How big does a city have to be before... (employment, college)

[bchris02]

How big does a city have to be before it no longer feels like everybody knows everybody? To be able to live your life without being under the microscope? To be able to find employment without being related to somebody?

The town of Ft. Smith, Ark (pop 80,000) is real bad about these things. It seems like everybody is related or knows each other in some way, and you can give up on finding employment if you aren't related to somebody hiring. I know this is a trait of rural areas but when does it end population wise?

[Colts]

Originally Posted by bchris02

How big does a city have to be before it no longer feels like everybody knows everybody? To be able to live your life without being under the microscope? To be able to find employment without being related to somebody?

The town of Ft. Smith, Ark (pop 80,000) is real bad about these things. It seems like everybody is related or knows each other in some way, and you can give up on finding employment if you aren't related to somebody hiring. I know this is a trait of rural areas but when does it end population wise?

80,000? Really?

I've thought 10,000 is a good cut off mark.

[desert sun]

I think even the mid-sized cities are the way you said,I think once you hit very large metro areas like Chicago,Atlanta,Seattle and so on, its not really that way.

[roseba]

Originally Posted by bchris02

How big does a city have to be before it no longer feels like everybody knows everybody? To be able to live your life without being under the microscope? To be able to find employment without being related to somebody?

The town of Ft. Smith, Ark (pop 80,000) is real bad about these things. It seems like everybody is related or knows each other in some way, and you can give up on finding employment if you aren't related to somebody hiring. I know this is a trait of rural areas but when does it end population wise?

My college had about 3-4K students, about half of which were commuters. I knew most people by face, but there were plenty, plenty people I did not know.

[Steve-o]

I lived in a town with 10K people and I still thought that was too large for everyone to know each other. Id draw the line at 3K?

[Juice13610]

80,000 people? Are you kidding me? Everyone knows everyone in a city of 80,000????

Wow. I lived in a town of 7,000 and thought it was pretty bad about that stuff...but cmon, 80,000? Think we're stretching it.

[Art1979]

Originally Posted by Colts

80,000? Really?

I've thought 10,000 is a good cut off mark.

Nope, not even close. 38,500 in this city and I can name most of the faces I see around here.

[Othon]

Originally Posted by Art1979

Your local INTJ

You're into MBTI? xD

[Art1979]

Originally Posted by Othon

You're into MBTI? xD

Yep, among other things.

[Othon]

Originally Posted by Art1979

Yep, among other things.

Fun, fun. MBTI is my latest obsession. INFP, by the way.