From the northern forests of Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico, four major cities flank the banks of the Mississippi River. Which one is your favorite?

Never been to the Twin Cities, but I have been to the rest. I can't really put my finger on the reason, but I think I would have to say St. Louis, with New Orleans a close second.

Minneapolis for these reasons:
1. Hometown bias
2. Best skyline
3. Only waterfall on the Mississippi
4. Largest
5. The river's not too polluted yet by this point

St. Louis for these reasons:

1) Best history
2) Most urban
3) Best location
4) Most distinctive landmark symbolizing its relationship with the river
5) Best rapid transit system
6) The only Mississippi River city that was ranked among the 5 largest cities in the USA in the 20th Century
7) Hometown bias!

St. Louis for me.

Minneapolis is a close second. Even though it is a bigger city than St. Louis it doesn't "feel" as big to me when I'm there. Only my opinion though. Also, the winters are too cold.

New Orleans and Memphis are too small, even though I really do like N.O.

i've only been to st. louis of those 4, so i guess that is what i have to vote for.

Chicago for me. It was the man made canals that connected the Mississippi River to the Great Lakes that made Chicago the greatest city in the central U.S. The true Mississippi River city is Chicago. Otherwise New Orleans or St. Louis would have capatilized on their locations. But they failed to step up to the plate and knock one out like they could have. Chicago, however, hit a Grand Slam. St. Louis or New Orleans could have been more instrumental and key to the Western United States' growth if they had been more aggressive.

^I thought this was about Mississippi river cities?

Paris is mine. It's connected to the Mississippi River via the Seine into the English Channel, out to the Atlantic Ocean, into the Saint Lawrence Seaway, the Great lakes, and into the Chicago Canal, as well as through the Gulf of Mexico. Paris is the culture capitol of the world, and the Mississippi would have never been developed if it weren't for French colonization. Therefore, that makes Paris the best Mississippi River city.

Saint Louis.

St. Louis for these reasons:

1) Best history
2) Most urban
3) Best location
4) Most distinctive landmark symbolizing its relationship with the river
5) Best rapid transit system
6) The only Mississippi River city that was ranked among the 5 largest cities in the USA in the 20th Century
7) Hometown bias!

I actually think NOLA beats STL in #1-3. And as for Number 6, I think NOLA at one time was the largest city in the south and the third largest in the country. I can't argue with #4, 5 is a toss-up {from what I know} and I can't really change your mind about #7, can I? :) For those reasons, and a few more, New Orleans edges out Saint Louis. But I would probably prefer to live in saint louis.

As for Minneapolis, I really dont think of it as a Mississippi river city, as it is too far north to really strike a chord in a visual sense as truly "Missississippi River" city. But I do like it. Memphis is smaller, and I've never been there, but I hear mixed opinions about the city.

As for Minneapolis, I really dont think of it as a Mississippi river city, as it is too far north to really strike a chord in a visual sense as truly "Missississippi River" city.
that's one of the more ridiculous things i've heard in a while. by the same token can i dismiss new orleans as being too far south to really strike a chord in a visual sense as truly a "Mississippi River" city?

that's one of the more ridiculous things i've heard in a while. by the same token can i dismiss new orleans as being too far south to really strike a chord in a visual sense as truly a "Mississippi River" city?


Well, I think he refers to the Mark Twain sense of the phrase "Mississippi River city". The Mississippi in MN has a very different feel than it does down in St. Louis.

And did no one else laugh at loud when they read this?

"Paris is mine. It's connected to the Mississippi River via the Seine into the English Channel, out to the Atlantic Ocean, into the Saint Lawrence Seaway, the Great lakes, and into the Chicago Canal, as well as through the Gulf of Mexico. Paris is the culture capitol of the world, and the Mississippi would have never been developed if it weren't for French colonization. Therefore, that makes Paris the best Mississippi River city"



:hahaha:

Well, as far as all cities located on the Mississippi River... Minneapolis has some great coffee shops and beautiful northern scenery. That's my favorite.

New Orleans. :D Without a doubt, New Orleans is the most beautiful, cultured, and hip of the Mississippi River. I've been to them all and there is little comparison. New Orleans truly is a notch above the rest, no question.

