked into the Chicago sphere. The east side of Rockford (Boone County) has almost doubled in the past 20 years as Chicago has crept up to its backdoor.
Rockford has always been such a question mark as someone living in Chiago for 10 years now. I mean it's not that far away, just 25 miles from the east side of Rockford area to the northwest side of the Chicago area.
There are well over 500,000 people living in that connected string of cities from Rockford up to Janesville - yet you really never hear ANYTHING about that area on a national level. I mean 500,000 isn't anything to sneeze at, yet I doubt many Americans have ever really heard of Rockford.
Then you go 50 miles up the road from Rockford and you hit Madison, with around 550,000 people - yet almost everyone has heard of that city (for obvious reasons).
Rockford just seems one of those "ho hum" kinda places. Doesn't make a fuss, just "is". I have noticed that the Rockford metro is more and more being sucked into the Chicago sphere. The east side of Rockford (Boone County) has almost doubled in the past 20 years as Chicago has crept up to its backdoor.
I agree, but I think you could make a similar argument about Worcester. I think they both get passed over and/or forgotten in their respective regions (maybe even Rockford moreso than Worcester).
Location: northern Vermont - previously NM, WA, & MA
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Originally Posted by Maintainschaos
I agree, but I think you could make a similar argument about Worcester. I think they both get passed over and/or forgotten in their respective regions (maybe even Rockford moreso than Worcester).
Worcester isn't much on the regional radar here either. Most would probably think of Hartford or Providence first. I see it as a point of direction if heading west. Interestingly enough I-90 crosses both cities, actually the southern suburbs of Worcester as the city has its own spur I-290. I had seen a sign for Rockford when heading towards O'Hare Airport on I-90 west. I got to thinking, hmm.... I wonder what the next city is, Madison? Worcester honestly even having lived in Mass. most of my life has been more or less of an afterthought for me. If I'm in search of a second city to spend some time in or a Boston Jr. per se I'd go to Providence, probably like a Chicagoan would likely head up to Milwaukee.
I-90: Westbound near O'Hare (http://www.flickr.com/photos/soumit/81858600/ - broken link) by soumit (http://www.flickr.com/people/soumit/ - broken link), on Flickr
Driving to Hartford - 01-11-07 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/gregpc/354848455/ - broken link) by GregPC (http://www.flickr.com/people/gregpc/ - broken link), on Flickr
Last edited by Champ le monstre du lac; 12-15-2011 at 09:34 AM..
Worcester isn't much on the regional radar here either. Most would probably think of Hartford or Providence first. I see it as a point of direction if heading west. Interestingly enough I-90 crosses both cities, actually the southern suburbs of Worcester as the city has its own spur I-290. I had seen a sign for Rockford when heading towards O'Hare Airport on I-90 west. I got to thinking, hmm.... I wonder what the next city is, Madison? Worcester honestly even having lived in Mass. most of my life has been more or less of an afterthought for me. If I'm in search of a second city to spend some time in or a Boston Jr. per se I'd go to Providence, probably like a Chicagoan would likely head up to Milwaukee.
I-90: Westbound near O'Hare (http://www.flickr.com/photos/soumit/81858600/ - broken link) by soumit (http://www.flickr.com/people/soumit/ - broken link), on Flickr
Driving to Hartford - 01-11-07 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/gregpc/354848455/ - broken link) by GregPC (http://www.flickr.com/people/gregpc/ - broken link), on Flickr
Actually, from Chicago northward it's Rockford, Beloit ( right on the line), Janesville, and then Madison; you'll also pass through a fair bit of dairyland, too..
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