Social / Demographics

Outside Magazine ranks the top 10 U.S. cities for people who like to exercise and be outdoors.

August 1, 2009 - Outside

The population of illegal immigrants in Arizona has dropped by a third, the biggest drop in the nation.

July 31, 2009 - The Arizona Republic

Focusing on aspects like earning potential and lifestyle cost, a consulting group has determined the 20 best Canadian cities for young people.

July 30, 2009 - The Vancouver Sun

The City of New York has been spending thousands of dollars to send people out of the city -- opting to pay for one-way plane tickets instead of providing social services.

July 30, 2009 - The New York Times

This piece from Worldchanging takes an in-depth look at the competition to redesign metropolitan Paris for the year 2030.

July 29, 2009 - WorldChanging

Rebuilding is underway in New Orleans. But not with huge conglomerates running the show. Most of the work is being done by non-profits, startups and other community-based organizations.

July 28, 2009 - WorldChanging

A huge but largely under-noticed portion of public transit money goes to paratransit -- equipment and services to transport disabled people. Now, cheaper alternatives are emerging.

July 28, 2009 - Governing

Cape Town, South Africa is developing into the cultural center of the continent, according to this piece from Travel + Leisure.

July 27, 2009 - Travel + Leisure

A church in Phoenix has been ordered to stop giving out free food to the homeless, which the city says is out of compliance with the church's zoning.

July 26, 2009 - KPHO

Commentator Andrei Codrescu speculates that with the economy in dire straits, California may experience a population loss as people move back to the states they left in the Great Depression.

July 26, 2009 - National Public Radio

A recent report from The Brookings Institution examines unemployment trends in the urban and suburban areas of the top 100 metropolitan areas in the U.S., mainly by looking at the demand for "safety net" services.

July 24, 2009 - The Brookings Institution

Author Chris Steiner looks at the public health and public safety ramifications of higher gas prices.

July 23, 2009 - Forbes Magazine

Museums are transitioning from niche cultural sites to community hubs, and expanding their engagement with their cities.

July 23, 2009 - Christian Science Monitor

Contaminated water is bad news for cities, unless nobody knows about it. This post from Good looks at some of the most notorious water contamination cover ups in recent U.S. history.

July 21, 2009 - Good

Small towns in New Mexico are increasingly being used as film locations. But for some locals, the invasion of Hollywood is not worth the economic benefits.

July 21, 2009 - Los Angeles Times

Prague's temporary riverfront beach gives locals a summer destination and a view on the city's iconic architecture.

July 21, 2009 - The New York Times

Crime is down in big cities across America, leaving experts wondering why.

July 20, 2009 - The Washington Post

A high rate of poverty, a large population of illegal aliens, and a next-door neighbor to one of the most dangerous cities in the hemisphere, El Paso would seem to be a hotbed of danger. But it's actually one of the safest big cities in America.

July 20, 2009 - Reason

Federal stimulus money is bringing a new health center to a Sioux Indian Reservation in South Dakota. Locals are hopeful that the new development will add some prosperity to their poor area, but nobody's especially confident that it will.

July 14, 2009 - The New York Times

This piece looks at a public art project that placed 30 pianos in public places throughout London in an effort to encourage more public interaction.

July 13, 2009 - The New York Times