King of Kensington
Senior Member
"Rust belt" is seen by some as a pejorative - so pretty much every city that's not as rusty as Youngstown, Ohio and has had a post-industrial transition will say it's "not rust belt." So the historic Manufacturing Belt is perhaps a better term.
Is Toronto part of this region? It's hard to argue that Hamilton and Niagara aren't.
In some ways, Chicago and Toronto are the two global cities on the Great Lakes and on the edges of the region. Chicago does seem more Rust Belt than Toronto though. Although Chicago's downtown and lakefront feel a world away, it's hard to deny Chicago's "rust belt" status if you've driven through NW Indiana and the South Side, or know its history as the "city of big shoulders" etc.
Seen some past photos where Toronto did look rather Cleveland-like but I think Toronto was always more commercial and less based on heavy industry.
Is Toronto part of this region? It's hard to argue that Hamilton and Niagara aren't.
In some ways, Chicago and Toronto are the two global cities on the Great Lakes and on the edges of the region. Chicago does seem more Rust Belt than Toronto though. Although Chicago's downtown and lakefront feel a world away, it's hard to deny Chicago's "rust belt" status if you've driven through NW Indiana and the South Side, or know its history as the "city of big shoulders" etc.
Seen some past photos where Toronto did look rather Cleveland-like but I think Toronto was always more commercial and less based on heavy industry.