Quote:
Originally Posted by Sun Belt
70 years ago, in 1950 when L.A. had a population of 1.9 million and Detroit was around 1.8 million, they really weren't that similar.
This thread isn't about what cities were similar to one another at some random point in time.
|
Well, Detroit was far more dense than L.A. in 1950... But, the similarities are strong. IMO, they are shockingly strong for two cities that are located thousands of miles from each other, and in very different climates.
The art deco architecture in each city's downtown could be swapped to one another and not look out of place. Both cities initially grew around vast street car networks that were abandoned for the personal automobile. Then they both pioneered the urban freeway.
I think there are a lot of family ties as well. It may be more pronounced on the Detroit side, since it is a smaller region with sluggish growth. But my grandparents grew up in L.A., met there, got married and then moved to Detroit. Most of my grandmother's family still lives there.