No More Trouble in River Cities

After years of industrial abuse and pollution, North America's river towns have made a comeback and are open for business. Here are some examples.

By Crai S Bower for MSN City Guides

Add a comment

Rivers are the arteries of our landscape. But America's largest riparian systems once served as poster children for thoughtless industrial pollution. As these waterways, choked of oxygen and other nutrients slowly suffocated, so too did the downtowns that engulfed them. Once urban planners determined "we all live downstream," they set about transforming tidal cesspools into tree-lined aquatic oases, replete with cafés, terraces and verdant swatches for concerts and picnics. Late summer is the perfect time to discover and celebrate North America's river towns.

A horse-drawn carriage along the palmetto-lined esplanade.(© Jason Todd Getty Images)

Charleston: A horse-drawn carriage along the palmetto-lined esplanade.

Charleston, S.C.
Charleston, S.C. is a city of islands perched between the Ashley and Copper rivers at their delta with the Atlantic Ocean. Once the shipping (and thus economic) capitol of the south, Charleston now offers Waterfront Park -- a half-mile stretch of riverfront that just 30 years ago was an industrial depository of pilings and parking lots. True to Charleston's 340-year old roots as exemplar of the Southern aesthetic, a palmetto-lined pedestrian esplanade provides almost a quarter mile of strolling not far from the restored wetlands that provide habitat for the aquatic residents of this historical city.

Continued: Pittsburgh

Join the discussion!

Add a comment

1-10 of 112

PreviousNext

yourreligionisnotmine

Monday, August 31, 2009 1:03:23 AM

The editors should have done their homework here. Bend is not in the Great Basin (it is generally considered to be in Central OR, and not Eastern, OR). The Great Basin is called that because any precipitation that falls there stays there--there is no exit to an ocean. But as is stated (correctly) in this article, the Deschutes drains into the Columbia, which in turn drains into the Pacific Ocean. No part of Washington State is in the Great Basin, but the southeastern part of Oregon is. The only town of any size at all in the Great Basin in Oregon is Burns (pop ~3000).

sunshine208

Monday, August 31, 2009 1:40:37 AM

Ah.... I never regreted my decision to move my family from Windy City to the Most Livable City, or the 4th Best City to Live in, as it was know in 1984. The book I had bought to make my decision where to live. In early spring I was hosting a group of first time visitors to our city from Japan, it was early in the morning, I had picked them up from the old airport. They did not seem to be impress untill we enter the Ft. Pit tunnel. One of them knew, I too had moved recently from Windy City which they all had visited year before. thier mission was to learn renovating city from industrial belt. The leader asked me ' Mr. Patel what do you think of Pittusburgh.? We had than come out of the tunnel and were entering the Ft. Pit bridge.

Ah...... the Sun was out, blue crystal clear sky, reflections from glass buildings especially PPG were great, all the bridges with fresh paint were shining. The three riveres were flowing gently with the barges and red and white Majestic. The city was alive. It was just 8:30 am. The immedite words came out of my mouth, It is a jewel in the crown. They have stuck to me today with proud & found memories. That is my city Pittsburgh where my family was raised and homeschooled. Ah and the Steeleres brings smiles all overs. Dieing to have an iron City Greetings from Mumbai India

fire400

Monday, August 31, 2009 2:06:41 AM

Left out the Twin Cities, what a shame.

gamtngirl

Monday, August 31, 2009 2:54:18 AM

I think whoever made these selections needs to look @ Chattanooga, TN. They have been selected as one of the best places to live, and their new riverfront area is awesome!

kellber27

Monday, August 31, 2009 2:56:47 AM

I agree....the writer should have done more homework! I cannot believe San Antonio is on that list. I am a native Texan and the "river" walk is a muddy man made canal. I cannot understand why Chattanooga, TN did not make the list. They have spent the last 10 years developing a beautiful riverfront area on the Tennessee river and it is amazing! It's one of the best places for a family to vacation anywhere. Tons of family friendly and affordable things to do. I am disappointed.

ajakofalltrades

Monday, August 31, 2009 3:17:34 AM

Did anybody not notice the part about St. Louis? The last time I checked it sat on the banks of the Mississippi River, not the Missouri and the the Mississippi is our longest river not the Missouri. Missouri and the Mississippi river were the gateway to the west.

needjobnow

Monday, August 31, 2009 3:18:44 AM

Amazing They left out Louisville, KY one of the best kept secret cities in America. I lived there for much of 2008, and never ceased to be amazed at the diverse people and activities found in The City of Hospitality. I will be relocating there permanently eventually as I loved the place so much.

talmidah

Monday, August 31, 2009 3:24:48 AM

I would also suggest my hometown Baltimore (on the Patapsco River), Washington DC (Potomac River) and Philadelphia (on the Delaware). I have canoed and tubed and swam in all of them - which is more than you can probably say about either the Mississippi or the Missouri Rivers.

dollar tree shopper

Monday, August 31, 2009 3:33:38 AM

Chattanooga for sure! I expected to see it on the list. That's why I read the article.

FrEddddd

#10

Monday, August 31, 2009 3:47:55 AM

The five boroughs of New York don't have any rivers????

1-10 of 112

PreviousNext