What major US cities are most well-known internationally? (calculation, airport)

[NOLA101]

Originally Posted by Ottawa2011

Most large U.S. cities are also well-known internationally, at least in the English-speaking world (if there's a song about it, we've heard of it). I would guess they became well-known for being regional hubs, or for having historic, economic, or cultural importance: Boston, New Orleans, El Paso, Santa Fe, Dallas, Austin, Salt Lake City, Indianapolis, Cleveland, Milwaukee, Portland, Seattle, etc.

But there are quite a few big cities that are, weirdly enough, not well-known internationally, and I have no idea why. Fresno, the "Inland Empire", Long Beach, Jacksonville FL (although Orlando is well-known for obvious reasons), Oklahoma City, Wichita, Mesa, Virginia Beach, Colorado Springs, Tulsa, Omaha... I'm looking at a list of the 50 largest metropolitan areas in the U.S., and I didn't know those cities are as heavily populated as they are.

All the metros you listed are quite small, or part of larger, well-known metros. Why would foreigners know a random suburb of Phoenix (Mesa) or a random metro of 600k (Wichita)? You think most Americans have heard of random small metros in, say, Belgium?

[Tom Lennox 70]

Originally Posted by NOLA101

All the metros you listed are quite small, or part of larger, well-known metros. Why would foreigners know a random suburb of Phoenix (Mesa) or a random metro of 600k (Wichita)? You think most Americans have heard of random small metros in, say, Belgium?

Sports and popular culture can make a smaller metro more well known than it would based on its size. For example, many people outside the UK know Liverpool because of the Beatles and Manchester because of their soccer team. I wouldn't know about Liverpool or Manchester otherwise. If Cannes, France didn't have the film festival I would never have heard of it. Tourist value too hence cities like Orlando, Key West, Charleston, and Savannah. Pisa is not an important city in Italy but its known around the world for its tower.

[masssachoicetts]

Coming to America, from Portugal, my Nana knew the following cities:

Boston
Providence
Fall River MA
New York
Atlantic City
Philadelphia
Washington

But that was 1950 something.. (She settled 20km South of Boston, and Fall River is definitely an outsider.. but Portuguese people knew of it back in the day)

[jxzz]

No 1 US city well known internationally is New York City, there probably should be no argument on this.

[Enean]

Originally Posted by Mighty Joe Young

I appreciate your opinion. And I understand what you’re saying, but Warren Buffett and his Berkshire Hathaway convention is no joke- and it’s reach is not a stretch.. The Omaha Zoo, surprisingly is world renowned, believe that or not.. People from all over the world visit Omaha specifically for the zoo- which is the #1 tourist attraction in the state of Nebraska.

I love Omaha, but it's not well-known internationally. Do you know where the best zoos are in other countries? Didn't think so.

[GeoffD]

Originally Posted by masssachoicetts

Coming to America, from Portugal, my Nana knew the following cities:

Boston
Providence
Fall River MA
New York
Atlantic City
Philadelphia
Washington

But that was 1950 something.. (She settled 20km South of Boston, and Fall River is definitely an outsider.. but Portuguese people knew of it back in the day)

She surely knew New Bedford, too.

[Nearwest]

Professional sports can definitely be a factor in the awareness of US cities by citizens of other countries.


I'm located in Chicago. In the early 1990s, some relatives took a train trip on Amtrak. On the train, they stuck up a conversation with a family who was visiting the US from Argentina. When my relatives told these tourists that they live in Chicago, the teen-aged son of the visiting family blurted out 'Michael Jordan' and then showed to my family members his Chicago Bulls T-Shirt.

[GeoffD]

Originally Posted by mwalker96

Houston would probably be best known in Latin America, since Selena grew up near there. Jacksonville has strong ties with Puerto Rico (even though Puerto Rico is still apart of the US) Cubans have also noticed Jax as well since it's cheaper than Miami and still accessible to the Caribbean. Generally speaking NYC, LA, Miami, San Francisco, Chicago are going to come to mind when discussing US cities.

I can't imagine it wouldn't be Miami and LA. Those are the two primary gateway cities for anyone coming from Latin America.

[As Above So Below...]

Originally Posted by GeoffD

I can't imagine it wouldn't be Miami and LA. Those are the two primary gateway cities for anyone coming from Latin America.

Clarify that statement. When you say "primary gateways", what do you mean?

[Mighty Joe Young]

Originally Posted by Enean

I love Omaha, but it's not well-known internationally.

I never stated Omaha was well known internationally. I’m simply making the point that a mid major, 1 million population metro like Omaha is known, internationally, due to both reasons I mentioned. I’m glad to hear you love Omaha ...