Favourite "Big 3" American City?

[Placebo]

I may live in Chicago, but I love NYC :loveya:

[AlCzervik]

1. San Francisco

[Sean Reynolds]

51. When did San Fran jump in population? Sorry, not a big 3 city. ;-)

I've been to Chicago and LA, haven't been to New York so I can't say. Out of Chicago and LA, I liked Chicago a lot more.....

[AlCzervik]

54. Well, the thread title was changed

it was originally what is your favorite city-ok?

[RevolutionaryActs]

2. What about Seattle? Or Boston? Or San Fran?... or.....

LOL :P

[Placebo]

4. Ha!

You really are trying to make my life a living hell, aren't ya? ;)

[RevolutionaryActs]

6. You know it... :-D

Its only because I wuv you though.. awwww :loveya:

:P

[Osamasux]

7. Great cities all, but on a different scale.

How about a separate pole for medium sized cities?

[SammyWinstonJack]

52. Or Pittsburgh?

I love Pittsburgh! Lived there for three years, loved every minute of it!

[PittPoliSci]

75. gotta love Pittsburgh!

unless you're one of those sons-of-bitches from our state's anus, Philadelphia :evilgrin:

just kidding, much love the the flyers and all their fans :hi: and all my good friends from the city of brotherly shove.

[JVS]

81. Have an Imp an ahrn in honor of the great city!

[flamingyouth]

3. I'm West Coast born and raised

So gotta go with LA. :D

[Eyeball Kid]

40. Me too.

OC-born and raised, actually, but I never understood the whold "laid back" thing, and I was always at least 80 pounds above maximum weight to live there, so I had to leave.

So I voted for NY. Fits better with my personality.

What are you looking at?

;)

[Osamasux]

5. I spend a lot of time in both.

Chicago is a place I could live. Great restaurants and clubs, plus better shoe stores, but NYC is in a class by itself.

[Ravenseye]

8. Chicago, if I can only choose one of those three.

LA is WAY to big and spread out and just....nasty.

NYC has some amazing stuff in it, and doesn't feel as big as LA, but I've never felt safe there. Even prior to 9/11 and the first WTC bombing that I never liked it there becuase I always felt that if we were going to get hit by anyone it'd be in NYC first. If not for that I"d probably make NYC number 1.

Chicago is a great town. I went to grad school nearby and didn't get in there enough. It's got the stuff a HUGE city needs to have, but has some really great neighborhoods where you can just walk to a jazz club, or a good restaurant etc. Plus the proximity to so much great stuff.

[Zuni]

20. LA is a giant suburb---I don't like most west coast cities

they are monuments to wasteful sprawl

I'll take NYC anyday

[hollywood926]

31. wasteful sprawl?

What does that mean?

We should pack 8 million people into a tiny area? That's better?

[Zuni]

38. No, it doesn't have to be NYC density

but living in a relativly densly, urban population is much less wasteful and much more satisfying than living in a sea of endless suburban development, traffic and smog

[JVS]

72. The New York Metropolitan area is not much better

When you see the skyscrapers in downtown NYC, remember that most of them are filled daily by people who commute from the suburbs. The businesses are packed densely but not necessarily the people

[Zuni]

79. Manhattan has 1.5 million people in 23 sq miles

NYC has 8,008,000 people living within city limits

[Phillycat]

9. Why is Chicago the 3rd?

NY and LA, sure, but how does Chicago get to be #3?

[hollywood926]

10. It's the third largest city in the country. n/t

[Placebo]

13. Bingo.

:bounce:

[Phillycat]

15. Oh. Here's the top 10, by the way.

Of course I looked up your stat, since you didn't give a link.

City in rank order Number Rank
---------------------------------------------------------------
New York city, NY 8,008,278 1
Los Angeles city, CA 3,694,820 2
Chicago city, IL 2,896,016 3
Houston city, TX 1,953,631 4
Philadelphia city, PA 1,517,550 5
Phoenix city, AZ 1,321,045 6
San Diego city, CA 1,223,400 7
Dallas city, TX 1,188,580 8
San Antonio city, TX 1,144,646 9
Detroit city, MI 951,270 10

From http://www.census.gov/statab/ccdb/cit1020r.txt

[Zuni]

21. NYC has more people than most states

Brooklyn alone would be thed 4th largest city in the USA if it wasn't included in the NYC total.
Brooklyn has almost 2.5 million people.

