Like what the thread title says...
Each one of 9 cities in the Palm Springs area/Coachella Valley:
1. Palm Springs, CA : The desert resort everyone heard about, but not the largest city in local population.
2. Cathedral City, CA: A larger population city named for a Cathedral-shaped mountain overlooking the city.
3. Palm Desert, CA: The geographic "center" of the valley, it seems to have everything for locals.
4. Indian Wells, CA: Wealthy town (Indio's original name) which has a tennis stadium (the BNP Paribas Open).
5. La Quinta, CA: It means "the fifth" in Spanish, a relaxation spot for Spanish discoverers interacted with indigenous Cahuilla.
6. Indio, CA: My hometown and it has the annual Date (the fruit from local palm trees) Festival-County Fair in mild February.
7. Rancho Mirage, CA: Golf courses, celebrities and a high per ratio of millionaires for CA and US towns.
8. Coachella, CA: Where the valley's got it's misspelled name (conchilla in Spanish for the soil's ancient tiny lake shells).
9. Desert Hot Springs, CA: Worst city to live in the state, but has the best natural tap water in the country.
and 3 unincorporated towns: Bermuda Dunes (shares zip code with an all-senior community Sun City Palm Desert/Palm Springs), Thousand Palms (a natural palm oasis along the San Andreas fault) and Mecca/Thermal (named for its very high summer temps, but on the Salton sea, a saltwater lake shore).
Where we live is famous for something...
Lawrence, Lowell, Haverhill, MA: mill towns. Lawrence is also known for being a bad city, although I haven't had problems with it. (Lawrence is primarily Hispanic, and neighboring Methuen also has a decent number of Hispanics.) Lowell also has a public university.
Salem, Nashua, NH: Tax free shopping, including a huge mall. Salem formerly had a horse racetrack, but it's gone now. Hudson and Plaistow are known for tax-free shopping, but to a lesser extent. (Pelham, NH isn't known for much despite being on the MA/NH border.)
Andover, MA: Phillips Academy. The IRS, Raytheon, and Pfizer employment offices are known to people from the area, but not nationally.
Methuen, MA: For trivia nerds, its official name is "The City Known As The Town Of Methuen" (although this isn't the case anymore).
North Andover: Merrimack College. Also, Lawrence Municipal Airport is in North Andover, but I'm not sure if most people know this or they think it's in Lawrence.
Tewksbury, Billerica, MA: Voted for Trump in 2016, unlike most of metro Boston.
Dracut: can't think of anything
Kansas City? Well, we're known for barbecue, jazz, the Pendergast political machine, and having that museum with those giant shuttlecocks on the front lawn.
Atwood, KS (where I grew up from 4th grade through high school): Hometown of former governor Mike Hayden. Nothing else, really. There used to be an RC car track that drew a niche crowd from all around, and its summertime "rod run" of classic cars was likewise pretty good. However, I'm pretty sure that RC track is long gone, and plenty of other towns have good "rod run" events.
Wichita, KS (current): Aircraft manufacturing. Textron, Spirit/Boeing, Cessna, Hawker/Beechcraft, Bombardier, Airbus... Wichita's nickname is "Air Capital".
Here's Charles Lindbergh in Wichita in 1929:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wichitaphotos.org%2Fgraphics%2Fwsu_ms97-02.3.3.1.jpg&hash=fcbd08e39810869c2fb9b5c35c874115dcc9fc79)
[WSU Libraries, Special Collections and University Archives]
Civil War stuff, mainly.
Born in Lumberton, NC: David Lynch's Blue Velvet is "set" here...except it was shot in Wilmington, 2 hours to the east. I don't think Lynch was even aware Lumberton, NC was real.
Raised in Chambersburg, PA: Hmm...burnt down by the Confederates, twice. Apparently we're proud of that. John Brown and Frederick Douglass met shortly before Brown's raid in what is now a strip mall.
Live near Gettysburg, PA: The name ring a bell?
My hometown area is known for Emily Dickinson, Robert Frost, Calvin Coolidge, Noah Webster, one of the best collections of dinosaur footprints in the world, two of the Seven Sister colleges (Smith College and Mount Holyoke), Amherst College, the Oxbow of the Connecticut River (immortalized by Thomas Cole), Skinner House on Mount Holyoke, the invention of basketball and volleyball...
...just for starters.
Detroit is obvious, the domestic automotive industry.
Saginaw - Lumbering town back in the day, auto industry, pretty much a smaller version of Flint not quite rough as Flint but it's not very pretty.
Route 66, Bass Pro, and meth
So, Overland Park, Kansas. Hmm. Sprint, and I'm not sure what else. People seem to forget it's the second-largest city in the state.
fort collins, co: balloon boy. big news story oh 2009 or so... supposedly, 6yr old kid was trapped in some ballon that flew across good piece of northern colo, then it turned out to be a hox.
granby, colo: the bulldozer guy, don't remember what year. guy got pissed at the city, essentially turned a bulldozer into a tank, and destroyed a good piece of downtown granby.
Quote from: stridentweasel on October 22, 2020, 09:18:58 PM
People seem to forget it's the second-largest city in the state.
Well, probably because it's a suburb of KC. Aside from a nice downtown they have along Santa Fe Drive, OP just seems like mile upon mile of suburbia - especially the parts south of 435.
Rochester, NY is known most prominently for Kodak! but also Frederick Douglass, Susan B Anthony, trash plates, light traffic, a Great Lakes shoreline, and the original children's museum. And High Falls (https://www.google.com/maps/@43.1630619,-77.6150028,3a,50.4y,49.44h,86.69t/data=!3m8!1e1!3m6!1sAF1QipPC7pkaLbr_RMn_-YjNRGbCvNMmkjt5VJYUQ4Gl!2e10!3e11!6shttps:%2F%2Flh5.googleusercontent.com%2Fp%2FAF1QipPC7pkaLbr_RMn_-YjNRGbCvNMmkjt5VJYUQ4Gl%3Dw203-h100-k-no-pi-0-ya30.46983-ro-0-fo100!7i4802!8i1588!5m1!1e1), which is worth mentioning precisely because it's not as well-known as it should be.
If you're looking for a Rust Belt/Northeast combo, Rochester is it.
Lift bridge, Bob Dylan, giant ships coming under the bridge, holiday light tour at Bayfront Park.
Quote from: TheHighwayMan394 on October 22, 2020, 11:36:24 PM
Lift bridge, Bob Dylan, giant ships coming under the bridge, holiday light tour at Bayfront Park.
And having the second best curlers in the country.
Norman, Oklahoma: Home of OU, the National Weather Center, OU, oh, and did I mention OU? Try the football!
Quote from: KCRoadFan on October 22, 2020, 10:39:07 PM
Well, probably because it's a suburb of KC. Aside from a nice downtown they have along Santa Fe Drive, OP just seems like mile upon mile of suburbia - especially the parts south of 435.
Fun fact: Overland Park is twice as dense as Kansas City, MO. 3371 people per square mile versus 1559 people per square mile (http://www.city-data.com/city/Overland-Park-Kansas.html, http://www.city-data.com/city/Kansas-City-Missouri.html). Huge areas of KCMO are mile upon mile of suburbia and undeveloped land.
Neither of these things is likely to be "known" very far from Indiana, but it's the best there is:
Bremen is known for being the hometown of Otis Bowen, governor from 1973 to 1981, and Secretary of Health and Human Services from 1985 to 1989.
Munster is known for 3Floyds Brewery, one of the most popular microbreweries in the Midwest.
The one thing Mason City, IA is known for is being the basis for the musical The Music Man. Meredith Willson, the creator of The Music Man, was from here and is buried here (and I have been to his grave). Nearby Clear Lake is known for being the place where the music died, where Buddy Holly, the Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens had their last concert before their plane crashed.
The town where I was born, Copperas Cove, Texas, is probably best-known as the hometown of Heisman Trophy winner and NFL quarterback (Redskins and Ravens) Robert Griffin III. I don't regard that as my "hometown" because we left when I was one year old and I've never been back.
Other than that, I've lived my entire life (not counting time away at college and law school) in Fairfax County, Virginia. On the national scene, aside from the presence of a portion of the Beltway (as in "inside the Beltway" or "outside the Beltway" as political terminology) because that is not exclusive to this county, I'd suggest Fairfax County is perhaps most famous as the home of George Washington, whose Mount Vernon estate is located here.
Being the WI state capital and the home of UW-Madison. As for my actual hometown, which is a fairly small suburb of Madison, well, nothing.
This is a topic tailor-made for my hometown (Williamsport), because if anyone from outside the immediate area knows of the city, it's almost certainly in connection with Little League Baseball.
Quote from: webny99 on October 22, 2020, 11:12:53 PM
Rochester, NY is known most prominently for Kodak!
It's no longer a name in the national consciousness as it once was (then again, neither is Kodak), but I would have added Xerox to that list.
Manistee, MI: The two biggest employers are the tribal casino and the state prison. Also the smallest community (by county population and K-12 school enrollment) with a Meijer. Formerly a big lumber boom town and at one point had the most millionaires per capita of any American city. Meth and opioids are a major problem here.
Chicago: The blues, deep-dish pizza, hot dogs, Michael Jordan, Mike Ditka, the Friendly Confines of Wrigley Field, a famous rock band from the 70s and 80s named after the city, Richard Daley, El trains, the best skyline of any American city
Los Angeles: What else? The entertainment industry!
Seattle: Grunge, Nintendo, Microsoft, Starbucks
Quote from: briantroutman on October 23, 2020, 10:46:44 AM
Quote from: webny99 on October 22, 2020, 11:12:53 PM
Rochester, NY is known most prominently for Kodak!
It's no longer a name in the national consciousness as it once was (then again, neither is Kodak), but I would have added Xerox to that list.
Indeed! In fact, if I squint, I can almost see some of the Xerox buildings from where I am right now.
