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The only US cities I would classify as world cities would be:
New York
San Francisco
Los Angeles
Honolulu
Those on the threshhold:
Seattle
Chicago
The rest do not even come close.
Actually I would agree with this, although not exactly this same list but a similar idea. I think Chicago is on its own level, truly a world class city with world class amenities BUT it doesnt feel like a 'world city' the way NY or SF do. Chicago still feels very American compared to those places but its size catapults its stature to right there behind NY, LA, and SF for the 4th spot IMO. Its size gives it diversity in numbers even though it would lack in percentages. Also Honolulu truly does feel very international for a place of about 1 million, perhaps more than anywhere else in its class but its still small and IMO is in a tier behind the giants of NY, LA, SF, and Chicago.
Perhaps a better comparison for Honolulu would be Vegas or Miami, although Miami is nearly 6 times larger it would be more even then comparing to 4 metropolises above 7.5 million IMO. Seattle is ok, really for a world city its lacking as it would offer next to nothing culturally infusive for those from Africa, Europe, Middle East, or South America and a much stronger case can be made for DC than Seattle IMO.
Many of the other DC posters dont like my posts because I view our area realistically and I happen to like your two lists here. DC is a nice city but pales in comparison to NY, LA, SF, and Chicago. As I have always been known to say, I think there are 4 truly incredible big cities in the U.S. with at least 8 other great ones. Those 4 are NY, LA, Chicago, and SF with others like Boston, Houston, Miami, Dallas, Atlanta, or DC all right behind those 4 IMO
Lucky for us, your posts are never backed with any facts. DC is more cosmopolitan than Chicago and on par with SF. DC matches or beats every city except for NYC in a variety of categories from GDP to employment to world class institutions to transportation.
Lucky for us, your posts don't mean anything. DC is more cosmopolitan than Chicago and on par with SF.
Of course its more cosmopolitan than Chicago. Like I said, Chicago feels very 'American' but its size catapults it up there. It still has a large population of most nationalities just lacks the percentages. DC is half of Chicago's size and certainly pulls a higher mass than Chicago in percentages but again its still just half of Chicago's size. Read my post right before yours, I was arguing for a spot inclusion of DC over Seattle of all places.
BTW you should begin reading posts before quoting them
Actually I would agree with this, although not exactly this same list but a similar idea. I think Chicago is on its own level, truly a world class city with world class amenities BUT it doesnt feel like a 'world city' the way NY or SF do. Chicago still feels very American compared to those places but its size catapults its stature to right there behind NY, LA, and SF for the 4th spot IMO. Its size gives it diversity in numbers even though it would lack in percentages. Also Honolulu truly does feel very international for a place of about 1 million, perhaps more than anywhere else in its class but its still small and IMO is in a tier behind the giants of NY, LA, SF, and Chicago.
Perhaps a better comparison for Honolulu would be Vegas or Miami, although Miami is nearly 6 times larger it would be more even then comparing to 4 metropolises above 7.5 million IMO. Seattle is ok, really for a world city its lacking as it would offer next to nothing culturally infusive for those from Africa, Europe, Middle East, or South America and a much stronger case can be made for DC than Seattle IMO.
Quote:
Originally Posted by DC's Finest
Lucky for us, your posts are never backed with any facts. DC is more cosmopolitan than Chicago and on par with SF. DC matches or beats every city except for NYC in a variety of categories from GDP to employment to world class institutions to transportation.
LOL Seattle > D.C. Seattle is a better city than D.C. by far. Without the government D.C. is nothing
LOL Seattle > D.C. Seattle is a better city than D.C. by far. Without the government D.C. is nothing
Is that so?
Well lucky for you I spent a month in Seattle back in December. DC outdoes Seattle in tourism, sports, arts and culture, urban infrastructure, subway system, culinary scene, and prominence. Not to mention media, fashion, and nightlife, besides NY, LA, and maybe SF there isn't another American city with a higher world profile than DC right now.
BTW having a much higher income/wage and the most educated/wealthiest burbs in the nation don't hurt either. Only NY and SF rival us on those two things, a Seattle? To most Washingtonians that place is an afterthought
Already There:
NY (speaks for itself)
DC (seat of Power)
LA (gateway to Asia-MX/hollywood)
CHI (second city)
Miami (being that it's the gateway to Carribean/South America)
Boston & Philly (historical relevance plus size)
Leading Canidates for World Class City In Order:
1. Houston (arguably already there. Strong Economy intertwined with the world wide energy market, With the widening of the panama canal it's already busy port is really about to further strengthen it's international ties. The biggest hinderance is the absence of mass transit wich makes it "feel" less urban. That's being resolved as we speak and we should fully expect Houston to BLAST OFF once the transit issues improve in addition to the Canal widening. Not to mention culturally the hidden Tex-Mex-Cajun culture is finally getting national recognition beyond the region itself.)
2. Dallas (4th Largest Metro, inevitably it will become world class by default with it's current growth rate. The "urbanization" image projects just keep going and going and going. However, IMO it's real International Ties are probably the weakest of all the canidates. But it's efforts to become premeir American city coupled with it's exansive growth will like it push it over the top into World Class status at some point)
3. Atlanta (I'll be honest and maybe my opinion is somewhat biased. Hosting the Olympics is not enough to make you a World Class city. On the plus side, it's urbanization efforts makes it a premier American city arguably ahead of it's competition Houston and Dallas, I just feel Atlanta is furtherst Away from International Stature which would make it a "World Class" city)
Honorable Mention (Seattle, Phoenix, New Orleans, Honolulu, Vegas)
In closing, I just recognize that my list of of World Class cities are all located next to a major body of water. Is that a mere coincidence? wondering what role that plays as opposed to being land locked?
Seattle is important for a number of reasons: Boeing, Microsoft, Amazon, Starbucks. There are others, but those are the big four. And a unique position of being closest to Japan/Asia than any U.S. cities other than Anchorage and Honolulu.
Houston and DFW are emerging to world class IMO. My nod is to Houston the energy industry is really helping the city out. Like HouTXmetro stated, it also has something that DFW and Atlanta lack...a port which plays a vital role in there economy as well.
BTW having a much higher income/wage and the most educated/wealthiest burbs in the nation don't hurt either. Only NY and SF rival us on those two things, a Seattle? To most Washingtonians that place is an afterthought
Let's be honest, though. DC really doesn't have to try that hard. It's very easy to have a highly successful, practically recession-proof city when you're the seat of government for the most powerful nation in the world. It's not an exaggeration to say that a significant portion of DC's success is because of the rest of the country.
Certainly this is not to impugn the importance of DC, but to me it is far more impressive when city is competitive on a world stage by being built up more organically.
Last edited by Duderino; 04-10-2012 at 10:51 AM..
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