Independant Metros That Benefit From Being Close To a Large metro

[Razor]

Not suburban cities, but self standing independent Metros that are far enough from the larger city's orbit but close enough to benefit from the larger city's services, that they may be too small to have themselves. The smaller city could be independent enough where it's basically self reliant.

The first few that come to mind are:

1) Hamilton ( Buffalo and Toronto)
2) Windsor (Detroit) disclaimer: border may often be a hassle.
3) Ottawa (Montreal) disclaimer: At 2.0 hours away, may be too far.

[rsbear]

Originally Posted by Razor

Not suburban cities, but self standing independent Metros that are far enough from the larger city's orbit but close enough to benefit from the larger city's services, that they may be too small to have themselves. The smaller city could be independent enough where it's basically self reliant.

The first two that come to mind are:

1) Hamilton ( Buffalo and Toronto)
2) Windsor (Detroit) disclaimer: border may often be a hassle.
3) Ottawa (Montreal) disclaimer: At 2.0 hours away, may be too far.

Salem, Oregon (Portland)

[iheartthed]

I don't really consider Windsor to be a metro area that is independent of Detroit. Windsor's economy is too closely linked to Detroit's for it to be separate.

Ann Arbor is a good example for the purposes of this thread. The economy of Ann Arbor is pretty independent of Detroit's economy, but it also depends heavily on Detroit's infrastructure (specifically the airport and utilities).

Toledo is another obvious beneficiary of proximity to Detroit. It is the only metro in Ohio that is located within an hour's drive of a major airport.

[iheartthed]

A couple others that pop into mind:

• San Jose probably wouldn't be what it is without San Francisco.
• Atlantic City, Trenton, Princeton, and any other city in New Jersey that isn't in the NYC or Philadelphia MSAs benefits from proximity to those cities.
• New Haven to NYC and Hartford.

[north 42]

Originally Posted by iheartthed

I don't really consider Windsor to be a metro area that is independent of Detroit. Windsor's economy is too closely linked to Detroit's for it to be separate.

Ann Arbor is a good example for the purposes of this thread. The economy of Ann Arbor is pretty independent of Detroit's economy, but it also depends heavily on Detroit's infrastructure (specifically the airport and utilities).

Toledo is another obvious beneficiary of proximity to Detroit. It is the only metro in Ohio that is located within an hour's drive of a major airport.

Windsor is definitely independent from Detroit, even with our integrated auto industries and regional similarities. Being in a separate country with different laws and culture is the main reason.
Windsor does however greatly benefit from its close proximity and relationship with Detroit!

[iheartthed]

Originally Posted by north 42

Windsor is definitely independent from Detroit, even with our integrated auto industries and regional similarities. Being in a separate country with different laws and culture is the main reason.
Windsor does however greatly benefit from its close proximity and relationship with Detroit!

I know that some people consider the border as a reason to separate them, but I just think that technicality is flimsy. Detroit and Windsor have to cooperate with each other to a very high degree -- far higher with each other than either city does with other large cities in their respective state/province.

[tdawg]

My husband is from Wilmington, Delaware and it's the first place that came to mind. It's definitely close to and in the orbit of Philadelphia but is a largish city on its own with a sizable skyline, important history, and sense of place independent from Philadelphia.

[PoshSteve]

Akron - the entire northern third of the metro is comprised of suburbs of Cleveland.

[westak]

Originally Posted by PoshSteve

Akron - the entire northern third of the metro is comprised of suburbs of Cleveland.

Cleveland benefits from being so close to the shopping of Macedonia Commons and CVNP area that's in Summit County. I would call it a wash

[craigs]

The Salinas metro (which includes Monterey and Carmel) is independent yet definitely benefits from proximity to the Bay Area--access to the airports, universities, entertainment, etc. but also smaller things.

For example, their local Fox affiliate runs the Bay Area's storied Ten O'Clock News, out of KTVU Fox's studios in Oakland. I remember doing a double take at the television in my Monterey hotel room when I discovered my local news is also their local news, despite the fact I was fully 120 miles south of where I live. Considering most small American metros have, in my experience, atrocious local newscasts, I'd say Monterey benefits from access to a bigger and better-funded media market than what they could sustain on their own.

