What's the difference? If I'm driving into the commercial center of a city, how do I know if I'm driving into uptown or downtown?
2007-01-20 01:36:59 · 5 answers · asked by Scythian1950 7 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Geography
So, if I'm driving north, it's called Uptown and if I'm driving south, it's called Downtown? C'mon! Cities have SIGNS that say one or the other!
2007-01-20 01:49:01 · update #1
The difference is based on the origin of the words themselves (i.e., the etymology). For example, "uptown" was first used in 1802 to describe "the higher or upper portion of a town," from "up + town". As this usually was the residential portion of a town (especially a port) the word had overtones of that. Specific meaning "more prosperous area of town" is recorded from 1946.
Downtown first attested 1835, from American English, and has somewhat implied opposite meaning from "uptown"; usually related to the business or retail part of a city.
Specific usage, however, is really dependent on the town and local custom. In other words, what is referred to as "uptown" in one city, might be called "downtown" in another.
2007-01-20 04:15:01 · answer #1 · answered by idiot detector 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Uptown is somewhere in the north (or the newer part)
Downtown is somewhere in the south (or the older part)
2007-01-20 01:46:54 · answer #2 · answered by keep88 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i think uptown is where the rich live, residential areas? and downtown is the city area like shopping malls etc
2007-01-20 02:12:50 · answer #3 · answered by jon 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
north and south
2007-01-20 01:40:12 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
These days it has become more of a local cultural custom. Many people say "overtown", also. I have heard all three.
2007-01-20 08:53:43 · answer #5 · answered by intrepid 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