Southern cities that arent well represented

From that list, I'm not sure, but seeing as I'm one of 2 people on this board from Fort Worth, I'll nominate Cowtown. I doubt many of you all knew much about it before I started posting (heck, I doubt many of you know much about it NOW...)

Houston, That city is so much of everything. I had no idea, I can't wait to go explore more there!

Houston, That city is so much of everything. I had no idea, I can't wait to go explore more there!

Houston was not included in this poll so why did you even mention it??

I thought you lived in Houston. Anyways I pick Louisville because it is a large city from that list that you NEVER hear hardly anything about.

Houston was not included in this poll so why did you even mention it??

Because Houston and ATL and Chicago have their way of entering almost every conversation at some point its inevitable.

lol i know thats why i wanted to put a stop to it now and talk about the cities he mentioned

i think Louisville is one of the most underrated cities in the country for what it has to offer.

As far as being underrated, I will go with Birmingham. The natural beauty and history of the city alone is worth a trip. If Birmingham had the "right" leadership and began to open itself a little more, it would truly see people flocking there in droves. Then the southeast would be like, "Atlanta who?" ;)

A close second I would say is Louisville. I think Louisville would surprise a lot of people. I think it suffers from lack of true exposure in terms of what it is really like and what it has to offer (I say the same for Birmingham).

Again, it was close but I would say Birmingham.

lol i know thats why i wanted to put a stop to it now and talk about the cities he mentioned

thanks its getting old :)

"i think Louisville is one of the most underrated cities in the country for what it has to offer."

Louisville really is nice but....Could use more and wont get it unless its million plus inhabitants get recognized.

Houston, just a year ago, I thought Houston was a small city in central Texas with only about 100,000 people whjere NASA was based. boy, was I off :O

Ok, come on. How would Raleigh/Durham be underrated?:lol: I agree with fwskyline. Fort Worth for me.

Houston, just a year ago, I thought Houston was a small city in central Texas with only about 100,000 people whjere NASA was based. boy, was I off :O

LOL not to fuel this conversation but REALLY!? Where are you from to think that?

Canada:P

Houston, just a year ago, I thought Houston was a small city in central Texas with only about 100,000 people whjere NASA was based. boy, was I off :O
You must not be from the United States.

I just said that:D

See, I don't know if I agree with Ft. Worth. The first time I went to Ft. Worh, was on a Saturday night, and in all honesty, I was FLOORED at Downtown Ft.Worth and what I saw. But that was about it. I think a lot of people are SURPRISED at Downtown Ft. Worth, but once you leave downtown, it is pretty much what one would think Ft. Worth is.

DOWNTOWN Ft. Worth is wonderful and surprising and unexpecting, especially to a first time visitor. But outside of downtown is just like the rest of the metroplex IMO.

^
My goodness, I just realized Ft. Worth wasn't an option. I just read a couple of responses and started typing. I apologize for bringing in another Texas city that this thread is not about.

See, I don't know if I agree with Ft. Worth. The first time I went to Ft. Worh, was on a Saturday night, and in all honesty, I was FLOORED at Downtown Ft.Worth and what I saw. But that was about it. I think a lot of people are SURPRISED at Downtown Ft. Worth, but once you leave downtown, it is pretty much what one would think Ft. Worth is.

DOWNTOWN Ft. Worth is wonderful and surprising and unexpecting, especially to a first time visitor. But outside of downtown is just like the rest of the metroplex IMO.
Actually, there's quite a bit of urban development outside downtown, not to mention lots of historic hoods. I would say outside Loop 820 FW looks like the rest of the metroplex.

From this list, its definately Richmond.

I just said that:D
But look at the times I was typing that and I did not know you wrote that.

Oh, the two minute difference. Sorry.

Out of that list i'd have to go with Richmond or Birmingham. Overall i'd have to say Memphis by a mile, and the runner-up spot would go to Houston. Houston gets so much flack on this website (mainly because of the bone-headed things some of its forumers say) that all of its great qualities are over-shadowed time and time again.

As far as being underrated, I will go with Birmingham. The natural beauty and history of the city alone is worth a trip. ...
I agree, B-ham is a beautiful city, but it smells like doo doo. :( No one seems to talk about this.

I voted for Richmond. Austin is nice, too.

I agree, B-ham is a beautiful city, but it smells like doo doo. :( No one seems to talk about this.

I voted for Richmond.

ROFL it does? Where? I was just talking about cities that smell like garbage earlier...that is an immediate turn off for me. The smell of New Orleans is unbearable unless intoxicated.

I voted for Austin, but mainly because I haven't really been to any of the other cities on the list. Austin is a great city, but it doesn't get that much attention around the country.

