Southeastern United States
Largest cities
Table:
Rank

City

State

Population (2015)

1

Jacksonville[a]

Florida

868,031

2

Charlotte

North Carolina

827,097

3

Washington

District of Columbia

672,228

4

Nashville[a]

Tennessee

660,388

5

Memphis

Tennessee

652,717

6

Baltimore

Maryland

621,849

7

Louisville[a]

Kentucky

615,366

8

Atlanta

Georgia

463,878

9

Virginia Beach

Virginia

452,745

10

Raleigh

North Carolina

451,066

11

Miami

Florida

441,003

12

New Orleans[a]

Louisiana

389,617

13

Tampa

Florida

369,075

14

Lexington

Kentucky

314,488

15

Greensboro

North Carolina

285,342

16

Orlando

Florida

270,394

17

Durham

North Carolina

257,636

18

Saint Petersburg

Florida

257,083

19

Norfolk

Virginia

246,393

20

Winston-Salem

North Carolina

241,218

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Jacksonville is the most populous city in Florida as well as the southeastern United States , and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States . It is the seat of Duval County , with which the city government consolidated in 1968 . Consolidation gave Jacksonville its great size and placed most of its metropolitan population within the city limits . As of 2018 , Jacksonville 's population was estimated to be 903,889 . The Jacksonville metropolitan area has a population of 1,523,615 and is the fourth largest metropolitan area in Florida . Jacksonville is centered on the banks of the St. Johns River in the First Coast region of northeast Florida , about 25 miles ( 40 km ) south of the Georgia state line and 328 miles ( 528 km ) north of Miami . The Jacksonville Beaches communities are along the adjacent Atlantic coast . The area was originally inhabited by the Timucua people , and in 1564 was the site of the French colony of Fort Caroline , one of the earliest European settlements in what is now the continental United States . Under British rule , a settlement grew at the narrow point in the river where cattle crossed , known as Wacca Pilatka to the Seminole and the Cow Ford to the British . A platted town was established there in 1822 , a year after the United States gained Florida from Spain ; it was named after Andrew Jackson , the first military governor of the Florida Territory and seventh President of the United States . Harbor improvements since the late 19th century have made Jacksonville a major military and civilian deep-water port . Its riverine location facilitates Naval Station Mayport , Naval Air Station Jacksonville , the U.S. Marine Corps Blount Island Command , and the Port of Jacksonville , Florida 's third largest seaport .
Florida ( /ˈflɒrɪdə/ ( listen ) , Spanish pronunciation : [ floˈɾiða ] ) is the southernmost contiguous state in the United States . The state is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico , to the northwest by Alabama , to the north by Georgia , to the east by the Atlantic Ocean , and to the south by the Straits of Florida . Florida is the 22nd-most extensive ( 65,755 sq mi or 170,300 km2 ) , the 3rd-most populous ( 21,477,737 inhabitants ) , and the 8th-most densely populated ( 384.3/sq mi or 148.4/km2 ) of the U.S. states . Jacksonville is the most populous municipality in the state and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States . The Miami metropolitan area is Florida 's most populous urban area , with its capital being Tallahassee . Florida 's $ 1.0 trillion economy is the fourth largest in the United States . If it were a country , Florida would be the 16th largest economy in the world , and the 58th most populous as of 2018 [ update ] . In 2017 , Florida 's per capita personal income was $ 47,684 , ranking 26th in the nation . The unemployment rate in September 2018 was 3.5% and ranked as the 18th in the United States . Florida exports nearly $ 55 billion in goods made in the state , the 8th highest among all states . The Miami Metropolitan Area is by far the largest urban economy in Florida and the 12th largest in the United States with a GDP of $ 345 billion as of 2017 [ update ] . This is more than twice the number of the next metro area , the Tampa Bay Area , which has a GDP of $ 145 billion .
Charlotte ( /ˈʃɑːrlət/ ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina . Located in the Piedmont , it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County . In 2018 , the U.S. Census Bureau estimated the population was 872,498 , making it the 16th-most populous city in the United States . The city is the cultural , economic , and transportation center of the Charlotte metropolitan area , whose population ranks 23rd in the U.S. , and had a population of 2,569,213 , in 2018 . The Charlotte metropolitan area is part of a sixteen-county market region or combined statistical area with a 2018 census-estimated population of 2,728,933 . Between 2004 and 2014 , Charlotte was ranked as the country 's fastest-growing metro area , with 888,000 new residents . Based on U.S. Census data from 2005 to 2015 , Charlotte tops the U.S. in millennial population growth . It is the second-largest city in the southeastern United States , just behind Jacksonville , Florida . It is the third-fastest-growing major city in the United States . It is listed as a gamma global city by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network . Residents are referred to as Charlotteans . Charlotte is home to the corporate headquarters of Bank of America , Truist Financial , and the east coast operations of Wells Fargo , which along with other financial institutions has made it the second-largest banking center in the United States since 1995 .
