Major cities or metros of tomorrow?

Dariusb · #1 Posted **Dec 20, 2018, 5:41 PM**

In your opinion, what small/midsized cities or metros today could become major cities/metros tomorrow? Doesn't have to be just American or Canadian cities.

dubu · #2 Posted **Dec 20, 2018, 5:46 PM**

this city bend oregon, reno nevada, boise idaho. maybe eugene oregon and maybe redding california.

Dariusb · #3 Posted **Dec 20, 2018, 6:17 PM**

Nice choices. I'd also add northwest Arkansas (Fayetteville/Springdale/Rogers), Colorado Springs, Spokane.

dave8721 · #4 Posted **Dec 20, 2018, 7:36 PM**

Maybe Orlando as well. Its already a relatively large metro but I could maybe see it becoming more like another Phoenix.

Dariusb · #5 Posted **Dec 20, 2018, 8:42 PM**

Little Rock. I'd say Tucson but don't know if it's proximity to Phoenix limits it.

Centropolis · #6 Posted **Dec 20, 2018, 10:24 PM**

id agree with the inland northwest (east of the cascades...oregon/washington/idaho) and as well as central/northern mountain states...

Metro-One · #7 Posted **Dec 20, 2018, 10:49 PM**

I don’t think it will every be major but I could see Kelowna in BC doubling or tripling in my lifetime (from the current 200 000 to 500 000 or so) if things fall into place for it.

digitallagasse · #8 Posted **Dec 20, 2018, 10:53 PM**

Reno I think could take off in the coming decades. St. George Utah could also get a lot bigger as well.

Some time this century I think Chicagoland is going to see a major boom. Maybe even an extreme boom. Depending on how climate change is impacting the coasts I could see it being the most populous metro in the country. Being away from sea level rise, lots of fresh water and a huge amount of land to grow out on. Granted this isn't the focus of this thread as Chicagoland is already the king of the midwest and a major city. I just have a feeling it will go next level to a full on mega city. That growth and gravitational pull will likely see other mid size and small metros in the region get bigger as well.

James Bond Agent 007 · #9 Posted **Dec 21, 2018, 12:03 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by digitallagasse

St. George Utah could also get a lot bigger as well.

That's the one I was thinking of as well.

M II A II R II K · #10 Posted **Dec 21, 2018, 12:08 AM**

Maybe Anchorage down the line being the only main city in the middle of nowhere.

tdawg · #11 Posted **Dec 21, 2018, 4:42 PM**

Boise, Idaho and Huntsville, Alabama leap to mind.

SIGSEGV · #12 Posted **Dec 21, 2018, 5:04 PM**

Reno may be limited by water availability and much of the flat land is already built up. It will need to densify IMO. I could see Eureka/Aecata becoming more important.

dubu · #13 Posted **Dec 21, 2018, 5:59 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SIGSEGV

Reno may be limited by water availability and much of the flat land is already built up. It will need to densify IMO. I could see Eureka/Aecata becoming more important.

it all depends if the whole planet is going to be hot or the ice age in the future. the california/ oregon border is in the middle and thats a good place right now but it will change.

Pedestrian · #14 Posted **Dec 21, 2018, 8:16 PM**

There needs to be an economic factor to make cities grow: A port, a major university, a government capital, a dynamic industry.

I'd put Sacramento and Raleigh NC on my list.

Dariusb · #15 Posted **Dec 21, 2018, 8:48 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdawg

Boise, Idaho and Huntsville, Alabama leap to mind.

I thought Huntsville too.

Tom In Chicago · #16 Posted **Dec 21, 2018, 9:07 PM**

Winnipeg

. . .

dave8721 · #17 Posted **Dec 21, 2018, 9:22 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by dave8721

Maybe Orlando as well. Its already a relatively large metro but I could maybe see it becoming more like another Phoenix.

Just to expand on why I think Orlando could see major growth is that it is Florida but it is Florida with cheap real estate, physical room to grow, it is inland non-hurricane prone Florida (relatively speaking) and it is 100-feet above sea level Florida.

cityscapes · #18 Posted **Dec 21, 2018, 9:22 PM**

Eventually all 11 million people in the state of Ohio will be absorbed by Columbus.

Pedestrian · #19 Posted **Dec 21, 2018, 9:35 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by dave8721

Just to expand on why I think Orlando could see major growth is that it is Florida but it is Florida with cheap real estate, physical room to grow, it is inland non-hurricane prone Florida (relatively speaking) and it is 100-feet above sea level Florida.

Right now Orlando is a traffic-choked mess and to grow up into a serious city it needs a transportation plan it can and will follow. Also, the real estate in good locations is not so cheap any more (especially considering the ugliness of the commute from distant areas with vacant land).

On the other hand, Orlando has an economic focus in tech and defense you didn't mention going for it (and, as I said above, I think that's critical--theme parks aren't enough unless it aspires to be Anaheim).

It may be 100 ft above sea level but when I lived next door in Winter Park the water table in my yard was about 3 ft below the surface. I know because I once dug a 5 ft hole and the bottom 2 feet quickly filled with water. So flooding with heavy cloudbursts (and sure with a hurricane) is common enough. I did go through one hurricane while living there but it didn't amount to much.

Austin55 · #20 Posted **Dec 22, 2018, 12:04 AM**

Midland-Odessa is one of the richest areas in the US right now thanks to to O&G. If they can capture and reinvest some of that money to something more sustainable, (ALA Dubai), they could really be something nice.