Quote from: briantroutman on October 23, 2020, 10:46:44 AM
This is a topic tailor-made for my hometown (Williamsport), because if anyone from outside the immediate area knows of the city, it's almost certainly in connection with Little League Baseball.
Granted, I'm the exception rather than the rule, but when I think of Williamsport I think of the US 15 slog through the southern part of town, which is really a microcosm of everything I dislike about that corridor. It's too bad that's the stretch long-distance traffic has to drive through, because the actual city has cool college town vibes and, as I recall, lots of tree-lined streets in the CBD which isn't something you see too often.
Ice cream, toasted rav, Blues and Cardinals, zoo, arch, some great food, racial tensions, poverty, crime.
Quote from: kphoger on October 23, 2020, 01:55:52 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on October 22, 2020, 08:59:34 PM
Detroit
You forgot urban decline.
Quote from: stridentweasel on October 22, 2020, 09:18:58 PM
Overland Park, Kansas.
Malls and soccer moms. ?
Quote from: Henry on October 23, 2020, 10:48:12 AM
Chicago
Wind, more than anything else you listed.
"Windy" refers to rumors, not wind.
Quote from: Rothman on October 23, 2020, 02:02:05 PM
"Windy" refers to rumors, not wind.
And politics, specifically. Yes, I know, but Chicago is nonetheless most famous for wind.
Walnut Creek, CA:
It was bland white suburbia when I was growing up there and still is. Maybe notable to roadgeeks for the interchange of I-680 and CA-24; the original 1960 design with the narrow ramps and awful criss-cross merges was rebuilt in a huge project from about 1990-2000 that featured a very high (and a little too steep for trucks) temporary flyover which carried southbound I-680. The downtown has gone upscale in the last 25 years or so as they've tried with a fair amount of success to make it the Palo Alto of the East Bay.
Here's what the major cities in Brazoria County are known for:
Alvin: Nolan Ryan. Also the record holder for most rainfall in 24 hours in the continental U.S. (43 inches from tropical storm Claudette in 1979). The site where the rainfall was recorded now has Bayou Wildlife, a small drive-by zoo with giraffes, ostriches, and other animals.
Angleton: Brazoria County Fair, considered largest in Texas. Also has MSR Houston, a racetrack and go kart track, and Crocodile Encounter, another miniature zoo-like facility that mostly specializes in alligators, despite their name. They also have lemurs and wild hogs for some reason. Not as big as Bayou Wildlife.
Angleton's main icon is this (https://www.google.com/maps/@29.15023,-95.4512857,3a,51.7y,68.15h,95.29t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1soqL0cvh2JBhwXonno8iDbg!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo0.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DoqL0cvh2JBhwXonno8iDbg%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D89.217255%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656) statue of Stephen F. Austin, the "Father Of Texas".
Clute: Hosts the Great Texas Mosquito Festival every July.
Freeport: The Dow Chemical Company has a couple plants here; it is the largest integrated chemical manufacturing site in the country and a major employer for the county. It also has a large seaport. Known for it's seaside culture and birdwatching opportunities.
Lake Jackson: The city was designed by Dow for its workers to reside in. Nowadays, it has Sea Center Texas, the world's largest redfish hatchery, and the headquarters of Buc-ee's. Famous for it's street names: This Way, That Way, and Any Way all exist in downtown. Rand Paul, senator of Kentucky, spent his childhood here.
Recently made the news because of a brain-eating amoeba in the city water supply.
Pearland: Definition of suburban sprawl. Once a small town dedicated to growing pears, now Pearland is the largest city in the county, and it's grown like a weed: 30 years ago, only 18k people lived here. Now over 120k do.
Rosharon: Home of Skydive Spaceland, Houston's main skydiving center.
Surfside Beach: The best beach in the county. Also has an insane amount of birdwatching opportunities (actually most of the county does; more bird species live in Brazoria County than in any other US county).
West Columbia: The first capital of the Republic of Texas. A replica of the first capitol building stands in the city.
Overall, the county is known for the beach, the birds, the history as the birthplace of Texas, and the food (Tex-Mex, crawfish, and other seafood). I know this sounds like a tourist guide, but there's a lot here.
Quote from: CoreySamson on October 23, 2020, 04:44:39 PM
Clute: Hosts the Great Texas Mosquito Festival every July.
Now doesn't THAT sound like a blast!
Quote from: kphoger on October 23, 2020, 04:47:30 PM
Quote from: CoreySamson on October 23, 2020, 04:44:39 PM
Clute: Hosts the Great Texas Mosquito Festival every July.
Now doesn't THAT sound like a blast!
Yep. It's a real thing. Brazoria County has the worst mosquitoes I've ever seen (although they aren't Alaska-level bad). You're probably very likely to get bitten by one at that festival.
I was born on Westover AFB MA. We lived in Chickenpee Falls, MA. We moved after a few months so I dont know nuttin bout Chicopee, MA.
I quit, Its late I'm tired here's a ccp from Wiki
It is home to several statues and monuments to World War II veterans and Vietnam War veterans. The Edward Bellamy House, a National Historic Landmark at 91—93 Church Street in Chicopee Falls, Massachusetts. The house was built in 1852 and was the home of journalist Edward Bellamy.
Appleton, WI - historically it is paper, often called the 'Paper Valley' due to the paper mills along the Fox River from nearby Neenah, WI downstream to and beyond Green Bay, WI.
More recently it is fire trucks. Oshkosh-Pierce (www.piercemfg.com) builds their fire trucks in several plants located here in the Appleton area. The main assembly plant is just south of Prospect Ave on I-41.
See: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=marn0gET8Qc for some interesting stuff on it.
BTW, about a year ago parent company Oshkosh Truck (HQed in nearby Oshkosh, WI) won the contract to replace the USArmy's HMMWVs.
Also, FWD-Seagrave, supplier of the FDNY's rigs for over a century, builds their fire trucks in nearby Clintonville, WI, located about 45 minutes northwest of Appleton on US 45.
Mike
Flint, Michigan I'm currently in Flint right now so here it goes.
General Motors.
Wayland NY
Home of the Gunlocke Company, manufacturer of high-quality office furniture for the corporate/government market. When I was little, my grandmother came along on our family vacations, and she made sure that every hotel desk clerk knew that Wayland is where they make the chair for the President of the United States (https://www.gunlocke.com/gunlocke-story/history). (I don't know if that is still true.)
Wayland made the national news for a train wreck on 29 August 1943, which killed 27 people.
Everett: Home to the world's largest building by volume, which will soon empty out due to corporate greed.
Also had the first declared COVID-19 case in the U.S. way back in mid-January. And the first deadly group outbreak was only a few miles down the road in Kirkland a month later.
Quote from: Flint1979 on October 24, 2020, 11:18:39 AM
Flint, Michigan I'm currently in Flint right now so here it goes.
General Motors.
I'd say more people these days know of Flint from their corroding lead pipes.
Quote from: US 89 on October 25, 2020, 12:30:49 PM
Quote from: Flint1979 on October 24, 2020, 11:18:39 AM
Flint, Michigan I'm currently in Flint right now so here it goes.
General Motors.
I'd say more people these days know of Flint from their corroding lead pipes.
I still associate it more with Roger & Me, hence General Motors.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on October 25, 2020, 12:33:51 PM
Quote from: US 89 on October 25, 2020, 12:30:49 PM
Quote from: Flint1979 on October 24, 2020, 11:18:39 AM
Flint, Michigan I'm currently in Flint right now so here it goes.
General Motors.
I'd say more people these days know of Flint from their corroding lead pipes.
I still associate it more with Roger & Me, hence General Motors.
Anyone from Michigan would associate Flint with General Motors. In a city of 190,000 people in the 1970's about 80,000 people worked for General Motors in the Flint area, today there are only about 5,000 General Motors workers in the Flint area and Flint's population is at about 90,000 people, under 100,000 for the first time since 1920. I would love for Flint to make a comeback but too many people have a negative image about the city.
Off topic, I don't know the last time you were in Detroit but I was riding around the inner city yesterday and for the first time in I'd say about five years I took a ride past the old Tiger Stadium and Michigan Central Station. The site at Michigan and Trumbull is cool they have a baseball field where the old field the Tigers use to play on was and have development built around it. Michigan Central Station looks like it's coming along pretty nice and now has windows. I still remember when the last train pulled out of that station 32 years ago.
Quote from: Flint1979 on October 25, 2020, 01:51:38 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on October 25, 2020, 12:33:51 PM
Quote from: US 89 on October 25, 2020, 12:30:49 PM
Quote from: Flint1979 on October 24, 2020, 11:18:39 AM
Flint, Michigan I'm currently in Flint right now so here it goes.
General Motors.
I'd say more people these days know of Flint from their corroding lead pipes.
I still associate it more with Roger & Me, hence General Motors.
Anyone from Michigan would associate Flint with General Motors. In a city of 190,000 people in the 1970's about 80,000 people worked for General Motors in the Flint area, today there are only about 5,000 General Motors workers in the Flint area and Flint's population is at about 90,000 people, under 100,000 for the first time since 1920. I would love for Flint to make a comeback but too many people have a negative image about the city.
Off topic, I don't know the last time you were in Detroit but I was riding around the inner city yesterday and for the first time in I'd say about five years I took a ride past the old Tiger Stadium and Michigan Central Station. The site at Michigan and Trumbull is cool they have a baseball field where the old field the Tigers use to play on was and have development built around it. Michigan Central Station looks like it's coming along pretty nice and now has windows. I still remember when the last train pulled out of that station 32 years ago.
