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In terms of geography, climate, demographics, economy, and size, what city is most like Springfield, MA?
It almost seems absurd, but I feel like the answer is Akron, Ohio.
Both have MSAs around 700,000 but are included in larger CSAs (Harford and Cleveland).
Both are very Democratic and blue-collar, and both are rust belt cities that are relatively well off in terms of lacking urban decay. Neither are particularly hip or gentrified.
Both are located where the foothills of Appalachians meet plains.
Both are on rivers, and both have nearly identical climates.
Some differences: Akron has a major university, and Springfield does not. Akron has a fairly large African-American community, whereas Springfield is more heavily Puerto Rican.
Other possible contenders: Worcester, MA; Harrisburg, PA; Hartford, CT; and Syracuse, NY. Any others?
Location: northern Vermont - previously NM, WA, & MA
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Springfield is essentially a rustbelt city with a lot of poverty, abandonment, and a very high crime rate located in a scenic valley in Western Mass. There are very nice towns nearby like Northampton, Amherst, and Deerfield, and some of the bucolic hill towns in the Berkshires. As a city, Springfield needs a lot of help. It's got the bones to reinvent itself into something nice in a pretty decent location. Perhaps UMass could do an expansion and open a new urban campus there.
As to a comparable city to Springfield, perhaps Harrisburg, PA? Like Springfield its river city in a valley near hills and small mountain ranges along with its share of urban blight.
Last edited by Champ le monstre du lac; 11-30-2015 at 07:11 PM..
And the renaissance in Springfield has literally just begun...
In case you didn't know, a huge new MGM casino is being built in downtown Springfield as we speak, and will create 3,000 jobs. It will open in 2016 or 2017.
This will be HUGE for Springfield. It is an $800 million project that will change the skyline of Springfield for years to come. It's only a 25 minute drive from my parent's house in Granby, CT. Can't wait to visit it!
And the renaissance in Springfield has literally just begun...
In case you didn't know, a huge new MGM casino is being built in downtown Springfield as we speak, and will create 3,000 jobs. It will open in 2016 or 2017.
This will be HUGE for Springfield. It is an $800 million project that will change the skyline of Springfield for years to come. It's only a 25 minute drive from my parent's house in Granby, CT. Can't wait to visit it!
I had no idea a casino was being built in Springfield. I thought the only casino that had been approved and opened, is the one in Plainville Mass. The one just south of Gillette Stadium on Rt 1.
I had no idea a casino was being built in Springfield. I thought the only casino that had been approved and opened, is the one in Plainville Mass. The one just south of Gillette Stadium on Rt 1.
It should be worth noting that the Springfield casino plans have already been downsized twice in the last few months. It is the incredible shrinking casino. The Springfield mayor, a very strong casino backer, has publicly expressed his displeasure and concerns about the changes. A 25 story hotel was reduced to 6 stories and the gaming/retail/entertainment/convention center floor-plans have also been shrunk. The casino industry is getting over-saturated in the northeast. There is a possibility of a joint Mohegan Sun-Foxwoods casino in Ct north of Hartford. Plainridge, the only current gambling facility in MA, has seen dramatic drops in revenue since it first opened. Casinos are not some panacea that will turn things around. Just look at Atlantic City for evidence.
MGM Springfield's downsized casino plan: By the numbers
Youngstown is much decayed and has far more population decline.
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Originally Posted by Republic of Michigan
I was going to say Syracuse.
That'd be my guess, too. Though Springfield seems to have more close-by old towns that feel independent but make the metro feel like it has more to it. While Syracuse's surroundings are more stereotypical suburbs. Worcester, Massachusetts is the obvious answer though it isn't as poor. And maybe an eastern Pennsylvania city? Not that familiar with Pennsylvania
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