ROFL it does? Where? I was just talking about cities that smell like garbage earlier...that is an immediate turn off for me. The smell of New Orleans is unbearable unless intoxicated.
Yeah...lol. There's steel factories down there that stink up the entire place. They're steel factories, so, I don't know why their emissions smell like shit, literally. You can smell it for miles from downtown. I don't know a lot about B-ham, so, I have no idea where these factories are located. Hopefully someone here can fill us in.

Yeah, I hate smelly towns:D

I voted for Austin, but mainly because I haven't really been to any of the other cities on the list. Austin is a great city, but it doesn't get that much attention around the country.

I would say the same. All people seem to think of Austin is that it is just another sleepy college town. It is, but it is too big to be considered "sleepy". Other folks think it smells like drunks because all people do is party so hard on Sixth Street.

I don't really know anyone who thinks Austin is sleepy. Many people I know think of it as progressive.

I'm the only one here & at SSP that reps Savannah.

Austin...underrated (even by me.)
Pictures from Oasis...googled.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v341/rjlevins/oasis-lake-travis1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v341/rjlevins/oasis-lake-view.jpg

Austin is beautiful. Looks like an awesome place tio visit or even live.

Austin is beautiful. Looks like an awesome place tio visit or even live.
Beautiful, indeed. It's like a inland San Francisco.

Is there an austin pic thread...if not you should make one RJ...id like to see more of the lake and skyline and whatnot.

Is there an austin pic thread...if not you should make one RJ...id like to see more of the lake and skyline and whatnot.

there's one that just recently went up in the main cities forum, but I'll make one for the South.

Thank you kindly ;-)

I think all of those places aren't particularly well represented if you use Charlotte and Atlanta as the "reference" for this forum. Nashville and Birmingham seem to get more play than most on that list though.


Ok, come on. How would Raleigh/Durham be underrated?:lol:

Raleigh is most certainly underrepresented on this forum. How many active RDU threads do you see? :)

I agree, B-ham is a beautiful city, but it smells like doo doo. No one seems to talk about this.

I voted for Richmond. Austin is nice, too.

Um, perhaps no one talks about it because it doesn't exist?

I live in downtown Birmingham and I have never smelled any steel mill emissions.

When did you last visit the city, 1976?

Um, perhaps no one talks about it because it doesn't exist?

I live in downtown Birmingham and I have never smelled any steel mill emissions.

When did you last visit the city, 1976?
Two years ago. Then what's that smell? It smells like cow manure. Natives of B-ham told me it's the mills.

I think Knoxville gets a bad rap sometimes, but overall is a very nice city once you see it up close. Pictures hardly do it justice too, since up close its is a pretty urban and dense small city.

FWIW I don't think you could really put B-ham, Louisville, or Richmond above each other because all three could be the most underrated. I live in Louisville and I have visted Birmingham and have fam in Richmond. I can definitly attest that these three get overshawdowed on a National level by cities such as Nashville and Jacksonville(they really shouldn't even be listed). Nashville and Jacksonville pretty much already have credibility. I also think Austin is up there with Jacksonville and Nashville they are just overshawdowed by Houston and the big "D". Austin is a great great town, one of my fav Tx cities. I do think that B-ham, Louisville, and Richmond are definitly underserved. We just don't have professional sports to use as a attention grabber to national folks. In my opinion these three cities are the most under-rated. Austin should be talked about and promoted like Charlotte and J-ville in my opinion; Austin is a great city, if they had more forumers then I'm pretty sure they would get more love on here.

Two years ago. Then what's that smell? It smells like cow manure. Natives of B-ham told me it's the mills.

Maybe Birmingham, England. Communities near steel factories don't even smell bad. If anything, downtown has a wonderful smell around rush hour from a nearby bread company. Trust me, you have to be from the city to know what I'm talking about. But as far as Birmingham smelling like shit I'm going to have to give you a much needed WTF?

Maybe Birmingham, England. Communities near steel factories don't even smell bad. If anything, downtown has a wonderful smell around rush hour from a nearby bread company. Trust me, you have to be from the city to know what I'm talking about. But as far as Birmingham smelling like shit I'm going to have to give you a much needed WTF?
How about outside of Birmingham, say 5-10 miles to the east? I was in well within the B-ham metro when I smelled the shit. This is really odd, I'va met two B-ham natives who I had convos with about the bad smell and you guys come along and tell me it doesn't exist. WTF? You guys are in denial that your city smells like shit.

It's a hard one, but I'l have to say Jacksonville, FL. Some nice scrapers, several AMAZING bridges, the river, the beach....and it all comes together at downtown. :)

WTF? You guys are in denial that your city smells like shit.

