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Another year, another singles poll from Forbes. Columbus ended up slipping from the #11 spot in 2006 down to #19 in 2007. Still not a bad spot on the list.
Who knows how they actually come up with this data, but the areas we scored well in include Number of Singles, Culture, Online Dating, and Cost of Living Alone. The areas we need improvement in include Job Growth, Nightlife, and we actually placed dead last in “Coolness Factor”.
That’s right. According to Forbes, Columbus is less cool than Milwaukee, Baltimore, Indianapolis, Buffalo, Jacksonville, Pittsburgh, Kansas City, and Cincinnati.
I understand what you’re saying, but when I honestly think of what “cool” elements define other cities, I don’t typically think of the iconic symbols, big sports, or hard rock cafes to really be magnets for the 18-to-35 demographics. And those are the demographics that define what’s cool and what’s not.
Sure, a national landmark in Columbus would attract tourists, but I doubt we’d score much in the way of coolness because of it.
I’d rather see more micro-initiatives of all varieties that put Columbus on all sorts of types of maps in specific ways. Instead of trying to have the tallest building or most recognizable landmark to bring in the tourists to gawk and take photos, we should be trying to have the best pedestrian recycling program, the most unique local bars, the weirdest theme parties, the most indie of music fests, the best karaoke spots, the greatest mini-neighborhoods to live in, a vibrant art scene, plenty of public art displayed, and thousands of other small things done well that will appeal on small levels to people of all walks of life. I want people in other cities to say “Oh, did you hear about the X scene in Columbus? It’s awesome!” and X would be anything and everything possible.
Ok. I’m done blabbering. This probably won’t make much sense when I read it in the morning. I’m tired. Time for bed. :lol:
^ Good points, Walker. But the thing with those micro-initiatives is that probably the only ppl who will see that stuff is us, ppl living in Columbus… unless of course, buzz from those things gets out. But that’s a lot of buzz we’re talkin about for something small and local like that. It can work, but it just seems to me the easier and quicker route would be to have something iconic or big here in Columbus. This doesn’t have to be some gaudy statue or towering skyscraper, it just has to kind of be the face of Columbus. LeBron James isn’t a skyscraper and look what he has done with Cleveland. We need him to play for the Columbus umm… Sonics maybe haha.
Not to be offensive, but, I think the name mightymighty may have something to do with that. I’m really sorry, I thought you were a guy as well. My bad! :oops:
no offense taken. It’s the internet, I’m only text to you (although my sig is a hint).
The handle mightymighty is taken from a nickname handle a friend gave me, it’s from the song Brick House by the Commodores.
I don’t think we’re cut out to compete with cities like LA or NYC or Chicago. Even if we had the coolest landmark in the world, we’re still a few million people short of being accepted as one of the leaders of the pack.
Look at the second-tier cities we’re more similar to. Name a famous landmark in Denver or Portland or Charlotte or Austin or Nashville. There are none that nationally recognized.
Of course we’re never going to be on the same level as LA, NYC, and the likes, but we can at least be above the second-tier cities.
And as for them, I think those second-tier cities you mentioned have recognizable natural landmarks, if you want to call em that. Like the great skiing resorts and mountains around Denver, the great scenery and falls around Portland (which I’ve seen and it’s def a sight), etc. We don’t have anything like that here in Columbus. No beaches, no nothing here :cry: Thus we need LeBron James, again. Haha.
I find it funny that people are calling Denver a second tier city, it’s the fourth largest city in the country, how is that second tier?
It’s the people who live in a city that define it, not landmarks. How many people would have remarked on how great Seattle was before grunge?
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0763098.html
Denver?
The thing that all these “cool” places have before they become “cool” are great jobs. Right now Ohio isn’t making them, and Columbus is barely hanging on in generating them.
Where did you get that stat?
Denver has a population of 566,974. (26th largest)
Columbus has a population of 733,203 (15th largest)
If you’re talking about the Denver Metro Area, there’s 2,408,750 people, which still puts it way down in 21st place. (Columbus drops down into the 30s since we have no large neighboring cities to share a metro area with).
Denver has the nation’s largest city park system, with more than 200 parks within city limits and 20,000 acres of parks in the nearby mountains — an area larger than all of Manhattan Island.
Denver has 300 days of bright sunshine a year — more annual hours of sun than San Diego or Miami Beach.
Denver International Airport is the nation’s largest — 53 square miles, an area so large it could hold the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport and Chicago O’Hare Airport combined.
