Is Cleveland Similar to Cincinnati (Columbus, Toronto: to live, housing, metro area)

[AGuyFromCleveland18]

I've never really been to Cincinnati, but from a historical perspective and a size and demographic perspective they seem very similar. Both have major sports teams but have a metro area of around 2 Million people. Both are about the same age. Both are former industrial cities, with similar problems. But there are definitely a lot of differences. I've heard cincinnati's population is a bit more insular than Cleveland's, and also I know that the city has more southernness about it than cleveland, and it's obviously less liberal. What do you guys here on the ohio forum think?

[Peregrine]

If you dig deep down, Cleveland is much more similar to traditional "rust belt" cities like Buffalo, Pittsburgh, and Detroit.
We aren't as conservative as the rest of the state. As I always say, Cleveland doesn't really belong in Ohio.

[J'aimeDesVilles]

Originally Posted by Peregrine

If you dig deep down, Cleveland is much more similar to traditional "rust belt" cities like Buffalo, Pittsburgh, and Detroit.
We aren't as conservative as the rest of the state. As I always say, Cleveland doesn't really belong in Ohio.

That is funny that you say that ^ . I moved to the Detroit area from Cleveland over 20 years ago. While I think many Michiganians, at least metro Detroiters have a negative view of Ohio (i.e. "flat", "boring", "backwards", "small-town mentality", etc), I heard several people say "Cleveland isn't really Ohio". Meaning they saw Cleveland in a better light than the rest of the state.

[5Lakes]

Originally Posted by J'aimeDesVilles

While I think many Michiganians, at least metro Detroiters have a negative view of Ohio (i.e. "flat", "boring", "backwards", "small-town mentality", etc), I heard several people say "Cleveland isn't really Ohio". Meaning they saw Cleveland in a better light than the rest of the state.

Funny you say that, because people in Ohio say some of the same things about Michigan. Of course most people in Michigan probably get the impressions from Ohio from the NW part of the state, which is indeed a lot like that.

Anyway, Cincinnati is older than Cleveland, has more brick housing, and is an Ohio river city. Cleveland is Great Lakes.

[Peregrine]

Originally Posted by J'aimeDesVilles

That is funny that you say that ^ . I moved to the Detroit area from Cleveland over 20 years ago. While I think many Michiganians, at least metro Detroiters have a negative view of Ohio (i.e. "flat", "boring", "backwards", "small-town mentality", etc), I heard several people say "Cleveland isn't really Ohio". Meaning they saw Cleveland in a better light than the rest of the state.

As much as people don't like to hear it in either city... Cleveland and Detroit are more alike then either city is like any other.
We should be sister cities.
Industrious Detroit is out of place in rural Michigan as is Industrious Cleveland out of place in mostly rural Ohio. Likewise, Philly and Pittsburgh in PA.
This is not to being negative to Cincy or Columbus. I rather enjoy Cincy actually.

Good example was the Roger Maplethorpe exhibit many years ago featuring some odd nude photos. That exhibit rolled through Cleveland with just a tiny review in the Plain Dealer. Most people didn't even know it was here.
In conservative Cincy? Huge uproar. The Cincy Contemporary Art Museum was even sued for obscenity!!! That made me embarrassed to be an Ohioan.

The most Puritan City in America.
http://www.rotten.com/library/travel/cities/cincinnati/

[Cbus76]

Thank goodness for Cincinnati and Columbus, the two metros in Ohio that continue to show solid growth:

Cincinnati MSA went from 2,009,632 to 2,171,896 (+8.07%) between 2000 and 2009 and their CSA went from 2,050,175 to 2,214,954 (+8.04%).

Columbus MSA went from 1,612,694 to 1,801,848 (+11.73%) between 2000 and 2009 and their CSA went from 1,835,189 to 2,031,229 (+10.68%).

Cleveland MSA went from 2,148,143 to 2,091,286 (-2.65%) between 2000 and 2009 and their CSA went from 2,945,831 to 2,891,988 (-1.83%).

Clevelanders can talk all they want about their supposed superiority relative to the rest of the state, but it seems pretty clear where people want to live - the backwards, hillbilly havens down south.

[Flee to the Cleve]

Originally Posted by Cbus76

Thank goodness for Cincinnati and Columbus, the two metros in Ohio that continue to show solid growth:

Cincinnati MSA went from 2,009,632 to 2,171,896 (+8.07%) between 2000 and 2009 and their CSA went from 2,050,175 to 2,214,954 (+8.04%).

Columbus MSA went from 1,612,694 to 1,801,848 (+11.73%) between 2000 and 2009 and their CSA went from 1,835,189 to 2,031,229 (+10.68%).

Cleveland MSA went from 2,148,143 to 2,091,286 (-2.65%) between 2000 and 2009 and their CSA went from 2,945,831 to 2,891,988 (-1.83%).

Clevelanders can talk all they want about their supposed superiority relative to the rest of the state, but it seems pretty clear where people want to live - the backwards, hillbilly havens down south.

Wow.

[J'aimeDesVilles]

Originally Posted by Peregrine

As much as people don't like to hear it in either city... Cleveland and Detroit are more alike then either city is like any other.
We should be sister cities.
Industrious Detroit is out of place in rural Michigan as is Industrious Cleveland out of place in mostly rural Ohio. Likewise, Philly and Pittsburgh in PA.
This is not to being negative to Cincy or Columbus. I rather enjoy Cincy actually.

Good example was the Roger Maplethorpe exhibit many years ago featuring some odd nude photos. That exhibit rolled through Cleveland with just a tiny review in the Plain Dealer. Most people didn't even know it was here.
In conservative Cincy? Huge uproar. The Cincy Contemporary Art Museum was even sued for obscenity!!! That made me embarrassed to be an Ohioan.

The most Puritan City in America.
Cincinnati

I don't think people here would have any problem hearing it. I would imagine most Detroiters consider Cleveland as a little brother or sister. There is no animosity, that I am aware of, toward Cleveland. A little bit towards Chicago and Toronto though.

[Peregrine]

Originally Posted by Cbus76

Clevelanders can talk all they want about their supposed superiority relative to the rest of the state, but it seems pretty clear where people want to live - the backwards, hillbilly havens down south.

Please don't put words in my mouth. I didn't put down the rest of the state and I don't think Cleveland is superior to any other city in Ohio.
Well, ok, I really do.
But I didn't say that, and I didn't mean to imply it. Don't be so testy.
Deny that Columbus has a more rural feel then Cleveland does. You cannot. That's not a put down.

All I meant to state is that we are different.
Cbus is actually a bit more along the lines of Cleveland when it comes to politics... and those two metros are usually polar opposites of the rest of the state. To wit: John Kerry won Cleveland and Columbus while the Bush man took the rest of the state.

I don't hate you Columbus.
I don't hate you Cincy.

Ohio rocks!

[Traveler87]

I have always seen Cincinnati more as St. Louis, and Cleveland more like Milwaukee or Buffalo.