Why is Boston not mentioned more when people talk about great cities in the US (how much, salary)

[mdovell]

Originally Posted by Finocchio

Boston often goes unmentioned when listing great American cities since it intimidates many in other parts of the country. Recall we're the most European-like of all American cities and we have the best learning instiutions this side of Great Britain. My suspicion is that many are intimidated by Boston and the historic role it played in the independence of these United States. No other city can make that claim (except, perhaps to a lesser degree, Philadelphia).

I don't think it intimidates other parts of the country. We have a higher cost of living and for the most part there isn't that much to show for it (weather, bad roads, lack of space etc)

I don't know if we'd be the most European like of all American cities...if you include the whole continent. I'd argue Montreal is. There's also the argument of what would be good about European to start with.

I'd say the region as a metropolitan area has the most learning institutions. "Best" depends on so many metrics. I don't think there are that many schools that can be the best in all subjects but for a given subject is more likely. Since degrees have majors this fits. Same with hospitals. Usually people go to hospitals for a given part of the body and want to see a specialist, therefore a more general hospital (no pun intended) is not optimal.

We cannot really intimidate since our representation has shrank considerable over the past 30 years. it isn't even a political argument it is a population growth issue.

Boston cannot support the whole state. Central and western mass needs to be developed more. When wifi is more common than free samples of tide in the mail in academic circles and yet the berkshires still runs on dialup something is wrong.

[SuperSparkle928]

Originally Posted by dragonborn

I disagree. Let's look at the list again:

1. New York City 8,462,000
2. Los Angeles 3,348,000
3. Miami 3,111,000
4. Orlando 2,715,000
5. San Francisco 2,636,000
6. Las Vegas 2,245,000
7. Washington DC 1,740,000
8. Honolulu 1,634,000
9. Boston 1,186,000
10. Chicago 1,134,000

I have been to 8 out of 10 of those cities and lived in 2 of them. Out of the list, I would only put New York, San Francisco and Chicago ahead of Boston and DC on a level pegging just because it's your capital city. The rest are several leagues below Boston IMO, including Miami and Los Angeles that are just sprawly concrete jungles with no charm or real substance. And Orlando? Really? Aside from the theme parks, the place is a dump. Vegas? People just go there to gamble and party, not to enjoy experiencing a culturally rich and historically important city.

I can't help but feel that Boston suffers somewhat from being overshadowed by New York. I actually think it should be considered far more of a tourist destination. Not only is the city and its surroundings fascinating (you could spend several days on the north shore alone), but Boston is a great base to explore the rest of New England. Few American cities are as pedestrian friendly as Boston...another thing I like.

And sorry..I like Boston's skyline. It may lack an iconic supertall, but it's definitely impressive from several angles:

http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps...7795610_ap.jpg

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Ummm....

Boston proper has only 617,000 residents. (2010 census)
Greater Boston (all the surrounding communities) has a combined total of about 7 times that.
So the entire population of Boston proper is only about the same population as ALL of the neighboring state, Vermont. Not exactly a big city (and I am a born-and-bred New Englander).

[dragonborn]

Originally Posted by SuperSparkle928

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Ummm....

Boston proper has only 617,000 residents. (2010 census)
Greater Boston (all the surrounding communities) has a combined total of about 7 times that.
So the entire population of Boston proper is only about the same population as ALL of the neighboring state, Vermont. Not exactly a big city (and I am a born-and-bred New Englander).

Hush your rubbers comrade....Lucas9 posted that list and I think he mentioned it was number of visitors, not population:

https://www.city-data.com/forum/22889792-post9.html

[K-Luv]

Originally Posted by Cliff Clavin

Does anyone have any how SF attracts so many people from overseas? Is the SF brand big in Asian countries? The rest make sense.

Well, it is a lot closer to SF from Asia than it is to the East Coast...even coming from the opposite direction. Alaska is a big destination for Japanese travelers, too. Aside from that, California has a very large Asian community. Then again, even though Hawaii's population is close to 60% Asian, California has the largest population of Asians in the U.S.

[11KAP]

people are not being reminded of boston's historical major significance enough i guess.

[greenpapayas]

Because the people in Boston are very hung up on race and don't treat outsiders who come here with respect and dignity, one lady from Boston that I met in NYC even told me that even if I live in Boston for 100 years, I won't be considered a Bostonian since I am not a White, Italian Catholic boy. With such narrow minded and archaic views, who would want to consider this as one of the great cities of the USA.

Maybe it's time for you Bostonians to grow up and accept others who aren't White or mainstream as your equals and not look down upon them.

[Cliff Clavin]

Originally Posted by greenpapayas

Because the people in Boston are very hung up on race and don't treat outsiders who come here with respect and dignity, one lady from Boston that I met in NYC even told me that even if I live in Boston for 100 years, I won't be considered a Bostonian since I am not a White, Italian Catholic boy. With such narrow minded and archaic views, who would want to consider this as one of the great cities of the USA.

Maybe it's time for you Bostonians to grow up and accept others who aren't White or mainstream as your equals and not look down upon them.

Per the 2010 census, non-hispanic whites make up 47% of the city's population. Maybe you should grow up and stop blaming your problems on race.

[Nikki0417]

I think the reason Boston isn't mentioned as much when people talk about cities in the US has a little to do with how many cities are portrayed in media. When American cities are brought up in a conversation, people are going to mention the areas they're familiar with, and more people are familiar with places like NYC, LA and Chicago because those cities are mentioned so often in entertainment and news. As for why they're in the limelight more often than Boston, I'm not sure. It might have to do them being bigger hubs for the entertainment industry.

This was supposed to be some in-depth look into how entertainment portrays America, but it's nearing 2am here, and my thoughts are scattered. So, instead it's just some rambling.

[mdovell]

This might explain a bit more
File:Largest US cities graph.png - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
As more cities were created they expanded. Although Mass is still growing the growth rate isn't nearly as much as other areas of the country
Largest cities in the United States by population by decade - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
by the time the 60's came around the city was no longer in the top ten populated cities in the country

Right now we are ranked 22
Largest cities in the United States by population by decade - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Although it should be mentioned that on a per square mile basis it would rank 7th and cambridge would be 5th...heck if boston annexed cambridge maybe that would put us at about the 17th largest.

I'd argue that the region is a area to go to school and get medical care but that's about it. Every time I see some tv show drama the characters get medical care here or if they go to school it is the region.

[greenpapayas]

Originally Posted by Cliff Clavin

Per the 2010 census, non-hispanic whites make up 47% of the city's population. Maybe you should grow up and stop blaming your problems on race.

Boston is just a redneck town where each and every person that's a minority is only a stereotype.