Is Baltimore an Internationally influential city or an Nationally influential city? (Annapolis: crime, home)

[g500]

Pretty straight-forward poll and prompt:

In your opinion, do you view Baltimore as an internationally influential city (influence and reach globally/around the world), or more of a nationally influential city (influence and reach generally limited to the borders of the USA and its territories)

Define Baltimore however you wish: ~600k city proper, ~2.3 million urban area, ~3 million MSA.

[BlueRedTide]

Originally Posted by g500

Pretty straight-forward poll and prompt:

In your opinion, do you view Baltimore as an internationally influential city (influence and reach globally/around the world), or more of a nationally influential city (influence and reach generally limited to the borders of the USA and its territories)

Define Baltimore however you wish: ~600k city proper, ~2.3 million urban area, ~3 million MSA.

National, In What way does Baltimore have International influence with the Capital sitting right there? John Hopkins University??

I'd Argue that although famous Nationwide, Baltimore doesn't actually carry much influence in the Midwest, Southeast or Western half of the country. It's More A Regional City for the North East or Mid Atlantic

[veshyvonny]

I'm sure many people in my country haven't even heard of Baltimore, that's how you know it's irrelevent, apart from USA and maybe Canada.

[g500]

Originally Posted by BlueRedTide

National, In What way does Baltimore have International influence with the Capital sitting right there? John Hopkins University??

I'd Argue that although famous Nationwide, Baltimore doesn't actually carry much influence in the Midwest, Southeast or Western half of the country. It's More A Regional City for the North East or Mid Atlantic

Here is a cursory summary of the factors comprising Baltimore's influence: Not just Johns Hopkins (the major research university, as well as the globally-influential health system and medical research facility with which 39 Nobel prize laureates have been affiliated) as you mentioned, but also the base of operations for T. Rowe Price (a global investment advisory firm with over 5,000 employees in Baltimore and 16 international offices serving clients in 47 countries), the National Aquarium (one of the world's largest), BWI (22nd busiest airport in the USA, with 14 direct international connections including London, Frankfurt and many Central American and Carribean cities, as well as 67 direct domestic connections), McCormick seasonings - world's largest producer of spices and seasonings was founded and based in Baltimore, the Inner Harbor, sports, celebrities, history as a major port of entry for immigrants entering the USA beginning in the 1600's, the Port of Baltimore is still very important in transatlantic/international trade particularly for the auto and coal industries, headquarters of Constellation Energy-one of the largest electricity and gas utilities/producers in the USA (especially nuclear power).

History: Edgar Allen Poe (world renowned famous writer and poet), national capital of the USA during the Revolutionary War, nearby U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, the Baltimore World Trade Center - Baltimore is one of 16 charter members of the World Trade Centers Association, nearby University of Maryland, the Star Spangled Banner (our national anthem -played and heard around the world) composed by Francis Scott Key following a hellacious battle to defend Fort McHenry in the Baltimore Harbor in the War of 1812 against England, numerous historical landmarks, the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, hub of crabs/crab cakes, Old Bay, home of Babe Ruth and Michael Phelps (world's most decorated Olympic athlete of all time), sister cities with Kawasaki Japan, Rotterdam Netherlands, Odesa Ukraine, Alexandria Egypt, also: The Wire, home of Eugene Tooms, far too many famous people from Baltimore to even begin to fully list, among many other attributes (one of the most urban/walkable and iconic urban cities in the USA)

[Shakeesha]

Baltimore is neither nationally or internationally relevant.

[ggplicks]

neither lmao. When you ask most people about Baltimore, they bring up The Wire, not a good luck. Most people don't even bring up Baltimore when talking about the northeast megalopolis. DC, Philly, NYC, Boston, don't hear Baltimore too much.


John Hopkins is a top notch university tho.

[g500]

Originally Posted by Shakeesha

Baltimore is neither nationally or internationally relevant.

Surely you cannot be serious... Baltimore was one the largest and most prominent cities throughout the nation's entire history, even before the United States had even yet existed, and still today it anchors the 20th largest metro area (and 20th largest urban area) in the nation. And you contend it does not even merit national relevance...??? I thought this board was supposed to be a place of intellectual honesty.

[04kL4nD]

It's relevant if you want to talk about homicide rates and Old Bay. Otherwise? Yeah, it's seen better days.

[g500]

I think we are letting reputation (i.e. that which is sensationalized/portrayed/hyped up in the media) override the underlying fundamentals here somewhat. True that Baltimore as a legacy city has faced urban blight and crime, this does not represent the entire story.

How should we regard Baltimore's unparalleled historical legacy, major attractions/amenities, international airport/logistics, diversified economy/industries, major educational/medical/governmental/cultural institutions, unique cultural identity, geography with the Chesapeake Bay with its countless piers/shipyards/seaports, and impact as the main hub of its state and its greater metro region of 3 million...? These are seemingly valuable considerations.

Sure the nation's capital is nearby, but they are separate distinct entities after all. I can agree Baltimore suffers from being overshadowed. But to be completely written-off as merely a crime statistic?

[04kL4nD]

I mean I love Baltimore, just like I love Oakland. Lots of places have historical charm and have hip and cool spots to check out, but it's 2024 and pretending that places don't have serious issues with crime seems kinda silly/disingenuous.