I pop in about every two years. Back in 2015 there was make shift baseball field that was kept up by the local neighborhood at the site of Tiger's Stadium. Central Station has come a long way given there is a lot of interest in salvaging the building now. Apparently even parts of the Packard Plant even got a real restoration from what I've heard.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on October 25, 2020, 02:14:20 PM
Quote from: Flint1979 on October 25, 2020, 01:51:38 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on October 25, 2020, 12:33:51 PM
Quote from: US 89 on October 25, 2020, 12:30:49 PM
Quote from: Flint1979 on October 24, 2020, 11:18:39 AM
Flint, Michigan I'm currently in Flint right now so here it goes.
General Motors.
I'd say more people these days know of Flint from their corroding lead pipes.
I still associate it more with Roger & Me, hence General Motors.
Anyone from Michigan would associate Flint with General Motors. In a city of 190,000 people in the 1970's about 80,000 people worked for General Motors in the Flint area, today there are only about 5,000 General Motors workers in the Flint area and Flint's population is at about 90,000 people, under 100,000 for the first time since 1920. I would love for Flint to make a comeback but too many people have a negative image about the city.
Off topic, I don't know the last time you were in Detroit but I was riding around the inner city yesterday and for the first time in I'd say about five years I took a ride past the old Tiger Stadium and Michigan Central Station. The site at Michigan and Trumbull is cool they have a baseball field where the old field the Tigers use to play on was and have development built around it. Michigan Central Station looks like it's coming along pretty nice and now has windows. I still remember when the last train pulled out of that station 32 years ago.
I pop in about every two years. Back in 2015 there was make shift baseball field that was kept up by the local neighborhood at the site of Tiger's Stadium. Central Station has come a long way given there is a lot of interest in salvaging the building now. Apparently even parts of the Packard Plant even got a real restoration from what I've heard.
I remember it just being a makeshift baseball field with nothing else around it but it now has housing around it. The Corktown neighborhood looks like it's coming along pretty nicely. I'm honestly surprised that anyone had any interest in the train station because it just seems so removed from downtown and that was always my thought about it. I haven't been around the Packard Plant in awhile but I remember hearing that where the sign that use to say MOTOR CITY INDUSTRAL PARK collapsed onto Grand Blvd.
About 5 years ago I was riding around with a friend just cruising around the city. He's from Saginaw and doesn't really know Detroit too well so I was driving around and we were near the Packard Plant and before I turned onto Concord Street I told him it's gonna look very ghetto here in a second. It was trash filled all the way to the Ford Service Drive. I'm happy to hear someone has some interest in cleaning that part of Detroit up.
Bloomington IN (my hometown): Indiana University, nearby Brown County. In the past, RCA's color TV plant and the Showers Brothers furniture factory (the largest in the country, 100 years ago) were located there.
Quote from: Flint1979 on October 25, 2020, 02:53:33 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on October 25, 2020, 02:14:20 PM
Quote from: Flint1979 on October 25, 2020, 01:51:38 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on October 25, 2020, 12:33:51 PM
Quote from: US 89 on October 25, 2020, 12:30:49 PM
Quote from: Flint1979 on October 24, 2020, 11:18:39 AM
Flint, Michigan I'm currently in Flint right now so here it goes.
General Motors.
I'd say more people these days know of Flint from their corroding lead pipes.
I still associate it more with Roger & Me, hence General Motors.
Anyone from Michigan would associate Flint with General Motors. In a city of 190,000 people in the 1970's about 80,000 people worked for General Motors in the Flint area, today there are only about 5,000 General Motors workers in the Flint area and Flint's population is at about 90,000 people, under 100,000 for the first time since 1920. I would love for Flint to make a comeback but too many people have a negative image about the city.
Off topic, I don't know the last time you were in Detroit but I was riding around the inner city yesterday and for the first time in I'd say about five years I took a ride past the old Tiger Stadium and Michigan Central Station. The site at Michigan and Trumbull is cool they have a baseball field where the old field the Tigers use to play on was and have development built around it. Michigan Central Station looks like it's coming along pretty nice and now has windows. I still remember when the last train pulled out of that station 32 years ago.
I pop in about every two years. Back in 2015 there was make shift baseball field that was kept up by the local neighborhood at the site of Tiger's Stadium. Central Station has come a long way given there is a lot of interest in salvaging the building now. Apparently even parts of the Packard Plant even got a real restoration from what I've heard.
I remember it just being a makeshift baseball field with nothing else around it but it now has housing around it. The Corktown neighborhood looks like it's coming along pretty nicely. I'm honestly surprised that anyone had any interest in the train station because it just seems so removed from downtown and that was always my thought about it. I haven't been around the Packard Plant in awhile but I remember hearing that where the sign that use to say MOTOR CITY INDUSTRAL PARK collapsed onto Grand Blvd.
About 5 years ago I was riding around with a friend just cruising around the city. He's from Saginaw and doesn't really know Detroit too well so I was driving around and we were near the Packard Plant and before I turned onto Concord Street I told him it's gonna look very ghetto here in a second. It was trash filled all the way to the Ford Service Drive. I'm happy to hear someone has some interest in cleaning that part of Detroit up.
Regarding the field, I believe it was a semi salvaged diamond that hadn't fully overgrown at the site of Tigers Stadium. There was kids out playing a game in the pouring rain when I was there in 2015. I thought it was pretty cool that people would care about the old stadium site enough that they would try to preserve and use it. Apparently the Detroit Police Athletic League runs the new field:
https://polarengraving.com/detroitpoliceathleticleague
Quote from: Henry on October 23, 2020, 10:48:12 AM
Seattle: Grunge, Nintendo, Microsoft, Starbucks
Boeing, drizzle.
Quote from: kkt on October 25, 2020, 07:32:56 PM
Quote from: Henry on October 23, 2020, 10:48:12 AM
Seattle: Grunge, Nintendo, Microsoft, Starbucks
Boeing, drizzle.
Seattle always will be the Alaskan Way Viaduct and car ferry city to me.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on October 25, 2020, 06:35:14 PM
Quote from: Flint1979 on October 25, 2020, 02:53:33 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on October 25, 2020, 02:14:20 PM
Quote from: Flint1979 on October 25, 2020, 01:51:38 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on October 25, 2020, 12:33:51 PM
Quote from: US 89 on October 25, 2020, 12:30:49 PM
Quote from: Flint1979 on October 24, 2020, 11:18:39 AM
Flint, Michigan I'm currently in Flint right now so here it goes.
General Motors.
I'd say more people these days know of Flint from their corroding lead pipes.
I still associate it more with Roger & Me, hence General Motors.
Anyone from Michigan would associate Flint with General Motors. In a city of 190,000 people in the 1970's about 80,000 people worked for General Motors in the Flint area, today there are only about 5,000 General Motors workers in the Flint area and Flint's population is at about 90,000 people, under 100,000 for the first time since 1920. I would love for Flint to make a comeback but too many people have a negative image about the city.
Off topic, I don't know the last time you were in Detroit but I was riding around the inner city yesterday and for the first time in I'd say about five years I took a ride past the old Tiger Stadium and Michigan Central Station. The site at Michigan and Trumbull is cool they have a baseball field where the old field the Tigers use to play on was and have development built around it. Michigan Central Station looks like it's coming along pretty nice and now has windows. I still remember when the last train pulled out of that station 32 years ago.
I pop in about every two years. Back in 2015 there was make shift baseball field that was kept up by the local neighborhood at the site of Tiger's Stadium. Central Station has come a long way given there is a lot of interest in salvaging the building now. Apparently even parts of the Packard Plant even got a real restoration from what I've heard.
I remember it just being a makeshift baseball field with nothing else around it but it now has housing around it. The Corktown neighborhood looks like it's coming along pretty nicely. I'm honestly surprised that anyone had any interest in the train station because it just seems so removed from downtown and that was always my thought about it. I haven't been around the Packard Plant in awhile but I remember hearing that where the sign that use to say MOTOR CITY INDUSTRAL PARK collapsed onto Grand Blvd.
About 5 years ago I was riding around with a friend just cruising around the city. He's from Saginaw and doesn't really know Detroit too well so I was driving around and we were near the Packard Plant and before I turned onto Concord Street I told him it's gonna look very ghetto here in a second. It was trash filled all the way to the Ford Service Drive. I'm happy to hear someone has some interest in cleaning that part of Detroit up.
Regarding the field, I believe it was a semi salvaged diamond that hadn't fully overgrown at the site of Tigers Stadium. There was kids out playing a game in the pouring rain when I was there in 2015. I thought it was pretty cool that people would care about the old stadium site enough that they would try to preserve and use it. Apparently the Detroit Police Athletic League runs the new field:
https://polarengraving.com/detroitpoliceathleticleague
About 3 years ago just before Little Caesars Arena opened I walked around the city using DDOT to get around. I walked from downtown where I parked in Greektown to Little Caesars Arena and walked around that area a little bit it was just before it opened they were having an open house and I got to go inside the arena and check it out, only time I've been in it so far since I haven't been to a Wings or Pistons game since that time. Anyway I was getting tired of walking so to take a break I spotted the Dexter bus coming down Cass and got on it, took it downtown and then got on the Michigan bus and went out by the old Tiger Stadium to walk the Corktown neighborhood. I haven't had a chance to revisit that day since then but I was impressed with what was going on in the city it felt like a real city instead of what we know Detroit's been like with the abandoned buildings downtown such as the Book Cadillac Hotel, Fort Shelby Hotel (which I glazed up at yesterday and was impressed with how they renovated that building) and all the buildings that were nearly empty. Now it looks like they have life and it is pretty cool.
Of course when you get out into the neighborhoods further away from downtown it's still the old Detroit in most areas. I still think the worst part of Detroit is the area from around 7 Mile and Gratiot to Eastland Mall.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on October 25, 2020, 07:34:17 PM
Quote from: kkt on October 25, 2020, 07:32:56 PM
Quote from: Henry on October 23, 2020, 10:48:12 AM
Seattle: Grunge, Nintendo, Microsoft, Starbucks
Boeing, drizzle.