[Shawn]

Definitely Portland, ME.

How much does Richmond benefit from being just outside DC?

[Yuri]

Campinas (3 million inh., 100 km north São Paulo). A logistical hub, industrial powerhouse.

It’s not like Philadelphia or San Diego where their big neighbours cast a shadow on them. Campinas profited a lot from São Paulo desindustrialisation picking up all the spills of it. It’s a completely independent metro area, but it has a very strong bond and complementary role with São Paulo.

São Paulo also benefited a lot, as without Campinas, it’s manufacturing base could have been sent hundreds of kms away, while today it’s just outside the metro area.

[JManc]

Originally Posted by Shawn

Definitely Portland, ME.

How much does Richmond benefit from being just outside DC?

And in very recent years, Worcester. It's been kind of forgotten and neglected but as the Boston are has got so expensive, people have rediscovered Wisteh and it's not that far away.

[Sun Belt]

Originally Posted by JManc

And in very recent years, Worcester. It's been kind of forgotten and neglected but as the Boston are has got so expensive, people have rediscovered Wisteh and it's not that far away.

Since we're talking about New England, how about Providence, RI?

Commuter rail connection to Boston, quick train trip into Boston along with Amtrak services. TF Green Airport is a Logan reliever.

[Shawn]

Originally Posted by JManc

And in very recent years, Worcester. It's been kind of forgotten and neglected but as the Boston are has got so expensive, people have rediscovered Wisteh and it's not that far away.

Missed this one, sorry guy.

My best friend moved to Worcester from Lubbock when he was 12. We’ve watched the place’s real estate skyrocket over the past 5 years and man . . . missed out on that one. But I never consider Worcester to be an independent metro; it’s functionally been a Boston edge city since before I was born. Rt 9 is one of the country’s original intercity sprawl connectors. Worcester started off as a Manchester or Wilmington, but being in the same state as Boston means it never received the same type of focus Manch and Wilmington did (and still do).

[JoeMusashi]

Milwaukee benefits from being independent but basically apart of Chicagoland. It maintains it's own identity but has access to O'Hare for international flights, entertainment and retail options not available here, a massive daytrip tourist/visitor base, etc. The DNC Convention is coming to Milwaukee next summer in part because suburban Chicago provides a significant boost in additional hotel rooms that don't exist in Milwaukee.

I'd also like to point out that Chicago benefits from having Milwaukee nearby for some of the same reasons, including access to a good third option airport for travelers in the northern Chicago suburbs.

[Investing In Chicago]

Originally Posted by JoeMusashi

I'd also like to point out that Chicago benefits from having Milwaukee nearby for some of the same reasons, including access to a good third option airport for travelers in the northern Chicago suburbs.

Why would somebody in Chicagoland opt for Milwaukee's airport over ORD? I can't think of a single reason why that would be a logical decision.

[iheartthed]

Originally Posted by Investing In Chicago

Why would somebody in Chicagoland opt for Milwaukee's airport over ORD? I can't think of a single reason why that would be a logical decision.

To avoid O'Hare?

[pip]

Originally Posted by iheartthed

To avoid O'Hare?

I'm from Boston. If I want to go home for the weekend of 12/6 - after the Thanksgiving thing.

For the cheapest tickets it will cost about double for a round trip ticket, I will need to get to Milwaukee - a few hours, there are 5 trains a day from Chicago to Milwaukee I believe, and the train schedules don't line up with the flights.

There are roughly 27+ non-stop flights from Chicago to Boston a day and 2+ from Milwaukee. It costs almost double from Milwaukee for the cheapest tickets - layovers or not, there is less schedules to choose from and I need to spend a few hours to get to Milwaukee and a few hours to get back assuming the train schedule lines up with with the flight - or I can take one subway line to O'Hare

[bnk]

ORD is one of the best connected airports in the world.

Believe it or not there are flights from Milwaukee to ORD just to access the global hub that is O' Hare to access the entire globe.

I know people that fly from Milwaukee to Chicago to transfer to almost any point in the planet.

Its less than a 30 min flight but people in Milwaukee to do that. Trust me I know them.