NYC with 8 million people is larger than Maryland. It is larger than Virginia

[Phillycat]

22. I know, it's insane.

It's almost impossible to compare NYC to other cities.

I'll take Philly, thanks. :) Perfect size for me!

[Tweed]

65. Yeah, New York City is such a shithole

[Phillycat]

71. No, no, no!

I wasn't saying or implying that. I love NYC. It's just too big for me to live there. NYC is far from a shithole. It's a wonderful city.

[Ravenseye]

24. Should do it by Metro Area

Metro area is a more accurate gauge. Some cities (like Boston) are much smaller population than their metro area.

New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, N.Y., N.J., Conn., Pa.--21,199,865
Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, Calif.--16,373,645
Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, Ill., Ind., Wis. --9,157,540
Washington-Baltimore, D.C., Md., Va., W.Va.--7,608,070
San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, Calif. --7,039,362
Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City, Pa., N.J., Del., Md.--6,188,463
Boston-Worcester-Lawrence, Mass., N.H., Maine, Conn.--5,819,100
Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, Mich.--5,456,428
Dallas-Fort Worth, Tex.--5,221,801

[Zuni]

36. I disagree

I think the constituted boundaries of a city are good. The metropolitan area can go on for miles in every direction, but it could be low density, hence not really urban.

Boston is small because it's boundaries are small. It is only about 48 square miles in area. NYC is about 320 sq miles, LA is like 470 sq miles and Chicago is 227 sq miles.

Boston has a much denser, more urban population than LA. LA and it's surrounding area are mostly just chains of different suburbs

[spooky3]

59. Washington DC CAN'T grow outside its very limited boundaries so

using city proper grossly distorts what most of us think of as size of a city.

However, I don't think that including Baltimore with it (and comparably huge boundaries as is apparent in the top ten list) makes much sense either. Somewhere in between is probably a more accurate representation of the true "city."

[Zuni]

70. Good point about DC

and it would be fair to include a number of satellites with it like Arlington, Alexandria, Bethesda, Silver Spring Takoma park etc, because they are very much like DC and are urban in their own right, and represent continous development---not 20 miles away, but literally right next door

[Ravenseye]

61. Yes and No

First I want to say I didn't make up these areas. These are the metropolitan areas as defined by the U.S. Census.

Secondly, I agree that some of them are questionable. I don't necessarily agree with the D.C. to Baltimore or the Philly to Atlantic City areas.

Boston however is much smaller than NYC and that's the point. In the city itself, deep in dense urban areas are a number of other town and cities, such as Cambridge, Brookline, Newton, Arlington, Medford, Sommerville...and so on.

To take a population for the city of Boston proper as representative of the city is ludicrous when you compare it to other metropolitan regions, like Dallas, which span essentially, entire huge counties. To compare Boston to New York City, it would be like saying that the population of New York City is the population of Manhattan. What if all the other Boroughs were different cities, towns, etc.

I feel that New York City is greater than it's population as well, which should include parts of New York, Conneticut, and New Jersey. Even arguably parts of Pennsylvania such as Easton where people commute to NYC by rail.

I think a metro area should include the population from the area in which it services the majority of the daily commuters.

Take Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh istelf is somewhat small, but add in the hundreds of tiny little towns all around the city, and intimately connected with it, and the population skyrockets.

It's somewhere in between the two.

[sniffa]

73. yay! #20

we're number 20!
we're number 20!
we're number 20!

[donheld]

11. Sadly i've spent less than 1 day in Chicago

and i've never been to either NYC or LA :cry:

[Placebo]

14. Aww, I'm sorry...

but you've got decades and DECADES left to visit both. :)

[JohnKleeb]

12. New York but Ive never been to LA or Chicago

[hollywood926]

16. I love L.A.

I don't care what anyone says. We have the best climate in the world and the most diverse population in the world. I love it!