North Carolina ( /ˌkærəˈlaɪnə/ ( listen ) ) is a U.S. state located in the southeastern region of the United States . North Carolina is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the 50 United States . It is bordered by Virginia to the north , the Atlantic Ocean to the east , Georgia and South Carolina to the south , and Tennessee to the west . Raleigh is the state 's capital and Charlotte is its largest city . The Charlotte metropolitan area , with an estimated population of 2,569,213 in 2018 , is the most populous metropolitan area in North Carolina , the 23rd-most populous in the United States , and the largest banking center in the nation after New York City . The Raleigh metropolitan area is the second-largest metropolitan area in the state , with an estimated population of 1,362,540 in 2018 , and is home to the largest research park in the United States , Research Triangle Park . North Carolina was established as a royal colony in 1729 and is one of the original Thirteen Colonies . North Carolina is named in honor of King Charles I of England who first formed the English colony , with Carolus being Latin for Charles . On November 21 , 1789 , North Carolina became the 12th state to ratify the United States Constitution . In the run-up to the American Civil War , North Carolina declared its secession from the Union on May 20 , 1861 , becoming the last of eleven states to join the Confederate States . Following the Civil War , the state was restored to the Union on June 25 , 1868 . On December 17 , 1903 , Orville and Wilbur Wright successfully piloted the world 's first controlled , sustained flight of a powered , heavier-than-air aircraft at Kill Devil Hills in North Carolina 's Outer Banks .
Washington , D.C. , ( /ˈwɑːʃɪŋtən ˌdiːˈsiː/ ) formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as D.C. , Washington , or The District , is the capital of the United States . Founded after the American Revolution as the seat of government of the newly independent country , Washington was named after George Washington , the first president of the United States and a Founding Father . As the seat of the United States federal government and several international organizations , Washington is an important world political capital . The city , located on the Potomac River bordering Maryland and Virginia , is one of the most visited cities in the world , with more than 20 million tourists annually . The signing of the Residence Act on July 16 , 1790 , approved the creation of a capital district located along the Potomac River on the country 's East Coast . The U.S. Constitution provided for a federal district under the exclusive jurisdiction of the U.S. Congress , and the District is therefore not a part of any U.S. state . The states of Maryland and Virginia each donated land to form the federal district , which included the pre-existing settlements of Georgetown and Alexandria . The City of Washington was founded in 1791 to serve as the new national capital . In 1846 , Congress returned the land originally ceded by Virginia , including the city of Alexandria ; in 1871 , it created a single municipal government for the remaining portion of the District . Washington had an estimated population of 702,455 as of July 2018 [ update ] , making it the 20th most populous city in the United States . Commuters from the surrounding Maryland and Virginia suburbs raise the city 's daytime population to more than one million during the workweek . Washington 's metropolitan area , the country 's sixth largest ( including parts of Maryland , Virginia and West Virginia ) , had a 2017 estimated population of 6.2 million residents .
Washington , D.C. , ( /ˈwɑːʃɪŋtən ˌdiːˈsiː/ ) formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as D.C. , Washington , or The District , is the capital of the United States . Founded after the American Revolution as the seat of government of the newly independent country , Washington was named after George Washington , the first president of the United States and a Founding Father . As the seat of the United States federal government and several international organizations , Washington is an important world political capital . The city , located on the Potomac River bordering Maryland and Virginia , is one of the most visited cities in the world , with more than 20 million tourists annually . The signing of the Residence Act on July 16 , 1790 , approved the creation of a capital district located along the Potomac River on the country 's East Coast . The U.S. Constitution provided for a federal district under the exclusive jurisdiction of the U.S. Congress , and the District is therefore not a part of any U.S. state . The states of Maryland and Virginia each donated land to form the federal district , which included the pre-existing settlements of Georgetown and Alexandria . The City of Washington was founded in 1791 to serve as the new national capital . In 1846 , Congress returned the land originally ceded by Virginia , including the city of Alexandria ; in 1871 , it created a single municipal government for the remaining portion of the District . Washington had an estimated population of 702,455 as of July 2018 [ update ] , making it the 20th most populous city in the United States . Commuters from the surrounding Maryland and Virginia suburbs raise the city 's daytime population to more than one million during the workweek . Washington 's metropolitan area , the country 's sixth largest ( including parts of Maryland , Virginia and West Virginia ) , had a 2017 estimated population of 6.2 million residents .
Nashville-Davidson ( balance ) is the name used by the U.S. Census Bureau to designate the portion of Davidson County , Tennessee , United States that does not include satellite cities of Nashville . Because Nashville and Davidson County share a consolidated metropolitan government , the parts of these cities that fall within Davidson County are considered part of Nashville , although they still retain their own municipal governments . The cities that are a part of Nashville-Davidson County , but are excluded from the balance are :
