Boomtowns: The most populous city in each state Boomtowns: The most populous city in each state by Kori Hill, Special for USA TODAY | Published on August 28, 2015 Alabama - Birmingham, population of 212,237. Birmingham, the “Magic City,” holds one quarter of Alabama’s population. Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau Alaska - Anchorage, population of 291,826. More than 40% of Alaskans live in the state’s largest city, Anchorage. Several attempts have been made to make it the state capital instead of Juneau. Medioimages/Photodisc, Getty Images Arizona - Phoenix, population of 1,445,632. Not only is Phoenix the most populous city in Arizona, it is also the most populous state capital in the United States –and still growing! Visit Phoenix Arkansas - Little Rock, population of 193,524. Little Rock, state capital of Arkansas, received its name from a small rock formation that served as a landmark for a popular river crossing.

Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau California - Los Angeles, population of 3,792,621. With over 3.7 million people, Los Angeles is not only the most populous city in California, it's also the second largest city in the USA. Los Angeles Tourism Colorado - Denver, population of 600,158. Also referred to as the Mile-High City, Denver was originally named after Kansas Territorial Governor James W. Denver. Visit Denver Connecticut - Bridgeport, population of 144,229. Bridgeport is the most populous city in Connecticut and the fifth largest city in the Northeast. flicker.com/auvet Delaware - Wilmington, population of 70,851. Wilmington is located in New Castle county, which is one of the only three counties in the whole state. Jupiterimages, Getty Images Florida - Jacksonville, population of 821,784. Over 874 square miles in size, Jacksonville actually has the most land area of any city in the USA. Sean Pavone, Getty Images/iStockphoto Georgia - Atlanta, population of 420,003.

In the 2010 US census, Atlanta was shy of half a million residents, but the city boasts the ninth largest surrounding metropolitan area in the USA. Kevin C Rose/Atlanta CVB Hawaii - Honolulu, population of 337,256. A major tourist destination, Honolulu is the also the most western and most southern major American city. Hawaii Tourism Authority / Tor Johnson Idaho - Boise, population of 205,671. On New Year's Eve, instead of dropping a ball, Boise drops a giant Idaho potato. Boise CVB Illinois - Chicago, population of 2,695,598. Chicago is famous for its beautiful architecture and was responsible for building the very first skyscraper in 1885. Patrick L. Pyszka/City of Chicago Indiana - Indianapolis, population of 820,445. Indianapolis is referred to as the Crossroads of America because the city marks a junction for six interstates, six US highways, and four state roads. Rich Clark Iowa - Des Moines, population of 203,433.

Presidential candidates often set up campaign headquarters in Des Moines because Iowa is home to the first caucuses of the presidential primary cycle. Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau Kansas - Wichita, population of 382,368. Wichita is well known for its leadership in aircraft manufacturing and is home to companies such as Beechcraft and Cessna. Visit Wichita Kentucky - Louisville, population of 597,337. Louisville is named after King Louis XVI of France and is one of the oldest cities west of the Appalachian Mountains. Go to Louisville Louisiana - New Orleans, population of 343,829. New Orleans, home to the famous French Quarter, boasts many cultural highlights, including Mardi Gras, delicious cuisine, and the creation of jazz music. Richard Nowitz/New Orleans CVB Maine - Portland, population of 66,194. The Portland metropolitan area holds more than one-third of Maine’s total population. EJJohnsonPhotography, Getty Images/iStockphoto Maryland - Baltimore, population of 620,961. Baltimore’s boasts the second-largest seaport in the USA, and is the 26th most populous city.

Dean Ray/Visit Baltimore Massachusetts - Boston, population of 617,594. Boston is the largest city in New England and the 10th largest metropolitan area in the United States. Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau Michigan - Detroit, population of 713,777. Between 2000 and 2010, Detroit’s population fell 25% causing the city to focus on serious revitalization efforts in the recent years. Jason Vaughn Minnesota - Minneapolis, population of 382,578. Minneapolis and St. Paul together are the “Twin Cities,” making up the second largest metropolitan area in the Midwest after Chicago. Meet Minneapolis Mississippi - Jackson, population of 173,514. Jackson is named after President Andrew Jackson to honor his victory at the Battle of New Orleans during the War of 1812. Visit Jackson Missouri - Kansas City, population of 459,787. Originally only called “Kansas”, “City” was added to eliminate confusion after the territory of Kansas was created. . ChrisBoswell, Getty Images/iStockphoto Montana - Billings, population of 104,170.

Billings is the only city in the state to surpass 100,000 people. It is located in beautiful Yellowstone Valley and surrounded by the Billings Rimrocks. Visit Billings Nebraska - Omaha, population of 408,958. New York might be the city that comes to mind when you think of billionaires, but Warren Buffett makes his home in Omaha. steveodonnell, Getty Images/iStockphoto Nevada - Las Vegas, population of 583,756. Las Vegas is most famous for being the “Adult Playground” of the United States, with dominance in gambling, nightlife, shopping, and other entertainment culture. Thinkstock Images, Getty Images New Hampshire - Manchester, population of 109,565. Manchester is the largest city in Northern New England, which includes Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire. Denis Jr. Tangney, Getty Images/iStockphoto New Jersey - Newark, population of 277,140. Newark sits only 8 miles west of Manhattan and is the second most populous city in the New York metropolitan region.

