List of named passenger trains of the United States (S–Z)
U , V
Table:
Train Name

Railroad

Train Endpoints in a typical [year]

Operated

Umpachanee

New Haven

New York, New York–Pittsfield, Massachusetts [1955]

1955–1960

Union

Pennsylvania

Chicago, Illinois–Cincinnati, Ohio & Louisville, Kentucky branch via Indianapolis, Indiana [1950]

1933–1960

United States Fast Mail

Pennsylvania, Southern Railway

New York, New York–New Orleans, Louisiana [1918]

1893–1919; 1923–1932

Upstate Special

New York Central

New York, New York–Utica, New York [1952]

1925–1931; 1935–1957

Utah and California Express

Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad

Denver, Colorado–Ogden, Utah [1906]

1900; 1906–1910

Utah Express

Union Pacific

Salt Lake City, Utah–Boise, Idaho [1930]

1911–1913; 1919–1931; 1936–1946

Utah Parks Special

Union Pacific

Salt Lake City, Utah–Cedar City, Utah [1930]

1927–1932; 1954–1960

Utahn

Union Pacific

Los Angeles, California–Cheyenne, Wyoming [1947]

1947–1951

Ute

Colorado Midland Railway

Denver, Colorado–Grand Junction, Colorado (with through cars to California) [1903]

1900–1908

Vacationer

Pennsylvania, Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad, Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, Florida East Coast Railway[9]

New York, New York–Miami, Florida [1940]

1938–1942; 1946–1955

Valley

Chicago and North Western Railway

Chicago, Illinois–Green Bay, Wisconsin [1936]

1936–1941

Valley 400

Chicago and North Western Railway

Chicago, Illinois–Green Bay, Wisconsin [1945]

1942–1968

Valley Eagle

Missouri Pacific

Brownsville, Texas–Corpus Christi, Texas–Houston, Texas [1948]

1948–1962

Valley Express

New York Central

Chicago, Illinois–Detroit, Michigan [1947]

1943–1948

Valley Express

Southern Pacific

San Francisco, California–Los Angeles, California [1910]

1907–1917

Valley Express

New Haven, Boston and Maine, Central Vermont Railway

New York, New York–White River Junction, Vermont [1948]

1948–1957

Valley Flyer

Santa Fe

Oakland, California–Bakersfield, California

1939–1942

Valley Flyer

Southern Pacific

Oakland, California–Fresno, California [1921]

1921–1927

Valley Forge

Amtrak

New York, New York–Harrisburg, Pennsylvania [1989]

1971–1990

Valley Special

Pennsylvania

Chicago, Illinois–Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania [1948]

1936–1940; 1947–1949

With reference to the table and the background passages listed below.

Answer the following question: What is the railroad that carries a streamliner passenger train and has all endpoints in Texas ? Respond with the correct answer (omit explanations) in JSON format as {"answer": "YOUR ANSWER"}. Avoid adding external knowledge.

