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Question is, why is the population of some cities relatively low and yet they have HUGE metro populations where on the other hand some cities have fairly large city populations and small metro populations. Here are some examples I've come across.
1. Indianapolis - 827,000 Metro population - 1.7 million
2. Atlanta - 420,000 Metro population - 5.2 million
3. Columbus - 787,000 Metro population - 1.8 million
4. Baltimore - 620,000 Metro population - 2.7 million
5. Louisville - 602,000 Metro population - 1.4 million
6. Seattle - 620,000 Metro population - 3.5 million
Do you see the trend? Most of these cities are about the same size in city population, some smaller, but have MUCH larger metro populations. What causes this?
In addition to other things people said, I would mention the time period of when the city's big growth spurt occurred is a major factor on whether they could consolidate or not. In other words, older cities that grew up before 1900 could annex land that more recent cities could not.
Years ago, most Americans lived in rural areas and local governments/counties which were relatively weak and mostly geared toward local rural concerns. Therefore, residents who lived in the semi-rural semi-suburban towns just outside the city --- sometimes were willing to give up their independence in order to join a city which promised to give them paved roads, sewers, water systems or new schools.
This is why the port cities of the Northeast flush with immigrants; Philadelphia, NYC and even Boston, were able to consoldiate and annex the surrounding towns in the 1800s. Joining once of these cities was considered a good thing but even then was debatable....
Act of Consolidation, 1854 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Philadelphia consolidation --- from this article you can see several things. First, Philadelphia pushed for annexation so it could collect more taxes. Second, the local governments and county could not handle the urban growth problems of that time. Third, the state of PA actively helped push for the consolidation.
After 1900, these days suburbanites do not need to join a big city in order to get things like roads or schools. They have them and have them often better than the older city. Local governments, whether it is a Borough in Pennsylvania, a suburban City in California, a Town in New York or a County government in the South, can and do provide most local services that a big city can provide. So cities have a harder time in order to convince people to consolidate.
After 1900, these days suburbanites do not need to join a big city in order to get things like roads or schools. They have them and have them often better than the older city. Local governments, whether it is a Borough in Pennsylvania, a suburban City in California, a Town in New York or a County government in the South, can and do provide most local services that a big city can provide. So cities have a harder time in order to convince people to consolidate.
Though, in the sunbelt, some cities (Houston, Phoenix, San Antonio) have annexed as they've grown. And a few midwestern cities (Columbus, Kansas City & Indianapolis) merged with many of their suburbs in the postwar era in order to simplify governance. Jacksonville has done the same.
Though, in the sunbelt, some cities (Houston, Phoenix, San Antonio) have annexed as they've grown. And a few midwestern cities (Columbus, Kansas City & Indianapolis) merged with many of their suburbs in the postwar era in order to simplify governance. Jacksonville has done the same.
Exactly, that is the problem. Southern cities are justt annexing and sprawling outwards... instead of building to maximum capacity then annexing surrounding towns like Northeastern cities did. For instance, before Philadelphia annexed the surrounding towns, it was only something like 16 sq miles... now it is only 134 sq miles. For comparison, Houston is over 500 sq miles... and only has 400k more than Philadelphia in the city proper. Also, Atlanta has 400k people in almost the same exact land area as Philadelphia... yet Philadelphia has 1.2 million more people!
On the other hand, Philadelphia MSA is 5k sq miles with 5.9 mill people
Houston MSA is over 10k sq miles with 6 mill people
...I think you get what I'm saying, and the numbers pretty much speak for themselves.
Exactly, that is the problem. Southern cities are justt annexing and sprawling outwards... instead of building to maximum capacity then annexing surrounding towns like Northeastern cities did. For instance, before Philadelphia annexed the surrounding towns, it was only something like 16 sq miles... now it is only 134 sq miles. For comparison, Houston is over 500 sq miles... and only has 400k more than Philadelphia in the city proper. Also, Atlanta has 400k people in almost the same exact land area as Philadelphia... yet Philadelphia has 1.2 million more people!
On the other hand, Philadelphia MSA is 5k sq miles with 5.9 mill people
Houston MSA is over 10k sq miles with 6 mill people
...I think you get what I'm saying, and the numbers pretty much speak for themselves.
Firstly, Southern =/= Sunbelt. Phoenix was also explicitly mentioned.
Secondly, metropolitan dynamics are very different today than in the 18th and 19th centuries when older Northern cities annexed their suburbs. With issues of race, class, education, etc. to consider, it's considerably harder to do that these days. The only way it typically happens in modern times is via city-county consolidation.
MSAs follow county boundaries which could include lots of undeveloped land if counties are large. Urban areas are far better for determining the size of the built area or the city without city limits.
Secondly, metropolitan dynamics are very different today than in the 18th and 19th centuries when older Northern cities annexed their suburbs. With issues of race, class, education, etc. to consider, it's considerably harder to do that these days. The only way it typically happens in modern times is via city-county consolidation.
The Town of Brookline resisted annexation by Boston partly because it didn't want to be with poor Irish immigrants. Boston annexed the surrounding towns, so that Brookline is almost surrounded by Boston on all 4 sides.
MSAs follow county boundaries which could include lots of undeveloped land if counties are large. Urban areas are far better for determining the size of the built area or the city without city limits.
Philadelphia comes out slightly less dense, though not by much, because its outer areas have more large lot suburbia.
Another good point. Plus, metro areas in historically densely populated regions, like the Bos-Wash corridor, often border other metro areas so the county boundaries can sometimes be arbitrary. There tends to be more clear boundaries for metro areas in less developed regions like the Sunbelt due to it being less dense overall.
wtf are you talking about? Georgia has the 2nd most counties of any state in the country. I think you mean West coast states, not southern states...
You contradict yourself in your own post in bold.
Having a larger county in a city lets you get more things done within the metro... LA county, Cook County come to mind... San Francisco comes to mind... SF city/county are identical.
Atlanta metro is more split that is why they have issues getting funding b/c those other counties vote against certain measures like public transit, taxes, highway funds, etc.
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