Harry Prott Fullscreen New York - New York, population of 8,175,133. New York City is the most populous city in the USA, and a global power city, home to the headquarters of the United Nations and two of the largest stock exchanges in the world. Marley White Fullscreen North Carolina - Charlotte, population of 731,424. Charlotte is the third fastest-growing major city in the United States. “The Queen City” is well known as a banking hub, housing Bank of America’s headquarters and the east coast center for Wells Fargo. Charlottesgotalot.com North Dakota - Fargo, population of 105,549. Made most famous by the movie of the same name, Fargo was recently ranked the 4th fastest-growing small town in the USA. Ben Harding, Getty Images Ohio - Columbus, population of 787,033. Columbus is not only the largest city in Ohio, but also the 15th largest in the United States. Rod Berry/Ohio Stock Photography Oklahoma - Oklahoma City, population of 579,999.

Oklahoma City, or "OKC" as some locals call it, is Oklahoma’s largest metropolitan area and a world leader in livestock. Ron_Lane, Getty Images/iStockphoto Oregon - Portland, population of 583,776. Portland is home to more independent breweries than any other city in the world. The unofficial slogan of the city is “Keep Portland Weird”. Rob Finch/ Pennsylvania - Philadelphia, population of 1,526,006. Philadelphia is the sixth largest city in the USA, and served as a temporary capital while D.C. was under construction. discoverphl.com Rhode Island - Providence, population of 178,042. Providence is one of the oldest cities in the United States, and is said to have the most coffee/doughnut shops per capita of any city in the country. D Amadio Photo, Getty Images/iStockphoto South Carolina - Columbia, population of 129,272. Columbia is home to the state’s largest university and the largest army base for combat training, Fort Jackson. Columbia Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau South Dakota - Sioux Falls, population of 153,888.

According to census data, Sioux Falls' population has increased 22% since 2000, making it the 47th fastest growing city in the United States. Sioux Falls CVB Tennessee - Memphis, population of 655,155. The largest city along the Mississippi River, Memphis is commonly known for its ties to rock ‘n’ roll and delicious BBQ. KamalRoyKarmakar, Getty Images/iStockphoto Texas - Houston, population of 2,100,263. Houston is the fourth largest city in the USA, is home to NASA’s Mission Control Center, and has the largest concentration of health and research institutions. Visit Houston Utah - Salt Lake City, population of 186,440. Salt Lake was founded by Mormon leaders and though it remains the headquarters of the Church of Latter-Day Saints, Mormons account for less than half of the population. Adam Barker / Visit Salt Lake Vermont - Burlington, population of 42,417. Though Burlington might be known for being the largest city in Vermont, it’s bigger claim to fame is being the home of ice cream maker Ben & Jerry’s.

ErikaMitchell, Getty Images/iStockphoto Virginia - Virginia Beach, population of 447,021. Virginia Beach is a resort town, with miles of beaches, hotels, and restaurants. The area is noted for having many landmarks surrounding America's founding. Virginia Beach CVB Washington - Seattle, population of 608,660. Seattle is the largest city in the Pacific Northwest region, and is home to technology companies Amazon.com and Microsoft. tonda, Getty Images/iStockphoto West Virginia - Charleston, population of 51,400. Not to be confused with the city of Charleston in South Carolina, sometimes West Virginians lovingly refer to the city as “Charlie West”. Aneese, Getty Images/iStockphoto Wisconsin - Milwaukee, population of 594,833. Milwaukee has had its share of visitors: French missionaries and explorers were coming here as early as the late 1600s to trade with the Native Americans. Visit Milwaukee Wyoming - Cheyenne, population of 59,466. Cheyenne holds the largest outdoor rodeo, called Cheyenne Frontier days, which takes place during the last full week in July.

Comstock, Getty Images Like this topic? You may also like these photo galleries: Replay Population of the 100 Largest Cities and Other Urban Places In The United States: 1790 to 1990 Population Division Working Paper No. 27 Acknowledgments This paper was prepared in Population Division with the statistical and clerical collaboration of Emily Lennon and Kay Jung. Several reviewers provided useful comments: Richard L. Forstall, Donald C. Dahmann, John F. Long, Louisa F. Miller, Michael R. Ratcliffe, Linda M. Showalter, and Linda S. Morris. Disclaimer This paper reports the results of research and analysis undertaken by Census Bureau staff. It has undergone a more limited review than official Census Bureau publications. This report is released to inform interested parties of research and to encourage discussion. Abstract This paper presents decennial census population totals for the 100 largest cities and other urban places in the United States based on the 21 decennial censuses taken from 1790 to 1990.

The paper represents the first time that the populations of the largest urban places at each census have been published in a single report and was prepared in response to numerous requests for this type of information. CONTENTS Introduction This report presents decennial census population totals for the largest urban places in the United States based on the 21 decennial censuses taken from 1790 to 1990. Through 1940, these urban places were all legally incorporated places such as cities, towns, and boroughs. Since 1950, when the urban definition was broadened, a few unincorporated places have also been included. The title of this report uses the term "largest cities and other urban places" to reflect the fact that for most of the 1790-1990 period (since 1870), nearly all the largest urban places have been legally defined as cities. The term "largest urban places" is used frequently in this report for simplicity. Data on the largest urban places for the 1940-1990 period are based on census reports for each of these censuses.

