There are many positive aspects of both southern and midwestern cities, and I think it is OK that they excel at different things. For example, it is much easier to find an older or historic house in a walkable neighborhood (that is affordable) in Indy than it is in Raleigh, because there is simply a larger supply available. But if you're interested in sprawling suburbia, I think you can find that in equal amounts in both areas (if possibly a slightly newer, spiffier version in the south). I would argue that the downtown core of Indy is MUCH stronger than the downtown core of any city in NC could ever hope to be (with the possible exception of Asheville, a smaller touristy city in the mountains) – Charlotte is making strides to improve its downtown, but it has a long way to go to match what Indy has (which, in reality, still isn't as strong as it could/should be). Downtown Raleigh and Durham are small potatoes and always will be (primarily because the job, retail, and entertainment centers in that area are in suburban office parks and malls, not downtown). This type of thing also has implications in terms of transit investments (the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill area has had a very rough time trying to justify investments in transit due to the spread out and multi-centric land development pattern that primarily supports auto access).

On the other hand, the south isn't as bad as some other commenters have indicated (at least in my opinion). Yes, poverty is an issue in the areas outside cities (especially in the more isolated areas like the mountains and the coastal plain, as most southern cities are located in the piedmont region). But the poverty is not universal – several smaller cities (Asheville NC and Wilmington NC come to mind) are actually doing pretty good. The real problem seems to be in the very isolated small towns and rural areas (one interesting side note: the definition of "rural" is decidedly different between the south and midwest, as most "rural development" in the midwest seems to be focused on small towns and the odd farmhouse here and there – in the south, there are relatively fewer definable "towns" and more houses and businesses randomly scattered about the countryside).

I think the most notable difference I see is in the attitude people have about improving their situation. When I lived in Indy, I cannot count the number of people who told me they wanted to "get out" of there ASAP, and the number of people who were shocked that somebody who wasn't from there and didn't have family there would actually want to move there. Invariably people would say, "Why did you leave NC? I wish I could live somewhere like that." On the other hand, in my experience, people in NC and VA generally couldn't imagine moving away from the area (perhaps to another city within the region, but certainly not to somewhere else). Of course there are always exceptions to the rule, but these seem to be the general sentiments. I think the question that needs to be asked is "why?"

Also just a quick note – while I agree that the education system (especially higher ed) in many midwestern states is good, I must take exception to the accusation made by some commenters that it is not as good in the south. Having gone to schools in both NC and VA, I can say that the higher ed systems there are very strong (I fact, probably stronger than what I've seen in Indiana – nothing against IU, PU, and BSU). Just had to say it.

And I agree that Northern VA is not part of the south, but the rest of Virginia is. One commenter asked if there was an example of a southern city with relatively large "urban" legacy costs that has still been successful in growth – I think an interesting one to look at might be Richmond VA (a mid-sized city, for sure, but one with a remarkably "urban" feel to it, versus the more suburban style typical in most southern cities).

MSP and Charlotte have generally been successful, but this recession hit them hard. Charlotte's metro area has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country, and MSP has the highest foreclosure rate in the Midwest. Upstate New York, which is bleeding population but I'm not sure how Nashville's doing right now, but since like the rest of the South its auto industry is mostly foreign owned, it's less impacted by the failure of GM and Chrysler than Detroit and Cleveland.

Given the experience of Bleeding Kansas I'd say "Can't get more southern than that!"

Here is the link: http://news.prnewswire.com/DisplayReleaseContent.aspx?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/07-28-2009/0005067224&EDATE=

Not sure I understand your comment about the interior West? Las Vegas, Tuscon, Phoenix real estate was/is very hard hit during this recession.

Interesting that you say Charlotte and MSP are 'decimated' yet they are tauted as shining standards of growth elsewhere in the comments.

As far as 'auto industry city'…again a bit confused…Nashville is also tauted as a shining standard of growth and it is an 'auto city' (home of shuttered Saturn and Nissan)

Louisville's growth is steady, but hardly anything like Charlotte, Atlanta, or even Nashville. It's outpacing a lot of Midwest areas, but not all of them.

I prefer MSA population. Core county is useful in some respects, but Jefferson County isn't a fast growing county at all.

Louisville is growing (as measured by home county…faster than comparables in the Midwest or the South).

Perhaps it lies in the fact that it is a 'border city'. Neither totally Midwestern like Indy or totally Southern like Nashville; a southern member of the Rust Belt and a northern member of the Sun Belt.

Anway, while success for the 'Ville has been slowly building the past 10 years or so think it is tracking to accelerate its growth as the economy improves.

In regards to the 'can do attitude'…Atlanta lead that parade beginning in the 60's with the growth of their airport and the Portman developments in downtown Atlanta (Hyatt Regency and Peachtree Center); Charlotte followed in the 70's with the growth of its airport and changes to banking regulations that nurtured the growth of the banks; Nashville followed in the late 80's with the growth of its airport and its' selection by Saturn.

It will be interesting to see how each continues their growth. Atlanta has serious water problems; Charlotte has been decimated by the current financial crisis; Nashville is no longer an airline hub; Saturn sits idle; Dell has closed.