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The last several days I've gotten off my "homer" stuff, so I'll agree with you there. It is my hometown, generally speaking, and maybe I have gotten a little carried away. But I am well traveled. I havent been to Louisville, benn thru there only...
I think that you are pretty insistent in downplaying the GaWC rankings yourself. If it was obsolete it wouldnt be there, and I think the fact that Richmond is now considered Gamma, whereas it wasnt before, is a credit to the city's economy and growth. I may have put too much emphasis on it, but I believe you and others put too little on it. The potential to become a city of greater note is evidenced by the fact it is recgnized as a Gamma now...
Also, you say population doesnt matter, and thats fine. Your opinion. But yet again I think you downplay the significance of Richmond being much smaller across the board to cities like Louisville, or Nashville, or Raleigh, but neither of these cities are more urban, feel more urban, or blow Richmond out the in any venue the way some on CD would suggest. And to me, thats directly tied into population. If you have half a million, 600, 700 thousand people, but generally your cultural amenities (shopping, arts, sports, education) and strength of economy and governance are equal or near equal to a city of less than a quarter million, you tell me which city is more progressive?
I agree with you a little, Mutiny77. But I believe you do seem to automatically side with the larger cities...
I didn't say "population doesn't matter," I said municipal population is probably the LEAST relevant statistic to use when comparing two places according to size. That's especially true of VA cities that have that independent city thing going on and can't annex like cities in other states. The factors that determine a municipality's size differ from state to state which is why metropolitan populations are much better apples-to-apples metric to use when comparing cities. This is represented by the Richmond/Louisville comparison in that the former is an independent city and the latter is consolidated with its county, so neither one is a "typical" municipality. In that respect, Richmond is NOT "much smaller" than those cities. The only one with a significant size advantage would be Nashville, and only Raleigh if you consider the entire Triangle at large as opposed to the Raleigh-Cary MSA.
Yeah I pretty much downplay the GaWC rankings because I, along with a lot of other people, don't consider them to be completely accurate and people tend to misuse them. For instance, you used it to try and prove that Richmond was more "internationally recognized" than Nashville in the other thread and that's not even the purpose of the rankings. When arguing for Richmond's economic strengths, it can easily be done without referring to those rankings.
And I'm not siding for or against either city in this thread, as I believe they both have their strengths and weaknesses and are on relatively equal footing across most key categories. But this wholesale dismissing of Louisville and its attributes had to be challenged.
I would choose Richmond over Louisville because of it's location. It's close to DC and Virginia Beach, it has two major theme parks nearby (Busch Gardens and Kings Dominion), mountains are close by etc.
Louisville is nice though. If it were not for the location of Richmond, I think I would choose Louisville over Richmond as far as cities go. Richmond is not in some different league and Richmond has some crime issues.
But it's difficult for Louisville to compete with Richmond's location.
I would choose Richmond over Louisville because of it's location. It's close to DC and Virginia Beach, it has two major theme parks nearby (Busch Gardens and Kings Dominion), mountains are close by etc.
Louisville is nice though. If it were not for the location of Richmond, I think I would choose Louisville over Richmond as far as cities go. Richmond is not in some different league and Richmond has some crime issues.
But it's difficult for Louisville to compete with Richmond's location.
Although Louisville is relatively close to some sizable metros also (100 mi to Cincinnati, 115 mi to Indianapolis, 300 mi to Chicago), I also think Richmond has the better location, not only as it regards proximity to the Bos-Wash corridor, but also because it's in a coastal state.
Size similarities notwithstanding, Richmond spanks Louisville. All you have to do is ask yourself: with Louisville having such a pronounced size advantage in population and area, what does it offer that Richmond does not? The answer is nothing,
Duh. What about THE greatest horse race on the planet, just run last week?
say what you will about Richmond I have always found it to be a very impressive city that just needs to get its act together no reason it shouldn't be competing better and growing at a clip like the Raleigh's, Nashvilles and Austins. They already have alot of pieces in place and in terms of density and urban/city feel blows alot of cities away.
As a native of KY, former resident of Louisville and graduate of the U. of Louisville, I fully concur with the above assessment.
Louisville is the most important city in Kentucky and the attitude of the people that live there emphasizes that you know that! Richmond is competitive with much larger metros like Cincinnati and St. Louis, still closer to DC/NoVA and VA Beach/Norfolk, and yet is still greatly overshadowed by a much larger metro (NoVA suburbs of DC) in its own state. I'd gladly consider Virginia if I were to live on the East Coast (my only concern is the rigid law enforcement there, but that's for another thread).
Cincinnati and St. Louis are much larger cities than Richmond. Richmond is a lot closer to the combined Akron/Canton CSA or perhaps Dayton, OH MSA. Although Richmond can compete with Cincinnati and St. Louis architecturally. Downtown Richmond is nice, considering how small the city proper is.
Rigid is an interesting way of putting it. It's a militant industrial complex.
Cincinnati and St. Louis are much larger cities than Richmond. Richmond is a lot closer to the combined Akron/Canton CSA or perhaps Dayton, OH MSA. Although Richmond can compete with Cincinnati and St. Louis architecturally. Downtown Richmond is nice, considering how small the city proper is.
Rigid is an interesting way of putting it. It's a militant industrial complex.
The Richmond MSA is much larger than Akron/Canton and Dayton, OH. The Richmond MSA has a population of nearly 1.3 million people, (44th largest in the USA) while the other two metros are less than 800,000. Cincinnati and St. Louis have much larger MSA's, but the population within the city themselves is in close comparison to Richmond. Although, the closest city to Richmond in size would still be Louisville.
The Richmond MSA is much larger than Akron/Canton and Dayton, OH. The Richmond MSA has a population of nearly 1.3 million people, (44th largest in the USA) while the other two metros are less than 800,000. Cincinnati and St. Louis have much larger MSA's, but the population within the city themselves is in close comparison to Richmond. Although, the closest city to Richmond in size would still be Louisville.
Those towns took a hit. They used to be over 300,000 in the city core. Dayton was close to a million MSA when I lived there in the 90s. Those who left are probably in Virginia and North Carolina. Those who can afford may have tried NY or LA. We can't keep people in Ohio, although the population keeps rising, old timers continue to leave. Must be people having kids and people fleeing NYC looking for cheap rent keeping the place alive.
I think Woodbridge and Arlington Virginia is far better than these 2 cities, i am still considering Louisville, I have been thru Richmond many times, not sure i would want to live there, not familiar enough with it.
OVerall i like Virginia, nice countryside, friendly people especially in N. Va outside DC which is voted #1 in the country best place to live.
So Kentucky is probably more affordable for an apartment, I have traveled alot, went to school in Calif and now back east. lol So i have a lot of figuring to do... N. Va is just so expensive that alot of people end up in Richmond, i knew 2 people there and they say it is just ok, but they had to move there for financial reasons. which is my problem as well.
I might take drive to Louisville and see what i think, if there are good jobs there and quality of life. Im looking for a friendly place to live also.
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