Seattle always will be the Alaskan Way Viaduct and car ferry city to me.
The Alaska Ferry doesn't come here anymore, it moved to Bellingham.
Come to think of it, Boeing's headquarters is now Chicago and manufacturing is on a race to the bottom.
But we've still got the drizzle.
Syracuse, NY...
Syracuse University, along with Orange basketball; Carrier Corporation and the Carrier Dome; Carrol's Corporation; DestiNY USA (Carousel Mall); Interstate 81 and the Community Grid.
Quote from: amroad17 on October 26, 2020, 05:38:25 AM
Syracuse, NY...
Syracuse University, along with Orange basketball; Carrier Corporation and the Carrier Dome; Carrol's Corporation; DestiNY USA (Carousel Mall); Interstate 81 and the Community Grid.
Onondaga Lake: The most polluted lake in the country (at least, it was).
Syracuse should be better known for the Underground Railroad (including the very important Jerry Rescue).
Hasn't Carrier lessened their presence in Syracuse? Their HQ is in Florida. I keep thinking they removed their name from the Dome, but...not yet.
Not sure how famous Carrols is.
And, DestiNY is more of a regional joke than anything...but it does carry a sort of infamy. :D
Quote from: Rothman on October 26, 2020, 07:24:21 AM
... And, DestiNY is more of a regional joke than anything...but it does carry a sort of infamy. :D
I guess I missed the joke. Sure, it's never going to rival Mall of America or anything, but it was the talk of town even here in Rochester for the first few years, and it's seemed plenty busy every time I've been.
Quote from: webny99 on October 26, 2020, 07:54:11 AM
Quote from: Rothman on October 26, 2020, 07:24:21 AM
... And, DestiNY is more of a regional joke than anything...but it does carry a sort of infamy. :D
I guess I missed the joke. Sure, it's never going to rival Mall of America or anything, but it was the talk of town even here in Rochester for the first few years, and it's seemed plenty busy every time I've been.
It's an overhyped mall.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on October 22, 2020, 08:59:34 PM
Detroit is obvious, the domestic automotive industry.
If you're restircting it to positive things, then yes . . .
Quote from: thspfc on October 26, 2020, 08:04:02 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on October 22, 2020, 08:59:34 PM
Detroit is obvious, the domestic automotive industry.
If you're restircting it to positive things, then yes . . .
Even out of the massive list of negative things most would know it for the automotive industry. Not a lot of people who aren't some what local really understand the City of Detroit essentially is a burnt out ghost town.
Personally, I think this thread is most interesting when the response for any given city is narrowed down to a single #1 item. (Like the psychologists' exercise: "Say the first thing that pops into your head when I mention ___" .)
In that scenario, I think that the answer for Detroit has to be something along the lines of "The Motor City" , "the U.S. auto industry" , etc.–I don't think urban decay, Motown Records, or anything else outweighs that.
Charleston, AR
1). 1st school district in the former Confederate states to successfully implement racial integration.
2). Steve Cox - kicker/punter for Super Bowl XXII winning Washington Redskins.
3). Denny Flynn - 3 time National Finals Rodeo bullriding champion.
I remember as a kid riding down the dirt road from my Granny's house to Denny Flynn's training arena on the hood of Granny's 1978 Ford Thunderbird at around 5 MPH and hopping off every few seconds to pick up beer cans for recycling. Franklin County is dry, but it seems bullriders are not. Probably pain management as he got turned inside out by a bull's horn once.
Quote from: briantroutman on October 26, 2020, 09:40:12 PM
Personally, I think this thread is most interesting when the response for any given city is narrowed down to a single #1 item. (Like the psychologists' exercise: "Say the first thing that pops into your head when I mention ___" .)
In that scenario, I think that the answer for Detroit has to be something along the lines of "The Motor City" , "the U.S. auto industry" , etc.–I don't think urban decay, Motown Records, or anything else outweighs that.
On the other hand, Flint = Flint water crisis.
The Aberdeen Proving Ground and Ripken Stadium.
Expanding on other towns in the area (see the first reply for the earlier ones):
Derry NH: Being the largest town (not city) in the state. Contains the Robert Frost Farm. For Irish tourists, the amusement comes from Derry and Londonderry being adjacent towns; in Ireland, they're different names for the same city.
Manchester NH: Being the largest city in the state. Nothing really stands out as being in Manchester and not the rest of the state, though. It does have many politicians speaking there during election season, and it also has a mall, but you would expect both of those.
Exeter NH: Phillips Exeter Academy (not to be confused with Phillips Academy in Andover, MA).
Newburyport MA (#12 in 1800): Mouth of the Merrimack River. Known for its boats.
Salisbury MA: Salisbury Beach.
Hampton NH: Hampton Beach and the I-95 tolls.
South Hampton NH: One of the few towns that was named after the 1616 map that had entirely made-up names. It's not exactly in the same location, but the real South Hampton is in the location of the map legend, so it's as close as you're going to get. Also far less populous than every adjacent town.
Salem MA (#8 in 1790): The Salem Witch Trials, obviously. For locals, the Peabody Essex Museum is also located here.
Danvers MA: Where the Salem Witch Trials actually happened. Also has the Liberty Tree Mall (which is a strip mall, not an actual mall).
Peabody MA: North Shore Mall, and subject to mispronunciation by non-locals.
Gloucester MA (#13 in 1790), Rockport MA: The ocean.
Lynn MA: City of Sin.
Manchester-by-the-Sea MA: The movie with the same name.
Marblehead MA (#11 in 1790): Very rich, and also very old.
Woburn MA: Subject to mispronunciation by non-locals. Contains one of the more important commuter rail stations.
Reading MA: I-95/I-93 interchange.
Stoneham MA: Stone Zoo
Burlington MA: Burlington Mall, as well as Lahey Hospital's original and flagship location.
Lexington MA, Concord MA: April 19, 1775. Lincoln is somehow forgotten despite being halfway between the two, even at the time. Lexington is also known for having the best public schools in the state.
Bedford MA: Hanscom Air Force Base, which extends slightly into Lincoln and Concord.
Westford MA: Kimball Farm.
Pepperell MA: One of the better covered bridges.
Harvard MA: Fruitlands Museum, and having a confusing name (nowhere near the university).
Carlisle MA: Basically being a rural "gap" surrounded on all sides by larger towns.
Quote from: 1 on October 27, 2020, 06:12:47 AM
Quote from: briantroutman on October 26, 2020, 09:40:12 PM
Personally, I think this thread is most interesting when the response for any given city is narrowed down to a single #1 item. (Like the psychologists' exercise: "Say the first thing that pops into your head when I mention ___" .)
In that scenario, I think that the answer for Detroit has to be something along the lines of "The Motor City" , "the U.S. auto industry" , etc.–I don't think urban decay, Motown Records, or anything else outweighs that.
On the other hand, Flint = Flint water crisis.
Flint is just like Detroit, it's an automotive town. It's known as the Vehicle City. The water crisis has only been the last 6 years that's certainly not what it's known for.
Quote from: thspfc on October 26, 2020, 08:04:02 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on October 22, 2020, 08:59:34 PM
Detroit is obvious, the domestic automotive industry.
If you're restircting it to positive things, then yes . . .
I would have to say even with Detroit's negative image it's still well known as the Motor City. Anyone that has been to Detroit would know that it's known for the auto industry. Just enter the city from the south on I-75 and you're going right between all the industrial sites between the massive Ford Rouge Plant and Zug Island.
Quote from: Flint1979 on October 27, 2020, 08:41:56 AM
Quote from: 1 on October 27, 2020, 06:12:47 AM
Quote from: briantroutman on October 26, 2020, 09:40:12 PM
Personally, I think this thread is most interesting when the response for any given city is narrowed down to a single #1 item. (Like the psychologists' exercise: "Say the first thing that pops into your head when I mention ___" .)
In that scenario, I think that the answer for Detroit has to be something along the lines of "The Motor City" , "the U.S. auto industry" , etc.–I don't think urban decay, Motown Records, or anything else outweighs that.
On the other hand, Flint = Flint water crisis.
Flint is just like Detroit, it's an automotive town. It's known as the Vehicle City. The water crisis has only been the last 6 years that's certainly not what it's known for.
I disagree. If you tell someone from around here that you're from Flint, I think they're much more likely to say "Don't drink the water!" than to say anything automotive-related.
A lot of people know Detroit as an automotive town, but that's about all they know about Michigan. If anything else, they also know that Detroit is home to current urban decay. They don't know anything else about any other town in Michigan except what they've heard on the news about the water in Flint.
Quote from: kphoger on October 27, 2020, 11:39:49 AM
Quote from: Flint1979 on October 27, 2020, 08:41:56 AM
Quote from: 1 on October 27, 2020, 06:12:47 AM
Quote from: briantroutman on October 26, 2020, 09:40:12 PM
Personally, I think this thread is most interesting when the response for any given city is narrowed down to a single #1 item. (Like the psychologists' exercise: "Say the first thing that pops into your head when I mention ___" .)
In that scenario, I think that the answer for Detroit has to be something along the lines of "The Motor City" , "the U.S. auto industry" , etc.–I don't think urban decay, Motown Records, or anything else outweighs that.
On the other hand, Flint = Flint water crisis.
Flint is just like Detroit, it's an automotive town. It's known as the Vehicle City. The water crisis has only been the last 6 years that's certainly not what it's known for.
I disagree. If you tell someone from around here that you're from Flint, I think they're much more likely to say "Don't drink the water!" than to say anything automotive-related.
A lot of people know Detroit as an automotive town, but that's about all they know about Michigan. If anything else, they also know that Detroit is home to current urban decay. They don't know anything else about any other town in Michigan except what they've heard on the news about the water in Flint.