Tennessee ( /ˌtɛnəˈsiː/ ( listen ) , locally /ˈtɛnəsi/ ; Cherokee : ᏔᎾᏏ , romanized : Tanasi ) is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States . Tennessee is the 36th largest and the 16th most populous of the 50 United States . Tennessee is bordered by eight states , with Kentucky to the north , Virginia to the northeast , North Carolina to the east , Georgia , Alabama , and Mississippi to the south , Arkansas to the west , and Missouri to the northwest . The Appalachian Mountains dominate the eastern part of the state , and the Mississippi River forms the state 's western border . Nashville is the state 's capital and largest city , with a 2017 population of 667,560 and a 2017 metro population of 1,903,045 . Tennessee 's second largest city is Memphis , which had a population of 652,236 in 2017 . The state of Tennessee is rooted in the Watauga Association , a 1772 frontier pact generally regarded as the first constitutional government west of the Appalachians . What is now Tennessee was initially part of North Carolina , and later part of the Southwest Territory . Tennessee was admitted to the Union as the 16th state on June 1 , 1796 . Tennessee was the last state to leave the Union and join the Confederacy at the outbreak of the American Civil War in 1861 . Occupied by Union forces from 1862 , it was the first state to be readmitted to the Union at the end of the war . Tennessee furnished more soldiers for the Confederate Army than any other state besides Virginia , and more soldiers for the Union Army than the rest of the Confederacy combined .
Memphis is a city located along the Mississippi River in southwestern Shelby County , Tennessee , United States . The 2018 city population was 650,618 , making Memphis the largest city on the Mississippi River , the second most populous city in Tennessee , as well as the 26th largest city in the United States . Greater Memphis is the 42nd largest metropolitan area in the United States , with a population of 1,348,260 in 2017 . The city is the anchor of West Tennessee and the greater Mid-South region , which includes portions of neighboring Arkansas and Mississippi . Memphis is the seat of Shelby County , the most populous county in Tennessee . As one of the more historic and culturally significant cities of the southern United States , the city features a wide variety of landscapes and distinct neighborhoods . The first European explorer to visit the area of present-day Memphis was Spanish conquistador Hernando de Soto in 1541 with his expedition into the New World . The high Chickasaw Bluffs protecting the location from the waters of the Mississippi would then be contested between the Spanish , French , and the English as Memphis took shape . Modern Memphis was founded in 1819 by three prominent Americans : John Overton , James Winchester , and future president Andrew Jackson . Memphis grew into one of the largest cities of the Antebellum South as a market for agricultural goods , natural resources like lumber , and the American slave trade . After the American Civil War and the end of slavery , the city experienced even faster growth into the 20th century as it became among the largest world markets for cotton and lumber . Home to Tennessee 's largest African-American population , Memphis played a prominent role in the American civil rights movement and was the site of Dr. Martin Luther King , Jr. 's 1968 assassination .
Baltimore ( /ˈbɔːltɪmɔːr/ BAWL-tim-or , locally : /ˈbɔːlmər/ ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland , as well as the 30th most populous city in the United States , with a population of 602,495 in 2018 and also the largest such independent city in the country . Baltimore was established by the Constitution of Maryland as an independent city in 1729 . As of 2017 , the population of the Baltimore metropolitan area was estimated to be just under 2.802 million , making it the 21st largest metropolitan area in the country . Baltimore is located about 40 miles ( 64 km ) northeast of Washington , D.C. , making it a principal city in the Washington-Baltimore combined statistical area ( CSA ) , the fourth-largest CSA in the nation , with a calculated 2018 population of 9,797,063 . The city 's Inner Harbor was once the second leading port of entry for immigrants to the United States . In addition , Baltimore was a major manufacturing center . After a decline in major manufacturing , heavy industry , and restructuring of the rail industry , Baltimore has shifted to a service-oriented economy . Johns Hopkins Hospital ( founded 1889 ) and Johns Hopkins University ( founded 1876 ) are the city 's top two employers . With hundreds of identified districts , Baltimore has been dubbed a city of neighborhoods . Famous residents have included writers Edgar Allan Poe , Edith Hamilton , Frederick Douglass , W.E.B . Du Bois , Ogden Nash , Gertrude Stein , F. Scott Fitzgerald , Dashiell Hammett , Upton Sinclair , Tom Clancy , Ta-Nehisi Coates , and H. L. Mencken ; musicians James Eubie Blake , Billie Holiday , Cab Calloway , Tori Amos , Frank Zappa , Tupac Shakur , Dan Deacon , Robbie Basho , Bill Frisell , Philip Glass , Cass Elliot , and Ric Ocasek ; actors and filmmakers John Waters , Barry Levinson , Divine , David Hasselhoff , Don Messick , John Kassir , Jada Pinkett Smith , and Mo'Nique ; artist Jeff Koons ; baseball player Babe Ruth ; swimmer Michael Phelps ; radio host Ira Glass ; television host Mike Rowe ; Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall ; Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi ; and United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson . During the War of 1812 , Francis Scott Key wrote The Star-Spangled Banner in Baltimore after the bombardment of Fort McHenry .