For the 1790-1930 period, the data are based on an historical series developed by the Census Bureau during the 1930s, as discussed later. Based on this research , 1840 was the first census year in which there were as many as 100 urban places. The numbers of urban places included in this report for previous census years are 24 in 1790, 33 in 1800, 46 in 1810, 61 in 1820, and 90 in 1830. Since 1890, census volumes have regularly included tables showing the largest cities in the United States ranked by total population: 25,000 or more in 1890 and 1900; and 100,000 or more since 1910. In some census reports, tables showing the 50 largest cities at selected preceding censuses have also been included.

For example, the 1910 census included these data from 1840 to 1900, and the 1990 census included such data for 1850, 1900, and 1980. The present report represents the first time that the populations of the largest urban places in the United States at each census since 1790 have appeared in a single report. The next three sections of the text -- Urban and Urban Place, City Populations and Annexations, and Cities and Their Suburbs -- provide general background on definitions and comparability of population totals for urban places. These sections are followed by Explanations of Detailed Tables, Sources and Limitations of the Data, Notes for Individual Places, References, and the 26 detailed tables. Urban and Urban Place This section provides an overview of the definitions of urban and urban place in censuses of the United States, with a focus on criteria and changes most pertinent to the lists of the largest urban places presented in this report. For more details, see Truesdell, 1949 (in References) and census publications since 1950.

It was not until 1874, in the Statistical Atlas of the United States (Walker, 1874) that a systematic attempt to define the urban population of the United States since 1790 appeared in a census publication. The urban definition adopted in that report was the population in places (generally, cities and towns) of 8,000 or more population. The urban threshold was dropped to 4,000 in the 1880 census and to 2,500 in the 1910 census. The historical series developed by the Census Bureau during the 1930s on the populations of all urban places (2,500 or more population) since 1790 used the 1930 definition of urban. This work, which identified some corrections to urban places and their populations at earlier censuses, underlies tables on the urban population by size of place since 1790 that first appeared in 1940 census reports. These tables have been updated in each subsequent census.

In 1930 and again in 1940, the definition of urban included the following three categories: (1) cities and other incorporated places of 2,500 or more population; (2) towns in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island in which 2,500 or more inhabitants lived in a village or other thickly settled area and more than one-half of the town's population lived in such areas; and (3) townships and other political subdivisions, not incorporated in whole or in part as municipalities, with a total population of 10,000 or more and an average density of 1,000 or more persons per square mile. The second category reflected the fact that in these three states, towns with less than 10,000 population were not typically incorporated in whole or in part as municipalities.

(In the New England states, New York, and Wisconsin, the primary minor civil divisions are termed towns, but correspond generally to townships in many other states.) In 1950, the urban definition was changed to include the following three categories: (1) incorporated cities, towns (except in the New England states, New York, and Wisconsin, for the reason noted above), boroughs, and villages with 2,500 or more inhabitants; (2) unincorporated territory in the "urban fringe" of cities of 50,000 or more population; and (3) unincorporated places of 2,500 or more inhabitants defined by the Census Bureau. The changes from the 1940 definition were designed to improve the classification of densely settled unincorporated territory and were made in conjunction with the first delineation of urbanized areas. Urbanized areas were defined generally as cities with 50,000 or more inhabitants and their surrounding densely settled urban fringe, whether or not incorporated. (Urbanized areas differ in concept from metropolitan areas, which were also first defined in 1950.

In general, metropolitan areas were defined as cities with 50,000 or more inhabitants, their counties, and surrounding counties which had a high degree of social and economic integration with the core. Metropolitan areas thus included urban population not contiguous to the core as well as rural population.) Changes in the urban definition since 1950 have been relatively minor. Starting in 1960, the Census Bureau defined unincorporated places not only outside urbanized areas, but also in unincorporated territory in the urban fringe of urbanized areas. Starting in 1970, "extended cities" were identified in cases where city boundaries included large areas that were sparsely populated. In an extended city, a portion of the land area and its population (if any) are defined as rural, even though within official city boundaries. Among the 100 largest cities and other urban places, the number of extended cities was 12 in 1970, 13 in 1980, and 22 in 1990. In this report, these cities are ranked by their total populations, and their urban populations are given in Notes for Individual Places.

Starting in 1980, the term "census designated place" (CDP) replaced "unincorporated place" (U). For simplicity and since the concept has not changed, the current term, CDP, is used throughout this report to designate unincorporated places. The CDPs appearing in this report are Arlington, VA; Honolulu, HI; and Metairie, LA (see Notes for Individual Places). City Populations and Annexations The populations and rankings shown in this report are based on the boundaries of cities (and other urban places) at the time of each census (or at a cutoff date shortly before the census to facilitate planning). Historically, growth in city populations has been due partly to annexations of surrounding territory that have added immediately to total population and/or have facilitated future population growth. For a variety of reasons, notably differences in state laws and practices, the frequency and size of annexations have differed greatly among cities. For example, Philadelphia and New York had large annexations in 1854 and 1898, respectively, and no significant annexations since, while many cities have had frequent annexations.

