Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Why are there so many threads about Houston passing Chicago in twenty, thirty, or forty years? Why does this seem so important to Houston boosters? Really? I guarantee you, no one I know in Chicago has EVER mentioned this....EVER. Doesn't seem to be on anyone's mind, except those whose wet dream it is, for Houston to pass Chicago. Good grief.
Why are there so many threads about Houston passing Chicago in twenty, thirty, or forty years? Why does this seem so important to Houston boosters? Really? I guarantee you, no one I know in Chicago has EVER mentioned this....EVER. Doesn't seem to be on anyone's mind, except those whose wet dream it is, for Houston to pass Chicago. Good grief.
Are Houston boosters really starting these threads? I don't think Houston residents honestly care themselves.
Are Houston boosters really starting these threads? I don't think Houston residents honestly care themselves.
Residents of all cities don't normally give a damn about pretty much anything discussed on City Data. I know exactly 0 residents of either Houston or Chicago who actually care about which place in population rankings either city is and where it will be.
and has lost 1 million people since it's peak only after Detroit.
It's funny how people use homicide rate, but can't use percent change in population. As you'll see below, the Metro area has almost 5 million more people today than 1950. However, let's look at percent decline. These are from the peak years of a city which was usually 1950 or 1960 of cities that were at least 250,000 people at the peak:
1. St. Louis - 62.7%
2. Detroit - 61.4%
3. Cleveland - 56.6%
4. Pittsburgh - 54.8%
5. Buffalo - 53.4%
6. Dayton - 46.1%
7. New Orleans - 45.2%
8. Cincinnati - 41.1%
9. Birmingham, AL - 37.7%
10. Newark, NJ - 37.3%
11. Rochester, NY - 36.7%
12. Baltimore - 34.6%
13. Akron - 34.5%
14. Providence - 29.6%
15. Minneapolis - 26.7%
16. Philadelphia - 26.3%
17. Chicago - 25.6%
18. Washington DC - 25%
Chicago and DC have almost the same percent loss of population, and Boston at about 23% is not far behind.
Chicago has almost 5 million more people in its MSA now versus 1950. If you work that out, it's almost 70,000 people gained per year on average since 1950.
Quote:
Has the second worst murder rate for metro after Philly.
Wrong on both fronts. Philly doesn't have the worst homicide rate and Chicago is not second. These are the rankings for 2012:
1. Detroit - 54.6 per 100k people
2. New Orleans - 53.2
3. St. Louis - 35.5
4. Baltimore - 34.9
5. Newark, NJ - 34.4
6. Oakland - 31.8
7. Stockton, CA - 23.7
8. Kansas City - 22.6
9. Philadelphia - 21.5
10. Cleveland - 21.3
11. Memphis - 20.2
12. Atlanta - 19
13. Chicago - 18.5
Furthermore, 2012 was a peak year in the last 5 for Chicago. 2013 saw 101 fewer homicides than 2012 which would place it even lower on the above list down 3-5 more spots. Even so, the rate is 3X lower than that of Detroit's and would almost need to double to be in the top 5, especially versus what 2008-2011 and 2013 were. The homicide rate has also been cut in half since the late 1980s and early 1990s. Still a problem, but nowhere near as dangerous as it used to be.
Chicago's in decline. Has the worst economy in the US and has lost 1 million people since it's peak only after Detroit. It's metro gains are 20k a year. Has the second worst murder rate for metro after Philly. Flat, midwestern, blue collar, crime, decline, etc
It's pathetic and should be surpassed
Translation: "I know nothing about Chicago except for perceptions I glean from 24-hour 'news' television and internet forums..."
All of this discussion about crime really ignores the elephant in the room and that is demographics. The racial element in murder rates is pretty consistent around the country. In Chicago, there are roughly equal percentages of blacks and whites, around a third each. In 2012, there were 47 white murder victims and 392 black murder victims. Per 100,000 that comes out to a rate of about 5/100,000 whites and 44/100,000 blacks.
The murder/violence issue in America really isn't about cities...it's about different communities within those cities.
If Houston does overtake Chicago in population I hope there is a lot more densification and urbanization so that the number 3 city proper in the U.S feels like number 3 and not like number 14
Fusion, have you been keeping up with the rapid urbanization phase that is happening in Houston right NOW? Especially in the CBD and other already walkable parts of the city. This will only boost inner loop population and density. Here's a link to a map showing all of the activity:
Fusion, have you been keeping up with the rapid urbanization phase that is happening in Houston right NOW? Especially in the CBD and other already walkable parts of the city. This will only boost inner loop population and density. Here's a link to a map showing all of the activity:
It is no where even close and Houston would basically have to tear down and start again to reach the urbanity of chicago
That wasn't his point on posting that. I knew somebody would try to downplay what's going on in Houston after his post.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
