# Why Is Atlanta, GA Not Charlotte, NC the Capital of the South **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 26, 2009, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-atlanta-ga-not-charlotte-nc-the-capital-of-the-south/511615 "2009-09-26T02:48:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Bartman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@Bartman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bartman)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-atlanta-ga-not-charlotte-nc-the-capital-of-the-south/511615/61 "2009-09-30T03:58:41Z")
Thank you Curtis. Before I type anything else, let me state, yes LA is larger in population and GDP than Chicago. However that does not make it either more important or more connected globally. any more than the Yankees payroll makes it the best baseball team. It certainly doesn’t hurt but it doesn’t guarantee anything. I am also not saying that LA isn’t absurdly important and influential. Both cities are. That said, I don’t see that your cites provide any evidence that “Most Asian businessmen invest in Los Angeles and it’s area while there are far fewer foreign investors in Chicago.” In fact if you were looking for cites that counter the GaWC, perhaps you should find some that don’t quote and agree with the GaWC? According to your quotes “Los Angeles is classified as a “beta+ world city”” and “…classified Chicago as an “alpha− world city””. But let’s look at what you cites talk about: Ports: Yep, LA has combined bigger ones. No question. Fortune 500 Companies: LA-6 (10 regionally), Chicago-11 (32 regionally). Major Financial Exchanges: LA-0, Chicago-3 (plus a number of minor ones). Yeah. I can’t say I’m seeing anything that would change my mind. ---
**Author:** ![Rumor\_Watkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@Rumor\_Watkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rumor_Watkins)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-atlanta-ga-not-charlotte-nc-the-capital-of-the-south/511615/62 "2009-09-30T04:02:31Z")
> [@Ruby Sees](#): > > To me, Charlotte has no identity. It’s miles and miles of strip malls and Bojangles. There are some very significant businesses and industries and a large, diverse population, but there is nothing about it that makes you say “That’s so Charlotte.” There isn’t a lot of civic pride or unity or local historical lore. (You go to Atlanta and it’s Braves! and Gone with the Wind, for example.) I think unofficial capitals need to have something special about them, and there is nothing to distinguish Charlotte from any place else. > > Charlotte’s not a bad place, but it’s just kind of bland. There isn’t alot of civic, city, or local pride in Atlanta - it’s population growth has been fueled by the same yankee transplants as is the case in Charlotte. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-atlanta-ga-not-charlotte-nc-the-capital-of-the-south/511615/63 "2009-09-30T12:04:04Z")
> [@Ruby Sees](#): > > To me, Charlotte has no identity. It’s miles and miles of strip malls and Bojangles. Atlanta has no Bojangles. Advantage: Charlotte. Atlanta does have a Waffle House on every corner, though. Atlanta has 25,000 roads, all named Peachtree. Charlotte has one road, it just changes its name 25,000 times. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-atlanta-ga-not-charlotte-nc-the-capital-of-the-south/511615/64 "2009-09-30T13:20:34Z")
> [@Rumor\_Watkins](#): > > There isn’t alot of civic, city, or local pride in Atlanta - it’s population growth has been fueled by the same yankee transplants as is the case in Charlotte. There is inside the perimeter. With the exception of NY, there aren’t really any US cities that don’t have very generic suburbs. ---
**Author:** ![Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimmy_Gibbler)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-atlanta-ga-not-charlotte-nc-the-capital-of-the-south/511615/65 "2009-09-30T13:46:29Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > There is inside the perimeter. With the exception of NY, there aren’t really any US cities that don’t have very generic suburbs. Malarkey. I give you three great Chicago suburb institutions. And these are hardly the only things I could mention. [One.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Willmette_how.jpg) [Two.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Habs_flw_oak_park_home.jpg) [Three.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Hughes_%28filmmaker%29) ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-atlanta-ga-not-charlotte-nc-the-capital-of-the-south/511615/66 "2009-09-30T17:19:36Z")
> [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](#): > > Malarkey. I give you three great Chicago suburb institutions. And these are hardly the only things I could mention. > > [One.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Willmette_how.jpg) > > [Two.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Habs_flw_oak_park_home.jpg) > > [Three.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Hughes_%28filmmaker%29) That’s fine, I won’t argue Chicago. I haven’t spent much time there. There are probably others as well. Regardless, generic suburbs are common all over the US, and the city proper tends to almost always contain more civic pride, personality, etc. It isn’t an attribute unique to Atlanta suburbs. ETA: You’re probably right about Chicago, but those are 3 of dumbest fucking links I’ve ever seen used as cites on this board. ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-atlanta-ga-not-charlotte-nc-the-capital-of-the-south/511615/67 "2009-09-30T23:54:39Z")
> [@Bartman](#): > > Thank you Curtis. > > Before I type anything else, let me state, yes LA is larger in population and GDP than Chicago. However that does not make it either more important or more connected globally. any more than the Yankees payroll makes it the best baseball team. It certainly doesn’t hurt but it doesn’t guarantee anything. I am also not saying that LA isn’t absurdly important and influential. Both cities are. > > That said, I don’t see that your cites provide any evidence that “Most Asian businessmen invest in Los Angeles and it’s area while there are far fewer foreign investors in Chicago.” > > In fact if you were looking for cites that counter the GaWC, perhaps you should find some that don’t quote and agree with the GaWC? According to your quotes “Los Angeles is classified as a “beta+ world city”” and “…classified Chicago as an “alpha− world city””. > > But let’s look at what you cites talk about: > Ports: Yep, LA has combined bigger ones. No question. > Fortune 500 Companies: LA-6 (10 regionally), Chicago-11 (32 regionally). > Major Financial Exchanges: LA-0, Chicago-3 (plus a number of minor ones). > > Yeah. I can’t say I’m seeing anything that would change my mind. However Los Angeles is more of an international city then Chicago. For instance if you asked the average Asian businessmen to name three American cities he’d say: New York, Washington, and Los Angeles in some order. Los Angeles is home to Hollywood possibly the most influential non-religious cultural center on Earth and it’s area is home to the US branch offices of most Asian corporations although some have moved. ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2009, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-atlanta-ga-not-charlotte-nc-the-capital-of-the-south/511615/68 "2009-10-01T00:04:22Z")
Hey, why don’t you LA and Chicago folk start your own thread? This one is for why Charlotte has no identity. Thank you. That is all. ---
**Author:** ![Bartman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@Bartman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bartman)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2009, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-atlanta-ga-not-charlotte-nc-the-capital-of-the-south/511615/69 "2009-10-01T00:23:53Z")
> [@Southern\_Yankee](#): > > Hey, why don’t you LA and Chicago folk start your own thread? This one is for why Charlotte has no identity. Thank you. That is all. Sorry. :o Point taken. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-atlanta-ga-not-charlotte-nc-the-capital-of-the-south/511615.md?page=3)