What are the 5 most important cities in the United States?
January 29, 2010 9:02 AM Subscribe
What are the 5 most important cities in the United States?
Please explain your answers. Also, feel free to explain how you would go about determining this.
(To be clear, I mean this question in most general possible sense. Factors that make a city important include--but are not limited to--population, economic activity, geographic importance (is it a major port?), international recognition, cultural/historical importance, political activity, number of corporate headquarters, number of well-regarded universities nearby, etc.)
This is for a textbook graphic.
Please explain your answers. Also, feel free to explain how you would go about determining this.
(To be clear, I mean this question in most general possible sense. Factors that make a city important include--but are not limited to--population, economic activity, geographic importance (is it a major port?), international recognition, cultural/historical importance, political activity, number of corporate headquarters, number of well-regarded universities nearby, etc.)
This is for a textbook graphic.
This post was deleted for the following reason: I'm sorry I didn't get back to you via email sooner, capitalist.pig, but essentially reposting the deleted question from last week should be a pretty clear no-go. -- cortex
NYC, LA, Washington, Dallas, Houston, Chicago
This is an interesting article in this vein, though it's international in scope: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_city#Global_Power_City_Index
posted by dfriedman at 9:07 AM on January 29, 2010
This is an interesting article in this vein, though it's international in scope: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_city#Global_Power_City_Index
posted by dfriedman at 9:07 AM on January 29, 2010
Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Houston.
Maybe swap in Atlanta, Seattle or Dallas.
posted by charlesv at 9:07 AM on January 29, 2010
Maybe swap in Atlanta, Seattle or Dallas.
posted by charlesv at 9:07 AM on January 29, 2010
Note, though, that this kind of methodology is problematic.
San Francisco and Boston are small(ish) cities; but one could make a convincing case that their regions are as important, culturally, economically, and educationally, as the five cities I list above.
posted by dfriedman at 9:08 AM on January 29, 2010
San Francisco and Boston are small(ish) cities; but one could make a convincing case that their regions are as important, culturally, economically, and educationally, as the five cities I list above.
posted by dfriedman at 9:08 AM on January 29, 2010
Your criteria is way too broad, without a manner to weigh these factors, and the "not limited to" aspect, all you're getting is biased opinions...
If you narrow down this question to a few factors, you might actually get information that is textbook worthy...
posted by HuronBob at 9:10 AM on January 29, 2010
If you narrow down this question to a few factors, you might actually get information that is textbook worthy...
posted by HuronBob at 9:10 AM on January 29, 2010
NYC, DC, Dallas, Chicago, and Moutainview/Silicon Valley area.
posted by anniecat at 9:11 AM on January 29, 2010
posted by anniecat at 9:11 AM on January 29, 2010
I mean this question in most general possible sense
This kind of question generally doesn't work well for AskMe. For instance, I'm going to say St. Paul, because that's where I live.
posted by Think_Long at 9:12 AM on January 29, 2010 [2 favorites]
This kind of question generally doesn't work well for AskMe. For instance, I'm going to say St. Paul, because that's where I live.
posted by Think_Long at 9:12 AM on January 29, 2010 [2 favorites]
Best answer: NYC, DC, LA, and the rest are highly arguable.
posted by AugieAugustus at 9:13 AM on January 29, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by AugieAugustus at 9:13 AM on January 29, 2010 [2 favorites]
This isn't really answerable since, as mentioned above, your criteria are very broad and haven't been weighted. By any standard, NYC and LA must be on the list. The question, then is what the 3rd, 4th, and 5th most important American cities are. Is Washington, DC one of those cities? If you're talking about political power, of course it is. If you're talking about population or cultural influence, it's nowhere close.
posted by Jaltcoh at 9:16 AM on January 29, 2010
posted by Jaltcoh at 9:16 AM on January 29, 2010
Well, here are my six:
Boston --- for its colonial and revolutionary war history (and because I'm biased)
New York --- because it's so ubiquitous, if that makes sense
D.C --- the capitol because, umm, it's where the government is
San Fransisco --- major point of history in the mid-19th century (gold rush!)
Los Angeles --- Hollywood and entertainment
Chicago -- major hub, was a huge connecting line for railways in the 19th century and now O'Hare airport is really important for cross country air travel
Here are my honorable mentions:
Atlanta
Memphis
Philadelphia
Miami
I am clearly east coast biased, but that is just my geographical framework. I'm not as familiar with the west as I perhaps ought to be.
posted by zizzle at 9:16 AM on January 29, 2010
Boston --- for its colonial and revolutionary war history (and because I'm biased)
New York --- because it's so ubiquitous, if that makes sense
D.C --- the capitol because, umm, it's where the government is
San Fransisco --- major point of history in the mid-19th century (gold rush!)
