Since the 1970s, with the nearby town of Fort St .John attracting much of the area's industrial development and Grande Prairie becoming a commercial hub, the town's population and economy have not significantly increased.
In this commercial hub, where the area's population has by some estimates nearly doubled over 15 years to 21 million, living standards for many are falling.
Mayor Garner said: "If not now, when?" Settled in 1643 by Puritans seeking religious freedom, Hempstead reigned well into the 20th century as the undisputed hub of Long Island as the region's population and business center.
Auckland is New Zealand's major transport hub, with half of the country's population living in the region, the bulk of the international passengers, freight and cargo transiting through the area, and most large companies operating nation-wide distribution centres within the city.
"People think Maine ends at Bangor," said Pam Easler, who owns a yarn and craft shop in Presque Isle, the county's commercial hub with a population of 9,000.
Karachi, the nation's commercial and financial hub, has a population of 17 million to 20 million.
At one stage, it was a farming and agricultural hub with a population of, ooh, 676.
The southwest, known as the Treasure Valley, is centered on Boise, the state's main population hub.
The idea is to build automated distribution hubs closer to population centres, making same-day delivery commonplace.
