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-Both states are absolutely beautiful. It's rather hard to choose which state is more beautiful since both states have their own kind of beauty that results in a moot point.
-I think New York's biggest city (NYC) is better than California's biggest city (LA) by a long shot.
-I also prefer 4 seasons which gives NY a boost.
-California's beaches are way more beautiful and offer more in terms of overall activity than what NY has to offer on Long Island.
-IMO, New York's location is better. It's near my home (NJ) and other great states and cities while California is the only great location in it's location IMO (if that makes sense)
Just to put the diversity argument to rest (using 2000 data, since this index is only put together every 10 years). Nowadays, I'm sure more counties in both New York AND California have become much more diverse.
Average US Diversity:0.49 (from 2nd link, 4th page) High Diversity (as specified by the US census, 2nd link): 0.60-0.77 Above Average Diversity: 0.49-0.59
California has 30/58 counties that diversity levels higher than the US average, of which 19 counties are in the high diversity range.
New York State has 5/62 counties that have diversity levels higher than the US average, of which 4 counties are in the high diversity range.
Unfortunately, the methodology for this index by the US Census IS indeed flawed, because it doesn't take into account the diversity within groups, but rather bases it off the 4 extremely broad racial groups (White, Black, Asian, 'Hispanics' of any race). However, I'm excited to see what the 2010 index will look like. Both states are on the whole, way more diverse than the US average of .49 (NY State at 0.57, CA at 0.67). However, California as a whole has more statistical diversity than New York State does.
To put it into context in the minds of New Yorkers, this is like comparing the diversity of Westchester County (at 0.55) to the Bronx (at 0.66). This should situate in your mind the difference between California and New York State. However, New York State is the most diverse state on the East Coast, followed closely by New Jersey.
Honestly though, California and New York are both extremely great places. I love New York State's natural setting, since its extremely green throughout the whole state. The Catskills and Adirondacks are among the most scenic areas of the country, especially on cold winter nights when the trees are covered in snow. There is very little that could beat that. Then there's New York City, which is arguably the great American city epitomized into a nearly perfect package. New York State, despite what many Californians think, is an extremely underrated state and is often misunderstood to only include NYC, Long Island, and the Lower Hudson Valley. However, I believe that the whole state is extremely nice, and I wouldn't mind going camping or hiking there
The biggest reason why I have to prefer California more is simply this: It's been my home for most of my life. I lived in NYC for a year, and I could never get used to it. I wasn't used to the weather, the people, the food, etc. However, I'm willing to give it another shot because I'm older and mature enough to appreciate the city and the state for what it is.
Anyways, rant over. I'm addicted to these statistics!
Great research, but the hole in this data is that it doesn't take into account the population of these counties in relation to the state's population. What this just shows is that the population is spread out more in California and considering the size of the states and the urban concentration, among other things, it makes sense.
Well, the very fact that NYC and NYS are as even a close of comparison to California as it is makes New York impressive. California has 189% of New York's population, but only 61% more GSP than New York State. (2008 statistics)
California: $1,846,757,000,000
New York: $1,144,181,000,000
If you divide this amongst the population, the economic output (goods and services) of the average Californian vs. average New Yorker looks like this:
California: $49,641
New York: $58,705
HOWEVER this doesn't take into account that California has a HUGE seasonal migrant worker population, which are frequently underpaid way below minimum wage. My point stands that statistically speaking, New Yorkers produce 16% more economic output than the average Californian.
The one thing I really wouldn't argue with New Yorkers is the economy. According to 2008 statistics, New York's economy grew by 1.6 percent, while California's only grew by a paltry 0.4 percent.
While these aren't the most optimal growth rates for either side (shows how sluggish the US economy really is), New York is grew at a rate 4 times faster than California last year. As we all know, things don't last forever, and I hope California, New York, and all the other states pick up soon.
Last important economic thing to note is the concentration of output within a state
Using the same Bureau of Economic Analysis statistics, we can see that
1) New York metropolitan areahas an economic output GREATER than New York State by a margin of 21%. While much of the capital may lie in New Jersey and Connecticut (after all, if this wasn't the case, then NYS would have a much larger GSP than the metro area), most of the metro area's economic activity takes place within the 5 boroughs. Adding Long Island and the Lower Hudson Valley, it becomes abundantly clear that most of New York State's economic output is driven by NYC. The New York portion of NYC's metro area make up 68% of New York State's population, but make up around 90% of its economic output. That shows an extreme disparity between Upstate and Downstate NY.
