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Originally Posted by Obadno
I find that definition far to expansive to be useful. Basically any city with pre-war industry? In my opinion rust belt is very specifically Midwest (great lakes specifically) Industrial cities and towns. Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Erie. Mostly everything along the Ohio river etc. Hell even Scranton could probably count.
Thats not to say there wasn't industry cities and towns in the Northeast and they arent also rusty due to moving industries and changing economic conditions. I think of the rust belt as much geographically (probably even more so) than I do as a social or Economic classification.
There is pre war industry that became "rusty" all over the country even in Washington, California, and the deep south but I would never consider those places part of the rust belt, and I don't consider anything on the Atlantic coast to be rust belt.
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I get what you’re saying. “Rust Belt” is a term open to many different interpretations, which vary based on one’s primary defining characteristic of the term. Is it geographic? Economic? Social?
It’s all of them in a certain combination. So that leaves it open to individual interpretation. Is Chicago rust belt? Some would say no way, while others would say hell yes. Just like Philly.
It’s probably become more associated (maybe even interchangeable) with the “midwest” in the national consciousness. Because we hear about it more often applied to cities in the Great Lakes and Midwest regions in recent times, but that’s a rather narrow way of looking at it overall. It’s really opinion though, and will vary based on where someone is from, where they grew up, etc.
As someone who grew up in the fucking buckle of the rust belt, equidistant from Buffalo, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh, I know it when I see it. And Baltimore 100% qualifies, just like Detroit 100% qualifies. They’re very different and they’re very much the same. But that’s just my opinion. I don’t think there’s a true right or wrong answer in all cases to this. I mean, “rust belt” is a term based on broad pigeonholing as it is. It’s not entirely quantifiable.