Please, could you describe me an all-american city?
Jan 4th, 2001, 10:30 AM
#1
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Please, could you describe me an all-american city?
Hi there! I live in South-America and wanted to visit New York. Some people say that NYC, Los Angeles are not typical american cities. I was surprised and now i wander, how is like to live in an all american city? Thanks you all in advance.
Jan 4th, 2001, 11:17 AM
#4
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There used to be a saying in Hollywood that went something like "Yes, but will it play in Peoria?" I think this reference was meant to be what TV Shows or movies would appeal to "middle America". I don't know anything about Peoria, just passing on the story.
Jan 4th, 2001, 12:04 PM
#5
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Just my opinion, but I do think that most of the very big cities are not "typical" because of their size and the cost of living within them. St. Louis, Kansas City, Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Cleveland, Cincinnati and many other Midwestern cities fill the bill for slightly more typical. Some Southern cities do too, such as Oklahoma City or Phoenix. Don't think any of the coast cities are typical at all. If you are coming to visit- you will want to see NYC, San Francisco, or Chicago regardless. That is what all the stats say. Orlando, FL is also a big draw but that is because of M. Mouse. Just read that more S.Americans and Europeans come to Chicago than any other place. Could be that besides the great downtown area they are also frequently visiting relatives and enjoying the more so-called typical "spread-out" American city of neighborhoods with lots of single-family/yard dwellings. You could fit Manhattan in one small cornor of the Southside of Chicago. Peoria, Illinois is a very typical small city. And Jeannie, I am fairly sure that media and entertainment in the USA is not playing to Peoria anymore but to the coasts. Hence a lot of our divisions.
Jan 4th, 2001, 01:10 PM
#6
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From my own experience, "typical" America is suburban America and suburbs is suburbs. The suburbs of NYC, Chicago, Philadelphia, Washington DC, San Francisco, Atlanta and Houston are very similar, and not much different from "small" cities like Indianapolis or Peoria. People are generally open and friendly and have very often moved from somewhere else. While at one time everyone used to go "downtown" to shop, the malls have drastically changed that. Now folks from the city come out to the 'burbs for shopping. Most "cultural" activities - museums, concerts, etc. are in the city, but not necessarily so. The days of "Mayberry, N.C." are pretty much just pleasantly entertaining television Americana, although you can experience some of truly Americana-moments on holidays like 4th of July or Thanksgiving just about anywhere in the US. I like Minneapolis, Nashville, Austin, and Seattle as examples of mid-size "All-American" cities.
Jan 4th, 2001, 05:10 PM
#9
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There is NO such thing as a "typical" or "All-American" city. There ARE cities that are closer to the median or average of certain statistics (such as population, racial distribution, income, etc), but that does NOT make them any more or less "American" than any other city. We've lived in the Detroit, rural Tennessee, California, Texas, Iowa, and Philly -- places as different as one could ask for -- and consider NONE of them as typical of the U.S. and ALL of them just as American as any other.
The search for an "all-American" city is a myth -- New York and Los Angeles may be DIFFERENT from many other parts of the U.S.; but they are not one bit less American just because they are different.
The search for an "all-American" city is a myth -- New York and Los Angeles may be DIFFERENT from many other parts of the U.S.; but they are not one bit less American just because they are different.
Jan 4th, 2001, 05:19 PM
#10
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I have to agree with Paul and Cheryl here. There is no such thing as an All-American City. Such is the diversity. Each city has it's appeals and drawbacks (mostly climate-wise, all depending upon when you choose to visit). All, actually, are All-American. Each, though is "typical" but "unique". You may want to consider placing all you find appealing on your list of places to visit before you die. Seriously.
Jan 5th, 2001, 07:14 AM
#12
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All true, yet there IS a concept that used to be called the American dream of old that idealizes the white picket fence house and neighborhood set up just as in say, Madison Wisconsin. That is a good nomination. Culturally the coast cities have been moving more and more toward European or world class emulation. Historically, Horatio Alger is considered the American success story. What many others outside of America think of as "American" is the kind of city that Horatio could "make it" in. Chicago is thought of as very
"typical" since it still has a large percentage of its within city inhabitants that are working class, blue collar workers. I love San Francisco but do not think of it as being typically American because when I was there I felt like I had been plucked down somewhere in Europe.
"typical" since it still has a large percentage of its within city inhabitants that are working class, blue collar workers. I love San Francisco but do not think of it as being typically American because when I was there I felt like I had been plucked down somewhere in Europe.
Jan 5th, 2001, 08:37 AM
#13
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I remember standing in line to buy a ticket to the Empire State Building Observation deck in 1979. I commented to my future wife why would anyone who visits the US want to go to New York, it is such a poor representation of the USA. I continued to say that I hope foreigners don't think that the people they see in NY reflect the real USA. Why a city? Why not go to Disney World? Certainly the town I was from (in the midwest) and the people who lived there were nothing like New York or New Yorkers. I was overheard by a family with a British accent. I remember their faces (still to this day) - as if I deflated their vacation choice.