[truthseeker1]

17. Hear Hear!

I'm with you!

[ronnykmarshall]

42. and it's so "cool" to bash LA!

Fuck it, we don't give a shit!

I love LA!


But I still voted for NYC. NY IS the greatest city in the country IMO.

[Radical Activist]

48. And horrible public transportation

for a city of that size. Insane.

[GRLMGC]

63. It's not possible to have the great public transport of NYC

in L.A. NYC is more compact and is therefore able to have that fabulous subway system which is very convenient. L.A. is a huge sprawl consisting of various little "cities". We need cars to get around. Yeah, that sucks but that's the design of the city.

[Radical Activist]

64. I'm in Chicago which

is more spread out than New York and has a great system with the Metra, El lines, and buses. Not having good public transportation is a choice the city makes by not investing the money. Of course parts of LA sprawled intentionally in a way that makes public transit more difficult, which was a choice made a long time ago.

[Placebo]

66. Chicago does have a really GREAT public trans system...

I'll give it that ;)

[GRLMGC]

69. The city tried to expand the public transport system

They tried to build a subway which was ridiculous because it's not possible to have as many stops and I don't think building a subway in a place prone to earthquakes is the best idea. Also, the bus system serves several people well. Yeah, we have crappy public transportation but lots of get around.

[maveric]

68. San Diego has the best climate if you consider the smog factor.

[Zuni]

18. New York and Chicago are cool, LA sucks, but I am a Baltimore kind

of guy in the end

[JohnKleeb]

19. I was thinking about doing a random city poll with B-more in it

I love Baltymore.

[Zuni]

23. Most underrated town in the USA

It is a shame most people only see Baltimore on shows like homicide and the wire, where all it shows are the slums and crime

[Placebo]

25. If you go to Baltimore you're gonna get MURDERED...

So don't go there! It's a bad, nasty little city! :P

[JohnKleeb]

27. hah Ive been there too many times

It really is a great town with a great baseball stadium, harbor, and some neat museums, plus the food is terrific, and has a nice little Italy as well.

[Zuni]

32. What resturaunt do you go to in Little Italy?

It seems like everyone has one resturaunt to go to--I like Sabatinos

[JohnKleeb]

33. I havent been in a while really so I dont know the names

You know what's a good restaurant, is BOP's, I love how they let you flavor your soda.

[Zuni]

35. Well, alot of people do get murdered there

Certain parts of Baltimore are as bad as an urban area can get. Cherry Hill and Sandtown, for example. Other parts are awesome---Federal Hill, Canton, Ednor Gardens, Charles Village, Guilford, Roland Park

[JohnKleeb]

26. I agree with you 100%

I love going up there for baseball games and the harbor. Maryland is also one of the most underrated states in the US.

[LDS Jock]

28. I don't know Baltimore.. what is good about it?

[Zuni]

29. There is a lot of cool stuff to do in Charm City if you know where to go

To the outsider it might not be great, but if you went with someone who knows the town, you would have a good time

[BurtWorm]

37. Fells Point

:thumbsup:

[JohnKleeb]

34. great atmosphere

great food, people, aquarium, cool museums, etc.

[Cyndee_Lou_Who]

46. I agree. I had to go to Baltimore several times on business. I loved it!

It was one of those cities I'd have never thought... "oh, I'd like to go there". But now, I'd go on personal vacation in a heartbeat. I had a blast at the Inner Harbor! There and St. Augustine, FL... wonderful!

[Zuni]

77. I am glad you enjoyed it

Next time you are in Maryland, you should also visit my hometown, Annapolis.
Great city---very old, one of the oldest in the country. Lots of historic sites and great bars/resturaunts/atmosphere/shopping etc.

[ET Awful]

30. I LOVE L..A. . . . except for downtown, it smells like a urinal, but

the rest of the city rules :) Not to mention it's just minutes away from great surf spots to the north and south :)

[ronnykmarshall]

43. Downtown is starting to change

With all the new renevated condo builings, downtown LA is gonna be the happenin' place!