The New York , New Haven and Hartford Railroad ( reporting mark NH ) , commonly known as the New Haven , was a railroad that operated in the New England region of the United States from 1872 to 1968 , dominating the region 's rail traffic for the first half of the 20th century . Beginning in the 1890s and accelerating in 1903 , New York banker J. P. Morgan sought to monopolize New England transportation by arranging the NH 's acquisition of 50 companies , including other railroads and steamship lines , and building a network of electrified trolley lines that provided interurban transportation for all of southern New England . By 1912 , the New Haven operated more than 2,000 miles ( 3,200 km ) of track , with 120,000 employees , and practically monopolized traffic in a wide swath from Boston to New York City . This quest for monopoly angered Progressive Era reformers , alienated public opinion , resulted in high prices for acquisitions , and increased construction costs . Debt soared from $ 14 million in 1903 to $ 242 million in 1913 , while the advent of automobiles , trucks and buses reduced railroad profits . Also in 1913 , the federal government filed an antitrust lawsuit that forced the NH to divest its trolley systems . The line became bankrupt in 1935 , was reorganized and reduced in scope , went bankrupt again in 1961 , and in 1969 was merged with the Penn Central system , formed a year earlier by the merger of the New York Central Railroad and Pennsylvania Railroad ; Already a poorly conceived merger , Penn Central proceeded to go bankrupt in 1970 , becoming the largest bankruptcy in the U.S. until the Enron Corporation superseded it in 2001 . The remnants of the system now comprise Metro-North Railroad 's New Haven Line , ( parts of ) Amtrak 's Northeast Corridor , Shore Line East , parts of the MBTA , and numerous freight operators such as CSX and the Providence and Worcester Railroad . The majority of the system is now owned publicly by the states of Connecticut , Rhode Island , and Massachusetts .
New York City ( NYC ) , also known as the City of New York or simply New York ( NY ) , is the most populous city in the United States . With an estimated 2018 population of 8,398,748 distributed over a land area of about 302.6 square miles ( 784 km2 ) , New York is also the most densely populated major city in the United States . Located at the southern tip of the U.S. state of New York , the city is the center of the New York metropolitan area , the largest metropolitan area in the world by urban landmass and one of the world 's most populous megacities , with an estimated 19,979,477 people in its 2018 metropolitan statistical area and 22,679,948 residents in its combined statistical area . A global power city , New York City has been described as the cultural , financial , and media capital of the world , and exerts a significant impact upon commerce , entertainment , research , technology , education , politics , tourism , art , fashion , and sports . The city 's fast pace has inspired the term New York minute . Home to the headquarters of the United Nations , New York is an important center for international diplomacy . Situated on one of the world 's largest natural harbors , New York City consists of five boroughs , each of which is a separate county of the State of New York . The five boroughs - Brooklyn , Queens , Manhattan , The Bronx , and Staten Island - were consolidated into a single city in 1898 . The city and its metropolitan area constitute the premier gateway for legal immigration to the United States . As many as 800 languages are spoken in New York , making it the most linguistically diverse city in the world . New York City is home to 3.2 million residents born outside the United States , the largest foreign born population of any city in the world as of 2016 . As of 2019 [ update ] , the New York metropolitan area is estimated to produce a gross metropolitan product ( GMP ) of US $ 2.0 trillion .
Pittsfield is the largest city and the county seat of Berkshire County , Massachusetts , United States . It is the principal city of the Pittsfield , Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Berkshire County . The population was 44,737 at the 2010 census . Although the population has declined in recent decades , Pittsfield remains the fourth largest municipality in western Massachusetts , behind only Springfield , Holyoke , and Chicopee . In 2006 , Forbes ranked Pittsfield as number 61 in its list of Best Small Places for Business . In 2008 , Country Home magazine ranked Pittsfield as # 24 in a listing of green cities east of the Mississippi . In 2009 , the City of Pittsfield was chosen to receive a 2009 Commonwealth Award , Massachusetts ' highest award in the arts , humanities , and sciences . In 2010 , the Financial Times proclaimed Pittsfield the Brooklyn of the Berkshires in an article covering its recent renaissance . In 2012 , the city was listed among the 10 best places for single people to retire in the U.S. by U.S. News , due to the high number of single older residents and higher likelihood of finding companionship or a partner . In 2017 , the Arts Vibrancy Index compiled by the National Center for Arts Research ranked Pittsfield and Berkshire County as the No . 1 medium-sized community in the nation for the arts .
The Pennsylvania Railroad ( reporting mark PRR , legal name The Pennsylvania Railroad Company , also known as the Pennsy ) was an American Class I railroad that was established in 1846 and was headquartered in Philadelphia , Pennsylvania . It was so named because it was established in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania . By 1882 , the Pennsylvania Railroad had become the largest railroad ( by traffic and revenue ) , the largest transportation enterprise , and the largest corporation in the world . Its budget was second only to the U.S. government . The corporation still holds the record for the longest continuous dividend history : it paid out annual dividends to shareholders for more than 100 consecutive years . Over the years , it acquired , merged with or owned part of at least 800 other rail lines and companies . At the end of 1926 , it operated 11,640.66 miles ( 18,733.83 kilometers ) of rail line ; [ notes 1 ] in the 1920s , it carried nearly three times the traffic as other railroads of comparable length , such as the Union Pacific and Atchison , Topeka & Santa Fe railroads . Its only formidable rival was the New York Central ( NYC ) , which carried around three-quarters of the Pennsy 's ton-miles . In 1968 , the Pennsylvania Railroad absorbed its rival New York Central Railroad and the railroad eventually went by the name of Penn Central Transportation Company , or Penn Central for short , the railroad filed for bankruptcy within two years . : Chapter 1 Bankruptcy continued and on April 1 , 1976 , the railroad gave up its railroad assets , along with the assets of several other failing northeastern railroads , to a new railroad named Consolidated Rail Corporation , or Conrail for short . Conrail was itself purchased and split up in 1999 with 58 percent of the system going to the Norfolk Southern Railway ( NS ) , including nearly all of the remaining former Pennsylvania Railroad . US passenger carrier Amtrak received the electrified segment of the Main Line east of Harrisburg .
Chicago ( /ʃɪˈkɑːɡoʊ/ ( listen ) , locally also /ʃɪˈkɔːɡoʊ/ ) , officially the City of Chicago , is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois , and the third-most-populous city in the United States . With an estimated population of 2,705,994 ( 2018 ) , it is also the most populous city in the Midwestern United States . Chicago is the county seat of Cook County , the second-most-populous county in the US , with a small portion of the northwest side of the city extending into DuPage County near O'Hare Airport . Chicago is the principal city of the Chicago metropolitan area , often referred to as Chicagoland . At nearly 10 million people , the metropolitan area is the third most populous in the United States . Located on the shores of freshwater Lake Michigan , Chicago was incorporated as a city in 1837 near a portage between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River watershed and grew rapidly in the mid-19th century . After the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 , which destroyed several square miles and left more than 100,000 homeless , the city made a concerted effort to rebuild . The construction boom accelerated population growth throughout the following decades , and by 1900 , less than 30 years after the great fire , Chicago was the fifth-largest city in the world . Chicago made noted contributions to urban planning and zoning standards , including new construction styles ( including the Chicago School of architecture ) , the development of the City Beautiful Movement , and the steel-framed skyscraper . Chicago is an international hub for finance , culture , commerce , industry , education , technology , telecommunications , and transportation . It is the site of the creation of the first standardized futures contracts , issued by the Chicago Board of Trade , which today is the largest and most diverse derivatives market in the world , generating 20% of all volume in commodities and financial futures alone . Depending on the particular year , the city 's O'Hare International Airport is routinely ranked as the world 's fifth or sixth busiest airport according to tracked data by the Airports Council International .
Illinois ( /ˌɪləˈnɔɪ/ ( listen ) IL-ə-NOY ) is a state in the Midwestern and Great Lakes Regions of the United States . It has the fifth largest gross domestic product ( GDP ) , the sixth largest population , and the 25th largest land area of all U.S. states . Illinois has been noted as a microcosm of the entire United States . With Chicago in northeastern Illinois , small industrial cities and immense agricultural productivity in the north and center of the state , and natural resources such as coal , timber , and petroleum in the south , Illinois has a diverse economic base , and is a major transportation hub . Chicagoland , Chicago 's metropolitan area , encompasses over 65% of the state 's population . The Port of Chicago connects the state to international ports via two main routes : from the Great Lakes , via the Saint Lawrence Seaway , to the Atlantic Ocean and from the Great Lakes to the Mississippi River , via the Illinois Waterway to the Illinois River . The Mississippi River , the Ohio River , and the Wabash River form parts of the boundaries of Illinois . For decades , Chicago 's O'Hare International Airport has been ranked as one of the world 's busiest airports . Illinois has long had a reputation as a bellwether both in social and cultural terms and , through the 1980s , in politics . The capital of Illinois is Springfield , which is located in the central part of the state . Although today Illinois 's largest population center is in its northeast , the state 's European population grew first in the west as the French settled lands near the Mississippi River , when the region was known as Illinois Country and was part of New France . Following the American Revolutionary War , American settlers began arriving from Kentucky in the 1780s via the Ohio River , and the population grew from south to north .