Maryland ( US : /ˈmɛrələnd/ ( listen ) MERR-ə-lənd ) [ a ] is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the eastern United States , bordering Virginia , West Virginia , and the District of Columbia to its south and west ; Pennsylvania to its north ; and Delaware and the Atlantic Ocean to its east . The state 's largest city is Baltimore , and its capital is Annapolis . Among its occasional nicknames are Old Line State , the Free State , and the Chesapeake Bay State . It is named after the English queen Henrietta Maria , known in England as Queen Mary , who was the wife of King Charles I. Sixteen of Maryland 's twenty-three counties , as well as the city of Baltimore , border the tidal waters of the Chesapeake Bay estuary and its many tributaries , which combined total more than 4,000 miles of shoreline . Although one of the smallest states in the U.S. , it features a variety of climates and topographical features that have earned it the moniker of America in Miniature . In a similar vein , Maryland 's geography , culture , and history combine elements of the Mid-Atlantic , Northeastern , and South Atlantic regions of the country . Before its coastline was explored by Europeans in the 16th century , Maryland was inhabited by several groups of Native Americans , mostly by the Algonquin , and to a lesser degree by the Iroquois and Sioux . As one of the original Thirteen Colonies of Great Britain , Maryland was founded by George Calvert , a Catholic convert who sought to provide a religious haven for Catholics persecuted in England . In 1632 , Charles I of England granted Calvert a colonial charter , naming the colony after his wife , Queen Mary ( Henrietta Maria of France ) . Unlike the Pilgrims and Puritans , who rejected Catholicism in their settlements , Calvert envisioned a colony where people of different religious sects would coexist under the principle of toleration . Accordingly , in 1649 the Maryland General Assembly passed an Act Concerning Religion , which enshrined this principle by penalizing anyone who reproached a fellow Marylander based on religious affiliation . Nevertheless , religious strife was common in the early years , and Catholics remained a minority , albeit in greater numbers than in any other English colony .
The Louisville/Jefferson County metro government ( balance ) is a statistical entity in the U.S. state of Kentucky defined by the United States Census Bureau to represent the portion of the consolidated city-county of Louisville-Jefferson County that does not include any of the 83 separate incorporated places ( municipalities ) located within the city and county . It is made of the portion of Jefferson County that was the city of Louisville prior to the 2003 creation of Louisville Metro , plus a large swath of previously unincorporated territory . In the 2010 Census , the balance had a population of 597,337 , while the 2010 population of the entire governmental area was 741,096 . It is also located within the Louisville-Jefferson County , KY-IN Metropolitan Statistical Area .
Kentucky ( UK : /kɛnˈtʌki/ ken-TUK-ee , US : /kən-/ ( listen ) kən- ) , officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky , is a state located in the Southern United States . Although styled as the State of Kentucky in the law creating it , ( because in Kentucky 's first constitution , the term state was used ) , Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth ( the others being Virginia , Pennsylvania , and Massachusetts ) . Originally a part of Virginia , in 1792 Kentucky split from it and became the 15th state to join the Union . Kentucky is the 37th most extensive and the 26th most populous of the 50 United States . Kentucky is known as the Bluegrass State , a nickname based on the bluegrass , a species of grass found in many of its pastures . One of the major regions in Kentucky is the Bluegrass Region in central Kentucky , which houses its two largest cities , Louisville and Lexington . It is a land with diverse environments and abundant resources , including the world 's longest cave system , Mammoth Cave National Park , one of the greatest lengths of navigable waterways and streams in the contiguous United States , and the two largest man-made lakes east of the Mississippi River . Kentucky is also known for horse racing , bourbon , moonshine , coal , My Old Kentucky Home historic state park , automobile manufacturing , tobacco , bluegrass music , college basketball , Kentucky Fried Chicken , and the Kentucky colonel .
Atlanta ( /ætˈlæntə/ ) is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia . With an estimated 2018 population of 498,044 , it is also the 37th most-populous city in the United States . The city serves as the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area , home to 5.9 million people and the ninth largest metropolitan area in the nation . Atlanta is the seat of Fulton County , the most populous county in Georgia . Portions of the city extend eastward into neighboring DeKalb County . Atlanta was originally founded as the terminus of a major state-sponsored railroad . With rapid expansion , however , it soon became the convergence point among multiple railroads , spurring its rapid growth . The city 's name derives from that of the Western and Atlantic Railroad 's local depot , signifying the town 's growing reputation as a transportation hub . During the American Civil War , the city was almost entirely burned to the ground in General William T. Sherman 's famous March to the Sea . However , the city rose from its ashes and quickly became a national center of commerce and the unofficial capital of the New South . During the 1950s and 1960s , Atlanta became a major organizing center of the civil rights movement , with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. , Ralph David Abernathy , and many other locals playing major roles in the movement 's leadership . During the modern era , Atlanta has attained international prominence as a major air transportation hub , with Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport being the world 's busiest airport by passenger traffic since 1998 .