Look guy... any city with factories will have smells near those factories. Whether it's Birmingham, New York, Atlanta, or Honolulu. As far as downtown smelling bad is ridiculous. There aren't even any nearby factories. Sorry! If you think it smells bad I have 1.1 million reasons why it doesn't.

Look guy... any city with factories will have smells near those factories. Whether it's Birmingham, New York, Atlanta, or Honolulu.
So, it does smell like shit in and around B-ham. Don't get me wrong, I really like B-ham. It just smells, that's all.

LOL that was a long conversation about dootie smell

Look guy... any city with factories will have smells near those factories. Whether it's Birmingham, New York, Atlanta, or Honolulu. As far as downtown smelling bad is ridiculous. There aren't even any nearby factories. Sorry! If you think it smells bad I have 1.1 million reasons why it doesn't.

You stole my thought. I was going to same thing. Jax has mills and some of those mills on the western end of the city used to get out of control with the smells they'd omit. This was during the 70s and 80s but controls have been put in place and the stench is far more sparing (and it's mostly limited to nighttime). This is pretty much something to be experienced in many large cities. Heck, Denver has some mills as well that emit a bit of an odor but it's hardly a big deal.

How about outside of Birmingham, say 5-10 miles to the east? I was in well within the B-ham metro when I smelled the shit. This is really odd, I'va met two B-ham natives who I had convos with about the bad smell and you guys come along and tell me it doesn't exist. WTF? You guys are in denial that your city smells like shit.


I'm not in denial; if the area around my apartment smelled like noxious chemicals, I certainly wouldn't have plopped down $800 a month for it.

Two years ago. Then what's that smell? It smells like cow manure. Natives of B-ham told me it's the mills.

did you have an accident in your pants and not realize it? :)

i've only smelled "bad" things in Birmingham up close to a few factories/plants on the west and north sides. 5-10 miles east...isn't that out by the airport?

anyway, Nashville and Birmingham are well respresented on this forum. i put Birmingham, and next up I'd go with Jacksonville.

where's Columbia, SC? especially if Greenville's on there?

-

Out of that list i'd have to go with Richmond or Birmingham. Overall i'd have to say Memphis by a mile, and the runner-up spot would go to Houston. Houston gets so much flack on this website (mainly because of the bone-headed things some of its forumers say) that all of its great qualities are over-shadowed time and time again.

yeah its usually a couple houston forumers that do that but most dont. but there is a little chip on many others forumers because the moment you mention the city. it gets blasted for some reason and they try to defend it. but i see where you are coming from.

I have never been to B-Ham, but I wanna know is: how often and when does the city really smell like dookie? :fart: :fart: :fart:

Well, I say Richmond and Birmingham of course.

But on to the shit topic....WHAT???? Man, I guess two random people would know more than a few people who represent the city and know much more about it. Maybe you passed by Tuscaloosa's rendering plants where animal carcasses are burnt. Or maybe you are imagining things. Steel mills haven't been working since the 1970's and I don't think they would have said "Hey, let's fire em up one moretime!"

If B-ham got decent people in the city offices, we might have a chance.

Devin, I just opened my windows to let the beautiful aroma soothe my senses.... Ahh, doesn't it smell great?

Devin, I just opened my windows to let the beautiful aroma soothe my senses.... Ahh, doesn't it smell great?

Thats gross...I didnt know you were into that....

But on to the shit topic....WHAT???? Man, I guess two random people would know more than a few people who represent the city and know much more about it. Maybe you passed by Tuscaloosa's rendering plants where animal carcasses are burnt.
No, I smelt it on the east side of the metro. It was a hot mid-summer day. Maybe it only comes out then.

Or maybe you are imagining things. Steel mills haven't been working since the 1970's and I don't think they would have said "Hey, let's fire em up one moretime!"
Or, maybe you're immune to the doo doo? The steel industry in northern AL peaked in the 70's, but there are some still running.

Like I said, B-ham is a great place. Beautiful. It's developed almost like SF with the development going up from the valley floor. Amazing.

Thanks for the comps on Birmingham but I don't want people to get the wrong impression. The city smells fine. If this was Gary, IN then you might have a point.

Oh, and I totally agree with you Devin. Once these old farts in politics become to old and senile to run the government we just might have a chance at showing our true potential.

Just the fact that Birmingham has made it this far with the hoard of incompetent and apathetic jesters in leadership is a miracle in itself.

I'm actually pursuing politics in the city so hopefully it'll be a different atmosphere when I contribute.

Of all those cities up there I think Austin is most underrepresented.