Los Angeles --- Hollywood and entertainment
Chicago -- major hub, was a huge connecting line for railways in the 19th century and now O'Hare airport is really important for cross country air travel
Here are my honorable mentions:
Atlanta
Memphis
Philadelphia
Miami
I am clearly east coast biased, but that is just my geographical framework. I'm not as familiar with the west as I perhaps ought to be.
posted by zizzle at 9:16 AM on January 29, 2010
McMinnville, OR
posted by KokuRyu at 9:17 AM on January 29, 2010 [5 favorites]
posted by KokuRyu at 9:17 AM on January 29, 2010 [5 favorites]
Assuming we include metro areas, NYC, DC, LA, and then a huge messy catfight for the last two spots. This really isn't answerable without some kind of criteria or guidelines; it starts verging into very chatfiltery territory.
posted by Tomorrowful at 9:17 AM on January 29, 2010
posted by Tomorrowful at 9:17 AM on January 29, 2010
Response by poster: Note, though, that this kind of methodology is problematic.
San Francisco and Boston are small(ish) cities; but one could make a convincing case that their regions are as important, culturally, economically, and educationally, as the five cities I list above.
I'm looking more at metro area populations than city-by itself populations. Boston and SF are the fifth and sixth largest Combined Statistical Areas, respectively.
posted by capitalist.pig at 9:19 AM on January 29, 2010
San Francisco and Boston are small(ish) cities; but one could make a convincing case that their regions are as important, culturally, economically, and educationally, as the five cities I list above.
I'm looking more at metro area populations than city-by itself populations. Boston and SF are the fifth and sixth largest Combined Statistical Areas, respectively.
posted by capitalist.pig at 9:19 AM on January 29, 2010
Not exactly a direct answer to your question, but an interesting post from this past fall, where tons of users justified why their city was important enough to be a Cold War missile target, which might help you decide the top five.
posted by banannafish at 9:19 AM on January 29, 2010
posted by banannafish at 9:19 AM on January 29, 2010
In addition to its historical impact, I would think that Boston would deserve consideration for its role as an education, entrepreneurial, technological and finance center. But whether it makes into the final five, I don't know.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 9:19 AM on January 29, 2010
posted by Admiral Haddock at 9:19 AM on January 29, 2010
Response by poster: This isn't really answerable since, as mentioned above, your criteria are very broad and haven't been weighted. By any standard, NYC and LA must be on the list.
Yes! I'm looking for places, that by any standard, must be on the list.
posted by capitalist.pig at 9:20 AM on January 29, 2010
Yes! I'm looking for places, that by any standard, must be on the list.
posted by capitalist.pig at 9:20 AM on January 29, 2010
Wasn't this asked last week and deleted?
Same answer I gave last time: New York, LA, Washington, Chicago (in that order) followed by a fifth city, which varies depending on what you care about.
Miami for culture/fun, Boston for old money power, Houston for new money power.
Or if you want top seven cities, there you go.
posted by rokusan at 9:21 AM on January 29, 2010
Same answer I gave last time: New York, LA, Washington, Chicago (in that order) followed by a fifth city, which varies depending on what you care about.
Miami for culture/fun, Boston for old money power, Houston for new money power.
Or if you want top seven cities, there you go.
posted by rokusan at 9:21 AM on January 29, 2010
NYC and LA.
Then New Orleans, Houston and Beaumont, Texas.
Wha ... ? Beaumont, Texas?
Yes.
Those are the five biggest/busiest shipping ports in the U.S.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 9:21 AM on January 29, 2010
Then New Orleans, Houston and Beaumont, Texas.
Wha ... ? Beaumont, Texas?
Yes.
Those are the five biggest/busiest shipping ports in the U.S.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 9:21 AM on January 29, 2010
Best answer: This might be useful to you: a list that purports to rank the top "global cities" in the world based on objective metrics. (Scroll up for Wikipedia's overview of the "global city" concept.) The top US cities, in order, are NYC, LA, Chicago, DC, and San Francisco.
posted by Jaltcoh at 9:21 AM on January 29, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by Jaltcoh at 9:21 AM on January 29, 2010 [1 favorite]
Best answer: You want the top five American cities on these lists (in order: New York above all, then Chicago, then Los Angeles, Washington, and San Francisco [which I'm assuming includes the Bay Area/Silicon Valley as a whole]).
posted by mdonley at 9:21 AM on January 29, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by mdonley at 9:21 AM on January 29, 2010 [1 favorite]
nyc because of the United Nations and wall street , Dc because its the countries capital, LA because of all the stars and news.
I dont think any others would be Important.
posted by majortom1981 at 9:24 AM on January 29, 2010
I dont think any others would be Important.
posted by majortom1981 at 9:24 AM on January 29, 2010
There is almost zero reason why Dallas would belong on this list. Sure, it has a lot of Fortune 500 companies, but Southwest and Neiman Marcus (beloved though they are) are not exactly important in the grand scheme.
