American Techtopias: 5 Most Tech Savvy Cities in the U.S.

silicon-valley

Looking for exciting new innovations and a city that’s not afraid to move forward? These tech-friendly places are poised for great things, and they offer just that.

Technology continuously surges forward at a seemingly impossible pace, producing new inventions all the time. While no city is immune to the tech-infused currents sweeping the nation along, some are more tuned-in than others. These tech-savvy cities have a highly connected population, public features that cater to the perpetually connected, and plenty of forward thinkers poised to produce new inventions that’ll propel these cities past the rest.

Wireless Seattle

Seattle boasts the best Internet in America based on both connection speed and wireless accessibility. The city’s many java addicts can find free Wi-Fi hotspots liberally sprinkled around town. Laptops are more prevalent among residents than desktop computers, perhaps in part because mobile technology users can find a connection just about anywhere.

Seattle is also set to become the center for cloud computing and intensive engineering companies. The University of Washington is considered a leader in distributed computing and is working on new courses in machine learning.

Tweet-Happy Atlanta

Atlanta residents are no strangers to the social media scene, creating 446 tweets per 100 people each day. There are also 3 public Wi-Fi hotspots per 100 people, with an average 3G download speed of 2.11 megabits per second. Atlanta’s Tech Village is an innovative tech startup that hosts educational and networking events every day of the week and offers office space for new tech companies looking for a collaborative environment to grow in.

Innovative Austin

The annual South by Southwest festival in Austin focuses on emerging technology, bringing new ideas to the city at a rapid pace. The IBM research lab in Austin produces more patents than any other IBM office, keeping things fresh and forward-thinking. The University of Texas at Austin Cockrell School of Engineering produces more than 1,000 graduates a year to keep the inventive vibe pulsing.

Energetic Boston

Boston is a hub for LED technology companies, including Philips Color Kinetics and Osram Sylvania. This city produced more than 40,000 patents between 2000 and 2011, with the most popular categories being radiant energy, electric lamps, and printing. Techie-friendly attractions like the MIT Museum and Miracle of Science bar create a welcoming atmosphere. Bostonians pen an impressive 208 daily tweets per 100 people.

Revolutionary San José/Silicon Valley

San José/Silicon Valley has long been considered one of the best places to live for access to innovative technology. The city has 4.1 public Wi-Fi hotspots per 100 people with an average 3G download speed of 2.1 Mbps. Home to Cisco, Apple, and Google, this area churned out nearly 90,000 patents between 2000 and 2011, with a focus on semiconductor manufacturing and multiplex communications. Silicon Valley leads in 66 of the total 400 patent classes, making it a leader in dozens of areas.

For access to Wi-Fi, a Twitter-connected community, and plenty of new patent producers, these cities are among the top choices in America.