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Old 09-19-2016, 02:44 PM
 
1,996 posts, read 3,159,074 times
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I'm just postulating:

I think that the small migration of African-Americans, relative to other Midwest cities, also was a major factor in the lack of decline of Grand Rapids. There were less African-Americans people to flee from, and the extent of the problems that seem to accompany our communities when we are concentrated in urban areas, such as violent crime, was not nearly as severe as in, say Gary or Flint. I think this is why Minneapolis-St. Paul and Pittsburgh didn't decline nearly as much as Detroit, Cleveland, St. Louis, etc.

Quote:
Originally Posted by magellan View Post
Anyway, if I were to try and find a comparable metro area, I'd say GR MSA is like a slightly smaller scale Charlotte NC or Indianapolis. Maybe even Kansas City. Purely speaking from workforce diversification, population and job growth numbers.
Charlotte Metro has 2.4 million. Grand Rapids 1.1 million. How can you say GR Rapids metro is a slightly smaller scale Charlotte NC metro if it does not have 1/2 of Charlotte Metro's population?? And in city population, Charlotte has more than 1/2 million over Grand Rapids city.

Last edited by usroute10; 09-19-2016 at 02:54 PM..
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Old 09-19-2016, 03:45 PM
 
Location: Grand Rapids Metro
8,882 posts, read 19,848,211 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by usroute10 View Post
I'm just postulating:


Charlotte Metro has 2.4 million. Grand Rapids 1.1 million. How can you say GR Rapids metro is a slightly smaller scale Charlotte NC metro if it does not have 1/2 of Charlotte Metro's population?? And in city population, Charlotte has more than 1/2 million over Grand Rapids city.
My comparison may have been slightly off but I was referring to diversification and job growth. I really can't think of another peer city in the Great Lakes area. That's why we continue to stay here.
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Old 09-19-2016, 05:15 PM
 
Location: Washington, DC
118 posts, read 113,546 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mjlo View Post
The Princes are almost 100% Holland Exclusive. They are deeply involved in Holland but I don't think they've done philanthropy in GR. Well if you don't count Betsy Devos that is.
They've donated to at least Calvin College..."Prince Conference Center."
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Old 09-20-2016, 06:20 AM
 
Location: Grand Rapids Metro
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Quote:
Originally Posted by urbancritic View Post
They've donated to at least Calvin College..."Prince Conference Center."
Yes, that is one place they donated money. But mjlo is right, typically the Prince family sticks to Holland (they own almost the entire downtown). They can stay in Holland in my opinion.

And Hollanders don't particularly like GRapidians.
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Old 09-20-2016, 08:14 AM
 
1,996 posts, read 3,159,074 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by magellan View Post
My comparison may have been slightly off but I was referring to diversification and job growth. I really can't think of another peer city in the Great Lakes area. That's why we continue to stay here.
Yes, it's a unique city and metro area! Keep it going!
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Old 09-21-2016, 07:39 PM
 
Location: Grand Rapids Metro
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Quote:
Originally Posted by usroute10 View Post
Yes, it's a unique city and metro area! Keep it going!
Right! We're doing what we can!
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Old 09-22-2016, 09:34 AM
 
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A little bit off topic, but this innovative GR start-up company is representative of the dynamic economy of Grand Rapids. Very impressive!

This Michigan startup is building functional furniture for tiny spaces - Curbed Detroit
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Old 09-22-2016, 09:50 AM
 
Location: 78745
4,503 posts, read 4,610,521 times
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I'm surprised to hear Grand Rapids is such a large metro. I had no idea there is over a million people who live there. All these years I was thinking Grand Rapids was about the size of Ft. Wayne, Indiana. The only thing I know about Grand Rapids is its where President Ford lived.
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Old 09-22-2016, 10:36 AM
 
Location: Louisville
5,293 posts, read 6,056,775 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ivory Lee Spurlock View Post
I'm surprised to hear Grand Rapids is such a large metro. I had no idea there is over a million people who live there. All these years I was thinking Grand Rapids was about the size of Ft. Wayne, Indiana. The only thing I know about Grand Rapids is its where President Ford lived.


Feel free to visit some time We'll show you how un-Fort Wayne-like" it is.
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Old 09-22-2016, 12:16 PM
 
Location: Grand Rapids Metro
8,882 posts, read 19,848,211 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ivory Lee Spurlock View Post
I'm surprised to hear Grand Rapids is such a large metro. I had no idea there is over a million people who live there. All these years I was thinking Grand Rapids was about the size of Ft. Wayne, Indiana. The only thing I know about Grand Rapids is its where President Ford lived.
It's a common misconception. If you want to get really nerdy, this map shows population density and you can see how the metro area has "sprawled", particularly toward the lakeshore (Holland/Ottawa County). Muskegon and Muskegon County are not part of the metro area (yet)

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