The smug cloud from Ithaca, NY can be overwhelming as they proclaim their greatness by pointing to things such as Ithaca has more restaurants per capita than New York City (http://www.visitithaca.com/media/fastfacts.htm) or the bolder claim of more restaurants than any town or city in the U.S. (http://www.gimmecoffee.com/press_2003.09_organic.php)
However, this is incorrect.
There does not seem to be any hard data to back this up and no original source that I could find. But Traverse City, MI is a culinary hot spot and some quick calculations show it has more restaurants as a percentage of population than Ithaca, NY.
2004 population data:
Itahca population = 29,952 (http://www.city-data.com/city/Ithaca-New-York.html)
The downtown Ithaca web site lists 55 dining establishments (http://www.downtownithaca.com/enjoy/dining.htm)
55 Restaurants / 29,952 people = 0.00184 restaurants per capita
2004 TC population = 14,508 (http://www.city-data.com/city/Traverse-City-Michigan.html)
Restaurants downtown = 33 according to the Downtown Traverse City web site (http://www.downtowntc.com/subPage.php?page=viewCompanies&companyType=Restaurants)
Divide 33 by 14,508.
Restaurants/capita = 0.00227
Therefore Traverse City has more restaurants than Ithaca, NY and by extension Traverse City has a higher restaurant density than New York City or any other place in the United States - maybe all of North America!
Hey Ithaca - don't let this get you down - Ithaca still is gorges.