Cincinnati ( /ˌsɪnsɪˈnæti/ SIN-sih-NAT-ee ) is a major city in the U.S. state of Ohio , and is the government seat of Hamilton County . Settled in 1788 , the city is located at the northern side of the confluence of the Licking and Ohio rivers , the latter of which marks the state line with Kentucky . The city is the economic and cultural hub of the Cincinnati metropolitan area , the fastest growing economic power in the Midwestern United States based on increase of economic output , which had a population of 2,190,209 as of the 2018 census estimates . This makes it Ohio 's largest metropolitan area and the nation 's 29th-largest . With a city population estimated at 302,605 , Cincinnati is the third-largest city in Ohio and 65th in the United States . Cincinnati is also within a day 's drive of 49.70% of the United States populace , the most of any city in the United States . In the 19th century , Cincinnati was an American boomtown in the middle of the country . Throughout much of the 19th century , it was listed among the top 10 U.S. cities by population , surpassed only by New Orleans and the older , established settlements of the United States eastern seaboard , as well as being the sixth-biggest city for a period spanning 1840 until 1860 . Cincinnati was the first city founded after the American Revolution , as well as the first major inland city in the country . Cincinnati developed with fewer immigrants and less influence from Europe than East Coast cities in the same period . However , it received a significant number of German-speaking immigrants , who founded many of the city 's cultural institutions . By the end of the 19th century , with the shift from steamboats to railroads drawing off freight shipping , trade patterns had altered and Cincinnati 's growth slowed considerably .
Louisville ( US : /ˈluːəvəl/ ( listen ) LOO-ə-vəl , /ˈluːivɪl/ ( listen ) LOO-ee-vil , /ˈlʊvəl/ ( listen ) LUUV-əl , UK : /ˈluːivɪl/ ) is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the 29th most-populous city in the United States . [ d ] It is one of two cities in Kentucky designated as first-class , the other being Lexington , the state 's second-largest city . [ e ] Louisville is the historical seat and , since 2003 , the nominal seat of Jefferson County , on the Indiana border . Named after King Louis XVI of France , Louisville was founded in 1778 by George Rogers Clark , making it one of the oldest cities west of the Appalachians . With nearby Falls of the Ohio as the only major obstruction to river traffic between the upper Ohio River and the Gulf of Mexico , the settlement first grew as a portage site . It was the founding city of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad , which grew into a 6,000-mile ( 9,700 km ) system across 13 states . Today , the city is known as the home of legendary boxer Muhammad Ali , the Kentucky Derby , Kentucky Fried Chicken ( KFC ) , the University of Louisville and its Cardinals , Louisville Slugger baseball bats , and three of Kentucky 's six Fortune 500 companies : Humana , Kindred Healthcare , and Yum ! Brands . Muhammad Ali International Airport , Louisville 's main commercial airport , hosts UPS 's worldwide hub . Since 2003 , Louisville 's borders have been the same as those of Jefferson County , after a city-county merger . The official name of this consolidated city-county government is the Louisville/Jefferson County Metro Government , abbreviated to Louisville Metro . Despite the merger and renaming , the term Jefferson County continues to be used in some contexts in reference to Louisville Metro , particularly including the incorporated cities outside the balance which make up Louisville proper .
Indianapolis ( /ˌɪndiəˈnæpəlɪs/ ) , often shortened to Indy , is the state capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Indiana and the seat of Marion County . According to 2018 estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau , the consolidated population of Indianapolis and Marion County was 876,862 . The balance population , which excludes semi-autonomous municipalities in Marion County , was 867,125 . It is the 17th most populous city in the U.S . The Indianapolis metropolitan area is the 34th most populous metropolitan statistical area in the U.S. , with 2,048,703 residents . Its combined statistical area ranks 28th , with a population of 2,431,361 . Indianapolis covers 368 square miles ( 950 km2 ) , making it the 16th largest city by land area in the U.S. Indigenous peoples inhabited the area dating to approximately 2000 BC . In 1818 , the Delaware relinquished their tribal lands in the Treaty of St. Mary 's . In 1821 , Indianapolis was founded as a planned city for the new seat of Indiana 's state government . The city was platted by Alexander Ralston and Elias Pym Fordham on a 1-square-mile ( 2.6 km2 ) grid next to the White River . Completion of the National and Michigan roads and arrival of rail later solidified the city 's position as a manufacturing and transportation hub . Two of the city 's nicknames reflect its historical ties to transportation - the Crossroads of America and Railroad City .
The Southern Railway ( reporting mark SOU ) ( also known as Southern Railway Company and now known as the current incarnation of the Norfolk Southern Railway ) is a name of a class 1 railroad that was based in the Southern United States . The railroad is the product of nearly 150 predecessor lines that were combined , reorganized and recombined beginning in the 1830s , formally becoming the Southern Railway in 1894 . At the end of 1971 , the Southern operated 6,026 miles ( 9,698 km ) of railroad , not including its Class I subsidiaries Alabama Great Southern ( 528 miles or 850 km ) Central Of Georgia ( 1729 miles ) Savannah & Atlanta ( 167 miles ) Cincinnati , New Orleans and Texas Pacific Railway ( 415 miles ) Georgia Southern & Florida ( 454 miles ) and twelve Class II subsidiaries . That year , the Southern itself reported 26111 million net ton-miles of revenue freight and 110 million passenger-miles ; Alabama Great Southern reported 3854 and 11 , Central Of Georgia 3595 and 17 , Savannah & Atlanta 140 and 0 , Cincinnati , New Orleans and Texas Pacific Railway 4906 and 0.3 , and Georgia Southern & Florida 1431 and 0.3 . The railroad joined forces with the Norfolk and Western Railway ( N & W ) in 1982 to form the Norfolk Southern Corporation . The Norfolk Southern Corporation was created in response to the creation of the CSX Corporation ( its rail system was later transformed to CSX Transportation in 1986 ) . Southern and N & W continued as operating companies of Norfolk Southern until 1982 , when Norfolk Southern merged nearly all of N & W 's operations into Southern to form the Norfolk Southern Railway . The railroad has used that name since , though N & W continued to exist on paper until 1982 .
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 .
The New York Central Railroad ( reporting mark NYC ) was a railroad primarily operating in the Great Lakes and Mid Atlantic regions of the United States . The railroad primarily connected greater New York and Boston in the east with Chicago and St. Louis in the Midwest along with the intermediate cities of Albany , Buffalo , Cleveland , Cincinnati , and Detroit . New York Central was headquartered in New York City 's New York Central Building , adjacent to its largest station , Grand Central Terminal . The railroad was established in 1853 , consolidating several existing railroad companies . In 1968 the NYC merged with its former rival , the Pennsylvania Railroad , to form Penn Central . Penn Central went bankrupt in 1970 and merged into Conrail in 1976 . Conrail was broken up in 1998 , and portions of its system were transferred to CSX and Norfolk Southern Railway , with CSX acquiring most of the old New York Central trackage . Extensive trackage existed in the states of New York , Pennsylvania , Ohio , Michigan , Indiana , Illinois , Massachusetts and West Virginia plus additional trackage in the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec . At the end of 1925 , the NYC operated 11,584 miles ( 18,643 km ) of road and 26,395 miles ( 42,479 km ) of track ; at the end of 1967 the mileages were 9,696 miles ( 15,604 km ) and 18,454 miles ( 29,699 km ) .
Utica ( /ˈjuːtɪkə/ ( listen ) ) is a city in the Mohawk Valley and the county seat of Oneida County , New York , United States . The tenth-most-populous city in New York , its population was 62,235 in the 2010 U.S. census . Located on the Mohawk River at the foot of the Adirondack Mountains , Utica is approximately 95 miles ( 153 kilometers ) northwest of Albany , 55 mi ( 89 km ) east of Syracuse and 240 mi ( 386 km ) northwest of New York City . Utica and the nearby city of Rome anchor the Utica-Rome Metropolitan Statistical Area , which comprises all of Oneida and Herkimer counties . Formerly a river settlement inhabited by the Mohawk tribe of the Iroquois Confederacy , Utica attracted European-American settlers from New England during and after the American Revolution . In the 19th century , immigrants strengthened its position as a layover city between Albany and Syracuse on the Erie and Chenango Canals and the New York Central Railroad . During the 19th and 20th centuries , the city 's infrastructure contributed to its success as a manufacturing center and defined its role as a worldwide hub for the textile industry . Utica 's 20th-century political corruption and organized crime gave it the nickname Sin City . Like other Rust Belt cities , Utica underwent an economic downturn beginning in the mid-20th century . The downturn consisted of industrial decline due to globalization and the closure of textile mills , population loss caused by the relocation of jobs and businesses to suburbs and to Syracuse , and poverty associated with socioeconomic stress and a depressed tax base . With its low cost of living , the city has become a melting pot for refugees from war-torn countries around the world , encouraging growth for its colleges and universities , cultural institutions and economy .
The Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad ( reporting mark DRGW ) , often shortened to Rio Grande , D & RG or D & RGW , formerly the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad , was an American Class I railroad company . The railroad started as a 3 ft ( 914 mm ) narrow-gauge line running south from Denver , Colorado in 1870 . It served mainly as a transcontinental bridge line between Denver , and Salt Lake City , Utah . The Rio Grande was also a major origin of coal and mineral traffic . The Rio Grande was the epitome of mountain railroading , with a motto of Through the Rockies , not around them and later Main line through the Rockies , both referring to the Rocky Mountains . The D & RGW operated the highest mainline rail line in the United States , over the 10,240 feet ( 3,120 m ) Tennessee Pass in Colorado , and the famed routes through the Moffat Tunnel and the Royal Gorge . At its height in the mid-1880s , the D & RG had the largest narrow-gauge railroad network in North America with 2,783 miles ( 4,479 km ) of track interconnecting the states of Colorado , New Mexico , and Utah . Known for its independence , the D & RGW operated the Rio Grande Zephyr until its discontinuation in 1983 . This was the last private intercity passenger train in the United States until Brightline ( now Virgin Trains USA ) began service in Florida in 2018 . In 1988 , the Rio Grande 's parent corporation , Rio Grande Industries , purchased Southern Pacific Transportation Company , and as the result of a merger , the larger Southern Pacific Railroad name was chosen for identity . The Rio Grande operated as a separate division of the Southern Pacific , until that company was acquired by the Union Pacific Railroad . Today , most former D & RGW main lines are owned and operated by the Union Pacific while several branch lines are now operated as heritage railways by various companies .
Denver ( /ˈdɛnvər/ ) , officially the City and County of Denver , is the capital and most populous municipality of the U.S. state of Colorado . Denver is located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains . With an estimated population of 716,492 in 2018 , Denver is the 19th-most populous U.S. city , and with a 19.38% increase since the 2010 United States Census , it has been one of the fastest-growing major cities in the United States . The metropolitan city is located in the middle of the extensive Southern Rocky Mountain Front with Cheyenne , Wyoming , to the north and Albuquerque , New Mexico , to the south , this rapidly growing region has a population of 5,467,633 , according to the 2010 United States Census . The Denver downtown district is immediately east of the confluence of Cherry Creek with the South Platte River , approximately 12 mi ( 19 km ) east of the foothills of the Rocky Mountains . Denver is named after James W. Denver , a governor of the Kansas Territory . It is nicknamed the Mile High City because its official elevation is exactly one mile ( 5280 feet or 1609.3 meters ) above sea level . The 105th meridian west of Greenwich , the longitudinal reference for the Mountain Time Zone , passes directly through Denver Union Station . Denver is ranked as a Beta world city by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network . The 10-county Denver-Aurora-Lakewood , CO Metropolitan Statistical Area had an estimated 2018 population of 2,932,415 and is the 19th most populous U.S. metropolitan statistical area . The 12-city Denver-Aurora , CO Combined Statistical Area had an estimated 2018 population of 3,572,798 and is the 15th most populous U.S. metropolitan area . Denver is the most populous city of the 18-county Front Range Urban Corridor , an oblong urban region stretching across two states with an estimated 2018 population of 4,976,781 .
Ogden /ˈɒɡdən/ is a city and the county seat of Weber County , Utah , United States , approximately 10 miles ( 16 km ) east of the Great Salt Lake and 40 miles ( 64 km ) north of Salt Lake City . The population was 87,325 in 2018 , according to the US Census Bureau , making it Utah 's 7th largest city . The city served as a major railway hub through much of its history , and still handles a great deal of freight rail traffic which makes it a convenient location for manufacturing and commerce . Ogden is also known for its many historic buildings , proximity to the Wasatch Mountains , and as the location of Weber State University . Ogden is a principal city of the Ogden-Clearfield , Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area ( MSA ) , which includes all of Weber , Morgan , Davis , and Box Elder counties . The 2010 Census placed the Metro population at 597,159 . In 2010 , Forbes rated the Ogden-Clearfield MSA as the 6th best place to raise a family . Ogden has had a sister city relationship to Hof ( Germany ) since 1954 .
The Union Pacific Railroad ( reporting marks UP , UPP , UPY ) , legally Union Pacific Railroad Company and simply Union Pacific , is a freight-hauling railroad that operates 8,300 locomotives over 32,200 miles ( 51,800 km ) routes in 23 U.S. states west of Chicago and New Orleans . The Union Pacific Railroad system is the second largest in the United States after BNSF and is one of the world 's largest transportation companies . The Union Pacific Railroad is the principal operating company of the Union Pacific Corporation , both headquartered in Omaha , Nebraska . Founded in 1862 , the original Union Pacific Rail Road was part of the First Transcontinental Railroad project , later known as the Overland Route . The railroad was absorbed by the Union Pacific Railway in 1880 , which was absorbed by the Union Pacific Railroad in 1897 . Over the next century , UP absorbed the Missouri Pacific Railroad , the Chicago and North Western Transportation Company , the Western Pacific Railroad , the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad and the Chicago , Rock Island and Pacific Railroad . In 1998 , the Union Pacific merged with Southern Pacific Transportation Company , itself a giant system that was absorbed by the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad maintaining the Southern Pacific name . Today , Union Pacific and its chief competitor , BNSF Railway , the nation 's largest freight railroad by volume , have a duopoly on transcontinental freight rail lines in the western United States .
Salt Lake City ( often shortened to Salt Lake and abbreviated as SLC ) is the capital and most populous municipality of the U.S. state of Utah , as well as the seat of Salt Lake County , the most populous county in Utah . With an estimated population of 200,591 in 2018 , the city is the core of the Salt Lake City metropolitan area , which has a population of 1,222,540 ( 2018 estimate ) . Salt Lake City is further situated within a larger metropolis known as the Salt Lake City-Ogden-Provo Combined Statistical Area , a corridor of contiguous urban and suburban development stretched along a 120-mile ( 190 km ) segment of the Wasatch Front , comprising a population of 2,606,548 ( as of 2018 estimates ) . It is one of only two major urban areas in the Great Basin . The world headquarters of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ( LDS Church ) is located in Salt Lake City . The city was founded in 1847 by followers of the church , led by Brigham Young , who were seeking to escape persecution that they had experienced while living farther east . The Mormon pioneers , as they would come to be known , entered an arid valley and immediately began building , planning , and extending an extensive irrigation network which could feed the population and foster future growth . Salt Lake City 's street grid system is based on a standard compass grid plan , with the Salt Lake Temple at the origin . Due to its proximity to the Great Salt Lake , the city was named Great Salt Lake City . In 1868 , the 17th Utah Territorial Legislature dropped the word Great from the city 's name . Immigration of international members of the church , mining booms , and the construction of the first transcontinental railroad initially brought economic growth , and the city was nicknamed the Crossroads of the West . It was traversed by the Lincoln Highway , the first transcontinental highway , in 1913 .
Boise ( /ˈbɔɪsi/ ( listen ) ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Idaho , and is the county seat of Ada County . Located on the Boise River in southwestern Idaho , it is 41 miles ( 66 km ) east of the Oregon border , and 110 miles ( 177 km ) north of the Nevada border . The downtown area 's elevation is 2,704 feet ( 824 m ) above sea level . Its estimated population in 2018 was 228,790 .
Cedar City is the largest city in Iron County , Utah , United States . It is located 250 miles ( 400 km ) south of Salt Lake City , and 170 miles ( 270 km ) north of Las Vegas on Interstate 15 . It is the home of Southern Utah University , the Utah Shakespeare Festival , the Utah Summer Games , the Neil Simon Theatre Festival , and other events . As of the 2010 census the city had a population of 28,857 , up from 20,257 in 2000 . As of 2018 the estimated population was 33,055 .