Some cities, especially in the South and West in recent decades, have had large annexations well before urban-type settlement in the annexed areas. A few of these annexations are related to consolidations of city and county governments. The details of these consolidations vary considerably; however, the five consolidated cities included in this report include at least 90 percent and sometimes 100 percent of the populations of their parent counties. These consolidated cities are: Jacksonville, FL (1970-1990); Columbus, GA (1980-1990); Indianapolis, IN (1970-1990); Lexington, KY (1980-1990); and Nashville, TN (1970-1990). One result of the differences in annexation practices is an increasing range in density (average population per square mile) among cities, including cities similar in population size. The wide range in land area and density is illustrated in Table A with data for the 20 largest cities in the United States in 1990 (rounded data from Table 22).

9,900 11,900 Among the 20 largest cities in 1990, 5 had a density of 10,000 or more, 5 had a density of 5,000 to 9,999, and 10 had a density under 5,000. Among the 20 largest cities in 1910 and in 1950, 13 had a density of 10,000 or more, 4 had a density of 5,000 to 9,999, and 3 had a density under 5,000 (Tables 14 and 18). Cities and Their Suburbs As noted in the previous section, the populations and rankings in this report are based on the boundaries of the cities at the time of each census. Population ranks for large cities alone do not necessarily reflect population ranks of these cities combined with their suburbs.

However, data on metropolitan districts (defined 1910-1940) and urbanized areas (defined 1950-1990) suggest that through 1950, there was a high correlation between population ranks for large cities alone and for these cities combined with their suburbs. In 1950, the 20 largest cities were also the largest cities in the 20 largest urbanized areas. In only one case did the ranks differ by five or more. (Baltimore ranked 6th in population among cities and 12th in population among urbanized areas.) By 1990, the situation had changed dramatically, due partly to differences in annexation practices described previously, as illustrated in Table B. Urbanized areas, which frequently have more than one city name in their titles and/or extend into more than one state, are identified in this table by the names of their single largest cities. In 1990, the 20 largest cities were the largest cities in only 13 of the 20 largest urbanized areas.

In the 27 cases where a city and/or its urbanized area ranked in the 20 largest, there were 20 cases in which the ranks differed by 5 or more and 9 cases in which the ranks differed by 20 or more. (For example, San Antonio ranked 10th in population among cities and 31st in population among urbanized areas whereas Atlanta ranked 36th in population among cities and 12th in population among urbanized areas.) Explanations of Detailed Tables This section provides brief explanations of the data in the detailed tables. These data are consistent with each census as published and thus include some urban places that subsequently were annexed by other urban places. Information on these annexations, changes in names (e.g., West Troy, NY to Watervliet, NY) and state locations (e.g., Wheeling, VA to Wheeling, WV) of urban places, extended cities, and various other items is presented in Notes for Individual Places. Table 1.

Rank by Population of the 100 Largest Urban Places, Listed Alphabetically by State: 1790-1990 This table lists alphabetically by state and ranks by population all urban places which have ever been among the 100 largest urban places at the time of any census in the 1790-1990 period. An asterisk after a place name indicates that there is additional information about the place in Notes for Individual Places. Altogether, there are 257 different places listed. Two places, Alexandria (DC and VA) and Wheeling (VA and WV) are listed twice. The number of places listed for each state is shown in the stub of the table. The states with the largest numbers of places listed are Massachusetts (30), Pennsylvania (22), and New York (21). There are six states which have never had an urban place among the 100 largest in the United States: Vermont, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming.

For those censuses in which a place was among the 100 largest urban places, the rank is shown, with ties, which are rare, designated by a "T" after the rank. Six places, all in Atlantic seaboard states, have been among the 100 largest urban places at each census in the 1790-1990 period. In 1790 rank order, they are New York, NY; Philadelphia, PA; Boston, MA; Baltimore, MD; Richmond, VA; and Norfolk, VA. Tables 2-22. Population of the 100 Largest Urban Places: (census year) These 21 tables list in rank order the largest urban places and their populations at each census starting with 1790 (Table 2) and ending with 1990 (Table 22). As noted earlier, 1840 was the first census year in which there were as many as 100 urban places. Tables 2-22 indicate the legal designation of each urban place. For incorporated places, these designations include city, town, borough, village, township, and district.

Unincorporated places are designated as CDPs (census designated places). The legal designation of district appears only for five places which were annexed to Philadelphia city in 1854 when it annexed the balance of Philadelphia County: Kensington, Moyamensing, Northern Liberties, Southwark, and Spring Garden. Legal terms for different types of municipalities are governed by state (not Federal) laws and frequently are not comparable among states. In some states, places with less than 1,000 population can be incorporated as cities. In those New England states where portions of towns are not separately incorporated, towns typically are not reincorporated as cities unless they have at least 10,000 population and frequently not until their populations are substantially larger. The tables include land area and population density as well as total population starting in 1910, the first census year in which data on land area are available on a systematic basis in Census Bureau publications. There are several reasons why the land area of an urban place can change from one census to the next.

In addition to annexations, there may be detachments of territory, boundary adjustments, reclamation projects that create new land area, changes in how swampy areas are classified, and changes in measurement techniques. As a result, small changes in land area (in either absolute or proportionate terms) may have little significance. Table 23. 1990 Population and Maximum Decennial Census Population of Urban Places Ever Among the 100 Largest Urban Places, Listed Alphabetically by State: 1790-1990 This table lists alphabetically by state all urban places which have ever been among the 100 largest urban places at any census in the 1790-1990 period and shows their populations in 1990 and their maximum decennial census populations. Most urban places listed in this table in the Northeast and Midwest peaked in population before 1990, while a much larger proportion of urban places in the South and West had their maximum census population to date in 1990. In part, this difference reflects differences in annexation practices discussed earlier. Table 24.