The auto industry is what built Flint and ultimately what killed Flint, same as Detroit. This post asks for what your hometown/city is known for, Flint is well known as an auto town even outside of Michigan. General Motors was founded in Flint and if you were to ride around Flint you'd notice that it's an auto town and if you were to fly into Flint you'd be greeted by a huge General Motors plant as you leave the airport.
Just put in google, "What is Flint, Michigan known for?" and it will say the birthplace of General Motors.
Quote from: Flint1979 on October 27, 2020, 01:09:12 PM
Quote from: kphoger on October 27, 2020, 11:39:49 AM
Quote from: Flint1979 on October 27, 2020, 08:41:56 AM
Quote from: 1 on October 27, 2020, 06:12:47 AM
Quote from: briantroutman on October 26, 2020, 09:40:12 PM
Personally, I think this thread is most interesting when the response for any given city is narrowed down to a single #1 item. (Like the psychologists’ exercise: “Say the first thing that pops into your head when I mention ___”.)
In that scenario, I think that the answer for Detroit has to be something along the lines of “The Motor City”, “the U.S. auto industry”, etc.—I don’t think urban decay, Motown Records, or anything else outweighs that.
On the other hand, Flint = Flint water crisis.
Flint is just like Detroit, it's an automotive town. It's known as the Vehicle City. The water crisis has only been the last 6 years that's certainly not what it's known for.
I disagree. If you tell someone from around here that you're from Flint, I think they're much more likely to say "Don't drink the water!" than to say anything automotive-related.
A lot of people know Detroit as an automotive town, but that's about all they know about Michigan. If anything else, they also know that Detroit is home to current urban decay. They don't know anything else about any other town in Michigan except what they've heard on the news about the water in Flint.
The auto industry is what built Flint and ultimately what killed Flint, same as Detroit. This post asks for what your hometown/city is known for, Flint is well known as an auto town even outside of Michigan. General Motors was founded in Flint and if you were to ride around Flint you'd notice that it's an auto town and if you were to fly into Flint you'd be greeted by a huge General Motors plant as you leave the airport.
Just put in google, "What is Flint, Michigan known for?" and it will say the birthplace of General Motors.
Okay, but very few people outside of Michigan know that.
Right now, if you pick a random person from one of the other 49 states and ask them where GM started, their answer is very likely to be Detroit even if that’s wrong. That same person, if they even know Flint exists, has only ever heard of it because its water issues keep making it onto the evening news.
Quote from: US 89 on October 27, 2020, 02:07:50 PM
Quote from: Flint1979 on October 27, 2020, 01:09:12 PM
Quote from: kphoger on October 27, 2020, 11:39:49 AM
Quote from: Flint1979 on October 27, 2020, 08:41:56 AM
Quote from: 1 on October 27, 2020, 06:12:47 AM
Quote from: briantroutman on October 26, 2020, 09:40:12 PM
Personally, I think this thread is most interesting when the response for any given city is narrowed down to a single #1 item. (Like the psychologists' exercise: "Say the first thing that pops into your head when I mention ___" .)
In that scenario, I think that the answer for Detroit has to be something along the lines of "The Motor City" , "the U.S. auto industry" , etc.–I don't think urban decay, Motown Records, or anything else outweighs that.
On the other hand, Flint = Flint water crisis.
Flint is just like Detroit, it's an automotive town. It's known as the Vehicle City. The water crisis has only been the last 6 years that's certainly not what it's known for.
I disagree. If you tell someone from around here that you're from Flint, I think they're much more likely to say "Don't drink the water!" than to say anything automotive-related.
A lot of people know Detroit as an automotive town, but that's about all they know about Michigan. If anything else, they also know that Detroit is home to current urban decay. They don't know anything else about any other town in Michigan except what they've heard on the news about the water in Flint.
The auto industry is what built Flint and ultimately what killed Flint, same as Detroit. This post asks for what your hometown/city is known for, Flint is well known as an auto town even outside of Michigan. General Motors was founded in Flint and if you were to ride around Flint you'd notice that it's an auto town and if you were to fly into Flint you'd be greeted by a huge General Motors plant as you leave the airport.
Just put in google, "What is Flint, Michigan known for?" and it will say the birthplace of General Motors.
Okay, but very few people outside of Michigan know that.
Right now, if you pick a random person from one of the other 49 states and ask them where GM started, their answer is very likely to be Detroit even if that's wrong. That same person, if they even know Flint exists, has only ever heard of it because its water issues keep making it onto the evening news.
People haven't heard of Flint just because of the water crisis that isn't true at all. Flint was known before the water crisis that's for sure.
Quote from: Flint1979 on October 27, 2020, 09:01:07 PM
Quote from: US 89 on October 27, 2020, 02:07:50 PM
Quote from: Flint1979 on October 27, 2020, 01:09:12 PM
Quote from: kphoger on October 27, 2020, 11:39:49 AM
Quote from: Flint1979 on October 27, 2020, 08:41:56 AM
Quote from: 1 on October 27, 2020, 06:12:47 AM
Quote from: briantroutman on October 26, 2020, 09:40:12 PM
Personally, I think this thread is most interesting when the response for any given city is narrowed down to a single #1 item. (Like the psychologists' exercise: "Say the first thing that pops into your head when I mention ___" .)
In that scenario, I think that the answer for Detroit has to be something along the lines of "The Motor City" , "the U.S. auto industry" , etc.–I don't think urban decay, Motown Records, or anything else outweighs that.
On the other hand, Flint = Flint water crisis.
Flint is just like Detroit, it's an automotive town. It's known as the Vehicle City. The water crisis has only been the last 6 years that's certainly not what it's known for.
I disagree. If you tell someone from around here that you're from Flint, I think they're much more likely to say "Don't drink the water!" than to say anything automotive-related.
A lot of people know Detroit as an automotive town, but that's about all they know about Michigan. If anything else, they also know that Detroit is home to current urban decay. They don't know anything else about any other town in Michigan except what they've heard on the news about the water in Flint.
The auto industry is what built Flint and ultimately what killed Flint, same as Detroit. This post asks for what your hometown/city is known for, Flint is well known as an auto town even outside of Michigan. General Motors was founded in Flint and if you were to ride around Flint you'd notice that it's an auto town and if you were to fly into Flint you'd be greeted by a huge General Motors plant as you leave the airport.
Just put in google, "What is Flint, Michigan known for?" and it will say the birthplace of General Motors.
Okay, but very few people outside of Michigan know that.
Right now, if you pick a random person from one of the other 49 states and ask them where GM started, their answer is very likely to be Detroit even if that's wrong. That same person, if they even know Flint exists, has only ever heard of it because its water issues keep making it onto the evening news.
People haven't heard of Flint just because of the water crisis that isn't true at all. Flint was known before the water crisis that's for sure.
How many people from other parts of the country can distinguish between Flint, Ann Arbor, and Dearborn?
Quote from: 1 on October 27, 2020, 09:06:44 PM
Quote from: Flint1979 on October 27, 2020, 09:01:07 PM
Quote from: US 89 on October 27, 2020, 02:07:50 PM
Quote from: Flint1979 on October 27, 2020, 01:09:12 PM
Quote from: kphoger on October 27, 2020, 11:39:49 AM
Quote from: Flint1979 on October 27, 2020, 08:41:56 AM
Quote from: 1 on October 27, 2020, 06:12:47 AM
Quote from: briantroutman on October 26, 2020, 09:40:12 PM
Personally, I think this thread is most interesting when the response for any given city is narrowed down to a single #1 item. (Like the psychologists' exercise: "Say the first thing that pops into your head when I mention ___" .)
In that scenario, I think that the answer for Detroit has to be something along the lines of "The Motor City" , "the U.S. auto industry" , etc.–I don't think urban decay, Motown Records, or anything else outweighs that.
On the other hand, Flint = Flint water crisis.
Flint is just like Detroit, it's an automotive town. It's known as the Vehicle City. The water crisis has only been the last 6 years that's certainly not what it's known for.
I disagree. If you tell someone from around here that you're from Flint, I think they're much more likely to say "Don't drink the water!" than to say anything automotive-related.
A lot of people know Detroit as an automotive town, but that's about all they know about Michigan. If anything else, they also know that Detroit is home to current urban decay. They don't know anything else about any other town in Michigan except what they've heard on the news about the water in Flint.
The auto industry is what built Flint and ultimately what killed Flint, same as Detroit. This post asks for what your hometown/city is known for, Flint is well known as an auto town even outside of Michigan. General Motors was founded in Flint and if you were to ride around Flint you'd notice that it's an auto town and if you were to fly into Flint you'd be greeted by a huge General Motors plant as you leave the airport.
Just put in google, "What is Flint, Michigan known for?" and it will say the birthplace of General Motors.
Okay, but very few people outside of Michigan know that.
Right now, if you pick a random person from one of the other 49 states and ask them where GM started, their answer is very likely to be Detroit even if that's wrong. That same person, if they even know Flint exists, has only ever heard of it because its water issues keep making it onto the evening news.
People haven't heard of Flint just because of the water crisis that isn't true at all. Flint was known before the water crisis that's for sure.
How many people from other parts of the country can distinguish between Flint, Ann Arbor, and Dearborn?
Probably quite a few. Ann Arbor for one is associated with one of the more notable college football programs. Dearborn probably be the least noted in the public consciousness.
Quote from: 1 on October 27, 2020, 09:06:44 PM
Quote from: Flint1979 on October 27, 2020, 09:01:07 PM
Quote from: US 89 on October 27, 2020, 02:07:50 PM
Quote from: Flint1979 on October 27, 2020, 01:09:12 PM
Quote from: kphoger on October 27, 2020, 11:39:49 AM
Quote from: Flint1979 on October 27, 2020, 08:41:56 AM
Quote from: 1 on October 27, 2020, 06:12:47 AM
Quote from: briantroutman on October 26, 2020, 09:40:12 PM
Personally, I think this thread is most interesting when the response for any given city is narrowed down to a single #1 item. (Like the psychologists' exercise: "Say the first thing that pops into your head when I mention ___" .)
