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Not only that. I think that for several decades in the 20th century, Durham and Winston were each the larger and more prominent city in their respective region until the 1950's.
While population is one measure, and that can certainly be measured objectively, I think it's more fair to say Durham and Raleigh were on more equal prominence footing throughout the first half of the 20th Century. In some years Raleigh was larger, and in others Durham was. Since then, Raleigh has accelerated past Durham to the point today that the two cities (and especially their respective counties) have a fairly wide gap between them. On the other hand, Greensboro hasn't opened up the same sort of population dominance over Winston-Salem in the Triad, as Raleigh has over Durham in the Triangle.
While Durham and Winston-Salem have a lot of structural similarities, they have some major differences as well. Durham is WAY more liberal/progressive politically and culturally than W-S.
While population is one measure, and that can certainly be measured objectively, I think it's more fair to say Durham and Raleigh were on more equal prominence footing throughout the first half of the 20th Century. In some years Raleigh was larger, and in others Durham was. Since then, Raleigh has accelerated past Durham to the point today that the two cities (and especially their respective counties) have a fairly wide gap between them. On the other hand, Greensboro hasn't opened up the same sort of population dominance over Winston-Salem in the Triad, as Raleigh has over Durham in the Triangle.
While Durham and Winston-Salem have a lot of structural similarities, they have some major differences as well. Durham is WAY more liberal/progressive politically and culturally than W-S.
I would say demographics is a big difference between Durham and Winston, which potentially impacts politics in the two regions, as well. Durham is more diverse than Winston, with a higher Black and Asian population.
Besides demographics and politics (you're correct that Durham County is far more liberal than Forsyth), I can definitely understand the similarities between Durham and Winston.
While population is one measure, and that can certainly be measured objectively, I think it's more fair to say Durham and Raleigh were on more equal prominence footing throughout the first half of the 20th Century. In some years Raleigh was larger, and in others Durham was. Since then, Raleigh has accelerated past Durham to the point today that the two cities (and especially their respective counties) have a fairly wide gap between them. On the other hand, Greensboro hasn't opened up the same sort of population dominance over Winston-Salem in the Triad, as Raleigh has over Durham in the Triangle.
Very true. Winston-Salem and Greensboro are nearly the same physical size at around 130 sq mi, but Greensboro is only bigger by 50K (~300K to ~250K). Also Winston-Salem has the larger urbanized area population. It does include Lexington though, whereas, unlike the MSA, Greensboro stands alone in that metric with High Point having its own UA.
Very true. Winston-Salem and Greensboro are nearly the same physical size at around 130 sq mi, but Greensboro is only bigger by 50K (~300K to ~250K). Also Winston-Salem has the larger urbanized area population. It does include Lexington though, whereas, unlike the MSA, Greensboro stands alone in that metric with High Point having its own UA.
Greensboro seems to have a little more sprawl, especially to the north and west of downtown, similar to Raleigh in that regard. Winston has the larger urban core and less sprawl. There's a pretty quick transition from suburban Winston to rural Yadkin County, to the west.
Durham stands alone among the other major cities in the Triangle/Triad in that its sprawl extends to the south of its downtown, closer to RTP and I-40. There isn't a lot of sprawl to the north of the city, unlike Raleigh and Greensboro.
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