Would you consider Orlando to be a major city? (Tampa: to live, vs.)

[BuenoQueHacemohAhora]

Originally Posted by NowInGreenville

Orlando and Tampa are both listed as "high sufficiency" cities according to the references you posted. Orlando is not a vacation destination alone. That would be Niagara Falls and Aspen. Orlando grew because of tourism, true, but the city is not based strictly on tourism. Houston and Dallas grew from oil, but they are not considered strictly oil towns anymore. Every city gets their start economically somehow. Disney World was Orlando's oil strike. Most people will agree that Orlando is more cosmopolitan than Tampa. Tampa is also a lot older than Orlando. Orlando is a young city, and never claimed to be a New York or Miami, but it is a major city weather you like it or not.

Agreed except on Orlando being more cosmopolitan than Tampa, No way.

Tampa attracts far more international trade, entertainment, people and business than Orlando. Tampa is also a lot more accepting of cultural diversity than Orlando.

Over the years I have had to travel to Miami or Tampa to see many of the international and even big national acts. It is getting better, but even now a big name touring Florida will save a Friday or Saturday show for Tampa, and have the Orlando show on a Wednesday or Thursday.

[0nyxStation]

Originally Posted by DavieJ89

This might be a dumb question but I got into an argument with my father over this on whether Orlando is considered a major city or not. He claims that Orlando is too small compared to many other cities in America and is not a major city, inspite of us being so well known for our "wonderful theme parks" sarcasm intended. He also claims Orlando is going to shrink because he said "there have always been more people leaving then coming in" and that they are going to live in "real cities" He also cited my plans to move out of state later this year as "finally having the good sense to leave this sorry excuse for a city" but then complained that las vegas is another "faux big city just like orlando" He doesnt consider tourists towns to be real cities

I think Orlando is a major city. Just over 2 million people living here in all 4 counties, there are more people leaving then coming currently but overall a lot of people are still coming here so the percentage of people leaving is very small. We still have a lot of good things going for us as well and I think when the economy picks up Orlando is going to kick off its rapid growth again

BTW you can tell my dad really hates Orlando.

Id like to hope it becomes one. Many of the downtown buildings are very small though.

[theurbanfiles]

I would say that in the best 5 years (since the OP) the pendulum between Tampa and Orlando has swung significantly towards Orlando, however the two are still relatively comparable in many ways, but Orlando seems to have made more strides recently. However "major city" is something that is completely subjective. To someone from Cheyenne, Wyoming? Absolutely. To someone from NYC? Perhaps not.

[MrKnight]

ALOT has changed since this thread was created (back in 2010), I don't understand why this thread was bumped up five years later (BlackPeach2??).. But nonetheless, Orlando in the present day IS in fact considered a major city, it is easily the third largest metro in the Southeast US (only behind Miami and Atlanta) by population counts and has most definitely gained an overall reputation in the past several years with a rapidly expanding diversified economy, record breaking tourism numbers (over 62 million visitors a year), the 2nd largest University in the country (UCF), 2nd largest convention center in the country, 2nd busiest airport in Florida, major improvements to local infrastructure (SunRail, Ultimate I-4, etc), new urban amenities (Dr. Phillips Center, new MLS team, etc), this list goes on and on...

[StreetSmarts]

Orlando is larger than Charlotte?

[MrKnight]

Originally Posted by StreetSmarts

Orlando is larger than Charlotte?

Yes Orlando is larger than Charlotte:

Orlando MSA = 2,920,603
Charlotte MSA = 2,454,619

[PDF]

Originally Posted by MrKnight

Yes Orlando is larger than Charlotte:

Orlando MSA = 2,920,603
Charlotte MSA = 2,454,619

Interesting. If you go by city limits, Charlotte blows Orlando out of the water.

[MrKnight]

Originally Posted by PDF

Interesting. If you go by city limits, Charlotte blows Orlando out of the water.

This is irrelevant, major cities are measured by MSA as legal boundaries vary significantly from city to city and not everyone lives in the city center or CBD, most middle-class populations live outside of the city-proper limits in suburban areas that are still "part" of the city but may not be within the official city limits, hence city-proper population is never a good measurement when comparing cities.

[StreetSmarts]

Originally Posted by PDF

Interesting. If you go by city limits, Charlotte blows Orlando out of the water.

That's what I was thinking as well.

[kyle19125]

Originally Posted by MrKnight

But nonetheless, Orlando in the present day IS in fact considered a major city, it is easily the third largest metro in the Southeast US (only behind Miami and Atlanta) by population counts

Where exactly do you get your information from???

The 381 Metropolitan Statistical Areas of the United States of America (2014)

18 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 2,915,582 2,783,243

22 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC Metropolitan Statistical Area 2,380,314 2,217,012

26 Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 2,321,418 2,134,411

And if the braintrust at the OMB hadn't divided the neighboring cities of Raleigh and Durham (which actually adjoin), Orlando would be tied for 5th in the Southeast.

It seems like the other cheerleaders you seem to be under the illusion only Orlando has any kind of growth or exciting things happening, and would recommend for no other reason than not being ridiculous with your posts to look beyond your somewhat limited take on the rest of the country....and somewhat over-inflated view of the Orlando MSA.