In that scenario, I think that the answer for Detroit has to be something along the lines of "The Motor City" , "the U.S. auto industry" , etc.–I don't think urban decay, Motown Records, or anything else outweighs that.
On the other hand, Flint = Flint water crisis.
Flint is just like Detroit, it's an automotive town. It's known as the Vehicle City. The water crisis has only been the last 6 years that's certainly not what it's known for.
I disagree. If you tell someone from around here that you're from Flint, I think they're much more likely to say "Don't drink the water!" than to say anything automotive-related.
A lot of people know Detroit as an automotive town, but that's about all they know about Michigan. If anything else, they also know that Detroit is home to current urban decay. They don't know anything else about any other town in Michigan except what they've heard on the news about the water in Flint.
The auto industry is what built Flint and ultimately what killed Flint, same as Detroit. This post asks for what your hometown/city is known for, Flint is well known as an auto town even outside of Michigan. General Motors was founded in Flint and if you were to ride around Flint you'd notice that it's an auto town and if you were to fly into Flint you'd be greeted by a huge General Motors plant as you leave the airport.
Just put in google, "What is Flint, Michigan known for?" and it will say the birthplace of General Motors.
Okay, but very few people outside of Michigan know that.
Right now, if you pick a random person from one of the other 49 states and ask them where GM started, their answer is very likely to be Detroit even if that's wrong. That same person, if they even know Flint exists, has only ever heard of it because its water issues keep making it onto the evening news.
People haven't heard of Flint just because of the water crisis that isn't true at all. Flint was known before the water crisis that's for sure.
How many people from other parts of the country can distinguish between Flint, Ann Arbor, and Dearborn?
I'd say a lot. People know where Flint is, Ann Arbor is a college town and Dearborn is known for being the home of Ford.
Quote from: Rothman on October 26, 2020, 07:24:21 AM
Quote from: amroad17 on October 26, 2020, 05:38:25 AM
Syracuse, NY...
Syracuse University, along with Orange basketball; Carrier Corporation and the Carrier Dome; Carrol's Corporation; DestiNY USA (Carousel Mall); Interstate 81 and the Community Grid.
Onondaga Lake: The most polluted lake in the country (at least, it was).
Syracuse should be better known for the Underground Railroad (including the very important Jerry Rescue).
Hasn't Carrier lessened their presence in Syracuse? Their HQ is in Florida. I keep thinking they removed their name from the Dome, but...not yet.
Not sure how famous Carrols is.
And, DestiNY is more of a regional joke than anything...but it does carry a sort of infamy. :D
Yes, Carrier has lessened their presence in Syracuse, however, at one time they were one of the big corporations in the area. Just like GE was until the TV operations were transferred to Suffolk, VA in the early to mid 1970's (the reason I left Syracuse--my father worked for GE and we moved to Chesapeake, VA).
It is somewhat difficult to find many positive things that Syracuse is known for since the city has lost over 70,000 in population from 1960 until now, along with the loss of some corporations--though the OP did not distinguish whether the things known for are positive or negative.
If one is 50 or more years old and a Syracuse-area native, they would know what Carrol's was--a pretty good hamburger restaurant. Now Carrol's is a franchise owner of many Burger Kings in the Northeast. They even own two or three here in Northern Kentucky.
We aren't talking about what cities are known for by locals, though. I would think that most people would just know about the university and their once reputable basketball team.
Quote from: Rothman on October 28, 2020, 08:13:46 AM
We aren't talking about what cities are known for by locals, though.
Looking back at the OP, though, I'm not so sure that's true.
Quote from: kphoger on October 28, 2020, 11:57:36 AM
Quote from: Rothman on October 28, 2020, 08:13:46 AM
We aren't talking about what cities are known for by locals, though.
Looking back at the OP, though, I'm not so sure that's true.
If something is just locally known, it ain't famous.
The #1 item is way too obvious so I will go with Toilet Paper.
Quote from: Big John on October 30, 2020, 04:23:38 PM
The #1 item is way too obvious so I will go with Toilet Paper.
It's only obvious if we know where you live.
(It's Green Bay. I found it by looking at prior posts; the location is given here (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=27904.msg2544681#msg2544681).)
Hometown - Kannapolis: Dale Earnhardt Sr. and other NASCAR ephemera.
My current hometown is famous for being the site of the first capitol of the Wisconsin Territory. The territorial legislature and Supreme Court met for one session in 1836, and during that session voted to move the permanent capitol of Madison. The original Supreme Court building and Legislative building still exist at a state historical site about 3 miles northwest of Belmont, WI.
My original hometown really isn't famous for much of anything, other than being one of the more affluent suburbs of Milwaukee.
Quote from: 1 on October 30, 2020, 04:32:24 PM
Quote from: Big John on October 30, 2020, 04:23:38 PM
The #1 item is way too obvious so I will go with Toilet Paper.
It's only obvious if we know where you live.
(It's Green Bay. I found it by looking at prior posts; the location is given here (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=27904.msg2544681#msg2544681).)
Stalker. :-P
Ally Raisman
P.T. Barnum and Duracell batteries
Also the founder of Sonic Youth if that's your style.
Cincinnati: Harambe, Chili on spaghetti, P&G
Saginaw is pretty much a typical city in Michigan that's run down, lots of crime, ugly looking, lots of people that lack common sense but that is what Flint and Detroit are like too as well as Pontiac. Saginaw isn't even that big anymore the population is down to about 44,000 and Saginaw Township which is actually where I live has almost the same population as the city does we just call it the city and the township and people know what you are talking about around here. Saginaw Township is just like any other suburb in America it's mostly residential with some farming in the western part of the township and the typical commercial strips along State Street (M-58), Bay Road (M-84) and Gratiot (M-46) and Tittabawassee Road (not a state highway). Most of Gratiot's businesses are in the city or Thomas Township (Shields).
Sadly, the shooting during The Dark Knight.
Chris
Quote from: jayhawkco on August 20, 2021, 01:22:32 PM
Sadly, the shooting during The Dark Knight.
I grew up in northwestern Kansas, but my parents had grown up and lived most of their lives in cities like KC, Saint Louis, and Chicago, and they had more urban tastes. Once or twice a year, we drove to the Denver area to get things we couldn't find nearby–work uniforms, a large selection of yarn, a decent liquor store, a large mall, even a wide selection of cars to test-drive. For me, Aurora was–well, it was where everything
was, where we did almost all our shopping on those trips. About the only things that ever took us into Denver proper were (1) flying out of Stapleton or (2) Cherry Creek mall.
Where I grew up...it's actually across from where Donald Fagen (of Steely Dan) grew up (though he and I are from elsewhere-him from Passaic and I from New Brunswick-both are river cities). I have driven past his childhood house, BTW
Where I live now...I can mention that it's where Burger King (not the chain that we know and detest nowadays) was started (on Beach Blvd, US 90-this was then a recent extension of the highway over a former railroad ROW). It's now home to CSX, which was formed from the likes of Chessie and Seaboard, et al. It's also now home to FECRwy, which used to be located further south in St. Augustine (I live in FECRwy territory).
Casey Jones is the most famous dead resident. Isaac Tigrett is the most famous living resident.
Largest city between Memphis (1.3 million) and Nashville (2.1 million), with roughly 100,000 in the county and 65,000 or 70,000in the city.
Huge manufacturing city for its size and a hub for several railroads
Quote from: kphoger on August 20, 2021, 01:44:50 PM
Quote from: jayhawkco on August 20, 2021, 01:22:32 PM
Sadly, the shooting during The Dark Knight.
I grew up in northwestern Kansas, but my parents had grown up and lived most of their lives in cities like KC, Saint Louis, and Chicago, and they had more urban tastes. Once or twice a year, we drove to the Denver area to get things we couldn't find nearby–work uniforms, a large selection of yarn, a decent liquor store, a large mall, even a wide selection of cars to test-drive. For me, Aurora was–well, it was where everything was, where we did almost all our shopping on those trips. About the only things that ever took us into Denver proper were (1) flying out of Stapleton or (2) Cherry Creek mall.
Yeah. There's lots of good stuff here (and much cheaper housing than other areas of the metro due to some "anti-Aurora" sentiments (they think crime is bad here when it's limited to a pretty specific section of town)), but we definitely have to be the most anonymous city of our size in the country other than maaaaybe Mesa, Arlington, or Bakersfield.
Chris
Quote from: jayhawkco on August 20, 2021, 02:59:11 PM
Quote from: kphoger on August 20, 2021, 01:44:50 PM
Quote from: jayhawkco on August 20, 2021, 01:22:32 PM
Sadly, the shooting during The Dark Knight.
I grew up in northwestern Kansas, but my parents had grown up and lived most of their lives in cities like KC, Saint Louis, and Chicago, and they had more urban tastes. Once or twice a year, we drove to the Denver area to get things we couldn't find nearby–work uniforms, a large selection of yarn, a decent liquor store, a large mall, even a wide selection of cars to test-drive. For me, Aurora was–well, it was where everything was, where we did almost all our shopping on those trips. About the only things that ever took us into Denver proper were (1) flying out of Stapleton or (2) Cherry Creek mall.
Yeah. There's lots of good stuff here (and much cheaper housing than other areas of the metro due to some "anti-Aurora" sentiments (they think crime is bad here when it's limited to a pretty specific section of town)), but we definitely have to be the most anonymous city of our size in the country other than maaaaybe Mesa, Arlington, or Bakersfield.
Chris
They don't know what they're talking about. Violent crime in Colorado is very low. Compared to Tennessee for example, it's less than half, not much more than a third.
Nashville is not bad, especially for a city of its size (2.1 million), most violent crime is in West Tennessee. If I remember correctly, Memphis is in at least the top 10 if not the top 5 most dangerous cities over 100,000, and Jackson isn't much safer.