2) California's 2 large metropolitan areas only account for 74% of California's economy (508,418+866,095 = 1,374,513/1,846,757 = 74.4%). This means that 25.6%-26% of California's economic output isn't driven by the large metropolitan areas, but rather spread out throughout the state. This shows thatCalifornia's economy is more polycentric than New York State, with each part of the state producing for the economy, making it more equitable than the state of affairs in New York State. The fact that the Bay Area and the Southland make up 74.4% of the economic output also represents the fact that these areas make up 67-68% of California's population. They aren't overly overrepresented in the statistics (although the Bay Area, per capita, has a higher economic output rate than the Southland by 27%)
/end economic rant
Just to touch on the migrant worker topic, NY state gets quite a few migrant workers from Latin America and even from the South. Counties like Wayne, Orleans, Sullivan and Ulster, among some others, have experienced this. For instance, in Wayne County, there are quite a few communities with relatively high Black populations due to Black migrant workers that came from Florida to work in the vineyards and apple orchards there. Same with Hispanics that have also come to that area. That's why you will see some rural and small towns in that county and in some communities in nearby counties with relatively high Black and Hispanics populations for such places in the Northeast.
It is unrealistic to compare California to New York State. The state of CA practically borders the entire west coast, it is approximately 1000 miles long. New York State does not border a large coastal area like CA does, with the exception of Coney Island and Jones Beach, lol.
If you take 1000 miles the length of the CA coastline and proportionately measure it at any given point from Maine to Florida in the east coast you will border several states where all are very different in culture, landscaping and weather, which vary greatly by region. The east coast is also very rich in history.
It is unrealistic to compare California to New York State. The state of CA practically borders the entire west coast, it is approximately 1000 miles long. New York State does not border a large coastal area like CA does, with the exception of Coney Island and Jones Beach, lol.
If you take 1000 miles the length of the CA coastline and proportionately measure it at any given point from Maine to Florida in the east coast you will border several states where all are very different in culture, landscaping and weather, which vary greatly by region. The east coast is also very rich in history.
Great research, but the hole in this data is that it doesn't take into account the population of these counties in relation to the state's population. What this just shows is that the population is spread out more in California and considering the size of the states and the urban concentration, among other things, it makes sense.
Well, let's take the size of the counties into account:
However, its important to remember that counties in California are, on average, geographically larger than counties in New York state. It's also important to note that many rural counties in California are amongst the most diverse in the country, for better or for worse.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ckhthankgod
Just to touch on the migrant worker topic, NY state gets quite a few migrant workers from Latin America and even from the South. Counties like Wayne, Orleans, Sullivan and Ulster, among some others, have experienced this. For instance, in Wayne County, there are quite a few communities with relatively high Black populations due to Black migrant workers that came from Florida to work in the vineyards and apple orchards there. Same with Hispanics that have also come to that area. That's why you will see some rural and small towns in that county and in some communities in nearby counties with relatively high Black and Hispanics populations for such places in the Northeast.
The use of migrant labor for agricultural work has, for better or for worse, been etched into large American agribusiness. I feel that these migrant laborers should get a lot more credit than they are currently deserving, since they keep our foodstuffs and commodities market competitive on the international stage.
Quote:
Originally Posted by chaotix
It is unrealistic to compare California to New York State. The state of CA practically borders the entire west coast, it is approximately 1000 miles long. New York State does not border a large coastal area like CA does, with the exception of Coney Island and Jones Beach, lol.
If you take 1000 miles the length of the CA coastline and proportionately measure it at any given point from Maine to Florida in the east coast you will border several states where all are very different in culture, landscaping and weather, which vary greatly by region. The east coast is also very rich in history.
Coastline of the United States — Infoplease.com
California's coastline is 840 miles long, or around 65% of the Continental United States' West Coast (840/1293 = 64.96) Kinda shy of 1000 miles long, don't you think? If you want to open a new thread with an area the size of California (remember, 163,696 square miles), then do so. Just remember that when you make the comparison, make sure the size doesn't exceed that amount.
And another thing, what makes people think the West Coast lacks a rich history? The Spanish don't count as history (you know, that minor thing having to do with 21 missions all over California?) The Russians in Northern California isn't history? The Mexican presence isn't history? The Gold Rush isn't history? The Transcontinental Railroad isn't history? Or do you mean British colonial history only?
The history of the Americas isn't simply limited from the Atlantic Coast westward. Remember, the whole reason why the British got involved in North America to begin with was to counter the Spanish galleon trade in the southern part of this continent. Everything that happened after was reactive.
Quote:
Originally Posted by LakeShoreSoxGo
Good economic break down lifeshadower. Numbers never lie.
Thank you. I try to substantiate every one of my claims so it doesn't look like I'm pulling stuff out of my *****
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