Truly URBAN American cities: Where would you rank Philadelphia? (extended stay, apartment)

[LOOK MA NO HANDS]

Originally Posted by gwillyfromphilly

IMO I think Chicago and Philadelphia are almost a toss up. You could make the case for either one but most people would probably give the slight edge to Chicago. I don't think Chicago is undisputably more urban than Philly as you claim. I think only NYC can boldly claim that title.

here are some facts, not opinions....
Chicago has a significantly larger downtown, alot more people living in high density areas, and a much larger urban foot print(or densely populated areas). Also, It has the second most extensive transit system making it the second most built-up city in the US.


You can cut out a section of the north side that is nearly 38 sq. and get a population of over 800,000.... And that is not including the west or south sides of the city.

BUT..... I'd rather live in Philly

[pman]

Originally Posted by LOOK MA NO HANDS

here are some facts, not opinions....
Chicago has a significantly larger downtown, alot more people living in high density areas, and a much larger urban foot print(or densely populated areas). Also, It has the second most extensive transit system making it the second most built-up city in the US.


You can cut out a section of the north side that is nearly 38 sq. and get a population of over 800,000.... And that is not including the west or south sides of the city.

BUT..... I'd rather live in Philly

more people live in downtown philly than downtown chicago, so there's that

[LOOK MA NO HANDS]

Originally Posted by pman

more people live in downtown philly than downtown chicago, so there's that

LOL it isn't

I don't understand how people on these forums make statements like these without facts....

[john_starks]

i'd still love to visit chicago

the elusive big american city

[pman]

Originally Posted by LOOK MA NO HANDS

LOL it isn't

I don't understand how people on these forums make statements like these without facts....

actually, it is. I love when people pretend to know things
Metropolitan statistical area
1
Population less than
2 miles from city hall
Table 3.7 Chicago 181,714 (after rapid growth of 36%), Philadelphia 235,529
http://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/r...c2010sr-01.pdf

that's why ten years ago chicago's downtown was quiet after hours, as you've alluded to,the north side is very dense, and the south side is emptying out.
a common miconception, Philadelphia is the third most populous downtown after NY and San Francisco, not Chicago.

[LOOK MA NO HANDS]

Originally Posted by pman

actually, it is. I love when people pretend to know things
Metropolitan statistical area
1
Population less than
2 miles from city hall
Table 3.7 Chicago 181,714 (after rapid growth of 36%), Philadelphia 235,529
http://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/r...c2010sr-01.pdf

that's why ten years ago chicago's downtown was quiet after hours, as you've alluded to,the north side is very dense, and the south side is emptying out.
a common miconception, Philadelphia is the third most populous downtown after NY and San Francisco, not Chicago.

Another deluded poster/booster who can not stand it when Philly doesn't come out on top.

Well this is a Philly forum so I was expecting this.

[rotodome]

Originally Posted by pman

actually, it is. I love when people pretend to know things
Metropolitan statistical area
1
Population less than
2 miles from city hall
Table 3.7 Chicago 181,714 (after rapid growth of 36%), Philadelphia 235,529
http://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/r...c2010sr-01.pdf

that's why ten years ago chicago's downtown was quiet after hours, as you've alluded to,the north side is very dense, and the south side is emptying out.
a common miconception, Philadelphia is the third most populous downtown after NY and San Francisco, not Chicago.

Not sure if this data is compiled somewhere, but it would be interesting to compare the daytime populations of each.

Since I think when most people say "downtown Chicago", they mean the Loop, which is more purely a CBD. Whereas when people say downtown Philadelphia, they mean Center City, which is basically the CBD plus the dense residential neighborhoods around it. A bit of apples and oranges.

Chicago certainly has the larger CBD, but the core of Philadelphia has always been densely residential in nature, and the census data reflects that.

Also, I think it's fair to point out that (with the method used in those census stats) drawing a 2 mile radius from City Hall in NYC or Chicago is going to give you a fairly distorted population count, since those City Halls are both less than a mile from large bodies of water.

[pman]

Originally Posted by LOOK MA NO HANDS

Another deluded poster/booster who can not stand it when Philly doesn't come out on top.

Well this is a Philly forum so I was expecting this.

in neither scenario does philly come out on top, talk about deluded.

Originally Posted by rotodome

Not sure if this data is compiled somewhere, but it would be interesting to compare the daytime populations of each.

Since I think when most people say "downtown Chicago", they mean the Loop, which is more purely a CBD. Whereas when people say downtown Philadelphia, they mean Center City, which is basically the CBD plus the dense residential neighborhoods around it. A bit of apples and oranges.

Chicago certainly has the larger CBD, but the core of Philadelphia has always been densely residential in nature, and the census data reflects that.

Also, I think it's fair to point out that (with the method used in those census stats) drawing a 2 mile radius from City Hall in NYC or Chicago is going to give you a fairly distorted population count, since those City Halls are both less than a mile from large bodies of water.

the thing that strikes you most about chicago is the sheer number of office buildings, that's really lacking in Philadelphia. people often forget just how dense san francisco is and how many people live there. obviously the meaning of "downtown" is difficult to pin down. I don't know why people get so upset that their town isn't number one or two and some people seem to have a problem with Philadelphia have anything good.

[LOOK MA NO HANDS]

Originally Posted by pman

in neither scenario does philly come out on top, talk about deluded.

You just stated that Philly comes on top of Chicago's population( which it doesn't)



[quote=the thing that strikes you most about chicago is the sheer number of office buildings, that's really lacking in Philadelphia. people often forget just how dense san francisco is and how many people live there. obviously the meaning of "downtown" is difficult to pin down. I don't know why people get so upset that their town isn't number one or two and some people seem to have a problem with Philadelphia have anything good.[/quote]

1. You listed a inaccurate source of information that has Lake Michigan included in the 2 sq. mile radius
2. i don't like Chicago but am going to defend because it deserves credit where credit is due
3. lol. I'm not getting upset. You just cant face the fact that our city isn't as urban as u want it to be.

Downtown Chicago numbers
Near North: 80,000
Loop: 30,000
West Loop: 55,000
South Loop: 21,000
Total: 186,000

Let me know if you need more info because i have plenty buddy

[FindingZen]

Originally Posted by LOOK MA NO HANDS

You just stated that Philly comes on top of Chicago's population( which it doesn't)





1. You listed a inaccurate source of information that has Lake Michigan included in the 2 sq. mile radius
2. i don't like Chicago but am going to defend because it deserves credit where credit is due
3. lol. I'm not getting upset. You just cant face the fact that our city isn't as urban as u want it to be.

Downtown Chicago numbers
Near North: 80,000
Loop: 30,000
West Loop: 55,000
South Loop: 21,000
Total: 186,000

Let me know if you need more info because i have plenty buddy

You may have a point in that Chicago, like Atlanta, has "two" downtowns, the other being the Loop. However, the number you provided are comparable to what pman's census figures show which would seem to prove that in terms of sheer residents, Philadelphia has more in its downtown area. So you're both right.