The best part of being a writer is that you can make stuff up, even when it’s real. That’s why today I’m taking a truth and attaching to it a label. It’s called The Third Chapter.
What Are the First Two Chapters?
Since the time of independence, many American cities—particularly those in the Northeast and Midwest—shared similar first two chapters.
The first one was uplifting, characterized by rapid growth, a robust manufacturing sector, and thriving supporting industries. Pedestrians, street cars, and specialty shops dotted the urban landscape. The cities, in other words, were alive.
The second one started some time in the 20th century and was far more depressing. So-called planners segregated newcomers, jammed highways through downtowns, and shifted the American Dream to the suburbs. Public transit suffered and retail nearly died. The cities became hollow, the void being filled by poverty and crime.
Today, some are surprised to learn that many of their favorite cities—not just the ones they malign—had this second chapter.
Boston, as of 1950, had a population of 801,444. By 1990, that number had cratered to 574,283 (-28.3%).
Over the same stretch, Minneapolis downsized from 521,718 to 368,383 (-29.4%).
From 1950 to 2000, Philadelphia contracted from 2,071,605 to 1,517,550 (-26.7%).
During the same 50 years, Washington, DC, went from 802,178 to 572,059 (-28.7%).
Finally, there’s Chicago, which in 1950 had a population of 3,620,962. By 2010, it had shrunk to 2,695,598 (-25.6%).
The Third Chapter
This is the latest chapter, as in the one we’re living now. It’s one of stabilization and renewal. You know it well in the cities you love.
As of the 2020 Census, Boston is back up to 675,647 (+17.7% from the nadir).
Minneapolis is up to 429,954 (+16.7%).
Philadelphia stands at 1,603,797 (+5.7%).
Washington, DC, has reached 689,545 (+20.5%).
And Chicago has inched up to 2,746,388 (+1.9%).
But what you might not know is that many other cities are turning the page as well, including ones where people refuse to stop talking about the second chapter.
From 2000 to 2020, the population of New Haven (Connecticut) increased from 123,626 to 134,023 (+8.4%).
Between 2010 and 2020, Buffalo grew from 261,310 to 278,349 (+6.5%).
In those same ten years, Cincinnati moved the needle from 296,943 to 309,317 (+4.2%).
Over that stretch, Syracuse moved from 145,170 to 148,620 (+2.4%).
Even Evansville in Indiana crawled from 117,429 to 118,414 (+0.8%).
So consider this a plea.
I’ve read—and heard—the second chapter way too many times.
Can we move the story along?
(All numbers courtesy Wikipedia)
