World Class Cities in the U.S.

[Darrell]

Which U.S. Cities do you think of as "World Class".

IMO, the following factors contribute to "World Class" status:

Size, economic might, and worldwide name recognition all play a significant role in determining a city's status on the world stage. What are other facors that you feel contribute to a city's global importance?

Here is my opinion of USAs world class cities. what is yours?

Without question: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington

Definitely (IMO): Boston, Philadelphia, Miami, San Francisco

Debatable: Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Seattle

[Cardinal]

I'd have to agree with your picks. I think I might add New Orleans to the possible list, and maybe Toronto, even though it is not yet a part of the U.S.

[Tranplanner]

Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver would be the Canadian cities I would put forth for this list - if you are interested in expanding it to include North America, and not just including cities that Grand Master P thinks will be 'Merican one day...

Toronto has a serioius self-esteem problem when it comes to thinking of ourselves as a "world class" City. In one way, I think we keep hyping Toronto as being "world class", hoping that the rest of the world will eventually believe us. Things like "If Toronto hosts the (insert event here), we will truly become a World Class City".

Blech.

I don't think anyone can make a city "world class". It just kinda happens - you get that agglomeration of hipness, attractions, and "je ne sais quoi" that just make a city a destination.

[Cardinal]

You will be assimilated....

But really, Toronto is a great city, Montreal is on my list of "must see" cities, and Vancouver outdoes either Seattle or Portland. I don't say that just because I'm half Canadian.

[Darrell]

I've never been to Vancouver. I had a wonderful time in Toronto.
Montreal was absolutely beautiful. I've been twice and both times had the best time. I highly recommend Montreal to anyone. It won't disappoint.

[nerudite]

I think there are some aspects about Vancouver that make it a wonderful city (even world class), but it's not terribly environmentally friendly... what with dumping raw sewage into the Georgia Strait. It also has a very large homeless population that centers (or centres) around the downtown.

Seattle and Portland are great cities (I've resided in both), but I wouldn't say they are world class (yet).

I would add San Diego to the list of possibilities under "debatable". To add to the list of Canadian cities, I would also consider Calgary to be an up-and-comer, especially with its increasingly international appeal. Although it still has a cowtown image, it is the closest thing we have in the prairies to a world class city.