Tiers of US cities

[muler]

Muler, You must be smokin somethin. Houston CITY is the 4th largest city at 2.2 million in the city limits. Metro is now between 5.3 and 5.6 million. Get your facts strait. Ignorence is bliss and you are bliss like crasy.

Houston is the fourth largest city because its political boundries are so large. The population density of Houston is about equal to its suburbs. The other cities you have mentioned in another previous post; Boston, D.C. etc, have a true dense city part, Houston doesn't.

The population density of Houston is 3020 people a square mile and the population density of the urbanized area is 2951 people a square mile, in other words they are the same. You have no city just a very large suburban like geographical area that defines the city limits. As I said before Houston is just too small to be tier one as the urbanized area population is 3,800,000 people.

Study after study says differently than Houston being Tier One. Here is another.

The Brookings Institution Center on Urban and Metropolitan Policy has ranked the global connectivity of American cities. The breakdown is as follows (in order of importance):

PREMIER GLOBAL CITY

New York City

GLOBAL CITIES

Chicago

Los Angeles

MAJOR SPECIALIST WORLD CITIES

San Francisco

Miami

Atlanta

Washington, DC

MINOR SPECIALIST WORLD CITIES

Boston

Dallas

Houston

IMPORTANT REGIONAL-GLOBAL CENTERS

Seattle

Denver

Philadelphia

Minneapolis

SECONDARY REGIONAL-GLOBAL CENTERS

St. Louis

Detroit

San Diego

Portland

MINOR REGIONAL-GLOBAL CENTERS

Charlotte

Cleveland

Indianapolis

Kansas City

Pittsburgh

UNIMPORTANT REGIONAL-GLOBAL CENTERS

Baltimore

Phoenix

Cincinnati

1.00 is the highest score.

NEW YORK 0.98

Chicago 0.62

Los Angeles 0.60

San Francisco 0.51

Miami 0.46

Atlanta 0.43

Washington 0.42

Boston 0.35

Dallas 0.34

Houston 0.34

Seattle 0.30

Denver 0.27

Phidelphia 0.27

Minneapolis 0.27

St. Louis 0.25

Detroit 0.25

San Diego 0.23

Portland 0.22

Charlotte 0.21

Cleveland 0.21

Indianapolis 0.21

Kansas City 0.20

Pittsburgh 0.20

Baltimore 0.18

Phoenix 0.17

Cincinnati 0.17

[tocoto]

^^ Nice image Cotuit. I like Boston and the surroundings the way they are, but a city of 2M+ would get more respect, and quash some of the upsurd conceptions people have of the city and area as being a small town sliding into obscurity. There are probably more highrises going up ri9ght now in the 48 sqmi of boston city than in either Houston or Dallas cities.

[H-townrep]

^^ Nice image Cotuit. I like Boston and the surroundings the way they are, but a city of 2M+ would get more respect, and quash some of the upsurd conceptions people have of the city and area as being a small town sliding into obscurity. There are probably more highrises going up ri9ght now in the 48 sqmi of boston city than in either Houston or Dallas cities.

Well there are seven skyscrapers going up in downtown Houston and 5 in it's surrounding area like within two minutes by car from downtown and this does not include the major projects in uptown and the Buffalo Baytou project and main street project. So if you got more in Boston besides the big dig of course then Boston rules. Houston is Tier One. You show me a world study not a study from Cal done in the 90's. Also show me the site and the year. We are talking city not metro. There are places that have other cities in close proximity. You really can't put Texas in that. Of course we would probably be the 3rd largest metro if it weren't for the storm of 1900 and the storm of 1895 that either wiped out or made move over a million people in that short span. Anyway. Huston is a tier one city and that's it. Argument over. You haven't came up with one reason why it isn't, except some U.S study that I haven't seen yet.

[bobliocatt]

There's no such thing as a city's economy being totally based on fake corporate boundries. The only difference between Houston and smaller cities like Boston, or Miami is that Houston has goobled up half its suburbs through annexation and you know it.