[ET Awful]

45. It takes more than a rennovated condo to get out the urine smell

Maybe they should try a Nature's Miracle bomb :)

(you know the stuff you use to get rid of kitty odor) :)

[Bitter Betty]

39. NYC - where you can drink until 4am - woo hoo!!! nt

[Radical Activist]

50. Only till 4am?

I can get plastered all night in Chicago. What's New York's problem? ;)

[bigwillq]

41. NYC

I'm only an hour away here in CT!

[ceile]

44. I'll take #4...

Houston!!

[Ladyhawk]

47. San Francisco.

Why Chicago before SF?

I've been to LA plenty and it sucks ass.

[Placebo]

62. Because Chicago is the 3rd largest city in the nation...

that's why :P

[JVS]

49. Chicago, because NYC and LA are stinking festering holes

LA has nicer weather though for a stinking festering hole.

[Tweed]

67. Damn straight

[Mr.Green93]

78. Chicago seems to me

to be easier to get around in either by car or train.

[0007]

53. NYC bar none

[LSdemocrat]

55. Chicago - It's the only one I'd describe as a nice place

[warrens]

76. I used to go to Chicago on business so much, and like it so much

I moved here

[Dastard Stepchild]

56. I loves me my Chicago...

always have, always will. A great city. :)

[Quetzal]

57. Haven't been to Chicago

but I have been to L.A. and New York City

Out of the two, NYC is tons better - everything is closer, I can go from the Bronx to Brooklyn in less than an hour via subway, and I found the people to be extremely nice imo.

Also, Harlem is so not as bad as people make it out to be. The people are pleasant.

Los Angeles just sucks - you need a car to go anywhere there. It is also home to some of the worst traffic this planet has ever seen.

[TheMightyFavog]

58. The Blues Brothers will give my answer....

Come on
Oh baby don't you wanna go
Come on
Oh baby don't you wanna go
Back to that same old place
Sweet home Chicago

Come on
Baby don't you wanna go
Hidehey
Baby don't you wanna go
Back to that same old place
Oh sweet home Chicago

Well, one and one is two
Six and two is eight
Come on baby don't ya make me late
Hidehey
Baby don't you wanna go
Back to that same old place
Sweet home Chicago

Come on
Baby don't you wanna go
Back to that same old place
Sweet home Chicago

Six and three is nine
Nine and nine is eighteen
Look there brother baby and see what I've seen
Hidehey
Baby don't you wanna go
Back to that same old place
Sweet home Chicago

Oh come on
Baby don't you wanna go
Come on
Baby don't you wanna go
Back to that same old place
Sweet home Chicago

[Revolucionario83]

60. SF person here

But I gotta show love to NYC, even though I never been there. Ive always wanted to go so bad. Someday :)

[Crankie Avalon]

74. Oh, not this thread, again...

...with jealous provincials running in to squat out their silly little "I hates me them thar big cities, especially New York" posts. :eyes: :D

[Kathleen04]

80. New York

I'm from Southern California and now I go to college in Long Island. I'm back for break now, but since being gone, I've come to realize that I really don't "understand" Los Angeles, but I love New York City.

I've noticed people from other cities here in California don't seem to feel the same type of connection to Los Angeles as Long Islanders feel towards NYC. I'm from Riverside and have always kind of grown up with a "ew Los Angeles" mentality. Never even considered attending any of the colleges in LA, they were automatically off my radar screen..simply for being in LA. While I'm home, I'll have to venture into LA to see if that's justified..you don't really realize how little you know about the areas surrounding where you're from until you've gone somewhere else.

I've never really been to Chicago, I'd like to go there someday..

[Hand]

82. I like Chicago and New York, but...

LA gets my vote as the birthplace of me!

:toast:

[progmom]

83. New York, New York

New York, New York, a helluva town
The Bronx is up and the Battery's down
The people ride in a hole in the ground
New York, New York – it's a helluva town!

[The Sushi Bandit]

84. Fuck New York.. all my family left there for good reason!