re: Which SEC cities have the most in common and would you group together?

quote:

---

Tuscaloosa is a really old city, though. We have an old downtown area, which CS doesn't. The hipsters are starting to come here

---

I believe it was founded around 1812. With incorporation in 1819. Though it has Native American history going back 12,000 years, hence its name. Moundville is just south of Tuscaloosa and was one of the two largest Native American settlement in pre-Columbian North America.


Tuscaloosa won't resemble the city I lived in, as a student, in another 10 years. Mayor Walt Maddox has been a big part of that. It has changed so much and has seen a population boom.

I've never been to Athens so I can't personally attest, but I've heard from more than several people that Columbia is similar to Athens, as well as the campuses. Columbia's nickname is "Athens of Missouri"

quote:

---

Athens of Missouri

---

Did you come up with that or is that a common name for it for the students/locals?

Missouri fans seem have huge boners for UGA. Is because they were your first?

quote:

---

Did you come up with that or is that a common name for it for the students/locals?

---

Not sure why I would make it up

quote:

---

Besides populus numbers how could the 3 not be any more alike? Thats a genuine question.

All 3 cities have been linked together by transport for hundreds of years due to proximity, all 3 cities have above average minority populations. All cities have ties to the deep south and slavery. Bare minimum 2 of the 3 cities would have what you would consider healthy employment rates and options as well as being ranked with in top 50 places to live under XXX population. From the outside looking in all of the areas seem very rural. At the same time I didnt grow up there so I wouldnt be able to accurately say what really differentiates the areas other then population.

---

I'll start from a historical perspective. Tuscaloosa was the state of Alabama's capital from 1819 to 1846. During the Civil War, the city was targeted by Union forces due to its training of Confederate officers. And of course its role during the Civil Rights Movement is well known with George Wallace's "Stand in the School House Door" in 1963.

From a transportation point of view, it has far more accessible routes with I-20/59 as well as the key locks on the Black Warrior River for river traffic to be linked to the Gulf Coast.

Tuscaloosa is also the major city in its region, The Alabama Black Belt.

Some of the accolades include:

quote:

---

It was named one of the "50 Best Places to Launch a Small Business" in 2009 by Fortune Small Business,[7] and one of the "100 Best Communities for Young People" by America’s Promise Alliance.It was named "The Most Liveable City in America" in 2011 by the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

---

It has a far more dominate business sector than either two cities you're trying to lump it with. The North American Mercedes plant alone does that, but there's also BFGoodrich Tire Manufacturing, GAF Materials Corporation, Hunt Refining Company, JVC America, Nucor Steel and Phifer Wire among many others.

Then there's simply the size of The University of Alabama compared to the other two. Alabama is nearly the same size as both Ole Miss and Mississippi State combined. Yet the city isn't as dominated by the college as either of those.

Now, climate and religion are about the only similarities I can find.

quote:

---

Oxford
-Tuscaloosa
-Starkeville

---

lol

quote:

---

You're grouping the biggest shithole city in the SEC with the best college town.

---

Have you spent a lot of time in Columbia? I have lived in Charleston, Atlanta, Austin, Columbia, and Baton Rouge.

All offer something different, but Columbia is a great place to raise a family IMO.

Columbia reminds me a lot more of Lexington than any other city

quote:

---

I graduated from Bama in 2006 and Tuscaloosa is not even the same town anymore. Mayor Maddox is changing the city into, IMO, what will be one of the top cities in the state when he is done with it. And as much as I hate to say it the tornado has helped with the revitalization as well, especially in the center part of town. A lot of older businesses are out and new shopping centers, restaurants, etc are moving in. The downtown area is being completely revitalized with new a new ampitheatre, shops, restaraunts, coffee shops, etc. Will be really cool to see it in 3-5 years.

---

You can't go two weeks without seeing something new in the Downtown area.