What is Rockefeller never left? (Cleveland: oil, wealthy, area)

[Cl3v3land]

What is Rockefeller never left and went on to help tremendously with the development of New York City along with his family later on (I believe Rockefeller III) would Cleveland be how New York is now or at least close to how it is now?

[Cleveland_Collector]

While important, Rockefeller had nothing to do with the fact that New York is located where it is or the fact that it was the entry site for nearly half of all of America's immigrants. NY's boom had much more to do with its already established location and mass influx of labor-ready people than just simply one rich family.

[andrew61]

If Rockefeller had never left, Cleveland might possibly have been a lot better off than it is now, but no, it would be no NYC.

[Cleveland_Collector]

How so? By the time Rockefeller was dead and buried, Cleveland was on a tremendous upswing that continued for 30-40 years. Besides, Standard Oil of Ohio was still here until BP bought them out in the mid-80's. One rich guy from 75 years ago, no matter how wealthy he was, will not make or break an area in the modern economy. De-industrialization put Cleveland on hard times, not the absence of Rockefeller. NYC is what it is because of its location, its history, and because it was an enormous beneficiary of the mass influx of immigrants from Europe throughout its history.

[Offsetdude]

Rockefeller was one of many millionaires that called Cleveland home.

[shakeababy]

rockefeller left cleveland to be able to be near large banks of NYC.
his legacy survives today.

if rockefeller had stayed, he might not have contributed as much to cleveland and america due to a lack of funds from which to borrow. IMO

[Cleveland_Collector]

Rockefeller was also big into the NYSE. He was a notorious margin trader. Back in the 1880's, it was kind of tough to do that if you weren't in New York.