Georgia ( /ˈdʒɔːrdʒə/ ) is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States . Georgia is the 24th largest in area and 8th-most populous of the 50 United States . Georgia is bordered to the north by Tennessee and North Carolina , to the northeast by South Carolina , to the southeast by the Atlantic Ocean , to the south by Florida , and to the west by Alabama . Its 2019 estimated population was 10,617,423 , according to the U.S. Census Bureau . Atlanta , a beta ( + ) global city , is both the state 's capital and its largest city . The Atlanta metropolitan area , with an estimated population of 5.9 million people in 2018 , is the 9th most populous metropolitan area in the United States and contains about 56% of the entire state population . Founded in 1733 as a British colony , Georgia was the last and southernmost of the original Thirteen Colonies to be established . Named after King George II of Great Britain , the Colony of Georgia covered the area from South Carolina south to Spanish Florida and west to French Louisiana at the Mississippi River . On January 2 , 1788 , Georgia became the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution . From 1802 to 1804 , western Georgia was split to form the Mississippi Territory , which later was admitted as the U.S. states of Alabama and Mississippi . Georgia declared its secession from the Union on January 19 , 1861 , and was one of the original seven Confederate States . Following the Civil War , it was the last state to be restored to the Union , on July 15 , 1870 .
Virginia Beach is an independent city located on the southeastern coast of the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States . As of the 2010 census , the population was 437,994 ; in 2018 , it was estimated to be 450,138 . Although mostly suburban in character , it is the most populous city in Virginia and the 44th most populous city in the nation . Located on the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay , Virginia Beach is included in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area . This area , known as America 's First Region , also includes the independent cities of Chesapeake , Hampton , Newport News , Norfolk , Portsmouth , and Suffolk , as well as other smaller cities , counties , and towns of Hampton Roads . Virginia Beach is a resort city with miles of beaches and hundreds of hotels , motels , and restaurants along its oceanfront . Every year the city hosts the East Coast Surfing Championships as well as the North American Sand Soccer Championship , a beach soccer tournament . It is also home to several state parks , several long-protected beach areas , three military bases , a number of large corporations , Virginia Wesleyan University and Regent University , International headquarters and site of the television broadcast studios for Pat Robertson 's Christian Broadcasting Network ( CBN ) , Edgar Cayce 's Association for Research and Enlightenment , and numerous historic sites . Near the point where the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean meet , Cape Henry was the site of the first landing of the English colonists , who eventually settled in Jamestown , on April 26 , 1607 . The city is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as having the longest pleasure beach in the world . It is located at the southern end of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel , the longest bridge-tunnel complex in the world .
Virginia ( /vərˈdʒɪniə/ ( listen ) ) , officially the Commonwealth of Virginia , is a state in the Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States located between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains . The geography and climate of the Commonwealth are shaped by the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Chesapeake Bay , which provide habitat for much of its flora and fauna . The capital of the Commonwealth is Richmond ; Virginia Beach is the most populous city , and Fairfax County is the most populous political subdivision . The Commonwealth 's estimated population as of 2018 [ update ] is over 8.5 million . The area 's history begins with several indigenous groups , including the Powhatan . In 1607 the London Company established the Colony of Virginia as the first permanent English colony in the New World . Virginia 's state nickname , the Old Dominion , is a reference to this status . Slave labor and the land acquired from displaced Native American tribes each played a significant role in the colony 's early politics and plantation economy . Virginia was one of the 13 Colonies in the American Revolution . In the American Civil War , Virginia 's Secession Convention resolved to join the Confederacy , and Virginia 's First Wheeling Convention resolved to remain in the Union ; that led to the creation of West Virginia . Although the Commonwealth was under one-party rule for nearly a century following Reconstruction , both major national parties are competitive in modern Virginia . The Virginia General Assembly is the oldest continuous law-making body in the New World .
Raleigh ( /ˈrɑːli/ ; RAH-lee ) is the capital of the state of North Carolina and the seat of Wake County in the United States . Raleigh is the second-largest city in the state , after Charlotte . Raleigh is known as the City of Oaks for its many oak trees , which line the streets in the heart of the city . The city covers a land area of 142.8 square miles ( 370 km2 ) . The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city 's population as 469,298 as of July 1 , 2018 . It is one of the fastest-growing cities in the country . The city of Raleigh is named after Sir Walter Raleigh , who established the lost Roanoke Colony in present-day Dare County . Raleigh is home to North Carolina State University ( NCSU ) and is part of Research Triangle Park ( RTP ) , together with Durham ( home of Duke University and North Carolina Central University ) and Chapel Hill ( home of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ) . The Triangle nickname originated after the 1959 creation of the Research Triangle Park , located in Durham and Wake counties , among the three cities and their universities . The Research Triangle region encompasses the U.S. Census Bureau 's Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill Combined Statistical Area ( CSA ) , which had an estimated population of 2,037,430 in 2013 . The Raleigh metropolitan statistical area had an estimated population of 1,214,516 in 2013 . Most of Raleigh is located within Wake County , with a very small portion extending into Durham County .
