I'm not gonna downvote you because I get what you are saying, but using NYC as an example of a city who's personality isn't money is just being willfully obtuse. That is the worst example you could have possibly used.

On a more anthropological note, cities always formulate where trade occurs. Centralized nodes where money and goods are exchanged are what cities are. Most older cities are focused around ports where goods were exchanged for money. So cities attractiveness is that there is money there. Dallas is no exception to this rule, it grew because it was a centralized node for commerce. New Orleans, Ohama, kansas city, miami, portland, seattle, london, paris. All these cities became big because they were the areas where money is and can be made. Cities aren't created and grow because people want to expand "culture". The culture is a side-effect that happens after the fact.