Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
What are the most DENSE downtowns or "Main Streets" that you've been to or lived in? There is data out there on the major metro areas but not on the small to mid-size towns. I am looking for towns that go "up, not out". Buildings very close together or better yet - attached, maybe w/housing up top. Vibrant atmosphere. Many shops/pubs/etc. in a very small area (dense). Lots of foot traffic. Narrow roads. Historic charm. Artsy. Unique. Well, you get the picture. A few places that come to mind for me are Park City, UT and Galena, IL and Lambertville, NJ/New Era, PA. Thanks!
Sioux City, IA has a very dense downtown because it is hilly and against a river. They have a good share of highrises and skywalks for a town of about 100,000.
Thanks for the input, DannyBanany! I'll have to check out Sioux City one of these days. Nobody else out there can think of any?? Nobody?? Up, not out (DENSE!). Historic. Foot traffic. Vibrant.... I *know* you can think of some more! Maybe even a neighborhood or district within a larger city. C'mon peoples! Help me out here!! )
Paterson, NJ.. havnt lived there.. but it's dense, very compact and i dont know why.
its like 8 sq miles and has 17,400 people per squaremile.. craziness
Newarkbomb! Thanks!!! I peeked at Paterson on Street View and that is EXACTLY the type of place I'm making a list of. (plus, I have an undying love for NJ... ) LOL
What are the most DENSE downtowns or "Main Streets" that you've been to or lived in? There is data out there on the major metro areas but not on the small to mid-size towns. I am looking for towns that go "up, not out". Buildings very close together or better yet - attached, maybe w/housing up top. Vibrant atmosphere. Many shops/pubs/etc. in a very small area (dense). Lots of foot traffic. Narrow roads. Historic charm. Artsy. Unique. Well, you get the picture. A few places that come to mind for me are Park City, UT and Galena, IL and Lambertville, NJ/New Era, PA. Thanks!
My city, Stamford, CT, is quite dense downtown. It has a nice skyline--and growing--for a city of about 122,000 people. For much, much smaller towns, have you ever been to Greenville, TN? It has about 15,000 people and its downtown is very quaint, historic, and has good density, for its size anyway.
On a much, much smaller scale, the resort town of Gatlinburg, TN (about 4k people) is pretty tightly packed into the narrow valley just outside the Great Smokies. That may be stretching it though.
Iowa City (67,000 pop, 131,000 metro pop) has a surprisingly dense downtown for Iowa. Not as large an area or as many tall buildings (13 stories is our tallest), but remarkably dense. Having the University of Iowa literally across the street from downtown helps that a lot.
View of Linn St.
View of Dubuque St. and the UI Biology Building footbridge.
http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/Iowa%20City%20Photo%20Page/Downtown%20Iowa%20City/biology%20bridge.jpg (broken link)
Plaza Towers as seen from the Pedestrian Mall.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.