Miami , officially the City of Miami , is the seat of Miami-Dade County , and the cultural , economic and financial center of South Florida in the United States . The city covers an area of about 56 square miles ( 150 km2 ) between the Everglades to the west and Biscayne Bay to the east . Miami is the sixth most densely populated major city in the United States with an estimated 2018 population of 470,914 . The Miami metropolitan area is home to 6.1 million people , the second-most populous in the southeastern United States and the seventh-largest in the nation . The city has the third tallest skyline in the U.S. with over 300 high-rises , 55 of which exceed 490 ft ( 149 m ) . Miami is a major center and leader in finance , commerce , culture , media , entertainment , the arts , and international trade . The metro area is by far the largest urban economy in Florida and the 12th largest in the United States , with a GDP of $ 344.9 billion as of 2017 . In 2018 , Miami was classified as an Alpha level global city by the GaWC . In 2019 , Miami ranked seventh in the United States and 31st among global cities in terms of business activity , human capital , information exchange , cultural experience , and political engagement . According to a 2018 UBS study of 77 world cities , the city was ranked as the third-richest in the United States and the eighth-richest in the world in terms of purchasing power . Miami is nicknamed the Capital of Latin America and is the largest city with a Cuban-American plurality . Greater Downtown Miami has one of the largest concentrations of international banks in the United States , and is home to many large national and international companies .
New Orleans ( /ˈɔːrl ( i ) ənz , ɔːrˈliːnz/ , locally /ˈɔːrlənz/ ; French : La Nouvelle-Orléans [ la nuvɛlɔʁleɑ̃ ] ( listen ) ) is a consolidated city-parish located along the Mississippi River in the southeastern region of the U.S. state of Louisiana . With an estimated population of 391,006 in 2018 , it is the most populous city in Louisiana . Serving as a major port , New Orleans is considered an economic and commercial hub for the broader Gulf Coast region of the United States . New Orleans is world-renowned for its distinct music , Creole cuisine , unique dialect , and its annual celebrations and festivals , most notably Mardi Gras . The historic heart of the city is the French Quarter , known for its French and Spanish Creole architecture and vibrant nightlife along Bourbon Street . The city has been described as the most unique in the United States , owing in large part to its cross-cultural and multilingual heritage . Founded in 1718 by French colonists , New Orleans was once the territorial capital of French Louisiana before being traded to the United States in the Louisiana Purchase of 1803 . New Orleans in 1840 was the third-most populous city in the United States , and it was the largest city in the American South from the Antebellum era until after World War II . The city has historically been very vulnerable to flooding , due to such factors as high rainfall , low lying elevation , poor natural drainage and location next to multiple bodies of water . State and federal authorities have installed a complex system of levees and drainage pumps in an effort to protect the city . New Orleans was severely affected by Hurricane Katrina on August 29 , 2005 , which resulted in flooding more than 80% of the city , thousands of deaths , and so much displacement because of damaged communities and lost housing as to cause a population decline of over 50% . Since Katrina , major redevelopment efforts have led to a rebound in the city 's population .
Louisiana ( /luˌiːziˈænə/ ( listen ) , /ˌluːzi-/ ( listen ) ) [ a ] is a state in the Deep South region of the South Central United States . It is the 31st most extensive and the 25th most populous of the 50 United States . Louisiana is bordered by the state of Texas to the west , Arkansas to the north , Mississippi to the east , and the Gulf of Mexico to the south . A large part of its eastern boundary is demarcated by the Mississippi River . Louisiana is the only U.S. state with political subdivisions termed parishes , which are equivalent to counties . The state 's capital is Baton Rouge , and its largest city is New Orleans . Much of the state 's lands were formed from sediment washed down the Mississippi River , leaving enormous deltas and vast areas of coastal marsh and swamp . [ self-published source ] These contain a rich southern biota ; typical examples include birds such as ibis and egrets . There are also many species of tree frogs , and fish such as sturgeon and paddlefish . In more elevated areas , fire is a natural process in the landscape and has produced extensive areas of longleaf pine forest and wet savannas . These support an exceptionally large number of plant species , including many species of terrestrial orchids and carnivorous plants . Louisiana has more Native American tribes than any other southern state , including four that are federally recognized , ten that are state recognized , and four that have not received recognition .
Tampa is a major city in , and the county seat of , Hillsborough County , Florida , United States . It is on the west coast of Florida on Tampa Bay , near the Gulf of Mexico . Tampa is the largest city in the Tampa Bay Area . With a population of 392,890 in 2018 , Tampa is the third-largest city in Florida , after Miami and Jacksonville . The bay 's port is the largest in the state , near downtown 's Channel District . Bayshore Boulevard runs along the bay , and is east of the historic Hyde Park neighborhood . Today , Tampa is part of the metropolitan area most commonly referred to as the Tampa Bay Area . For U.S. Census purposes , Tampa is part of the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater , Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area . The four-county area is composed of roughly 3.1 million residents , making it the second largest metropolitan statistical area ( MSA ) in the state , and the fourth largest in the Southeastern United States , behind Washington , D.C. ; Miami ; and Atlanta . The Greater Tampa Bay area , has over 4 million residents and generally includes the Tampa and Sarasota metro areas . The city had a population of 335,709 at the 2010 census , and an estimated population of 392,890 in 2018 . As of 2018 , Tampa 's annual growth rate is 1.63% .