Los Angeles ( /lɔːs ˈændʒələs/ ( listen ) ; [ a ] Spanish : Los Ángeles ; Spanish for The Angels ) , officially the City of Los Angeles and often known by its initials L.A. , is the most populous city in California ; the second most populous city in the United States , after New York City ; and the third most populous city in North America , after Mexico City and New York City . With an estimated population of nearly four million people , Los Angeles is the cultural , financial , and commercial center of Southern California . The city is known for its Mediterranean climate , ethnic diversity , Hollywood , the entertainment industry , and its sprawling metropolis . Los Angeles lies in a basin in Southern California , adjacent to the Pacific Ocean , with mountains as high as 10,000 feet ( 3,000 m ) , and deserts . The city , which covers about 469 square miles ( 1,210 km2 ) , is the seat of Los Angeles County , the most populous county in the United States . The Los Angeles metropolitan area ( MSA ) is the second-largest metropolitan area in the nation with a population of 13.1 million people . Greater Los Angeles , which includes the metro area of Riverside and San Bernardino , is the nation 's second most populous combined statistical area , with a 2015 estimate of 18.7 million people . Historically home to the Chumash and Tongva , Los Angeles was claimed by Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo for Spain in 1542 . The city was officially founded on September 4 , 1781 , by Spanish governor Felipe de Neve . It became a part of Mexico in 1821 following the Mexican War of Independence . In 1848 , at the end of the Mexican-American War , Los Angeles and the rest of California were purchased as part of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo , and thus became part of the United States . Los Angeles was incorporated as a municipality on April 4 , 1850 , five months before California achieved statehood .
Cheyenne ( /ʃaɪˈæn/ shy-AN or /ʃaɪˈɛn/ ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Wyoming and the county seat of Laramie County . It is the principal city of the Cheyenne , Wyoming , Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Laramie County . The population was 59,466 at the 2010 census . Cheyenne is the northern terminus of the extensive Southern Rocky Mountain Front , which extends southward to Albuquerque , New Mexico and includes the fast-growing Front Range Urban Corridor . Cheyenne is situated on Crow Creek and Dry Creek . The Cheyenne metropolitan area had a 2010 population of 91,738 , making it the 354th-most populous metropolitan area in the United States .
The Colorado Midland Railway ( reporting mark CM ) , incorporated in 1883 , was the first standard gauge railroad built over the Continental Divide in Colorado . It ran from Colorado Springs to Leadville and through the divide at Hagerman Pass to Glenwood Springs and Grand Junction .
Grand Junction is a home rule municipality that is the county seat and the most populous municipality of Mesa County , Colorado , United States . The city has a council-manager form of government , and is the most populous municipality in all of western Colorado . Grand Junction is 247 miles ( 398 km ) west-southwest of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver . As of the 2010 census , the city 's population was 58,566 . Grand Junction is the 15th most populous city in the state of Colorado and the most populous city on the Colorado Western Slope . It is a major commercial and transportation hub within the large area between the Green River and the Continental Divide . It is the principal city of the Grand Junction Metropolitan Statistical Area , which had a population of 146,723 in 2010 census . The city is along the Colorado River , at its confluence with the Gunnison River , which comes in from the south . Grand refers to the historical Grand River ; it was renamed the Upper Colorado River in 1921 . Junction refers to the confluence of the Colorado and Gunnison rivers . Grand Junction has been nicknamed River City . It is near the midpoint of a 30-mile ( 48 km ) arcing valley , known as the Grand Valley ; since the late 19th century it has been a major fruit-growing region .
The Vacationer was a seasonal passenger train operated by Amtrak between New York City and Miami , Florida . The Vacationer , like its predecessor the Florida Special , was designed to supplement regular Northeast - Florida service during the winter months . It made its final run on March 31 , 1974 . The Florida Special dated back to 1888 ; the Vacationer originated in 1938 .
The Richmond , Fredericksburg , and Potomac Railroad ( reporting mark RFP ) was a railroad connecting Richmond , Virginia , to Washington , D.C . The track is now the RF & P Subdivision of the CSX Transportation system ; the original corporation is no longer a railroad company . The RF & P was a bridge line , with a slogan of Linking North & South , on a system that stretched about 113 miles . Until around 1965 RF & P originated less than 5% of its freight tonnage , probably less than any other Class I railroad . For much of its existence the RF & P connected with the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway , the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad and Seaboard Air Line Railroad at Richmond . At Alexandria and through trackage rights to Union Station in Washington , D.C. , connections were made with the Pennsylvania Railroad , Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and the Southern Railway . It connected to the Washington and Old Dominion Railroad at Potomac Yard and interchanged with the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway at Doswell . It and the former Conrail properties are the only CSX lines to have cab signal requirements on their entire system .
The Atlantic Coast Line Railroad ( reporting mark ACL ) is a former U. S. Class I railroad from 1900 until 1967 , when it merged with long-time rival Seaboard Air Line Railroad to form the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad . Much of the original ACL network has been part of CSX Transportation since 1986 . The Atlantic Coast Line served the Southeast , with a concentration of lines in Florida . Numerous named passenger trains were operated by the railroad for Florida-bound tourists , with the Atlantic Coast Line contributing significantly to Florida 's economic development in the first half of the 20th century . At the end of 1925 , ACL operated 4,924 miles of road , not including its flock of subsidiaries ; after some merging , mileage at the end of 1960 was 5,570 not including A & WP , CN & L , East Carolina , Georgia , Rockingham , and V & CS . In 1960 , ACL reported 10,623 million net ton-miles of revenue freight and 490 million passenger-miles . [ citation needed ]
The Florida East Coast Railway ( reporting mark FEC ) is a Class II railroad operating in the U.S. state of Florida , currently owned by Grupo México . The FEC was historically a Class I railroad owned by Florida East Coast Industries ( FECI ) from 2000 to 2016 , FOXX Holdings between 1983 and 2000 , and the St. Joseph Paper Company prior to 1983 . Built primarily in the last quarter of the 19th century and the first decade of the 20th century , the FEC was a project of Standard Oil principal Henry Flagler . He originally visited Florida with his first wife , Mary ; they sought assistance with the health issues she faced . A key strategist who worked closely with John D. Rockefeller building the Standard Oil Trust , Flagler noted both great potential and a lack of services during his stay at St. Augustine . He subsequently began what amounted to his second career , developing resorts , industries , and communities all along Florida 's shores abutting the Atlantic Ocean . The FEC is possibly best known for building the railroad to Key West , completed in 1912 . When the FEC 's line from the mainland to Key West was heavily damaged by the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935 , the State of Florida purchased the remaining right-of-way and bridges south of Dade County , and they were rebuilt into road bridges for vehicle traffic and became known as the Overseas Highway . However , a greater and lasting Flagler legacy was the developments along Florida 's eastern coast . During the Great Depression , control was purchased by heirs of the du Pont family . After 30 years of fragile financial condition , the FEC , under leadership of a new president , Ed Ball , took on the labor unions . Ball claimed the company could not afford the same costs as larger Class 1 railroads and needed to invest saved funds in its infrastructure , the condition of which was fast becoming a safety issue .
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 .
The Chicago and North Western Transportation Company ( reporting mark CNW ) was a Class I railroad in the Midwestern United States . It was also known as the North Western . The railroad operated more than 5,000 miles ( 8,000 km ) of track as of the turn of the 20th century , and over 12,000 miles ( 19,000 km ) of track in seven states before retrenchment in the late 1970s . Until 1972 , when the employees purchased the company , it was named the Chicago and North Western Railway ( or Chicago and North Western Railway Company ) . The C & NW became one of the longest railroads in the United States as a result of mergers with other railroads , such as the Chicago Great Western Railway , Minneapolis and St. Louis Railway and others . By 1995 , track sales and abandonment had reduced the total mileage to about 5,000 . The majority of the abandoned and sold lines were lightly trafficked branches in Iowa , Illinois , Minnesota , South Dakota and Wisconsin . Large line sales , such as those that resulted in the Dakota , Minnesota and Eastern Railroad , further helped reduce the railroad to a mainline core with several regional feeders and branches . Union Pacific ( UP ) purchased the company in April 1995 and integrated it with its own operation .
Green Bay is a city in and the county seat of Brown County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin , at the head of Green Bay , a sub-basin of Lake Michigan , at the mouth of the Fox River . It is 581 feet ( 177 m ) above sea level and 112 miles ( 180 km ) north of Milwaukee . The population was 104,057 at the 2010 census . Green Bay is the third-largest city in the state of Wisconsin , after Milwaukee and Madison , and the third-largest city on Lake Michigan 's west shore , after Chicago and Milwaukee . Green Bay is home to the National Football League 's Green Bay Packers . Green Bay is the principal city of the Green Bay Metropolitan Statistical Area , which covers Brown , Kewaunee , and Oconto counties ; the MSA had a combined population of 306,241 at the 2010 census . Green Bay is an industrial city with several meatpacking plants , paper mills , and a port on Green Bay , an arm of Lake Michigan known locally as the Bay of Green Bay . Green Bay hosts the Neville Public Museum , with exhibitions of art , history , and science ; the Children 's Museum ; and the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay .
The Valley Eagle was a named streamliner passenger train of the Missouri Pacific Railroad that began in 1948 . It ran from Houston , Texas 's Union Station to Brownsville , Texas at the Mexico-United States border and a second section to Corpus Christi . It first carried the numbers # 11 south and # 12 northbound and in later years carried the number of # 321 south and # 322 heading north .
The Missouri Pacific Railroad ( reporting mark MP ) , commonly abbreviated as MoPac and nicknamed The Mop , was one of the first railroads in the United States west of the Mississippi River . MoPac was a Class I railroad growing from dozens of predecessors and mergers , including the St. Louis , Iron Mountain and Southern Railway ( SLIMS ) , Texas and Pacific Railway ( TP ) , Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railroad ( C & EI ) , St. Louis , Brownsville and Mexico Railway ( SLBM ) , Kansas , Oklahoma and Gulf Railway ( KO & G ) , Midland Valley Railroad ( MV ) , San Antonio , Uvalde and Gulf Railroad ( SAU & G ) , Gulf Coast Lines ( GC ) , International-Great Northern Railroad ( IGN ) , Kansas , Nebraska & Dakota Railroad , New Orleans , Texas and Mexico Railway ( NOTM ) , Missouri-Illinois Railroad ( MI ) , as well as the small Central Branch Railway ( an early predecessor of MP in Kansas and south central Nebraska ) , and joint ventures such as the Alton and Southern Railroad ( AS ) . In 1967 , the railroad operated 9,041 miles of road and 13,318 miles of track , not including DK & S , NO & LC , T & P and its subsidiaries , C & EI and Missouri-Illinois . Union Pacific Corporation , the parent company of the Union Pacific Railroad , agreed to buy the Missouri Pacific Railroad on January 8 , 1980 . Lawsuits filed by competing railroads delayed approval of the merger until September 13 , 1982 . After the Supreme Court denied a trial to the Southern Pacific , the merger took effect on December 22 , 1982 . However , due to outstanding bonds of the Missouri Pacific , its full merger into the Union Pacific Railroad did not become official until January 1 , 1997 .
Brownsville ( /ˈbraʊnzˌvɪl/ ) is a city in Cameron County in the U.S. state of Texas . It is located on the western Gulf Coast in South Texas , adjacent to the border with Matamoros , Mexico . The city covers 81.528 square miles ( 211.157 km2 ) and has a population of 183,299 as of 2017 . It is the 131st-largest city in the United States and 16th-largest in Texas . It is part of the Brownsville-Matamoros conurbation . The city is known for its year-round subtropical climate , deep-water seaport and Hispanic culture . The city was founded in 1848 by American entrepreneur Charles Stillman after he developed a successful river boat company nearby . It was named after Major Jacob Brown , who fought and died while serving as a U.S. Army soldier during the Mexican-American War ( 1846-48 ) . As the city is the seat of government for the county of Cameron , the city and county government are major employers . Other primary employers fall within the service , trade and manufacturing industries , including a growing aerospace and space transportation sector . It operates international trading through the Port of Brownsville . The city experienced a population increase in the early 1900s when steel production flourished .
Corpus Christi ( /ˌkɔːrpəs ˈkrɪsti/ ; Latin : Body of Christ ) , colloquially Corpus , is a coastal city in the South Texas region of the U.S. state of Texas . The county seat of Nueces County , it also extends into Aransas , Kleberg , and San Patricio Counties . It is 130 miles southeast of San Antonio . Its political boundaries encompass Nueces Bay and Corpus Christi Bay . Its zoned boundaries include small land parcels or water inlets of three neighboring counties . The city 's population was estimated to be 326,554 in 2018 , making it the eighth-most populous city in Texas . The Corpus Christi metropolitan area had an estimated population of 442,600 . It is also the hub of the six-county Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice Combined Statistical area , with a 2013 estimated population of 516,793 . The Port of Corpus Christi is the fifth-largest in the United States . The region is served by the Corpus Christi International Airport . The city 's name means body of Christ in Latin . The name was given to the settlement and surrounding bay by Spanish explorer Alonso Álvarez de Pineda in 1519 , as he discovered the lush semitropical bay on the Catholic feast day of Corpus Christi .
Houston ( /ˈhjuːstən/ ( listen ) HEW-stən ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Texas , fourth most populous city in the United States , most populous city in the Southern United States , as well as the sixth most populous in North America , with an estimated 2018 population of 2,325,502 . Located in Southeast Texas near Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico , it is the seat of Harris County and the principal city of the Greater Houston metropolitan area , which is the fifth most populous metropolitan statistical area in the United States and the second most populous in Texas after the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex , with a population of 6,997,384 in 2018 . Comprising a total area of 637.4 square miles ( 1,651 km2 ) , Houston is the eighth most expansive city in the United States ( including consolidated city-counties ) . It is the largest city in the United States by total area , whose government is not consolidated with that of a county , parish or borough . Though primarily in Harris County , small portions of the city extend into Fort Bend and Montgomery counties , bordering other principal communities of Greater Houston such as Sugar Land and The Woodlands . The city of Houston was founded by land investors on August 30 , 1836 , at the confluence of Buffalo Bayou and White Oak Bayou ( a point now known as Allen 's Landing ) and incorporated as a city on June 5 , 1837 . The city is named after former General Sam Houston , who was president of the Republic of Texas and had won Texas ' independence from Mexico at the Battle of San Jacinto 25 miles ( 40 km ) east of Allen 's Landing . After briefly serving as the capital of the Texas Republic in the late 1830s , Houston grew steadily into a regional trading center for the remainder of the 19th century . The arrival of the 20th century saw a convergence of economic factors which fueled rapid growth in Houston , including a burgeoning port and railroad industry , the decline of Galveston as Texas ' primary port following a devastating 1900 hurricane , the subsequent construction of the Houston Ship Channel , and the Texas oil boom . In the mid-20th century , Houston 's economy diversified as it became home to the Texas Medical Center - the world 's largest concentration of healthcare and research institutions - and NASA 's Johnson Space Center , where the Mission Control Center is located . Houston 's economy since the late 19th century has a broad industrial base in energy , manufacturing , aeronautics , and transportation . Leading in healthcare sectors and building oilfield equipment , Houston has the second most Fortune 500 headquarters of any U.S. municipality within its city limits ( after New York City ) .
Detroit ( /dɪˈtrɔɪt/ , locally also /ˈdiːtrɔɪt/ ; French : Détroit , lit . 'strait ' ) is the largest and most populous city in the U.S. state of Michigan , the largest U.S. city on the United States-Canada border , and the seat of Wayne County . The municipality of Detroit had a 2018 estimated population of 672,662 , making it the 23rd-most populous city in the United States . The metropolitan area , known as Metro Detroit , is home to 4.3 million people , making it the second-largest in the Midwest after the Chicago metropolitan area . Regarded as a major cultural center , Detroit is known for its contributions to music and as a repository for art , architecture and design . Detroit is a major port on the Detroit River , one of the four major straits that connect the Great Lakes system to the Saint Lawrence Seaway . The Detroit Metropolitan Airport is among the most important hubs in the United States . The City of Detroit anchors the second-largest regional economy in the Midwest , behind Chicago and ahead of Minneapolis-Saint Paul , and the 13th-largest in the United States . Detroit and its neighboring Canadian city Windsor are connected through a highway tunnel , railway tunnel , and the Ambassador Bridge , which is the second busiest international crossing in North America , after San Diego-Tijuana . Detroit is best known as the center of the U.S. automobile industry , and the Big Three auto manufacturers General Motors , Ford , and Fiat Chrysler are all headquartered in Metro Detroit . In 1701 , Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac founded Fort Pontchartrain du Détroit , the future city of Detroit . During the 19th century , it became an important industrial hub at the center of the Great Lakes region .
Michigan ( /ˈmɪʃɪɡən/ ( listen ) ) is a state in the Great Lakes and Midwestern regions of the United States . Its name originates from the Ojibwe word mishigamaa , meaning large water or large lake . With a population of just under 10 million , Michigan is the tenth most populous of the 50 United States , with the 11th most extensive total area , and is the largest state by total area east of the Mississippi River . [ b ] Its capital is Lansing , and its largest city is Detroit . Metro Detroit is among the nation 's most populous and largest metropolitan economies . Michigan is the only state to consist of two peninsulas . The Lower Peninsula is often noted as being shaped like a mitten . The Upper Peninsula ( often called the U.P . ) is separated from the Lower Peninsula by the Straits of Mackinac , a five-mile ( 8 km ) channel that joins Lake Huron to Lake Michigan . The Mackinac Bridge connects the peninsulas . The state has the longest freshwater coastline of any political subdivision in the world , being bounded by four of the five Great Lakes , plus Lake Saint Clair . Michigan also has 64,980 inland lakes and ponds .