Pound for Pound, Houston doesn't crack the top tier. Hell, even going by city limits, it still isn't on an equal level with NYC, LA, or Chicago. Like I said earlier, there's nothing wrong with being a tier 2 city. There are a lot of great places like New Orleans, that aren't even on that level.

[H-townrep]

There's no such thing as a city's economy being totally based on fake corporate boundries. The only difference between Houston and smaller cities like Boston, or Miami is that Houston has goobled up half its suburbs through annexation and you know it.

Pound for Pound, Houston doesn't crack the top tier. Hell, even going by city limits, it still isn't on an equal level with NYC, LA, or Chicago. Like I said earlier, there's nothing wrong with being a tier 2 city. There are a lot of great places like New Orleans, that aren't even on that level.

You are right there is nothing wrong with being tier 2 it's just Houston ain't tier two. Just like back in the day. New York was one city and it was the third largest city and Brooklyn and Philly were the large two then New York combined which is annexed Brooklyn and everal smaller areas and then came the 5 buroughs. Same for Chicago, ther once was a city that is now Southside Chicago, so don't talk to me about annex, heck Houston was established as a Port City then grew with the oil boom but it's core is still as viable as any other.

[H-townrep]

I did some research and a professor at the University of Chicago, I believe is Saskia Sassen gave a list of what the Tier 1 cities is and is the 1st to coin the term of Global cities said there are three categories to tier 1 cities, they are Alpha, Beta and Gamma:

Alpha Tier 1

NY

Chi

LA

Beta Tier 1

SF

Gamma Tier 1

Hou

Dal

Bos

D.C

The study mentioned that there isn't much difference in Hou and Bos from S.F. because of the strngth of their ports.

[H-townrep]

There's no such thing as a city's economy being totally based on fake corporate boundries. The only difference between Houston and smaller cities like Boston, or Miami is that Houston has goobled up half its suburbs through annexation and you know it.

Pound for Pound, Houston doesn't crack the top tier. Hell, even going by city limits, it still isn't on an equal level with NYC, LA, or Chicago. Like I said earlier, there's nothing wrong with being a tier 2 city. There are a lot of great places like New Orleans, that aren't even on that level.

What are you talking about fake corp. I mentioned the projects because someone was saying there is more highrises going up in Boston than in Dallas or Houston and I mentioned what was going on in Houston, I' m not sure what is going on in Dallas except the Victory project which is pretty awesome. What annexation has Houston done in the last 15 years. None.

[Ivory Tower]

Tier 1

N.Y.C.

Wash. D.C.

L.A.

Las Vegas

Miami

Chicago

Tier 2

S.F.

Boston

Phillie

Dallas

Houston

Atlanta

Seattle

Denver

Tier 3

STL

Twin citys

Detroit

New Orleans

Nashville

Memphis

The rest just kind of get fuzzy.

I would guess these are the most well known U.S. citys.

Not in perfect order, but probably pretty close.

They all have something that makes them standout.

Wether it's population, skyline, landmark, history, geographical location, shopping, entertainment or a corporate hub.

[Dallasite]

H-townrep, give it a rest man. I think we all agree that Houston is big, and thriving, and growing, and the like. It just is not a tier one city. Unfortunately, neither is my beloved Dallas.

Of course, this all depends on what the criteria are for being "tier city." I am sure that some criteria are slanted towards certain cities and others do the opposite.

[Ivory Tower]

Houston is the fourth largest city because its political boundries are so large. The population density of Houston is about equal to its suburbs. The other cities you have mentioned in another previous post; Boston, D.C. etc, have a true dense city part, Houston doesn't.

The population density of Houston is 3020 people a square mile and the population density of the urbanized area is 2951 people a square mile, in other words they are the same. You have no city just a very large suburban like geographical area that defines the city limits. As I said before Houston is just too small to be tier one as the urbanized area population is 3,800,000 people.

Study after study says differently than Houston being Tier One. Here is another.