Well, 20 years wiser and a much improved NY City reputation, I'd have to agree with most others that there isn't a typical American city. But, New York and other major cities do represent many things that are American and America. Bigness. Wealth. Diversity. Population Density. Especailly when compared to other world regions.
If population is used and 'typical' means where do most people live, then cities and metropolitian areas could be considered typical. See http://www.census.gov/population/www.../twps0027.html or other census.gov stats.
Americans have a great sense of regional pride and prejudice. I think this contributes to the sense that there is no one typical American City since the "other" cities aren't like "my city" - but I suspect that all cities in the US look the same to a resident of a poor country. (enough food, clothes, shelter, jobs, etc ...)
Well, 20 years wiser and a much improved NY City reputation, I'd have to agree with most others that there isn't a typical American city. But, New York and other major cities do represent many things that are American and America. Bigness. Wealth. Diversity. Population Density. Especailly when compared to other world regions.
If population is used and 'typical' means where do most people live, then cities and metropolitian areas could be considered typical. See http://www.census.gov/population/www.../twps0027.html or other census.gov stats.
Americans have a great sense of regional pride and prejudice. I think this contributes to the sense that there is no one typical American City since the "other" cities aren't like "my city" - but I suspect that all cities in the US look the same to a resident of a poor country. (enough food, clothes, shelter, jobs, etc ...)
Jan 5th, 2001, 09:25 AM
#15
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Most of the cities listed here as typical are what I'd consider fairly large.
The most typical thing about the USA is that it is a melting pot of people and cultures from all over the world and US. Half of my neighbors were born and raised in this region and the other half have moved in from other places across the US. My ancestors were here long before the Revolutionary War (225 yrs ago), while my husband's family has been here only a couple of generations. What probably is more "true" is that what is "typical" for one area will be different from what is "typical" for another. What one writer suggested is probably fairly accurate - that surburbia is closest to the norm across the US. The difference being accents and landscape.
Don't forget how large the US actually is. A guest from England was amazed at the distances between cities. A good example is that in reference books here, countries around the world are compared to similar sized states here.
What it like to live in an all american city? Mass transportation is only found in the larger cities. The rest of us are too spread out for it to be economically feasible. Hobbies and habits would differ somewhat depending on how economically advanced the other company is. But when it comes down to the nuts and bolts of day-to-day life, I'll bet it's not that different. We work. Those of us who are parents are involved in our children's schoolwork and other aspects of their lives. Single and childless adults have more time and money to play.
Come visit. See what the larger cities have to offer, then get off the beaten track for a day or so and check out busy boring surburbia.
The most typical thing about the USA is that it is a melting pot of people and cultures from all over the world and US. Half of my neighbors were born and raised in this region and the other half have moved in from other places across the US. My ancestors were here long before the Revolutionary War (225 yrs ago), while my husband's family has been here only a couple of generations. What probably is more "true" is that what is "typical" for one area will be different from what is "typical" for another. What one writer suggested is probably fairly accurate - that surburbia is closest to the norm across the US. The difference being accents and landscape.
Don't forget how large the US actually is. A guest from England was amazed at the distances between cities. A good example is that in reference books here, countries around the world are compared to similar sized states here.
What it like to live in an all american city? Mass transportation is only found in the larger cities. The rest of us are too spread out for it to be economically feasible. Hobbies and habits would differ somewhat depending on how economically advanced the other company is. But when it comes down to the nuts and bolts of day-to-day life, I'll bet it's not that different. We work. Those of us who are parents are involved in our children's schoolwork and other aspects of their lives. Single and childless adults have more time and money to play.
Come visit. See what the larger cities have to offer, then get off the beaten track for a day or so and check out busy boring surburbia.
Jan 5th, 2001, 09:45 AM
#16
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Census stats are just being summarized on the msn page. Suburbs are where it's at as more people exodus cities. Many cities have only kept their populations about equal because of immigration. Immigrants may not be staying in the cities over long periods of time either. (MY suburb has a very large immigrant population- both from South/Central America and from the Mideast.)Biggest surprise is how many Americans are moving South and West. Aging population, especially, is moving South and West and also into rural areas.
Jan 5th, 2001, 11:14 AM
#17
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Hi there, again! I am still reading all those kind and interesting answers! Jacqueline, i am planning a trip to the US in september, and i would love to see the big museums, that means, i believe, that i have to go to NYC, Chicago and Washington. But i am not sure yet, there is a lot of planning to do.
Jan 6th, 2001, 08:16 PM
#18
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People live in residential neighborhoods that can best be seen on foot. Boston is a great town for walking, it is compact, has diverse neighborhoods, a college town with plenty of history and culture too.
Other places I enjoyed that offered a lot to see by walking through various neighborhoods would be Kansas City, and Chicago.
Other places I enjoyed that offered a lot to see by walking through various neighborhoods would be Kansas City, and Chicago.
