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Ok. I added “maybe more rural” because it only has 1,300 people per square mile in city limits. That’s pretty rural to me. Charlotte has 200,000 more people in 200 square miles less. It has to feel a bit different for the average person. Honestly they all feel somewhat rural outside of a few areas by LA standards.
Downtown Nashville is very urban feeling. Outside of that, it feels small townish to me
Downtown Nashville is very urban feeling. Outside of that, it feels small townish to me
I was thinking along those lines, but don't have enough experience to know. I have relatives there, but haven't been for awhile. I remember that they live inside the city limits in a very nice, but very small "neighborhood" that looks like it could be 10 miles outside of city limits anywhere in the south.
Ok. I added “maybe more rural” because it only has 1,300 people per square mile in city limits. That’s pretty rural to me. Charlotte has 200,000 more people in 200 square miles less. It has to feel a bit different for the average person. Honestly they all feel somewhat rural outside of a few areas by LA standards.
Comparing Nashville's PPSM and other stats can be tricky since its consolidated with Davidson County. The northwest area of the county has sparsely populated, rugged hills that cover almost a third of the city/county. Otherwise, it feels just like the typical Southern suburban sprawl you see in its New South peers in most directions. Nashville is a smaller metro area than Charlotte, but it feels no more rural than Charlotte in the areas surrounding its urban core into its suburbs.
Despite its shorter skyline and lack of mass transit options, Nashville actually has stronger urban bones immediately surrounding its downtown than Charlotte. Nashville's Broadway/West End corridor runs for over three miles from Lower Broadway downtown to I-440 at the end Midtown. It's been filling in with high rises and tons of infill development throughout this whole stretch for years. The two cities are comparable in terms of the urban development and growth they have seen in the last decade and more, but they do have different vibes.
Looking east over Centennial Park in Nashville's Midtown/West End from I-440 (foreground) to downtown Nashville (background).
Several angles of downtown Nashville with development flowing into Midtown/West End and the Gulch in the background. Most of Nashville's skyline is typically hidden in commonly used stock images from the pedestrian bridge.
The heart of Midtown/West End with Vanderbilt University starting at the bottom right and downtown in the background. Nearly every empty lot or underutilized parcel in this image has development starting soon or proposed at this point.
I can believe that Nashville's downtown is great, but my point was that most of Nashville lives outside of downtown and largely live in sparsely populated areas.
But after looking at zip codes, I was wrong. Both Nashville and Charlotte have about 140,000 people living above 3,000 people per square mile within city limits.
I can believe that Nashville's downtown is great, but my point was that most of Nashville lives outside of downtown and largely live in sparsely populated areas.
But after looking at zip codes, I was wrong. Both Nashville and Charlotte have about 140,000 people living above 3,000 people per square mile within city limits.
Also, unlike Charlotte, Nashville is located in a hilly region and the city is consolidated with Davidson County. Roughly 1/3 of Davidson County is uninhabitable due to steep terrain, limestone, and protected park land. Population density comparisons for Nashville will always be apples vs oranges. Nashville, despite generalizations, does have noticeably stronger structural density in the core than Charlotte. Outside of the core, I will give you that. The city is largely suburban and low density. Nashville has no light rail or inner city expressway loops like 485 or 285. A big chunk of Nashville's economy is blue collar and service oriented although that is changing with recent jobs announcements.
Raleigh is the right answer, although Nashville and Atlanta have plenty in common, too...
Charlotte and Raleigh’s suburbs are similar to an extent, but the regions are built differently and don’t share much in ways of industry profiles. Raleigh is a typical eds-and-meds city, and Charlotte is banks and distribution hub.
I had a friend say Charlotte is the South’s Indianapolis. I’ve never been to Indy so I’m not sure if that is even a fair comparison. I’d say 50% Atlanta, 20% Nashville, 20% Greensboro, 10% Raleigh.
Charlotte and Raleigh’s suburbs are similar to an extent, but the regions are built differently and don’t share much in ways of industry profiles. Raleigh is a typical eds-and-meds city, and Charlotte is banks and distribution hub.
I had a friend say Charlotte is the South’s Indianapolis. I’ve never been to Indy so I’m not sure if that is even a fair comparison. I’d say 50% Atlanta, 20% Nashville, 20% Greensboro, 10% Raleigh.
I've been to Indy and I don't agree. Indy may not be industrial for the rust belt, but it's still more factory oriented than Charlotte.
It's interesting that many focus on the industry differences, which are noticeable. I tend to focus more on what life looks like when you go home from work. Where you live, what your interests are, where you eat, etc. In that regard Charlotte, Atlanta, and Raleigh are all similar. The differences come in the "big city" amenities that you have available. Of those three Atlanta is clearly at the top and Raleigh is clearly at the bottom. Charlotte is probably closer to Raleigh, but I'm not sure. It's really only the polycentric nature of the triangle that makes me pick atlanta.
Another consideration is education. Atlanta and Raleigh are hubs of education. Nashville is as well but maybe a tier lower. Charlotte isn't really in that conversation and that has to show up to some extent.
I'm getting sidetracked, but my point is that nowhere is going to be identical and what differences we value as important will guide our answers.
If we're talking about cities in the Carolinas, I've always said that Charlotte is like a bigger Greensboro. Both cities are firmly Piedmont with textile legacies, Revolutionary War history, and a close proximity via I-85. They were also the two largest cities in North Carolina for many years, until Raleigh overtook Greensboro sometime in the 1980s.
The Triangle is similar to Charlotte on the surface, but I think Charlotte has a stronger connection with the Triad and South Carolina Upstate. Therefore, I'd compare Charlotte to Greensboro or Greenville (S.C.) before I'd compare Charlotte to Raleigh.
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