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 60th-largest city in the United States . Known as the Horse Capital of the World , it is the heart of the state 's Bluegrass region . Notable locations in the city include the Kentucky Horse Park , The Red Mile and Keeneland race courses , Rupp Arena , Transylvania University , the University of Kentucky , and Bluegrass Community and Technical College . Lexington ranks 10th among US cities in college education rate , with 39.5% of residents having at least a bachelor 's degree . In the 2018 U.S. Census Estimate , the city 's population was 323,780 anchoring a metropolitan area of 516,697 people and a combined statistical area of 760,528 people . By land area , Lexington is the 28th largest city in the United States . The city is consolidated entirely within Fayette County , and vice versa . It has a nonpartisan mayor-council form of government , with 12 council districts and three members elected at large , with the highest vote-getter designated vice mayor .
Greensboro ( /ˈɡriːnzbʌroʊ/ ( listen ) ; formerly Greensborough ) is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina . It is the 3rd-most populous city in North Carolina , the 68th-most populous city in the United States , and the county seat and largest city in Guilford County and the surrounding Piedmont Triad metropolitan region . As of the 2010 census , the city population was 269,666 , and in 2018 the estimated population was 294,722 . Three major interstate highways ( Interstate 40 , Interstate 85 , and Interstate 73 ) in the Piedmont region of central North Carolina were built to intersect at this city . In 1808 , Greensborough ( the spelling before 1895 ) was planned around a central courthouse square to succeed Guilford Court House as the county seat . The county courts were thus placed closer to the geographical center of the county , a location more easily reached at the time by the majority of the county 's citizens , who depended on horse and foot for travel . In 2003 , the previous Greensboro - Winston-Salem - High Point metropolitan statistical area ( MSA ) was re-defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget . This region was separated into the Greensboro-High Point MSA and the Winston-Salem MSA . The 2010 population for the Greensboro-High Point MSA was 723,801 . The combined statistical area ( CSA ) of Greensboro-Winston-Salem-High Point , popularly referred to as the Piedmont Triad , had a population of 1,599,477 . Among Greensboro 's many notable attractions , some of the most popular include the Wet ' n Wild Emerald Pointe water park , the Greensboro Science Center , the International Civil Rights Museum , the Weatherspoon Art Museum , the Greensboro Symphony , the Greensboro Ballet , Triad Stage , the Wyndham Golf Championship , the headquarters of the Atlantic Coast Conference , the Greensboro Coliseum Complex which hosts various sporting events , concerts , and other events , the Greensboro Grasshoppers of the South Atlantic Baseball League , the Carolina Dynamo of the Premier Development Soccer League , the Greensboro Swarm of the NBA G League , the Greensboro Roller Derby , and the National Folk Festival .
Orlando ( /ɔːrˈlændoʊ/ ) is a city in the U.S. state of Florida and the county seat of Orange County . Located in Central Florida , it is the center of the Orlando metropolitan area , which had a population of 2,509,831 , according to U.S. Census Bureau figures released in July 2017 . These figures make it the 23rd-largest metropolitan area in the United States , the sixth-largest metropolitan area in the Southern United States , and the third-largest metropolitan area in Florida . As of 2018 , Orlando had an estimated city-proper population of 285,713 , making it the 71st-largest city in the United States , the fourth-largest city in Florida , and the state 's largest inland city . The City of Orlando is nicknamed the City Beautiful , and its symbol is the Linton E. Allen Memorial Fountain , commonly referred to as simply the Lake Eola fountain at Lake Eola Park . The Orlando International Airport ( MCO ) is the thirteenth-busiest airport in the United States and the 29th-busiest in the world . Orlando is one of the most visited cities in the world primarily driven by tourism , major events , and convention traffic , in 2018 the city drew more than 75 million visitors . The two largest and most internationally renowned tourist attractions in the Orlando area include the Walt Disney World Resort , opened by the Walt Disney Company in 1971 , and located approximately 21 miles ( 34 km ) southwest of Downtown Orlando in Bay Lake ; and the Universal Orlando Resort , opened in 1990 as a major expansion of Universal Studios Florida . With the exception of Walt Disney World , most major attractions are located along International Drive with one of these attractions being the Wheel at ICON Park Orlando . The city is also one of the busiest American cities for conferences and conventions ; the Orange County Convention Center is the second-largest convention facility in the United States . Like other major cities in the Sun Belt , Orlando grew rapidly from the 1980s up into the first decade of the 21st century . Orlando is home to the University of Central Florida , which is the largest university campus in the United States in terms of enrollment as of 2015 [ update ] .