Yeah New Orleans rocks, its probably my choice too, even though I have to give props to St. Louis which is totally awesome and Memphis which is pretty damn hip, cool, historic and original too and *shudders* Twin Cities which are, COOL :)

that's one of the more ridiculous things i've heard in a while. by the same token can i dismiss new orleans as being too far south to really strike a chord in a visual sense as truly a "Mississippi River" city?


woah, now. All I meant was that Minneapolis doesn't really epitomize the Miss. River city that I have in my mind. Of course I know it's on the Mississippi, and of all those the cities up there the twin cities are far and away my favorite. But I interpreted the question as which city on the Mississippi epitomizes the aura and history of the river itself.

Plus, half of my family is from the twin cities. When I eat dinner on the banks of the Mississippi in Minneapolis, I may as well be eating on the Chicago river. At least in my mind.

. When I eat dinner on the banks of the Mississippi in Minneapolis, I may as well be eating on the Chicago river. At least in my mind.

now you're being even sillier.

there is now way that this:
http://www.ala.org/Images/ACRL/News/2004/September/sa43E9.jpg

is in anyway similar to this:
http://www.treefrogweb.com/myc/pictures/chicago/1996/images/michigan1.jpg



except for the fact they they both have water in them. the mighty miss up by minneapolis is still 10 times wider than the chicago river.

the chicago river is a little old lazy marsh creek by comparison. they feel completely different.

I agree with both of you. I dont really picture Minneapolis as a gritty River City that I think of when I hear of cities on the Ohio or Mississippi even though it does lay on the banks of the Ms. I see it as a more technical new age city with old age flavor, I dont know what I am trying to say more modern perhaps. However, I would never mistake being in Minneapolis on the river for being in Chicago on the river...that IS silly, no offence.

St. Louis for these reasons:

1) Best history
2) Most urban
3) Best location
4) Most distinctive landmark symbolizing its relationship with the river
5) Best rapid transit system
6) The only Mississippi River city that was ranked among the 5 largest cities in the USA in the 20th Century
7) Hometown bias!

^same as jive

the lou :)

Talk about Mississippi River cities, New Orleans has to be the poster child.
It's the most unique city in America by far.

The others are cool, but the Big Easy is my favorite.

I would say St. Louis is the hands down capital of the Mississippi river, other cities are good cities, just not so BOOOOM! The river!

Plus the Gateway marks the entry into the west, other otherword the otherside of the river.

New Orleans is a party city known for Mardis Gras, it is unique, but its hard to say its the most unique in the US, unless unique is secretly meaning "French Influence". lol

New Orleans is a party city known for Mardis Gras, it is unique, but its hard to say its the most unique in the US, unless unique is secretly meaning "French Influence". lol

Uhhh yeah. Well really, French mixed with southern. That's like saying Boston is not really one of the most unique in the country unless you consider "Colonial Influence" unique. Eventhough Philly is the same way, but still pretty unique.

I see STL, Memphis, and Minneapolis as very typical cities in their region while you cannot find an equivalent of NOLA anywhere in the nation. My vote goes to New Orleans.

6) The only Mississippi River city that was ranked among the 5 largest cities in the USA in the 20th Century


Would that also be the only one to lose the title of largest city in its own state? ;)

New Orleans has to be one of the coolest looking places in North America.

now you're being even sillier.





except for the fact they they both have water in them. the mighty miss up by minneapolis is still 10 times wider than the chicago river.

the chicago river is a little old lazy marsh creek by comparison. they feel completely different.

you're missing my point. To me, Minneapolis really doesn't strike me as being a quintessential Mississippi river city. So, even though I'd say it's my favorite city overall on that list, it is not my favorite "Mississippi River" city because it does not have what I would consider to be "Mississippi River city" characteristics (Like Saint Louis and NOLA do)/

Would that also be the only one to lose the title of largest city in its own state? ;)


Charleston, SC is now the 3rd largest city in the state. It used to be the 3rd largest in the nation (18th century) and largest in the state. San Francisco was larger than Los Angeles for quite a while. Ditto Cleveland.

NO-Love the French Quarter and culture...Also, I am a big fan of lighthouses.