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If you're speaking in terms of lacking a transient population, I would say cities like Detroit, Cleveland and St. Louis fit this bill.
If you're speaking in terms of pastoral feel of the environment (low-density zoning, extensive tree canopies, lack of street grid, a bunch of two-lane roads, etc.), I would say cities like Atlanta, Charlotte and Nashville.
Location: Miami (prev. NY, Atlanta, SF, OC and San Diego)
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San Diego is comprised of many different neighborhoods with different vibes from one another that give them a feeling of individuality and smaller town feel vs homogeneity for many other larger swath areas in the SoCal region. Because of this it feels a lot smaller than it actually is for being the 8th largest city.
Last edited by elchevere; 05-16-2020 at 06:43 AM..
What big cities (Cites with a city population of 250,000) feel like a small town? Cities that come to mind for me is Raliegh and Jacksonville come to mind for me what bout you guys? I know small town is very subjective since people from megacities like New York and Los Angles think Chicago feels small. Washington DC can feel like a small-town compared to the other Northeastern metros. What cities feel small to you?
I grew up in the LA area and live in the Chicago area and no way does Chicago feel "small". especially compared to LA. Less sprawl maybe, but definitely not small. After I visit NYC, Chicago feels smaller for sure, but so does every other city on the planet. It sounds like you need to visit Chicago after Covid.
Boston and DC to me feel small town to me, especially Boston. Detroit and Cleveland feel bigger than their actual size due to their downtown footprint. Columbus to me felt small even though it is climbing towards 1 million in population. Tampa/St. Pete also seem small, as does New Orleans. Philadelphia feels surpisingly small town to me, even though it is not.
DC neighborhood identity is low compared to Philly and Baltimore-let alone Boston. It’s way too transplant heavy. And the layout doesn’t feel cozy enough.
DC neighborhood identity is low compared to Philly and Baltimore-let alone Boston. It’s way too transplant heavy. And the layout doesn’t feel cozy enough.
DC feels like what it is, a district.
To paraphrase from JFK, DC has the charm of a big Northern city and the speed/efficiency of a small Southern town.
DC neighborhood identity is low compared to Philly and Baltimore-let alone Boston. It’s way too transplant heavy. And the layout doesn’t feel cozy enough.
DC feels like what it is, a district.
You're comparing apples and oranges. Both Philly and Boston are well known for their provincialism and a fierce pride of never leaving/having lived anywhere else. Of course there's fierce neighborhood identity when three generations live or have lived on the same block. DC has it's own villages if one has any familiarity outside of being there as a tourist, and that feel of a small town within them the OP alluded to minus the persona of the citizenry.
You're comparing apples and oranges. Both Philly and Boston are well known for their provincialism and a fierce pride of never leaving/having lived anywhere else. Of course there's fierce neighborhood identity when three generations live or have lived on the same block. DC has it's own villages if one has any familiarity outside of being there as a tourist, and that feel of a small town within them the OP alluded to minus the persona of the citizenry.
You don’t mail something to Foggy Bottom or Georgetown.
You do mail something to Rosindale, Charlestown, or Roxbury.
I will second Philadelphia. Parts of the city really give off this vibe. I can't walk down Baltimore Avenue in West Philly without bumping into someone I know. Germantown-Mt. Airy-Chestnut Hill also have an intimate community vibe.
Agree with you about the NW areas Germantown-Mt. Airy and Chestnut Hill. Not so sure about West Philly, though. It seems more big-city urban. ... Chestnut Hill feels like a small village, esp along highly picturesque, walkable and transit-friendly Germantown Ave.
Interesting responses. I heard Boston can feel pretty small but using your neighborhood as a city address is so Queens NY.
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