Boomtowns and train props

[Linoa06 1,374]

Hey,

 

I do know this isn't, strictly speaking, all about Simcity 4 though it does concern my Simcity 4 experience.

 

I would love to know a few real life example of boomtowns. I need not bother with 1860.s mining towns -- I would rather love to know about modern, 20th century boomtowns - towns that have rapidly expanded and become much more important than they used to be. Mostly, I'm looking at the grounds for more than rapid development, other than nearby mines or resources.

 

Back to pure Simcity though - does anyone know of any BATs that could represent train props? I mean, I would love an ingame train that I could plop onto my railways (not train related dependencies), but I haven't been finding any so far on the exchange. 

 

Thanks in advance ^^

[pderuiter 75]

In holland we have a few boomtowns, which are basically planned cities to house people close to the big city where there is no more room. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planned_community

 

But mostly boomtowns are there because of resource finds (i.e. oil in the US)

http://roadslesstraveled.us/pinedale-wy-rv-travel-to-a-modern-boomtown/

[Linoa06 1,374]

Yes, those I'm trying to avoid, because the MAIN town is supposed to boom. But thank you

[Cob92 360]

A lot of Sunbelt cities fit into this category. Phoenix is perhaps the one that most comes to mind; it went from being a backwater desert capital in the middle of the last century to one of the largest cities in the country today. Most of the major cities in Texas grew as a result of the state's 20th century growth boom. Cities that housed about 50,000 people in 1900 are home to millions today. With the new oil boom in western North Dakota, we might see some new boomtowns appearing there as well.

[Msprintz 25]

If you're looking for towns and cities that have become much more important than they used to be the best examples are cities geared towards heavy manufacturing, "Rustbelt" cities that primarily relied on one sole industrial sector.  In that regard the city of the Detroit fits the definition of a Boomtown, rapidly rising in stature with the age of the Automobile.  Detroit having relied heavily on automobile manufacturing as it's sole large industry has rapidly been on the decline, as the American automobile industry fell on hard times.  The cities of Cleveland, Buffalo, and Pittsburgh also fit the definition of boomtowns, all relying of a few large industries to employ the many citizens living in the respective cities.  Now that most of those industries have been shuttered those cities too have fallen on hard times.

 

How a city handles the inevitable bust cycles that come with relying on a small number of core industries will define which of those cities ultimately thrive and have meaning in the 21st century and beyond.  As an example Buffalo has a thriving art scene and is in the process of revitalizing itself as a former industrial city ( the big hurdle faced by Buffalo is an inadequate and poorly planned public transportation system ).   

[Linoa06 1,374]

If you're looking for towns and cities that have become much more important than they used to be the best examples are cities geared towards heavy manufacturing, "Rustbelt" cities that primarily relied on one sole industrial sector.  In that regard the city of the Detroit fits the definition of a Boomtown, rapidly rising in stature with the age of the Automobile.  Detroit having relied heavily on automobile manufacturing as it's sole large industry has rapidly been on the decline, as the American automobile industry fell on hard times.  The cities of Cleveland, Buffalo, and Pittsburgh also fit the definition of boomtowns, all relying of a few large industries to employ the many citizens living in the respective cities.  Now that most of those industries have been shuttered those cities too have fallen on hard times.

 

How a city handles the inevitable bust cycles that come with relying on a small number of core industries will define which of those cities ultimately thrive and have meaning in the 21st century and beyond.  As an example Buffalo has a thriving art scene and is in the process of revitalizing itself as a former industrial city ( the big hurdle faced by Buffalo is an inadequate and poorly planned public transportation system ).   

 

I see! I had the manufacturing idea in mind, combined with the town's immigration-friendly policies. Indeed now it's an old fat 50'000 backwater town. Thank you! I'll check into Detroit and Buffalo

[Jim14409 448]

Probably not what you are looking for but a gambling town named Bullhead City, Nevada grew in the nineties from a sleepy place to a bustling city. I first went there in 1989 and the last time about 2002 and the transformation was astonishing.

 

Also I lived just outside Lake Havasu City Arizona for twelve years and it has grown almost as fast and as astonishingly as Bullhead City. (They are about sixty miles apart). Lake Havasu City is primarily a tourist town and was built from scratch in the 1960's around the London Bridge which was once across the Thames River. It was dismantled and reconstructed in the desert. It is now a spectacularily beautiful place and increasingly a filming location for movies.

 

Well, sorry to go on but I consider those to be real boomtowns. Oh and a gold mining boomtown gone bust is just up the road. Oatman Arizona is considered to be a "ghosttown" but is a unique tourist attraction with "wild" burros having free reign and always the right of way.

I'll shut up now.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Then there is the Boomtown Project.

[AcmeSigns 97]

Las Vegas was once also like this. When I lived there in the early 70's you could drive across the entire town in 10-15 minutes (now it seems like the signal changes are that long). As a matter of fact, when they were building Ceaser's Palace, all of the locals were wondering why anyone would build a casino so far away from everything else.

 

My folks moved there in the early 90's. Their house was 10 miles from the 'Strip' and they were still within the city limits. I heard stories that occasionally someone would unearth a body that had been buried 'way out there' in the desert. Only now it was a housing development.

[Linoa06 1,374]

Yeah...gambling cities aren't too much my thing. I know about this London Bridge, though

 

I'll settle for a Detroit like model, I think it's the easiest and most realist to do. Doesn't mean I won't add a casino, a financial centre, and all.

 

Thank you very much!

[Jim14409 448]

Las Vegas was once also like this. When I lived there in the early 70's you could drive across the entire town in 10-15 minutes (now it seems like the signal changes are that long). As a matter of fact, when they were building Ceaser's Palace, all of the locals were wondering why anyone would build a casino so far away from everything else.

 

My folks moved there in the early 90's. Their house was 10 miles from the 'Strip' and they were still within the city limits. I heard stories that occasionally someone would unearth a body that had been buried 'way out there' in the desert. Only now it was a housing development.

I never liked Las Vegas and it always gave me bad vibes so I only went there to carry someone to the airport. However on one trip just after the space needle thing opened a friend and I went up in it. The glass is at an angle to the floor as opposed to being perpendicular. Anyway I stubbed my toe and fell face first on the glass with nothing but space below me. I don't know who was more scared me or everyone else. The thing I could not get over is that there is a roller coaster on top of that thing!! I'd have to wear a diaper to ride that.

 

Yeah...gambling cities aren't too much my thing. I know about this London Bridge, though

 

I'll settle for a Detroit like model, I think it's the easiest and most realist to do. Doesn't mean I won't add a casino, a financial centre, and all.

 

Thank you very much!

I do understand gambling cities not being the best model, and I agree. You are welcome.