Quote from: kevinb1994 on August 20, 2021, 02:50:18 PM
Where I live now...I can mention that it's where Burger King (not the chain that we know and detest nowadays) was started (on Beach Blvd, US 90-this was then a recent extension of the highway over a former railroad ROW).
Ah yes, the original
Insta-Burger King.
Quote from: Daniel Fiddler on August 20, 2021, 03:05:56 PM
They don't know what they're talking about. Violent crime in Colorado is very low. Compared to Tennessee for example, it's less than half, not much more than a third.
Nashville is not bad, especially for a city of its size (2.1 million), most violent crime is in West Tennessee. If I remember correctly, Memphis is in at least the top 10 if not the top 5 most dangerous cities over 100,000, and Jackson isn't much safer.
I get it, but in the Denver metro, most of the violent crime is basically centered nearish to Colfax Avenue from approximately the Denver/Lakewood border to I-225. The area right on the Denver/Aurora border tends to be some of the worst.
Chris
Doesn't Colorado have a disproportionate amount of mass shootings (the type where someone enters a grocery store or something and randomly starts shooting)?
Quote from: SkyPesos on August 20, 2021, 03:44:26 PM
Doesn't Colorado have a disproportionate amount of mass shootings (the type where someone enters a grocery store or something and randomly starts shooting)?
Well, we've had Columbine, the Dark Knight, and then recently the grocery store in Boulder. Three high notoriety ones at least.
Chris
Quote from: SkyPesos on August 20, 2021, 03:44:26 PM
Doesn't Colorado have a disproportionate amount of mass shootings (the type where someone enters a grocery store or something and randomly starts shooting)?
Here's a map for reference. It's slightly higher, but not the highest. Note that only two of the four are in the populated areas of Colorado.
(https://newsforkids.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/map-of-mass-shootings-2021.jpg)
That's not the point, though. He was saying that Denver-area residents view Aurora as too violent. The people with such an opinion are already living in Colorado.
Quote from: kphoger on August 20, 2021, 03:52:21 PM
That's not the point, though. He was saying that Denver-area residents view Aurora as too violent. The people with such an opinion are already living in Colorado.
Yep. And Aurora is definitely the most diverse area around in this white-bread state, so that fuels some of the sentiment I'm sure.
Chris
Quote from: Dirt Roads on August 20, 2021, 03:07:39 PM
Quote from: kevinb1994 on August 20, 2021, 02:50:18 PM
Where I live now...I can mention that it's where Burger King (not the chain that we know and detest nowadays) was started (on Beach Blvd, US 90-this was then a recent extension of the highway over a former railroad ROW).
Ah yes, the original Insta-Burger King.
That's the one, but most of us on the forum weren't around then.
Quote from: Dirt Roads on August 20, 2021, 03:07:39 PM
Ah yes, the original Insta-Burger King.
Quote from: kevinb1994 on August 20, 2021, 06:13:10 PM
That's the one, but most of us on the forum weren't around then.
Me neither, but I kind of get nostalgic about old-timey burger joints. And hotdog joints.
1. San Francisco: home of the Financial District, SOMA, Golden State Warriors, San Francisco Giants
2. South San Francisco: Home of the Biotech Industry on the West Coast
3. Vallejo: Mare Island and Six Flags Discovery Kingdom (Formerly Marine World) went bankrupt during the 2008 recession
4. Fairfield: Travis Air Force Base, COVID-19's US arrival was at Travis Air Force base and sparked the shutdown initially in California before the rest of the USA.
5. Sacramento: where West Coast Lobbying firms and campaign operations take place.
This, for better or worse: https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-aerial-photograph-joliet-correctional-center-joliet-illinois-52448294.html
New Britain, CT: Stanley tools. I never see any Stanley Works signs now though.
Fort Wayne, IN
Big Hospitals, first NBA game, (then) IPFW beat IU in basketball back-to-back years not long ago.
Quote from: Brandon on August 22, 2021, 11:07:34 AM
This, for better or worse: https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-aerial-photograph-joliet-correctional-center-joliet-illinois-52448294.html
Also: birthplace of kphoger
Quote from: kphoger on August 23, 2021, 02:10:01 PM
Quote from: Brandon on August 22, 2021, 11:07:34 AM
This, for better or worse: https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-aerial-photograph-joliet-correctional-center-joliet-illinois-52448294.html
Also: birthplace of kphoger
You were born in a correctional center?
No, I meant that's what his hometown is known for. It's where I was born. They should put that on the road signs or something...
[/not]
Quote from: KEVIN_224 on August 22, 2021, 08:04:14 PM
New Britain, CT: Stanley tools. I never see any Stanley Works signs now though.
They moved a lot of their offices to Southington in one of the buildings that The Hartford used to occupy.
Quote from: cabiness42 on August 23, 2021, 02:27:13 PM
Quote from: kphoger on August 23, 2021, 02:10:01 PM
Quote from: Brandon on August 22, 2021, 11:07:34 AM
This, for better or worse: https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-aerial-photograph-joliet-correctional-center-joliet-illinois-52448294.html
Also: birthplace of kphoger
You were born in a correctional center?
This guy probably was born there
(https://img.discogs.com/WVQ6Yg4s8eaUfvmPeMmrujZVvgQ=/224x317/smart/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(90)/discogs-images/A-609190-1190114334.jpeg.jpg)
My current hometown is known for Judge Parker's Courtroom (the Hangin Judge). Across town is Fort Chaffee where a lot of Vietnamese immigrants/refugees were brought to the USA (and possibly Afghan refugees) and is slowly being absorbed by housing and subdivisions.
Nantucket: Whaling
St. Louis: The Arch, thin crust pizza, Forest Park, 1904 World's Fair, Chuck Berry, Michael McDonald
Quote from: CapeCodder on September 03, 2021, 07:43:21 AM
St. Louis: Thin crust pizza
Wut. :D
Also: A declining population. :D
I was reared in the country. The small nearby spot in the road Sugarhill community was for the manufacture of illicit liquor.
The nearest small town, Talco was the "ASPHALT Capitol of the World"
The county seat Mount Pleasant is the utility trailer capitol. It is home to Big Tex, Top Hat, Diamond C, Performance, Texas Bragg, a handful of others. It is also Home to Priefert Ranch and Rodeo (Gates, pens, etc.) Before the late eighties, it was only known for the smell of the rendering plant, chicken plant, and the refinery. The refinery has closed. The rendering plant and chicken plant smells have been reduced to the point you only know they are still there on a bad day.
My current home town Texarkana is known for "The Town that Dreaded Sundown". The original hometown of Ross Perot, and is the home of the US Post Office and Courthouse that sits on top of the state line of Texas and Arkansas.
Saginaw, Michigan - Tony's Home Of The Giant Steak Sandwich Since 1946.
Casey Jones is the most famous deceased resident and Isaac Tigrett is the most famous living resident.
Oak Lawn, Illinois
-1967 Tornado
-Birthplace of Kevin Cronin (lead vocalist for REO Speedwagon)
-Dwayne Wade attended Richards High School here
-Dave Diehl, two time Super Bowl Champion with the Giants
-Dan Donegan and Steve Kmak, part of the band Disturbed
Quote from: bwana39 on September 03, 2021, 08:19:50 AM
My current home town Texarkana is known for "The Town that Dreaded Sundown". The original hometown of Ross Perot, and is the home of the US Post Office and Courthouse that sits on top of the state line of Texas and Arkansas.
And here, I first knew about Texarkana because of the R.E.M. song.
Quote from: kphoger on September 03, 2021, 01:19:52 PM
Quote from: bwana39 on September 03, 2021, 08:19:50 AM
My current home town Texarkana is known for "The Town that Dreaded Sundown". The original hometown of Ross Perot, and is the home of the US Post Office and Courthouse that sits on top of the state line of Texas and Arkansas.
And here, I first knew about Texarkana because of the R.E.M. song.
Jeff Keith from Tesla was born over on the other side (TXK AR) and sang about it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aDj8CK-ViA
My specific hometown is not really known, although growing up I did spend a lot of time in Athens GA. Which is known for the state flagship university, which also has the distinction of being the oldest public university in the US by charter (other universities make a similar claim based on other criteria). R.E.M., mentioned directly above, also started here.
Ankeny (where I currently live): suburb growing like a weed, HQ of Casey's General Stores
Des Moines: state capital, the Iowa State Fair, insurance/financial companies, hometown of Slipknot
Quote from: iowahighways on September 03, 2021, 01:54:23 PM
Ankeny (where I currently live): suburb growing like a weed, HQ of Casey's General Stores
Des Moines: state capital, the Iowa State Fair, insurance/financial companies, hometown of Slipknot
I was in that town twice in a month span about 13 years ago and it seemed like it was out in the cornfields at that time.
Ankeny, to me, is known as the location where 44,000 AADT starts sharing just four lanes of I-35. :banghead:
Quote from: kphoger on September 03, 2021, 03:46:30 PM
Ankeny, to me, is known as the location where 44,000 AADT starts sharing just four lanes of I-35. :banghead:
I think there are a lot of cases in a metro area where an interstate highway goes down to four lanes way too quickly.
Quote from: kphoger on September 03, 2021, 03:46:30 PM
Ankeny, to me, is known as the location where 44,000 AADT starts sharing just four lanes of I-35. :banghead:
In the Iowa DOT's defense, there are plans to six-lane it northward to Ames, but the only stretch that's funded is from the current end of the six-lane at exit 94 northward to IA 210 in Huxley.
Quote from: iowahighways on September 03, 2021, 05:34:20 PM
Quote from: kphoger on September 03, 2021, 03:46:30 PM
Ankeny, to me, is known as the location where 44,000 AADT starts sharing just four lanes of I-35. :banghead:
In the Iowa DOT's defense, there are plans to six-lane it northward to Ames, but the only stretch that's funded is from the current end of the four-lane northward to IA 210 in Huxley.