It's right on par with Raleigh/Durham, San Diego, NOVA, when it comes to a "brain power" economy, and growth rate.

I thought the key word was "underrated", not "underrepresented".

I certainly don't think Austin is underrated. It gets a lot of positive press, just that here, few post about it.

I voted for Richmond, as "underrated"--a city with beautiful architecture and neighborhoods, yet underrated most likely due to perceived notions about crime, and also perhaps a bit in the shadow of D.C. and Baltimore.

where's Columbia, SC? especially if Greenville's on there?

-


Yeah, Columbia usually gets treated like its been living in a cave for the past 20 years, it has just as much to offer as many of the cities on this forum, and in some cases more. Contrary to popular belief it's growing just as fast as Greenville but I guess since its not on I-85 it doesn't get that recognition.
That's why I represent it so hard.

But I will say this, when it does get recognition from other forumers it usually gets love. :)

I think all of those places aren't particularly well represented if you use Charlotte and Atlanta as the "reference" for this forum. Nashville and Birmingham seem to get more play than most on that list though.




Raleigh is most certainly underrepresented on this forum. How many active RDU threads do you see? :)
I don't want to count:D

Houston

What city is under-rated out of the following ..... Hartford, Stamford, or Newark.....BY GEORGE IVE GOT IT HOUSTON ATLANTA DALLAS AND CHICAGO!

^I think it's Newark! ;)

Out of the list, Richmond, probably. I too wonder what the measuring stick is for "underrated." Underrated by forumers? Or underrated by the general public/media. Also, there is some, but certainly not a total, correlation between underrated and underrepresented. I simply can't tell if Jacksonville is underrated, because I don't know enough about it. I visited Richmond when I was a wee lad, but since then, have not seen too much. What I have seen, though, has exceeded both its representation, as well as its reputation both here and in the general public.

I also think Memphis is underrated, more so by the general public/media than by the forumers. Except for the fact that it wasn't even listed, and that I think it doesn't get the general positive press than say an Austin or Nashville receives. But forumers here generally seem impressed by the city, even though it's not discussed or represented much; I guess I have no right to claim that it is underrated by the forumers here. Based on the Houston remarks, being listed as an option is not a prerequisite for being a choice. So, Memphis, overall. But out of the list, Richmond, then Birmingham. But that's only because I don't know enough about Jacksonville to feel comfortable making a conclusion about it. It very well might deserve to be up there with Richmond, or Birmingham. But at least each of those cities was listed, along with certain ones that don't really have a claim (i.e. Austin and Nashville-- not because they're not nice cities, because they both are nice in their own ways, but I think their "ratings" are pretty high, both by forumers and the general press).

Heck, though, if we go outside the region, what about East St. Louis? :runaway:

:jk:

Looks like we have a tie between Richmond and B-ham, at the moment. Both are great cities. B-ham has nice geography but I prefer Richmond b/c of it's proximity to the Northeast and density.

i say nashville.

the only time you ever hear about us is with country music mostly.

there is so much more than country music here.

I think all of those places aren't particularly well represented if you use Charlotte and Atlanta as the "reference" for this forum. Nashville and Birmingham seem to get more play than most on that list though.




Raleigh is most certainly underrepresented on this forum. How many active RDU threads do you see? :)

^^^^ Thank You
I couldn't agree with you more.In ten years from now Raleigh will be the talk for everybody

I picked Birmingham

Memphis. There is so much construction going on that we do not here about and the city has a big urban core.

Norfolk is so underrated it didn't even make the list for the most underrated.

I would vote for B'ham and Richmond. As far as Raleigh goes, it will take a long time before we claim the title of being underrated. Misunderstood, definitely... underrated, I am not certain.

I think Raleigh gets weak representation, but I'm the only one from Durham and Its underrated because of its weak skyline, despite the fact that it has the nationally known RTP southwest of downtown, Duke and a grand history in Tobacco. Its hard to represent when ther isn't that much going on. Everyone has seen what kinda DT we have and I have showcased the CCB tower and I have tried try to get people to see what potential the bully/city of mdicine has, I just do not think anyone is interested or grasping it! This is a skyscraper forum...so , i guess to show a city that does not have any or only 4 to 5 towers isn't that interesting to you all.

Anyway, Raleigh gets a fair representation here on this forum. Its truly the "city" of the triangle. It holds second largest position in the state (pop.), third best skyline in the state. ....yada-yada-yada! I think it is doing well....the only thing I can say about that is...is that its represented only when someone initiates the post on a new building! A lot of forumers used to get mad when you would say Charlotte, Atlanta and Raleigh in one breathe beacvuse they felt that Raleigh does not belong in the ranks with the The southeast elite cities....but it does.....