The Brookings Institution Center on Urban and Metropolitan Policy has ranked the global connectivity of American cities. The breakdown is as follows (in order of importance):

PREMIER GLOBAL CITY

New York City

GLOBAL CITIES

Chicago

Los Angeles

MAJOR SPECIALIST WORLD CITIES

San Francisco

Miami

Atlanta

Washington, DC

MINOR SPECIALIST WORLD CITIES

Boston

Dallas

Houston

IMPORTANT REGIONAL-GLOBAL CENTERS

Seattle

Denver

Philadelphia

Minneapolis

SECONDARY REGIONAL-GLOBAL CENTERS

St. Louis

Detroit

San Diego

Portland

MINOR REGIONAL-GLOBAL CENTERS

Charlotte

Cleveland

Indianapolis

Kansas City

Pittsburgh

UNIMPORTANT REGIONAL-GLOBAL CENTERS

Baltimore

Phoenix

Cincinnati

1.00 is the highest score.

NEW YORK 0.98

Chicago 0.62

Los Angeles 0.60

San Francisco 0.51

Miami 0.46

Atlanta 0.43

Washington 0.42

Boston 0.35

Dallas 0.34

Houston 0.34

Seattle 0.30

Denver 0.27

Phidelphia 0.27

Minneapolis 0.27

St. Louis 0.25

Detroit 0.25

San Diego 0.23

Portland 0.22

Charlotte 0.21

Cleveland 0.21

Indianapolis 0.21

Kansas City 0.20

Pittsburgh 0.20

Baltimore 0.18

Phoenix 0.17

Cincinnati 0.17

Yeah, nothing against Houston, but it is just a very large piece of suburban sprawl for the most part.

Wayne County Michigan has about 2.1 million people in around 600 sq. miles.

This is after population loss, not gain.

And some suburbs have 3 and 4 thousand per sq. mile on average.

If Detroit had the same amount of city property that Houst has, it would cover most of Wyne County and be almost as big as Houston.

Again, this is after population decline, not the boom that Houston has had.

The city of Detroit has around 7,000 per sq. mile on average, and this is with 1.1 million population loss.

The south and the west just didn't build em like the east and north did.

[Cotuit]

I love this thread.

[muler]

Well there are seven skyscrapers going up in downtown Houston and 5 in it's surrounding area like within two minutes by car from downtown

I notice you said by car.

I think I will stick with Boston.

[M. Brown]

I think Boston should be a tier one. Also I think it shouldnt be lower than Miami. And I think being a global city or what ever is more than just pop. and density.

[monsoon]

[sleepy]

Who decided those criteria?

[Neo]

This is Tier 1 and there isn't a lot that compares to it. Tokyo is a megalith and is of absolute upmost importance in making the world economy function, without it the world economy would be completely different. Houston in no way is of this upmost importance and therefore is not tier 1.

[Twin Cities]

I hope I don't offend anyone, but there is no way the Minneapolis-St. Paul area is in the same tier as New Orleans, Nashville, Memphis or even Detroit. If anything, the area should be ranked along with Denver, Seattle, Philadelphia, Dallas, etc... One example as to why the area is in a different tier has to do with its diverse corporate presence.

Twin Cities Based Fortune 500 Companies

1. Target Corp.

2. UnitedHealth Group Inc.,

3. Best Buy Co. Inc.

4. Supervalu Inc.

5. 3M

6. U.S. Bancorp

7. General Mills Inc.

8. Northwest Airlines Corp.

9. Cenex Harvest States

10. The St. Paul Cos. Inc.,

11. Xcel Energy Inc.

12. Medtronic Inc.,

13. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans

14. Land O'Lakes Inc.

15. Nash Finch Co.

16. Ecolab Inc.

17. C. H. Robinson Worldwide Inc.

18. PepsiAmericas Inc.

Twin Cities Privately-Held Based Companies

**Cargill -- largest privately-held firm in the U.S.

Caribou Coffee Company

International Multifoods Corp.

Carlson Companies

The Toro Company

Polaris Industries Inc.