Denver is a “sports capital,” with all four Major League sports (NHL Colorado Avalanche, NBA Denver Nuggets, NFL Denver Broncos, Major League Baseball’s Colorado Rockies), as well as two professional soccer teams.*
Date Founded: November 17, 1858
Date Incorporated: November 7, 1861
Population: 501,700
Land Area: 154.63 square miles
Elevation: 5,280 feet
Average Annual Rainfall: 15.4 inches
Average Annual Snowfall: 55.4 inches Average
Average February Temperature: 33 degrees F
Average August Temperature: 72 degrees F
Average Sunshine Days: 300+
Major Industries: Communications, Utilities, Transportation
ANYWAY….If all people in Columbus would tap into and deploy their natural talent, creativity and entrepreneurship this place will be more on the map…I feel it coming very soon. I do not think we need to break down the midwest values or do things to create more single people like what is happening in Scottsdale. However I do believe that if we do something with the transportation situation, a professional football team, more outdoor art installations and do something to bring more companies into downtown Columbus whether that be retail, corporations or whatever and continue to keep the people moving downtown and wanting to visit downtown. Quality efforts in all areas to build upon our strong foundation. We have other things to offer…great golf courses, nice people (for the most part), maybe develop the river like San Antonio’s riverwalk and that will be an allure for visitors and residents…San Antonio has nothing like mountains or lakes or geograhpic beauty per se (not like Portland or Denver or Seattle) but it is a travel destination hosting many conventions each year. Sorry so long.
Whenever I go back to L.A. to visit and tell ppl that I live in Ohio, they automatically think I’m from the boonies or some shit haha. But I guess ppl in L.A. think that about anyone/anything not from L.A. They live with blinders on :roll:
Someone mentioned a campaign to promote how kick ass this city really is… let’s get it started already!
Does Columbus have a Conventions and Visitor’s Bureau? If so, the problem fall square on their shoulders. They are obviously not doing the job.
TOTALLY AGREE!!!! In everywhere I have lived…Denver, Tampa, Albuquerque, San Antonio, the visitors bureaus have had a huge role. I do not see that here…..What can we do. Man you nailed it!!! Right on!
Thank you! Atlanta’s VB is relentless. I tip my hat to them.
http://experiencecolumbus.com/
It’s a foundation. At a glance I noticed that some of the info is outdated. Do they take a proactive approach or do they just hope people stumble upon them via this site?
I just fired off an email to the Manager of Media Relations over at Experience Columbus asking some questions and directing them to this discussion. Can’t wait to see a reply.
Oh please post!!
I wonder if there could be some kind of way to remember to bring this stuff up at the CU get-togethers… and next time I’ll leave my daughter at home so’s I can actually converse with people.
Threads like this are really interesting, and it seems like we could get something done, and then… we just kinda forget about it and move on to the next topic.
It seems like there’s a lot of civic-minded people on here who could make some sort of general-purpose coalition to address quality of life in our fair berg.
Here’s the email I sent:
Good morning
A debate recently erupted over at the Columbus Underground website over the Forbes’ list for “Best cities for Singles.”
Here’s the link to the discussion:
http://www.columbusunderground.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=69217
In it, you will find an exchange where the concern was raised about Columbus’ Convention and Visitor’s Bureau.
A member directed others to your site. My question to you is, what is Experience Columbus doing proactively to promote the city of Columbus. Sitting back and hoping people stumble on your website isn’t the answer. Please forgive my passion here. I love my hometown, and it tears my heart out when I hear that there are some people still living in Columbus that don’t even know you exist. I currently live in Atlanta. I’ve worked with the CVB here. And if Atlanta can do it, I know Columbus can. So, please, show your love for Columbus to the rest of the nation. Really push to get the word out about the city. Make the citizens, both past and present, proud- even more so – of Columbus and what it has to offer. I don’t pretend to know how to do your job. And I’m not trying to tell you how to do it. I do know that there are a lot of people who haven’t a clue to what Columbus offers, and I know better. The city is growing, it’s vibrant, it’s an “Experience!” Please, spend the money and get the word out.
Thank you!
A concerned citizen.
BTW
I noticed that Skybus has not been added to your list of airlines out of Port Columbus.
Thought you should know.
Nice one, Jonzun… keeping my eyes peeled for their response!!
Thanks! Just trying to do what I can from where I am. I’ll post the response IF I get one.