Well said, ejohnson, even though I think that Raleigh gets a great share of publicity, mainly of all the on-going projects and new proposals. While Durham gets much less attention, keep in mind that even in Raleigh's case, it would be hard to impress anyone, but don't get discouraged. Our cities, although not as underrated as they may seem at times, are up and coming. Durham, more so than Raleigh, has a very nice urban fabric that is about to get even more attention once the revitalization process reaches the next phase. I must admit, however, that DT Durham needs 2-3 new signature towers between 15 and 20 stories (minimum), in order to get the attention it deserves. As for Raleigh, unless we get a new tallest, it will be hard to make a statement, even though we have several [smaller] towers either under way or proposed.

@willy: You are right... Norfolk is truly underrated and it should have made my list. Sorry for missing it :(

Great topic btw. I agree with B'ham and Richmond. Both cities are very similar population wise and both have strong, diverse economies and many nice qualities. Richmond has more vision IMO and has made more of itself by comparison. If B'ham could get out of its way, display a little vision, and for cryin out loud, have SOME REGIONAL COOPERATION then the area would explode. B'ham has so much unrealized potential it's ridiculous. It deserves to be overlooked and put in the position where it could be considered "underrated" for this reason. It doesn't have its act completely together like Atlanta, Nashville, Jacksonville, Charlotte, Raleigh-Durham, Richmond, and even Memphis. I also think you could throw Louisville in with Richmond and B'ham. Louisville, statistically speaking, is very similar to both cities and sometimes gets overshadowed for the same reasons B'ham and Richmond do. It so close to cities like Cincinatti, Indy, and Nashville that it gets lost in the shuffle sometimes. Birmingham is less than a 3 hour drive from both Atlanta and Nashville so it tends to get overshadowed a bit. Birmingham's transportation system is holding it back some right now as well. There is no northern interstate loop where future development could be steered. The Southern and Eastern suburbs are just about maxed out while Northern Jefferson County (AL) is largely underdeveloped and barren. There is probably room for another 250,000 residents on the undeveloped northern half of Jeff. Co. but there is no major interstate artery (until the northern beltline is finished in the next 15-20 years) to drive development in that part of the county.

I voted for Louisville because I think its a nicer city than most outsiders would think.

I agree that Birmingham has a lot of potential but it need something major to bring it all together.

I haven't been to Richmond but it seems to be waking up but Norfolk is medium sized city that seems to really be changing. Can't wait to visit again and see all the changes.

I think Austin should not be on the list because its the capital of a large state and is pretty widely recognized as a nice city. Its even the location of the next "Real World".

I also don't think Nashville should be on the list its get enough recognition and exposure for what it has to offer.

Monday, I-22 will be officially unveiled as an interstate. Up until now it's still been "Corridor X" and "Future Interstate I-22." Monday, it WILL be an interstate officially. The majority of I-22 should be complete by 2006-2007, with the final interchange at I-65 and I-22 in Birmingham being completed around 2012. I-22 will definitely help growth along the northern and western portions of Jefferson County... that, with the Northern Beltline will make the northern part of Jefferson County ripe for an explosion of growth. Actual construction on the Northern Beltline is set to begin in June.

how about Chattanooga? most of those other cities are overrated

I think Huntsville is the most underrated Southern city. I mean, look, it's not even on this poll.

B'ham has so much unrealized potential it's ridiculous. It deserves to be overlooked and put in the position where it could be considered "underrated" for this reason. It doesn't have its act completely together like Atlanta, Nashville, Jacksonville, Charlotte, Raleigh-Durham, Richmond, and even Memphis.

"Even Memphis"---

That sort of expresses how Memphis is underrated, at least in terms of urban residential development and its urban core--as mentioned by another poster--it's far ahead of many of those cities. People in Memphis have been moving downtown for 15 years.

Among some urban planners and those seeking to redevelop decayed downtowns however, Memphis is recognized for its achievements.

What is surprising is that Greenville is even being rated in this poll. I like Greenville (mainly for familial reasons) but it is surely the smallest of the listed cities and the least well known.

Birmingham & Richmond.

Austin...underrated (even by me.)
Pictures from Oasis...googled.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v341/rjlevins/oasis-lake-travis1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v341/rjlevins/oasis-lake-view.jpg

I hope they rebuild this.

Birmingham.

Fort Worth

I would probably have to say Birmingham.....it has what you would expect out of a much larger city. I dont know just that feeling of, WOW :)

Norfolk is so underrated it didn't even make the list for the most underrated.

Neither did Memphis.

I'm surprised to see Raleigh-Durham area....

I know Durham is underated but Raleigh get good representation.