Also, if you check where college grads go, you get Jaltcoh's list (swapping out Boston for Chicago).
posted by kittyprecious at 9:28 AM on January 29, 2010
Also, if you check where college grads go, you get Jaltcoh's list (swapping out Boston for Chicago).
posted by kittyprecious at 9:28 AM on January 29, 2010
Yes! I'm looking for places, that by any standard, must be on the list.
Well, then you're not going to get a list of five. You're going to get a list of two.
If this is for a textbook graphic, yet obviously not a graphic of cities ranked by variable x, I would go for a different factor in each case: biggest city, most important city in politics, most important city in industry, etc.
posted by game warden to the events rhino at 9:29 AM on January 29, 2010
Well, then you're not going to get a list of five. You're going to get a list of two.
If this is for a textbook graphic, yet obviously not a graphic of cities ranked by variable x, I would go for a different factor in each case: biggest city, most important city in politics, most important city in industry, etc.
posted by game warden to the events rhino at 9:29 AM on January 29, 2010
I'd say the best way of picking this out is to to pick the national and the accepted regional capitals. DC is automatic, so by dividing the country into 4 regions (Northeast, South, Midwest and West), you'd get New York, Atlanta, Chicago, and Los Angeles.
posted by hwyengr at 9:48 AM on January 29, 2010
posted by hwyengr at 9:48 AM on January 29, 2010
It makes me sad that, not only is Philadelphia not really on anyone's list, but I can't make a convincing case for it on any grounds more developed than: "First capital of the republic, you guys!
posted by 256 at 9:52 AM on January 29, 2010
posted by 256 at 9:52 AM on January 29, 2010
NYC, DC and LA are really the only non-negotiables IMO.
I would include Chicago and Atlanta as the 4th and 5th choices because with those 5 you get a representation of every major geographic region. Northeast, Middle Atlantic, West Coast, Midwest and South.
posted by jckll at 9:59 AM on January 29, 2010
I would include Chicago and Atlanta as the 4th and 5th choices because with those 5 you get a representation of every major geographic region. Northeast, Middle Atlantic, West Coast, Midwest and South.
posted by jckll at 9:59 AM on January 29, 2010
To add to the growing consensus: NYC, Chicago, LA, San Francisco. I'm willing to be talked out of DC in favor of some other place, maybe Boston.
posted by NoRelationToLea at 9:59 AM on January 29, 2010
posted by NoRelationToLea at 9:59 AM on January 29, 2010
In terms of important historically I'm surprised no one has mentioned St. Louis yet. It was once the 4th largest city and was very important in the western expansion. Gateway to the west and all. It was also the first place in the US to host a worlds fair and the Olympics. Although these days Chicago is the bigger powerhouse in the midwest.
posted by Arbac at 10:05 AM on January 29, 2010
posted by Arbac at 10:05 AM on January 29, 2010
Why is LA non-negotiable? Because of the movies?
posted by Dragonness at 10:05 AM on January 29, 2010
posted by Dragonness at 10:05 AM on January 29, 2010
Springfield. There's at least 5 of them.
Ask an unanswerable question, get a useless answer.
posted by chairface at 10:12 AM on January 29, 2010
Ask an unanswerable question, get a useless answer.
posted by chairface at 10:12 AM on January 29, 2010
Boston (writ-large) should be on there. It's not only got more colleges per square foot than any other city on Earth, but it's also home to the United States' two most important universities: Harvard and MIT. It's essentially the seat of higher learning in this country.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 10:20 AM on January 29, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 10:20 AM on January 29, 2010 [1 favorite]
NYC, LA, Chicago, DC, Atlanta.
Not sure why SF or Boston would ever be on the list. Santa Clara valley but no SF.
posted by DieHipsterDie at 10:23 AM on January 29, 2010
Not sure why SF or Boston would ever be on the list. Santa Clara valley but no SF.
posted by DieHipsterDie at 10:23 AM on January 29, 2010
Why is LA non-negotiable? Because of the movies?
Entertainment and shipping.
posted by DieHipsterDie at 10:25 AM on January 29, 2010
Entertainment and shipping.
posted by DieHipsterDie at 10:25 AM on January 29, 2010
Miami for culture/fun
If we're going to go the culture/fun route I'm not sure how you leave out New Orleans. I'm not sure how you leave New Orleans out period. The U.S. without New Orleans = bland.
posted by justgary at 10:26 AM on January 29, 2010
If we're going to go the culture/fun route I'm not sure how you leave out New Orleans. I'm not sure how you leave New Orleans out period. The U.S. without New Orleans = bland.
posted by justgary at 10:26 AM on January 29, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by alrightokay at 9:05 AM on January 29, 2010