Population at Selected Ranks from 1st to 100th of the Largest Urban Places: 1790-1990 This table shows the population at selected ranks from 1st to 100th of the largest urban places from 1790 to 1990. The data in the table thus indicate the change in population needed to maintain a specific rank over time. From 1790 to 1930, the population at each selected rank increased in each decade. Since 1930, there have been some decreases. In 1990, the population was below the peak census population at several ranks shown in the table: 1st through 5th, 15th, 20th, 25th, and 30th. Table 25.

Distribution of the 10, 25, 50, and 100 Largest Urban Places, by Section and Subsection of the United States: 1790-1990 This table shows the distribution of the 10 largest, 25 largest, 50 largest, and 100 largest urban places for specified areas of the United States at each census from 1790 to 1990. These specified areas differ somewhat from the four regions and nine divisions currently used by the Census Bureau and include, to use different terminology, three sections and four subsections. The four regions -- Northeast, North Central (subsequently renamed Midwest), South, and West -- were introduced in the 1940s and replaced the three sections introduced in the 1910 census: North, South, and West. (For the history of census regions and divisions and their predecessor areas from 1790 to 1990, see Dahmann, 1992.) For the presentation of historical data on the number of urban places, the three sections are preferable because they permit direct comparisons of North and South.

The North and South are each divided in this table into two subsections which recognize the westward expansion of settlement from the Atlantic seaboard and facilitate comparisons of the eastern and central portions of the United States. The states in each section and subsection can be determined by using the following diagram together with the listing of states in Table 26. Sections and subsections Corresponding Census Bureau shown in Table 25 regions and divisions North section . . . . . . . . . . . (no counterpart) Northeast subsection. . . . . . . Northeast region New England division Middle Atlantic division North Central subsection. . . . . Midwest region East North Central division West North Central division South section . . . . . . . . . . . South region Southeast subsection. . . . . . . . South Atlantic division South Central subsection. . . . . . East South Central division West South Central division West section. . . . . . . . . . . . West region Mountain division Pacific division The data in Table 25 show that well over half of the largest urban places were located in the North through the nineteenth century.

During the twentieth century, there has been a decline in the number of the largest urban places located in the North and increases in the numbers located in the South and West. As a result, the numbers of the largest urban places in the three sections of the United States have converged. Table 26. Distribution of the 100 Largest Urban Places, by Region, Division, and State: 1790-1990 The changing distribution of the 100 largest urban places in the United States by section (North, South, and West) is mirrored in trends for individual states. From their peak numbers in the nineteenth century, the numbers declined from 24 to 1 in Massachusetts, from 14 to 4 in New York, and from 15 to 2 in Pennsylvania, by 1990. From 1900 to 1990, the number of the 100 largest urban places increased from zero to 5 in Florida, from 3 to 10 in Texas, and from 3 to 16 in California.

Sources and Limitations of the Data In general, the population data in this report are those published in the decennial censuses of population from 1790 to 1990. As described in the section on Urban and Urban Place, the compilation in the 1930s of an historical series of population totals for all urban places (places of 2,500 or more population) since 1790 identified some corrections to urban places and their populations at earlier censuses. That work included population estimates for some incorporated places, which were not always reported separately from their minor civil divisions in census reports from 1790 to 1860. These estimates are identified in Notes for Individual Places. Reports from the 1960 census include historical tables showing the total population of each incorporated place with 10,000 or more population in 1960 from the earliest census through 1960. These tables, which include corrections and estimates from the work described above, represent the last time that so much historical detail on populations of individual urban places was published in decennial census reports.

Apart from the corrections made as part of the historical series developed in the 1930s on the population of urban places, corrections made after census counts were published are not reflected in this report. Corrections for the 1940-1990 period generally are very small both numerically and proportionately for places as large as the 100 largest urban places. General information on the census of population, including area classifications, definitions of topics, accuracy of the data, and collection and processing procedures, is provided in decennial census publications. In general, the United States census has been taken on a de jure (usual place of residence) basis rather than on a de facto (location at the time of the census) basis. For information on historical census geographic coverage and on underenumeration in the South in the 1870 census, see Forstall, 1996. For evaluations of census coverage since 1940, see Fay et al., 1988, and Robinson et al., 1993. For a general history of the census of population, see Anderson, 1988.

For a bibliography of all United States census publications through 1945, see Dubester, 1950. This was reprinted in the Bureau of the Census Catalog of Publications: 1790-1972, which included publications of the 1950, 1960, and 1970 censuses. Publications of the 1980 and 1990 censuses are included in the 1984 issue of the Bureau of the Census Catalog and the 1994 issue of the Census Catalog and Guide, respectively. Data in this report on land area for the 1910-1990 period were published in Census Bureau publications in decennial census reports and in the annual Financial Statistics of Cities prior to 1940 (see Dubester, 1950, citations 1656-1660). For information on the land area of selected cities prior to 1910, see McKenzie, 1933.