The Southern Pacific ( reporting mark SP ) ( or Espee from the railroad initials- SP ) was an American Class I railroad network that existed from 1865 to 1996 and operated in the Western United States . The system was operated by various companies under the names Southern Pacific Railroad , Southern Pacific Company and Southern Pacific Transportation Company . The original Southern Pacific began in 1865 as a land holding company . The last incarnation of the Southern Pacific , the Southern Pacific Transportation Company , was founded in 1969 and assumed control of the Southern Pacific system . The Southern Pacific Transportation Company was acquired in 1995 by the Union Pacific Corporation and merged with their Union Pacific Railroad . The Southern Pacific legacy founded hospitals in San Francisco , Tucson , and elsewhere [ where ? ] . In the 1970s , it also founded a telecommunications network with a state-of-the-art microwave and fiber optic backbone . This telecommunications network became part of Sprint , a company whose name came from the acronym for Southern Pacific Railroad Internal Networking Telephony .
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco and colloquially known as SF , San Fran , Frisco , or The City , is the cultural , commercial , and financial center of Northern California . San Francisco is the 15th most populous city in the United States , and the fourth most populous in California , with 883,305 residents as of 2018 . It covers an area of about 46.89 square miles ( 121.4 km2 ) , mostly at the north end of the San Francisco Peninsula in the San Francisco Bay Area , making it the second most densely populated large U.S. city , and the fifth most densely populated U.S. county , behind only four of the five New York City boroughs . San Francisco is the 12th-largest metropolitan statistical area in the United States by population , with 4.7 million people , and the 4th-largest by economic output , with GDP of $ 549 billion in 2018 . With San Jose , it forms the fifth most populous combined statistical area in the United States , the San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland , CA Combined Statistical Area ( 9.67 million residents in 2018 ) . As of 2018 , San Francisco was the seventh-highest-income county in the United States , with a per capita personal income of $ 130,696 . In the same year , San Francisco proper had a GDP of $ 183.2 billion , and a GDP per capita of $ 207,371 . The CSA San Francisco shares with San Jose and Oakland was the country 's third-largest urban economy as of 2018 , with a GDP of $ 1.03 trillion . Of the 500+ primary statistical areas in the U.S. , this CSA had among the highest GDP per capita in 2018 , at $ 106,757 . San Francisco was ranked 12th in the world and 2nd in the United States on the Global Financial Centres Index as of September 2019 . As of 2016 , the San Francisco metropolitan area had the highest GDP per capita , labor productivity , and household income levels in the OECD . San Francisco was founded on June 29 , 1776 , when colonists from Spain established Presidio of San Francisco at the Golden Gate and Mission San Francisco de Asís a few miles away , all named for St. Francis of Assisi .
The Boston and Maine Corporation ( reporting mark BM ) , known as the Boston and Maine Railroad ( B & M ) , was a U.S. Class I railroad in northern New England . It became part of what is now the Pan Am Railways network in 1983 . At the end of 1970 , B & M operated 1,515 route-miles ( 2,438 km ) on 2,481 miles ( 3,993 km ) of track , not including Springfield Terminal . That year it reported 2,744 million ton-miles of revenue freight and 92 million passenger-miles .
The Central Vermont Railway ( reporting mark CV ) was a railroad that operated in the U.S. states of Connecticut , Massachusetts , New Hampshire , New York , and Vermont , as well as the Canadian province of Quebec . It connected Montreal , Quebec , with New London , Connecticut , using a route along the shores of Lake Champlain , through the Green Mountains and along the Connecticut River valley , as well as Montreal to Boston , Massachusetts , through a connection with the Boston and Maine Railroad at White River Junction , Vermont .
White River Junction is an unincorporated village and census-designated place ( CDP ) in the town of Hartford in Windsor County , Vermont , United States . The population was 2,286 at the 2010 census , making it the largest community within the town of Hartford . The village includes the White River Junction Historic District , a historic district that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980 and whose boundaries were increased in 2002 . The historic district reflects urban architecture of the area from the late 19th century and early 20th century . The district is bounded by the Central Vermont railroad tracks , Gates Street , and South Main Street . It includes at least 29 contributing and non-contributing buildings . Notable buildings include the Coolidge Hotel , the First National Bank building , a U.S. Post Office building , and the White River Junction Fire House , showing examples of Greek Revival , Colonial Revival , Richardsonian Romanesque , Italianate and Romanesque architecture .
The Valley Flyer was a short-lived named passenger train of the Atchison , Topeka and Santa Fe Railway . The all-heavyweight , semi-streamlined train ran between Bakersfield and Oakland , California ( through California 's San Joaquin Valley , hence the name ) during the 1939-1940 Golden Gate International Exposition on Treasure Island in San Francisco Bay . Motive power was two Baldwin-built 1300 class 4-6-2 Pacific locomotives refurbished and decorated for the train . It was the Santa Fe 's first attempt at streamlining older steam power . The locomotives had metal skirting along the sides , painted aluminum ( as were the nose and smokestack ) with red and yellow stripes , these being outlined by black pinstripes ; the tenders were similarly decorated . A yellow Circle and Cross emblem backed by red wings was emblazoned across the front of the locomotive above the pilot deck , and on each side of the tender , which also featured a red wing . The air-conditioned rolling stock was painted aluminum with red and yellow stripes along their sills , bordered with black pinstripes ( somewhat like Santa Fe 's passenger diesel locomotives ) . Stripes on the combine unit split into two sets , with one set sweeping up to align with those on the locomotive tenders . Window shades were painted matte aluminum . The sides of the passenger cars bore SANTA FE in black , extra extended Railroad Roman letters . The design of the Valley Flyer 's drumhead was inspired by that of its counterpart , the Golden Gate . The first run was on June 11 , 1939 .
The Atchison , Topeka and Santa Fe Railway ( reporting mark ATSF ) , often referred to as the Santa Fe or AT & SF , was one of the larger railroads in the United States , named after the cities and towns of Atchison , Topeka , and Santa Fe . Chartered in February 1859 , the railroad reached the Kansas-Colorado border in 1873 and Pueblo , Colorado , in 1876 . To create a demand for its services , the railroad set up real estate offices and sold farmland from the land grants that it was awarded by Congress . Despite the namesake , its mainline did not directly serve Santa Fe , due to the mountainous terrain , the metropolitan city of Albuquerque instead served New Mexico and the Santa Fe area . The Santa Fe was a pioneer in intermodal freight transport , an enterprise that ( at one time or another ) included a tugboat fleet and an airline , the short-lived Santa Fe Skyway . Its bus line extended passenger transportation to areas not accessible by rail , and ferryboats on the San Francisco Bay allowed travelers to complete their westward journeys to the Pacific Ocean . The AT & SF was the subject of a popular song , Harry Warren and Johnny Mercer 's On the Atchison , Topeka and the Santa Fe , written for the film , The Harvey Girls ( 1946 ) . The railroad officially ceased operations on December 31 , 1996 , when it merged with the Burlington Northern Railroad to form the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway .
Oakland is the largest city and the county seat of Alameda County , California , United States . A major West Coast port city , Oakland is the largest city in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area , the third largest city overall in the San Francisco Bay Area , the eighth most populated city in California , and the 45th largest city in the United States . With a population of 428,827 as of 2018 [ update ] , it serves as a trade center for the San Francisco Bay Area ; its Port of Oakland is the busiest port in the San Francisco Bay , the entirety of Northern California , and the fifth busiest in the United States of America . An act to incorporate the city was passed on May 4 , 1852 , and incorporation was later approved on March 25 , 1854 , which officially made Oakland a city . Oakland is a charter city . Oakland 's territory covers what was once a mosaic of California coastal terrace prairie , oak woodland , and north coastal scrub . Its land served as a rich resource when its hillside oak and redwood timber were logged to build San Francisco . Oakland 's fertile flatland soils helped it become a prolific agricultural region . In the late 1860s , Oakland was selected as the western terminal of the Transcontinental Railroad . Following the 1906 San Francisco earthquake , many San Francisco citizens moved to Oakland , enlarging the city 's population , increasing its housing stock , and improving its infrastructure . It continued to grow in the 20th century with its busy port , shipyards , and a thriving automobile manufacturing industry .
Bakersfield is a charter city in Kern County , California , United States . It is the county seat and largest city of Kern County . The city covers about 151 sq mi ( 390 km2 ) near the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley and the Central Valley region . Bakersfield 's population is around 380,000 , making it the 52nd-most populous city in the United States of America and the 9th-most populous city in California . The Bakersfield-Delano Metropolitan Statistical Area , which includes all of Kern County , had a 2010 census population of 839,631 , making it the 62nd-largest metropolitan area in the United States . The more built-up portion of the metro area that includes Bakersfield and areas immediately around the city , such as East Bakersfield , Oildale and Rosedale , has a population of about 520,000 . Bakersfield is a significant hub for both agriculture and energy production . Kern County is the most productive oil-producing county and the fourth-most productive agricultural county ( by value ) in the United States . Industries in and around Bakersfield include natural gas and other energy extraction , mining , petroleum refining , distribution , food processing , and corporate regional offices . The city is also the birthplace of the country music genre known as the Bakersfield sound .
