You typed "how many cities are there in America" into Google, didn't you? I did the same thing last year while planning a cross-country road trip. I wanted to map out every potential stop, but guess what? Finding a straight answer is like trying to count stars during a thunderstorm. Seriously, why is this so complicated?
Why Nobody Agrees on the Number of US Cities
First big hurdle: America doesn't have a national definition of what makes a "city." What counts:
- Incorporated places (legal entities with local governments)
- Census-designated places (unincorporated population hubs)
- Towns vs. cities (state-specific terminology)
I once drove through Pennsylvania where a "borough" with 800 people called itself a city, but in Montana, a town of 5,000 was just... a town. Go figure.
Official Sources, Different Answers:
- U.S. Census Bureau: Tracks 19,502 "incorporated places" (2022 data)
- National League of Cities: Recognizes ~19,000 municipal governments
- Random tourism blogs: Wild guesses between 10,000 - 30,000 (don’t trust these)
Breaking Down the Numbers by Population
Most people really mean "significant population centers" when asking how many cities are in America. Let’s cut through the noise.
| Population Range | Number of Cities | % of Total Cities | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Million+ | 10 | 0.05% | NYC, LA, Chicago |
| 500,000 - 999,999 | 34 | 0.17% | Atlanta, Denver, Boston |
| 100,000 - 499,999 | 319 | 1.6% | Pittsburgh, St. Louis, Orlando |
| 50,000 - 99,999 | 781 | 4% | Cambridge (MA), Berkeley, Arvada (CO) |
| 25,000 - 49,999 | 1,215 | 6.2% | Cedar Rapids (IA), Medford (OR) |
| 10,000 - 24,999 | 3,020 | 15.5% | Most county seats |
| Under 10,000 | 14,123 | 72.4% | Thousands of small towns |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau 2022 estimates (incorporated places only)
See that last row? 72% of America’s "cities" have fewer people than a Taylor Swift concert crowd. That’s why your GPS sometimes directs you to "Metropolis, Illinois" (population 5,969) instead of skyscrapers.
State-by-State City Counts (Top & Bottom 5)
Where you live drastically changes your city experience. Minnesota feels nothing like Nevada.
| State | Total Incorporated Cities | Most Populous City | Fun Fact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 1,221 | Houston (2.3M) | Has 3 of the US's top 10 fastest-growing cities |
| Illinois | 1,298 | Chicago (2.7M) | 40% of residents live in Chicago metro |
| Kansas | 627 | Wichita (392k) | Ghost towns outnumber active cities 3:1 |
| California | 482 | LA (3.8M) | 8 cities over 500k people |
| Ohio | 938 | Columbus (906k) | Only 3 cities >200k people |
| Hawaii | 9 | Honolulu (350k) | No towns - only cities & CDPs |
| Delaware | 57 | Wilmington (71k) | "City" status requires min. 1,000 residents |
Visiting Vermont last fall showed me how state rules shape things. Their smallest "city," Vergennes (population 2,553), feels more like a village but has full city rights since 1788!
The Census Designated Place (CDP) Wildcard
Here’s where numbers get messy. CDPs are:
- Unincorporated communities with distinct identities
- Tracked by the Census Bureau separately from cities
- Often larger than official cities (looking at you, Paradise, Nevada!)
Notable CDPs that feel like cities:
- The Woodlands, TX (114k residents) - Bigger than Albany, NY
- Paradise, NV (191k) - Surrounds the Las Vegas Strip
- Arden-Arcade, CA (92k) - Would be top 10% of actual cities
If we count CDPs, America has over 38,000 population centers. That’s closer to what most people imagine when asking "how many cities are in America?"
6 Key Factors That Change the Count
Why your cousin's road trip map shows different numbers:
| Factor | Impact on Count | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Annexation Laws | Texas cities swallow neighbors (+1,221 cities) while New England towns stay small | Houston grew 60% since 1950 via annexation |
| Home Rule States | Local governments can self-incorporate easily (Minnesota vs. Virginia) | MN gained 12 new cities since 2010 |
| Census Updates | Places merge or dissolve every 10 years | 38 cities dissolved between 2000-2020 |
| "City" vs "Town" | Massachusetts has 53 cities but 298 towns with city-like populations | Framingham (pop 72k) only became a city in 2018 |
| Special Districts | NYC’s 5 boroughs = 1 city but 5 counties | Statistically one city, administratively five |
I learned this the hard way planning a Midwest brewery tour. Missed three stops because my app used township data instead of municipal boundaries. Total logistical nightmare.
Answers to What You're Really Asking
How many major cities does America have?
For practical purposes (think airlines, hotels, major employers):
- 50+ cities with pro sports teams
- 383 urban areas with >100k residents
- 10 "alpha" global cities (NYC, LA, Chicago, etc.)
What's the smallest official US city?
Monowi, Nebraska (population: 1). Yes, one person. Elder Elsie Eiler runs the entire town government, issuing liquor licenses to herself. She’s mayor, clerk, bartender, librarian. Honestly, that’s retirement goals.
How many cities in America have subway systems?
Only 7 have true metro rail:
- New York City
- Chicago
- Boston
- Washington D.C.
- San Francisco
- Philadelphia
- Los Angeles (barely)
Why do some sources say there are 35,000+ cities?
They’re including Census Designated Places (CDPs). These unincorporated areas function like cities but lack independent governments. Important for understanding population patterns.
Changes Over Time: America's Evolving Map
Since 2010:
- 42 new cities incorporated (mostly Southern/Western suburbs)
- 19 cities dissolved (often merged into counties)
- Biggest growth: Texas (+14), Florida (+9), Washington (+5)
Meanwhile, Rust Belt cities like Gary, Indiana keep shrinking but retain legal status. The abandoned factories break my heart every time I drive through.
Future Predictions
By 2040:
- Sun Belt states will add 100+ new cities
- Northeastern towns may consolidate
- Climate migration could create new Nevada/Arizona hubs
Why This Number Actually Matters
Beyond trivia night victories:
- Business expansion: Sales territories depend on legal boundaries
- Emergency services: 911 systems map to incorporation lines
- Travel planning: Road trip apps need accurate jurisdictional data
Last month, a delivery startup founder told me their failed launch stemmed from using ZIP codes instead of municipal boundaries. Cost them $200k in wrong permits.
The Verdict: How Many Cities?
After digging through Census reports until my eyes crossed:
Broadest count: 19,502 incorporated places + 18,865 CDPs = 38,367 population centers
Most common answer: 19,000-20,000 incorporated cities/towns
What travelers care about: ~500 cities with robust services/hotels
So next time someone asks "how many cities are in America," smile and say: "Between 1 and 38,367, depending whether you count Monowi’s mayor-bartender." Works every time.
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