Every city has its own “zest.
United States of America for many years are the best country in the world which seemed to have known all due to Hollywood movies and the news, but is it really? To your attention the most interesting facts about USA that you might not know.
10. The only city without skyscrapers
Skyscrapers first appeared in America in the early twentieth century. And for the first half of the last century, large cities were growing upwards. Particularly impressed foreigners the outlines of the skyscrapers of Manhattan.
Ironically, the United States capital – Washington D.C. is the only city where there is not a single skyscraper. The fact is that there is a decree according to which any building cannot be higher than the Capitol. It was adopted in 1910. The architects, constructing new facilities, are required to be aware of the limit of 40 metres (approximately 12 storeys). However, in the capital there are still facilities that do not fall under this restriction – in particular, the 169-meter Washington Monument.
In the end, Washington is very similar to a typical European city. We should mention that it was originally built by the French architect Pierre Harlem by Lanfan in the image of Paris. So some old buildings in Washington have counterparts in the French capital. Usual for the America of skyscrapers, you will not find here.
9. The largest city, where you will not be able to get on the water
The boat is the first vehicle that was used by our ancestors to travel and transport goods. This type of transport over any modern at least several millennia. It becomes clear why long before the construction of the first Railways and roads the settlements necessarily appeared on the shores of large bodies of water. Interestingly, new York had surpassed Philadelphia (in the early nineteenth century – the largest city in the United States by population, primarily due to its location on the shore of one of the world’s largest natural harbours.
But water transport is not very practical, for example, in the desert. The largest city of America where you can’t get on the water, is the Phoenix.The salt river flows through the city is almost always dry, except drains water from the reservoir supplying Phoenix with fresh water. The construction of a 1.5-million city in the desert became possible only after the spread of modern means of transport.
8. The most and least isolated cities
In the state of mn are are probably the most famous in America the twin cities – Minneapolis and St. Paul. But given the fact that each of them lives less than 400 thousand inhabitants, call them megacities is difficult.
In other States also have cities located so close together that they are often considered as pairs. For example, Baltimore and Washington, DC. These 2 cities are applying for the right to co-host the summer Olympic games in 2024. But there are no big cities located closer to one another than Dallas and Fort worth – they are separated by less than 50 kilometers. Among the locals is a popular saying that in the East ends in Dallas and Fort worth West begins.
In General, as we move to the West becomes apparent that cities and small towns scattered all over America.
7. The city with the largest population decline
The American population continues to grow steadily. The process of urbanization (people moving people in a large city), accordingly, a small settlement gradually disappear from the face of the Earth. Interestingly, in 50-e and 60-e years of the last century, when the construction of new roads and the low price of cars have allowed people to feel comfortable in the suburbs, the population gradually began to move out of town. But it soon began to reverse the process – to live in the center of a large city has become much more profitable.
Many cities have experienced a population boom in the last half-century. Millions of people moved to them in search of a better, more comfortable life. So, in Phoenix by the end of the Second world war, there were only 65 thousand people. Today, its population exceeds 1.5 million. That is, for 70 years it has increased by 2300%!
But there is a major city, which is bucking the trend. In 1950 Detroit had a population of 1.85 million people. But when the automotive industry fell on hard times, major companies and factories were closed, having started chain reaction. In Detroit it became difficult to find a job, several times increased the level of crime. The city has become dysfunctional, people began to leave. Today, Detroit is home to less than 700 thousand people. It takes most crimes in the United States. Naturally, the population continues to decline. With this in mind, do not be surprised if by the middle of XXI century, Detroit in General will sink into oblivion.
6. Old and new city
Do you know why America is called the New world? The fact is that all cities in the United States was founded not later than the XVIII century, at that time, in Europe, Asia and Africa is full of settlements, whose age thousands of years. Of course, before the arrival of Europeans in America there were many ancient settlements of local residents, but then the remains of the old cities gradually disappeared from the face of the Earth.
A large part of the oldest cities in the United States is on the East coast – here came the ships with settlers from Europe, here was built the first ports. Philadelphia was founded in 1701 and is the oldest city in America. The first century after its founding, Philadelphia was the economic, political and cultural center of the United States. At one time this city was even considered a capital of the United States, before the advent of Washington. In the early nineteenth century, new York surpassed Philly in importance and population. However, this city is still important, today he ranks 5th in the country in terms of population.
I understand why cities in the Western U.S. have the later date of Foundation: the Europeans took a lot of time to move inland and explore the desert areas. In 1829, a trade caravan, EN route from Texas to Los Angeles, lost his way. Under the hot rays of the sun the people broke camp, the volunteers went to look for water. Among them was Mexican and Rafael Rivera, who was able to find in the desert an oasis with artesian water. The place was called “Las Vegas”, which translated from Spanish means “fertile valley”. In 1905 there was founded the city of Las Vegas. For a long time he served as a major railway junction, a place of refueling and Parking of trains coming from the West coast to the East and back.
