What is the Most “Irrelevant” Big City in the World
14m | Sep 28, 2026This episode argues that city relevance isn’t determined by population alone but by factors like wealth-generating industries, cultural exports, quality employment and corporate presence, political power, tourist appeal, universities, sports teams, geography, and trade access. After outlining these drivers and noting their connection to economic success, it asks which large city is surprisingly irrelevant despite nearing a million people. It lists honorable mentions including Fresno, Virginia Beach/Newport News, and several international cities often tied to declining industrial importance, then names El Paso, Texas as the least relevant big city of its size, citing limited Fortune 500 presence, pro sports, elite universities, direct flights, distinctive culture or attractions, major political power, and media-market influence. It explains El Paso’s growth mainly through a large nearby Army base and cross-border trade with Juarez, and notes El Paso is unusually safe despite its proximity to a dangerous city.
00:00 What Makes Cities Relevant
00:17 Wealth and Industry Hubs
00:57 Culture and Job Quality
02:10 Power Tourism and Geography
04:17 The Irrelevance Challenge
05:33 Honorable Mentions Worldwide
09:08 Why El Paso Tops List
10:28 El Paso Relevance Breakdown
13:23 How El Paso Got Big
14:30 Final Takeaways
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