Durham ( /ˈdʌrəm/ ) is a city in and the county seat of Durham County in the U.S. state of North Carolina . Small portions of the city limits extend into Orange County and Wake County . The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city 's population to be 274,291 as of July 1 , 2018 , making it the 4th-most populous city in North Carolina , and the 79th-most populous city in the United States . The city is located in the east-central part of the Piedmont region along the Eno River . Durham is the core of the four-county Durham-Chapel Hill Metropolitan Area , which has a population of 542,710 as of U.S. Census 2014 Population Estimates . The US Office of Management and Budget also includes Durham as a part of the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill Combined Statistical Area , commonly known as the Research Triangle , which has a population of 2,037,430 as of U.S. Census 2014 Population Estimates . A railway depot was established on land donated by Bartlett S. Durham in 1849 , the namesake of the city . Following the American Civil War , the community of Durham Station expanded rapidly , in part due to the tobacco industry . The town was incorporated by act of the North Carolina General Assembly , on April 1869 . The establishment of Durham County was ratified by the General Assembly 12 years later , in 1881 . It became known as the founding place and headquarters of the American Tobacco Company . Textile and electric power industries also played an important role .
St. Petersburg is a city in Pinellas County , Florida , United States . As of the 2018 census estimate , the population was 265,098 , making it the fifth-most populous city in Florida and the largest in the state that is not a county seat ( the city of Clearwater is the seat of Pinellas County ) . St. Petersburg is the fifth largest city in Florida and the second-largest city in the Tampa Bay Area , after Tampa . Together with Clearwater , these cities comprise the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater Metropolitan Statistical Area , the second-largest in Florida with a population of around 2.8 million . St. Petersburg is located on the Pinellas peninsula between Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico , and is connected to mainland Florida to the north . St. Petersburg was founded in 1888 by John C. Williams , who purchased the land , and by Peter Demens , who brought the railroad industry into the area . As a part of a coin toss bet , the winner , Peter Demens , named the land after Saint Petersburg , Russia , while Williams opted to name the first hotel built which was named the Detroit Hotel , both named after their home towns respectively . St. Petersburg was incorporated as a town on February 29 , 1892 and re-incorporated as a city on June 6 , 1903 . The city is often referred to by locals as St. Pete . Neighboring St. Pete Beach formally shortened its name in 1994 after a vote by its residents . St. Petersburg is governed by a mayor and city council . With an average of some 361 days of sunshine each year , and a Guinness World Record for logging the most consecutive days of sunshine ( 768 days between 1967 and 1969 ) , it is nicknamed The Sunshine City .
Norfolk ( /ˈnɔːrfʊk/ ( listen ) NOR-fuuk ) is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States . At the 2010 census , the population was 242,803 ; in 2018 , the population was estimated to be 244,076 making it the second-most populous city in Virginia after neighboring Virginia Beach and the 91st largest city in the nation . Norfolk is located at the core of the Hampton Roads metropolitan area , named for the large natural harbor of the same name located at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay . It is one of nine cities and seven counties that constitute the Hampton Roads metro area , officially known as the Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News , VA-NC MSA . The city is bordered to the west by the Elizabeth River and to the north by the Chesapeake Bay . It also shares land borders with the independent cities of Chesapeake to its south and Virginia Beach to its east . Norfolk is one of the oldest cities in Hampton Roads , and is considered to be the historic , urban , financial , and cultural center of the region . The city has a long history as a strategic military and transportation point . The largest naval base in the world , Naval Station Norfolk , is located in Norfolk along with one of NATO 's two Strategic Command headquarters . The city also has the corporate headquarters of Norfolk Southern Railway , one of North America 's principal Class I railroads , however the company is currently in the process of relocating their headquarters to Atlanta , Georgia . Norfolk is also home to Maersk Line , Limited , which manages the world 's largest fleet of US-flag vessels . As the city is bordered by multiple bodies of water , Norfolk has many miles of riverfront and bayfront property , including beaches on the Chesapeake Bay .
Winston-Salem is a city in and the county seat of Forsyth County , North Carolina , United States . With a 2018 estimated population of 246,328 it is the second largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region , the fifth most populous city in North Carolina , the third largest urban area in North Carolina , and the eighty-ninth most populous city in the United States . With a metropolitan population of 676,673 it is the fourth largest metropolitan area in North Carolina . Winston-Salem is home to the tallest office building in the region , 100 North Main Street , formerly the Wachovia Building and now known locally as the Wells Fargo Center . Winston-Salem is called the Twin City for its dual heritage . Camel City is a reference to the city 's historic involvement in the tobacco industry related to locally based R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company 's Camel cigarettes . Many locals refer to the city as Winston in informal speech . Winston-Salem is also home to many colleges and institutions , most notably Wake Forest University and Winston-Salem State University . In 2012 , the city was listed among the ten best places to retire in the United States by CBS MoneyWatch . Winston-Salem has seen a surge in growth and revitalization in the downtown area with hotels , restaurants , and apartments under construction .