Ohio: Economically depressed? (Cleveland, Toledo, Akron: sales, real estate, foreclosures)

[Hey_Hey]

You know it's bad when Columbus is the highlight of your state's economy. It may be the best economy in the state, but compared to Southern or Western cities population and economic growth is pretty anemic. Compare Columbus' population growth to metro Nashville, Charlotte, Tampa, Denver, Phoenix, Atlanta, Charleston, or the Triangle among others. The whole state of Ohio has an economy that is tanking when compared to other areas of the country.

[Alaskapat528]

Originally Posted by Hey_Hey

You know it's bad when Columbus is the highlight of your state's economy. It may be the best economy in the state, but compared to Southern or Western cities population and economic growth is pretty anemic. Compare Columbus' population growth to metro Nashville, Charlotte, Tampa, Denver, Phoenix, Atlanta, Charleston, or the Triangle among others. The whole state of Ohio has an economy that is tanking when compared to other areas of the country.

And what State do you reside in?

[Buckeye in SC]

Originally Posted by Hey_Hey

You know it's bad when Columbus is the highlight of your state's economy. It may be the best economy in the state, but compared to Southern or Western cities population and economic growth is pretty anemic. Compare Columbus' population growth to metro Nashville, Charlotte, Tampa, Denver, Phoenix, Atlanta, Charleston, or the Triangle among others. The whole state of Ohio has an economy that is tanking when compared to other areas of the country.

At least we native Ohioans can take pride in that Michigan's economy is doing even worse! I am a little fearful for Charlotte's economy long-term though, they've had such drastic growth and rely so heavily on the financial sector (Bank of America, Wachovia, etc.) that unless things get better in the financial markets, it could get ugly there.

The other factor to Columbus' moderate growth, is that most of it is just people moving from other areas of Ohio b/c the job market in those regions is so bad. Where the aforementioned cities(Nashville, Charlotte, etc.) are getting people moving there from all over the country to fuel their growth.

[Alaskapat528]

Originally Posted by Buckeye in SC

At least we native Ohioans can take pride in that Michigan's economy is doing even worse! I am a little fearful for Charlotte's economy long-term though, they've had such drastic growth and rely so heavily on the financial sector (Bank of America, Wachovia, etc.) that unless things get better in the financial markets, it could get ugly there.

The other factor to Columbus' moderate growth, is that most of it is just people moving from other areas of Ohio b/c the job market in those regions is so bad. Where the aforementioned cities(Nashville, Charlotte, etc.) are getting people moving there from all over the country to fuel their growth.

As a Native Ohioan, I agree with you. We will be relocating to Southern or Southestern Ohio later this month from Alaska. As far as growth, where we live in Alaska the what was once a smaller type city has now grown and has box stores galore (Target, Walmart, soon Costco), and lots of people from all over. Traffic and crime has increased (crime no where near what major cities have), but as the city continues to grow, unfortunately that will come. People come here thinking this is the land of milk & honey, only to find that there are problems here also.

[twixcookie]

I am a native Ohioan but I spent time in Indiana for a few years. I relocated to Arizona for a job, and I will tell you, it is cutthroat out here. Within a few months, my job was given to a coworker's husband.
I really feel bad for what has happened to Ohio, but it isn't much better here. All the talk that the southwest is so great for jobs is just talk. I haven't found another job yet, and now I am so far from family, too.
Hey, and you guys have trees. We have these fake imposters that are bushes that they prune the lower branches and brace them up.

[xwideopenskyx]

Originally Posted by twixcookie

I am a native Ohioan but I spent time in Indiana for a few years. I relocated to Arizona for a job, and I will tell you, it is cutthroat out here. Within a few months, my job was given to a coworker's husband.
I really feel bad for what has happened to Ohio, but it isn't much better here. All the talk that the southwest is so great for jobs is just talk. I haven't found another job yet, and now I am so far from family, too.
Hey, and you guys have trees. We have these fake imposters that are bushes that they prune the lower branches and brace them up.

I'm a native Ohioan also. Where in AZ do you live? I found a great job here. Maybe the slump in the nationwide economy is negatively affecting your job hunting........as far as, the trees are concerned I have a few 40-50 footers on my property, can't hardly call them bushes....LOL....and they are growing like weeds about 3 feet a year!

[ryanek9freak]

Yeah, out here in Colorado, I have a plethora of jobs to chose from in my field. If I quit today, I'd be working somewhere else tomorrow.

[Alaskapat528]

Originally Posted by ryanek9freak

Yeah, out here in Colorado, I have a plethora of jobs to chose from in my field. If I quit today, I'd be working somewhere else tomorrow.

What line of work are you in?

[Buckeye in SC]

This article confirms what most in this and other Ohio forums have been saying for a while now.

America's Fastest-Dying Cities - Forbes.com (http://www.forbes.com/business/2008/08/04/economy-ohio-michigan-biz_cx_jz_0805dying.html - broken link)

On the bright side, you can only go up from here Canton, Youngstown, Cleveland & Dayton.

[JR_C]

Originally Posted by Buckeye in SC

On the bright side, you can only go up from here Canton, Youngstown, Cleveland & Dayton.

From my perspective, Youngstown, at least, is already headed in that direction. And, from what I've read, Cleveland is also starting their upward journey.