Information on the legal designations of places (city, town, etc.) were first published in the census on a systematic basis in 1880. Other sources include Report on the Social Statistics of Cities from the 1880 census (see Dubester, 1950, citations 140-142), Financial Statistics of Cities (noted above), and general reference works, including encyclopedias and gazetteers. In some cases, city libraries were contacted to obtain the information. The various sources do not always agree about legal designations for places and when changes occurred. NOTES FOR INDIVIDUAL PLACES Alabama Birmingham. Classified as partly rural in 1990. 1990 urban figures are 264,551; 105.4; and 2,510 (see Table 22). Montgomery. Classified as partly rural in 1980. 1980 figures are 176,387; 99.3; and 1,776 (see Table 21). Alaska Anchorage.

Classified as partly rural, 1980-1990. 1980 urban figures are 170,247; 139.4; and 1,221 (see Table 21). 1990 urban figures are 221,883; 161.3 and 1,376 (see Table 22). Arizona Phoenix. Classified as partly rural in 1990. 1990 urban figures are 980,995; 283.1; and 3,465 (see Table 22). Tucson. Classified as partly rural in 1990. 1990 urban figures are 405,291; 123.0; and 3,295 (see Table 22). California Bakersfield. Classified as partly rural in 1990. 1990 urban figures are 174,101; 62.0; and 2,808 (see Table 22). Fremont.

Classified as partly rural in 1990. 1990 urban figures are 173,284; 45.9; and 3,775 (see Table 22). San Diego. Classified as partly rural 1970-1990. 1970 urban figures are 693,931; 212.8; and 3,261 (see Table 20). 1980 urban figures are 847,494; 267.6; and 3,167 (see Table 21). 1990 urban figures are 1,109,962; 282.2; and 3,933 (see Table 22). San Francisco. 1850 census returns were destroyed by fire. Population according to the 1852 state census was 34,776. San Jose. Classified as partly rural in 1970.

1970 urban figures are 443,950; 116.3; and 3,817 (see Table 20). Colorado Aurora. Classified as partly rural in 1990. 1990 urban figures are 221,654; 49.4; and 4,487 (see Table 22). Colorado Springs. Classified as partly rural in 1990. 1990 urban figures are 280,995; 127.9; and 2,197 (see Table 22). Denver. Classified as partly rural in 1990. 1990 urban figures are 467,572; 111.0; and 4,212 (see Table 22). Connecticut Bridgeport. 1860 population is estimated. Hartford. 1790 and 1800 populations are estimated. Middletown. 1830 population is estimated. New Haven. 1790 population is estimated. District of Columbia Alexandria.

Included in territory ceded by Virginia in 1791 to form part of the District of Columbia and retroceded to Virginia in 1846. Georgetown. See following note for Washington, DC. Washington. Treated in the historical urban place series as coextensive with the District of Columbia starting in 1890, although legislation was enacted in 1871 abolishing the municipal governments of Washington and Georgetown, and full consolidation did not occur until 1895. For data on the population of the District of Columbia divided into Washington, Georgetown, and the remainder, see Forstall, 1996. Florida Jacksonville. Consolidated city, 1970-1990. Classified as partly rural, 1970-1990. 1970 urban figures are 518,131; 344.3; and 1,505 (see Table 20). 1980 urban figures are 531,402; 394.6; and 1,347 (see Table 21).

1990 urban figures are 627,128; 445.9; and 1,406 (see Table 22). Georgia Augusta. 1850 population is estimated. Columbus. Consolidated city, 1980-1990. Classified as partly rural, 1980-1990. 1980 urban figures are 166,831; 87.6; and 1,904 (see Table 21). 1990 urban figures are 173,196; 95.7; and 1,810 (see Table 22). Hawaii Honolulu. Excluded prior to 1960 because census data for Alaska and Hawaii, prior to their statehood in 1959, were shown separately from census data for the United States.

The population of Honolulu for those years in which it would have been among the 100 largest urban places is shown in a footnote in Tables 13 and 15-18 (for 1900 and 1920-1950). Although not legally a city, the urban place of Honolulu was usually referred to as a city in censuses through 1970. It is referred to here as a CDP for all years. See discussion of Census Designated Place in text. Legally, the city of Honolulu, which is not recognized for census purposes, is coextensive with the Honolulu County. Indiana Indianapolis. Consolidated city, 1970-1990. Classified as partly rural in 1970. 1970 urban figures are 743,155; 351.7; and 2,113 (see Table 20). Kentucky Lexington. 1850 population is estimated. Consolidated city, 1980-1990. Classified as partly rural, 1980-1990.

1980 urban figures are 194,093; 76.5; and 2,537 (see Table 21). 1990 urban figures are 218,925; 95.2; and 2,300. Louisiana Lafayette (old). Annexed by New Orleans in 1852. The present-day city of Lafayette, LA is in Lafayette Parish. Metairie. Metairie CDP is in Jefferson Parish. See discussion of Census Designated Place in text. New Orleans. Annexed Lafayette (old) in 1852. Classified as partly rural, 1970-1990. 1970 urban figures are 591,502; 86.4; and 6,846 (see Table 20). 1980 urban figures are 557,028; 88.8; and 6,273 (see Table 21).

