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Yeah Baltimore is and still feels urban, and large overall. I just rode back on the Amtrak NE regional train this past weekend from NYC to DC, so making all the stops along the way. Baltimore didn't even feel that much smaller than Philly from the train honestly, and it's equally as urban through most neighborhoods. You notice a good amount of urbanity coming into town and then go through a series of tunnels and even after exiting them ride through more city urbanity after exiting the tunnels. I think it's still top 8 in urbanity in the US. Virginia has no urban equal.
Although I agree that Baltimore is more urban than either Richmond or Norfolk alone I believe that the actually urban experience is not too different. Richmond urban built environment is honestly as large as Baltimore. The difference is Baltimore is busier and more densely populated. However the number of buildings downtown and row house neighborhoods is similar. Obviously Baltimore is busier than Norfolk and offers a larger urban area but sometimes quantity is not better than quality. Norfolk is generally a cleaner city with with a more expansive downtown harbor, a good mix of restaurants, shops, and museums. Other than major league sports it really offers a similar experience to Baltimore. Granted Baltimore offers more of these things, but if you combined the amenities of Norfolk and Richmond it really becomes pretty even.
Although I agree that Baltimore is more urban than either Richmond or Norfolk alone I believe that the actually urban experience is not too different. Richmond urban built environment is honestly as large as Baltimore. The difference is Baltimore is busier and more densely populated. However the number of buildings downtown and row house neighborhoods is similar. Obviously Baltimore is busier than Norfolk and offers a larger urban area but sometimes quantity is not better than quality. Norfolk is generally a cleaner city with with a more expansive downtown harbor, a good mix of restaurants, shops, and museums. Other than major league sports it really offers a similar experience to Baltimore. Granted Baltimore offers more of these things, but if you combined the amenities of Norfolk and Richmond it really becomes pretty even.
I don't like be "that guy" again, but Baltimore operates on a completely different spectrum of urban scale compared Richmond which shouldn't come of as a surprise when it anchors an MSA that is larger than Richmond + Norfolk/VA Beach combined.
All these Google Earth snapshots are to identical scale.
I don't like be "that guy" again, but Baltimore operates on a completely different spectrum of urban scale compared Richmond which shouldn't come of as a surprise when it anchors an MSA that is larger than Richmond + Norfolk/VA Beach combined.
All these Google Earth snapshots are to identical scale.
I feel like these pictures still prove my point. Richmond's urban area still looks similar to Baltimore's urban area. Baltimore's urban are is just more densely populated. Having been to both cities numerous times I know Baltimore is busier than Richmond, but I honestly still feel like I am in a similar sized urban area. I know that Richmond is overall a smaller city than Baltimore, but I feel that the difference in urban area is not that significant. If you like urban areas with less traffic and a bit more green space than you may prefer Richmond or Norfolk. However if you prefer busier urban areas than Baltimore definitely would be the better choice for you.
I feel like these pictures still prove my point. Richmond's urban area still looks similar to Baltimore's urban area. Baltimore's urban are is just more densely populated. Having been to both cities numerous times I know Baltimore is busier than Richmond, but I honestly still feel like I am in a similar sized urban area. I know that Richmond is overall a smaller city than Baltimore, but I feel that the difference in urban area is not that significant. If you like urban areas with less traffic and a bit more green space then you may prefer Richmond or Norfolk. However if you prefer busier urban areas than Baltimore definitely would be the better choice for you.
That difference in urban area is massive when there is a two fold population difference, and that's before you get into the nuances of weighted population density.
Baltimore UA - 654 sq/mi, 2.21 million people (3,377.5 ppsm)
Richmond UA - 512 sq/mi, 1.06 million people (2,067.3 ppsm)
Huge difference in urban scale between Richmond and Baltimore, but not in urban character. As in, there's no culture shock going to Baltimore from Richmond, it literally looks like much of Richmond. They sound like Tidewater people...
But scale, yes. Much larger and much busier, more people on the streets, more traffic, subways, the scale is easily much different. It's just that the visual urban character is similar...
No opinion on Norfolk but in 2023 I'd take Richmond over Bmore. The size advantage doesn't translate to increased desirability (though I still like Bmore).
I don't like be "that guy" again, but Baltimore operates on a completely different spectrum of urban scale compared Richmond which shouldn't come of as a surprise when it anchors an MSA that is larger than Richmond + Norfolk/VA Beach combined.
All these Google Earth snapshots are to identical scale.
Richmond
Baltimore
Norfolk
While I definitely believe Baltimore to be on a much different scale than Richmond, I do think the North/South perspective you chose for your Google Earth screenshots might be unintentionally misleading for Richmond, since the city spreads East/West because of the James River and Shockoe Valley. So if you spin the orientation, it is even more apparent that there are similarities.
While I definitely believe Baltimore to be on a much different scale than Richmond, I do think the North/South perspective you chose for your Google Earth screenshots might be unintentionally misleading for Richmond, since the city spreads East/West because of the James River and Shockoe Valley. So if you spin the orientation, it is even more apparent that there are similarities.
Richmond has similarities to Baltimore for the same reason Baltimore has similarities to Philly. They all have similar mid-atlantic architecture styles (row homes and red brick buildings) but the scales are not similar.
Here's a better perspective of Richmond vs. Baltimore vs. Philly to scale (7km from each cities city hall)
I don't like be "that guy" again, but Baltimore operates on a completely different spectrum of urban scale compared Richmond which shouldn't come of as a surprise when it anchors an MSA that is larger than Richmond + Norfolk/VA Beach combined.
All these Google Earth snapshots are to identical scale.
Richmond
Baltimore
Norfolk
I'm not too sure about that between HR & Richmond MSA is almost pushing 3 million Richmond is 1.2 HR is 1.7 that's 2.9, Baltimore isn't even 2.5 million. While yes Baltimore is more urban than both cities, once combined outside of professional sports Baltimore MSA doesn't offer more than both Norfolk & Richmond combined MSA. Your reaching for Baltimore especially when the city has lost so much population.
Richmond urban built environment is honestly as large as Baltimore.
It's really not, although Richmond's is arguably larger than most know or give it credit for.
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