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It really doesn't have all that much to do with size. It has to do with the city's ability to cater to the world.
Using that criterion, Austin should make the top 20 based on the following:
- a top ten center for high tech R&D
- major exporter of "culture" (primarily music, secondarily movies) to other nations
- one of the 10 largest universities in the world
The dull side of life, such as finance and industrial manufacturing, renders Austin barely in the top 50. But on a cultural basis, Los Angeles is clearly number one. Yes, more than New York. I base this on the fact that what people in other countries experience of the USA is primarily represented by visions of Hollywood, palm trees, Disneyland, beaches and freeways.
As always, we have to address the issue of how we choose criteria for "top" cities. Nobody has defined this to the satisfaction of all, thus it remains a highly subjective list and if someone wants to say that Boise, Idaho, is in the top ten, we have no basis to critique that statement unless we have an agreed standard for interpreting the words "top 10 U.S. cities."
Using that criterion, Austin should make the top 20 based on the following:
- a top ten center for high tech R&D
- major exporter of "culture" (primarily music, secondarily movies) to other nations
- one of the 10 largest universities in the world
The dull side of life, such as finance and industrial manufacturing, renders Austin barely in the top 50. But on a cultural basis, Los Angeles is clearly number one. Yes, more than New York. I base this on the fact that what people in other countries experience of the USA is primarily represented by visions of Hollywood, palm trees, Disneyland, beaches and freeways.
As always, we have to address the issue of how we choose criteria for "top" cities. Nobody has defined this to the satisfaction of all, thus it remains a highly subjective list and if someone wants to say that Boise, Idaho, is in the top ten, we have no basis to critique that statement unless we have an agreed standard for interpreting the words "top 10 U.S. cities."
Well then, lets start a new thred with a set of agreed standards. Care to comment on what standards?
Well then, lets start a new thred with a set of agreed standards. Care to comment on what standards?
Nope!
Seriously, how would we all agree? Is it per capita exports, or surveys of people in certain nations asking them about their perspective on US cities, or population, or cultural amenities? And then after deciding on the criteria we'd still be stuck with the problem of defining those criteria and then the worst problem of all --- measurement!
All lists are just someone's opinion. And anyone who comes up with "the official list" is full of "official BS".
Great another thread and the irrelevant city population is the basis of a city instead of the reality based metro figures.
And even in metro terms... to put Richmond, as fine as it might be, into the same category as a Denver is just absurd.
Ugh.
Agree completely. At some point, the size of the city does become relevant.
Quote:
The Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) which includes 3 other cities (Petersburg, Hopewell and Colonial Heights), and adjacent counties is home to approximately 1,154,317 Virginians (July 1, 2004 US Census Bureau population estimate[1]).
from Wikipedia
Thus, Richmond's metro population is 46% of Denver's metro population. Richmond is one city in an area with many cities that are much larger than it. Denver is isolated and the largest city in the Northern Rockies. As such, it is a business, cultural, educational, and financial center in that area.
Seriously, how would we all agree? Is it per capita exports, or surveys of people in certain nations asking them about their perspective on US cities, or population, or cultural amenities? And then after deciding on the criteria we'd still be stuck with the problem of defining those criteria and then the worst problem of all --- measurement!
All lists are just someone's opinion. And anyone who comes up with "the official list" is full of "official BS".
We put together a poll with all the standards, pick your top three or so and after a week we take the top 5 or so (Should be cities with 500K MSA). It might not be scientific but at least we would have standards and a basis for arguments. Some of these might include the usual - cost of living, crime, weather, arts and entertainment, access to major univesities and major medical centers, lack of conservatives -you know, all the things that make a place great.
...lack of conservatives -you know, all the things that make a place great.
I see we agree on some of the criteria...
Although my ideal is a place like Austin that is both progressive and diverse in its views, with a libertarian and open-minded attitude. I prefer that over a place like San Francisco where they might as well lock up Republicans in government re-education camps. Political correctness is NOT progressive, it's authoritarian and I'm strongly anti-authoritarian.
Some of the criteria you listed are easy to measure, some not.
And even the easy ones to measure are problematic. For example, if we decide on population, how is that measured? The SMSA? The City? The County? What about a place like DFW where you have two very distinct cities that are conjoined by suburbs and smaller cities? What about New York, do you include SW CT, NE NJ, Long Island and parts of upstate?
As always, we have to address the issue of how we choose criteria for "top" cities. Nobody has defined this to the satisfaction of all, thus it remains a highly subjective list and if someone wants to say that Boise, Idaho, is in the top ten, we have no basis to critique that statement unless we have an agreed standard for interpreting the words "top 10 U.S. cities."
As the creator of this thread, if you go back to my OP, what are the "top 10 U.S. cities" was based on the following question:
What are the top 10 U.S. cities (including metro area) in terms of political power, economic strength, cultural resources and influence, academic institutions, and overall global impact?
Well, by the criteria you list, as vague as they are, it would nevertheless be impossible to include Boise, ID, as one of the top ten.
The problem then lies with the top 30 or 40 metro areas and how one measures, assigns weights to each measure, defines the criteria and injects subjective bias. Thus, it is a fun topic that has kept many people involved for many pages!
1. New York
2. Los Angeles
3. Washington
4. Chicago
5. San Francisco
6. Boston
7. Houston
8. Dallas
9. Atlanta
10. Miami
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