Oh, good grief. AADT hardly drops at all north of that point. Counts are pretty steady all the way up to US-30. North of Ames is one-third lower than south of Ames: the six-laning should extend at least to there, if not Story City.
And, for what it's worth, a similar drop happens at US-20, where nearly one-third of the remaining AADT drops off.
Quote from: kphoger on September 03, 2021, 05:53:38 PM
Quote from: iowahighways on September 03, 2021, 05:34:20 PM
Quote from: kphoger on September 03, 2021, 03:46:30 PM
Ankeny, to me, is known as the location where 44,000 AADT starts sharing just four lanes of I-35. :banghead:
In the Iowa DOT's defense, there are plans to six-lane it northward to Ames, but the only stretch that's funded is from the current end of the four-lane northward to IA 210 in Huxley.
Oh, good grief. AADT hardly drops at all north of that point. Counts are pretty steady all the way up to US-30. North of Ames is one-third lower than south of Ames: the six-laning should extend at least to there, if not Story City.
And, for what it's worth, a similar drop happens at US-20, where nearly one-third of the remaining AADT drops off.
It could certainly use six lanes, but it's also a first-world problem compared to what states further east are used to. See I-78 in PA, I-83 in PA, I-376 in Pittsburgh, I-81 in Virginia, I-95 in South Carolina, etc. Even portions of I-90 here in NY have comparable volumes to that section of I-35, and with considerably more truck traffic. And at least
something is happening (https://www.google.com/maps/@41.7271235,-93.5766265,3a,76.6y,15.73h,86.57t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s2l1yK-3ywh-PY0wAoJomig!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1) on that stretch of I-35 - that's more than can be said for a lot of the above routes.
Quote from: CapeCodder on September 04, 2021, 02:14:35 PM
Quote from: Rothman on September 03, 2021, 08:10:18 AM
Quote from: CapeCodder on September 03, 2021, 07:43:21 AM
St. Louis: Thin crust pizza
Wut. :D
Also: A declining population. :D
No shit.
You could also say the arch, Budweiser's home, and the big city associated with Ferguson, MO.
Erwin NC - Denim Capital of the World
Made denim in a plant right off 13th st and H Street between 1903 and 2000. Closed due to NAFTA requiring workers to move to Mexico for higher pay.
Owned originally by Burlington Industries (hence the name Burlington Ave on 13th st), bought out by Swift Textiles in 1989.
Originally had a railroad that my grandmother said to avoid at all costs. It took an hour+ for the train to clear 13th street! :wow:
Quote from: snowc on September 04, 2021, 03:28:49 PM
Erwin NC - Denim Capital of the World
Nowadays that title belongs to Xintang, where one in three pairs of jeans are made.
And since denim literally derives from "serge de Nîmes", perhaps that title should truly belong to Nîmes.
Kentwood, Louisiana....hometown of Britney Spears. and yes, I knew the family. I went to the same high school that she and her sister went to and my cousin was in the same class until she had to leave to go be famous.
I also briefly went to the same church. met her only a time or two..couple of times before she was famous and once after.
SHE is actually really kind, generous, and down to earth. Her parents were always desperate to get rich and her dad was always trying out some new business that would inevitably fail because he would drink too much or spend all the money on drugs...so they banked their entire future dreams on her being famous. She's also much much smarter than people give her credit for.
So despite not being a fan of the music, I have been heavily following this "free Britney" thing and can say...yeah she's right about this. They have been using her for her fame and money since she was a kid
Quote from: 1 on October 27, 2020, 09:06:44 PM
Quote from: Flint1979 on October 27, 2020, 09:01:07 PM
Quote from: US 89 on October 27, 2020, 02:07:50 PM
Quote from: Flint1979 on October 27, 2020, 01:09:12 PM
Quote from: kphoger on October 27, 2020, 11:39:49 AM
Quote from: Flint1979 on October 27, 2020, 08:41:56 AM
Quote from: 1 on October 27, 2020, 06:12:47 AM
Quote from: briantroutman on October 26, 2020, 09:40:12 PM
Personally, I think this thread is most interesting when the response for any given city is narrowed down to a single #1 item. (Like the psychologists' exercise: "Say the first thing that pops into your head when I mention ___" .)
In that scenario, I think that the answer for Detroit has to be something along the lines of "The Motor City" , "the U.S. auto industry" , etc.–I don't think urban decay, Motown Records, or anything else outweighs that.
On the other hand, Flint = Flint water crisis.
Flint is just like Detroit, it's an automotive town. It's known as the Vehicle City. The water crisis has only been the last 6 years that's certainly not what it's known for.
I disagree. If you tell someone from around here that you're from Flint, I think they're much more likely to say "Don't drink the water!" than to say anything automotive-related.
A lot of people know Detroit as an automotive town, but that's about all they know about Michigan. If anything else, they also know that Detroit is home to current urban decay. They don't know anything else about any other town in Michigan except what they've heard on the news about the water in Flint.
The auto industry is what built Flint and ultimately what killed Flint, same as Detroit. This post asks for what your hometown/city is known for, Flint is well known as an auto town even outside of Michigan. General Motors was founded in Flint and if you were to ride around Flint you'd notice that it's an auto town and if you were to fly into Flint you'd be greeted by a huge General Motors plant as you leave the airport.
Just put in google, "What is Flint, Michigan known for?" and it will say the birthplace of General Motors.
Okay, but very few people outside of Michigan know that.
Right now, if you pick a random person from one of the other 49 states and ask them where GM started, their answer is very likely to be Detroit even if that's wrong. That same person, if they even know Flint exists, has only ever heard of it because its water issues keep making it onto the evening news.
People haven't heard of Flint just because of the water crisis that isn't true at all. Flint was known before the water crisis that's for sure.
How many people from other parts of the country can distinguish between Flint, Ann Arbor, and Dearborn?
I have always prided myself on my geography skills and knowledge about places, especially in the US...and yet I dont know what the difference is between any of those rust belt cities. Especially not Michigan. I think of Michigan as a place filled with dying, rusted over cities that have long passed their glory days ad the buildings slowly rust and the people move out into the suburbs. I think of cities that once were major destinations...that have multiple major freeways running through and connecting them, and 3dis a plenty, where people used to actually thrive and where tourists flocked--but that are now dilapidated, those 3dis seemingly superfluous now that no one drives them anymore and those major freeways only serve as a ways for people passing through to get the hell out as soon as possible.
But thats how I envision most of Michigan, Ohio, Western Pennsylvania, all of West Virginia, and most of upstate New York. I have actually been to Pennsylvania, West Virginia, New York, and New Jersey and it certainly seemed like any growth or whatever stopped long ago. Those places felt decidedly much different than the way cities feel here in Texas...but it wasn't just the Northeast. I feel that stagnation and decay all over Louisiana too...and Mississippi when I go to visit my parents. I dont know how it is in other states, but theres not nearly the zest for growth and newness that we seem to have here in Texas.
I dont know what it is about this state either. I'll admit there are some really problematic issues here, but in general it's been a very good place to live and there is always something new just around the corner, for good or bad. Don't like a road? Don't worry because it will be rebuilt within ten years probably. Old building thats an eyesore? It'll be gone next year and replaced with a shopping center or condos.
Quote from: bwana39 on September 03, 2021, 01:35:36 PM
Quote from: kphoger on September 03, 2021, 01:19:52 PM
Quote from: bwana39 on September 03, 2021, 08:19:50 AM
My current home town Texarkana is known for "The Town that Dreaded Sundown". The original hometown of Ross Perot, and is the home of the US Post Office and Courthouse that sits on top of the state line of Texas and Arkansas.
And here, I first knew about Texarkana because of the R.E.M. song.
Jeff Keith from Tesla was born over on the other side (TXK AR) and sang about it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aDj8CK-ViA
Ironically the rescheduled Lynyrd Skynyrd concert in Bossier City a few weeks ago had Tesla as the opening act.
Quote from: DandyDan on October 23, 2020, 07:41:02 AM
The one thing Mason City, IA is known for is being the basis for the musical The Music Man. Meredith Willson, the creator of The Music Man, was from here and is buried here (and I have been to his grave). Nearby Clear Lake is known for being the place where the music died, where Buddy Holly, the Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens had their last concert before their plane crashed.
(I know this is an old post)
Unfortunately you're also well-known for your news anchor who disappeared in the mid-90s and has never been found; my guess being she was ultimately murdered.
The city I grew up in until I was 14 (Brampton, ON) is known for having the largest South Asian population per capita in Canada (44.3% as of 2016). It's also known for its high car insurance rates :-D.
My current city of Kitchener is known for its German heritage (being named "Berlin" before 1916) and for having the second largest Oktoberfest in the world.
Severance, CO is known (at least locally) for its Rocky Mountain Oysters at Bruce's Bar. Its motto even mentions the Oysters (Where the geese fly and the bulls cry). Note that the population hasn't been updated in 10 years, and our population is closer to 10K.
(https://i.postimg.cc/rp7qcgf5/Screenshot-2021-12-06-2-14-33-PM.png) (https://postimages.org/)
And here is the Bruce's Bar sign just across WCR 23
(https://i.postimg.cc/dtQPbzJz/Screenshot-2021-12-06-2-16-33-PM.png) (https://postimages.org/)
Quote from: kphoger on October 23, 2020, 02:12:18 PM
Quote from: Rothman on October 23, 2020, 02:02:05 PM
"Windy" refers to rumors, not wind.
And politics, specifically. Yes, I know, but Chicago is nonetheless most famous for wind.
ly to mid 20th century - "You can go pretty much anywhere you want to in the USA (contiguous 48 states) by rail. You just have to change trains in Chicago."
It's still a lot like that for freight traffic and the Chicagoland area is still a major rail transport and interchange center.
Mike