Fresno ( /ˈfrɛznoʊ/ FREZ-noh ; Spanish for ash tree ) is a city in and the county seat of Fresno County , California , United States . It covers about 112 square miles ( 290 km2 ) in the center of the San Joaquin Valley , the southern portion of California 's Central Valley . Named for the abundant ash trees lining the San Joaquin River , Fresno was founded in 1872 as a railway station of the Central Pacific Railroad before it was incorporated in 1885 . The city has since become an economic hub of Fresno County and the San Joaquin Valley , with much of the surrounding areas in the Metropolitan Fresno region predominantly tied to large-scale agricultural production . The population of Fresno grew from 134,000 in 1960 to 428,000 in 2000 . With a census-estimated 2018 population of 530,093 , Fresno is the fifth-most populous city in California , the most populous inland city in California , and the 34th-most populous city in the nation . Fresno is near the geographical center of California . It lies approximately 220 miles ( 350 km ) north of Los Angeles , 170 miles ( 270 km ) south of the state capital , Sacramento , and 185 miles ( 300 km ) southeast of San Francisco . Yosemite National Park is about 60 miles ( 100 km ) to the north , Kings Canyon National Park is 60 miles ( 100 km ) to the east , and Sequoia National Park is 75 miles ( 120 km ) to the southeast .
Amtrak 's 195-mile ( 314 km ) Keystone Service provides frequent regional passenger train service between the Harrisburg Transportation Center in Harrisburg , Pennsylvania and 30th Street Station in Philadelphia , running along the Philadelphia to Harrisburg Main Line ( Keystone Corridor ) . Most trains continue along the Northeast Corridor ( NEC ) to Pennsylvania Station in New York . Travel time between Harrisburg and New York is approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes , including 1 hour and 45 minutes to travel between Harrisburg and Philadelphia . There are also several express trains which cut both journey times by approximately 15 minutes . A few portions of the route consist of high-speed rail , where it reaches its max speed of 125 mph ( 201 km/h ) , making it one of the three high-speed rail services operated by Amtrak , and one of the four high-speed rail services in the United States . It is Amtrak 's fifth-busiest route , and the railroad 's third-busiest in the NEC . In fiscal year 2016 , the service carried 1.47 million passengers , an increase of 7.9% over FY2015 . Total revenue in FY2016 was $ 41,123,787 , an increase of 7.5% over FY2015 . The route is primarily funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation ( PennDOT ) .
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation , doing business as Amtrak ( reporting marks AMTK , AMTZ ) , is a passenger railroad service that provides medium and long-distance intercity service in the contiguous United States and to nine Canadian cities . Founded in 1971 as a quasi-public corporation to operate many U.S. passenger rail services , it receives a combination of state and federal subsidies but is managed as a for-profit organization . Amtrak 's headquarters is located one block west of Union Station in Washington , D.C. Amtrak serves more than 500 destinations in 46 states and three Canadian provinces , operating more than 300 trains daily over 21,400 miles ( 34,000 km ) of track . Amtrak owns approximately 623 miles of this track and operates an additional 132 miles of track . Some track sections allow trains to run as fast as 150 mph ( 240 km/h ) . In fiscal year 2018 , Amtrak served 31.7 million passengers and had $ 3.4 billion in revenue , while employing more than 20,000 people . Nearly 87,000 passengers ride more than 300 Amtrak trains on a daily basis . Nearly two-thirds of passengers come from the 10 largest metropolitan areas ; 83% of passengers travel on routes shorter than 400 miles ( 645 km ) . The name Amtrak is a portmanteau of the words America and trak , the latter itself a sensational spelling of track .
Harrisburg ( /ˈhærɪsbɜːrɡ/ HARR-iss-burg ; Pennsylvania German : Harrisbarrig ) [ citation needed ] is the capital city of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in the United States , and the county seat of Dauphin County . With a population of 49,229 , it is the 15th largest city in the Commonwealth . It lies on the east bank of the Susquehanna River , 107 miles ( 172 km ) west of Philadelphia . Harrisburg is the anchor of the Susquehanna Valley metropolitan area , which had a 2018 estimated population of 574,659 , making it the fourth most populous in Pennsylvania and 96th most populous in the United States . Harrisburg played a notable role in American history during the Westward Migration , the American Civil War , and the Industrial Revolution . During part of the 19th century , the building of the Pennsylvania Canal and later the Pennsylvania Railroad allowed Harrisburg to become one of the most industrialized cities in the Northeastern United States . The U.S. Navy ship USS Harrisburg , which served from 1918 to 1919 at the end of World War I , was named in honor of the city . In the mid-to-late 20th century , the city 's economic fortunes fluctuated with its major industries consisting of government , heavy manufacturing , agriculture , and food services ( nearby Hershey is home of the chocolate maker , located just 10 miles ( 16 km ) east ) . The Pennsylvania Farm Show , the largest free indoor agriculture exposition in the United States , was first held in Harrisburg in 1917 and has been held there every early-to-mid January since then . Harrisburg also hosts an annual outdoor sports show , the largest of its kind in North America , an auto show , which features a large static display of new as well as classic cars and is renowned nationwide , and Motorama , a two-day event consisting of a car show , motocross racing , remote control car racing , and more . Harrisburg is also known for the Three Mile Island accident , which occurred on March 28 , 1979 , near Middletown . In 2010 Forbes rated Harrisburg as the second best place in the U.S. to raise a family .
Chicago ( /ʃɪˈkɑːɡoʊ/ ( listen ) , locally also /ʃɪˈkɔːɡoʊ/ ) , officially the City of Chicago , is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois , and the third-most-populous city in the United States . With an estimated population of 2,705,994 ( 2018 ) , it is also the most populous city in the Midwestern United States . Chicago is the county seat of Cook County , the second-most-populous county in the US , with a small portion of the northwest side of the city extending into DuPage County near O'Hare Airport . Chicago is the principal city of the Chicago metropolitan area , often referred to as Chicagoland . At nearly 10 million people , the metropolitan area is the third most populous in the United States . Located on the shores of freshwater Lake Michigan , Chicago was incorporated as a city in 1837 near a portage between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River watershed and grew rapidly in the mid-19th century . After the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 , which destroyed several square miles and left more than 100,000 homeless , the city made a concerted effort to rebuild . The construction boom accelerated population growth throughout the following decades , and by 1900 , less than 30 years after the great fire , Chicago was the fifth-largest city in the world . Chicago made noted contributions to urban planning and zoning standards , including new construction styles ( including the Chicago School of architecture ) , the development of the City Beautiful Movement , and the steel-framed skyscraper . Chicago is an international hub for finance , culture , commerce , industry , education , technology , telecommunications , and transportation . It is the site of the creation of the first standardized futures contracts , issued by the Chicago Board of Trade , which today is the largest and most diverse derivatives market in the world , generating 20% of all volume in commodities and financial futures alone . Depending on the particular year , the city 's O'Hare International Airport is routinely ranked as the world 's fifth or sixth busiest airport according to tracked data by the Airports Council International .
Pittsburgh ( /ˈpɪtsbɜːrɡ/ PITS-burg ) is a city in the state of Pennsylvania in the United States , and is the county seat of Allegheny County . A population of about 302,407 ( 2018 ) residents live within the city limits , making it the 66th-largest city in the U.S . The metropolitan population of 2,324,743 is the largest in both the Ohio Valley and Appalachia , the second-largest in Pennsylvania ( behind Philadelphia ) , and the 27th-largest in the U.S. Pittsburgh is located in the southwest of the state , at the confluence of the Allegheny , Monongahela , and Ohio rivers . Pittsburgh is known both as the Steel City for its more than 300 steel-related businesses and as the City of Bridges for its 446 bridges . The city features 30 skyscrapers , two inclined railways , a pre-revolutionary fortification and the Point State Park at the confluence of the rivers . The city developed as a vital link of the Atlantic coast and Midwest , as the mineral-rich Allegheny Mountains made the area coveted by the French and British empires , Virginians , Whiskey Rebels , and Civil War raiders . Aside from steel , Pittsburgh has led in manufacturing of aluminum , glass , shipbuilding , petroleum , foods , sports , transportation , computing , autos , and electronics . For part of the 20th century , Pittsburgh was behind only New York City and Chicago in corporate headquarters employment ; it had the most U.S. stockholders per capita . Deindustrialization in the 1970s and 80s laid off area blue-collar workers as steel and other heavy industries declined , and thousands of downtown white-collar workers also lost jobs when several Pittsburgh-based companies moved out . The population dropped from a peak of 675,000 in 1950 to 370,000 in 1990 . However , this rich industrial history left the area with renowned museums , medical centers , parks , research centers , and a diverse cultural district . After the deindustrialization of the mid-20th century , Pittsburgh has transformed into a hub for the health care , education , and technology industries .