1990 urban figures are 496,691; 87.4; and 5,683 (see Table 22). Massachusetts Boston. Annexed Roxbury in 1867, Dorchester in 1869, and Charlestown in 1874. Charlestown. Annexed by Boston in 1874. Dorchester. Annexed by Boston in 1869. Nantucket. Name changed from Sherburne in 1795. Roxbury. Annexed by Boston in 1867. Missouri Kansas City. Classified as partly rural, 1970-1990. 1970 urban figures are 501,859; 238.9; and 2,101 (see Table 20). 1980 urban figures are 446,124; 220.9; and 2,020 (see Table 21).

1990 urban figures are 433,728; 229.4; and 1,891 (see Table 22). Nevada Las Vegas. Classified as partly rural in 1990. 1990 urban figures are 258,054; 62.0; and 4,162 (see Table 22). New York Brooklyn. 1820 and 1830 populations for Brooklyn village not shown separately from Brooklyn town in census reports. Annexed Williamsburgh in 1855. Annexed by New York in 1898. For population of Brooklyn borough in New York city, 1900-1990, see note for New York, NY. Buffalo. 1830 population for Buffalo village not shown separately from Buffalo town in census reports. Lockport. 1860 population is estimated. Newburgh. 1860 population is estimated. New York. Annexed Brooklyn in 1898.

Because it is of interest to provide population counts for the five boroughs of New York city, information is provided also on their formation. In 1874 and 1895, New York city (coextensive with New York County from colonial times to 1874) annexed parts of Westchester county. In 1898, "Greater New York" was formed consisting of five boroughs: Manhattan borough (New York County excluding area annexed in 1874 and 1895); Bronx borough (area annexed by New York County in 1874 and 1895); Brooklyn borough (Kings County, including Brooklyn city); Queens borough (Queens County excluding portion taken to form Nassau County); and Richmond borough (Richmond County). Bronx County, coextensive with Bronx borough, was formed in 1912, making New York County coextensive with Manhattan borough. Richmond borough was renamed Staten Island borough in 1975. Year Poughkeepsie. 1850 population is estimated. Rochester. 1830 population for Rochester village not shown separately from Rochester town in census reports. Utica.

1820 and 1830 populations for Utica village not shown separately from Utica town in census reports. West Troy. 1850 population for West Troy village not shown separately from population of West Troy town in census reports. West Troy village incorporated as Watervliet city in 1896. Williamsburgh. 1850 population of Williamsburgh village not shown separately from population of Williamsburgh town in census reports. Annexed by Brooklyn in 1855. Ohio Steubenville. 1840 population is estimated. Oklahoma Oklahoma City. Classified as partly rural, 1970-1990. 1970 urban figures are 356,661; 215.1; and 1,658 (see Table 20). 1980 urban figures are 388,599; 242.6; and 1,602 (see Table 21). 1990 urban figures are 438,922; 381.7; and 1,150 (see Table 22). Tulsa.

Classified as partly rural in 1970. 1970 urban figures are 330,409; 139.5; and 2,369 (see Table 20). Pennsylvania Allegheny. Annexed by Pittsburgh in 1907. Kensington. Annexed by Philadelphia in 1854. Moyamensing. Annexed by Philadelphia in 1854. Northern Liberties. Annexed by Philadelphia in 1854. Philadelphia, Annexed Kensington, Moyamensing, Northern Liberties, Southwark, and Spring Garden in 1854 when Philadelphia city was made coextensive with Philadelphia County. Pittsburgh. Annexed Allegheny in 1907. Southwork. Annexed by Philadelphia in 1854. Spring Garden. Annexed by Philadelphia in 1854. Rhode Island North Providence. Parts annexed to Providence city and Pawtucket town in 1874. 1880 population of North Providence town: 1,467. Providence.

Annexed part of North Providence town in 1874. Tennessee Memphis. Classified as partly rural, 1970-1990. 1970 urban figures are 623,497; 177.5; and 3,513 (see Table 20). 1980 urban figures are 646,305; 213.7; and 3,024 (see Table 21). 1990 urban figures are 610,337; 217.6; and 2,805 (see Table 22). Nashville. Consolidated city, 1970-1990. Classified as partly rural, 1970-1990. 1970 urban figures are 436,170; 334.3; and 1,305 (see Table 20).

1980 urban figures are 446,027; 332.1; and 1,343 (see Table 21). 1990 urban figures are 483,427; 376.4; and 1,284 (see Table 20). Texas El Paso. Classified as partly rural, 1980-1990. 1980 urban figures are 424,981; 143.8; and 2,955 (see Table 21). 1990 urban figures are 515,187; 162.7; and 3,166 (see Table 22). Fort Worth. Classified as partly rural in 1990. 1990 urban figures are 447,212; 243.3; and 1,838 (see Table 22). Houston. Classified as partly rural in 1970.

1970 urban figures are 1,231,394; 397.0; and 3,102 (see Table 22). Virginia Alexandria. Included in territory ceded by Virginia in 1791 to form part of the District of Columbia and retroceded to Virginia in 1846. Arlington. Arlington CDP is coextensive with Arlington County. See discussion of Census Designated Place in text. Virginia Beach. Classified as partly rural, 1970-1990. 1970 urban figures are 166,729; 105.6; and 1,579 (see Table 20). 1980 urban figures are 257,269; 145.9; and 1,763 (see Table 21). 1990 urban figures are 389,536; 159.1; and 2,448 (see Table 22). Wheeling.