The fate of the tiny town changed dramatically in 1931, when the territory of Nevada were officially permitted gambling (in other States they were outlawed). At the same time, 40 kilometers from Las Vegas began to build the Hoover dam. The appearance of lake Mead and running the most powerful hydroelectric solved the problem of the effective development of Las Vegas – city in the desert. Here gushed a massive stream of gamblers and lovers of vibrant life.
5. The city with the most visible division into districts
Each city is divided into districts. Usually their boundaries are determined by the ethnic communities, common socioeconomic status, businesses from different industries, etc. However, such a division is mostly known only to locals – for example, during a business trip to Denver you will not have the slightest idea about his areas.
A notable exception in this sense is new York. Even people who has never been there, you know that the largest and most famous metropolis of the USA is divided into 5 areas, which are to some extent separate towns. Manhattan, Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn and Staten island are subject to centralized management, but at the same time, all districts maintain a certain level of autonomy. In particular, each of them has its own district attorney. Moreover, these districts are independent districts in the state of new York!
This has created a significant cultural division in society. Most people living in Manhattan, will tell you that they live in new York. But the inhabitants of other areas, especially Brooklyn, will identify themselves with a specific area.
4. The city with the largest suburbs
The suburb is a very vague term, but for simplicity we will define it as a smaller city located on the outskirts more. City of long beach, California and Mesa, Arizona, bordering Los Angeles and Phoenix, respectively, are the largest suburbs in the United States. Each of them lives about 450 thousand people. However, they are much smaller than the neightbouring cities. The population of long beach is 8 times less than that of Los Angeles, in the months lives 3 times less people than in Phoenix.
So we have to consider another example. Lives in Denver 650 thousand people, and its suburbs, Aurora – 350 thousand, i.e., about 54%. Both cities continue to grow. Interestingly, their area is almost the same, just in Aurora less population density. If there will begin to build tall skyscrapers, soon, this city beats the Denver metro will be deemed not to its suburbs and a sister city.
3. The city, located directly on the international border
America has land borders with only two countries – Mexico and Canada. At the same time, their length is one of the largest in the world. Not surprisingly, in the immediate vicinity of the international border are hundreds of cities and small towns. However, in the United States there are only 2 cities that are located directly on Detroit (canadian border) and El Paso (Mexican).
By population, Detroit ranks 18th in America, El Paso is the 19th. However, given the gradual transformation of Detroit into a Ghost town, do not be surprised when in a few years they will be swapped.
This is interesting: in Order to cross the state border in Detroit or El Paso, people only need to cross the river. In both cases you will have to move South. Crossing the Rio Grande on the way to Mexico seems obvious, while in the case of Detroit and the river, this direction is surprising. But South Detroit is actually Canada!
2. The large and small city in area and population density
Some cities are spreading in width. Family they most often live in separate private homes, because the places for the construction of new buildings missing. While other cities are forced to grow up. They are strictly limited in usable space, because the surrounding areas are already occupied (in other towns, industrial enterprises, and sometimes natural objects).
This is interesting: the Smallest area of the major cities is San Francisco, where he lives 830 thousand people. This city is located in the North of the Peninsula, the land occupied South of the other settlements. So he’s got nowhere to expand. Almost a million people have to live in an area of 120 square kilometers. That is 1 square kilometer here we have 7 thousand inhabitants. Only one US city population density is higher in new York.
At the same time, the city of Jacksonville lies on the 1935 square kilometers. It is much larger than the area of the smallest state – Rhode island. If San Francisco had the same population density as in Jacksonville, it would live only 52 thousand people. Such a city will not be included even in the list of 500 largest in the country. Conversely, if in Jacksonville on 1 square kilometer had 7 thousand inhabitants – its population would have reached 13 million people, 4 million more than in new York.
1. Most sports and non-city
In the US there are 4 major sports leagues: NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL. 11 cities have at least one team in each of them. All in all, these four sports leagues represented by teams from 41 cities. It would seem that this should be the largest metropolises of America, but not so simple. Not have a single representative in the major sports leagues, for example, the city of Austin is the 14th largest population. However, the Austin based University of Texas, sports teams of which are considered among the strongest in the country. So residents of Austin aren’t deprived of this great sport.
This is interesting: American football, basketball, baseball and hockey in the United States much more popular sport No. 1 in the world of football, which Americans call “soccer”.
The city of Fort worth has no teams even in the higher representatives of student leagues. But, as mentioned above, it is closely connected to nearby Dallas. And the stadium club Dallas Cowboys, one of the strongest in the NFL, is located in Arlington. And Fort worth it can be reached even faster than from Dallas.
Thus, the most unsporting city of America should recognize the 675-seat El Paso. Here are based only youth baseball team and children’s hockey.
In conclusion, here is another interesting statistical fact. According to the results of scientific research, the happiest city in America is recognized as the Winston-Salem (North Carolina). Accommodation here costs about 10% cheaper than in other cities. In addition, in Winston-Salem is very fashionable to look after themselves and lead a healthy lifestyle. The title of the “accident”, as you might guess, went to the Detroit city bankruptcy. Here disconnected the water supply, nearly 20% of the inhabitants live only by food stamps, and the crime rate is the highest in the United States. It is not surprising that over the past 65 years the population has decreased almost in 3 times!
