If Baltimore were not in DC's shadow, what city would be most like it? (crime, compare) - City vs. City - City-Data Forum

kcmo · 08-31-2009, 05:18 PM

I've been to Baltimore a few times and I have a hard time putting my finger on the city. The city seems to be sort of a step child of DC. I always though Baltimore was more of a stand alone metro, but the more I read and the more I visit, it’s more a part of DC than I thought.

It also appears that Baltimore has a more gritty image and the city has a higher reputation for crime and general neglect.

This all kind of sucks because I have always liked Baltimore and thought it was a nice city. I did not know the urban core of Baltimore was in such bad shape (and feel free to correct me if I'm wrong about that.)

But what if it wasn’t grouped in with DC. What if Baltimore didn’t have another city for 100 plus miles around it? What city would Baltimore be like?

The closest cities in size to the Baltimore area without DC (aprox 2.7 million) are St Louis, Tampa, San Diego, Minneapolis or Denver.

Anybody care to compare Baltimore to any of these cities? Which one do you think Baltimore more closely resembles? Even though St Louis feels much larger than Baltimore to me, I have to go with St Louis. I don’t think any of the other towns are anything like Baltimore. I don’t know enough about Baltimore yet, but I would also guess that even though StLouis has some major issues with urban blight, it also has a great deal of very nice urban areas, something that Baltimore appears to be lacking.

Again, just looking for info on Baltimore and how it compares. I’m not tiring to diss the city. Much of the impression I have of the city outside the touristy areas of the harbor have been generated by this forum.

brickyard boy · 08-31-2009, 05:22 PM

i think philly should be on that list

Infamous92 · 08-31-2009, 05:24 PM

I would say a Mid-Atlantic version of Providence. Tampa would be a good fit too.

kcmo · 08-31-2009, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brickyard boy

i think philly should be on that list

I was trying to keep the comparison to other metros in the 2.5-3 million population range. Philly is much larger I believe.

Trae713 · 08-31-2009, 05:47 PM

I'd say St. Louis.

krudmonk · 08-31-2009, 06:34 PM

I have to say that I never thought of Baltimore in relation to DC until I started posting on forums such as this.

urbancharlotte · 08-31-2009, 10:39 PM

Honestly, Richmond. I know Richmond is MUCH smaller, but they really look the same in many areas. Philly looks more like NYC than B-more. However, B-more and Philly both have SEVERAL similar syled row house in certain areas. It is really hard to compare Mid Atlantic and Northeastern cities to any other city outside of their respective regions. Those two regions of the US are just that unique.

If I were to completely ignore the old colonial style and look of B-more, I would pair it with Milwaukee or Cleveland. Maybe even Pittsburgh and Cincinnati too.

WeSoHood · 08-31-2009, 11:00 PM

More similar to Detroit, Buffalo, St. Louis, etc.

coldwine · 08-31-2009, 11:02 PM

Baltimore is its own complete entity. In no way could it be considered to be in D.C.'s "shadow".

D.C. is neither large enough nor important enough to have a shadow.

Baltimore also is not particularly well known. It's smallish and unremarkable.

Boompa · 08-31-2009, 11:03 PM

Philly, but the stoops aren't white