In territory that was formerly part of Virginia and that was taken to form West Virginia in 1863. West Virginia Wheeling. In territory that was formerly part of Virginia and that was taken to form West Virginia in 1863. REFERENCES Anderson, Margo J. 1988. The American Census: a Social History. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press. Dahmann, Donald C. 1992. "Accounting for the Geography of Population: 200 Years of Census Bureau Practice with Macro-Scale Sub-National Regions." Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Association of American Geographers, San Diego, CA, 18-22 April 1992. Dubester, Henry J. 1950. Catalog of United States Census Publications: 1790-1945. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. (Reprinted in U.S. Bureau of the Census, 1974.) Fay, Robert E. et al. 1988. "The Coverage of Population in the 1980 Census." Bureau of the Census, Evaluation and Research Reports, PHC80-E4.

Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. Forstall, Richard L. 1996. Population of States and Counties of the United States: 1790 to 1990. Bureau of the Census. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. McKenzie, R. D. 1933. The Metropolitan Community. New York, NY: McGraw Hill. (Reissued in 1967. New York, NY: Russell and Russell.) Robinson, J. Gregory et al. 1993. "Estimation of Population Coverage in the 1990 United States Census Based on Demographic Analysis," Journal of the American Statistical Association, Vol. 88, No. 423 (September 1993), pp. 1061-1079. Truesdell, Leon E. 1949. "The Development of the Urban-Rural Classification in the United States: 1874 to 1949." Bureau of the Census, Current Population Reports, Series P-23, No. 1. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. U.S.

Bureau of the Census. 1974. Catalog of Publications: 1790-1972. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. -----. 1984. Bureau of the Census Catalog: 1984. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. -----. 1994. Census Catalog and Guide: 1994. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. Walker, Francis A., compiler. 1874. Statistical Atlas of the United States. New York, NY: Julius Bien. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division Author: Campbell Gibson Milwaukee Population 2016 - World Population Review World Population Review 594,833 Milwaukee Population 2016 Milwaukee is the largest city in Wisconsin and the 30th most populous city in the country. It's also the center of the Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis Metropolitan Statistical Area with a population of 1.57 million. In 2016, Milwaukee has a population exceeding 600,000.

Milwaukee is a very slowly growing city with a population estimated at 600,155 in 2016. Despite very strong growth through the 1950s, Milwaukee has experienced negative growth since then, and it's only since the 2010 census that signs of growth have been evident, although growth has been small. The Milwaukee metropolitan area is home to approximately 1.57 million people in 2016. 30% of the entire state's population lives in the 5-country metropolitan area, with 10% of Wisconsin's population within the Milwaukee city limits. Milwaukee Demographics At the 2010 US Census, the racial breakdown of Milwaukee was: White: 44.8% (non-Hispanic: 37%) American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.8% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander: 0.1% Two or more races: 3.4% Hispanic or Latino of any race: 17.3% 38.3% of Milwaukee's population reports having African American ancestry, while 21% claim German ancestry.

Other common ancestry groups in the city include Polish (8.8%), Irish (6.5%), Italian (3.6%) and English (2.8%). The city of Milwaukee seems diverse, but the picture changes when you look at the county as a whole. Milwaukee County's population is 55% white, and the county's African American population is 27%. Only about 8% of the county's African American population lives outside the city limits. Milwaukee is often seen as a very racially segregated city; some consider it the most segregated city in the country, along with Detroit, Michigan, including a 2002 issue of Jet Magazine. Milwaukee History The Milwaukee area was originally inhabited by several Native American tribes, with French traders and missionaries first passing though the region in the late 17th century. A trading post was established in 1785 by Alexis Laframboise. It's believed the word Milwaukee comes from either a Potawatomi or Ojibwe word meaning "gathering place by the water." For many years, the settlement's name was printed as "Milwaukie," until a newspaper changed it to its current spelling sometime in the 1830s.

In its early history, Milwaukee had a great rivalry with two neighboring towns, Juneautown, across the river, and Walker's Point. By the 1840s, the rivalry had grown and there were battles between the town, culminating in the Milwaukee Bridge War of 1845. Afterward, the towns were united and, in 1846, the City of Milwaukee was incorporated. Milwaukee began to grow rapidly with an influx of immigrants, especially those from Germany who made their way here from Wisconsin. Milwaukee continued its rapid growth, reaching a height of 741,000 in 1960 before beginning a 5-decade decline. Current State of Milwaukee Milwaukee currently ranks 4th among major cities in the US in terms of children living in poverty at 43%. Milwaukee's unemployment rate is the same as the national average, and its jobs market does show signs of stability and even improvement. The city has also started to attract college graduates, 80% of whom moved to Milwaukee because they got a job. Revitalization efforts in the downtown area have been used to attract residents to the area and encourage growth and development.

Milwaukee Population Growth Milwaukee is a very slowly growing city, with its modest growth mostly concentrated in the neighborhoods around downtown. From 2011 to 2013, Milwaukee added only 4,000 people . While this doesn't sound like a lot, and it isn't, it does show that Milwaukee's experiencing a turnaround after almost 5 decades of decline. The growth in the downtown areas have been largely attributed to new construction of condos and apartments, and most of the new residents are younger adults. It's still too soon to tell if the population growth trend in Milwaukee will continue and the city will be able to post positive growth at the next census in 2020, but signs are good Milwaukee has at least partially overcome the slump of the last fifty years. Year

Question: In which US state is Milwaukee the most populous city?
Answer: Wisconsin