Andersen Windows

Piper Jaffray

Aveda Corporation

Regis Corporation

Pentair Inc.

Dura Automotive Systems Inc.

Tower Automotive Inc.

Bemis Co. Inc.

The Valspar Corp.

ADC Telecommunications Inc.

Metris Cos. Inc.

Musicland Group, Inc.

Jostens

Minnesota Life Insurance Company

Kraus-Anderson

Transition Networks, Inc.

[H-townrep]

This is Tier 1 and there isn't a lot that compares to it. Tokyo is a megalith and is of absolute upmost importance in making the world economy function, without it the world economy would be completely different. Houston in no way is of this upmost importance and therefore is not tier 1.

Without Tokyo the World would still function just wouldn't be the same. Without what Houston has to offer the World would not function. Take away the Space Station and the shuttles, take away most of the oil companies, take away the U.S largest port for foreign goods and the eomy would not go good. Say waht you want but according to all Global minds Houston is a Global city and therfore is tier 1.

[Cotuit]

Oh for god sake, GIVE IT UP!

[Neo]

I just decided to do the same, LOL! This is pointless.

[monsoon]

[Cotuit]

Houston's LRT the subject of this week's UrbanPlanet Poll.

Is Light Rail at Street Level a Waste of Money

Well that just proves it don't it? Houston IS a tier one city!

[H-townrep]

LOL, isn't the space shuttle grounded right now? I sure didn't see the world stop for that. As for the Space Station, the Russians can run it just as well as the technicians in Houston, so Houston's disappearance would be a non issue for the vast majority of the world. Most have never heard of.

Neo, that is one of the best photos of Tokyo that I have seen, and even that does not show the size of the place. Houston could be dropped down in that megalopolis and would really be considered nothing more than another neighborhood.

And as I posted earlier Houston has a non-existant passenger rail system. And the one that it has tried to build, a LRT, is having major problems.

Houston's LRT the subject of this week's UrbanPlanet Poll.

Is Light Rail at Street Level a Waste of Money

The space station that fell to Earth happen because there were no enginerrs from Housston or from Nasa there. Now the Station that is going up is set to stay up for Hundred of years and only manned flights are grounded but two of our Space Shuttles are not from the same design as the destroyed Columbia and Atlantis. Anytime there is a tragedy, the fleet is grounded. Remeber every thing that need s a satelite hook up has to have Houston and Nasa. Every one from the military to you needs what Houston offered. TV signals travel like they do now because of Nasa which is stationed where, HOUSTON. We beat out the Russians by beating them to the moon in a space Shuttle made in Houston and a crew trained in Houston. The stealth and a most of the fighters were designed in H-town and built in Chi, Seattle and Pittsburgh. Nasa isone of the most important businesses we have and contributes to the U's in every way. Tier 1 baby. The list I gave earlier about the levels of Tier 1 is correct and legit.

[H-townrep]

I notice you said by car.

I think I will stick with Boston.

when I say dfrom Downtown, I mean the core of downtown which is Dallas @Louisiana

[H-townrep]

One of the criteria for a Tier 1 city is a good rail based mass transit system. Most of the other cities in this discussion have, or are building heavy rail transit systems. On the other hand, Houston has only managed to build a 7.5 mile light rail system that seems to be plagued with problems because it was not built on its own right of way. Personally I think that knocks it out of any Tier 1 status discussions and possibly even Tier 2 status.

Houston's LRT the subject of this week's UrbanPlanet Poll.

Is Light Rail at Street Level a Waste of Money

What rail system is in London and I've never been SF but besides the trolly, what do they have. Since when does a rail system have anything to do with tier one. As long as you have a working transportation system with either an intrigent freeway system as Houston has one of the bset and an establish bus or rail system. That is a category. I believe you people will make up anything that doesn't have Houston in it, just to say it isn't Tier one. I've shown why it is Tier one and no one has shon any different so it's Tier one in my eyes and to most professor and doctors that study Geograph within infastructure and Globilization.